Link lay strapped to his bed, staring at the sunrise as it crept through his window. He had not slept that night, as the memories of what had happened forced their way back into his consciousness. He remembered everything; the Sacred Realm, Necron, Shumbo. Shumbo's death.
His death.
Everything after that, however, was a blank. He should have died, if not from the arrows in his back then certainly from the explosion of Shumbo's weapon. How he had ended up in Termina, he couldn't even guess. Anju had been called away shortly after that revelation, and he had not had time to ask her what was going on.
Instead, he had lain there watching first the sunset, then as the stars had blinked into view, up until now. Even as all the memories flooded back to him, one thought surfaced through it all.
"Malon…"
Link turned his head as he heard the door being unlocked. It opened slowly, and Anju stuck her head through, checking to see if he was awake. "Good morning," she said, smiling a little. She stepped through the door, a tray of food in her hands. She quietly shut the door behind her and locked it. She turned to him sheepishly and smiled again. "So no one barges in."
Link nodded and forced a smile. Anju pulled up her stool beside his bed and placed the tray on the nightstand. "So how do you like your room?" she quipped.
Link genuinely laughed. "It's nice. Roomy, not too drafty, nice view. A lot like the room I had last time I was here. The bed gets a little uncomfortable, though."
Anju laughed, and then quickly stifled the sound. "I'll talk to Bones about that. He didn't say you had to be strapped down, but Smitts is afraid you'll kill him next time instead of breaking his nose." She took a spoonful of porridge and led it into his mouth. "So you're Link, huh? The same Link who destroyed the moon and stopped it from falling? The same Link who saved Kafei and brought him home?"
Link nodded as he swallowed. "The same. But how did you know about the moon? I didn't think anybody would know it was me."
"After you disappeared, the Skull Kid wouldn't shut up until he told everyone about everything you did. How you freed the Gods, how you helped everyone who was hurt by Majora's evil, everything. It's become one of our most revered legends." She ladled another spoonful into his mouth. "I never got a chance to thank you for bringing Kafei back to me. We can't thank you enough."
Link noticed a flash of sadness cloud over her eyes. "Where is Kafei?" he asked gingerly.
Anju took a moment to respond, and when she did it was hardly louder than a whisper. "He was outside when the wall went up, along with my son. I don't know where he is now…"
"The wall?" Link looked at her.
Anju nodded towards the window. "Watch the sky, just over the city walls."
Link turned his head and did as he was told. "I don't see anything," he said.
"Just wait."
He waited a few more minutes until he saw what she was talking about. As he stared at the horizon, he saw a quick glimmer of red move up across the sky. He turned back to Anju, confusion on his face.
"That's the wall," she explained. "It's some sort of magic that keeps anyone from entering or leaving, unless Bones says so. Half the city was outside the walls when Ganon erected it."
Link spat out the porridge he had been in the process of swallowing. "Ganon? Did you say Ganon?"
Anju looked at him, her turn to be confused. "Yeah. He's the one who hired all these thugs."
Link stared at the ceiling, horror and confusion mixed in his eyes. How could Ganon be in Termina? How could he even know it existed? Understanding dawned on him as he remembered the castle he and the others had first entered on their arrival in the Sacred Realm. There had been illustrations depicting Link's adventures in this world. "But why?" he muttered aloud.
"What?"
He turned his head back to Anju, remembering that she was there. "Anju, I need you to tell me everything. Everything that's happened since Ganon arrived."
"Alright," Anju repositioned herself on her stool, getting comfortable. "You better get comfortable…" she started, but fell silent at his wry smile. She giggled in embarrassment and said, "Sorry. Anyway, it started a couple of months ago. A small army of mercenaries just appeared out of nowhere and attacked Clock Town. No one was ready for it. They just stormed the walls and began routing us and taking over. We tried to escape, but only a few made it out before a man named Rolondrof put up the wall. The rest of us were trapped in here with the mercs ever since, living like their slaves. They haven't begun killing anybody yet, though, so that's good. A giant called Skorn watched over the mercs for a while, and then Ganon came for the first time last month. He only stayed for the execution, then he left Bones in charge. Nobody but Bones knows where he is now. And then you came, falling out of the sky like a comet. I'll say one thing for you, you sure can make an entrance."
"Thanks," Link said. "What execution?"
Anju was about to reply, but was silenced as the door opened behind them. Standing there in all his tattooed glory was Bones, flanked by Smitts and another thug. He took one look at Anju, and then shifted his gaze to Link. Link more than met the stare. "Talk-time's over, woman," he said, making a little motion with his hand. Smitts and the other man went over to Link's bed and began to unstrap him, Smitts with a knife to his throat. "I've found a better use for our feisty little fighter here."
Anju's face was clouded with horror. "You can't mean…Bones, he only just woke up yesterday! And Ganon said townsfolk weren't allowed in the Cage!"
"I know what Ganon said," Bones replied, the smile never leaving his face. "But seeing as how our friend here just fell out of the sky, he doesn't really count as a townie does he?" Link was now on his feet, still glaring at Bones. "Get him some boots," Bones ordered, "And take him to the Cage."
* * *
Link was led from the inn and down several blocks to what he remembered as Barten's Milk Bar. He was surrounded on all sides, and his hands were bound behind his back. He tried to look around him as he walked, hoping to see a familiar face. He thought he saw a few people he remembered, but if he did, they quickly hid their faces from the small procession. For the most part, the only people he saw were rough looking mercenaries.
By the time they reached the bar, their group had been joined by several other mercs. Bones opened the door and led the way in. Link surveyed his new surroundings. The bar was darker than he remembered, and it looked a little more beat up. Gone were the bright fluorescent lights, replaced by crude torches lining the walls. But perhaps the biggest difference was the large, chain-linked cage that filled the stage. Link now knew what they had meant by the Cage.
Upon their entrance, the bar erupted into a roar of jeers, and Link saw that the bar was filled with more mercs, all nursing pints of ale. Mr. Barten, who had gained a few pounds in eight years, was darting about trying to keep them all full. Link felt Smitts push him from behind to get him started down the stairs. He merely turned his head and stared at the merc. Smitts visibly paled and took a few steps back. Link turned back and began descending the stairs.
Bones led him up the stage and into the Cage. He opened the gate and Link stepped through. Bones untied his wrists and stepped back through the entrance, grinning like a wolf. He locked the gate behind him. Link turned towards the crowd, trying not to look disgusted at their behavior. He then surveyed the ring, and only then did he notice its other occupant. The man was big, with a crooked nose, one swollen eye, and missing teeth. A long ponytail fell from the back of his otherwise bald head. Like Link, he was bare from the waist up.
Link took a few steps into the middle of the ring, and his opponent joined him. He was a head taller than Link, but that didn't stop him from meeting his gaze. "Alright you pack wild beasts!" a voice boomed over the crowd. "Are you ready for today's King of the Cage?" He was met with more roars and applause. "Are you ready to see our current king, the massive…the unbeatable…Krag…" more applause, "…utterly and completely destroy this puny, insignificant, girl of a man? Get ready you toughs, 'cause here we go!"
With that, Krag had Link by throat, throttling him with both meaty hands. Link grabbed at the wrists and tried to pry them loose. When it became apparent that that wouldn't be possible, he relaxed and let Krag hold him up. Pulling up on Krag's arms, he raised his legs and drove them into Krag's stomach. The big man gasped as the wind left his lungs and released Link, who fell to floor and rolled backwards out of the way. He regained his feet only to have to duck out of the way as Krag lunged for him. The man ran straight into the cage, as Link came up behind him.
The crowd roared at the sport, as Link again dodged out of Krag's reach. Finally convinced that he would not be able to grab Link, Krag raised his fists in a fighting stance. Link took a Sheik-kung stance, arms held lightly in front of him, knees bent. He and Krag circled each other a few times, and then Krag swung a right jab followed by a left roundhouse. Link blocked the first, then ducked under the second, pivoting as he did so, trying to sweep the big man's legs out from under him. Krag lifted one leg and then the other, dodging the attack. He kicked out with his right leg, and Link brought up both arms to ward off the blow. Ducking under the next punch, he drove his fist up in a strong upper cut, connecting with Krag's jaw.
Krag staggered back from the blow, shaking his head to clear it. The crowd was now divided between cheering and jeering. Krag regained his bearings and bared his teeth at Link. He attacked with a flurry of punches, and Link was a blur of motion as he dodged and blocked them all. The last attack, a powerful roundhouse that would have shattered a thin tree, passed through the air as Link once again ducked. Krag's momentum spun him around so his back was facing Link, and that was all he needed. Link leapt up and wrapped his arms around Krag's neck and squeezed. The big man thrashed about, trying to shake him loose, but Link would not let go. He ran backwards into the cage, ramming Link into the hard iron rings, but he still wouldn't let go. He just squeezed harder, hoping to drop Krag into unconsciousness.
Link happened to glance up for a moment, looking into the crowd, and was stunned by what he saw. Watching from the top of the stairs was Anju, her hands covering her mouth in fear. In front of her, further down the steps, were three young men, a few years his junior. And beside her stood another woman about the same age, wearing a long skirt and blouse, her flaming red hair falling down over her shoulders.
Link's eyes widened, and he involuntarily loosened his grip. "Malon…"
The next moment he was being smashed into the ground, as Krag took advantage of his momentary lapse. His back hit the hard wooden floor and the wind was knocked from him, Krag's hands back around his neck. In one smooth motion, Krag lifted him back into the air and threw him into the cage, rattling the structure. Link struggled to regain his breath, but the hands at his throat made that difficult. He tried to bring his legs back up, hoping the same tactic would work twice. Krag shook him like a rag doll.
Link could feel his head getting fuzzy, his vision blurring. Releasing Krag's arms, he smashed them both against the side of Krag's head. The hands loosened a little, but still held fast. He struck again, and again, and each time the grip loosened a little. Link struck once more and Krag released him completely, staggering back. Link wasted no time, and began punching at Krag's stomach. His fists were a blur of motion as he struck, hitting the abs, the intestines and kidneys, slowly softening the big man up. With each blow, Krag staggered a little more. Finally, Link felt the muscles totally relax. Striking once more, he then brought both fists up in a double-handed uppercut. Krag's neck snapped back, and the big man fell hard to the floor, eyes closed, breathing slowly, unconscious.
There was silence in the crowd, as the sight of the smaller man standing over the champion sunk into the spectators' perceptions. Finally, the man who had introduced the fight said, "Your…your new King of the Cage!" This was followed by a deafening mix of cheering and curses from the crowd. Link stood over Krag's prone form, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath. Running a hand through his sweat-drenched hair, his eyes focused back to the top of the stairs. The three youths were smiling and cheering wildly, and Anju looked as if she had just started breathing again. The woman, who looked so much like his love, was smiling and clapping. Happiness mixed with sadness as he recognized whom the woman was.
It wasn't Malon.
It was Cremia.
* * *
"Genius, your highness, absolute genius! I'm amazed I didn't think of it before!"
"Don't feel too bad, general," Zelda smiled. "It isn't like we've had a chance to practice ancient tactics lately. My only concern is will it work?"
General Gustan nodded his head as he ran through the princess' plan once again. "I believe so. The enemy will not be expecting such an attack. If we time it just right, then we should be able to score an even victory."
"Excellent," Zelda replied. "Brief your men on the plan, and when the Goron and Zora forces arrive, make sure they are aware of it, and see if their generals can think of anyway to improve on it."
Gustan saluted, bowed, and left to do just that. Zelda looked down and saw Saria smiling up at her. It was the first genuine smile she had shown in weeks. "Looks like we'll have to start calling you the 'Warrior Princess'. All you need is a shrill battle cry."
Zelda laughed and returned the smile. "Let's not get too confident just yet. We still need to see if it works."
"It will," Saria assured her. "I'm sure of it. Ganon doesn't expect us to attack first. If nothing else, it'll show him and his brothers that we're in this war for the long haul."
"I thought that was our plan from the beginning." The two young women turned at Darunia's deep voice, and saw him entering with Ruto at his side.
"We just saw General Gustan," Ruto explained as she embraced Zelda. "He seemed extremely pleased."
"Zelda just came up with our first major offensive," Saria replied as Darunia set her back on the ground. "He should be informing your generals as soon as possible."
"Excellent," Darunia grinned. "Then perhaps you will explain it to us, my Sisters." Zelda did so, and Darunia's grin grew wider with every minute. "Genius," he said, echoing Gustan, "Absolute genius."
"Indeed, I did not think anybody would remember such old tactics," Ruto said. "I certainly didn't. The Triforce of Wisdom chose its host well."
"Again, let's not count our cucoos before they hatch," Zelda cautioned. "There is still much…"
She was interrupted by a loud bang and a brilliant flash of light that momentarily blinded them. She was already preparing a spell, thinking Rolondrof had decided to strike at them now. Instead of hearing his cocky drawl however, she heard a soft, singsong voice instead.
"Wow," the voice said. "Bazillo was right; that was some ride."
The others turned to face the new arrival, their eyes slowly readjusting. "I'm sorry about the dramatic entrance," the voice apologized, "But when that much magic is used, I'm afraid such things can't be avoided. You don't recognize me, but I…"
"Navi?" Saria gasped.
Navi seemed slightly taken aback. "You recognize me? Even after the changes?"
"What changes?" Saria asked, confused. "You look exactly the same."
Navi looked down at herself. She looked the same, alright, but instead of standing before them, she was hovering several meters in the air. Only then did she notice how big the others appeared before her.
"Oh, nuts," the tiny fairy muttered. "And I was finally getting used to being big."
