Of all the places to be, for most Hylians, the dark caves of Akkala were NOT a fun place to be. The beasts that remained - bokoblins, lizalfos, lynels, and so on - had retreated into hiding there, and many of the people who went into those caves either warned to stay out or were turned into monster feed.
However, a subgroup of people had made it their new home.
After the fall of the Yiga Clan's leader Kogha, the group had basically abandoned their base in the Gerudo Highlands; as of now, it was nothing but a hollow memory of their beloved leader falling.
Many of the generals went out, scouring the lands for a new place to hide away, to plot their next plans, and no place seemed better than the oddly hidden cave system, where they could make peace with the beasts in a common love for the Calamity.
But now that that pesky hero had taken down their master and their god, the group seemed lost.
Many just moped around, occasionally hunted and gathered, but morale was all around low for all of about a week. They explored the caves, they found secret places, and they were sad.
That was, until their new icon showed up.
As mentioned before, it was only a week before morale was boosted, and it was by the arrival of a new face to the group, claiming to be their savior.
When she entered the cave, the members keeping watch tried to stop her, and without warning were swept off their feet, their necks snapped.
A general tried to stop her, but he found his blade ineffective as she basically walked through it, destroying the windcleaver as she found his throat, and within a few seconds he wouldn't breathe ever again.
The members that had stepped up to stop her immediately lost their nerve, and a few laid down their weapons, accepting their fate. But little did they know how much fate had blessed them.
The woman claimed to be their savior, their messiah, the one to bring the Yiga back from the brink. She told of her knowledge of the Calamity, and how she knew of their deceased master, and stories of the beasts she'd taken on. Her strength was unparalleled, and her charm was obvious; her smile intoxicated all members of the clan, and before long they followed her, listened to her, worshiped her.
She was their new leader, what they longed for. And she promised to crush the hero underfoot, soon.
Her first course of action was to make the caves a home. She demanded excavation, as a first training exercise, in order to get all the members in shape, she said. And they did so, dozens of rooms being created for their beloved queen.
Her next goal: weapons. They began slaughtering the beasts that rested within the cave, taking their horns and claws and assorted weapons for themselves. They took expeditions to Death Mountain, collecting raw ore and smelting it into new gear, strong gear. They readied themselves.
They were now in the final step of her majesty's plan; to up their numbers. In order to do this, they set up several teams to go across seas, to find people, and for many to kidnap people to turn.
"Do not worry, my beloveds," She said to her followers, "I will be able to turn them."
"Evan! Hurry up!"
The two brothers had taken a little too long in their room, getting their masks and weapons polished for the Ceremony. Her Majesty had planned on giving all members a "special treat"; something about showing them all her persuasive power.
"I'm trying, but my suit ripped," the shorter brother did his best to keep up, holding a torn shred of his shoulder. The two hurried through the halls, passing others who were just as late.
In the last two weeks, hundreds had joined their ranks. Young warriors and hunters, old tacticians and craftsmen, all types had joined the cause. The two had often talked about it, before going to bed and excitedly chattering to each other. They couldn't wait until their time to shine.
The duo made their way through an extremely large archway, leading into the canteen. The two waved at a few of the chefs, who packed up and followed in their steps.
It was just moments before they made it to the biggest room in the hideout: A fully-fledged colosseum, built elliptical and around 30 yiga clan members, wide and long, about as many tall. The clan had mostly used it for training, but today was a special day.
On one far side of the colosseum sat a throne, adorned with jewels and sitting far above any of the spectator stands, where she sat, normally. As of now, she wasn't here.
One of the biggest pieces of speculation across the entire cult was how to bring members onboard. Their numbers had dwindled when Kogha fell, to no one's surprise, but the demise of Calamity Ganon had led to many to leave the cult behind completely. Ivan and Evan had once had their father and mother in the clan - but after their icon fell, their parents simply disappeared. They only had each other.
And the Queen, of course.
The two took their spots, earlier than most of the members of the clan. They spotted several familiar faces on the other sides of the arena, but no one they'd want to directly speak to or sit next to. They watched as members clothed in black and red came like waves of piranhas, excited to see the show the Queen had promised.
She had not yet explained to them how she had brought people in; it had seemed that dozens of new members had appeared off the bat, and more than a few older members of the Yiga were becoming suspicious of what she had been up to outside of their view.
They would soon know the truth.
It wasn't long before time had arrived, and the stadium began packing with a mixture of enthusiastic and skeptical faces watching over a pit where some generals were getting ready for the events to come. To everyone's surprise, a Lynel was brought in with chains. One general rode on its back, reins in hand as he led it towards a large cage that several others hoisted in. The beast sent a wave of unease across the stadium.
It was killed by Her Majesty.
All heads turned towards one of the entrances as several people entered; three elite members of the Yiga, garbed in all purple, with dark red masks and windcleavers on their backs.
The fourth person was the one they'd all been waiting for, their Queen. Her hair fell to her back, a deep purple intertwined with ebony streaks all throughout, a crown more crimson than blood resting on her head. Her dark dress fell elegantly around her entire body, clean cuts all around it and showing off her ash-white skin and lean physique. She was taller, her arms trailing behind her closely donning black gloves. Her eyes, the same color as her hair, were complemented by makeup, flares around her eyes so sharp they could have cut through the tension that had built in the air. Her lips fell the same color as her hair and eyes, though if that was natural or her own design was only known by her.
Everyone, man, woman, and in between, was awestruck by the woman that had taken her throne. They were sure as she got comfortable that she was the one they wanted to lead them; her chic style and stunning beauty transfixed them, and the memory of her tearing through the other members of the clan was easily remembered by most in the colosseum.
They mistook their fear for admiration.
Her hands began waving, and winds began picking up in the room. The cool drafts traveled in a clockwise pattern all around the arena, Ivan grabbing his brother's arm. Their blades rattled in their sheathes and his ripped suit flapped softly against his leg. Just as soon as it was there, though, it was done.
Next to the Queen, a new man rested on his knees to her right. He wore traditional Sheika garb, the white outfit mixed with a special straw amagasi hat. He was definitely forced there against his will; he had been roughed up with dirt on his face and blood rolling beneath the bandage that covered both of his eyes. His mouth had been covered as well.
The arena was quiet. And then she spoke.
"I am aware," Her voice echoed through the entire room. "That some of those among us are not comfortable with me as a leader."
There was unease as a few dozen members, all far from each other, fidgeted, a few whispers broke out. The Queen waited until the coliseum was silent again before continuing.
"I have shown you my strength. I have shown you my resilience. I have shown you my heart, and yet you refuse to accept me as your leader." Her hand slid up towards her heart, resting on her chest. "I must admit, I understand, but it does hurt."
Something invisible moved throughout the room, and the mood was significantly dampened. She raised her hand, waving the feeling off.
"Alas, it's no matter," Her voice echoed. "For I have a new plan. A way to prove to you my dedication, and my ability. Behold," Her hand fell over the captive's head, grabbing his hair and lifting him up, knocking the hat off. He groaned, but it was as quiet as a mosquito compared to the laugh of the Queen.
"You see, this man is one of Kakariko's best guards, sent on patrol in order to secure Akkala," her smile stretched ear to ear as the words rolled from her lips. She pushed him back down, his body falling to her feet with nothing but a grunt.
She clapped her hands a couple times, and the wind returned. Everyone braced themselves as a large light appeared in the middle of the arena, the wind picking up, until it all just stopped. Where the light had once been, a woman and two girls now rested, gagged and tied up to a large pole.
Several of the members put the pieces together. Some of them recoiled in horror, while some leaned forward in anticipation.
She took off one of her gloves (her nails, black in color, let off red particles into the air) and grabbed the back of the man's gag. He groaned, and her smile widened.
"Mr. Gallos of Kakariko, I applaud your attempted search of our new home. You, indeed, found out the location of the new Yiga Clan. I, the new Queen of Hyrule and by proxy the Yiga, eagerly await your joining of our humble group."
She tore the cloth from his mouth, and his teeth grit against each other.
"I would never join you. No amount of torture will convert me. Just kill me here." His voice came out strained, as though pain had made its way from the outside to his vocal cords. His teeth continued to grind against each other, a tear falling from the bandage on his eyes.
"Oh, we have no intention of killing you, Mr. Gallos. We'll make you one of us, trust me."
Dark fibers weaved between her fingers, and she tore off the man's blindfold. Blood was dried to his face now, and one eye opened, while the one blood was coming from stayed closed. The open one grew wide as he saw the people within the arena.
His mouth opened, but the Queen wrapped her gloved hand around it, her grin slowly growing into a laugh.
"Let's see… we'll give you one chance to escape. If your family can first defeat the beast we have for them to fight, then me, you'll be allowed to leave. But only then. Bring out the Lynel!"
The man began violently shaking against his bonds, crying and biting at the Queen's hands. One of her guards moved to stop him, but the Queen lifted her ungloved hand to wave him off, before placing it on his head. The dark, cold tendrils began wrapping around his head, and forcing open both of his eyes, revealing the bloody one was missing the eyeball.
Ivan watched, aghast, as the Lynel was let out of his bonds, and the general riding him pushed him forward in order to attack the woman and her children. They struggled, helpless, as the beast reached them…
The brothers both closed their eyes, looking away, trying to drown out the gargled screams they made. This was too much, even for the Queen. Wasn't it? How would this help bring the man to their side? Ivan began to shake as he felt some liquid, still warm, land on his face.
Soon, the violent bloodshed ended, and the two dared to look. They regret it, instantly, as most in the coliseum did. The bodies reminded them of the fish they'd been taught to skin, the bones thrown to the side, covered in their victim's blood.
Each person looked, slowly, at the Queen.
Her smile was cold, and the tendrils of Malice had made their ways around his body, and seemed to take hold of him as his eyes… they were empty, and everyone had an understanding, after the warped thing they saw.
"Poor, poor Mr. Gallos. Just wanted to defend his country, and look at that; the people he sought to defend let his family die." Her voice was a pur, in his ear, and the tears began, silent on his face.
"Why…" His voice was completely helpless. His mouth didn't even seem to move.
"I do not know, my dear, why the people of Hyrule thought it okay to let this happen." Her voice was kind, and full of fake empathy, while her eyes betrayed her true feelings; a venomous delight that only she understood.
His voice cut out, and his eyes both closed, tears falling down his face.
"We can get you revenge, Mr. Gallos," Her intentions were clear to everyone in the room, but to the broken man she now held in her arms, she seemed to be his salvation, and his key to vengeance.
"Swear yourself to me. Swear yourself to the Yiga. Swear yourself against Hyrule. And we'll give you the tools of change."
His heart was clouded, his brain muddled, but in that moment… The tools of change?
"I… swear." His voice was dry, and after he said it the man fell unconscious. One member moved to his side, picking him up from the Queen's grasp as she rose to her feet, replacing her glove and the grin returning.
"I don't think I have to explain why you shall follow me now." She got straight to the point, and with a wave of her hand, the wind returned to the room. Ivan barely had time to recognize the malice following its direction before it seemingly disappeared.
There was a clap, and then three, and within a few seconds the room was filled with applause for the woman who had just proven that she had more than physical strength, and the chant picked up:
"Queen Hilda! Queen Hilda! Queen Hilda!"
A/N: I'd like to apologize for the time between chapters, but I'd also like to admit that it might get a little worse. Personal stuff is getting in the way but I'm writing whenever I can, so please bear with me. More fluff coming soon, don't worry ;)
Thanks for 600 views, and until next time
