Ch.3.

Link's pep talk was wearing off. His soldiers were weary, and moping in the cold. He wasn't doing so well either. His nose was red; his cheeks stung in the cold, and his fingers were numb. He looked to his left, and saw Impa struggling too. She clung to her horse tightly, and he could see her shivering. No wonder why, though. She had no coat, just her chest binds, her tights, and her thin Sheikah tunic. She did have a tiny black scarf covering her neck, but nothing else to protect from the cold.

Link looked to the ground, er, the snow. The ground was covered in thick snow that went to the horses knees. Who knew that this side of Eldin Mountain was covered in snow? Link looked forward, and saw nothing but white. He hoped that they would make it out of this blizzard.

They had left the calm fields of Hyrule the day before, and were still adjusting to the cold, and the snow. Snow only came in the darkest part of winter, and Hyrule never sent armies in the winter, so the soldiers, who were used to traveling through forests and deserts, were dealing with the cold terribly.

The snow was coming down fast, and hard. Link had seen that several soldiers had blue fingers and faces, clear signs of frostbite. Link gritted his teeth, and urged his horse on…

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Link was about ready to give up, when a soldier shouted through the thick snowfall.

"General!" The soldier ran as fast as he could through the snow to Link.

"General!" The Soldier said, when he arrived near Link. He bent over lightly for a second to catch his breath.

"Yes, soldier?" Link asked, and the soldier stood up straight again.

"I saw something," The soldier said, and Link stopped his horse.

"What did you see?"

"I don't know, it was a flash of white, and maybe a red eye."

Link took a deep breath, and said, with a hint of condescension, "You realize, that we are on a mountain, where there are animals, and the color white is abundant?"

"Yes, General, I do know this, but this wasn't an ordinary animal!"

"What do you think it was, then?"

"I'm not entirely sure...Maybe a wolf? And Wolves travel in packs,-"

"-So there are bound to be more!" Link finished, and looked around the army, and almost immediately detected a flash of red and white, and another and another, until he heard a howl come from behind the army.

"Run!" Link cried out through the wind, to his army, and he heard cries from from the back of the army, and saw soldiers being brought down by white Wolfos.

The Army picked up the pace, adrenaline running through their veins, and a soldier shouted through the wind to the army.

"CAVE!"

Without Link having to give the order, the army ran into the cave, which turned out to be almost as big as the Noble District.

The soldiers in the back of the army that entered the cave turned and drew their weapons, and fought off the Wolfos, till the threat had dissipated.

Link sighed, relief flowing through him, and hopped off of his horse. He pulled a blanket from the horses back, and draped it over himself, like a cape.

"Take a rest!" He called out to his army, "We camp here tonight!"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Link awoke to the sound of Impa sharpening her Naginata.

"Ahh," She spoke, "The hero finally awakes." She stood, and hooked her Naginata on her back.

She helped Link stand, and he straightened his green cap.

"General," She said, "I sense the Triforce of power, and if my instincts serve me correctly, I would suggest we search this cave for the entrance to the Fire Temple."

"I agree," Link said, "Has Sheik been healing the army?"

"Yes…She works very diligently…She has a passion for her craft, and she knows how to use her craft too."

"She does…She kind of reminds me of Lana, but Sheik is a Sheikah, and wields magic."

"Lana does seem similar to her…"

Sheik soon joined them. Link could slightly see Sheik's eyes through the cloth covering her face, and she showed no emotion, except for some yawning.

"Are you ready to search for the fire temple?" Sheik asked.

"Yes, but how will we get our army through the temple?"

"That won't be a problem, Chosen hero." The trio spun around, and found a barrier of fire between them and the army. Volga stood in front of the Flames, glowing red, and clearly alive. Behind the fire was a huge army of bokoblins and Stalchildren. Link cringed. The Hyrulian army was worn out from their journey so far, and they wouldn't stand a chance against an army that size. Volga neared the trio, and Link stepped forward, drawing the White sword from its sheath on his back. He pulled his shield from his back, too. It was similar to the Hylian Shield the Hero of Legend used, but was a steel shield with the edges made of White steel, and the center made of cerulean steel. A silver Hylian crest was painted on the center very precisely, and surrounding the crest were ornate designs. He held his sword in his left hand, and slipped his right arm through the shield strap.

"You must be wondering how I live," Volga said, and the two began to circle each other.

"No, I've seen some crazy stuff, and you living doesn't surprise me even slightly." He was lying; of course, he was bewildered at the fact that the dragon knight lived, but he didn't show his confusion. He wasn't scared though, he had defeated the dragon knight before, he could certainly do it again.

"No?" Volga said, and chuckled violently, "Oh Hero of Legend…You continue to amaze me…Just yield, and surrender. Your kingdom might survive.

"We will never surrender," Link said, and charged Volga. He swung his blade heavily, locking himself against Volga's Pike, and bashed Volga in the side with his shield. Volga stepped back, dangerously close to the fire barrier, and swung his pike at Link. He intercepted the blow with his shield, and let out a series of furious slashes out on Volga, who deflected each blow. They continued to clash blades, when Volga broke his pattern of attack, and leapt straight into the air, dodging Link's slash, and smashed his pike down on Link's head.

The Hero fell to his knees, and Volga kicked him in the chest, launching him to the wall of the cave. Impa stepped up, and Sheik checked Link for injuries. Impa drew Her Naginata, and the two swung and bashed their weapons against each other's, always failing to sneak a blow in, and wound the opponent.

Impa was beginning to tire, and she flipped backwards, avoiding one of Volga's swings. She spun her Naginata, and flame began to flicker in front of it. She kept spinning her Naginata until the flame was twice the size of a toddler, and smashed it into the ground, launching the flame toward Volga. He chuckled as it neared him, and he put his hand up, to show the trio his new power.

Volga caught the flame when it neared him, and tossed it into the air. He dragon-kicked the flame when it neared him and it flew towards Impa, who stabbed the flame with her Naginata. She thrust her Naginata, and the flame shot towards Volga. He brought his Dragon bone pike up, and deflected the flame.

Link and Sheik's eyes darted between the two warriors as they launched the flame back and forth, each hit making it bigger in size. Across the Flame barrier, the army of Hyrule struggled against the massiveness of the monsters fighting them. Link's injuries were healed, and Sheik was waiting for an opening to join the fight against Volga.

Impa's speed was slowing, and each strike left her more vulnerable, while the dragon knight was empowered by the flame.

Link saw it coming, and he moved to help, but the flame had gone too close.

"Impa!" He cried out, and dashed towards her, but the now boulder sized ball of flame smashed into Impa, hurling her back into the wall behind her. Her Naginata absorbed most of the flame, but her chest and arms were scorched by the flame.

Link brought his sword up, and leapt to the dragon knight, who was glowing brighter than hot lava.

"So the Hero returns," Volga said as they locked weapons. He pushed Link over, landing him on his back. "The Hero who stands no chance against the might of the dragon knight…"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Lieutenant Wesley struggled against the mass of his opponents' army. He slashed his broadsword at every monster near him, killing everything in its path, but the monsters kept coming. He could see that the army contained only bokoblins and Stalchildren; very weak opponents, but the size of their army was the factor contributing to the looming defeat. He was getting cornered, when a shadow burst from the ground, spiraling as it came down. It was wearing a purple robe, and had grotesque arms that were wrinkled and brownish black. It swung its hand through the air, sending a blast of darkness through his soldiers. The soldiers who came in contact slowly morphed; skin falling off, revealing bones, eyes turning red, and they all let out a howl. The soldiers turned Stalfos began hacking away at the Hylian soldiers.

Wesley's broadsword continued to cut the Stalfos and Stalchildren down, until a blast of darkness swept through his heart, and instantly started decaying his skin. Wesley, with a fraction of his life left, pulled a knife from his belt, and slit his throat, blurring his vision, and dropping him into darkness…

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Link scrambled to his feet, and brought his sword up. He knew that Volga wouldn't be taken down so easily, and fear now entered his mind. He glanced behind him, and saw Sheik tending to Impa's wounds. Volga prepared to strike, and Link thrust his sword beneath Volga's Pike. The blade slipped through the dragon knight's armor, and passed through his gut. Volga convulsed, and pulled back, falling off Link's blade.

Link stared at his sword, which was covered in hot glowing red blood. How in Hylian's name did he just do that? Volga pulled back, clutching his wound with his free hand.

"You really are the Hero of Legend…" He said, and vanished, along with the barrier, and the monster army. Link looked to his army, or the remains of it. There were probably less than a hundred soldiers left. No deceased bodies remained, as all of the remains were morphed into Stalfos. Link turned, and found Impa nodding in approval towards him. For what though? He had led his army into a trap, and now only a fifth of his army remained!

He shook his head at her…He had failed as general…

He took off down the cavern, sword and shield on his back. Sheik looked at Impa, to ensure she was okay, and ran after the Hero.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Link sprinted down the narrow paths of the cavern, nearing the ominous sound of lava. His eyes bulged, and his face reddened, hundreds of lives lost because he chose to give up for the day… He slowed, and put his hands on his knees, trying to gain his breath. He felt his chest, and his right rib felt too…squishy. He slipped his tunic off, and found two punctures in his chest. He gasped for breath, and blood squirted through the wounds. He put his fist to his mouth, gagging. 'Oh crap' he thought…A punctured lung wouldn't do him good right now. He turned to his left, and found Sheik sprinting towards him, her light feet pattering silently against the heated cave paths.

She stopped when she got to him, and cupped her hands to her mouth.

"Link!" She exclaimed, and knelt down to examine his wounds. She put her hand on the two wounds, and muttered a few words.

Link instantly felt his skin seal together, and his right lung close its wounds. He looked down at her, and smiled. Her blue braid looked similar to Lana's…

"You know," He said as she stood back up, "You really remind me of my wife, Lana."

"Is that so?" She said, smiling under her clothed face. Link picked his tunic up, and slipped it back on; making sure the scarf was arranged right.

"Yes, she was always a good healer, except she used physical aid, not magical aid."

"Really? She sounds like my type, maybe when this is-

"Sheik…" Link said, interrupting her

"Yes Link?"

"Look straight in front of you." She did, and saw what he was talking about. Directly parallel to them, a golden Triforce was implanted in the wall.

"It's the entrance to the-"

"-Fire Temple!" Sheik leapt to her feet, and yanked Link up, she sprinted back towards the cave where the army was, and Link followed.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The soldiers edged carefully in a single file line to the entrance, with the trio at the front.

"So you think I can unlock the entrance?" Impa asked the two.

"Yes," They both said, simultaneously.

They arrived at the entrance, and Impa leapt between the two ledges, and braced herself by holding her hands on the wall, her right in the middle of the Triforce. The Triforce on her hand glowed, and the Triforce on the wall spun, and the cave wall split, revealing a stairway down to the Fire Temple. Impa looked to the army behind her, and walked down the path. As she stepped on the first step, a long slab of stone slid out from one of the ledges, connecting each other. Link, Sheik, and their army followed, entering the Fire Temple…