My Dearest Malon,
I am glad to be able to write to you once more. For a while it seemed I may never get the chance again. I have seen the ugly face of war firsthand, and I am changed for it. I wish I could return to the boy I was only a few weeks before, so excited to be donning a uniform, and to be out in the field serving my country. I was naive, foolish. If only I still had the Ocarina of Time, then perhaps I might escape into the past as I did once before. Surely, I could not mess up another future as much as I have this one.
We were ambushed on a regular scouting patrol; Gerudo warriors, mounted and plated in steel, supplemented with a horde of monsters, came upon us with a fury I had never seen before in my enemies. Even in just a few short months, Ganondorf's army has become larger, stronger and better equipped. I believe they had intel on our observation post, because they stayed out of sight, and were almost on top of us before we even knew of their coming. It was carnage. I will spare you the grisly details, but we were hopelessly outmatched - on foot and equipped for speed and stealth as we were. I have never seen monsters so organised and receptive to tactical instruction. We knew this race of Blins were smarter than the average monster, but it seems as the King of Evil's power grows, so too does his command over his fell minions.
I tried to stand against them, to protect my squad, and I failed. All my training, my years of travel, were completely inadequate. My commanding officer was pierced with several arrows, just a few feet from me. I tried to get them all to run, so that at least some might escape the slaughter. But Kolk, my CO, gripped my arm tightly, and through a mouthful of blood, ordered me to retreat with as many survivors as I could. I've never had to retreat before. Whatever the odds, I've always prevailed. But for the first time, I really felt like a small boy, caught up in something far larger than me, incapable of turning the tide.
In the aftermath, I was surprised that it wasn't just the deaths of Sheikah comrades that left an impact. I felled many Gerudo in our escape, and I saw the eyes of each one, staring pleadingly at me from under their helms. There was so much fear and confusion in them. I have to wonder how many were brainwashed and forced into service. Killing monsters is one thing. I have always told myself that it was just. They do not belong here, and cause great harm to the living. But the Gerudo are just people, the same as you and me. If they are being made to fight against their will, then am I not the evil one for putting them to the sword? The question has haunted me all through the cold nights we spent hiding out, in search of the Sheikah muster. Only a handful of us made it there. Once we have recovered, we will join another unit and return to the field. There is no excitement in my heart at the prospect this time.
I hope you are faring better than I. I am sorry this letter has been full of nothing but my own sorrows. I truly hope that life on the ranch is as peaceful as ever. It would give me great hope that we are making the right choices, if I knew that you and the other citizens of Hyrule (but mainly you) were able to live mostly as normal, untouched by the horrors occurring out here. Forever yours.
The golden light that filled their vision slowly subsided, as the last winds whistled through the trees. Link and Rodan came to, standing knee deep in the waters of the Fairy Pond, human once more, but immediately Link had the sense that they weren't alone. Whether it was the last vestiges of his animal form heightening his awareness, or simply his sixth-sense for danger honed over years spent in perilous situations, he wasn't sure, but Link could almost taste the threat in the air. In the distance, there were vague sounds that might be cries of fear, and in the early morning sky, above the treetops, a shimmering amber haze.
"Hey, watch out! He's already here," Link heard the fairy, Vaelin, call out.
Reacting on instinct, Link felt something solid and heavy in his hand, and threw it with all his might at a suspicious patch of sky. With a whoosh like the winds that had carried him around the spirit realm, the heavy thing arced through the air, spinning at great speeds, until it connected with something invisible, hovering menacingly above them. Link caught the boomerang again as it glided back to earth, and readied himself to throw again. To his right, he saw Rodan, holding a shimmering sword, take the combat stance Link had taught him.
"Sorry 'bout that. Took me a second to get my bearin's" he said, flashing Link a grin from the corner of his mouth, but with eyes fixed on the spot where the boomerang had found a target.
"Where did you get that sword?" Link said to him.
"I dunno. What about that…umm…curvy stick?" he replied.
Link shrugged. Vaelin flitted from between them, gaining height to circle around the invisible intruder.
"I can just about see him. He's somewhere…"
But the fairy was interrupted by a cold laugh. Vaelin dived for cover, but before he could, was swatted out of the air, as Phantom Ganon slid into view. Malicious purple energy crackled, flowing over his body, revealing his black armour and gleaming, fiery eyes as his pale cloak billowed around him.
"Are you okay, Vaelin?" Link grunted, as he chucked the boomerang at the apparition again. This time, the phantom swished his cloak, knocking the boomerang aside, before crossing his arms. He laughed his merciless laugh as he soared away backwards, in the direction of the village.
"Don't be a fool, I'm fine" the fairy spluttered. "Let's get after him, so this one can actually make some use of her majesty's gift". Here he gestured with his body towards Rodan. The Ordonian had actually already splashed his way over to the shore in the direction of the gate, which was swinging on its hinges, completely shattered again.
He called back to them. "Then stop mouthin' off and get over here, servant".
Link and Vaelin exchanged a look, then hurried after him. The three speeded their way out of the glade, and onto the snowy forest trail, turning towards home.
"What use would a sword be against somethin' that can fly anyway? Think before you speak next time, slave" Rodan panted to Vaelin.
"You know, I don't appreciate being called…" Vaelin said, sounding miffed.
"But you have to serve me, right? That's what my Ma' commanded, and you wouldn't disobey her, right?" Rodan interrupted, clearly enjoying having the upper-hand over the fairy for a change.
Vaelin muttered something rude under his breath.
"Are all fairies this grouchy?" Rodan whispered from behind his hand to Link.
"Actually, it's more common than you'd think," he murmured back with a small smirk. "Until you get to know them".
As the two boys ran, with Vaelin flying alongside them, the sounds of battle grew, and they could make out the source of the shimmering in the sky. Ordon village was ablaze.
"Oh no" Rodan moaned as they rounded a corner and saw the first house in ruins, little more than a smouldering heap of ash. "Are we too late?"
Link held up a hand to silence him, and approached the burnt-out house warily. Then suddenly, he darted forward, and started scrambling about in the debris. "Come help, there's someone here!"
Rodan joined him, and together they heaved fallen timber and charred rubble aside. After a moment, Link found a hand scrabbling for his. With a last effort, they managed to pull a soot-stained woman free from the wreckage, who immediately collapsed, panting and coughing the ash from her lungs.
"Th-thank you" she managed. Rodan crouched down beside her, supporting her so that she could sit upright.
"Genora, you're safe now. Quickly, what happened? Where are all the guards?" he asked, gently.
"I-I don't…I'm not sure" she stammered. "The monsters appeared suddenly, a h-huge army of them. They came from down the trail. Th-they must have overrun the bridge guard. Oh my p-poor Marro, his shift was almost over…". Genora broke down in tears, leaving streaks in the soot on her face.
Link put a hand on Rodan's shoulder. "We have to go. There's still time to help the others, I can hear them fighting".
Rodan rubbed his chin, and stood up. "Genora, I know you might wish to go to the bridge to find your husband, but there may still be monsters there. You must take refuge at the Fairy Pool. The spirit there will try and protect you".
Genora looked up at them with wide, tearful eyes. Slowly she nodded. "Yes, Cheifson, I will do as you say".
Link and Rodan shared a grim look, but their attention was drawn by Vaelin suddenly chiming in alarm.
"Monsters. MONSTERS! Over there, look!"
They looked, and saw that he was right. Three hulking, slavering monsters had appeared, barring their path into the main body of the village. They were roughly the size of a fully-grown adult, but hunched painfully over at the shoulders and back, with long, gangling limbs. Their lumpy, oversized heads housed a sneering mouth full of nasty-looking teeth, long ears like bat wings, and beady, orange little eyes. Their noses were squat and upturned like a pig's snout and their bristly hide was purple. The only hint of propriety they displayed was their matching, white dreadlocks that they had tied behind their heads in a loose ponytail.
Genora screamed, firstly upon noticing the fairy, who was buzzing an angry orange, and then at the brutish creatures approaching them, holding crude but cruel looking weapons. To Link's surprise, his friend reacted first. Rodan rushed headlong at the creatures, yelling a battle cry, and swinging his sword wildly.
"Rodan, wait!" Link called, before remembering the terrified Genora. "Run when I say" he told the trembling woman, before pitching after Rodan and the monsters. He saw Rodan, locked in a duel with one, his gleaming sword pushing against the monster's dull, rusty blade. Just when it looked like he might get the upper-hand, the beast hissed venomously at him, and with its free hand, clawed at his face. Another monster then tackled him, launching him back in Link's direction. Link ran to stand over his friend, taking in the deep scratches on his cheek. "Cover your face" he commanded, which Rodan did.
Link again drew the boomerang back, and launched it as hard as he could. But rather than aiming for the advancing monsters, he threw it low, so that it skimmed along the surface of the ground in a wide circle, sending up a blizzard of snow into the air and obscuring the howling monsters from sight. "Now Genora, run!". The woman took off gladly, stumbling her way back down the trail towards the pond.
Link held out his hand out to Rodan, who gripped it firmly as he pulled himself to his feet. "Remember what I told you about running in blindly?" Link said with a smile that disappeared when he observed the gashes on Rodan's face. "Is it bad? It looks nasty".
"Still prettier than you" Rodan smirked. "I'll be fine, let's finish these gits off".
Link nodded and turned to face the monsters. By his side, Rodan raised his sword.
"They're disorientated. Use that, and wait for your opening" Link said, as his boomerang twirled through the air to land perfectly in his hand again. "Now!"
The two dashed forward into the snowy vortex. A shadowy shape in the snow cloud coalesced in front of Link, revealing the monster mid-swing, aiming a savage blow towards Link's head. With no time to change the direction of his charge, Link instead dropped to his knees, his momentum propelling him forward on the icy earth. He passed narrowly under the flailing arms of the monster, felt the force of the blow as it sliced through the air inches from his face, before releasing his boomerang overhand, which connected with a grisly crunch, square between the monster's glassy eyes.
The monster recoiled, snarling, clutching at its face, which was now oozing thick, green blood. But Link wasn't finished. From his position low on the ground, he swept his leg round in a circle, kicking at the thing's ankles, and knocking it flat on its back. As he hoped, Rodan saw the opportunity to strike, which he did, appearing above the struggling monster to drive his blade through its chest with such force that it continued out the other side and into the frozen ground. The monster screeched, then gurgled, before finally, with a croak, it exploded in a cloud of purple smoke.
"It's…it's dead, right? I killed it?" Rodan panted, struggling with his sword which was submerged almost to the hilt.
"Master Link, on your right!" Vaelin squealed suddenly.
Link dodged and twisted, searching for his assailant, and clocked a vicious looking scimitar headed straight for his heart. He swiped at it with the boomerang, and although it looked like little more than a delicately carved chunk of wood, it met the sword with a clang, parrying it away from his body. The monster stumbled, thrown off balance by the defensive manoeuvre. Link seized the moment, unleashing a flurry of his own blows. Holding the boomerang like a club, he brought it down again and again, circling the creature to rain attacks down from all sides, as it crumpled under the weight.
While he beat the thing into submission, he trained his eyes and ears on locating the third monster. The snow had begun to settle, and to his alarm, he saw the creature several feet away, with spear outstretched, charging at Rodan, who was still straining to free his sword. Link cried out, and made to throw the boomerang, to stop the fiend in its tracks…but as he drew back his arm, he felt two sets of claws dig deep into his leg, and drag him to the floor. The monster he had been beating on was still alive, and made sure he knew it. It howled like a caged animal, and tore at Link's flesh while he desperately tried to kick it away with his other leg.
Link snapped his head back as he fended off the beast, to catch a glimpse of his friend. To his relief, just as the spear-carrying monster looked certain to skewer Rodan, Vaeilin appeared from nowhere, to body slam the monster in its temple, so that it was thrown off course, and instead impaled a nearby tree trunk, howling in fury. The fairy then flew to Rodan's side, fluttering below the hilt of the stuck sword, trying to push it free as Rodan pulled.
"Hey, thanks" Rodan grunted.
"Shut up and pull. What's your excuse this time, forgot how to use your arms?" Vaelin snapped back.
A twisting, rending pain in his calf snapped Link's attention back to his own situation. The battered monster was pulling himself towards Link, using his body as bloody finger-holds. Link used the pain as fuel, focusing his kicks on the monster's squishy snout. He booted it over and over, until he felt a sickening crack and squelch. With a burbling cry, the monster also vanished into smoke.
Link struggled to his feet, feeling his leg gingerly. When he pulled his hand away, it was slick with blood. There was no time to wallow in the pain though. To his right, Rodan and Vaelin had finally dislodged the sword, but to his left, the monster had also freed his spear from the tree and turned to face them, spittle frothing at the corners of its gaping mouth.
But when it came about to see Rodan and Link pointing their weapons at it, with no allies in sight, the monster squealed in fear. It looked at Link and Rodan in turn, the cogs turning slowly in its dim brain, before reaching a decision… flee. It turned and sprinted away, towards the path that Genora had taken.
"No you don't" Link muttered, and heaved his boomerang after it. This time, he threw it underarm, from low to high, so that it sailed along the ground and when it reached the target, lifted it high up into the air with the force of a tornado. Rodan didn't need the opening pointed out to him. In a flash he closed the gap, and as the monster tumbled back to earth, caught it in the air with a powerful slash, cleaving the creature's body in two. The two halves fell to the ground, a look of surprise still adorning the creature's face, where they exploded.
"This sword is pretty great. You said it was a gift from Ma'?" Rodan said in awe, holding the bright, many-coloured blade up to catch the morning sun.
"Yes, and never before has it been wielded so…haphazardly. The fairy smiths who forged it would likely have a conniption if they saw it in your hands" Vaelin said, sniffily.
"You know what, don't bother savin' my life next time if you're goin' to be such a stick-in-the-mud. I'd rather be dead than listen to you prattle on much longer" Rodan retorted.
Link limped over to the others. "Come on guys, we don't have time to bicker. That was just three monsters. There's certain to be a lot more in the village".
"Ahh Master Link. Now there's a worthy holder of the Gale Boomerang, imbued with godly winds. Truly, her majesty was wise to grant you this power" Vaelin said as he approached.
"Hey is my sword imbued with anythin'? Like the power of the sun maybe?" Rodan asked, unable to mask the touch of jealousy in his voice.
"Nah, it's just a sword," said Vaelin cattily.
Rodan was about to reply when he saw Link's leg and winced. "Hold yer horses, you're not goin' anywhere on that".
Rodan forced Link to sit, and set about dressing the wound. He took a handful of snow, and squeezed it over Link's leg, so that the melted ice washed away the blood, though it made Link grind his teeth with discomfort. Then he busied himself, combing the undergrowth for the required herbs. When he found what he was searching for, he came back to kneel next to Link.
"Hey, you know, it is a really great sword. I have one just like it!" Link said brightly.
"Of course you do," Rodan sighed.
To Link's surprise, Rodan popped the herbs he gathered straight into his own mouth, and began to chew.
"What are you doing?" Link asked, but Rodan just held up a finger.
"Mmnpf hrmfrmn" he said, before spitting the half digested paste onto Link's leg.
"Eughh yuck, whyyy?" Link moaned.
"Just trust me, okay? Cylia taught me about this stuff. I think it was punishment for hurtin' myself while playin' one too many times". Rodan scooped up a little of the paste, and dabbed it on his injured cheek. "Urghh, doesn't half smell vile though, does it?"
Then he tore a strip of cloth from his jacket, and wound it tightly around Link's leg, skillfully fastening it in place.
"There, right as rain" he said, sitting back and admiring his handiwork. "Here, I've just had a thought. Why did I bother with that, when we've got a fairy right there? You could have patched us up in half a second and saved me the trouble" he said, turning a glower towards Vaelin.
The fairy sniffed haughtily. "I am on a divine errand from her grace. If I exhausted my power covering for your mortal failings, then I would have to return to the spirit realm, unable to complete my task".
"And the problem with that is…?" Rodan leered.
"It is the second greatest shame a fairy can suffer, surpassed only by being made to serve a boorish, uncivilised runt like you" Vaelin hissed, his colour changing.
"Enough!" Link interrupted firmly, pushing himself to his feet. He was surprised at how much sturdier his leg felt already, though it ached dully. "We're wasting time here. People are in danger. Your people, Rodan,'' he said, with a pointed look at the Ordonian.
Rodan hung his head, but didn't wallow in self-pity. "You're right, I guess I'm just afraid of what we're gonna find down there. But no more stallin', let's go".
The three headed down the little gully towards the village, quickly but warily, in case more monsters were waiting to jump out at them. As they stalked on, Link looked at his friend, who was chewing his lip, deep in thought.
"You know, no-one would judge you for not being ready for this. You're not a soldier. You just had your first real taste of combat" Link said.
"Did you feel ready? When you first left the forest?" he replied, eyes fixed on the road ahead.
"I guess not. I don't know, everything happened so suddenly that I didn't really have time to think about it".
"Then I'm not gonna think about it," Rodan said, straining a smile. "Besides, I was s'posed to say that to the two of you. This is Ordon's fight. My fight. You shouldn't have got caught up in this. If you want to leave…"
"We're staying," Link said firmly. "We're here because we want to be, not because we have to".
"I kind of have to…" Vaelin started, but Link shushed him into silence. Their path had just opened up, and before them lay Ordon Village. Or what remained of it.
The sleepy streets were alive with movement, but there were no horse-drawn wagons, or smiling villagers going about their business. Instead a swarm of monsters thronged the dirt tracks and the little plaza, churning the earth, which was sodden with blood, both green and red, mixing with the muddy snow. Bodies were strewn about, soldiers and civilians alike, trampled underfoot by the cackling, whooping horde. Barely a house stood untouched by the destruction. Most were sizzling heaps, and many others were on their way: great pillars of flame and smoke, which the firestarters danced gleefully around. The air was thick and choking, as black ash diffused with the purple smog left behind by felled monsters. Though the sun should have already started its ascent, it was invisible behind the twisting haze.
The three stood, taking in the devastation, their errand forgotten in their despair.
"Dear Gods…" Rodan breathed, his voice raspy with emotion. "No, no no no".
Link pointed. "Look, over there, in the direction of Odo's house. The purple fog is thicker there. That might mean people fighting back".
"But…how can we get through? There must be a thousand monsters between us and them" Rodan said in a low moan.
"I've faced worse," Link said, trying to keep his tone light, though he wasn't sure he believed his words. "Here…" he stooped, and muttering a quick prayer in apology, retrieved a sword and a shield from a fallen soldier nearby. He handed the shield to Rodan, and gave the steel sword a few practice swings. "A little heavier than I'm used to, but it'll do".
"I don't know that some crappy wooden shield is goin' to make the difference" Rodan said, holding it awkwardly.
"If we had time, we could go grab my gear, but this is all we've got".
"What's the use?" Rodan muttered.
"Ro, listen! It's time," Link said, placing both hands on his friend's shoulders, and catching his eye. "I'm going to go first, try and cut a path with the boomerang. You stay close behind me. Keep that shield up and watch my back. Vaelin, you watch his. We're all counting on each other, okay?"
Slowly, a look of determination came into Rodan's face, and he nodded. "I'll be right behind you".
Link gave him a playful punch on the shoulder, then turned. After a deep breath, he raised his sword, and charged. "For Ordon!" he yelled.
Behind him, the others let out battle-cries too.
"For her majesty, the Queen!"
"For Ma'!"
The squad rushed down the hill and into the village, making a fearsome din. Several monsters turned, squealing in alarm, but when all they saw was two boys and a little glowing orb, they grunted in a harsh facsimile of laughter. Their laughter stopped however, when a powerful blast of icy air bowled over a whole crowd of them. Those that remained on their feet screeched, and scrambled to get out of the way of the spinning boomerang, shoving and climbing over each other, as it arced around, mowing down swathes of the creatures. Many vanished into dust.
The three ran headlong into the gap created by Link, gleaming swords flashing left and right, cutting down stragglers. But soon the horde recovered, and began to press in on all sides, surrounding the little troop. Before long they were completely caught up in the crush. Sneering faces, sharp claws and teeth, pointed weapons pressed against them from all sides; a frothing, stormy sea of danger, and they had been taken by its currents. They tried to push forwards, but Link couldn't even find space to raise his arm to throw the boomerang again. He looked over his shoulder, but there was no sight of his friends, just more cruel faces.
"Rodan!" he called out.
He spun, sword outstretched, glittering blue magic dancing along the blade, enhancing the power and range of his strike. Around him, several monsters exploded, but they were immediately replaced with more.
"Rodan! Vaelin!"
There was no reply, save the endless hooting and cackling of the advancing swarm, drowning Link in the deluge of bodies.