Chapter 34: Hyrule United

The third Divine Beast sat atop the Great Plateau with the other two. Their laser sights pointing ominously at Hyrule Castle. Poump looked out onto Hyrule Field and saw an army approaching. After looking at the army for a while, Poump noticed they were the Gerudo Warriors. Poump looked up and he saw a whole flock of Rito flying into Hyrule Castle. Soon enough, the Gorons rolled up to Hyrule Castle Town and filed themselves into the castle. And approaching from the moat underneath the castle, the Zora Tribe jumped out of the water and onto the bridge that led to Hyrule Castle. The forces from all over Hyrule had united here.

Link looked out into the distance and he saw Zelda riding up on her horse, with Midna and Pep on two other horses as well. They arrived at Hyrule Castle and everyone huddled together around the courtyard.

Zelda looked at everyone in the courtyard. Link, Ganondorf, Poump, Zhago, Uten, Tipa, Roldi, Nebb, Keeseman, Paya, Teba, Sidon, Riju, Yunobo, the Guardian Commandos, the Gerudo Warriors, the Rito Warriors, the Goron Warriors, the Zora Warriors, and the Sheikah Warriors were all present and accounted for. She had everyone huddled around a 3D map of Hyrule Castle, pointing out defensive positions in front of the castle. "There will be a full scale assault on the front of the castle. The lasers from the Divine Beasts will possibly end up leveling the castle in its entirety, so the best we can do is protect Hyrule Castle Town. We'll need everyone on the front lines. Everyone who can fight. We will outfit everyone with Guardian Shields, as it has been reported that the enemy has a large supply of ancient arrows. For right now, take your time to say goodbye to any of your loved ones, because there is a high probability that a lot of us will die in the coming battle." Zelda looked around at everyone. "I would say good luck, but I have a feeling even luck won't be on our side today. Once you've said your farewells to each other, prepare yourselves at the frontlines of Castle Town." Zelda finished speaking and everyone around the courtyard started scattering about in order to meet each other for the last time. Zelda looked at the Monster Squad. "By the way, Uten. I'm sorry for snapping at you back at Lurelin Village."

"It's okay." Uten replied. "I might not even get the chance to use my rupees anyway. And we're also in a very bad situation right now."

"I'm glad you understand." Zelda said. "By the way, the rupee cache is here in the courtyard." She pulled out her Sheikah Slate and pressed a button. A part of the floor opened up, revealing a glass case with rupees inside of it.

"Whoa." Uten said to herself.

"This is 2,000,000 rupees all together." Zelda said. "It's the best way I can thank all of you for dealing with the monsters."

"You're welcome." Uten said as she started to salivate at all of the rupees before her eyes.

Poump walked up to Keeseman because he noticed Keeseman messing around with something on his arm. Keeseman pressed a button and then a streak of blue light materialized before him into a motorcycle of some kind. "Wow, what's that?" Poump asked.

"This is known as the Master Cycle. It's a motorcycle that belongs to Link. He gave me permission to use it for myself in combat." Keeseman pressed a few more buttons on his arm. Someone leaped over the castle walls and landed next to Keeseman. They appeared to a woman in a warrior's outfit. Keeseman looked up and descending from the sky appeared to be a Hylian man with a red cape billowing in the wind. Keeseman looked at the two of them, and then to Poump. "We'll be out on the frontlines now. I wish you luck for the coming battle." Keeseman got onto the Master Cycle and rode off towards the frontlines of Hyrule Castle Town, with the two others following him. Noticeably the Hylian man was floating alongside Keeseman, and the warrior woman was running at a jogger's pace next to the motorcycle.

Zhago stood on top of a walkway and looked out to Hyrule Field. He saw a group of red outfits riding on horses approaching the castle. He knew this was the Yiga Clan. He pulled out his bow and prepared an arrow, alongside a few other Hylian soldiers, and then they looked down at them in shock. Every Yiga Clan member raised a white flag. Zhago put his bow down, with the other soldiers as well. The Yiga Clan members rode into Hyrule Castle and met up with the Sheikah Clan members inside. The head of the Yiga Clan members looked at all of the Sheikah Warriors and then at Paya. They got off of their horses and kneeled down. "We know what Ghirahim's plan is. He wants Hyrule to become a land full of monsters, a place where only chaos reigns. He used us for his own gains, and as a result we have done many terrible things in order to bring him closer to his goal. We wish to be killed by you, Sheikah Warriors, as it is the only fitting way for us to go."

Paya looked down at them and then a voice sounded out from behind her. "No!" Zhago turned around and saw his son, Pokh. "There is redemption in all of you." Pokh said. The Yiga Clan members looked up at Pokh. "Your lives are better spent helping us put an end to Ghirahim's plan. Fight alongside us, and you will have redeemed yourselves for all of your wrong doings."

The Yiga Clan members all looked at each other. They all pulled their masks off and looked at them. "We are no longer the Yiga Clan." A Yiga soldier said. They all flipped their masks upside down and tied blue ribbons onto their arms. "We are now members of the Sheikah Clan!" Each Sheikah Warrior raised their weapons into the sky, as well as the other Sheikah Warriors. Paya and Zhago looked at Poump and smiled.

A bright flash of light appeared in the area, and materializing out of it was a 19 year old girl wearing a purple tunic. She saw Link and Zelda, and the two of them saw her as well. "Hilda?" Link and Zelda said in unison.

She looked back at them with tears in her eyes. "Mother… Father…" She ran up to both of them and hugged them, and they hugged her back. "Today could be the last day we are ever together."

"What do you mean?" Zelda said, also starting to develop tears in her eyes.

The hug ended and Hilda backed away from them with tears still streaming down her face. "I can't tell you. Not now." Hilda pulled out an Ocarina, played a song, and disappeared into a bright flash of light.

Zelda looked at Link. Both of them were starting to develop tears in their eyes. They brought out their Sheikah Slate and looked at the picture they took with Hilda near Kakariko Village. Any possibility of continuing a life like that seemed impossible now. Ganondorf approached them as well and sat down. "It's going to be alright." Ganondorf said.

Zelda looked at Ganondorf through tears. "How will it be alright, when Hilda has appeared like this before us?"

Ganondorf put his hand onto Zelda and Link's shoulder. "I can assure you, Hilda is the greatest daughter you could've ever had. She's achieved a lot in her life, and I am here to tell you right now that you should be proud of her."

"I don't forgive you for what you did to Hyrule throughout the ages, but I am glad you're here to help us." Zelda said.

Poump walked around the castle and eventually saw a gust of leaves appear before him. A Skull Kid and a Korok stood in their place. "All of us in the Korok forest thank you for dealing with that Skull Kid. It was unfortunate that he had to pass away, but his lust for power was what drove him over the edge. The Majora's Mask makes its wearer do terrible things. If he had never gotten it, he could still be alive. It is a good thing that you destroyed the mask. You are welcome to return to the Korok Forest whenever you wish."

"Good to know." Poump replied.

"Bye bye." The Korok said, and then the two of them turned into a gust of leaves and disappeared.

Goggodu walked up to Poump. "Poump, once this is all over. Heck, if we even get to live through this, I'd like to challenge you to a sumo wrestle in Death Mountain."

"You bet we will." Poump said. Groose and his friends walked up to Poump. Groose was wearing armor. "Groose? You're going to join the battle?"

"What's all that Knight Academy training worth if I don't help defend the country I was trained to protect?" Groose brought his hands up. Poump and Groose performed their secret handshake flawlessly. "I'll be out there on the frontlines, with you buddy."

"I will be there too." Poump said.

Groose, Goggodu, Cawlin, Stritch, and Netrea all marched to the frontlines in front of Hyrule Castle Town.

Zhago sat down, looking at the Sheikah Clan practicing with their weapons. Then, as if it were a ghost, the ghostly body of Veerus appeared before him. She looked at the Yiga, turned Sheikah, and then back to Zhago. "Amazing what redemption can hide for many people. An entire clan. Turned to their opposite side. Queen Zelda, she is your enemy."

"How so?" Zhago said.

"Follow me." Veerus' phantom form said to Zhago. She floated towards a building, and Zhago slipped through a secret entrance. Veerus pointed out a book on the table. 'Zelda's Diary', it was entitled. "Read this, and tell me you're on the right side of history." Veerus' phantom form disappeared and Zhago picked the diary up. It had entries from 8 years ago inside of it.

Zhago approached Zelda. "So, my Queen."

"What is it, Zhago?" Zelda replied.

Zhago pulled up the diary. He flipped open the pages and found a date from 8 years ago. "This is your handwriting, right?"

Zelda looked at her diary in Zhago's hands with a little bit of displeasure. "Yes, that is my handwriting. How did you find this?"

"I found this because of a…" Zhago paused for a bit, and then shifted the conversation. "Even though I knew I shouldn't have looked in it, I decided to look in it anyway."

Zelda looked at the entry he had opened. It was her entry about the squads who failed to deal with the monster colonies. "Oh. This. It's a bummer you had to discover it this way."

"So… could we have ended up the same as those other squads?" Zhago asked.

"No. Those squads were from 8 years ago, when I didn't have the communication to talk to people from far away. Read the next few entries." Zelda replied.

Zhago read the entries following them. Zelda wrote about how she greatly regretted sending them out so unprepared, and that if she could ever send another group, she would send a group with the right preparations. "It appears, you regret it deeply."

"I do. If I could, I would bring all of their lives back, but they're long gone now because of my mistake."

"I forgive you." Zhago said. "Poump, Uten, Tipa and I were able to fulfill your mission with great success, and all of the previous squad's lives aren't in vain anymore."

Zelda looked at Zhago thoughtfully. "Thank you very much for being understanding."

Link stood in the Hall of Heroes, looking at the statues of himself and the other Champions. Poump walked up to him with a question. "Hey, I noticed that your statue is holding the Master Sword in it's left hand. But you hold in your right hand. Why is that?"

Link turned around to look at Poump. Even though his mind was racing with what was happening, he was happy to see Poump ask a question like this. "The reason why is because throughout history, the different Heroes of the land always carried their sword in their left hand. Or at least a large majority of them. I am right handed, but to honor the rest of the Heroes that shared the Master Sword, this statue makes me hold it in my left hand."

Poump was feeling really enlightened. He meant to ask him this question for a long time, ever since he first met Link at Hateno Village. "Thanks for answering me, friend." Poump replied. He walked out of the Hall of Heroes and left Link alone.

Link was taking one good look at each of the statues of the former Champions. "If only I could ever get to see you guys again. In the flesh. Just one more time, for one more day."

Then, Link felt a strange vibration on his back. He pulled out the Master Sword and felt it vibrating a bit. It glowed and then as if words came out of it, he heard something. "Master." The sword said. Then, a blue being came out of the Master Sword, one who looked elegant and statue-like. "Thank you, Master. Thank you and all of the Heroes that preceded you." The strange feminine figure went back into the sword.

The day passed by as everyone around the castle prepared for battle. Soon enough the sun started to set.

Zelda stood on the walkway, looking across Hyrule Field with a telescope. The three Divine Beasts sat menacingly atop the plateau, and a whole horde of monsters and strange dark creatures were lined up next to the Great Plateau, as well as the remaining Yiga Clan members. Ganondorf joined Zelda's side. "Across that field stands Demise, the curse that kept me in an eternal cycle of reincarnation, bringing blood to the land over and over again."

Zelda looked at Ganondorf. "Is that true?" She asked.

"It is true." A voice sounded behind Zelda. She turned around with Ganondorf to look at who spoke. It was King Rhoam. "Ganondorf will no longer pose a threat to Hyrule anymore. He is an ally for us now."

Zelda looked at Ganondorf again. "He speaks the truth." Ganondorf said. "All we need to do now is vanquish Demise."

"Father…" Zelda said. "I believe you. I will work with Ganondorf."

"Good." King Rhoam replied.

"Oh, and before you leave." Zelda said. "Ganondorf, I must ask him a personal question."

"I will give you two all the time you need." Ganondorf said as he walked down the walkway.

"Yes, daughter, what is your question?" King Rhoam asked.

"Mother." Zelda said. "How did she really die?"

"She died suddenly." King Rhoam replied.

Zelda thought about Hilda. "I know that's not true." She said. "Tell me what really happened."

King Rhoam closed his eyes, and then he opened them again. "If I tell you now, you will feel much worse."

Zelda thought for a bit. "I understand. Father."

"As you always will." King Rhoam said, and then he disappeared. Zelda turned around to look at Hyrule Field again and she saw something terrifying. Vah Ruta, the last of the 4 Divine Beasts, was marching towards the Great Plateau. It positioned itself next to the other 3 Divine Beasts, and let out a laser sight directed towards Hyrule Castle. The Sheikah Tower that was on the Great Plateau got knocked over by Vah Ruta as it planted itself onto the Plateau.

Then, as if it came from the sky, the voice of Ghirahim landed upon everyone's ear drums. "Ahahaha!" He laughed. "Finally! My ultimate plan of creating a world where monsters roam is almost complete! I cannot wait to watch all of you suffer! The flames of my new world will dance wildly above your bodies!" Ghirahim's voice echoed away, leaving everyone around Hyrule Castle slightly shaken.

Veerus' phantom form appeared before Midna. Midna looked at Veerus. "I anticipate meeting you in battle, ancestor." Veerus said to Midna.

"Wait a moment, who are you?" Midna asked.

"I am your great descendant. We will meet on the battlefield, where I will speak to you for a longer while." Veerus' phantom form disappeared.

Link, Sidon, Riju, Yunobo, and Teba walked out to the frontlines. Joining them were Poump, Uten, Zhago, and Tipa. All of them marched to the frontlines and joined with the armies in front of Hyrule Castle Town. Everyone at the frontlines was outfitted with Guardian shields, and there were even a few Guardians that were assisting the army. Link was on his horse, as well as many others. Zelda and Ganondorf rode by his side on their own horses as well. Link nodded at the both of them, glad to see them with him. Zelda put her hands forward, and a Bow of Light descended from the sky into Zelda's hands.

Link looked across the field to see the 4 Divine Beasts, looming in the distance with their lasers pointed at the castle. He turned to look at all of the forces that were behind him. "People of Hyrule! 10 years ago, I awoke from a 100 year slumber in order to bring an end to the Calamity. Lots of people will tell you that I did this alone, however, that is not true. I saved Hyrule with the help of everyone around me! History would like to paint me as the one savior of Hyrule, but in the long run, it was the people that I met that saved Hyrule. Without their help and assistance, I wouldn't have been able to defeat the Calamity. Here we are, 10 years later, facing off against a force that is even greater than the force of the Calamity. This time, I'm not the Hero who saves Hyrule. WE are ALL the Hero that saves Hyrule! We will all fight until our very last breaths! So, with great courage, let us END this together!" Link raised his Master Sword into the air and everyone raised their own weapons into the air as well. Link turned to the field and his horse ran forward, with everyone following behind him. As Hyrule's Army galloped forward, Link noticed a blue glow shoot into the sky from the Great Plateau. With that blue glow, another blue glow came, and another, and then soon enough, the sky was painted with many blue glows. The blue glows came closer and Link widened his eyes. "ANCIENT ARROWS!" He screamed. The army pulled up their guardian shields and blocked the incoming ancient arrows, although some of their shields ended up breaking and the arrows hit some of them, causing them to vanish completely. The Guardians on their side were blown up into pieces. The Monster Squad hid under their Mirror Shield, and Poump had a Guardian Shield which blocked the incoming ancient arrows. After what felt like a terrifying 30 seconds, the hail storm of ancient arrows stopped.

Link had his Hylian Shield up, and he brought it back down. He saw that it was cracked in the same way it appeared in his dream. The same way how 14 year old Pep from the future had it. He looked up at the Divine Beasts and saw all of them generate a bright flash from their laser cannons. They all shot their lasers across Hyrule Field towards Hyrule Castle. Link closed his eyes and awaited the destruction.

Then, inexplicably in the sky, a large force field appeared around Hyrule Castle and blocked the laser attacks. "What?!" Link exclaimed at the sight of the force field. Link and the army stood in shock at what just happened. A bright flash of light came from behind Link and the army, and he turned around to see a light portal of some kind. 4 silhouettes walked out of the light.

"Long time no see." A familiar voice said from inside of the light portal.

It took Link a few moments, but then he started to recognize the silhouettes as they came closer to him. "Mipha? Revali? Urbosa? Daruk?" Link said.

The 4 silhouettes fully came out of the portal, fully recognizable. It really was all 4 of them. The Former Champions of Hyrule. "Yes Link, we're all here." Urbosa said, proudly.

"And we wouldn't have made it here if it weren't for your own." Mipha said. The 4 champions made way for someone riding a white horse, wearing a purple tunic and holding the Master Sword. She had purple hair, and appeared to be 21 years old.

"Hilda?" Link said.

"Yes, father." Hilda replied with a wise voice. She looked at Zelda, who was next to Link. "I will make all of you proud." She raised her Master Sword forward and then a few more light portals appeared behind her. Walking out of them was an army. An army of Hylians wearing Green Tunics, raising their own Master Swords into the air and joined the Hyrulean forces. Another light portal opened up, over 120 Sheikah Warriors walked out of the light, marching onto Hyrule Field. Then, many more light portals opened up. The screech of a bird was heard, and then more screeches sounded through the air victoriously. Flying above the forces of Hyrule, everyone saw large birds carrying Hylians on their backs. The portals widened up, revealing the Hyrule of armies throughout all of Hyrule's History. "Today, father. Today, mother. We fight with allies across all of time." She raised her Master Sword and pointed it to the sky, an energy gleaming up towards the tip of it, and then it glowed brilliantly. "Today we fight with Hyrule's History!"

With all of the forces behind Link's back, he stood proudly in front of the enemy force and got into a battle stance. "FOR HYRULE!" Link screamed and then the whole army across all of time ran through Hyrule Field towards the enemies, which were also charging forward as well. The two armies met in the middle of Hyrule Field, with Hyrule's forces at a great advantage. Hilda led the charge, and The Battle for Hyrule began.