I had no idea what I was gonna write for this chapter, but when I sat down and started writing, it all came out automatically. I love it when that happens!

Chapter 26: Shifting Earth

They were finally here: the army assembled from all eras, lands, and races. Their combined magic had brought all of them back to the site of battle. They were on the brown field above the cavern that held the underground tower. Behind them were the cliffs where they'd lost Shadow Link.

Where was he? Link wondered, glancing absently behind him at the cliffs. Would they see him again? Would he emerge for the battle? Which side would he end up choosing?

He tried not to think about it. This place already made him more uneasy than usual. After being imprisoned here, he preferred not to return. But he also knew that his personal preferences weren't important. He had to put aside all doubts and focus on accomplishing his goal. It was something he'd done many times before.

Beneath him, Epona gave a snort and stomped her hoof. She was uneasy too. Everyone was. This day would decide everything.

Navi was perched on his shoulder. She was ready to be his second set of eyes. If this battle ended up being anything like Link feared, then he'd need her to watch his back.

Link's eyes scanned over the ranks to either side of him. Several others were mounted on horses. Malon had brought Epona for him to ride. Sheik and Nabeen had horses as well - Sheik on a white mare and Nabeen on a chestnut stallion. Midna, still in her real form, was riding a great black Twilight bird called a Shadow Kargarok. Volvagia was beside her. The other sky-going folk were all on the ground, ready to take off at the start of the battle. Valoo was there too, as was a big blue winged bear, a great owl, several tall elegant fairies, and a pair of strange frogs that rode on top of clouds.

Link wished that he'd had more chance to get to know his allies. He only knew a small number of them by name. Such as the six sages – Ruto, Darunia, Saria, Nabooru, Impa, and Rauru, who were decked out for battle.

One small group stood not far from Link. It consisted of Medli, Din, Tatl, Tael, and Vaati. There was also Ralph, the boy in the blue cape. Once the battle started, they would sneak into the tower and search for the prisoners.

He didn't have long to think of all this. They had to move quickly. The arrival of a couple hundred warriors wouldn't go noticed for long. They had to make their move.

Link glanced back to Midna. She caught his eye and nodded. They were ready.

Link took a deep breath and urged Epona forwards. She snorted and took off at a gallop across the field. He headed for the spot Vaati suggested and led Epona in a circle. Navi clung to his shirt, watching and waiting.

"Do you have the courage to face us," Link shouted. "If you have something to prove, then come and meet us in battle!"

Epona came to a halt, tossing her mane and prancing in place. Everyone waited, wondering if Ganon would accept the challenge.

The seconds stretched on. Link had no idea how long it lasted. His heart pounded against his ribs. Navi trembled slightly.

Then a groaning sound wheezed across the field. Epona backed up, shaking her head.

"It's okay," Link said, patting her neck. "Everything's fine."

Then the ground opened up. A huge hole almost 50 feet across appeared and someone came out: A man in a red cloak. He was riding a Lynel-a lion centaur. The Lynel sneered at Epona and shifted his forearms, showing the sword he held. Both the man and his steed could fight.

Link glared defiantly at the man. "Let Ganon come out and face us."

The man laughed. "Lord Ganon is away. But I, Agahnim, will be more than enough to dispose of your pathetic uprising. Would you rather surrender, or face death by my armies?"

Link raised an eyebrow. "If you're so confident, then send out your soldiers. We'll settle this quickly. Then maybe Ganon will feel the need to come out when he finds that his guard dog lost."

As they'd exchanged the brief challenge, Link noticed figures moving from the hole. There was a ramp or something leading down into the depths. No doubt it connected to the top of the tower somehow. And the enemies were gathering, ready to fight.

Epona turned and trotted back to their friends.

Agahnim sneered angrily. "You won't live to regret your foolishness."

Behind them, Link could hear the enemy ranks rising up from underground. He didn't need to turn around to know that there were a lot of them.

"They're not moving yet," Navi whispered to him. "They're still gathering."

"Go slowly, Epona," Link said softly. "Tell me when they've formed up, Navi."

"Yeah."

Link was almost 2/3 of the way back to his anxiously watching friends when Navi hissed into his ear.

"They've lined up."

"Is the trap set?" Link asked.

Navi glanced around the field. Nothing seemed out of place, except for some strange half-buried stones around the field.

"All set," she whispered.

Link brought Epona to a halt and she turned to face the enemy once more.

Agahnim was in front of his troops, his Lynel brandishing his sword at the monsters that had lined up across the field. There were a lot of them. At least as many as Link had on his side. There were all sorts, from bokoblins and moblins to stalfos, and even some men suited up in armor. A nasty lot, but nothing Link hadn't dealt with before. Didn't Ganon have fowler monsters than this? Where were they? Would they arrive when Ganon did?

Link pointed his sword directly at Agahnim. Though he was too far to be heard, Agahnim recognized the challenge in Link's gestures.

Agahnim sneered and raised his hand to his army. Then he dug his heels into the Lynel's side, forcing it forwards. As he came towards Link, the rest of the monsters followed him. Link gave a small smile. Agahnim had taken the bait.

"Go, Epona," he said. Epona whirled around and started galloping back towards their friends. Link raised his sword.

"HHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" He shouted.

But it wasn't the warriors that moved in response to Link's call. It was the strange round rocks circling the field. Each of them shifted slightly, and then they rolled quickly away towards the edge of the field.

Link slowly counted under his breath as Epona surged forwards. The fuses the Gorons lit should blow in…

3… 2… 1…

An echoing boom sounded throughout the field maaking the ground beneath Epona buck and shudder. She stumbled, but continued towards their allies. The enemy monsters were thrown from their feet.

Suddenly a huge hunk of earth broke free from the middle of the field and crashed out of sight, falling into the massive cavern beneath. All around the first hole, the earth crumbled and the chasm widened like an opening mouth. Agahnim and his Lynel were the first to tumble forwards into the black. And a moment later, the rest of his troops were swallowed up by the cavern.

"It's coming!" Navi shouted as Epona shot forwards, away from the hole that was still widening. In just a few moments, the ground beneath their feet would vanish. And the solid area where his friends were was too far to reach before that happened.

Suddenly, a hunk of earth broke away beneath Epona's feet. She let out a frightened squeal as she pitched forwards towards darkness.

A set of clawed forearms reached out and grabbed Epona around the middle, lifting her, Link, and Navi to safety. Valoo the dragon carried them forwards and set them on firm ground back at the head of their army.

Behind them, a final rumbling sound marked the end of the cave-in. The land over the cavern had all fallen, leaving a gaping hole in the center of the field. There still remained solid earth around the edges of the field, and no doubt that's where much of the real fighting would take place.

"Thanks," Link called to Valoo.

Valoo nodded. He'd been ready to make that maneuver, though it was a tricky one. Link knew that their ruse would be more convincing if he was out in the field. It would give the illusion that all was well, and he could coax the enemy forwards.

"Good girl, Epona," Link said, patting her neck. She gave a snort. It had not been a fun maneuver for her.

Across the field, a handful of monsters had managed to find stable ground, but they seemed reluctant to move forward.

Near the far side of the hole, they could see the massive tower still standing, reaching nearly up to gound level. All the earth arund it had been knocked away, leaving the top level a strange jagged island surrounded by air. Only the top-most layers had been at all damaged by the explosion. But that waas good. The tower needed to be intact if Vaati, Din, Medli, and Ralph were going to find the time portals hidden throughout it.

"I don't suppose that's the end of this," Nabeen said, sounding almost bored. "That guy was a stupid, hot-headed leader to send his army out after a taunt.

"Yes," Link said softly. "This isn't over."

"Look," Navi exclaimed.

Something red was rising out from the pit. Someone in a red cloak. Agahnim had used his magic to avoid the fall, and he'd used it to float back up to ground level. Though he was far away, he was clearly livid.

He landed on the top level of the underground tower and waved his arms. The dirt began to rearrange itself once more, forming a bridge from the tower to the nearest solid ground. The monsters that had managed to survive tried to shuffle across the bridge to get back in the tower, but Agahnim sent out a blast of light to chase them back. Then he vanished into the tower.

"He's gone for reinforcements," Sheik said.

So, they waited. And eventually, there was movement again at the top of the tower. Agahnim appeared and went across the land bridge. Behind him came a mass of enemies, marching in rows.

More and more of the appeared, lining up on the solid land. They weren't kidding around this time. This was more what Link was expecting. As well as the generic monsters, there were several nasty-looking ones as well-strange monsters with long slaws and spiked tails.

"He'll probably be more careful in his advance this time," Sheik said.

"Line up behind me," Link shouted.

There was a shuffling of feet as all of their allies shifted. Link coaxed Epona forwards, and she walked on, tossing her mane. Sheik and Nabeen, were directly behind him. Everyone marched after him until they were on the same side of the pit as Agahnim's forces. Only a long strip of land separated them, with cliffs to one side and the open cavern to the other.

"Stop," Link called.

The footsteps died down.

"Come on," Link whispered. "Come for it."

Then Agahnim's troops began to advance, slower this time, marching in line. It seemed to take forever, with the enemy stomping slowly along.

And Link raised his sword once more.

For a second time, an explosion sent the ground rumbling. The cliffs to the side of the field sprayed into the air as the bombs went off beneath them. The wave of dirt poured forwards, sweeping much of the enemy into the pit. The landslide continued down, and when it finally settled, a loose earthy ramp had been formed down to the bottom of the cavern.

"HHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Link shouted once again. Epona reared up, letting out a battle cry. And then she charged forwards. And this time, the rest of their army came behind them, racing head-on at what remained of the enemy army.