Chapter 15
The Rebels
Zaira led them to a small village hidden away in the mountains that was guarded heavily by archers and any sorcerers Zaira was able to sweet talk into joining the rebels.
"Welcome to Hidden Village, the main base for the rebels. Careful sand storms are pretty frequent here and you must carry your weapons at all times in case of a surprise attack." Zaira said as she handed her horse to an elderly old man.
"Well we already learned that in the arena." Bryce joked causing Zaira to flash a cold stare at him.
"This is not something we joke about, Bryce. Lilith's army has already destroyed three heavily populated kingdoms and turned Hyrule upside down. To her we are all one kingdom under the ruling of her, we rebels are fighting to take back what's ours and we'll finish the job with blood split if we have to."
"She's right, that's why we ask you five to be the symbols of the rebels. If others see you five as rebels they'll consider joining our side." Alfonso added.
"I think all the 'villages' who lost their tributes would want nothing more than see us killed." Vaati said coldly as a man dressed in green robes handed Zaira a letter. She read it carefully before handing it to Alfonso who also read it quickly, his face turning pale.
"Two hundred dead near Zora's Domain." Zaira said.
"That's where the blue skinned girl was from I think… She had the same features as the people who live there." Bryce said. Zaira and Alfonso looked at him puzzled. "She was the last tribute killed before we were the final five. My mother could've easily slipped in enough money to give her enough power to bring the other tributes back but she only ended up killing her instead so she took it out on her people."
"If that's true then the next place she could be heading towards is your village, Midna." Alfonso said.
"My village is protected by the spirits of our ancestors and shields away evil that comes within a mile from us, she wouldn't be able to penetrate that strong of a force." Midna replied.
"Then it'll be Ordon…" Zelda whispered.
"No rebels have created another base in our castle, Zelda. Zefa and Ilia are safe with Cole until we can find a way to send them here without Lilith knowing. It'll be a stretch but we're thinking a few witches can fly them here or we get the Watarara tribe to bring them here." Zaira suggested. They walked into a small pub filled with rebels carrying an assortment of throwing knives or swords, laughing and drinking beer as one of their own tried wrestling a chicken. Zaira talked quietly to the bartender and motioned the group to sit at the very end of the bar in a small group. Zaira ordered four beers for the boys and three glasses of the finest wine they had here for the girls. As the bartender stood there taking out glasses and bottles as he introduced himself as Don.
"I lived for a while near Death Mountain where I trained to become a warrior for Hyrule. I always dreamed of Hyrule becoming one with everyone else once again but never once thought this was how it would turn out. History is repeating itself once again and as legend says the triforce will make an appearance and war will begin once again between the kingdoms." Don explained as he handed the bottles and glasses of wine to everyone.
"Did the legend say who will win?" Vaati asked.
"Nope. The only way though to end this battle is to bring the kingdom's ties together with the others using the six medallions the sages left behind before they joined the goddesses in the sky."
"As in the medallions that were left behind but most likely never seen again by the sages. Look, Don, those medallions are long gone. If anything the earth destroyed them or they dried out and turned to dust." Alfonso said before taking a gulp of his beer. Zelda looked down at her bag and felt the weight of the four medallions press down on her, calling to her. She carefully took each of them out and placed them on the bar, the coins glittering in the sunlight.
"We have four of them. Cole told me if we find all six and bring them to the triforce Hyrule will once again be one with the others." Zelda told Don as his eyes widen with shock.
"How… How did you find these?" Don asked looking at each of them with curiosity glances.
"Zefa gave me the light one just before I left for Hyrule, Cole gave me the spirit one the day before the games, Bryce found the fire one in Gerudo and Link gave me the forest one."
"Amazing… So all you're missing is the shadow one and water."
"I've been thinking…. But I think the water one will be near Zora's Domain and the shadow one near the entrance to the Underworld."
"Zora's Domain is completely destroyed by Lilith's forces and we have no idea where the entrance to the Underworld is!" Zaira said to her sister.
"You know I think Zelda might be right. Both of the sages who owned those coins lived near both areas. From the scriptures I read the water one is frozen and sealed beneath the earth and the shadow one is guarded by demons who take the souls of countless thieves who wish to steal it. It's possible both areas contain the medallions. It's only a couple days to get to Zora's Domain and Lilith's army has no reason to stay there so they must've left by now. It doesn't hurt to at least check it out."
"It does hurt, Don! That's precious days we waste instead of trying to figure out a plan to run Lilith out of Hyrule! Look we don't need those stupid coins to bring back Hyrule, we just battled it out and drive her out of here back to Gerudo." Zaira said pressing her lips together, her long hair falling behind the chair.
"Cole said if we find them it'll restore Hyrule without war breaking out. I rather find them then lose countless lives just to drive one person out." Zelda yelled.
"My mother won't stop until she has nobody left but herself. Even if we fight with her she'll force the villages who won't join the rebels to fight against us. That's a huge bargain you need to make considering the rebels are fairly small at the moment. I say we look for the last two medallions and tie Hyrule back together." Bryce said. The doors slammed open as a man dressed in armor walked in, his sword in his hand.
"Lilith's army is heading towards here. Every warrior is called to the front lines immediately without question. Prepare to battle." The solider said before rushing out, the rest of the rebels following seconds after the message was spoken.
"We need to get you five out of here quickly. How far away is Zora's Domain?" Zaira asked Don.
"About a day's travel to the west. If they fly they could get there by sundown at the latest." Don replied.
"Alright let's get some Watarara to take you. Follow me." Zaira said as she handed Don a few gold coins and rushed out of the bar avoiding the soldiers hurrying to the battle lines. Zelda quickly took out her bow as she handed Link the master sword. The triforce glittered gold as he grabbed the sword and stuck it through the empty case on his side.
"Hey you think the army can sacrifice a little bit of magic so we can protect ourselves?" Vaati wined. Zaira scowled and walked towards a small shop, tapping on the window before heading inside.
"Marivus?" Zaira said. Behind the wooden counter a short little old man perked up, his eyes as big as bombs behind his glasses and his hair was messy and a mixture of salt and pepper color as it danced around his head with the windy draft in his shop.
"Zaira I thought you were more of a scythe warrior not sorcerer." Marivus said.
"Have you got any of those bracelets left? These three here only use magic and we're sending them to Zora's Domain to look for something." Zaira said.
"Hm… It's going to be pricey but I do have a few left." Marivus said reaching behind the counter and pulling out three small wooden boxes.
"We're the last five tributes buddy. If anything we're doing you a favor by using your bracelets." Vaati snarled. Bryce elbowed his arm and glared at him.
"The last five tributes? You mean the tributes from the Hyrule Games? Prove it."
"I'm Zelda, Zaira's sister and I volunteered myself in a friend's place as tribute. This bow also has the symbol of the games on it." Zelda said handing the bow to him. Marivus looked at her bow before handing it back to her and smiling.
"Free of charge. These things give you unlimited magic but be warned no one will be able to use it besides you after you put it on. I made them to only recognize one person once they touch the bracelet so never take it off."
Bryce, Vaati and Midna each grabbed a box and slowly pulled the lid off and looked at the bracelets. They were black leather bracelets each carrying a different symbol made of a type of stone. "The green one is for sorcerers who use nature more often, the red is for fire and the purple is to control wind, the shadows and if possible water."
"I'm used to working with nature since I can control the changes of the seasons back in my village." Midna said grabbing the box from Bryce.
"I'm more of the mysterious sorcerer so I'll take purple. That is my favorite color as you can see." Vaati said grabbing his bracelet and putting it on. The stone glowed a deep purple and he waved his hand as a purple ball formed in his palm. "Cool right?" He threw it against the wall and it erupted into purple flames and showed the beasts from the arena Zelda and Bryce ran from the night before they left. Bryce silently put on the bracelet and the stone glowed a mixture of red and orange.
"You were the one who made it rain fire during the first day didn't you?" Link asked him.
"I did… I didn't expect so many people to die because of me." Bryce said staring at his bracelet.
"No time for chitchat. Let's get a move on before they find out you're here!" Zaira said shoving them out the door, outside the door stood three tall Watarara each with gold eyes as they looked down on them.
"I need your three to take these five and bring them to Zora's Domain quickly. They're looking for the water medallion hidden in ice somewhere."
"Are these the last five tributes?" One of them asked.
"Yes but please hurry her army is closing in on us." Zaira said. All three of them lowered onto fours and stretched their wings out allowing the five of them to get on their backs.
"I'll ride with Zelda." Bryce said, Vaati glaring at him behind his back. He helped Zelda on and then sat behind her as Midna and Link shared one and Vaati sat alone on the last.
"After you find it go to the emperor who lives there if he's still alive. He could tell you where the gates to the underworld are. Be safe, Zelda." Zaira told her sister.
"In three days go to Hyrule Castle and I'll meet you there. We're ending Lilith's ruling once and for all." Zelda said before the birds took flight and let Zaira behind waving her sister goodbye.
"Are you going to the front lines?" Alfonso asked her.
"No… I'm going back home to Zefa and protect her." Zaira said watching her other sister disappear into the clouds.