Link charged into town, intent on driving away these monsters invading his home. His blood pumped loudly in his ears, his heightened senses forcing a cacophony of sound to hit him so he narrowed his focus. Allowing the sounds of battle to fade while his eyes sought any sign of danger. He ran passed the store, growing worried with each step. He hadn't seen any of the villagers yet.
His eyes narrowed in suspicion as he took in just how many monsters were literary trying to tear his home to the ground. Fire blazed high into the sky, slowly consuming the few buildings in town. Some were starting to crumble with the weight of their weakening infrastructure, threatening to become just as deadly as the creatures burning them down.
Everyone could have gotten away before the fight broke out. I would have heard a horde of this size approaching town so these bastards must have hit us from the west. I hope Fado is alright, they would have needed to pass his ranch in order to reach the town but why didn't everyone head my way? How did we get surrounded this easily?
He hoped the villagers got away but if it came to the worst, he'd rather they were captured then dead. He suddenly heard a shrill scream from behind him. Sliding to a stop in front of the bridge near Ilia's house he swung around to see Beth cowering against the wall of the store. Colin and Talo were fighting with wooden swords in an attempt to keep her safe from a pair of Bulblins while Malo was standing on top of the platform above the pumpkin patch using a slingshot to shoot seeds at the monsters within range.
How did I miss them?!
He saw more Bulblins coming from the river and even more came pouring through the gates. Link was about to rush to their aid when someone called his name. Turning towards the entrance of the ranch Link saw Bo and Rusl trying desperately to fight off a group of Bokoblins quickly growing in number. They were backed against the fence overlooking the stream next to Rusl's house. Behind them, Ilia was standing protectively in front of Uli who was clutching her newborn child to her chest.
Link swung back around toward the children and sprinted toward them. He needed to get everyone together. Dividing them was a smart tactic. To smart for either a Bulblin or Bokoblin. He could have believed such a feat from their king, but that huge monstrosity was no where in sight and hiding was not really in the guys nature. The heat of battle was to strong of a pull for these creatures so without their king there to command them, there was no way they could independently keep to a planned strategy. The most common tactic he's ever seen a Bulblin or Bokoblin preform was a simple 'hit it until it stops moving.'
He hears Ilia yelling for him to take the kids and run. He knew they needed help the most but he was not abandoning anyone. He'd find a way to save them all.
Link was startled when he suddenly felt something wrap around his legs. He stumbled, his sword flying from his grasp as he hit the ground. He immediately started kicking, trying to free himself. He glanced quickly at the kids and cursed. Malo had Bulblins cornering him on top of the platforms. With a snarl, Link hurled his body weight up in the air. He pushed with his hands and flipped himself over, landing perfectly. He stomped his feet into the ground once he landed in attempts to crush whatever had a hold of his ankles.
This seemed to work but as he looked around him he saw nothing there.
What? Where did it go?
He immediately thought nothing of it as Beth's screams filled the air again. He rushed toward them and picked up his sword on the way but was suddenly tripped again. He was ready this time. Grip tightening on his sword, he kicked wildly. He tried searching for whatever had grabbed a hold of him but his eyes widened when he felt the strong grip on his ankles but didn't see anything holding onto them.
What the hell is going on?
As he tried to fight whatever had a hold of him, he suddenly remembered something.
Right! Just like those damn invisible rats in the Arbiters Grounds! These don't seem like a creature though. More like a cold piece of cloth. I can feel that chill through my pants. What in the world are they?
He winced when he felt something bite him. Apparently they were more like a creature then he thought. Unless there was a kind of cloth out there that knew how to bite someone.
I wouldn't be surprised but I don't have time for this nonsense. I may not be able to see these things, but maybe the same tactics will work on them.
He began rolling and kicking, jerking every which way. This shook most of them off but he had more still on him when something else suddenly appeared in front of him.
What in the world? Did that just come out of the ground? Damn it! Well, at least I can see these bastards.
Link got a good look at it once it stalked closer. It moved with a strange alien grace, the shadows around it forming the movement of its body. Shaping into vaguely humanoid forms that hunched over, low to the ground. Long arms tipped with sharp claws waved eerily through the air as if they were weightless. Taunting Link with the ominous clicking of their claws. What unnerved him the most was that each shadow creature held a slight feature unique to them. Wispy hair that whipped around the frame of one like Midna's had once done. A firm stance that wielded a pair of clawed hands as if they were swords in a manner that shadowed Rusl's style. Each shadow creature created a form of someone that he held dear but was twisted in shadow, as if plucked straight from his nightmares.
Link couldn't help the shiver that traveled down his spine once he locked sight with one of the creatures. Piercing yellow eyes followed his every move, hinting at an intellect he rarely faced in his journey. It lowered itself to the ground, growling lowly but it sounded strange. As if the sound was passing through a filter before reaching his ears.
This thing means business. I can't let it near the kids.
His thoughts were cut short as it lunged at him. Link would have rolled behind the shadow monster in order to give it a good stab from behind, but those damn ankle biters seemed to have gotten smarter. They grabbed a hold of him but didn't attempt to retrain him until he tried to move. They were so lightweight that it was easy to forget they were even there, especially since he couldn't see them. Now he had more of them on his legs and when he tried to run again, he fell flat on his face.
He struggled to get on his feet. As he glanced up, he saw more shadow monsters rising from the ground. Link cursed. He risked a glance at the children again and gasped.
Where are they?!
There was no sign of them. Growling, Link dragged himself slowly to his feet and spread them apart to balance himself. He brought his sword to his side and focused his energy into the blade. With all his might, Link unleashed it with a mighty spin as he jumped as high as the ankle biters would let him. The energy wave blasted whatever was on him right off. He huffed, sweat covering his face and plastering his hair to his forehead as he landed and immediately got in a defensive stance.
This was draining him. It was a fine blade but it wasn't the Master Sword. He'd grown so used the the natural connection he'd shared with the Sword of Evil's Bane that now that he was using a regular blade it actually cost more energy to create a smaller burst of energy with his attack then he was used to. He probably could improve the flow of energy if he had spent time training with this blade. He would have. If he'd known he was going to be ambushed by a horde of creatures the size and strength like which he hadn't seen since the Twilight Incident.
That's just my luck.
He'd have to talk to Zelda about that. She'd said it was best to lay the holy sword to rest so that is what he did. He never really thought about how he used the mighty sword before. It was just...natural. Spells and the special techniques he'd learned would come nearly effortlessly when using the Master Sword.
Sure would have made this battle a whole lot easier if I'd still had it.
He spun around, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. He prepared to strike but unlike Link had anticipated, the shadow monsters hadn't charged at him when he was crouched on the ground.
They avoided my great spin attack? These guys are even smarter then I thought.
He made a wild dash where he had last seen the children. He focused his energy again and unleashed it when he reached the pumpkin patch. This seemed to be effective with the ankle biters but Link painfully found out it wasn't as effective for the shadow monsters. They lunged at him whenever he finished his great spin, catching him off guard.
None of the other monsters went anywhere near him. A strange tactic to the hero since the sheer number of enemies would be enough to overwhelm him. It was one they've used on him before and would have worked if it hadn't been for Midna. Then a bokoblin strayed a bit to close, blocking the path of one of the shadow monsters. Without hesitation, the creature cut through the monster with a single long slash and seemed to phase through the body before it even hit the ground.
Intelligent but with a one track mind that probably just has 'Kill Link' in big bold flashing letters.
Without a shield Link was able to be more agile, but as the shadow monsters started growing in number he started to miss that extra protection. He even tried some of his other techniques but those just ended up with him getting jumped when he missed his target when they'd sunk back into the ground or they ganged up on him before he had a chance to attack at all.
None of my tactics are working on these guys and I can't even see half of them! Damn it! Its like they're trained to fight me!
He hadn't seen the kids anywhere and now he lost sight of the others as well.
Goddess…am I to late?
He desperately tried searching for them, but it got harder as the enemies grew in number. Soon, they completely surrounded him. Losing himself, Link began getting reckless. He began throwing wild slashes and jabs everywhere.
Images flashed before his eyes. Memories of lost friends, hard won battles and then...memories he didn't remember happening. They flashed so fast he couldn't even place them except that there was a forest that sang before withering away. His ears twitched, swinging his head around wildly when he swore he heard whispers he was unable to tune out. They spoke of death, pain and unavoidable tragedy.
He raised his arm high, aiming the arch of his blade at one of the shadow monsters charging at him when another one caught a hold of his arm from behind, its claw digging into it. Shouting out in pain, Link tried twisting away from it but others started rising right from under him. They grabbed anything they were close to with their sharp claws, quickly immobilizing him.
Link screamed when he felt the searing pain of something ripping through his arm, causing him to drop his blade. Sweat and blood blurred his vision. His hair matted and sticking to his face as he panted in exhaustion. He had a fleeting thought of confusion as to why he suddenly felt so tired. He'd fought more enemies and in far more dangerous situations without tiring. His thoughts ran wild, chased away by another wave of searing pain that he felt everywhere this time. The group of shadow monsters lifted him as if they were offering a sacrifice. Link grunted in pain when one of them clawed its way onto his chest. It raised its sharp claw, preparing to stab him through the heart and with his limbs pinned in place, Link could do noting to stop it.
I'm going to die. I can't help them anymore...please Nayru, watch over my family. Don't let them all fall with me today.
Even though he was terrified, he refused to show it. He wouldn't give them the satisfaction. So, he just glared at the beast as it hissed at him.
If I'm going down, I'm doing so with dignity. You'll get nothing from me you murderous sons of bitches!