The three travelers made their way across the deserted land, exhausted from the long walk and the hot sun. They had been walking for several hours now and they hadn't seen a single piece of civilization. The Hero of the Triforce stopped in his tracks.
"Hold up, Ian," he said while breathing heavily. "Are you sure that we're going the right way?"
"Of course I'm sure," he replied. "I used to live here you know."
"Oh, yeah, of course. How could I forget?" he said sarcastically as he looked around at the surroundings yet again. "This doesn't even look like Hyrule. How do you know we're not in the wrong place?"
"Just take my word for it. Okay, Sean," Ian responded with a hint of annoyance in his voice. "This is Old Hyrule. The land you know is no more."
"So when…" Sean began to yell before the Hero of Time cut him off.
"What I think my descendant here wants to know is, when are we going to get to a town?"
Ian calmed down. "There isn't a town left in Old Hyrule. We're going to have to cross the sea to get to New Hyrule."
"Oh, just great!" Sean yelled angrily. "So we really are on the wrong piece of land! I suppose that once we get to the sea, everything will be fine, huh? But how long will it take us to get there? A day, two days, a week?"
"Well I think its time that we took a rest for awhile. Don't you agree, Ian?" Evan interjected.
"Yes, I agree. We shall rest for now. And not to worry, Sean, we're almost to the sea."
"Good," Evan continued, "I'm going to try to find a stream or something so we can have more water. You two try to calm down." He walked off in a random direction in search of water as the Hero of the Triforce and Ian sat down underneath a big oak tree to cool off.
The two sat there, not uttering a single word to each other. The shade was a much-welcomed relief from the overpowering sun and neither of them wanted to lose that cool feeling. They sat in silence the entire time that the Hero of Time was away fetching water.
Evan soon came back with each of their water skins filled. He handed them back to his two companions and took a drink from his own water skin. Without saying a word, he sat down beside them in the shade. There they remained for some time.
The Hero of Time became lost in thought once again. He felt his body drifting away into a state of total relaxation, whereupon nothing felt real. His vision slowly darkened, his consciousness engaged in a battle to stay awake. Finally, the battle was lost and he passed out.
He found himself floating over the same field that he had once known. Upon the field, a massive battle was raging between the last remnants of Hyrule and Ganondorf's evil army. At the time, it seemed as if the Hylian Army had the advantage, but how they had gotten it was beyond him. The frontal assault was being led by Knights, while Archers rained arrows on the enemies in the distance. Suddenly, he was flying over to the Archers for no apparent reason. He got closer and closer until he could see an archer that he had long known and loved. In his vision stood Zelda, firing arrow after arrow. He had seen her use a bow and arrow before, but she had never been good enough to be an actual archer. Then from behind him he heard a mighty battle cry as the Dark Army turned the tide on the Hylians. He looked on in horror as Hylian after Hylian was struck down. He turned to face Zelda again and he could see the fear in her eyes. As the Dark Army drew closer and closer, she turned and fled with the other archers. The last thing he heard was a deep, hateful laugh.
"Evan! Wake up!" Ian shouted as he shook the Hero of Time. "Damn it! Wake up!"
He opened his eyes and let out a groan. "Where? What happened?"
"You passed out about five minutes ago," the Hero of the Triforce informed him. "How are you feeling?"
"A little groggy," he replied.
Ian let out an audible sigh. "Good. You really had us worried. What was that all about?"
"Dreams," the Hero of Time started, "dreams about home. There was a terrible battle. I… I don't think that we were winning either."
"Don't let it get to you, Evan," Ian said. "They're just dreams and you can't do anything about them."
"But it wasn't just a dream! It felt so real! And I've had dreams like this before… premonitions…"
"I've had dreams like that, too," Sean remarked. "At this point, it seems the only thing you can do is continue with the plan. If that can't save them, nothing will."
Evan nodded his agreement. "You're right. Sitting here is not going to help us in any way," he drank some water from his water skin. "Let's get going!"
"Are you sure?" Ian asked. "Perhaps you should lie down for a little longer."
"No. We don't have any time to waste. Who knows how far the time rip has progressed? We must keep moving."
"So be it. Let's go," Ian said and the three travelers picked up their belongings and continued on their journey.
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They made their way through more of the Hyrule wasteland. The sun beat hard on their backs, the wind blew directly in their faces. The land was no longer inhabitable for people, but there were still some vegetation and animals in the area.
From the best that he could tell, Evan figured that they had to be on the southern part of Old Hyrule. In the distance and to the right, he could see what seemed like an ancient forest, although most of the trees were either dead or dying. He thought back to his childhood in the Kokiri Forest and was greatly disappointed about the outcome of that peaceful place and its people. Off to the left, he saw a mountain range and assumed that the tallest one was Death Mountain. According to the stories that Ian told him, Death Mountain was where he lived in solitude. What a dreadful place to live in, he thought as he gazed around the wasteland once more. Growing more and more depressed of the scenery, he decided to just look ahead.
Sean had been examining the land as well, although a lot less changed since his time. Death Mountain was exactly as it had been, but the Lost Woods seemed to have grown and taken over a lot of land. The lands were no longer fit for agriculture or irrigation. He wondered how all this had come to be. Perhaps it was just as Ian had said. All due to Ganon, but Sean didn't believe that Ganon was the only cause. He was quick to blame the inhabitants of the land for not looking after nature, destroying it as they saw fit. The thought of such carelessness angered and saddened him at the same time. He reached back for his water skin and took a drink. No sense worrying about it now, he thought. Just have to focus on the task at hand. He, too, decided to look straight ahead for the remainder of their journey.
They continued walking for what seemed like an eternity. Evan grabbed his water skin. It was very light, almost completely empty, but he needed the drink. He tilted his head back and drank the last of his water, hoping that they would soon reach their destination. Behind him, Sean had already finished his water and was beginning to feel the effects of dehydration, but he would be able to hold out for a while.
About an hour later, Ian stopped in his tracks turned to face the two Links. "We are just about there, perhaps another ten minutes or so."
"It's about time!" Sean yelled. He regretted that as he felt his head start to swoon and he felt very faint. His vision became very blurred and he found it increasingly difficult to stand. "Hey, guys…" he muttered before he fell over face first into the barren land.
"Sean!" Evan yelled as he ran to the aid of the Hero of the Triforce. "Sean! Come on, Sean!" he yelled as he began to slap his face.
Ian ran up to the unconscious boy and opened his water skin. "There's not much left in here. We're going to have to get more," Ian told Evan as he poured the rest of the water into Sean's mouth.
"Well where can we get more?"
"Best bet is by the sea. We have to get him there quickly!"
"I'll carry him, Ian. You just lead the way." The Hero of Time bent over and grabbed his descendant the best he could. With one quick and powerful heave, he was able to get the Hero of the Triforce over his shoulder. "Hurry up!"
"This way! And quickly!"
The two men raced toward the sea. Evan was amazed that he was still able to carry Sean walking in the hot sun all day, and he was glad. They came to the crest of a hill and they could see the sea sparkling in the hot sun, enticing them to move faster to it. Once over the hill, they quickened their pace. The sea was getting closer and closer and closer…
But now Evan was starting to feel the ill effects of dehydration. The intense pace that he had been running while carrying the Hero of the Triforce had been wearing down on him. His vision began to blur and he could do nothing to stop it. He could feel his head becoming heavy, his legs becoming very tired. All that was driving him now was his determination to get Sean to the water. He was almost there, about thirty yards to go. Ian had already reached the water and was eagerly waiting for Evan.
Come on Link! Evan thought to himself. You're almost there! Just a few more steps…just a few more… almost… he thought as he collapsed to his knees. The two heroes fell limply on the sand, exhausted, beaten, and unconscious.
"Damn it!" Ian yelled as he rushed over to them. "Now I have to save both of them!" He grabbed the Hero of the Triforce and brought him over by the water. "I hope I can pull this off."
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Evan woke up with a start. Across from where he lay was Ian and Sean. They both turned when they noticed that he had come to.
"Good. You're awake," Ian said.
"How long was I out?"
"Not too long. You two are a lot stronger than most people. They would have been under for a few hours, whereas you two took about an hour."
Sean reached into Evan's bag and pulled out some of his rations. "Here, eat some. Regain some strength."
Evan reached out and grabbed the jerky, quickly eating it. As he was eating, he noticed that Ian and Sean were working on something. He saw piles of wood and some rope. "What are you doing?"
"Making a raft," Ian responded. "We're going to need it. You can't very easily swim these waters." Evan got up and walked over to the pile of wood. He grabbed a good piece and proceeded to help Ian and Sean.
"So, Ian," Evan started, "Is there anything we should know about before going to New Hyrule?"
"Like what?"
"I don't know. Anything. Anything at all that you can think of."
"Well," Ian began to search his thoughts. "There are the humans."
"Humans?" Sean asked. "What are they?"
"Humans are very much like elves, but also very different. They share many of the same physical characteristics, although humans are bigger and lack pointed ears."
"Are you a human, Ian?" Evan asked.
"Yes I am. And it is for that reason that Ganondorf easily manipulated me. You see, humans are physically stronger, but are mentally inferior. Their minds are easily persuaded by greed, hatred, and destruction. For these reasons, they are very dangerous."
"Then why didn't the rest of the elves destroy the humans?"
"Because the humans are still very smart. Their greatest attribute is the art of invention. Without humans, civilization would not advance any further. They are also strong allies, though they cannot use magic."
"They can't use magic?" Evan asked as he tied together two pieces of wood.
"No. They don't have the ability of magic, nor do they worship the Goddesses. The Triforce is nothing more than an ancient relic to them." Ian could see the shock on both their faces. He couldn't help but chuckle a little. "Don't blame them. They believe in another God. And remember, to each his own. You mustn't look down on them or degrade them. They are living creatures just like you." Ian tied his piece of wood to the one that Evan had been holding.
Sean finished his part and handed it to Ian. "Will they help us?"
"I'm sure we will be able to find some who will help us," Ian replied while taking Sean's piece. "But we must be careful. There are those who wish harm on elves because of jealousy and hatred. Always be mindful of your surroundings."
Evan and Sean glanced at each other. They had heard of evil creatures, and the occasional bad person, but they never had to worry about their safety among elves. They would have to keep a watchful eye out for any suspicious humans.
"There!" Ian said as he tied the last pieces of wood together. "Finished! This little raft should suffice us for our journey. We just need a sail of some sort."
"Here, Ian," Evan said as he reached into his bag. "You can use one of my extra tunics. We'll just buy another one in town." He handed the tunic to Ian's outstretched hand.
Ian grabbed another piece of wood and tied the tunic to one end. He placed the other end in the middle of the raft and smiled. "Not bad if I say so myself." He turned to the heroes. "Now let's put this in the water and get going!"
All three of them got behind the raft and pushed with all their might. Slowly, they moved the raft through the sand. Once they hit the water, Ian jumped on.
"Come on! It's sturdy!" he yelled as he jumped up and down to demonstrate.
Evan looked at Sean. "Go ahead. You go first."
"No way. You go first."
"I am your ancestor, and I say that you go first!" Evan shouted.
"No way, 'Gramps,'" Sean retaliated. "This is your mission of glory, so you go first."
Evan tried to think of another comeback, but couldn't. "Damn! Fine, I'll go on first!" Hesitantly, the Hero of Time placed his right foot on the raft. Before he could bring his left foot aboard, he felt a hard push from behind and fell face first onto the raft. He looked back and saw Sean holding his stomach and laughing. "Get on the damn raft already!"
Still laughing, Sean made his way onto the raft and the three travelers set sail for New Hyrule.
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They had traveled over the water for nearly an hour without incident. There was just enough room on the raft so that they were not all on top of each other. In the distance, the land of New Hyrule drew closer. None of them had uttered a word since they had gotten on the boat, each lost in his own thoughts. The heat of the sun had died down, and the cool ocean breeze made the environment even more comfortable as they made their way across.
Evan was sitting up on the front of the raft while the other two were lying on their backs on either side. During a journey, he never felt at ease. It was almost like he was paranoid. He sat there, taking in the scenery.
Sean lay there, gazing into the blue sky, wondering if they were going to be successful in their quest. He was so lost in his thoughts that he failed to notice that Evan had stood up in the raft, with sword and shield drawn. When he finally saw him, Sean bolted upright.
"What is it, Evan?"
"Something off in the distance."
Sean looked out in the direction that the Hero of Time was facing. At this time, Ian sat up and was also looking out across the sea. Neither of them could see anything.
"Evan, are you sure you saw something?" Ian asked.
"Yes, I'm sure."
"Hey, Ian," Sean asked, "Do any dangerous creatures live in these waters?"
"I don't know. I don't remember crossing the sea, although I guess I had to at some point in my life."
"Well, something's coming," Evan continued. "I suggest that you guys prepare yourself for anything."
Sean drew his sword and shield while Ian readied his bow. The three of them stood there, silent, watching the water for any signs of trouble. A minute later, there was still no sign of danger, and Ian and Sean were beginning to doubt Evan's warning. Another minute passed, still no signs and Ian and Sean relaxed. No sooner had they given up on the situation, than the water around them was disturbed.
The disturbance in the water grew larger, rocking the raft gently. Ian and Sean each picked up their weapons once again and prepared for the worst. Now, the water all around them was being disturbed. Each of the three faced a different direction, fully anticipating an attack from all sides. Finally, the danger that lay underneath surfaced all around them.
Each of them covered their faces from the splashing water and prepared to strike. They were completely surrounded by six octoroks. With a quick slash, Evan was able to take out the Octorok directly in front of him. Sean was forced to block a shot from the Octorok nearest him, while Ian's arrow missed his target. The second wave caused Evan to shield several blows, but Sean was able to slice one in half. The Octoroks went back underwater and got ready to attack again. As they jumped out of the water, Evan easily killed the Octorok to his left, but he was completely unaware of the Octorok on the other side. Reacting quickly, Ian placed an arrow and let it fly. The arrow hit the Octorok directly in the head and its body lurched forward onto the raft, causing it to rock more violently.
"Hey, thanks Ian!" Evan yelled back to him as he realized that the Octorok had a good shot at him.
"No problem!" Ian replied as he placed another arrow on his bow. He aimed at an Octorok that was ambushing Sean and fired. The arrow struck the Octorok perfectly, giving Sean the opportunity to take out the last Octorok with a quick thrust of his sword.
All three collapsed slowly onto the raft, exhausted from the intense battle.
"Well," Sean said between breathes, "I hope that's the last adventure we have for a while."
"I hope so too," Evan agreed. "I'm looking forward to a nice cozy bed where I can rest for a while."
"And some food," Sean added. "Definitely need some real food."
"Guys?" Ian interrupted. "I wouldn't get your hopes up too soon."
"Why not?" Sean asked. "We've been through a lot already."
"Well, get ready to go through some more," Ian said as he pointed north.
The two heroes looked north, and there they could see dark clouds forming in the sky, and the water underneath forming high waves. A fierce downpour covered the entire area, and it seemed that the storm was headed right for them.
"This is just great!" Sean yelled over the howling wind. "How are we going to make it through that?"
"I suggest that we all hold on very tight," Ian responded with a forced smile. "Hopefully the brunt of the storm won't hit us."
"Just hold on?" Sean yelled back. "That's the plan? Just hold on?" He sighed angrily as he and the others prepared themselves for the oncoming storm. Ian shrugged.
The storm moved quickly over the water, directly at them. It was almost as if someone was controlling it, trying its hardest to make sure that the three travelers failed. Evan could sense some form of evil in the air, but he couldn't place it. Instead of worrying about it, he grabbed a firm hold of the raft.
"Here it comes!" Ian shouted. "Hold on!"
The first giant wave came crashing into the small raft, nearly capsizing it. Somehow, they were all able to stay on the raft with great effort. Angered by this, the storm brought more waves, faster and harder. The tiny raft was tossed all over the sea, but remained intact, the three travelers clinging to the raft for their lives.
The storm became worse, sending wave after wave at them. Another giant wave crashed into them, and Ian could feel his grip slipping. Before he could reposition himself on the raft, another wave struck the raft. He was thrown from the raft, waves crashing over him, trying to drown the life out of him. He tried to stay afloat as he was pummeled by the waves. Desperately, he called out for the Hero of Time.
"Evan!"
The Hero of Time thought he could hear a voice.
"Evan!" Ian yelled again as he was pulled back under.
Evan turned around to see if anyone was calling him and was met by fear as he noticed that Ian was no longer on board. He searched the water for his friend, hoping that he would be able to spot him. Another wave crashed down on the raft again, nearly pulling Evan off with it. Regaining his balance, he scanned the water for any signs of Ian. Miraculously, he saw Ian as he bobbed up for more air, his arms flailing in the air.
"Evan!"
"Ian! I'm coming!" he yelled back. He turned around and called to Sean, "Sean! Ian went overboard! We have to help him!"
Without responding, Sean slowly moved across the raft. The rain was pounding the raft much harder, and the waves seemed like they would never end. Lightning flashed in the sky, as if the storm was signifying victory.
"Ian!" Evan yelled to the elder man. "Try to get closer to the raft if you can!" Although this seemed impossible, Evan was hoping that Ian could get just a little closer so that the rescue attempt would be easier. Sean appeared alongside him, surveying the scene.
"One of us is going to have to go in there," he said.
Evan looked at him. "So which one of us goes in?" They both stared at each other, having a silent conversation. They both knew who was going to go. "Ok," Evan continued, "when we get close to the raft, you reach out and pull him in first. Then worry about me." Sean nodded and Evan returned the nod. Without another word, he jumped into the stormy sea.
Ian could feel his body getting colder and his strength leaving him. The waves continued to pound him, forcing him to submit to the storm. His vision was becoming impaired, and his kicking was slowing. He caught a glimpse of someone jumping from the raft, but he couldn't make out whom it was. He didn't much care either. Just as long as someone comes out to help me.
Evan was swimming harder than he had ever swum before. The sea was trying to pull him under, the waves trying to drown him. He thanked the Goddesses that Ian wasn't too far off from the raft; otherwise he wouldn't be sure if he could make it to him. His adrenaline was pumping full blast and he had reached Ian remarkably fast. He grabbed Ian around his chest and began to swim back to the raft. The waves made the task that much more challenging, but Evan wasn't going to die now. He kept kicking his legs, forcing his way back to the raft where Sean was already leaning over with his hand held out.
Sean grabbed Ian as best he could and pulled him aboard the raft. Ian was still alive and breathing, but he needed to get to a warm bed soon if he was going to survive. The extreme shock, which he had just gone through, would surely kill him if he weren't cared to. Sean helped Evan back onto the raft.
"Good work, Evan," Sean said.
"Don't congratulate me yet, Sean. We still have to get him to a town."
"Yeah, well, we'll worry about that once this storm stops."
Just then, as suddenly as it had begun, the storm ended. The sun began to shine through the clouds and the water settled down. The two heroes looked around in confusion, totally amazed at what they saw.
"Works for me," Sean quirked.
Evan nodded. "Now, let's get to New Hyrule," he said. "Without further troubles."
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Hordes of Moblins lay dead on Hyrule Field as the battle continued. The Hylian army continued its advance on the Dark Army.
"Hurry up! We must secure the passage!" Nick yelled to the Hylians in earshot. He ducked under the axe of a Moblin and ran it through with his sword. The creature squealed as it slowly died. Nick still hated that noise, although he was growing very accustomed to it.
Far from the battle lines, Zelda stood with the other archers, firing arrow after arrow into the unsuspecting enemy. The archers had slowly moved their position forward as the battle raged on, trying to get as many of the enemy in their firing range as possible. The bloodlust that Zelda had felt for the first time only a little while before was being quenched as she struck Moblin after Moblin. She stopped firing and turned around. She faced the direction in which the refugees would be headed, hoping that they could secure the passage soon. Off in the distance, she could see the first group of refugees making their way to Zora's River. Confident that they would achieve their goals, Zelda turned back to face the battle and fired more arrows into the crowd.
Meanwhile, the four divisions of Knights began to converge on Ganon's Tower. At the front of the divisions, Nick, Aaron, William, and Robert continued their onslaught of the Dark Army. Moblins and Stalfos continued to stand in the way of the Hylian army, and more and more were cut down. Aaron blocked a strike from a Stalfos, ducked out of the way of a Moblin's axe, and rolled away from the Stalfos second strike. Finally behind it, he sliced the Stalfos in half and threw his dagger at the surprised Moblin. Without wasting any time, he led a few other Knights into another skirmish.
In the distance, the passage for the refugees had been secured. With freedom in their sights, the refugees moved as fast as they could to Zora's River, thankful that the Hylian army had done what it needed to do, and apparently more. Zelda felt relief as more and more of the refugees made it through the passage. At least they'll be saved, she thought.
William and Robert were fighting side by side, each watching the other's back. Two Lizalfos suddenly surrounded William, but Robert jumped in and sliced them both in half before they even knew what was happening.
"Thanks, Robert."
"No problem, William. Just remember, you owe me one."
"Yeah, yeah," William replied. "How about we go and kill more of these devilish creatures?"
"Count me in!" Robert yelled as he decapitated another Moblin. The two friends continued their attacks.
Soon, the Hylian army was within reach of Ganon's Tower. Excitement filled Nick's heart as their ultimate goal lie so close. The anticipation of taking back this once great land was a dream-come-true. Proudly, he raised his sword high in the air, and as loud as he possibly could he yelled, "For Hyrule!"
His cry was met by the cries of the entire Hylian army. Nick pointed his sword directly at the tower.
"Charge!"
The Hylian army cried out in response and ran toward Ganon's tower, victory in their sights. The archers stopped firing and watched on as the Knights charged the mighty tower. Zelda looked back to the refugees again and figured that about half of them had safely made the journey to Zora's River. Content filled her heart as she realized that the remaining refugees wouldn't have to flee because victory was theirs.
The Hylian army approached Ganon's Tower and prepared to strike down the Evil King. Their cries were louder than ever and could be heard for a great distance. Nick, Aaron, William, and Robert charged the tower alongside each other and prepared for the greatest victory ever by the Hylian army.
Then, a new cry could be heard. It was not the battle cry of a Hylian, or any of its allies. Nor was it the battle cry of any of the devilish creatures that they had been fighting. The sudden emergence and loudness of this cry halted the advances of the Hylian army as they all pondered what it could possibly be.
"Nick!" Aaron yelled. "What the hell is that?"
Nick looked around. "I have no idea! I've never heard such a horrible cry before."
"Where is it coming from?" William asked to no one in particular.
"Up there," Robert responded matter-of-factly as he pointed to the top of the tower.
The four Knights looked skyward and were shocked at what they saw. On top of the tower, rather, floating above the tower, was Ganondorf. He was surrounded by a strange purple and black glow as he continued to yell at the top of his lungs. The glow became brighter as it grew. It soon became so intense that the entire Hylian army, even the refugees, were forced to cover their eyes and stand still.
With one final yell, Ganondorf let loose a powerful wave of magic that expanded from the tower into a giant sphere. The wave threw the Hylian army back, and the Knights were sent flying through the air, away from the tower. The blast itself killed more than half of the entire army.
The glow finally died down and Nick pulled himself up off the ground. He was badly wounded as he had landed on a spear. The spear was forced right though his left leg, and he had no choice but to break off the two ends. Not far from where he was, Aaron stood up with a bloodied right arm and numerous scrapes. William had a broken left arm and could barely pull himself up off the ground. Instead, Robert, who didn't have any serious injuries, helped him to his feet.
"What the hell was that?" Robert asked.
"Some sort of magic attack," Nick grimaced. He looked around. "Pretty devastating one too."
"So now what do we do? We can't very well try that again," Aaron added.
With that, the air was filled once again with a battle cry, but this one was all too familiar to the Hylians. Unbelievably, armies of Moblins and Stalfos charged the remnants of the Hylians.
"Damn!" William yelled. "More of them?"
"You three lead the rest of the army," Nick yelled as he ran away from the tower.
"Where are you going?" Aaron yelled after him.
"To protect the Princess!"
The three remaining friends looked at each other and steeled their resolve. Without another word, they each raised their swords in the air and faced the oncoming army.
"For Hyrule!" they yelled in unison as they charged along with the survivors of Ganondorf's attack. It was their last desperate attempt.
Nick ran as fast as he could with his injured leg, pushing aside the intense pain. The archers were far off in the distance, but he was determined that he would get there long before any of Ganon's minions did. He made his way through bodies of Hylians and demons alike, blood staining the fields. He did his best to try to avoid looking at the fallen Hylians, afraid that he would see someone he knew lying there dead. The pain in his leg was intensifying, and it become more and more difficult to run. His pace slowed to a walk until he finally fell over from the pain. This is it, he thought, I'm going to die here. He slowly moved his head to see what was around him, and his feeling of despair grew more intense after what he saw next to him. There, lying next to each other, were the dead bodies of Chris and Liz, the two teenage girls who had desperately wanted to fight to avenge the deaths of their loved ones. Tears swelled up in Nick's eyes as he looked upon them. They were still only children. They didn't deserve this. His sadness slowly gave way to anger, as his will to defeat the enemy rose once again. Pushing the pain out of his mind, he pulled himself up off the ground once more and continued to run toward the archers.
Zelda looked frantically around her. Confusion and chaos had come to the small army of archers. Some tried to hold their position and continued to fire at the now much larger enemy army. Others were trying to flee the battlefield and escape with the refugees. Zelda stood in place, neither firing nor fleeing. She had no idea where that enormous blast from the tower had come from, but by the number of bodies strewn across the field, she knew that they were in trouble. Not far in front of her, she could see Nick limping his way in her direction. Concerned, she began to walk toward him, but was held back by a bloody hand.
"Princess, please wait here," Sarah informed her. "It's too dangerous for you to go out there."
"Sarah! You're injured!"
Sarah held her right hand over her left side, trying to keep the blood loss at a minimum. "I'll be alright."
"But Nick looks hurt! We should go out there and help him!" Zelda continued.
"My husband is fully capable of getting back here on his own, Princess," said a voice from behind her. Zelda turned to see Celes standing there. "Just stay here."
Zelda took the advice of her two friends and remained where she was. Nick continued to limp his way toward them and would soon be there. He struggled to make it up the hill that they stood on, but eventually he was able to make it to the top.
"Princess, are you okay?" were the first words out of his mouth.
"I'm fine, Nick. But you're badly injured!" she replied.
"It's not that bad. I'll live."
Celes reached into her supply back and grabbed a length of bandage. She rushed over to her husband.
"Sit down, Nick."
"No, I must protect the Princess!"
"Sit!" Celes yelled forcefully while pressing down on his shoulder. Nick gave in and took a seat on the ground as Celes began to wrap his wound.
"Nick, what was that blast before?" Zelda asked.
Nick grimaced in pain as Celes tightened the wrapping. "A magic blast from Ganondorf. It nearly killed us all. Where are Adriana and Diana?"
Sarah pointed to a line of archers still firing. "Over there. They're not going to stop until you tell them to."
"What about Aaron, William, and Robert?" Zelda asked. "They're not dead, are they?"
"No," Nick replied through clenched teeth as Celes finished dressing his wound. "They're out there fighting back."
Zelda looked out over the field and was horrified at what she saw. "Oh no! Look!"
They all turned to see the same horrifying image that she had seen. The Dark Army had made substantial advances on the remaining Hylians. At the forefront of the battle were Aaron, William, and Robert, trying to fend off numerous Moblins and Stalfos. The threesome was being driven back at an alarming rate. Suddenly, a group of Dinolfos moved around their right flank, while a group of Stalfos moved around the left flank. The three Knights were totally surrounded. The fighting ceased around them as the Dark Army moved in on their kill.
"This looks bad," Aaron commented as they each stood back to back.
"Extremely," added William. "I don't see this turning out good at all."
"Whatever happens," Robert began, "we finish this battle fighting. We will never give up until the life is taken from our bodies."
"I guess this will be our final fight," William said.
"So we better make it a good one," Aaron remarked with a small smile on his face.
Robert sighed. "I just want you guys to know that it was an honor fighting with you, and it's an honor to die with you."
Silence fell over the three friends as each pondered their fate and prayed for the safety of the others.
"Well," Aaron said, breaking the silence, "let's do this!"
"Right!" they both replied.
They each raised their swords in the air and charged the awaiting enemies with a fierce battle cry.
From their viewpoint on top of the hill, Zelda and the others witnessed the final act of three of their friends. None of them yelled out to the Knights. Instead, they all stood silent, praying for their friends, and praying that they would not die in vain. The circle of Moblins, Stalfos, and Dinolfos became tighter and tighter until they could not be any closer together. As the Dark Army ended their battle there, they continued to advance on the remaining Hylians.
And there, on the battlefield, lay the bodies of three Knights.