Sharp gales flew across the vast Hylian field that stood between Death Mountain and Castle Town. From high above where the clouds strolled lazily in the moonlight, the field appeared peaceful and even serene, coated with pale dots of color from the quickly fading moon. A blaze of fiery light pierced the horizon as the sun peeked over the hilltops, threatening to usurp the celestial body of the night. On the ground and far below the heavens, any illusion of peace and serenity was quickly shattered. Those pale dots of color were none other than the monsters of Zant's army toiling endlessly for the battle ahead.

Their numbers were vast; an abominable ocean of the mutated and twisted creations of Hyrule. None knew how such creatures came to be in the first place; though few ever cared. The screeching of swords being sharpened, the hammering of war weapons being assembled, and the indistinguishable roaring from the monsters themselves were plenty cause for care. Whatever dark creatures the mind could think of were present in this army from the underworld. Amidst this hive of preparation and activity, two imposing figures stood out, crafting their plans for the coming conquest.

"Shall I lead the assault this time as well, Lord Zant?" Atrayu asked, looking over the vast amount of monsters potentially at her disposal. She wondered if her employer noticed the sarcastic emphasis on the title she gave him.

The mercenary watched in reserved interest as a brawl broke out in front of her. It was a petty fight between two bokoblins over rations, but entertaining nonetheless. The fight only lasted a few seconds before one of the unlucky creatures was shoved in the shape shifter's direction. It barely even touched her before Atrayu's claws ripped through the monster's flesh, suspending it momentarily in the air. She twisted her arm to examine the dead monster's startled face, deriving a small amount of pleasure before pulling the fresh corpse off her claws and tossing it back into the mob of monsters. Overcome with fear, the watching abominations backed away from their superiors and busied themselves quickly. "Even if these wretched creatures are beneath me," she finished.

Zant watched in mild disinterest and turned back to the shape shifter. Though his helmet hid his expression, she could detect a hint of irritation in his voice. "Save your bloodlust for Hyrule, Atrayu. I do not pay you to diminish my army."

Atrayu tossed the idea around for a bit and decided it may be worth observing. The instinct to kill came naturally to her, regardless of what side the victim belonged to. Those who succumbed to her strength were viewed as little more than prey to satisfy her amusement. Only those few who distinguished themselves in combat against her, as Rusl had, earned her respect. Those precious few who bested her earned an even higher status: her complete submission.

"You don't strike me as the type to value life in general, much less that of a monster. You have a thousand more to replace it, don't you?" she replied boldly as she wiped her claws on the ground.

Zant showed no reaction. "Only a fool wastes valuable resources." He paused for a moment to let his words sink in. "I will be leading the assault."

Atrayu's eyes widened. "And what am I to do? Babysit your mindless oafs?"

Zant looked to the towering spires of Hyrule Castle in the distance. "I have another special task for you. Infiltrate Hyrule Castle and find something quite valuable for me."

"And what might that be?" Atrayu asked expectantly, folding her arms in anticipation.

"An ancient text known as the Book of Mudora," Zant replied. "Find Zelda, and you will learn its whereabouts. When you've finished, deal with her as you see fit and return the book to me."

The shape shifter eyed her employer skeptically. "You insult my talents. What possible value could an old book have?"

Zant raised his hand in front of him with an open palm. Suddenly, energy black as midnight swirled with crimson materialized in his hand, ringing at a high pitch that made Atrayu's sensitive ears twitch. Zant held the ball of dark energy close to Atrayu's chest as he drew eerily close to her ear, whispering words dripped in malevolent hostility. "If you wish to remain in my favor, don't question me again. Simply do as you're told. Do I make myself clear?"

A sharp shiver flew down Atrayu's back, one not even she could hide. "As you wish." She backed away as the energy ball dissipated in Zant's hand.

The tyrant turned around and began walking towards his headquarters: a large tent set up in the distance. "Then what are you waiting for? I have preparations to make."

Atrayu watched as her employer disappeared into the crowd of monsters. "To think I had to resign myself to this," she whispered to herself. The mercenary shook her head, hardening her resolve once again and focusing on the task at hand. "And I am no closer to my goal then when I started. I suppose the search continues."

With her eyes to the sky, she spread her arms apart and allowed them to morph into the wings that she would need. Her boot-covered feet began to shrink and curl in, becoming the sharp talons of a peregrine falcon. She let out a fierce shriek and rose to the sky with a flap of her large brown wings, stirring up dust as she went. The ground quickly shrunk beneath her as she gained height and soared amongst the clouds. Once she had reached a satisfactory cruising altitude, she realigned herself and sped off towards Hyrule Castle.

Meanwhile, on the surface and within the safety of Castle Town's fortified walls, two sentinels stood watch on the Eastern Gate. The night had been long and uneventful, and they were eager for their replacements' arrival. The first one, Malthier, reclined against the stone wall with his back towards Death Mountain, his half-closed eyes fighting off the alluring temptation of sleep. He occasionally allowed one to open for a peek; he knew if he was caught, he would be disciplined severely. Standing vigilantly beside him was Viscen, one of the Captain's favorites. With telescope in hand, he scanned the horizon every few minutes.

"You've been doing that all night, Viscen. Do you really think you're going to find something now with our shift nearly over?" Malthier taunted nonchalantly.

"We're at war, Malthier. It's our duty to ensure Hyrule is ready when the enemy attacks. They could come at any time," The dutiful soldier responded.

"Don't I know it?" Malthier complained bitterly. "I could be at the bar. Or even with my woman. But no! Because of all the casualties, everyone has to take longer shifts."

Viscen didn't respond. He continued gazing intently into his telescope, not even moving from his spot.

Malthier laughed to himself. "What would you know of such things? You dreamt of becoming a knight your entire life." He paused to look at his old friend. "And here we are."

Still no response.

Malthier waved his hand in indifference. "Whatever. Don't listen to me if you don't want to."

"Malthier, you'll want to have a look at this." Viscen responded at last.

The complacent soldier grudgingly gave up his spot and rose to his feet. He walked over to his fellow guard and yanked the telescope from him, raising it to his good eye. "What is it now? I don't see anything."

"Look towards the sun, in the direction of Death Mountain." The diligent soldier replied wearily.

Malthier did as his friend suggested and had to close his other eye. "There's nothing there," he said. After a few seconds of staring blankly, he saw a silhouette move near the ground. He looked harder, squinting to bring the image into focus. What he had perceived as the ground were actually hundreds of silhouettes all moving in unison. With his eye adjusted to the intense light, shadows of siege towers and weapons appeared as if from nowhere. "Dear goddesses! They're actually here!" Malthier uttered in disbelief.

"Malthier! Quick, to the sky! What is that?" Viscen pointed high above the clouds to a bird heading in the direction of the castle.

Malthier snapped awake and lifted the telescope to the sky. It took him a few seconds, but at last he had a clear view of what Viscen had spotted. "That's a falcon, Viscen. We don't have time to be bird watching!"

Viscen shook his head quickly. "That's too big to be a falcon, Malthier." He paused for a moment. "Didn't the Captain say they had a shifter with them?"

The statement finally clicked in Malthier's head. "Din, he did, didn't he?" The complacent soldier looked back once again at Atrayu through the telescope. "Sound the alarm! We're under attack!"

Viscen was already half way down the wooden ladder. "I'll tell the Captain! You warn the other soldiers!"

Zelda sighed softly to herself as the rays of the morning sun peaked through her window. The monarch sat comfortably in her bed; a soft feather pillow propped her back against the wall while smooth silk sheets provided warmth to her legs in addition to her satin nightgown. The air was strangely quiet; the chirping of the birds she had accustomed to waking with were nowhere to be found. Even the morning breeze that toyed with the crimson curtains around her bed every other morning was noticeably absent. The hours before dawn always brought her peace, but this morning had an eerie silence to it.

The Book of Mudora was on a wooden nightstand close by. After ridding the stiffness from her arms with a good stretch, she reached over and grabbed the green hardcover book that had been passed down in her family for generations. Her grandmother had spent her life studying it, as had Zelda's mother, and now the legacy rested on her shoulders. The monarch had spent the last few days since the meeting with Kari and Link studying the baffling text between councils and other duties that required her attention. Ramiro had expressed his concern numerous times about overexerting herself, but what choice did she have? Her nation was at war with a tyrant, and she would never forgive herself if she didn't do everything in her power to stop him.

As she scanned through the ancient browned pages with her finger, a familiar phrase caught her eye. She had stumbled across it over and over, but she failed to decipher its meaning every time. As she stared at the ancient Hylian, her cerulean eyes squinted in concentration. She mouthed the translation softly to herself.

"In days long gone by, the darkness was finally cleansed by those with the face of courage and the pure spirit of a maiden. Together, they established a great kingdom that would endure for ages. A deity from the heavens came to give his blessing and offer his wisdom. The King and Queen accepted his gifts and propelled the kingdom into a prosperous age with the help of the Golden Power. However, fearing reliance on its power, they sealed it away and kept its whereabouts secret. The kingdom continued to prosper until the death of the queen. However, dark storm clouds brewed as a neighboring kingdom coveted that same power."

After that, the text became difficult to translate, No matter how she turned the words over in her mind, their meaning remained elusive as ever. Whatever was happening to her kingdom, these words contained the key; of this she was certain. Who or what was the darkness? Ganondorf? But he was dead, wasn't he? And who was the deity from the heavens?

Zelda grappled with the meaning of the difficult text until she heard a loud knock on her door. Who could be knocking at this early hour? Startled, she placed the ancient book back on the nightstand and rose from her bed. She wrapped herself in a warm violet robe and called out to the door. "Who is it?"

"It be Martha, m'lady," came the reply. Zelda sighed as she realized it was just one of her attendants. "Might I come'n, your Highness?"

Zelda nodded, dropping her shoulders as the tension left her body. "Of course, Martha." The wooden door squealed open as an older, stocky woman peeked around the corner. "You may come in all the way, Martha," Zelda affirmed.

Slightly comforted, the silver-haired woman with the face of a mother stepped entirely into the room. She wore the garb of a servant, but with a small bracelet on her wrist signifying her many years of faithful service.

The monarch looked at her compassionately and noticed the elderly woman's hands wouldn't stop trembling. "What brings you here so early, Martha?"

The servant had to compose herself before speaking. Even then, her voice was shaky at best. "Y-your Majesty, I-I have a message. The C-c-cap'n, Lor' Anarvi, and Ramiro wish 'ta-ta-ta speak with you now. They says it's urgent. That be all."

Zelda's eyes instantly furrowed. Whatever they had to say could not be good. "The goddesses bless you, Martha. Tell them I'll be right there."

The royal monarch had never readied herself so quickly in all her life. She took one last look at herself before walking through the cedar doors that led to the small study where the meeting was to be held. She only had time to slip on a decent white dress with some decorative elements from Hylian lore stitched into the front. Her brunette hair was tied back into a simple ponytail with a diamond tiara on her head instead of the usual crown. She had sprayed herself with a small amount of myrrh for good measure.

Satisfied with her appearance but still wishing she had more time to prepare, Zelda pushed closed the doors behind her. Geoffrey and Ramiro greeted her with warm eyes but solemn frowns. Durian's eyes scrutinized her every move, shaking his head at the queen's modest attire.

"It seems our queen has been caught by surprise," he commented bitterly.

Zelda ignored the Duke of Crimea and took her seat behind the desk where many an edict, treaty, and declaration of war had been signed in the past. She set stacks of parchment aside and folded her bare hands on the desk. "Forgive me for my tardiness. I am unaccustomed to meeting at such an hour." She eyed the three men nervously. Her eyes lingered on Geoffrey; her heart skipped a beat as she saw plainly the dread in his eyes. "Now what is the issue at hand?"

Ramiro was the first to speak, clasping his hands in front of his chest. With the added wrinkles in his face from the rising tension, Zelda realized just how old her chief adviser really was. "Geoffrey, perhaps it would be best if you spoke first. You seem to know the most."

The Captain stiffened and saluted. "As you wish." He turned to Zelda with the professional demeanor of a soldier. The regal young woman wondered if he ever relaxed. What did he do in his spare time when he wasn't preoccupied with the military? She quickly redirected her focus; this was no time to get distracted.

"Your Majesty, ever since the attack on Kakariko, I have posted sentinels around the city walls at all hours of the day. Just this morning, one of them spotted Zant's army in the east. Furthermore, they saw a large bird flying over the field; most likely the Nevkah shape shifter I saw in Kakariko."

"Did you ever bother to verify their reports?" Durian asked doubtfully. "How do we know these were not just the tales from a drunken stupor and a wild night? It wouldn't surprise me, those dirty peasants you call soldiers."

The Captain hesitated before responding; he took a deep breath to compose himself. "Lord Anarvi, I could see from the fear in their eyes that this was no hallucination. However, if it satisfies you, I verified their account myself."

The Duke of Crimea was silent.

Zelda rose from her desk. "What are their numbers? How much time do we have?"

Ramiro looked directly at the princess. "Your Majesty, please calm yourself. We must keep a cool head if we are to meet this challenge." He looked to the Captain. "Captain Geoffrey, what is your evaluation of the situation?"

Geoffrey closed his eyes as he thought. "They outnumber us nearly five to one, even with the combined forces of Hylian, Goron, and Zora. Right now, they approach from Death Mountain, and I would estimate only a few hours before they reach our Eastern Gate. Even if Labrynna and Holodrum are willing to aid us, it would take a day's ride before they could arrive." The cogs in his mind were racing, thinking of possible battle plans and counterstrategies so that their nation might survive. Anything he could think of would depend on his leader's next words. "Your Highness, what are your orders?"

Zelda slowly descended back into her chair. Her hands rested on her temples for a moment before she was ready to respond. "He expects us to surrender, so we'll do the opposite. Geoffrey, muster every able-bodied soldier and young man in the city that is able to fight. We will resist this tyrant with all our strength." She turned to her councilor. "Ramiro, have the servants grab my bow and sword. I will lead them personally."

"Your Majesty!" Durian protested, stepping forward.

"What is it now, Lord Anarvi?" Zelda snapped. Her brows furrowed as she glared at the head of the Royal Council. "I grow tired of your resistance. Clearly you see the threat at our walls! Or would you have us surrender?"

Much to the Queen''s surprise, the Duke of Crimea knelt with his face towards the ground. "Pardon my earlier insolence towards you at the Royal Council. I spoke hastily and without thought." His gaze rose to meet the Queen. "However, I would ask that you listen to me and stay within the safety of the castle, Your Highness." When she glared at him further, he quickly explained. "I am only concerned for your safety and the stability of Hyrule. My Queen, our nation cannot risk losing its monarch during such chaos."

Zelda tilted her head to the side. "While I am touched by your concern, Lord Anarvi, I have made up my mind. I cannot side idly by while my people suffer. I will do everything in my power to aid them, even at the risk of my own life."

"Your Higness…" Ramiro stuttered, pleading with her through unspoken words.

"Ramiro, not you, too? Geoffrey, surely you agree with me?"

Geoffrey shook his head slowly. "Your Majesty, your passion for your people is moving. However, I would feel much better knowing you were in the Castle where it is safe. If we must surrender the town, we can still defend the Castle."

Zelda shook her head. "While I value all your council, I am afraid I cannot bring myself to remain here. For better or worse, I will stand by my people."

Geoffrey, Ramiro, and Durian looked at one another. As one unit, they took a bow and began stepping towards the door. Ramiro spoke grudgingly, as if his words tasted like bitter grapefruit. "We did not think we could persuade you, Your Majesty."

Zelda eyed them curiously as the trio backed slowly. When they reached the door, they knelt one more time. "Please permit our leave, Your Majesty."

Zelda rose to her feet. "Where are you going? There is more to discuss!"

Durian and Geoffrey merely bowed but did not answer. The door squealed as they opened it, and the two slipped out quickly. Ramiro stayed a bit longer, eying his ruler with regret. "Forgive us, your Majesty. We are only doing what we feel best for you and Hyrule."

Zelda took a step forward, her heeled shoe echoing on the stone floor. "Ramiro, what is going on? I demand an answer!"

"Forgive me," he replied quietly as he slipped out the door and closed it behind him. The monarch ran around the desk after him. Before she could get there, she heard a loud crash like a short clap of thunder. When she reached the door, she turned the knob and gave it a firm push, but it refused to budge.

"Ramiro! Geoffrey! As ruler of Hyrule, I demand you let me out of here!" Zelda shouted as her fists pounded against the door. She stopped for a moment to hear the muffled reply. It belonged to Durian.

"Your Majesty, there are times when even you do not know what's best. We do this but for the country's greater good. Please do not hold this against us."

Geoffrey's voice broke in. "I have placed several armed guards by the door for your protection."

"That doesn't excuse your actions!" she replied sharply, momentarily losing control of her anger. However, her words were wasted as she heard the footfalls of the three men walk away.

Frustrated by her subjects' unexpected actions, Zelda returned to her desk and slumped into the chair with a heavy sigh. She looked around the room for any chance of escape, but found none. Geoffrey was right. If there were any secret passages, she certainly didn't know about them. She placed an exasperated hand on her forehead and prayed quietly. "Goddesses of Hyrule, our land is in your hands. Please deliver us from this evil tyrant. May your will be done."

Meanwhile, Durian slowly traversed down the corridor away from the Queen. Geoffrey and Ramiro walked in front of him, talking with one another over, pondering if what they had done was the right thing.

The Duke of Crimea placed his hand over his mouth to hide the malevolent smile forming. It had been easier to convince Geoffrey and Ramiro to isolate Zelda than initially expected. Everything was falling into place nicely. All that remained was to give Scorpio the signal.

With the Queen out of the way, Hyrule would soon be his.

Sleep had been difficult for everyone at Malo Mart. Ever since the attack last night; everyone was on edge in case such an event happened again. Colin had just managed to settle down into a peaceful rest when a loud horn jolted him awake. The sounds seemed to crash through the window, bouncing off the walls and causing the entire room to vibrate. There was simply no escaping the intensity of the noise. The sound was unfamiliar to him; he couldn't see any logical reasoning for blasting such an instrument so early in the morning.

He rolled over on his side, hoping the sound would go away. Every so often, it would stop and the young man would drift back into the world of dreams only to be snatched back to reality by another blast half a minute later. Tired of the endless cycle, the young man covered his ears and buried his head in his pillow.

It wasn't long until Ilia walked briskly into the room, staring at the ranch hand that was trying desperately to find a little rest after a long evening. Colin saw her lips move from beneath the pillow, but couldn't understand what she was trying to say. "I can't hear you, Ilia!" he tried to shout above the call of the horn.

Frustrated that her message wasn't getting through, Ilia approached the young man and whipped the pillow from him. "How can you be sleepin' at a time like this?" she said when the horn had finally quieted down. She pointed towards the window. "Don't you hear the commotion outside?"

Colin slowly rose to a sitting position, wearily rubbing his forehead from a building headache and lack of sleep. "I do. What's going on that would cause so much noise? It's worse than a stable full of agitated goats."

Ilia shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know, but come down stairs. Whatever it is, I have a feelin' we shouldn't miss it." She walked across the room and stopped momentarily at the door.

Colin looked around, noticing that both Malo and Talo's beds were empty. "Where's everyone else?"

The drop in Ilia's gaze betrayed her emotions. "They're all downstairs. No one could catch even a wink after all the commotion last night." She lifted her eyes to Colin and forced a smile. "At least you don't have to herd goats today." The country girl turned around and walked out the door. "Try not to take too long. We'll be waitin' for ya."

As Colin jumped out of bed and changed quickly, he could sense something was amiss. He placed the strap of the scabbard around his shoulder and the wooden shield on his back. He looked at the sword his father had given him laying by the bedside; the polished metal reflected the youth's apprehensive face on its shiny surface. The wood creaked beneath him as he walked over and grabbed the hilt of the weapon; letting it slice slowly through the air before placing it in his scabbard. With all his possessions ready, the young man raced down the stairs.

When he reached the main store, he saw the door wide open with a large group of people gathered by the fountain. The youth cast a quick glance around the store, but concluded everyone had gone outside. As he approached the door, he could hear the whispered murmurs of worried townsfolk.

When he finally walked outside, Colin quickly saw his friends among the outskirts of the large and confused crowd. The gathering was diversified in and of itself; there were Gorons and Zora present as well as Hylians. As he approached, he quickly discovered what had captured the crowd's attention. Standing by the fountain in the center of Castle Town, a soldier clad in light armor towered above the crowd on a chocolate-colored horse. The steed itself had armor placed on its face and breast, and horseshoes attached to its hooves. The man's voice boomed above the rest of the crowd as he spoke, capturing everyone's attention.

"The Queen has declared that every man, young and old, able to wield a weapon is to do so."

"What's going on?" Colin whispered as he stood next to Ilia. She placed a quick finger to her lips and shushed him. A nod of her head to the soldier told the young man to keep listening.

"Hyrule is at war. Our enemy has come to seek us at our gates, and we will defend them proudly with all our might. Do not fear, citizens, for the Goddesses will grant us victory."

The whispered murmurs grew to cries of worry. Some of the citizens began praying, some hurled insults at the soldier and left, while still others begged for refuge in the castle. The soldier quickly realized he had to stop the panic or things would spiral out of control. He raised his sword into the air; a gesture that silenced the crowd sharply.

"Who is willing to meet this evil and defend our great land?"

The crowd was motionless and silent. The soldier's mustered enthusiasm was quickly fading.

"Again, who of Hyrule's citizens will answer this call to arms?"

Silence once again greeted his invitation. Several families rushed away from the crowd, preparing themselves for the inevitable loss ahead. They had heard of the disastrous defeat at Kakariko, and they weren't going to be caught dead here with an invasion on the way.

Colin could feel his entire body shaking. His breathing quickened as he felt a heavy pull on his heart. He knew what he had to do, but fear paralyzed his actions. Ilia placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Colin, are you okay? You don't look so well."

He brushed her hand aside. This was no time to be a coward. What was he thinking? Nobody was forcing him to do anything. He could just...No! That wasn't even an option. He had failed once; he had to prove himself once and for all.

"I'll go! I'll fight for Hyrule!" The blonde youth proclaimed boldly. A wave of relief washed over him; the act was done and there was no turning back now. All that was left was to let the consequences of his actions ride on.

The soldier brightened considerably. "Then come this way, young man."

The crowd parted reverently like a sea, forming a clear path between Colin and the soldier. As the former ranch boy ventured forward, a strong hand grabbed his shoulder and turned him sharply around

"Are you insane! You'll get yourself killed!" Talo screamed at the young man.

"Talo!" Ilia reprimanded him as she approached the pair. The ranch girl examined Colin's face and saw the fire in his eyes. She recognized that passion well, for it burned in another one of her close friends. She could try and stop him, she wanted to, but to do so would extinguish that fire he needed. "Let him be. He needs to do this."

"But…" Talo folded his arms crossly. He glared at Colin. "You're lucky I'm injured, or I'd drag you back where you belong."

"Just trust him." Ilia said calmly. She turned to her blond friend. "Don't mind Talo; he's just too stubborn to admit his admiration for you." She ruffled his hair. "Colin, you be careful out there. Remember, your mother and Zen are counting on you." She stopped her sentence short, her eyes diverting elsewhere. "And I am too. So you better not do anything reckless!"

Colin smiled and the two shared a quick embrace.

Afterward, the swordsman turned to the sour Talo and extended his hand. The brown-haired youth glared at it for a few seconds with his arms close to his chest. Before long, his anger evaporated and the two childhood friends shook firmly. Meanwhile, Malo and Beth had been looking on in solemn reverence. Colin gave Beth a quick hug and tolerated a snide remark from Malo. Having said his goodbyes, the swordsman prepared himself. Before heading towards the soldier, Colin flashed a quick smile to his friends. "I'll come back without a scratch; just you wait."

Talo called back as Colin walked away. "I'll hold you to that!"

As Colin proceeded through the crowd, he felt his cheeks and forehead getting hot. Everyone watched him with a mix of admiration and shame. The actions of this simple youth had exposed them for the cowards they truly were.

Dozens of thoughts raced through the swordsman's mind. What if he didn't come back? What if Hyrule lost? Was he really doing the right thing, or was he just risking his life for nothing? Despite all this doubt and fear in his heart, the young man felt an inexplicable peace in his heart. Every step on the cobblestone felt slow and difficult for him, but he knew he was going down the right path. After all, this is what Rusl and Link would've done.

"What's your name, son?" The soldier greeted him when Colin finally arrived.

"Colin, sir."

"Well, Colin, today you have shown more courage than all of Hyrule." The soldier extended a benevolent hand.

"Thank you, sir." Colin shook it respectfully, hoping the red covering his cheeks was not too visible.

The soldier looked out amongst the crowd. "If this boy is willing to fight, then what of the rest of you? Have you no loyalty to your country?"

The crowd was shamefully silent. One at a time, however, hands raised and voices spoke out. Before long, hundreds of volunteers emerged from the populace of Castle Town, inspired to fight for their homeland. Young and old, Goron and Hylian, a common goal united people of different backgrounds to a common cause. Though they knew not the odds against them, they had been emboldened by the courageous act of a simple ranch boy. If only they knew the great battle that lay ahead, one that would alter the course of their nation forever.

Colin could hear the swishing of the moat beneath his feet as he stood outside the drawbridge of the Eastern Gate. He tapped his feet nervously against the wooden bridge as he looked around. The small defending battalion contained a mixture of veteran soldiers and inexperienced volunteers like himself. He could hear the stomping of the enemy just on the other side of the cave. His blue eyes scanned the walls behind him and the cliffs before him. If he looked carefully, he could see the shimmer of the Zoran archers hidden high above. The best archers in all of Hyrule, they could hit a moving target one hundred yards away without breaking a sweat.

"Hylians, Zora, Gorons, listen carefully!" Captain Geoffrey's voice rose above the murmuring defenders, breaking Colin from his thought trend. "The enemy ahead will kill without mercy. Our job is not to defeat them, but to trap them. After a small number of their forces are drawn into this passage, our archers will destroy the bridge behind them, cutting off their route of escape. The remainder of their army will be forced to travel the Southern Road, where they will engage our main force. Once we have finished here, we will rendezvous with our allies in Southern Hyrule Field. Any questions?" He scanned the regiment of roughly five-hundred men, positive that there were hundreds of uncertainties rolling through their minds. Even still, they hadn't the courage to give them voice. "Fight for your families! Fight for your ruler! Fight for the Goddesses! Long live Hyrule!"

"Long Live Hyrule!" They chanted in unison. Geoffrey smiled to himself. At least they had spirit if nothing else. He could sense the ominous tension in the air; the stiffness every soldier experiences just before a major battle. As he looked amongst the fighters, he watched them fidget nervously in anticipation for the approaching enemy.

The Hylian resistance was not kept waiting. Before long, a sole bokoblin emerged from the cave leading from Hyrule Field. He glanced stupidly at the small assembly and grinned. From one of the nearby cliffs, a Zoran archer picked off the monster with a well-placed arrow to the heart, and the monster collapsed to the ground. It was if a match had been lit in a room full of explosives. As soon as it disappeared, dozens of monsters rushed from the shadows to take its place.

Colin swallowed hard and gripped tightly on his sword and shield. This was it; no turning back now. Like his father had done in Kakariko, Colin rushed forward with his fellow fighters and met the monsters head on. Like two waves crashing against one another, the opposing sides met with sparks of steel against steel. The beginning layer of bokoblins succumbed easily to the Hylian blades and Zoran arrows; a layer of mindless pawns no doubt sent to test the strength of the enemy.

Colin quickly found the harsh realities of fighting and war much to his disdain. Every single movement, every monster, every ally; he had to be aware of it all. A monster on the right! Swish!Block its attack with your shield. Thwonk! Slice! Thrust! Block! Slice!

As he fought, Colin found himself slowly but naturally adjusting to the rhythm of battle. Every practice swing his father made him take, every piece of swordsmanship advice he received from Link; it all rushed from his memory to his muscles. As a bokoblin jumped at him with its club, he instinctively stepped to the right and repelled the attack with his shield. The monster received a sharp stab from Colin through the chest, and then watched in horror as arrows from the archers above punctured it like a pincushion. Another bokoblin rushed Colin from his blind spot. He stepped back, bringing his shield around him to repel this attack. Before he could even counter, the swordsman watched as a fellow soldier's spear pierced right through the monster.

"We all have to watch out for one another, eh?" The soldier responded benevolently before turning his attention to another attacker.

Colin nodded in agreement. Battle was an art, and tuning himself to match his fellow partners was a necessity to outlast his foes.

Wave after wave of bokoblins crashed against the small band of Hylian defenders. With great resilience, they repelled each attack, their fatigue growing with each approaching batch. The Zoran archers were an immense help, as they picked off foes from their lofty, protected perches high atop the cliff and castle walls. Before long, the ranks of Zant's army thinned of weaker monsters and filled with the likes of Stalfos, Lizalfos, and DarkNuts.

"Don't let them through the City Gates!" Geoffrey hollered with his double-head lance in hand. No one needed to be told twice. He motioned towards the archers on the cliffs. "Destroy the bridge! Destroy the bridge!"

The Zoras responded immediately. Several brave volunteers crossed over the cavern wall until the bridge was in sight. Unfortunately, just as they were about to take aim, a flurry of burning fireballs reigned from the sky, incinerating the sea people and halting their efforts. The soldiers attempted to take out the bridge, but the return fire from the enemy was too overwhelming.

"Fall back!" One of the Zora commanders shouted. He looked up to see over two dozen wizzrobes, hooded magicians covered in robes that had mastered the dark arts. They looked at their foes and sent another wave of fiery rain with their magic rods. It would be impossible to break through to the bridge without reinforcements.

The small unit of Zoras sent to destroy the bridge pulled back and rushed to the side of the cave near Castle Town where the rest of their company awaited. The wizzrobes flew after them, bombarding them with a storm of sweltering blasts. The company of professional archers retaliated with a swarm of exploding bomb arrows. As the battle of projectiles raged, the casualties on both sides grew.

Colin felt his sword and shield growing heavier by the second. His vision blurred for a second, and he felt dizzy by the chaos of battle. Before he knew it, a Lizalfos was upon him, thrusting its shield in his face. The young man fell to the ground with his head spinning, helpless as the lizard warrior stood before his body. His attacker held a curved, cold scimitar to the youth's neck, ready to end the swordsman's life. Several Zoras fired arrows at the creature, but their weapons failed to penetrate the lizard's thick scales. Colin tried his best to escape, but the blow to his face had severely disoriented him.

In a last desperate attempt, Colin stabbed his sword into the creature's leg, squirting blood onto his hand and causing the creature to lose balance. Colin regained his footing, but nearly fell over once again. The battlefield was spinning, and he couldn't determine friend from foe. The Lizalfos regained its footing, eager to avenge the injury it had received. It jumped at Colin in a fury. The swordsman had enough presence of mind to see the green blur, and brought his shield to catch the lizard's torso and hold it back. The reptile continued to struggle against the shield, forcing Colin to push with all his might just to keep the monster from jumping on him. Just when he thought he couldn't hold out any longer, Geoffrey came to his aid. With a swift blow to the head with one end of his spear and a stab to the heart with the other, the captain quickly deposed of the monster.

"Hang in there, Colin," He encouraged.

"I'm trying." He breathed heavily, sweat soaking his forehead and arms. "Have they destroyed the bridge yet? I don't know how much more I can take."

The Captain shook his head. "Something must've gone terribly wrong." He looked up towards the cliff and quickly realized the problem. A group of wizzrobes were attacking the Zoras, preoccupying them from the task at hand. The sea people were standing their ground admirably, but there was no mistaking that they had lost a few stalwart warriors.

Colin and Geoffrey quickly turned their attention to an incoming DarkNut. It had already decapitated one brave volunteer, and now it set its sights on the Captain. Colin and Geoffrey split up and hit it on opposite sides, their weapons bouncing against the armor as if they were mere toys. They jumped in time to avoid the swing from its giant claymore, but it did little to encourage them. Unless they could penetrate that armor, victory would be impossible.

Suddenly, the City Gates opened with a large bang and dozens of Gorons stampeded out. The mighty rock warriors rolled along the wooden drawbridge at high speed, ready to annihilate all who stood in their path. The small band of resistance fighters rushed out of the way, but a few unfortunate souls became friendly casualties to the unstoppable herd. Even so, the procession of Gorons, led by Darbus, raced towards the enemy ranks with unstoppable momentum. Darbus himself smashed into the DarkNut threatening Colin and Geoffrey, careening him back into the enemy ranks and cracking his armor. The resistance fighters gained an additional twenty feet of ground as the Gorons pushed back the enemy lines. The momentum was shifting in Hyrule's favor for the moment.

Like a large ship finally catching the wind in its sails, the reinvigorated Hylian army pushed forward inch by inch against their monstrous oppressors. The impressive strength of the Gorons combined with the speed of Hylian swords and accuracy of Zoran bows proved equal to the swordsmanship of DarkNuts, the tenacity of Stalfos, and the powerful magic of Wizzrobes.

With archers acting as reinforcements on the castle wall, the Zoras were able to dispel the remaining wizzrobes and turn their focus onto the bridge. The intrepid force made another rush for the bridge, this time covered by their friends along the walls. The sea people fired well-placed bomb arrows onto the wooden bridge spanning Kakariko Gorge, detonating the wooden structure and sending debris and several monsters careening to their deaths in the river below. With the bridge out, the monsters were cut off from the rest of their brethren in Zant's army. They had succeeded!

When Geoffrey saw the signal from the Zoras that the bridge was out, he attacked with reinvigorated fervor. "Hyrule! Fight your hardest! This battle is almost won!" Sensing the end was nigh, the small resistance group pressed forward despite their fatigue; giving everything they had to dispelling this last group of monsters.

As Zelda sat alone, confined to her study, her mind wandered to the battle inevitably occurring without her. She still couldn't believe that her subjects would betray her like this. Their reasons were understandable; she had been stubborn in her resolve, though it pained her to admit it. Even so, the bitterness it left inside her wouldn't go away despite her efforts to accept it.

She rose from her chair and enacted the same routine she had already done a dozen times in the last few hours. She started at the wall nearest the door, and began pushing and knocking in desperation for a secret passage. As an adventurous young girl exploring the castle, she had memorized all of the old secret passages. With the castle of her youth destroyed by the first war with Zant, the entire layout had been changed in the reconstruction. Even so, she searched diligently in the slim chance she might stumble upon something.

CRASH!

Zelda turned her attention sharply to the door. Her pointed ears remained sharp and vigilant. She could hear the guards outside hollering at a mysterious outsider.

"Hey! Who are you? You can't be-ugh!"

"Stop right-gah!"

One by one, the guards succumbed to this intruder. Zelda braced herself, grabbing the only thing she could find for a weapon; a blue and white decorative vase.

Her cerulean eyes watched carefully as the knob turned and the door squealed open, revealing a silhouette that was distinctively something besides the Hylian Zelda was hoping for.

"Hello, Zelda. I've been looking for you."

"It-it's not possible. How did you find me here?"

Sweat dripped from Colin's blonde hair to his forehead; a testament to the tremendous effort he had exerted. Even as he leaned on his knees breathing heavily, the swordsman couldn't help but feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment. Despite the impeccable odds, he had survived his first legitimate battle. His head spun and his muscles ached, but he had helped keep Hyrule safe even a little longer.

Geoffrey walked around to each of the men, offering them a pat on the shoulder and a word of encouragement. When he reached Colin, he helped the youth stand upright and gave him a firm pat on the back. "Well done, young man. You really distinguished yourself today."

"Thank you, sir."

Geoffrey nodded and flashed him a quick smile. "Of course, we can't rest long, but we'll take what we can get. No doubt Zant is frustrated right now since he can't access the Eastern Gate. He will travel to the Southern gate and attack with a vengeance. But we'll be ready for him."

The captain was about to move on when a messenger ran up to the pair with wide eyes, beckoning for Geoffrey. The captain walked nonchalantly up to him, doing his best to calm the public servant down. The messenger whispered something in the soldier's ear, causing the captain's face to turn whiter than freshly made cotton.

Colin didn't know what exactly the messenger had said, but he didn't need to. As he looked up toward the towering structure of Hyrule Castle, it was impossible to miss the billows of smoke pouring out from some of the castle windows. The gray clouds rose into the sky like a distress call, drawing the attention of anyone who looked in that direction. Their meaning was painful and undeniably clear: Hyrule Castle was under attack!

A/N- Here it is, the first of the three chapters I promised. I hope you all enjoyed it! Thank you to those of you who waited eagerly for it, and to those of you who didn't (but actually did even though you don't know it :D) The next chapter will come out exactly a week from now (aka next Friday), unless of course there's a strong urging I release it before then. I guess I might be able to, but only if enough people insist on it. Until next time, peace out!