EDIT: WTFBBQ? Seriously, why did nobody tell me I've been spelling "Bulblin" wrong this entire time? I've been writing it B-U-L-B-I-N :X *facepalm/headdesk* Oh well, it's fixed now XD Also, sorry that this one is so short :X
Thanks for reading, reviewing, faving me and my story and pointing out any errors I've made. It's a pleasure, as always!
-Jack Knights
Link reached the stairs without incident, having to sidestep felled monsters no doubt left behind in Sheik's wake. Going down three steps, he paused at the sound of feet rushing up the passage. Looking over the railing, he spied a battalion of Bulblins ascending his way. One of them happened to glance up and upon noticing him, squealed excitedly. Link cursed his bad luck and went up the stairs instead. More clattering alerted him to another group of Bulblins descending above him. Now realizing he was going to be cornered, he went back down, preparing himself for the inevitable.
The Bulblins coming from below reached him first; thrusting forward, he drove his stolen sword into the belly of the first one to come at him. It screamed and he shoved it forward, sending the dying monster into its comrades. It knocked over several monsters trying to reach him, causing a chain reaction that caused the goblins to fall down the stairs, shouting all the way. He searched the dead Bulblin for anything he could use. Luckily for him, the goblin carried with it a string of bombs. He tore them from its belt with a grin, a plan already forming in his head.
Going back a few feet, he waited for the group coming from above to reach him. When they did, he taunted the first monster, enraging it. He sliced its neck, spraying the front of his shirt with its stinky blood. As the rest of the group filled out the hallway, he threw the bomb, keeping his grasp upon its wick. The wick, coated with phosphor, slid out of the device, igniting the bomb as it went. It exploded in midair, shattering the face of the nearest goblin. The rest, blinded or injured in some way, fell to the floor, groaning in pain. Without a second glance, Link rushed up the stairs while those that could struggled to their feet.
Come after me and see what's happens, Link thought wickedly, lighting the string of bombs and placing them on the stairs. He dashed up the last few steps, just barely reaching the next floor as they exploded behind him. He turned back just in time to see the stairs fall through, cutting off the Bulblins below from reaching him. Link grinned, continuing to go up, taking the stairs two at a time. He only made it up another flight before he had to stop. The small stitch in his left side was now unbearably painful. He ducked into an empty room, locking the door behind him before he collapsed to his knees. Link pulled up his shirt and looked down at the bandages wrapped around his torso. He grimaced; they were beginning to soak through with blood. Shakily, he got to his feet, and searched the room for something he could use to dress his newly opened wounds.
Luckily, he found a roll of bandages in a drawer. Being careful to take off the bandages without hurting himself, Link looked down again and grimaced. Three stitches had popped, and a small, but deep, cut was visible. Blood trickled through it steadily. He put the roll of bandages under his left arm and bunched up the blood-stained bandages, throwing them across the room. With much difficulty, he managed to get the bandages wrapped around his torso one-handed. Pulling his shirt back on, wincing as the movement pained him, Link left the room and quickly made his way down a corridor.
Rounding a corner, Link nearly ran into another gang of Bulblins. Fortunately, they had their backs turned to him. Not even daring to breathe, he slowly backed away from them. He backed up, inching his way around the corner. As he did so, the stolen sword he carried clanged against the corner, alerting the goblins to his presence. Time froze as the two opposing forces stared at each other, blinking in surprise. Link breathed and the moment broke; turning, he ran for the stairs, ascending another floor.
He had wanted to go continue going up, but the stairs ended on the next floor and he cursed, sparing a glance over his shoulder to see if the Bulblins were giving chase. An arrow whizzed past his ear in answer. Reaching an intersection in the corridor, he cursed as a short volley of arrows struck the wall in front of him, blocking his path to the right. He dashed left and somewhere in the back of his mind, he wondered if the goblins were trying to box him in.
Link dashed through a room, surprising its occupants—a human mother and her three children—and exited through a second door. Now in a different hall, he ran as fast as his wounds would allow him trying to find another set of stairs that might lead to the roof. But every time Link rounded a corner, he came face-to-face with Bulblins. Dammit… they are trying to trap me! he realized as yet another band of monsters blocked his path. Dashing down a deserted corridor, Link was glad to see that for once there were no goblins waiting for him. Reaching the end, he suddenly realized why; he had reached a dead end, with only a closed window to mock him. Looking out through the glass, he saw that he was too high up to jump.
Great, if try jumping out through the window I'll probably kill myself, he thought to himself, ignoring the pain in his side. I might just have to… he grimaced as grunts sounded behind him. Turning to meet the new wave of monsters, sword in hand, he dared the first of the monster to come at him. It smiled at him, its black teeth showing. That's it then… there's no escaping this time. More of the goblins poured in, at least twenty of them blocking his only exit.
To his surprise, they didn't attack. The monsters, despite no doubt shrieking for his blood, stood their ground at the other end of the corridor. What are they waiting for? His answer soon came in the form of earth trembling footfalls. What in the world?
A massive Bulblin rounded the corner, towering over its minions. It was covered head to toe in high quality armour, a massive sword in one hand and an equally enormous axe upon its back. Link gulped, realizing just how bad the situation had become. There's no way I can take him on! Even if I wasn't injured, I'd still have a tough time against such an opponent.
The sea of lesser monsters parted, allowing the gargantuan Bulblin to pass. The Bulblin Lord came to a halt and cocked his head to one side, scrutinizing puny Hylian before him. It laughed suddenly, a deep, cruel roar that was taken up by the other goblins behind him. Link only stared back, waiting for the creature to make its move. Its laughter turned to a roar of challenge when its scaring tactics didn't work. Link hefted his sword in response despite the growing fear of dying at the hands of the creature. It narrowed its small, yellow eyes and clutched the sword in both hands. Swinging it in a large arc, ripping through the ceiling as it did so, it brought the massive blade crashing down.
Link dove out of the way, the colossal sword barely missing him. His left shoulder crashed against the wall and his injured wrist scraped against the floor, the combined movements sending mind-numbing pain up and his arm. Link gasped as nausea overtook him, managing to stager to his feet. As the Bulblin dislodged its sword from the floor, Link side-skirted it, jumping as he did so, bringing the curved blade down upon the shoulder of his massive enemy.
His sword bounced off the heavy armour, vibrating madly. I didn't even dent its armour! Link realized as the Bulblin Lord grinned wickedly at him. Still in midair, he was unable to dodge when the monster swung its arm out him, catching in in the stomach. With one powerful swing, it sent him flying into the wall. The thick stone wall exploded around him, cracking as his broken body connected with it. Pain unlike anything he'd ever felt before assailed his brain and Link nearly lost consciousness. He fell to the ground in a heap, his vision going black.
The Bulblin Lord smirked, erupting into vicious laughter. Link groaned as he attempted to pick himself up again only to fall back down, the pain too much to bare. He felt his side bleed profusely, the blood soaking the wood floor. All he could do was stare defiantly at the gigantic Bulblin, waiting for it to end his pain. Instead, it turned its back to him, and grunted in triumph, raising it hands as it riled its minions to a frantic, primal pace.
"Hey… don't ever… turn you back… on an enemy," Link shouted, his raw-throated scream turning into a blood-laced cough. It looked at him over its shoulder, its eyes narrowed in contempt. Link thought it looked quite pompous for a monster.
"Pathetic," it grumbled. "You are no challenge. Weak little Hylian."
"Then kill me," Link commanded, unable to hide the slight beg in his voice. Just end the pain…
"No," it said eventually. "Lord Ganondorf wants you alive."
Ganondorf? his mind raced frantically. So… he is behind all this. Then I truly have failed in my duties…