Taking Yarna had ended up being significantly easier than anticipated. Knowing Princess Zelda's reputation as an accomplished military leader, brilliant tactician, and powerful mage, the Gerudo had gone into the battle expecting the fight of their lives. However, within hours, the city had fallen, and the keep that served as its lord's seat of power had been claimed by Queen Urballa.
As it turned out, Princess Zelda and her forces had not been there at all. For whatever reason, the princess and her armies had continued north over the Digdogg Suspension Bridge. By the time the Gerudo had arrived in Yarna, Zelda had left Gerudo territory completely. As a result, the Gerudo army had been pitted against only the Yarna city guard under the command of the local lord. Without number superiority or the guidance of the princess, the Hylian forces hadn't stood a chance.
Harun found this all to be good news. An easier battle with less participants meant a shorter battle with less casualties on both sides. And with Princess Zelda absent, there was no major Hyrulean leadership left in the entire Gerudo Kingdom. For all intents and purposes, it would appear as though they had won. The entire ordeal had ended shortly after it had started. Surely the gods had smiled upon them for once.
While his injuries were mostly healed, Harun hadn't moved around very much the day after the battle. He'd spent the next night in well-furnished bedchambers within Yarna Keep. Only a small section of the city's walls had been destroyed in the siege, so beyond a little extra defense required at that section, the walls had held up perfectly well throughout the Blood Moon. When the sun rose on the morning of the following day, the undead horrors that had arisen during the night retreated beneath the earth's surface, and all was calm once again.
"You're looking a lot better," Kyra said, leaning against the balcony railing beside Harun. "Not that you ever look bad, mind you."
"Kyra…" Emri said, as if uncomfortable with the other girl's words. She stood several paces away from the railing, perhaps afraid of heights.
"I am feeling better," Harun confirmed, ignoring the rest of what she'd said. He lifted his previously wounded leg and stomped on the ground a few times to demonstrate. "The healers did good work with me." Placing his arms on the railing, he leaned against them and looked over the horizon, smiling lightly to himself.
"We have accomplished so much in so little time, your highness," Laine said, standing dutifully by the doorway that led inside the keep. "I only wish we could have taken part in the glorious battle to reclaim this city."
"Pay it no mind," Harun told her. "I'm just glad it's all over. We can return home now."
And perhaps the Sage of Spirit can provide more help towards managing this curse.
Since he was dwelling on the positives at the moment, Harun did not wish to think too much about the curse or the spirit of Ganon. While the conflict with the Hylians had been resolved, he still had problems to deal with. The Sage of Light had previously indicated that the Royal Family of Hyrule may have had a way to rid him of the curse, but that ship seemed to have sailed with both the sage and the princess leaving Gerudo. Nevertheless, it may still be possible for Sage Nashorla and him to work together to find some alternative.
"I love a happy ending," Emri said cheerfully.
"We're heroes," Kyra said, bouncing playfully against the stone railing. "Heroes always get a happy ending."
"You and I have read very different stories, Kyra," Laine replied. Before their conversation could continue, they heard footsteps approaching. Laine placed herself in front of the doorway, planting her spear firmly in the ground. After a moment, a Gerudo servant appeared from inside the keep. "State your business," Laine said firmly.
"It's alright, Laine," Harun said, waving her off. "What is it?" he asked the servant girl.
"My apologies for interrupting, your highness," the girl said, "but the queen would like you to join her in the throne room."
"Very well," Harun replied.
The servant bowed and went back inside.
"Ugh. Sounds like another meeting," Kyra said, throwing her head back dramatically as she whined. "We've just freed our kingdom. We should be celebrating, not wasting our time with pointless chatter."
"Perhaps the queen wishes to plan the celebration now," Emri suggested. "Um, would you like us to escort you, Prince Harun?" she asked, twisting her hands around the shaft of her spear.
"Certainly," Harun replied, gesturing to all three of them. "Please, join me."
It was only a short walk to Yarna Keep's throne room. When Harun arrived, much of Queen Urballa's court had already arrived. Elder Kobami and her other advisors were there, along with some priestesses, military lieutenants, and various others who'd been accompanying them since Naboris.
The queen herself sat on a modest throne, made for local lordship rather than royalty. Urballa did not seem to mind. After all, they would likely be leaving soon, and she would be able to return to her true throne in Taafei, or in Naboris. As there was little room for others on the dais aside from the queen and some of her guards, Harun simply joined those who had assembled in the gallery.
"Thank you all for coming," the queen spoke a few minutes later. "In the wake of the tragedy, we have all come together to accomplish something great. For the first time in centuries, Hyrule has been expelled from Gerudo lands, and we are free to govern ourselves fully once again."
A cheer went up from the crowd. Harun did not join in, and not because he necessarily took issue with it. He was merely exhausted with the whole conflict and would rather just put it all behind him.
"However, we are not to get complacent," Urballa continued. "Our campaign does not end here. To strike while the iron is hot, we must continue northward, beginning tomorrow at dawn."
Harun perked up at that statement.
What?
"My queen, what of-?"
"Excuse me." Harun interrupted before one of the queen's advisors could finish her thought. "My queen… might I ask why we must continue northward?"
"Princess Zelda may have left Gerudo," Elder Kobami began, answering for Urballa from the gallery to Harun's left. "However, she and her forces remain on our doorstep. They have set up camp in the Hyrulean Coliseum, just on the other side of the Digdogg Suspension Bridge."
"And?" Harun asked. "Let them stay there. That is their territory, this is ours. I see no reason to prolong this conflict."
We are done. Just let us be done!
We are not yet done. The enemy still stands, the voice of Ganon disagreed.
Silence, demon.
"I understand your desire to cease fighting, Harun," Urballa replied politely yet firmly. "However, we cannot simply declare ourselves the victors and expect the Hyruleans to accept it. The fact that Princess Zelda abandoned Yarna is proof enough that this was not meant to be their final act of resistance. The Hyruleans clearly intend to amass their forces at the Coliseum until they are prepared for a counterattack."
"But if we strike now, we can disrupt their forces before they are prepared," Elder Kobami continued for her. "We can take the Coliseum for ourselves and make it our own first line of defense against incursion into our territory. Perhaps we can even capture Princess Zelda. The king would surely sign any treaty we want in exchange for her return."
Harun hated every word of it, but he knew there was some truth to their statements. He would prefer to simply leave a defensive force in Yarna and return home instead, but the forces they had in the city likely wouldn't stand a chance against the full might of Hyrule should they be given the opportunity to assemble on their doorstep. And, as they'd seen, the city itself is not a particularly strong defensive position. Having seen the map of the area, the Hyrulean Coliseum was in a much more strategic location, and if the structure was anything like the Gerudo Coliseum at the Arbiter's Grounds, it would make for a much more formidable fortress.
"Fine," Harun relented bitterly. "But once we have accomplished this task, then we are finished here, yes? Gerudo will be free and well-defended, and there will be no need to encroach on Hyrulean territory any further, correct?"
"Of course, Harun," Queen Urballa replied. "This has never been about taking land from the Hyruleans. This is merely about reclaiming our own lands."
"I see. Thank you, my queen."
This is the last step. Then we can go home.
"They are utter fools," Harun said aloud.
At the moment, no one else was around. The sun had fallen, and Harun stood on the balcony outside his bedchambers, overlooking the city. Although he'd ultimately agreed to go along with Queen Urballa's plan - or more likely, Elder Kobami's plan - he still was not happy about it at all.
To the north, he could see the great Digdogg Suspension Bridge, which spanned the entire Regencia Lake to connect Gerudo Canyon Pass to Hyrule Field. It lay between Mount Nabooru to the west and the Great Plateau to the east. Harun thought the bridge had an odd name, but apparently it was named for the Digdogger, a type of gigantic echinoderm monster. Some Hylian hero had slain one such monster hundreds of years ago, along with three other significant monsters in the area, and four of the bridges in the region were named in celebration of his conquests.
"Tomorrow, we'll be marching across that bridge, no doubt walking into some sort of ambush…"
They are not prepared. We will take them by surprise and lay waste to them.
"I said silence, demon."
He'd begun hearing Ganondorf's voice more clearly recently. Their connection seemed to have grown stronger after his last possession, and now they could even converse sometimes. Harun hated it. Nothing made him feel more crazy than essentially speaking to his own inner voice.
Why do you resist? You approved of your queen's orders, did you not?
"Yes," Harun said bitterly. "But this is the last time I will take up arms against the Hylians. After this, we will be free."
Hundreds of years of conflict between our peoples will not be ended in a few days time, young one.
"Perhaps that's because not enough of us want to end it," Harun snapped back. "One person murdered my foster sister. One person should pay for it. Going to war with Hyrule was insane to begin with. It undermines every effort the queen has ever made towards peaceful negotiation."
War is a necessary evil.
"I'm sure the Hyruleans say the same."
I do not understand you, successor. You claim to abhor violence, yet you yourself have killed so many. You surround yourself with armed guards. And you have never objected to our people having an army.
"I only kill to defend myself or my people - or when you possess me and force me to kill, demon." Harun angrily slammed his fist down on the stone railing, then turned around as if to confront the spirit he was arguing with.
You needed me to kill for you. It was to defend you and your people.
"In the canyon, maybe. But what of Averla?" Harun asked, raising his voice as he glared at the wall. "Have you any idea what you made me do?"
You forced me to relive my own execution, young one. I barely understood what was happening at the time. You wish to blame someone? May I suggest the goddess who saw fit to bind us together? Or perhaps the sage who does her bidding?
"They said you were supposed to help me."
And I have. Keeping Demise contained is no easy task, little prince. And you have already conceded that you only survived the battle in the canyon because of me. You need me whether you wish to admit it or not.
Harun growled in annoyance, stepping back over to the railing to look out over the city. It didn't matter who he argued with. Ganondorf, Kobami, Urballa - they all had an answer for anything he could say.
I understand your frustration, successor. I, too, had a vision no one else could see. But your judgment is clouded. Your queen has kept you sheltered your whole life. You know nothing of Hyrule and the horrors it brings. The witch is right. We have no choice but to fight them.
"I have already agreed to help Urballa and Kobami secure their Coliseum," Harun muttered. "But I will go no further than that. I swear it by all the gods and demons of this world."
"Prince Harun?"
Startled, Harun flinched and turned around. Kyra was standing in the doorway that led back into the keep, wearing a confused expression on her face and casually holding her spear. Emri was standing behind her, peering over Kyra's shoulder nervously. The two of them had been on guard duty, standing by outside the door to Harun's living chambers in Yarna Keep.
Was I loud enough for them to overhear?
"Who were you talking to?" Kyra asked.
"...No one," Harun lied, not wishing to discuss his conversation with the demon king.
"Um. Okay. Would you like us to-?" Emri began to speak, but she was interrupted by Kyra.
"You were talking to him, weren't you?" the other girl said to Harun, excitement lighting up her face. "Is he here now? Can I talk to him?"
"No," Harun said firmly.
"Aw, come on!" Kyra complained. "Can't I just-"
"I said, no!" Harun repeated, raising his voice for emphasis. "Go back inside and leave me be."
Emri was now fully hiding behind Kyra, having been terrified by Harun's sudden burst of anger. Kyra, too, was mortified, looking like a child who had just been scolded by an angry mother. "Oh. Uh, okay. I mean, yes, my prince. My apologies," Kyra said, clutching her spear tightly. She and Emri turned to head back inside.
Part of Harun wanted to simply let them return to their post so he could be alone for the rest of the night. However, as he watched two of the girls he'd grown up with shrink away, the guilt set in very quickly. "No, wait."
Kyra and Emri stopped in their tracks, turning back to him nervously.
Harun sighed. "I am sorry, Kyra, Emri," he said with obvious shame in his voice. "It has been a most trying day."
Kyra did not seem to know what to say. For a moment, the three of them stood there, hesitating. Eventually, Emri stepped out from behind Kyra, leaning her spear against the wall and leaving it there. She approached Harun and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "We understand, your highness," she said quietly. "Would you like to come inside and speak with us about it?"
Hearing those words came as a serious relief to Harun. "Yes," he said. "I think I would like that."
"Our scouts have confirmed where the enemy forces are placed around the bridge," Commander Bularis said, speaking to those gathered around the table in the war room. She was joined by the queen, the prince, and two dozen or so elders and officers of the queen's court. A large map of Yarna and the surrounding area had been laid out, with tiny models placed upon it to represent the Gerudo and Hyrulean forces. Their focus was on the Digdogg Suspension Bridge, which was actually made up of six smaller bridges connecting five island plateaus jutting up out of Regencia Lake, where the Regencia River ended. "Islands one and two are safe. Island three, the large one, has minimal ground forces, with a few more reserves on islands four and five. Our numbers far exceed theirs."
"Surely they do not expect us to believe they would leave such an important choke point so poorly defended," Urballa commented. "What else do they have planned?"
"They have cannons on the Great Plateau," Bularis replied, gesturing to stone walls along the edge of the risen geographic figure to the east of the bridge. "As soon as we reach island three, we'll be in their range. And even if we make it all the way to the other side of the lake," she went on, moving her hand further along the edge of the plateau, "they have more cannons covering the road all the way to the south side of the Coliseum."
"Then all we must do is rid ourselves of these cannons," Elder Kobami stated. "It should be simple enough. We'll send a warband up onto the walls and slaughter them all while the main forces continue along the bridge."
"How do you propose we reach their battlements?" Harun asked skeptically. "Scaling the plateau would not be difficult from this side of the Regencia, but once we get up there, we'll have the River of the Dead between us and the cannons," he pointed out, gesturing to the river that led to a waterfall over the edge of the Great Plateau. "Going around could take days."
"We won't need to climb atop the plateau from here," Elder Kobami replied, chuckling wickedly as she explained her plan further. "We'll use boats, rowing close along the plateau's edge until we're right beneath their battlements. Then, our witches can raise the warriors to the top, catching them by surprise."
"A sound plan, elder one," Urballa said earnestly. "Very well. If all goes according to plan, that will cover our journey across the bridge. Afterwards, we will set up our base camp on the other side of it. From there, the question becomes how to take the Coliseum."
"That's right." Commander Bularis moved over, turning everyone's focus to the model of the great Hyrulean structure. "Their Coliseum is situated in an extremely defensible position. A small mountain covers it from the south, while Aquame Lake covers it from all other sides. Only a single bridge connects it with Hyrule Field, located on the north side.
"It could take days to get from our planned base camp to that bridge," Harun pointed out.
"Yes. And while we circle around the lake, the Hyruleans will no doubt continuously pelt us with cannonballs fired from atop the Coliseum."
"Can we use the same trick?" Queen Urballa asked. "Rather than go all the way around, could the witches create a shorter path for us?"
"Hmm…" Elder Kobami placed two fingers to her chin, looking over the scale model of the area on the table. "From here," she said, pointing with her long, thin finger to a small cliff on the west side of Aquame Lake. "We may be able to extend some sort of land bridge, giving our troops a new access point and preventing us from having to make a dangerous excursion to the north end of the lake."
"Could we accomplish this twice?" Commander Bularis asked. "It may be beneficial to divide our forces and attack from both sides simultaneously."
Kobami examined the map once more. "It would not be the same technique, but we may be able to accomplish a similar result here," she said, pointing to cliffs to the southeast of the Coliseum. "The mountains are lower at this point. We could raise the earth up to the next level, then do so again further north."
"We must attempt to take the Coliseum while doing as little damage as possible," the queen reminded everyone. "It is to become our fortress, and the gatekeeper of our lands. Every wall left standing and every cannon left operating will be a boon to us. Princess Zelda and her people are to be treated fairly once they surrender. We must give King Tychon no reason to reject our requests for negotiation. Any questions?"
It was difficult to read the mood in the room. There was a kind of dread that loomed over everyone when further acts of war were on the horizon. At the same time, many in the war room carried a sense of pride or even excitement. The Gerudo were finally taking back their lands, and those present were going to get to be a part of it - a part of history. Even Harun could sense those feelings creeping up inside of him, although he could not tell if that was his feelings or Ganondorf's.
"We are ready to follow you, my queen," Commander Bularis told her, putting her fist to her chest. Many others in the room did the same.
"Good," Urballa replied, jangling her jewelry as she nodded. "Then make your preparations. Be ready to march on my word."
It was cold when the Gerudo army set out across the first leg of the bridge. A dense fog filled the air as well, making it difficult to see too far in front of oneself. The military strategists had said this would be a stroke of good fortune. The Hyruleans would never see them coming, and their cannoneers would be firing blindly. However, even if the low visibility was expected to be a net gain for them, that did little to calm anyone's nerves.
"What's the matter, Emri?" Kyra asked, walking alongside her companion, staying in formation with the others in their battalion. "You cold?"
Emri indeed appeared cold. She was shivering, and the way she tried to rub her arms for warmth forced her to carry her spear clutched to her chest. However, she seemed more frightened than freezing. "I don't like this," she said, her eyes darting this way and that. "The Hyruleans could appear from anywhere, at any moment."
"Fear not, sister," Laine said confidently. She strode in front of them, carrying an axe, which she believed would be the better weapon under the circumstances of the upcoming battle. "The Hylians are no better with wind or water than we are. We will meet them ahead on the bridge for a clean, honorable battle, not one of surprises and dirty tricks."
Harun wondered if that was true. He was expecting an ambush of some kind, but he could not think of how such an attack would occur. The individual bridges that made up the Digdogg Suspension Bridge were all quite high up, so it was difficult to imagine an attack from below. While there were sorcerers who could fly, like Elder Kobami, he did not expect such mages to be common among the Hylians. And even if there were archers hidden somewhere, they would not be able to see through the fog.
Perhaps we truly are in for a fair fight.
Harun shook his head. "Best to keep your wits about you regardless, Laine," Harun instructed. "Keep in formation, and stay vigilant."
"Of course, my prince," Laine replied.
The first island they reached was quite small. Even with the fog, it was plain to see that it was deserted. So, upon reaching the island, the Gerudo army simply continued onto the next bridge, heading to the second island.
"I wonder if we'll have to deal with many Stalcreatures when we set up camp tonight," Kyra wondered aloud. "I doubt the Hylians have completely cleaned up the region so soon after the Blood Moon."
Emri made a sharp 'eep' noise at the mention of Stalcreatures. This made Kyra laugh, and she moved closer to wrap an arm around the other girl's shoulders.
"Quit fooling around," Laine scolded. "The prince ordered you to remain vigilant."
"Sorry, sorry."
The second island was long and thin, almost like an earthen bridge slightly wider than the actual bridge. As the scouts had indicated earlier, there was no Hyrulean presence to be seen. But, as they reached the next bridge, the Gerudo forces became more alert. The upcoming central island, which was much larger than the others, was where they expected to meet the enemy.
"Do you hear anything?" Kyra asked as they crossed the third bridge.
"Not yet," Laine replied.
"Really?" Kyra seemed both confused and disappointed. "That's odd."
Harun furrowed his brow. "That is odd," he agreed. "Our vanguard must have reached the central island by now. Why have they not engaged the enemy?"
"Perhaps the fog is preventing us and the Hylians from seeing each other," Emri suggested, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Or perhaps they pulled back to account for their cannons firing blindly into the fog," Laine added.
"That sounds logical," Harun said with a nod. "If that is the case, than we can expect-"
Suddenly, there was a loud splashing sound from behind them, mixed with the sound of screaming. Harun turned around, but could not see far enough through the fog to make out what was happening.
"What the hell was that?" Kyra asked.
Emri yelped as the sounds were repeated. Another loud splash followed, and now the screams were getting closer.
"Run!"
"Keep moving!"
"Get off the bridge, now!"
Crowds of Gerudo soldiers rushed towards them, fleeing from whatever it was behind the fog.
"Forward!" Harun ordered, shouting at the top of his lungs to inform as many of the soldiers as he could. "Make for the island! With haste!" Harun and his guards ran forwards with everyone else, trying to avoid getting shoved off of the bridge as the crowd surged along with them.
Soon, the source of all the panic became close enough to be visible through the fog. A massive jet of water shot up from below, blowing a hole through the wooden bridge and knocking several Gerudo soldiers off the edge. Another jet of water followed soon after.
Luckily, Harun had already been close to the end of the bridge when the water attacks had begun. He cut it close at the end, but he was able to barely make it to the central island before the jets of water reached him.
"Get a headcount," Harun ordered as soon as he got his bearings. "And send word to the vanguard. The queen must be informed."
"Yes, my prince." Several Gerudo soldiers set off to do as he said.
"Laine, Emri, Kyra, are you alright?" he asked, turning to his close companions.
"Y-Yes," Emri replied, clinging to Kyra, both of them soaking wet.
"We're okay," Kyra confirmed.
"I am unharmed as well." Laine planted her axe in the ground and began wringing her clothes dry. "What was that? Hydromancy? Or some sort of monster?"
Harun stepped over to the edge of the bridge. The suspension ropes and a few of the planks remained here and there, but much of the walkable part of the bridge had been destroyed. It was uncrossable now. The prince was not sure what they were up against, but whatever it was, it could only have done this on purpose. The rest of their forces back on the previous two islands had been cut off from them, and any that had made it across to the central island were now stranded with no way to retreat.
"This was no lake monster. This was tactical; by the enemy's design," Harun concluded.
"Does that mean they're here? Now?" Emri asked.
"Perhaps. They could be attacking us from ships on the lake down below," he reasoned. "That would make it hard for us to fight them, but it would also make it hard for them to harm us now that we're no longer on the bridge."
"So what should we do, my prince?" Laine asked.
Before he could answer, Harun heard a loud boom in the distance, followed by another, and then another.
"Cannons!" Kyra shouted.
Soon after, panicked screams rang out all around them. Soldiers broke ranks to duck and hide behind rocks or whatever cover they could find. Those close to the edge were nearly knocked over the cliff in the struggle.
Harun knew he had to calm everyone down, otherwise they would have no hope of continuing and the battle would be over before it had even truly begun. "Sisters!" he called, projecting his voice as best he could. "Hold your positions. This half of the island is not in their cannons' range. We are safe here."
While there was still some chaos within the crowd of warriors assembled around him, much of the noise died down as his words proved true. They continued to hear the booming sound of the cannons, but nothing landed anywhere near them.
"But the queen is not safe!" one of the warriors called back. "Those at the front are under fire, and they have likely engaged the enemy on the fourth bridge already."
"Getting ourselves killed trying to follow them will do them no good," Harun reasoned. "We must wait for Kobami's forces to take the enemy battlements and disable the cannons."
"Then what should we do?"
Harun tried to think. This was all happening too fast. He'd felt prepared going into the battle, but now that it had arrived and he was on his own to lead his troops, it was as if he'd forgotten everything he'd ever been taught about warfare.
You need me.
Harun heard the demon's voice in his head. He was almost happy to hear it. With the power of Ganondorf, he might have been able to win the battle on his own, but he was not that desperate yet. He still did not trust the other voe, and allowing himself to be possessed in any capacity always carried a risk with it.
"Forward march," Harun ordered his troops. "Make for the edge of the enemy's blast zone. We await word from the queen, or the signal that Kobami's forces have taken the plateau's walls."
"What?"
"Are you mad?"
"That accomplishes nothing!"
There was immediate dissension, which was only made worse by the sound of the enemy's continued bombardment in the background, no doubt still causing fear.
"The prince has given you an order," Laine stated plainly and loudly. "You will do as he says." She began marching, followed by Kyra and Emri. Others followed them, including some of those who had been reluctant. Harun felt relieved, and took his place at the front.
While the islands jutting up out from the lake were all somewhat small compared to the plateaus Harun had crossed throughout Gerudo Canyon, the central island Harun found himself on was somewhat larger than the others. It had a curved, paved road going across the center of it, connecting the bridge at one end to the bridge at the other end. Grass grew alongside the road, and large rocks sticking up out of the ground in some places looked like they could be used for cover once they were in range of the cannons. Harun hoped it wouldn't come to that. He knew from the briefing that they would be safe until they were about halfway across the island, but with the fog, it was difficult to tell where that was.
"I hope Elder Kobami accomplishes her mission soon," Kyra said aloud.
Harun grunted. He did not like having to place his faith in the witch, but he did not doubt her ability to succeed. She had selected a number of their most talented swordswomen, assassins, and infiltrators for her mission, and even Kobami herself was capable in a fight due to her magical skill. Additionally, her enemies were the Hyruleans. If nothing else, she would put in a valiant effort against those she hated so completely.
As he walked, Harun's attention was drawn to his right by the sound of screaming. Just like what had happened on the bridge, there was a crash of water over by the edge of the cliff, knocking several Gerudo soldiers off of it.
"Look out!"
"By the gods!"
"Get away from there!"
However, rather than jets shooting up like a geyser, the water now attacked them in the form of giant tentacles. Pillars of water rose up from the lake below, but they bended and flexed, sweeping across the ground in a deliberate motion.
Emri shrieked, crowding in closer to Kyra with her spear in front of her. "What is it now?" she asked in both fear and exasperation.
"Some sort of Octorok?" Kyra suggested, perhaps thinking the tentacles were real body parts of some sort.
Before anyone could offer another suggestion, a particularly large water tentacle extended past their comrades and raised itself above them. After a brief pause, the tentacle brought itself downwards, as if to crush them.
Many Gerudo screamed, but Harun stepped forward, slamming his boot into the ground. As he did, he thrust his trident forward. A burst of wind and lightning surged forth. In an instant, the water tentacle was obliterated, splashing down upon them in harmless globs of lake water.
"Well done, my prince," Laine praised him.
"Y-Yes, thank you, Harun," Emri agreed.
"Stay close to me," he urged them. Looking out into the crowd of soldiers still in the area, he spotted a few of the younger witches who had received similar magic training. "Witches!" he called out to them. "The water constructs are vulnerable to our sorcery. Protect your sisters!"
For the next few minutes, the prince and the witches continued to disrupt the water tentacles while the others simply tried to get out of their way. The cannons were still booming in the distance, so they could not move forward or backward. Standing their ground was the only option.
However, just when it seemed like the Gerudo had managed to get the situation under control, the enemy changed their tactics. The next column of water did not rise up into the air and crash down like a crushing tentacle. Instead, it came up over the edge of the cliff, flowing quickly across the ground like a large snake made of water. It managed to push a few Gerudo off the edge, but that was not all. There were people swimming through the flowing water snake. As it streamed across the ground, dozens of Zora leapt out of it and began attacking with swords, spears, and boomerangs.
"Zora!" Laine cried. "Those filthy Hyrulean bootlickers." Just as she spoke, a boomerang flew at her head, but it was blocked at the last moment by Emri's spear. Laine thanked her, then charged forward, cleaving the nearest Zora with her battleaxe.
"Zora…" Harun repeated to himself under his breath.
Of course. The Hylians could never pull off this kind of hydromancy on their own.
This raised certain alarm bells in Harun's head. If the Hyruleans had Zora patrolling the lake down below them, could Kobami's strike force have ever made it safely to their destination? They were attempting to reach the cliffs of the Great Plateau via boat. What if they hadn't made it? Who could stop the cannons now?
We can.
Harun ignored Ganon's voice for a moment, taking the time to protect his comrades with a few well-placed spells and a thrust of his trident. It was difficult to find the time to even think with all the chaos around him, but as soon as he found a lull in the battle, he quickly surveyed his surroundings.
His forces were in disarray. The water tentacles had effectively broken their lines and scattered the Gerudo across the battlefield. The Zora were swarming in, moving with precision and fighting in their element. He had to reunite with Queen Urballa's half of their army if they were to have any hope of success. That meant either braving the cannons' line of fire, or eliminating the cannons as an obstacle.
Let me take the reins, he heard Ganon's voice say.
Harun considered it. Ganondorf had done as he'd promised back in the canyon, but that did not mean Harun could trust him. With the Gerudo marching on Hyrule, he might see this as another chance to accomplish what he had set out to do before he had died.
No. I am to remain in control, Harun replied to his demonic passenger. But you will lend me your power.
Ganondorf's laughter echoed in his head. I'll lend you my power, the old king agreed. But we'll see if you remain in control.
A moment later, a Zora emerged from one of the water snakes and came running at Harun with his spear drawn. Harun reacted in an instant, knocking the fish man's spear to the side and impaling him with his trident. The weapon pierced the Zora's armor like it was nothing, and Harun tossed the lifeless body off to the side. He could feel the power coursing through him again. It was a different experience this time, but the same mixture of fear and excitement was present. The battle around him seemed to slow, and he no longer felt overwhelmed, as if he were confident he could defeat the enemy army by himself.
Go forth, Ganon urged him. Show them true power.
Harun inhaled and closed his eyes. When he opened them, he spread his arms. Everyone around him, friend and foe alike, was knocked back a small distance as a blast of air spread out in all directions. The fog cleared, revealing the whole battlefield for the first time.
Harun could see the queen's forces at the far end of the Digdogg Suspension Bridge. They were engaged in battle with an army of Hylians, but many of them were stuck hiding behind the cliffs to avoid the bombardment from the cannons. He could see the cannons, too, up on the walls along the edge of the Great Plateau. He knew he had to destroy them, but first, he had to deal with the Zora.
Striding forward with purpose, Harun walked towards the edge of the cliff in the direction of the cannons. Along the way, several Zora came at him, but all were easily dispatched without much thought, never causing him to slow his pace. A stream of water rushed towards him, intent on either knocking him off or delivering Zora reinforcements, but either way, he removed the obstacle just as easily. The pillar of water exploded, and the Zora within were left paralyzed by a surge of lightning.
When he reached the cliff, he looked down. He could see the Zora swimming around in the lake below, sending pillars of water upwards. Stepping out over the edge, he allowed himself to drop down. As he fell, he raised his trident, feeling the power of a lightning storm building up within him.
Just as he landed in the lake, he thrust his trident downwards. A mighty splash of water erupted around him, as if an explosion had gone off underwater. Thunder crackled as bolts of lightning leapt in all directions. The Zora in the water were sent flying into the air, screaming in terror. Some crashed against the cliff, splattering on the rocks. Others were fried by the electricity. Pillars of water that were being raised by the hydromancers collapsed, sending the soldiers within them falling back down into the electrified water below. Not all were killed, but those who remained scattered in all directions.
With this objective complete, Harun felt himself effortlessly rising out of the water, carried by the air currents up towards the Great Plateau. The Hylians on the wall took notice of him. Someone began shouting orders, and a few of the cannons rotated in place, aiming in his direction. One of them fired. The cannonball soared through the air, coming right at him. Harun slapped it with his trident, causing it to shatter into pieces. Any others that fired with enough accuracy met a similar fate.
Once he was close enough, Harun raised his hand. A potent, violet flame appeared in his palm. He held it for a moment, then threw it down the barrel of the closest cannon. The operators dove out of the way as the cannon exploded in a puff of violet smoke, leaving only charred and melted pieces behind.
He continued to fly along the edge of the walls, destroying each cannon one by one. Some Hylians fought back with bows or magic, but most simply fled once their comrades' efforts proved useless.
When the last of the cannons was a smoking ruin, Harun finally landed atop a tower along the wall. For a moment, he stood there, staring blankly in front of him. Slowly, the power that had been coursing through his veins left him. He fell to one knee, suddenly exhausted. But, more than tired, his head felt clear.
What?
He had not been possessed this time. All the actions he'd taken had been his own - not Ganon's, and not Demise's. And yet, he had acted mercilessly and mechanically, dispatching dozens upon dozens of opponents without sparing them a second thought. And now, he looked out over the battlefield, with smoke rising from everywhere along the path he'd taken.
"Why did I…?" he said aloud.
Because you had to, Ganon's voice answered. And because you could.
From his vantage point, Harun could see the entire Digdogg Suspension Bridge. With the Zora in disarray, the cannons disabled, and the fog cleared, his troops were free to move forward and join up with Queen Urballa. Together, their combined forces were quickly turning the tide of battle. He watched as the Gerudo army gained ground, until the Hyruleans were eventually forced to retreat, heading back towards their Coliseum.
This was a remarkable victory for our people, Ganondorf told him. And we owe it all to you.
Harun did not know what to think. Part of him was glad he'd been able to help end the battle so quickly, saving countless lives that would have been lost the longer the fighting went on. But part of him wanted to vomit. He remembered the faces of the Zora and the Hylians he'd killed - the way they screamed in terror before meeting their end.
What is happening to me?
With the Digdogg Suspension Bridge cleared and the enemy's battlements along the edge of the Great Plateau devastated, the Gerudo proceeded as planned and began setting up their forward base camp. They still had much to do, and their troops would need rest and time for their wounds to heal. Unfortunately, with parts of the bridge destroyed by the Zora's interference, it was going to be difficult to call for reinforcements or extra supplies from Yarna. They would have to either make temporary repairs to the bridges or send boats across the lake below, neither of which would be easy.
Despite the non-trivial losses their forces had suffered, many of the Gerudo were in a celebratory mood. As far as they were concerned, they had achieved their latest in a string of significant victories, and they were probably hoping to ride that inertia until the Coliseum had fallen to them as well.
Harun, of course, did not feel like celebrating. He barely thought about the other Gerudo. All he could think of at the moment was himself, Ganondorf, and those he'd killed in the battle. And so, while the others set up camp in the valley between the plateau and the mountains, Harun sat by himself, looking out over the cliff into the lake.
The sound of clanking metal boots alerted the prince to the approach of an Iron Knuckle. Someone of lighter foot accompanied the armored warrior as well.
"Your actions today were quite remarkable, my prince," Commander Bularis said from behind him. "Much of the camp is talking about you. With the power you wield, they believe we can take the Coliseum with ease."
"I am sure they would say that," Harun said blankly.
Bularis did not respond, but the lighter-footed Gerudo took a seat beside him. "Many of our warriors feared for their lives in that battle," Queen Urballa told him. "Many of them live because of your intervention."
The logical part of Harun's brain recognized that as a good thing, but he couldn't feel anything for it. "I don't want to fight in the next battle," he told her.
There was a pause. The queen turned and signaled to Bularis. The commander's heavy footsteps clanked once more as she left the two of them alone.
"I have asked much of you recently. I understand that," Urballa told him. "You need time to recover. I can grant you this. Is there some other task you wish to complete instead?"
Harun thought for a moment, searching for anything else he could do that would still feel productive. He didn't want to fight, but he didn't want to do nothing while the rest of his people fought and died. "The shield," he said, remembering the mystery he had been investigating before all of this chaos had occurred.
Urballa did not appear to understand. "Queen Nabooru's mirror shield?"
"Yes. The monsters are up to something. I have a feeling it's of much greater importance than our conflict with the other Children of Nayru," Harun reiterated. "The Spirit Temple was not the only sage temple that was attacked." He thought back to the news he'd received in Kara Kara. "The Temple of Time was attacked as well. It is just atop the plateau. If I can go there, I may uncover more of this mystery."
Urballa's jewelry jangled as she tilted her head in consideration. "We may have taken the edge of the Great Plateau, but it is still Hyrulean territory. It may be dangerous for you to tread there, especially if you wish to enter one of their sage temples."
"I will bring only my guards, and we will make our intentions known to any we encounter," Harun reasoned, hoping Urballa would grant him permission to go.
The queen considered it for a moment longer, then finally nodded. "Very well. It is not a long journey, so I will grant you and your guards a day or two of respite. However, I fully expect you to return as soon as your errand is complete, young prince. We should not remain separated for too long."
Harun felt a wave of relief. It would only be for a couple of days, but it was better than nothing. "Thank you, my queen. I am certain my quest will prove fruitful."
