Chapter 16: Fall or Triumph
Link has spent that last few nights in Kokiri Forest. They have been rather pleasant even when Hyrule was on the edge of doom. With the occasional warm rain from time to time, this was only common in the peaceful forest. Link had been observing the progress of Kokiri's makeshift warriors, as they sparred with each other.
Link had longed to be with Zelda for days now, four to be exact. Every one of those days, and nights, were as calm as a light drizzle in the spring. Sarianna has had several conversations with Link, and for someone so small, she was quite wise. Saying this was 'calm before the storm.' This was true of course, seeing as how a strange old owl has been paying regular visits to Link, about the situation in Gerudo Valley. Kaepora Gaebora, as the owl called himself, was as large as Link, and covered in dark brown feathers. Today, Kaepora Gaebora was rather late for his visit with Link, bringing thoughts to dread to him. That maybe, the wise owl has met his end from the treachery of those who occupy Gerudo Valley.
Link stood on the balcony of his tree house, watching for Kaepora.
"Where is he?" said Link to himself.
"Young warrior!" squawked Kaepora as he came in for a landing. "I have had a chance to sneak in to the fortress and find the Princess!"
"I-is she alright?" asked Link, with worry.
"She is quite fine," replied Kaepora. "She has news for you, but wishes I tell you this later."
"What? Why?" asked Link, waving his arms in frenzy.
"Because it is news that can wait till the days end," replied Kaepora calmly. "I have much more pressing matters."
"What?" asked Link, crossing his arms.
"The army is in a slow, but steady march for Hyrule Field," said Kaepora, with a tone of extreme sadness. "I also went to Goron city after I saw the army advancing. Not a creature was in sight, as though the entire mountain has been abandoned for years."
"Probably fled the kingdom," said Link, in a pessimistic tone. "I should have known that Rauru would have failed."
"We will just have to forget them for now," replied Kaepora. "I have notified the Chief of the Royal Guard at the castle. It is time for you to bring the Kokiri to the battlefield for the first time."
A look of dread came across Link's face. In a way, Link was now feeling more like an executioner than a hero. The age of some of the Kokiri were old enough to be classified as middle-aged adults, but their bodies were that of children unable to do battle.
Link climbed down off of his balcony, and walked over to Epona who was tied to a nearby fence. He mounted her, and steered her to the main path that cut through the tiny village.
"Soldiers…Line up!" commanded Link.
Thirty or so Kokiri, clad in green armor made of large Deku Leaves formed a line in front of Link. All of the Kokiri Soldiers bared a small sword, and Deku Shields.
"It's time to move out!" shouted Link. "Everyone follow me, until I say otherwise!"
Shortly there after, Link and the band of small soldiers were marching along a river that ran from Hyrule Market Place, past the entrance to Kakariko Village and continued on to Zoras Domain. Link, who was still riding Epona, turned around to see fear in the eyes of the Kokiri; as they watched their home shrink into the distance. He could not find a reason to blame anyone for this mess, but himself.
"None of this would have every happened, if I had just refused to use the key," Link thought to himself. "The Hero of Time was able to fix his mistake, but I won't be able to do anything."
The sky had darkened as rain clouds blocked out the sun. A frigid rain fell, bringing the morale of the Kokiries even lower than it already was.
Link looked down at Epona's neck, watching the droplets of water streak down the sides from her mane.
Link and the soldiers came to the same hill that Link climbed for the first time, which seemed ages ago.
As Link and the Kokiri reached the crest of the hill, a loud roar was heard. Link looked up to see at least four-hundred Hylian soldiers cheering, waving flags with Triforce Symbols.
Link sent Epona into a gallop to meet up with the Chief of the Guard who was at the head of the crowd. The Chief was an old man, but very muscular in the upper body. He had bright, shiny armor with a red cape trailing behind him; and a chrome helmet covering his face.
"Who are all of these people?" asked Link in astonishment. "How did you get them to join?"
"Most of them are all volunteers," replied the Chief. "They all said that if death was their fate, then they wanted to die fighting Evil."
"This was unexpected…did you hear anything about the Gorons?" asked Link.
"Three hundred Gorons, and not one of them have showed up," replied the Chief. "Probably on the other side of Death Mountain, heading for Labrynnia."
The ground began to tremble, causing many of the Kokiri to fall over. Link and the Chief looked towards the entrance of Kakariko Village, where he saw hundreds of boulders roll towards him and the militia.
"What in the Goddesses names are those?" asked the Chief. "It looks as though, those boulders are…covered in armor?"
The boulders came rolling closer and closer to the Hylian Warriors before they came to an abrupt halt, then opened up to reveal that they were Gorons. Gorons dressed in metallic blue armor, and baring Biggoron Swords, War Hammers, War Axes, cross-bows, and painful looking brass knuckles that had sharp spikes.
One very large goron walked up to Link and the Chief, dressed in black armor and a blue cape with red trimming. He had a Biggoron Sword, with one edge serrated.
The goron kneeled before Link, "As leader of the Goron Race, I Dominic, descendant of Darunia, give you our allegiance."
Link let out a quick sigh, "Stand. I am glad you changed your mind."
"We were on our way to Labrynnia, but turned back when I thought of what Darunia would have done," replied Dominic.
"Well, I'm glad you showed your face to begin with," said the Chief. "How many warriors did you bring?"
"Three-hundred exactly," replied Dominic.
"Four-hundred Hylians, three-hundred Gorons, and thirty Kokiri," stated the Chief. "Seven-hundred thirty warriors against one-thousand eight-hundred…I think it's time to kick some ass!"
At that statement, all of the Hylians raised their swords and began to cheer, Kokiri brushed off their fear and cheered as well; and the Gorons let out roars as they jumped in excitement.
Soon, another roar could be heard; a blood-thirsty roar that struck fear into the hearts of Hyrule's army. In the distance, a black mass could be seen. Spears, and swords took form as moblins and dark nuts came into clear vision in the pouring rain. A chant could be heard coming from the Evil Army. Nobody was able to decipher what the monsters where saying, but their chant rang across Hyrule field in a slow, ominous beat.
"Young Warrior!" bellowed Kaepora as he came in for a landing next to Link. "I see that you have quite the military force on your side now."
"Yes," replied Link, dismounting Epona.
"It is time for you to execute your original plan; your plan to use this war as a distraction, while you sneak into Gerudo Valley and save the Queen."
"There is no way around that," said Link, pointing at Evil's Army.
"Ah, but I can carry you," replied Kaepora. "I'll fly you to Gerudo Valley, where you will save Zelda."
"My original plan was to go there, but I can't…I won't leave these brave men," insisted Link.
Kaepora let out a long sigh, "This must be the time Zelda meant. Zelda…she is pregnant."
"Say that again," asked Link, taken aback.
"Zelda, she is pregnant," replied Kaepora. "That night, after you met the leader of the Zoras, she said that must have been when it happened."
Link was confused. Zelda was pregnant, and in the hands of Evil. If he left with Kaepora, then Hyrule's Army will be alone, but if he stayed the one he loves and his child will be in jeopardy.
"I don't know what to do," moaned Link. "I-I just don't know what to do."
"I will fly you to Gerudo Fortress, while everyone else stays here and fights those monsters," said Kaepora. "I think there are enough warriors here to push them back to Lake Hylia. There the Zoras will drag them in and drown them. Moblins can't swim, and Dark Nuts are too heavy with all that armor."
"Won't they just retreat back to Gerudo Valley?" asked Dominic.
"Not if Link frees the Gerudo's in time," replied Kaepora with excitement.
"Whoa, you mean you want me to free the Gerudo, kill the Dark Trio and kill the mad man behind all this?" asked Link, feeling overwhelmed.
"Yes," replied Kaepora with confidence. "The Gerudo are all outside, in chain gangs. They should easily be liberated. There, they will charge towards Hyrule Field, where they will block the army off from retreating home."
The Chief began to chuckle, "Your feather-brained idea is ludicrous. We might not be able to push them back!"
"It looks as though all the Moblins are on the front lines," stated Dominic. "They can be easily taken out with some of our special Goron Bombs."
"Power Kegs?" asked the Chief, rubbing his hands together. "You have illegal bombs?"
"We could have used them back when they enslaved us, but that could have caved us in," replied Dominic. "Now that we're out in the open, I think we'll be able to throw those power kegs right at them."
"That sounds like an excellent idea," said Kaepora. "Now this is the time Link, if you wish to leave for Gerudo Fortress…now is the time."
"Get the Hell out of here," said the Chief. "We have this situation handled perfectly."
"Precisely," added Dominic. "Go on and save our Queen."
Link nodded, and Kaepora grabbed onto Link with his talons, whisking him away.
"There goes the bravest man alive," said the Chief.
"Yeah," replied Dominic, looking towards the Dark Army. "I think it's time we get this started."
"Agreed."
Dominic let out a whistle, and a dodongo came up to him, breathing out a fiery breath. Dominic mounted this beast, "You and your men fall back a ways, and I'll have the catapults come up and launch some power kegs at them."
The Chief nodded, then ran to the other Hylians, ordering them to fall back. Dominic pulled out a hollowed out dodongo horn and blew into it. Five other dodongos came forward, each of them pulling massive catapults. Their claws dug into the soft, wet soil as they pulled the large contraptions forward. Dominic once again blew into his horn, this time making quick, rapid blasts. The Gorons then loaded the catapults with power kegs, and lit the fuses. Dominic raised an arm into the air, and then lowered it so it pointed at the monsters. All five of the Catapults launched their power kegs, landing successfully into the crowd of unsuspecting Moblins, killing them in massive explosions.
Roars of pain came from the Dark Army, as Moblins and Dark Nuts died. As the roars of pain subsided, a lone Moblin walked forward, holding a flag that bared an arrow surrounded by fire.
"Kokiri and Hylians move back!" screamed Dominic. "Gorons, prepare more power kegs!"
The Dark Army retaliated with a mass of fire arrows. The hundreds of arrows landed into the crowd of Gorons, engulfing them in flames. One poor Goron was loading a power keg when a lone fire arrow landed on it, causing a massive explosion that killed ten gorons, and destroyed the catapult.
"Quickly now!" demanded Dominic. "Launch the other power kegs! Archers come forth!"
As more power kegs were sent into the masses of moblins and dark nuts, several gorons walked forward, carrying large crossbows.
"Ready your arrows!" bellowed Dominic.
Crackles, snaps and creaks were made as the Goron Archers readied their bows for the first shot.
"FIRE!" shouted Dominic.
Hundreds of arrows few through the air, flying into the moblins and dark nuts, easily killing all who were hit by these deadly projectiles.
The Chief grew impatient, and commanded the Hylians and Kokiries to ready their swords.
"Alright everyone!" shouted the Chief. "CHARGE!"
Hearing this, Dominic unsheathed his sword, and gave the same command to the Gorons, "CHARGE!"
Hyrule's bravest let out a deafening battle cry, as they dashed for the weakened military force of Evil; their numbers dropped to nine-hundred in all.
The two forces collided, as blades were crossed, and blood was spilled. Gorons pummeled the Dark Nuts while the Hylians and Kokiri fought the Moblins.
Kokiri could be seen jumping onto the backs of Moblins, stabbing repeatedly as the beasts fell to the ground. Hylians clashed with other Moblins, killing them one by one.
Not all of the Moblins and Dark Nuts took this onslaught though. Many Moblins picked up an unsuspecting Kokiri, and threw them across the battlefield, and pummeled the Hylians.
Dominic rode his dodongo, slashing at Dark Nuts and Moblins alike, while his dodongo bit, and blew fire on other monsters.
"Keep it up men!" encouraged the Chief. "At this rate, will beat them in no time!"
Meanwhile, Kaepora had landed in Gerudo Valley.
"This place is rather desolate," said Kaepora. "But that doesn't mean it will be a walk in the park."
"Nope, I have to fight four fights," said Link. "And I can't afford any injury from the first three."
"Keep on the move, use your power bracelets to add a little kick to your sword swings, and free the Gerudo's," ordered Kaepora. "If you tell them the situation, I'm sure they'll be more than happy to aid us."
Link nodded, and then left for the fortress, knowing that this will be the end of his journey, by either death or victory. "Here we go. The end is near. I'll either fall, or triumph."