The desert colossus boasted a huge oasis, which probably contributed to the decision to build the sacred temple there. It boasted a large amount of water, as well as some animals and edible vegetation. The Hylian army quickly went to work consuming these supplies and harvesting what was left. Possessing only a vague description of where their next target was, it was imperative that the army conserve as much food and water as possible. Within a day the oasis were laid bare of their natural resources.
"Our unit should be prepared to leave shortly Lady Impa." An officer from one of the slower units reported.
"Good, we will march through the night to avoid the heat. Make sure the torches are ready." Impa ordered.
"Yes m'lady." The officer saluted before hurrying off.
"It will be hard to keep the men together when the sun goes down." Link commented
"No choice, there are no oases between here and the citadel that we know of. We have to keep water consumption as low as possible."
Link nodded then looked over at the ruins of the temple. "Looks like some people will won't want to leave."
A number of soldiers had taken up a position in front of the ruins, bowing their heads in supplication and muttering prayers. Another, more "pragmatic" group had taken to digging through the ruins for anything worth selling back in Hyrule.
Impa grimaced. "In truth I had hoped to spare the temple but it turned out to be a monster infested death trap."
Link nodded. "Any holy place Ganondorf touches becomes a den of evil."
"Nevertheless, the loss of the temple has hurt morale amongst our more religious soldiers, and the desert will push the army to its breaking point. We'll be lucky to get another battle out of them." Impa said with resignation.
"Ganondorf's forces must be at their breaking point too. The Gerudo are gone and the monsters and Bokublin he uses for soldiers are barely able to think." Link argued.
"We haven't faced Ganondorf himself in the field since the siege of Castletown, and we only won that because of your timely intervention. His army might be diminished but he is still a capable general." Impa argued "I will count on you to engage him while I lead the army."
Link nodded.
….
The day passed and by the evening the army was packed up and in formation. The desert was actually rather cool at night; one could even feel the slightest hint of humidity and cool breeze in the air.
The army was prepared to set out, using the precious night hours to march without the blistering heat, so it was only happenstance when a beleaguered messenger managed to catch up with the army before it left.
"Give this man some water!" Impa ordered as the tired and dirtied man was set down before her. He was a short, weasel-like man, no bigger than Link despite being at least twice his age. By his dress he was a knight from the garrison left in Gerudo valley though his cloths were torn and even his horse was half dead.
"Lady Impa…" the knight began, "our scouts have spotted an army advancing on our base from the north through the mountain pass."
"Easy Sir Niko, how large is this force." Impa said gently.
"Perhaps a thousand men, but the scouts say Ganon himself is leading the army!"
The officers around them murmured.
"That isn't possible." Link declared. "We have information he's at the edge of the desert."
"Perhaps that was misdirection". Impa suggested.
"Noburu wouldn't lie for Ganondorf." Link said in defense of his friend.
"Perhaps not, but Ganon is a master wizard. Fooling his enemies and allies alike is perhaps not beyond him."
Link thought about this. That was exactly in his character, striking from the darkness and letting his enemies put themselves in an inferior position. These had been Ganondorf's calling cards as long as Link had known him.
He nodded. "Your right, that's exactly the kind of thing he would do."
Impa nodded to Niko in turn. "It is good you made it in time Sir Niko, another hour and we would have been gone. We'll have to turn the army around immediately."
"No." Link said. By the time the army gets there it will be too late. Besides. There must still be forces at the Arbiter's Ground. I'll go myself."
"Link, we must face Ganondorf with all we have. Even you cannot beat an army by yourself." Impa said sternly. He tone brooked no arguments even from senior knights, but Link had seen worse.
"You said it yourself; this army only has one more battle in it. If we march back now we will have to start over. I can reach the base in time, stop Ganondorf and lead them to victory, you tell the men that I've left on a secret mission and head to the Arbiters Grounds. We'll destroy what's left of his forces in one go."
"That's far too risky Link, in any case I am still your superior and you will obey me." Impa said with finality."
Link shook his head and moved in close so only Impa could see what he was about to do. "Ganondorf and I share a connection that goes deeper than hierarchy." He said holding up his fist.
While no one else saw it, Impa's eyes widened.
"Only I can destroy Ganondorf, and only the princess has the right to stay my hand."
Impa's eyes narrowed and Link met her stare. They held only for a moment before Impa gave in.
"It appears I have no say in the matter. Go and face Ganondorf. I will take the Arbiters Ground."
Link bowed his head. "Thank you."
Impa closed her eyes in prayer. "May the path of the hero open the way to the Triforce"
"You know I hate that prayer." Link said.
Impa softly scoffed. "Do not wave that thing in front of me and then bemoan your fate boy."
…
The trip back through the desert was quicker than going with the army. Link didn't have to keep pace with anyone. He and Epona raced from oasis to oasis, stopping only to water and occasionally sleep. Within two and a half days he found himself back at the gates of the former Gerudo fortress.
"Who goes there?!" The guards were clearly on edge. Link noticed archer aiming for him as he approached the gate.
"Link of Hyrule!" he called out as loud as he could so the guards wouldn't shoot him.
The guards were still on edge till he was close enough for the gate master to see his face.
"It really is you! Apologies my lord but we're under siege from all sides but this one. "
"Explain the situation." Link ordered.
"The enemy is camped just out of our cannon range. They launched an attack last night and destroyed most of our outer defensives." The gate master said, following behind Link as he tethered Epona near a water trough.
"And Ganondorf?"
The officer nodded. "Ganon has been seen by our scouts multiple times sir, he led the attack from the front."
"From the front?" Link asked
"Yes m'lord" he nodded.
Link pondered this. In his experience Ganondorf only lead from the front when he needed immediate results. Otherwise he let subordinates do the work, regardless of their competency.
Link!" Gonzo; the knight who had been left in charge called out.
Link nodded to the man. How are we holding yup?
"Not well yeah? Were nearly out of ammo, and were down to the basic gate from protection. They'll force their way through tonight; I think."
Link nodded. "Just hold the line and leave Ganondorf to me. Once he goes down his army will panic and disperse."
"Link! You can't face Ganon alone! It's suicide. I'll come with you."
"No." Link said. You hold the line. I've beat him before and I can beat him again."
….
After two days in the desert Impa was beginning to see the wisdom of Link's decision.
The army crawled through the desert like a half dead beast. Even using the evening as cover, men were falling left and right from heatstroke and old battle wounds catching up to them. She was going to need every solider she had to take a fortress. Even then, getting the men back home in one piece would be a miracle. But she couldn't allow Ganon's last stronghold to fester in this remote corner of Hyrule. The enemy would be destroyed here, or they would die in the effort.
…..
The night came and as predicted the Bokublin army charged the gates. Cannons had a devastating effect but they were slow to reload. The monster ate the casualties and continued their assault; fearless to the consequences.
Link watched the two forces clash at the gate while he looked for his target. There was only one enemy he needed to take care of. Sure enough, he saw Ganondorf himself right behind the first line, sandwiched in between his soldiers.
Link took up his bow. There was no need to approach Ganondorf. Ganon would come to him. He just needed to start the fight on his terms.
Link notched a light arrow and fired. And to his surprise the arrow struck true. Ganondorf howled in pain. And then looked up, and then Ganondorf face fell off, and Link realized he had been had.
Ganondorf-or rather phantom Ganon- rose up to Link's level. Before Link let off another arrow the monster dematerialized and reappeared in front of Link. Link dodged the sword strike and drew his own blade. Link parried the next blow with his shield and stabbed the phantoms chest with his sword. It was a shallow wound but it drove the phantom back. This thing was far weaker than Ganondorf, or even the creature he fought in the forest temple. Link wheeled around, adding centrifugal force to his swing which caught the monster upside the head. But even with hits head removed from its shoulder the phantom fought on. It used its flying ability to lunge at Link. Link blocked and jumped. He tried slashing at the creatures back but it turned and blocked with its sword, so Link entered in and smashed it with his shield as the phantom stumbled he followed up with a diagonal slash.
Finally the creature collapsed, its power leaving it like rising vapor.
"I underestimated you kid." A voice came from the corpse.
"But now I know what you're capable of. When next we meet, Ill finish what we started at Castle Town. Look forward to it…. Heh heh heh heh heh."
The creature faded to nothing. It was a pale imitation of what he fought before. That said, Ganondorf shouldn't be able to create something like this without the Triforce of power which meant…..
Link didn't wait. He rushed though the now cheering crowd of Hylians who were watching the Bokublin's retreat. He grabbed his horse and played the requiem of spirit, teleporting him and his horse several days travel away to the ruins of the spirit temple. He hoped that was enough. If we didn't somehow catch up to the Hylian army it would be a disaster. ..
...
Ok, another chapter finished. It was going to go into the next battle but I am trying to keep these chapters short and it's been too long since I released one. I'm still working on my articles and a web novel which I am debating how to begin releasing.
On that note I would like to apologize for how slow this is coming out. It's a side project but I still intended to put out chapters faster. As it is I can't guarantee the speed I will be releasing at but I'll try to make them semi-regular.
I also want to thank everyone who took the time to make a review. It means a lot to me.
To answer your question ultimateCCC: He became an honorary member in the adult timeline, this is the child timeline.
Thanks.
-Gedaemon