Link and Elgon both stepped back in shock, disbelief welling up inside of them.
"This can't be." Elgon said quietly.
"This must be some kind of lie, an act of deceit by Ganondorf or something." Link exclaimed.
"It came direct from the Goron's leader, I wouldn't lie about this." an alarmed Mayor Met said as he backed away, the Clock Town guards moving closer.
"The mention of his name seems to disturb you quite a bit, have you met him before?" Trystane pressed.
"Met him? He was the first opponent I ever faced that outmatched me, and the only enemy I've ever had that came close to taking Zelda from me forever." Link growled, reaching for the Master Sword.
"First as in first ever? As in each and every one of your incarnations?" Erris asked as he stepped out from under the awning of a nearby shop.
"Indeed, and I don't intend to let him live long in this era." Link responded as he turned, beginning to walk towards the western gate.
"Link, where are you going?" Kallil called, the rest of the team running after him.
"Here we go." Cia said, rolling her eyes as she leaned against a column.
"I intend to finish this now! I have breached heavily protected borders before as well have I ended wars single-handedly. You won't need my help during the battle for Gamelon." Link said as he drew the Master Sword. "I hope none of you intend on standing in my way!" he called out.
"What do you think you're doing, we'll need you out there, regardless of what you think!" Admiral Ginthorne called out as he started after the Hero.
"My, how dramatic." Mayor Met said as he stepped further behind his guards.
"It would be smarter to aid us against Gamelon, that way we can get a foothold in the north and thus Holodrum and Labrynna will be more accessible, and this Ghirahim with them." Elgon cautioned, but to no avail.
"Ghirahim is a problem, a problem I will end before it starts, please, I will find you after I have finished him." Link replied.
"What would Zelda think of all this?" Elgon asked as he charged forward.
"Zelda's used to me taking risks, she knows this is what comes with my title as the Goddess' Champion." Link answered.
"Cease this foolishness, you want to charge straight into enemy territory that's swarming with soldiers and beasts alike?" Elgon called back.
"It may be swarming with enemies, but those lands are also populated by scared citizens forced to live under the accursed rule of a demon!" Link shouted.
"And now that's what you care about? This entire campaign you have set forth for yourself is solely to kill Ghirahim and you know that." Elgon stated.
"I care for those people because I know how terrible Ghirahim can be! I don't know how he's returned from the dead, but I will fix this cosmic mistake and simultaneously clean up a mess of your making!" Link said.
Elgon grimaced as all but Cia looked on, puzzled.
"She knows, she saw it through the Gate of Souls...what happened to the first Master Sword." Link said as he pointed towards the Sorceress. "What did they call it? The Elder Blade?"
"Now is not the time." Elgon growled.
"You allowed it to fall into Demise's hands, and he polluted and twisted it's essence into a dark perversion of the Goddess' work, corrupting the sword spirit and turning Ghirahim towards evil." Link said.
"It was either the sword or my village, what choice would you make?!" Elgon shouted.
"In all my lives I have never let it come to that! I am a far greater champion than you ever were and you know that, and maybe a small part of you resents it too! Now, I am going, I do not advise anyone else to try and stop me." he warned.
Aren darted onto a column, kicking off of it onto a rooftop before jumping down to an awning and dropping in front of the Hero. "We Sheikah are servants of the Royal family, the Princess asked I keep you safe, and seeing as charging into enemy occupied territory on your own is dangerous, I will have to keep my word to her and stop you here." he said.
"So be it." Link said, beginning to raise his fists when he suddenly clenched, his body spasming as he fell to the ground.
"I'm sorry Link, but that was for your own good." Cia said as she lowered her hand, the electricity arcing across it dying down.
Trystane and Thrakon helped Link to his feet as the group headed towards the Clock Town's capital building, the Hero drifting in and out of consciousness.
"Thanks for that." Elgon said, nodding at Cia.
"You needn't thank me, he was merely getting on my nerves." Cia said with a smirk.
oOo
"Come on already!" Mathias called.
Oreck charged forward with a growl, swinging his blade madly at the Knight.
Mathias blocked a downwards slash, redirected a diagonal strike, and caught Oreck's stab. "That's where you went wrong." he informed the younger man. With a swift motion he slid his blade along Oreck's catching it with the his blade's crossguard and spinning it, forcing Oreck's sword out of his hand. "Only go in for a stab when your opponent is wide open, bet they didn't teach you that in the guard." Mathias remarked.
"What's the point of this? I don't need swordsmanship if I have this." he said, indicating the Goht mask.
"And what if that's taken away from you? You'll be helpless." Mathias answered.
How do you propose someone try to take it from me?" Oreck asked as he retrieved his blade.
"When your back is turned, or maybe someone can move faster than you can don it, or perhaps our leader requires use of it and doesn't allow you access to the mask. Then, my young friend, you will need skill with a blade, as all of us who are non-magical do." he said, brushing his air aside and indicating his rounded ear.
"Not many of you around anymore." Oreck remarked.
"There were quite a lot of us living in the Ordon province a few centuries ago, but that pointed ear genetic is strong." Mathias answered as he leaned against a column. "What do you think we're getting ready for?" he asked, looking over the edge of the Castle.
"I don't know, but it looks like fun." Oreck answered.
Far below them white armored soldiers marched in formation with the beasts Ganon had brought to conquer the far away land they stood on, a Black Knight leading each battalion.
"Not having any second thoughts, are you Hylian?" Shilara asked as she strode up to them.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Mathias answered.
"Good, wouldn't want you to end up like Taffin." she said, turning to give a glare to the cowering man. "My water, Taffin." she said.
"Yes, my lady!" he said hurriedly, handing a bottle to her while taking a knee.
"Weren't you..." Mathias began.
"Yes, he was the King's messenger, but he needed a new purpose after I killed the man, so here we are. I am a better boss, am I not Taffin?" Shilara said with a laugh.
Mathias and Oreck shared disturbed glances as the man frantically praised the Gerudo woman.
Taffin cried out as Shilara grabbed him by the throat, lifting him into the air. "Look Taffin! It's your people far below us, all under the thrall of my brother, your new Emperor, isn't it grand?" she asked as she dropped him.
"Indeed it is." he coughed, as Shilara laughed unsympathetically.
"All of you, Lord Ganondorf requests your presence, immediately." Kanthos said as he exited onto the Castle's roof.
"Yes, Sir." Mathias said sarcastically.
In seconds Kanthos was at his throat, a large knife hovering just above his artery. "Lord Ganondorf made me his general because he thought he couldn't trust you, address me with respect or I will tell him I thought you could not be, thus I took care of you for him." Kanthos threatened.
"Better watch your mouth, Knight." Shilara said with a laugh. "You! Stay here and don't move an inch!" Shilara commanded, Taffin agreeing quickly.
Mathias bowed his head as he followed the group, giving a sympathetic glance to Taffin before moving on, the sound of thousands of footfalls making their way towards the fortress in the distance.
oOo
Naora attempted to run, only for the enormous tentacle to land directly behind her, easily knocking her to the ground. "Kyra!" she yelled as she flipped onto her back, eyes opening wide as the appendage descended towards her again. The Gerudo woman braced for the impact before a blast water pushed it back, the Octorok it was attached to screeching in response.
"Come! Quick!" Kyra said, reaching out a hand.
Naora leapt to her feet and took the Zora girl's hand, both running towards the tree line before a massive tree trunk flew over their heads, smashing the trees before them and blocking their path.
"Damn." Naora snarled, turning to face the enormous creature.
"I've never seen one his big before, my father said they weren't real." Kyra stammered.
The Octorok roared as it sent another tentacle for the duo, Naora slashing at it with her scimitar, the Octorok pulling the tentacle back as it's body spasmed.
"Can't imagine that hurt it that much..." Naora said, eyeing the beast suspiciously.
Kyra's eyes widened as she grabbed Naora, pulling her to the ground.
"What was that all about?" Naora said, stopping as a massive rock flew over them, splintering the tree trunk it had thrown earlier along with the trees behind it.
"I forgot they could do that." Kyra explained.
"I won't let it do it again!" Naora roared as she sheathed her scimitar and extended both arms forward. Orange energy traveled down her arms, forming into a ball in her palms. "Let's see how much you like it when we throw things back at you." she growled.
The Octorok charged screeching as it's tentacles shot towards the two, Naora stepping forward and releasing the charge she had built up, the ensuing stream of energy incinerating the attacking appendages and blowing the Octorok back into the swamp.
Naora smirked as she dropped to her knees, chest rising and falling rapidly. "This is the last time we swim across the water instead of going around it." she remarked.
"My apologies, in Zora's Domain we didn't have monsters like that, only cute little fish." Kyra explained.
Naora smiled as she got back to her feet, turning quickly as the pond seemingly exploded outwards, a tentacle flying towards Kyra grabbing the girl by the ankle and pulling her towards it.
"No!" she screamed, placing her hands together. "Damn, damn!" she repeated as all she could manage were small bursts of energy between her palms. "Fine, looks like I'm going to you then." she said, her energy seemingly depleted. The Gerudo woman drew her blade, dashing across the muddy ground and diving into the water, swimming towards the creature, she held her breath as the water thrashed around her, throwing her about, but she persisted, pushing through until she found herself within range. She grit her teeth and tightened her grip, jabbing the sword into the Octorok's underside.
Naora turned in time to see a tentacle smashing Kyra down through the water's surface, and before she could react, she was ensnared also. "Naora!" Kyra called as the Octorok dangled her above it's mouth.
"Don't worry, I'm coming!" Naora called, clawing at the tentacle as she writhed around, her heart racing as it held her tightly, it's grip unrelenting. "It can't end this way, I won't let it." she thought, trying to call forth her powers. The Gerudo woman felt her body giving out as the air was squeezed out of her, knowing Kyra's powers were drained also. She shut her eyes tight, praying silently when suddenly it would seem she was answered.
Vines flew out of the forest as roots rose from beneath the water, wrapping around it's body as the Octorok thrashed around, dropping Kyra and Naora.
The Gerudo woman felt herself lose consciousness as Kyra grabbed her, swimming her back to land.
Shadows overtook the Octorok as it struggled more, it's tentacles held at it's side by the plants that attacked it.
"What's happening?" Kyra asked, a frightened inflection in her voice.
Naora forced herself up, watching the monster be dragged down to the bottom of the reservoir, going still as a veil of shadow overtook it's body. "I've seen this before." she said between breaths.
Kyra's head snapped to her right as she heard two voices, holding out her hand as she called the Water Sage's Staff back to her, having lost it when the Octorok captured her.
"All life is precious, Impa." Saria said.
"We had it right where we wanted it, if it had been able to break those vines it would have eaten her." the Sheikah woman replied.
"It was just doing what it had to do to survive. Many times we have had small Octoroks find their way to Kokiri Forest, and we do not kill them." Saria responded.
"If you were up against a monster like that, you might rethink that sentiment...besides, what's to stop it from coming back up?" Impa asked as she eyed the water wearily.
"The trees will hold it until I say it's okay for them to release it." Saria said with a smile.
Impa shook her head in disbelief as she followed the Kokiri towards the two soaking Sages that lay on the floor of the swamp.
"Are you okay?" she asked as she approached the two.
"Did you...save us?" Kyra asked.
"Oh yes, my travel partner Impa and I couldn't just leave you there." Saria explained as Impa strode up.
Kyra looked up at the Sheikah woman, stepping back as a stunned expression took over her features. "Princess Kyra?! You've been missing for months!" Impa said incredulously.
"You know her?" Saria asked.
"I've met her many times when she'd visit the Castle with her father, King Laorik of the Hyrulean Zora. She hasn't been seen for quite a while." Impa explained. "We feared you were dead."
"Well, you two catch up while I check on her friend." Saria said as she approached Naora, the Gerudo woman looking up for a moment, only to jump to her feet holding her blade aloft. "You!" she called out.
"Saria! Look out!" Impa said as she pulled the Kokiri girl back, standing in front of her. "So this is way the Princess went, kidnapped by Ganondorf's minions." she growled.
"I am not his minion, and you will not defeat me again, Sheikah." Naora growled as she charged the woman, Impa drawing her Great Sword in response and slashing towards the Gerudo woman. Suddenly, a large root rose from the ground and caught their blades before they clashed, both women stepping back in shock.
"She serves the Demon King! She must be done away with!" Impa exclaimed.
"No! She helped me!" Kyra yelled as she ran passed the confounded Sheikah, standing in front of the exhausted Naora.
"Impa, it's them." Saria called out.
"Are you certain?!" she asked in disbelief.
"Absolutely, they are the ones we have come for, the Sages of Water and Spirit." Saria explained.
"A Sage serving Ganon, how...interesting." Impa said.
"I am no longer at his side, he is no longer a man, but a monster, and I chose to fight against him, he has committed untold atrocities in a far away land that had done nothing to invite his wrath." Naora said.
"And Hyrule has done something to be subjected to his evil ways!?" Impa asked as she turned to Kyra. "She fought beside your father's killer! How can you stand with her?" the Sheikah woman inquired aggressively.
"Naora told me what she has done, she feels remorse and wishes to seek redemption, and it was not her that killed my father." Kyra explained, a saddened look crossing her face.
Impa made to respond when Saria cut her off, a large grin crossing her face.
"Enough of that, Impa! You look exhausted! We'd like invite you back to Hyrule Castle, there, you can rest, clean up and finally be out of this swamp." the Kokiri girl said.
"That does sound good." Naora said, glancing towards Kyra, the Zora girl nodding in agreement.
"Great! Then come back with us, after you two get settled Princess Zelda would like very much to speak with you." she said.
Naora and Kyra exchanging looks of disbelief as Saria called out a verse in Kokiri tongue, wind and leaves swirling around them as the sounds of Kokiri Forest slowly grew louder.
oOo
Link stood among the middle lines of the joint Hyrulean-Terminian military, glancing up as a legion of Deku Scrubs hovered above, the sounds of the Gorons from Termina, Holodrum, and his own country beating their chests in preparation greeting his ears. Around him the archers nocked their arrows and the Zora soldiers readied their harpoons. He took a vile of red potion out of his pocket, downing it as Elgon turned to him.
"You might've needed that for later...you never know." the Light Sage said.
"I wouldn't need it if Cia hadn't hit me from behind with a bolt of lightning." Link shot back.
"It was just a small zap to stun you, if it was lightning you'd probably be dead." Elgon countered.
"In any case, I'll need to be at full strength." Link replied.
"Fair enough." Elgon returned.
"I...had time earlier to think, I must apologize for what I said, the others...they had no business knowing that. In fact, I should be more grateful that I was entrusted with such information." the Hero admitted.
"I can't blame you, Zelda was my daughter in that life, you weren't the only one Ghirahim almost took her from. Before you, when I still had the role of Hero, I had many dealings with him, knowing it was my fault he was corrupted into what he was then...and is now. I was stunned to hear he was resurrected too, and hell, part of me wanted to go with you to seek him out...but for now this is our mission." Elgon said, placing a hand on the hilt of his blade.
"So I am forgiven?" Link asked with a smirk.
"That you are...Admiral Ginthorne, Mayor Met, Trystane, Thrakon, Kallil, Aren, Erris, and Cia didn't know...or on Cia's part care too much about what you were speaking of. It's ancient history that for the moment is being revisited upon us...but it will become history again soon." Elgon said.
Link turned towards the field in front of him, a strange feeling welled up inside of him as he looked upon it. Gamelom was a very, very small country. They had only just breached the border of Termina when they come within kilometers of the country's shores, Gamelon's Castle and Princess Kayala's former and soon to be residence visible in the distance, the fact it seemed so close and easily accessible, but was unguarded filled him with apprehension, Admiral Ginthorne seemingly feeling the same way as he had the joint military stop short of the long stretch of sand in front of them, waiting just beyond the tree line. It also didn't help that command of his team had been subverted, Admiral Ginthorne partially splitting them up, with Trystane and Cia being stationed on the flagship as the naval force traveled around to attack from Gamelon's north end. "They can freeze the water under the enemy ships." Ginthorne had said to when Link fought his decision, but let it be at Elgon's urging...at least Aren, Thrakon, Kallil, Elgon and Erris still remained with him.
A bead of sweat ran down Mayor Met's brow as he looked over the dunes, the crashing of waves audible in the distance.
"You nervous, Thaddean?" Ginthorne asked smugly.
"No, just, very warm, for you information." the older man said, tugging at the collar of the shirt her wore under his chest plate.
"I'm givin' you one last chance to go back to Clock Town and wait this out. With all due respect, you got lucky back in Hyrule. That was a much smaller battle that we had the advantage in. This fight here, it could go either way, and if this Ganondorf is capable of what they say he is, it could easily go theirs, so round up your body guards, and go back to Termina, King Laorik's already dead, and if you die here, Princess Zelda's going to have another ruler's death on her head...and we don't want that." Ginthorne explained gruffly.
Mayor Met stood in stunned silence before his eyes narrowed and his teeth clenched. "I will have you know I fought well in those woods! I have been training to lead my people into battle and that is what I shall do! Do you hear me?!" he asked.
"Fine, I hear ya, don't come crying to me when we're being charged by Dinolfos." Ginthorne said.
"D-Dinoflos?" Mayor Met stammered.
"Yep, lots of 'em." Admiral Ginthorne said as he looked back.
Link pulled the Master Sword free of it's sheath as the soldiers around him brought forth theirs, Erris drawing his twin crimson swords.
"Here we go." Thrakon said as the call to move out rang across their lines, the thunderous sounds of tens of thousands of feet marching breaching the silence.
Link and Elgon exchanged glances as they moved forward, both having a bad feeling about the battle ahead.
Wave after wave of soldiers broke through the trees, the Deku Scrubs taking higher into the air as they were free of forest's canopy, and the large leaves of the tropical plants that what knock them away.
Link had only just made it into the sand as there was a sudden yell up ahead, an enormous blast throwing sand into the air rendering the area around them invisible, if only for a moment.
"Elgon!" Link yelled, pulling the older man back and raising his shield, deflecting an arrow.
"They were hiding in the sand." Kallil said in disbelief.
"Thought so." Erris replied.
The sand cleared, revealing Gamelonian soldiers crashing through the Hyrulean-Terminian force.
"Let's go!" Link yelled, the rest following him.
Thrakon ran forward, knocking a soldier's blade away with his shield and tossing the man clear over a dune.
Link faded back as a soldier swung at him, leaping to the side as another made a stab, the Hero performing a spin attack and eliminating the two with ease.
Erris charged a soldier, locking blades with him as he brought his other sword back. Erris pushed away as he stabbed through the man's shield, forcing it to the side as he deflected a slash and ran his opponent through the chest.
Elgon side stepped and ducked as three soldiers charged him, performing a jump attack and dispatching one soldier before he turned to the other two, utilizing a helm splitter to knock one over before catching the blade of the other, disarming him before stabbing him through his chest plate before blasting the soldier he pushed over with a bolt of light energy.
Kallil loosed arrow after arrow as he joined with a group of archers, the team managing to take down many of the soldiers in the vicinity, Kallil calling to hold as a black flash tore past them, Aren running passed adversaries as quick as he could, ducking swords and spears as he dispatched them with his daggers.
Link stabbed a soldier through the chest before turning and slashing another across the throat, spinning around as a spear was shoved in his direction, cutting it's handle in two and knocking it's wielder out with a strike from the Master Sword's hilt. He stopped as Erris flew passed him, taking out two soldiers as he moved forward, the Deku scrubs concentrating their deku nut barrage on a group of archers ahead of him.
"Mind if I join?" Link asked.
"Go ahead." Erris replied.
The two made it to the group of stunned archers, performing twin spin attacks, easily vanquishing them all.
"Come here." Link said, extending a hand.
Erris approached him warily, "Promise you wont use that on me?" he said, nodding towards the Master Sword.
"Just give me your wrists." Link pressed.
Erris' eyes widened in realization, extending his arms. Link activated his Triforce, pressing his finger against the mark on both cuffs, the inhibitors falling off.
"Don't make me regret this." Link said before he turned, fighting off a soldier before kicking another into the path of a rolling Goron.
Erris grinned as he levitated into the air, extending both arms. The Prince pulled an arm back and thrust it forward, doing so with the other arm soon after, tossing bolts of energy at enemy soldiers in quick succession.
Thrakon lifted his Great Sword high, shattering an opponents sword before running him through, subsequently turning and delivering a punch to a Gamelonian soldier's shield, sending the man flying backwards. "Hopefully that will teach you." he said confidently, turning into time to see a massive fist strike him. Thrakon crashed through soldiers as he flew through the air and embedded in the sand. "What the...?" he said as he stood up, looking up to find the soldiers around him fleeing as a large humanoid figure in a goat-like mask charged at him.
oOo
Trystane flung an arm upwards, a massive blade of ice cleaving two newly arrived ships in half, next to him, Cia rose into the air, extending her arms to catch a series of incoming cannonballs, the Sorceress returning each to the ship it came from.
"I didn't know Gamelon had such an excessive naval force." she said as she grit her teeth, sending a blast of energy at another vessel.
"I don't think they belong to Gamelom. I don't recognize that crest the ships bare." Trystane responded as he thrust an arm forward, the ridge of ice shattering as he directed the shards into the deck of another ship.
"Hm, let me get a closer look." Cia responded with a smirk.
"Wait, Cia!" Trystane shouted, his mouth hanging open in disbelief as the Sorceress teleported away.
Cia materialized on the port side of the lead vessel, examining the crest carefully.
"It's one of them! She's right here!" a voice yelled.
Cia looked up to find numerous members of the various Blin races along with Lizalfos and Dinolfos rushing to the edge of the ship.
"I see, if you're all here, that must mean these ships belong to Ganondorf..." Cia said as she raised a shield around herself, deflecting spears, arrows, and balls of flame. "I'll try not to enjoy destroying you all too much!" she shouted as she propelled herself back, unleashing a massive blast of energy that splintered the vessel in front of her and blew apart four others behind it.
Trystane looked on in shock, ignoring the booms of the cannons around him as he raised wall after wall of ice to deflect incoming projectiles, still keeping a gap in the barriers to keep track of Cia...until she vanished.
"Impressive, was I not?" she asked as she teleported next to the Knight.
"Indeed...indeed you were." he said, surprised, Cia only giving him a small smile in return.
Cia and Trystane to turned to find Mikau standing atop the vessel they stood on, the Zora man having been put in charge of the fleet.
"Now!" the Mikau yelled, every archer on the front row of ships letting loose a barrage of flaming arrows, most finding their way to the water, but some managing to set opposing ships ablaze.
"It looks like we're going to win this without issue!" Trystane said confidently as he froze the water under a few enemy ships, the vessels sinking with the added weight.
"I wouldn't be too sure." Cia responded.
"Incoming!" a soldier yelled as the enemy fleet returned fire, hundreds of fire balls flying through the air towards the Terminian fleet, courtesy of the Lizalfos and Dinolfos.
"Ready?" Trystane asked.
"Always." Cia responded.
The Hylian Knight raised both arms, the water below him freezing and subsequently flying upwards to block the projectiles, Cia reinforcing the barrier with an energy shield.
The balls of flame crashed against the shield, making numerous echoing blasts as they did so, but not one made it through.
"What would we do without you two?" Mikau asked with a grin as he hopped down from the upper deck.
Cia turned to answer when suddenly the water beneath them broke, as a horned creature of enormous proportions surfaced.
"What in the Goddesses' names is that?" Trystane asked fearfully, soldiers around him and on other ships sharing the same sentiment if they hadn't already begun to scream
Even Cia, as confident as she usually was, began to shake.
"I recognize that creature from Zoran mythology...it's called a Gyorg...but they don't exist...this is impossible!" Mikau stammered.
"Brace for impact!" a soldier yelled out.
The titanic sea creature flew through the water like an arrow through the sky, tearing through the fleet of ships like paper.
"Gah!" Cia screamed out as their ship cracked in half, the barrier she and Trystane had made falling away as the Gyorg smashed through it.
"Keep the ships from sinking! I'm going after survivors!" Mikau yelled as he dove into the water.
Trystane looked around as numerous parts of ships sunk below the waves. "Stop them from sinking..." he repeated. The Knight raised his arms, mustering all the strength he could as he let forth a blast of frost, the water freezing and holding the parts of ships that remained afloat above the water.
Trystane sighed in relief, his eyes going wide as he remembered. "Cia...Cia!" he called out looking from side to side. He quickly turned to find a large crack in the ship, running to it's side and diving down to the lower deck, the unconscious Sorceress lying at the bottom. Trystane took her head in one arm, using the other to secure her chest.
"Cia! Are you alright?" he asked urgently.
Her eyes opened gradually, her vision still blurry as she came to. The first thing she detected was a someone looking down at her, long dark hair cascading over his shoulders. "...Lannis...?" she said groggily.
"No, still Trystane...come, we must go." he answered urgently.
"Trystane!" Cia called, lurching from his grip.
"Glad to see you're alright." he said with a smile.
"Yes...I'm fine." Cia answered, slightly embarrassed at having mistaken him for Erris' father.
"We must depart at once, this vessel's gaining damage as we speak, it won't be long until it breaks in half." he warned her.
"Here, let's go!" Cia said as she extended her hand.
Trystane looked at her outstretched hand, then back to her, a puzzled expression on his face.
"Well?!" Cia snapped.
"Oh, I...um...sorry." he said as he gripped her hand, Cia teleporting the two to the ship's surface.
"We just need to find another intact-" Trystane began, falling silent as the screams of soldiers and cracking of wood and ice was heard in the distance. "Not again..." he growled.
The Gyorg had reversed course, changing it's trajectory to destroy some of the ships it missed, shrugging of arrows, harpoons, and balls of fire thrown by sorcerers as it swam by, taking their ships with it.
Cia's eyes widened as the Gyorg leapt, it's form flying through the air, straight towards them.
Trystane ran forward, wrapping his arms around Cia as the monster came down on top of the boat, smashing it to pieces.
Cia's eyes snapped open as the impact she expected never came. As she came to she observed the protective sphere of ice Trystane had created.
"I know it's not much, but it did save us." he said.
"Yes...I realized." she answered as she rubbed her head
"The thing still hit us pretty hard though, are you okay?" the Hylian Knight asked.
"Doing fine...thank you." Cia responded as she looked over to him.
Trystane nodded in response as he raised his arms, allowing the small craft of ice to surface.
Cia peered through the transparent surface as Trystane began to melt it, the Sorceress holding her hand up, signaling for him to stop.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Look." she said quietly.
Trystane stepped over to her, looking through the glass like surface. Outside multiple enemy ships passed by, White armored soldiers with glowing red eyes shooting arrows into swimming survivors, crashes being heard in the distance as the remaining ships did battle.
"I can't believe this...they've defeated our front lines." Trystane asked, he and Cia bracing themselves as the last ship passed, the Gyorg calmly following in it's wake, unwittingly sending the sphere of ice spinning.
"A lot more than just the front lines, the Gyorg made it all the way through your fleet, the ships are just coming in to clean up what it missed before they make landfall." Cia said grimly.
"All those soldiers and beasts are going to the shores!? We have to go! Now!" Trystane said.
"Did you notice their eyes?" Cia asked.
"Yes, they were red, but I fail to see what that has to do with anything." Trystane retorted.
"They're under Ganondorf's thrall. You see, Terminians were the Godesses first chosen people, followed by Hylians. When the two countries broke apart, the Goddesses gave both your peoples an immunity to the tampering of evil forces...other races do not have that luxury." Cia explained.
"Do you hear what I'm telling you, we have to go to shore!" Trystane called out.
"No! We have to go back to Hyrule! Ganon's pouring his resources into this battle as a distraction, while also keeping the Hero and the Light Sage here! If we can get to Hyrule before him, warn the Princess, we may be able to stop this all in time!" Cia answered.
"We can't even retrieve Link and the others?" Trystane asked.
"We need to let Ganon think he's fooled us to get ahead of him, I'm sorry, but we have to take our chances." Cia replied.
"I see." Trystane said quietly.
"So will you follow me?" Cia asked as she approached him."
"I will follow you." Trystane said, going quiet as Cia waved an arm.
"Then let's go." she said, Trystane standing behind her as she activated the Gate of Souls.
oOo
Link dashed forward, spinning to avoid a slash before running the solider through, moving on to perform a helm splitter on the group that followed.
"Who else is feeling brave?" he asked with a smile.
A group of Gamelonian soldiers looked on, and after a brief moment of hesitation, charged.
Link extended his arm, Master Sword pointed back. "Here you go." he said.
The soldiers stopped short as a golden aura rose around Link, the Hero releasing a continuous spin attack, tearing through them and a few dozen more before coming to a stop, all motion ceasing as the soldiers around him looked on.
"I give you one more opportunity to surrender to us, no more blood has to be shed, will you accept?" Link called out.
With a growl the surrounding soldiers charged, blades at the ready.
Link stood still, Master Sword hanging at his side as they drew nearer. In an instant they were dispersed by a ball of flame from Erris, a bomb arrow from Kallil, and a blast of light from Elgon. "Now where's-" Link thought aloud, being cut off as a group of soldiers approaching from behind fell, knife slashes across their throats.
"There's Aren." Elgon said, nodding at Link.
"I'm afraid it's too early to celebrate." Aren said grimly.
"Why's that?" Erris pressed.
"The Terminian naval line has been broken, the enemy ships have reached Gamelon's shores." the Sheikah man answered.
"Wait...but Trystane was on the flagship." Kallil said.
"So was my mother, there's no way she could be killed by mere cannon fire." Erris said.
"They're most likely still alive, now let's keep our wits about us, we are in the middle of a battle." Elgon said, raising an arm and blasting away three soldiers sneaking up on them.
"C'mon! Let's get going!" Link said, stopping short as a series of screams filled the air, hundreds of monsters and men in white armor cresting a sand dune, a squadron of Black Knights leading the charge.
"Well, no time like the present!" Link yelled as he took off, the rest of the team chasing after him.
Elsewhere Admiral Ginthore looked on in disbelief, hope slipping away until he saw him, Link was charging the newcomers, he and his team cutting their way through Gamelon's soldiers to the front lines of the monsters and men that joined the battle.
"Come on men! Let's not let the Hero face them alone!" he shouted, Human, Zora, Goron, and Deku alike answering his call as they charged through the overwhelmed Gamelonians, straight into the recently appeared army.
"Looks like their with us!" Kallil shouted enthusiastically.
"That they are!" Link replied. The Hero ran at a Black Knight, leaping over it's sword and rolling behind it, delivering a swift slash to it's back as it turned, sending a leftwards strike, Link blocking it with his shield. The Knight stepped back and raised his blade, bringing it down onto the Hero, Link easily sidestepping it and leaping forward, putting his blade straight into it's helm, felling the monster.
Kallil loosed bomb arrow after bomb arrow, knocking the advancing Black Knight off balance. Erris ran forward, slashing at the Knight between blasts.
"I've got him!" Erris called, Kallil holding as Erris ran at the Knight, flying upwards as the Black Knight stabbed at him. The Prince lifted a hand, a whirlwind sweeping up the Knight and the sand around it. Next Erris sent a blast of flame into the tornado, eventually setting himself down and lowering his arms, revealing a glass encased Black Knight. "Now take THIS!" he roared, releasing a stream of energy, completely obliterating the Knight and those unfortunate enough to be behind it.
"That was...awe inspiring." Kallil said.
"Thank you much." Erris answered before darting off towards and advancing group of Bulblins, Kallil loosing a series of arrows into a team of armored Moblins.
"Ganondorf must be slipping up with them." Elgon said as a Black Knight lay at his feet, burning with light energy, another dropping behind him as Aren put two daggers through it's helmet after leaping atop it's shoulders.
"Or maybe being in the presence of the Hero makes us stronger." Aren replied with a confident smile.
"I can believe that." Elgon said. In the distance, Bulblin, Moblin, Lizalfos, Dinolfos, and the other white armored soldiers fell quickly to the barrage of arrows and deku nuts from archers and Scrubs, the Gorons easily rolling through them, leaving the Zora and Human soldiers to best whoever managed to make it out of the way in time.
"Looks like Gamelon is ours." Link said as he ran up, Erris and Kallil in tow.
"Don't get overconfident...has anyone seen Thrakon?" Elgon, said.
Link scanned the battlefield, a chill rising up his spine as he saw him. The Hero's Shade stood motionless in the distance, seemingly invisible to all but him. "He's here!" Link yelled, running towards the Shade.
"Did he see Thrakon?" Kallil asked.
"No, it's something else." Elgon said, the Hero's Shade being visible to him.
"Well? Let's not waste any time!" Aren said as he ran after Link, the rest of the group following.
Link darted passed Hylian and Terminian soldiers locking in combat with fearsome beast and man alike, his focus unshifting. "I don't have time for this." he growled as a Lizalfos positioned itself in his path. Link leapt to the side as it spit a ball of flame at him. The creature charged forward, releasing a downwards slash, Link easily knocking it away with his shield before stabbing the Lizalfos through the chest thrice for good measure. He leapt over the corpse of the monster to find that the Hero's Shade was no longer there, leaving an empty patch of sand.
"Link! What is it? What did you see?" Kallil asked the team caught up, Elgon looking on in confusion, having seen the Hero's Shade vanish.
"Where did he go?" Link asked, looking around. "Do you have nothing to tell me?!" Link shouted as he swept his eyes over the war torn land.
The rest of the group looked on curiously, bracing themselves as an explosion rang out behind them, the shockwave almost knocking them from their feet.
Link turned to find the Dragon Knight behind them, having landed where they had stood mere moments before.
"How did you know he would land there?" Kallil asked.
"Sir Volga!" Erris yelled out, running at his former subordinate.
"Wait! Look!" Elgon yelled, grasping Erris from behind.
A strange aura that appeared as violet flames rose around him, his eyes glowing red.
"That's not him. Aren stated.
Around them the tide of the battle turned, the enemy force emboldened by the Dragon Knight's presence.
"I won't let this go on! I didn't want to let it come to this, but it has to be." Link said, reaching his hand into a small pack he had brought with him, retrieving a silver ocarina from inside.
"Link...is that..." Elgon asked.
"The Ocarina of Time...yes it is. During the short time of peace we had, I retrieved it from the ancient crypt of the Royal Family, took me a while to find it." he said, bringing the Ocarina to his mouth.
"What's this supposed to do?" Erris yelled.
"Link, I think the Song of Storms or anything like it would only make things worse." Elgon cautioned.
"I don't plan on playing the Song of Storms, this song is called "The Oath to Order." he said.
"Let's give Link some time!" Elgon called out as he rushed the Dragon Knight, Link beginning to play.
Elgon's light empowered blade met the staff of the Dragon Knight. Volga leapt back, unleashing a torrent of flame, Erris countering it with a shield. Volga sent a volley of flames at his former charge, Erris evading them as Kallil leapt in, sending two arrows at the Dragon Knight, Volga incinerating them before preparing a blast of flame, the fire turning purple in his palm, red bolts of electricity leaping across it.
"Brace yourselves." Elgon said as he erected a light barrier.
Just then, the massive body of the Goht masked Oreck crashed into Volga, knocking him to the ground and pinning him down.
"There you all are, sorry for not catching up with you earlier, that one kept me busy." Thrakon said between breaths. "What's that?" he continued, turning his head as musical notes rang out, all eyes turning to Link as he blew into the Ocarina of Time, the Oath to Order carrying through the air.
Elgon turned in time to create a barrier to block a punch from a recovered Oreck. "Don't you recognize me? It's me Elgon!" he called out, Goht Oreck ignoring him.
Link stowed the Ocarina away once more before drawing the Master Sword. He stood still as Volga recovered, the Dragon Knight easily weaving around his teammate's attacks. The Hero tensed as Volga flew at him, Link raising the Master Sword to catch Volga's spear.
"You think a song will stop us?" Volga asked with a smirk, a strange demonic tone behind his voice.
"No, I don't...but I know they will." he responded as Volga's confident grin faltered, being replaced by a look of fear as four massive bellows rang out, each continuing the Oath to Order. "You're finished!" Link yelled, performing a spin attack, knocking the possessed Volga onto his back.
All of the warriors present backed away as the battlefield went dark, four enormous figures appearing from no where.
"You..those who would invade our land and harm the innocents, we will not stand for you!" the Northern Giant called out as he started forward.
"Gamelon was part of Termina once, making the Giants this country's protectors also." Link said as Volga rose to his feet.
Elgon, Thrakon, Aren, Kallil, Erris, and even Oreck stopped, looking on in awe.
"Where do you think you're going?" Thrakon yelled as Oreck took off towards Volga.
"What do we do now?" Oreck asked.
"There's nothing we can do!" the demon possessed Knight answered. "We must leave at once!" Volga said, teleporting away with Oreck.
Link's eyes widened as he watched. "We can't let them get away!" he shouted, the rest of the team coming to meet him.
"Don't worry, they didn't go far." Erris said.
"You found them?" Elgon asked.
"Yes, through the Gate of Souls! Come!" he called as he opened the portal.
Each member jumped through, Erris following last as the Giants stomped through the invading army
oOo
Link's eyes were greeted by darkness as he set down in a large illustrious looking room.
"Do you have it?" he asked, looking to Erris.
"I do." Erris answered, withdrawing the Scepter of Gamelon.
"Now we just have to find the Dragon Knight." Aren added.
In an instant a ring of fire roared into life around them, Link, Elgon, Thrakon, Erris, and Aren looking around as the flames seemingly leapt at them, pushing them further into the middle.
"What is this?" Link called out.
"A trap." Erris answered, a rare tone of apprehension to his voice.
"The Scepter of Gamelon, do you still have it?" Elgon asked.
A stunned expression took over the Prince's face as he examined his empty hands. "I...I must have dropped it."
"Perfect." Thrakon said sarcastically.
Suddenly a crushing force bared down on all of them, a large sigil coming to life beneath them.
"What in the Farore's name is this?!" Thrakon called out, even his massive strength failing against the force.
"A gravity spell, it's just enough to bring you to your knees, but not enough to kill you, it's not time for that just yet." a cold, arrogant sounding voice answered.
The group looked up to find a dark skinned, orange eyed man in black armor strolling over to them, Oreck and Volga at his back.
"Ha!" he called out as he looked at the heroes, forced to their knees. "Look at you! The best your land has to offer and you're reduced to this! Lord Ganondorf said you wouldn't be able to resist following Volga here...I almost didn't believe you'd fall into a trap so easily." he said smugly.
"Who the hell are you?" Erris growled as he looked up.
"Hm, pale skin, black hair, and brattish disposition...you must be Prince Erris. Lord Ganondorf told me much about you! I must thank you, if it was't for you turning against his lordship and siding with his enemies, I wouldn't have been afforded such an excellent opportunity to grow my power." the stranger answered.
"That doesn't answer his question." Link said, struggling against the gravity spell.
"Ah! You must be the Hero! I've heard much about you! Don't look so angry! You're actually going to survive this encounter! Lord Ganondorf wishes to deal with you personally! As for the rest of you!" their captor said as he stood up, clapping his hands. "You are not so fortunate, as payment for my services his Lordship has given me permission to execute all of you! Feel free to watch, Hero, this will be quite the spectacle!" he said as he slowly stepped towards Erris, withdrawing his blade and leveling it next to the Prince's carotid artery. "Just so you have closure when you die...my name is Kanthos, Lord Ganondorf's esteemed general." he said with a smirk.
"Well Kanthos, would you mind getting it over with? Take any longer and you risk talking us to death." Thrakon said.
"Excuse me?" Kanthos said, withdrawing his blade away from Erris.
"I'm a mercenary, during my life I've seen a lot of people like you, big talkers who just can't resist the urge to hear themselves speak...and let me tell you...they all fall as fast as they talk." Thrakon breathed.
Kanthos narrowed his eyes at the former mercenary. "Hm, how amusing, you have quite the knack for talking yourself...but please don't interrupt me again." he said with a smirk.
Everyone looked on in shock as Kanthos delivered a kick to the former mercenary's head, knocking him to the ground where he lay motionless.
"Now...I'm really not sure if I want to kill the Prince first...hm, let me choose-AAH!" he screamed out, a bright flash of light filling the room as he fell to his hands and knees, Kallil standing behind him, holding the Scepter of Gamelon.
"Kallil!" Link called out.
"How...dare...YOU?!" Kanthos called as he shot to his feet. "I knew we were missing ONE! How could I have been so foolish as to forget about you! Ooooh, but I AM NOT the fool here! That weapon was crafted for calling demons...and I am not a demon...I know I may look like one, but you are oh-so sadly mistaken." Kanthos said as he recovered, slowly walking towards Kallil, holding out a hand as Volga and Oreck made a move. "No, he's mine!" Kanthos yelled.
Kallil retrieved his bow and nocked an arrow, Kanthos tearing it away telekinetically.
"That won't work." he growled.
"I wont let you kill them!" Kallil as he drew his blade, charging the orange eyed man.
"You have no choice." Kanthos said as he side stepped Kallil's slash, kneeing him in the stomach.
"No! Leave him be!" Link cried out.
"Take me! I'm worth far more! I'm the former Hero and the Light Sage, I have been responsible for Ganondorf's defeat many times over! He'd be glad to know I'm dead!" Elgon called out.
"Wait your turn, I've finally decided who's going first..." Kanthos said. He knelt down to the hunched Kallil, pulling the Scepter of Gamelon from his other hand. "Hm, very solid...and heavy, this wasn't made from any Earthly material, I can tell you that...crafted by Gods it must've been." he said with a smirk. "I wonder what effect it would have on a normal man." he continued with a manic grin.
Link's ears twitched as horror filled him, his insides feeling as if they were twisting. "NO! Don't do this! I won't let you do this! I won't!" Link roared, managing to stand against the gravity spell, the Triforce of Courage burning bright on his hand.
"I told you Hero! YOU are off limits! Seeing as you're getting excited, I better make this quick!" Kanthos said.
Kallil looked up, holding onto his stomach as he watched Kanthos raise the Scepter.
"Goodbye." Kanthos said, smashing the Scepter down onto his head, bringing Kallil to his hands and knees. "Now you know how it feels to have this used on you!" he yelled, bringing it down again, blood beginning to travel down his forehead.
"No! NO!" DAMN YOU!" Link roared.
Kanthos shot him a glare before bringing the Scepter down again, Kallil falling to the ground, blood pooling around him.
With a roar Link broke free of the spell, Master Sword at the ready as a furious, golden, fire like aura surged around him.
"What?!" Kanthos called out as Link broke free of the spell and rushed him, raising his blade as the Hero's gold-glowing eyes met his.
oOo
And that concludes chapter 37! I hope you liked it! I have to admit, this was one of my tougher chapters to write.
Gerudospirit: I'm glad you got a sense of nostalgia from Saria and Link's dream! That's what I was going for! The Scene with the Skull Kid wasn't just one of my favorite parts of Majora's Mask, but of the Zelda story entirely! I was hoping Tonbridge's scene would be a bit of a shocker, glad it had that effect! I write Zelda with such power because I feel, as a Goddess, she has an understated role in the games and should be far more powerful! I knew you'd like that part with Ghirahim and I hope you enjoy his future appearances! Thank you for the review and your kind words!
Thank you everyone for following and favoriting me and my story! You all help to keep this going!
Please make sure to tell me what you thought! Comments and critiques are always welcome! All reviews are awesome!
Thanks for reading!
-Prometheus17