Chapter Thirteen
Homo Homini Lupus
"Man is a Wolf to Man"
They were easily the oddest bunch in all of Hyrule, the Twilight realm, and any of the lands beyond. A young Ordonian swordsman led the way on the Hero's horse. The savior of both the realms of Light and Twilight was in the carriage that followed, chin resting on the lap of the Twilight Princess, she scratching his head as he resided in the body of a beast. The leader of Hyrule garbed in the dress of the royal guardians sat opposite of her, looking out the front of the carriage past the owner of Castle Town's only bar that so kindly offered to take them to their destination as she gripped the reins.
"So, south?" Telma asked, knowing their goal but still confirming with the others. The group would travel mostly the same path that they did when escorting Ilia and the sick Zora Prince Ralis to Kakariko Village. After going over the great stone structure spanning Lake Hylia and reaching Hyrule Field in Faron, the group would take the path that eventually led to Ordonia Province, instead of heading to the Eldin region as they had done before.
"Yes. We may take a break at the bridge if anyone wishes," Zelda replied, peeking her head out from behind the covering of the carriage. The Resistance leader looked over her shoulder as the royal in disguise spoke. After a moment the bar tender nodded and then turned her gaze forward once more.
"Colin?" Telma spoke, looking to the boy. In response the Ordonian kicked the sides of Epona, setting her off into a canter. The woman snapped the reins of her own mare with his action, causing the carriage to lurch as it began to roll, setting the group on their journey.
For quite a while they travelled in silence, not discussing anything that had been disclosed at the bar, as they were far too absorbed in their own thoughts regarding everything said previously. The group stopped only once they reached the north end of the Great Bridge of Hylia, where they had a quick snack and admired the view high above Hyrule's greatest lake. Link and Midna noticed that the cannon they had teleported there remained in the same spot since Fyer fixed it. What Telma had said back at the bar seemed to be true: the Sky Cannon had attracted a small crowd, and it appeared from a sign displayed on the side of Fyer's own cannon that he was trying to get people to buy tickets for a ride. Luckily it seemed no one had ridden it yet, other than Shad of course, at least according to Telma. Apparently the scholar had found a way to fire it without the use of a Clawshot. That didn't come as much of a surprise though.
The day was progressing much faster than they had anticipated, thanks to the fact that Midna, Link, and Zelda spent more time than they had hoped in preparing and informing Colin and Telma of everything. Now it was beginning to get dark, the hour of twilight just barely starting to settle in. They set forth once more, knowing they could make it to the southern most part of Hyrule Field in Faron before too long if they kept at this current pace. Midna lit a lantern from where she sat in the cart. Not a single star began to peek out from beneath the blanket of sky, but the covering over the wagon still made the interior dark.
Shadows danced about in the quiet, illuminating the cloaked Hylian Princess. Midna looked at the ruler, flashes of light and dark reminding her of the Twili's first meeting with the royal when the Twilight Princess resided in the body of an imp. At that time thunder boomed and lightening cracked beyond the glass pane through which the shrouded woman looked.
Now there was stillness in the air that none seemed to wish to break.
Midna looked out over their path. Hyrule seemed so… quiet and peaceful. She never knew the land like this, having only been in it under the rule of false leaders. There wasn't a monster in sight, even now that a cloak of darkness was beginning to fall. No wonder the people she had seen so far seemed to be so at peace and carefree.
Eventually they began to make their way through the narrow curved path connecting the Lanayru and Faron regions. The Hero and Twili remembered when they had to avoid Bokoblin fire from the rocks where the monsters perched, raining flaming arrows down on them. There was only silence now.
A short while of contemplation regarding the stillness passed, then the Hero's pointed ear twitched and he lifted his head suddenly. The wolf looked around and Link's blue bestial eyes met that of Midna's red irises a moment or so later.
"Something isn't right…" the Twili drifted, not sensing anything herself but knowing Link felt a presence. She looked around, hoping to catch sight of what drew his attention. His ears perked up once more, and the beast stood, stepping over the supplies and coming to stand next to Telma. She turned to him.
"What's wrong hun?" the Resistance leader asked. It felt odd talking to a creature as a fellow person, especially one she had attacked with a mop, but she knew the one she spoke to was still Link all the same.
In response he let out a low growl, lips pulling back the slightest to show his teeth, which caught the light from the kerosene lamp Midna held. Colin glanced over his shoulder upon hearing the noises in the cart behind him. He brought Epona next to the horse that pulled the group.
"Is everything all right?" he asked, glancing at each of the others with a concerned expression. The boy also felt something. His eyes settled on Link, then drifted to the pub owner. The two common folk Hylians nodded at one another, pulling the reins and signaling for their steeds to come to a halt.
"No, don't stop," Zelda spoke, eyes widening as she realized just exactly what was happening. The one of Wisdom should have noticed sooner. "It is what they want us to do."
With those words the noise of hooves echoed around them in the gorge they traversed.
"Damn it all, the bandits!" Telma shouted, cracking the reins. She had completely forgotten about them once Zelda and the others showed up at her bar, explaining everything.
Colin's eyes widened. He had overheard the bartender mention the small disorderly group of misfits that had been traveling throughout Hyrule over the past few months. They were really the only threat now that the kingdom was back at peace.
The group sped off, carriage picking up its pace once more and Colin drawing his sword as he expertly guided Epona with one hand on her reins. Link was thrown to the back of the cart towards the royals thanks to the sudden burst of speed from the previous standstill the carriage was at.
"I know of this group. Now that Hyrule is has returned to normal, foreigners have been traveling from afar, some drawn by my country's unique attractions," Zelda explained, referring to the Sky Cannon in Lake Hylia. They went over a rock in the path, causing the wagon to toss them about. Midna held the lantern carefully as to not let the hot oil it held spill, risking a fire on their ride. "There has been the occasional robbery, these men the cause."
"Just what we need, another problem," Midna scoffed, the sounds of shouting men drawing closer. She could see two horsemen gaining on the group from behind. Colin yelled from in front, drawing the gazes of the others towards him.
He had just passed the gate that led into Hyrule Field, only to be confronted by another sword-wielding man sitting in wait on horseback. The boy deflected a blow with his own blade; small sparks flying from the contact of metal on metal and glowing brightly in the evening half-light. The man pulled away from Colin and the boy glanced over his shoulder just in time to see the one he had crossed swords with fall back in line next to the carriage.
"Hold on!" Telma shouted, sharply pulling the reins to the right, narrowly avoiding the sword from the outlaw who originally targeted the Ordonian. The tip of the blade made contact with the canvas covering of the carriage, causing a tear that dragged along the side of the tent as it veered to the side. Midna and Zelda quickly ducked, bracing themselves as a wheel left the ground and simultaneously evading the path of the steel that caught the light of the lamp the Twili still tightly gripped.
Link hunkered down next to the two Princesses, ears pressed flat against his head. It was times like these he desperately wished he could do something to help, but knew no matter what he tried, he would be more of a nuisance than anything. So much for being the Hero.
"A bow! Colin, have you a long-ranged weapon?" Zelda called to the one on horseback. She couldn't summon the Light Arrows, as they were gifts from the four Light Spirits to only be used against the Demon King. The one garbed in Sheikah attire would have to make do with whatever they had, praying to the Goddesses that there was a something she could wield.
Colin glanced back just long enough to call over his shoulder. "Yes! The bag made from Lizalfos hide should have one – ah!" he pulled sharply on the reins, bringing Epona around to stay in line with the cart. She had begun to drift from the group after Telma's sudden change in course. "I made sure to buy a bundle of arrows as well. The quiver should be with the bow."
Before he finished speaking, Zelda started to dig through their supplies for the items the boy spoke of while Midna held the lantern nearby to provide light. The Hylian untangled the weapon from the wrap it was in, fiddling with the string and trying to find the end. After a moment she had it. The Princess was glad she was a practiced archer. She braced the recurve with ease even though their ride was far from smooth.
"Lantern," she spoke in the process of preparing the weapon. Midna understood, sliding the glass aside and exposing the flame that reflected in their eyes, setting fire to the blue gaze of the Hylian royal and that of the beast's irises as he watched in silence. Zelda nocked an arrow a moment later, dipping the tip in the hot oil. This was a risky maneuver. If something caught fire on the carriage, they were all doomed.
Telma glanced back, suppressing a shudder. She vividly remembered the flames engulfing the canvas, trapping Ilia and Ralis in a burning inferno. Without the Gale Boomerang, she didn't know how they would quench the heat. The Resistance leader focused all of her attention forward once more as to keep their ride stable, avoiding rocks and potholes in the path in order to assist Zelda's aim.
After a moment the arrowhead glowed with fire and the one in disguise lifted the bow, pulling back the string and anchoring her draw to her jawbone as she aimed towards the bandits. At first the horsemen seemed erratic, randomly weaving in and out, not coming close enough for Colin to land his blade on them or for any of the misfits to latch on to their ride. Quickly Zelda noticed a pattern in their movements and silently let the arrow fly.
The bright tip arched through the evening light, whizzing by the heads of Telma and Colin only to narrowly miss the enemy who abruptly changed course just a moment before the nock had left the string. The boy that tried his best to keep the enemies at bay jerked when the shaft flew past him. The Princess feared for Colin. Of course she wouldn't hit the Ordonian, her aim being true, but he had never been in any event like this. He didn't know what the terror of a true battle was like.
Epona let out a whinny, but otherwise remained composed. She had always been good when it came to handling chaos, and Colin was glad about that. His adrenaline was pumping as is. If he had any other steed, he wouldn't have a chance of controlling the beast.
"I'll watch from this side!" the Twili called in the pandemonium. She desperately wanted to fight back with Zelda and Colin, summoning the Fused Shadows and taking out these bandits with one swift blow of the ancient staff her spider-like form wielded. Of course she couldn't, the powers drained from the travels between dimensions. In addition to that the Princess couldn't use any of her own magic as it too was indirectly needed to fuel the recovery of the sorcery, fearing if she attempted to use her own, she may inadvertently draw on that of the darker magic in her blinded anger towards the enemy. The royal had to make sure every last ounce of power was conserved in and for the relics as they slowly replenished their ancient sorcery.
Never in her life had Midna feel so useless.
Zelda prepared another flaming arrow, this time hitting her mark. The man screamed as it nailed his side, setting the black cloak he wore aflame. He fell off his horse, tumbling in the dirt as he desperately tried to extinguish the blaze he had quickly become engulfed in. The Princess had rid them of one enemy, but their struggle was far from over. Two bandits remained.
One of the outlaws slid a pole from the saddle of his steed, lifting it up and drawing his arm back. Midna watched, unable to do anything and unsure of the actions from the enemy. A moment later the stick flew, but instead of hitting one of them as the Twili had initially thought it would, the rod lodged itself in the spokes of the wooden wheel. Abruptly the carriage lurched, throwing its passengers in their seats. Luckily Midna still held the lantern, preventing it from setting fire to anything.
The one who had launched the beam let out a whoop of satisfaction, the other joining in with his shouts of victory.
With what little momentum the carriage still had, Telma brought its side up against a large outcropping of rock in the field. With the wall of stone on one side, Colin would have an easier time defending everyone, especially with their immobility, yet it simultaneously provided assistance to the enemy, preventing the group from making a clean run for it if they had the chance.
The bandits brought their horses to a trot, approaching cautiously. Colin steered Epona rapidly from the front side where Telma sat, still tightly gripping the reins, then swung the horse around, quickly running to the other end of the wagon. Two approaching from opposite directions was hardly fair, and the boy was struggling to keep them away.
Midna warily leaned over the edge of the carriage, slowly sliding free the object that prevented the wheel from turning so they could continue their progress. Even if they couldn't outrun the enemy, they would have a better chance of survival when they were moving.
Zelda drew another arrow, poised to release for when the disguised Princess knew she could land a hit. This was her last shot. Some of the arrows had fallen from the quiver and into the field behind during the mayhem. Colin had only bought a dozen, understandable considering he was originally planning on venturing home alone. One could only carry so much.
As the men were focusing on their prey, Link silently slipped from the cart, hopping onto the ground and skirting the rock, making his way to the other side as he stuck to the shadows, his dark coat providing camouflage in the quickly dimming light. The enemy hadn't noticed his escape and neither did any of his companions. The wolf scaled the stone, coming to the top so he could look down at the carriage and horsemen below. Link growled and the gazes of the bandits as well as those of his friends were drawn to his form.
The hour of twilight was waning and night was beginning to take hold. Stars dotted the sky and the tiniest sliver of moon hung like a backdrop against the Hero's feral form, hackles raised. The half-light made the beast sinister; its body a silhouette and fierce eyes almost glowing.
"Go!" Link barked, though he knew no one could understand him. "You don't know who you're dealing with. If you hurt anyone… If you even touch them… Know that I won't hesitate to rip your throats out."
Link had never killed, or even injured, anything other than monsters and game for food. This was a different matter entirely though.
The bandits stared wide-eyed, looking up to the menacing wolf that bore its sight into them. Link growled once more. These were the scum of Hyrule. To think he had really saved ones such as them… they weren't worthy of even living in the light. These were the type of people who should have been banished and imprisoned in another world.
Link leaned his head back, letting out a guttural howl. A second or so later, a chorus of wolves echoed his call, howling from somewhere far off in the distance. The Hero turned beast hadn't expected that, but silently thanked his canine brethren for their contributions.
It was at this moment the two royals made eye contact, a subtle nod passing between them. At the same time, Midna tossed the pole like a javelin; the object strafing the arm of the man on the left while the Hylian Princess in the guise of a guardian let her final arrow loose, tip not burning. It flew almost invisibly in the night, striking the other bandit in the shoulder. He let out a cry, and then sharply and involuntarily pulled on the reins. The other man started from his companion's shout of pain, and the two turned on their tails, running off into the dusk.
The group let out a collective sigh, relaxing once the sound of hooves faded into the darkness. They looked to one another, making sure everyone had come out unscathed. Eventually Midna broke the tense stillness and spoke wearily.
"We'll…" she drifted, looking over the stressed group and damaged carriage as she took a heavy breath. "…rest here for the night."
When they awoke in the morning, they decided on a plan for the day. The group would pack up and continue on their way. Once they reached Coro's Hut, Telma would take the wagon to Ordon to stock up on supplies and make any necessary repairs while Midna, Zelda, Link, and Colin would head into the woods nearby.
Link resided in his true form for this stretch of the journey. Since they were so close to Ordon, they didn't want to risk anyone catching sight of the familiar beast that had seemingly attacked the village not long after the disappearance of the children. The Twili carried the Hero in her arms, both of them still cloaked, as was Zelda despite her disguise.
They parted ways at the crossroads, Telma telling them that it would be best to meet back up here when this was all over. Coro offered to sell the remaining members of the group some lantern oil for the trek through the caves, but Colin politely turned down his deal, showing that his lantern was still mostly full, even after the previous night's events that none wished to speak of now.
After bidding farewell to the Resistance leader, the four made their way in silence through the woods, young Ordonian leading the group as he held the lantern in one hand, sword drawn in the other. Zelda took note of their surroundings, keeping a watchful eye out. She hadn't been here in what seemed like so long. There were no dangers present when she had come, thanks to Link having recently rid the land of any perils. Only now was she realizing the others were probably unaware of her travels here a little under a year ago. They would know and understand soon though, probably inferring anyway from what she had told them back at the castle. She needn't explain here and now.
Midna directed them through the woods, having memorized the quickest path from when they had travelled through here when the ground was covered in the purple poisonous fog. After a short time, the group came to a small clearing, a little seemingly unmanned shop off to the side.
"Hello! Trill's Shop!" squawked a large headed blue bird that was perched above a small wooden box with the symbol of a rupee engraved on the front. "Lantern oil: 20 rupees, red potion: 30. Please make payment in box below!"
The group glanced at the bird, but knowing a simple red potion wouldn't heal Link, they turned and continued forward, stopping a short while later to look up at a great tree that served as the Forest Temple. Colin and the two who traveled here on their quest to save the worlds of Light and Twilight remembered the inhabitants of the temple. The Ordonian looked around, searching for the friendly female monkey who had protected Talo. He'd never entered the temple himself, but knew from the other boy's stories that it was home to the forest dweller and her friends.
"You… don't intend to go into the temple?" Colin asked, obviously concerned.
"Don't worry. Our goal isn't in that direction," Midna replied.
"Then where…" the boy drifted, eyes still wandering.
"We must go further. I am sorry Colin, but our destination is one where only royalty and Chosen are permitted to enter," Zelda explained. "Please stay behind. You may return to your village if you wish."
Colin looked at the Hylian Princess, then to Link who offered a sad smile and a weak nod as he lay in the arms of the Twili.
"I… understand. Please be careful," the Ordonian spoke, nodding in reply to them as he slowly took a step back. The royals returned the gesture and the boy spun on his heel, walking towards the way they had initially come. Once he had left, Link closed his eyes and let out a small sigh of exhaustion as the Twili spoke.
"I hope we didn't hurt him," Midna said sorrowfully after Colin had disappeared from sight. She knew he looked up to Link, and separating the two when the Hero was like this had to have been hard on him. As if his efforts less than a day ago weren't enough on Colin's mind, his fears for Link's health were still a heavy burden. The Hero himself was so drained at the moment that even he couldn't voice his thoughts regarding the boy.
"He understands it is for Link's benefit. Colin was a wise choice to replace Link as the representative of Ordon. He will make a good mayor for the village one day," Zelda responded evenly, turning to a large tree stump that overlooked the clearing and adjacent ravine.
The Princess of Light remembered this spot. She had carefully made her way along the rocks and branches, fearful that she would fall into the seemingly endless chasm below. At the time she thought she had taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way, but the Princess had heard a faint whistling coming from a short distance ahead. The Hylian was glad she hadn't given up, making her passage through here and arriving in the sacred place known only to a few.
"Just a little further," she mumbled, pulling back the hood she wore as to not obscure her view of the dangerous path they would travel. Midna shook her own hood free of her face after the Hylian had done so. The royals silently nodded to one another, and with the once great Hero in the arms of a Princess, they carefully began to traverse the expanse.
A/N: I guess this was my first chase/action scene (at least my first with that many characters). It was simultaneously quite fun and also a pain - definitely my favorite chapter to write so far though! So much was going on and I felt as if I had so many characters to keep track of. It was a little hard for me to make sure everything was kept in order. I hope it made sense. XD If there was any particular chapter I would like feedback on regarding the coherency, it would most likely be this one.
I do apologize for the lack of Midlink moments of late. At the moment the story is focusing on Link's wellbeing, but I do look forward to covering their relationship once more! As of now there is just too much going on to fit that in, so if you are looking for more moments between the Twili and Hero, you will have to wait for a time, as I have much planned that I need to cover before then. Though I do promise they will get some time together in an upcoming chapter!