Link's hand anxiously gripped the hilt of the Master Sword and released it. His weight leaned restlessly from one side to the other. The winter wind whipped against his cloak. The soft murmurs of the soldiers on either side caught his attention; the anxious tone to their whispers betrayed their nervousness. They had every right to be fearful. Many of them would not live to see the day's end.
The hero could sense the anxious adrenaline surging through the soldiers standing around him and thrived off it. This is what he lived for; this is why he existed. While their bodies shook with cold and fear, his shook with excitement. While they had armor to protect their weaknesses, the only protective clothing he wore was the chain mail beneath his tunic. The sturdy Hylian Shield kept his back warm and protected it like a turtle's shell. The bow, boomerang, and bombs in his pack assured him he had something for every situation. Finally, a small satchel on his belt held the fairy he had caught and the gift he had received from the Hero of Time.
The air was cold but bearable thanks in large part to Ilia and the Rod of Seasons. Thanks to her, much of the snow had melted between their camp and the tower, making it easier for their cavalry and troops to advance. It also was a great relief to the Zora, who were especially sensitive to the cold temperatures.
The entire army buzzed with nervous anticipation. Horses snorted their restlessness; soldiers coughed and whispered last words of encouragement to their comrades. Many examined their weapons multiple times over just to keep their minds off their fear. Even with Ilia's help, their breathing steamed the air as they stood in the shade of one of the opposing mountains.
All eyes turned to the horizon as a fiery sky began to bloom over the horizon, the first signs of red and orange dispelling the shadows of night. When the sun rose over the sky, the attack would begin.
Link glanced down at the enemy from his position in front of the army. They appeared as one giant, fluid blob bathed in the tower's eerie light. He knew they awaited the attack with eager anticipation. With nearly twice the number of the allied forces, the enemy would show no mercy.
Link's attention focused on the tower. That was their objective. They didn't have the men or the resources to route the enemy. All they could hope to do was storm the tower and stop Zant and Mudora before their plan came to fruition.
Kari walked beside the hero. He looked out to the horizon, a stern look on his face as he watched the first glints of light peaking over the horizon. "Are you ready, Link?"
The hero took a deep breath. "I'm ready as I'm going to be."
Link looked off to the horizon. The clouds overlooking the mountains looked like small wads of cotton floating contently through the air. The sky was becoming even more ablaze. Only a few more minutes until the chaos started.
"Rishu and Colin are all in position. I can only assume Zelda and the others will reach theirs soon," the Sheikah said casually. Despite the tension on the battlefield, he felt perfectly calm. Growing up in the middle of a war had hardened him.
Link nodded, reaching anxiously for the hilt of the Master Sword again. "Good. And how does the wind look?"
Kari cracked a small smirk. "At our back—just like we need."
The sun was a mere minute from peaking over the horizon. All eyes went to the commanding presence of the hero. They could sense the time was near.
As Link lifted his hand, every archer, many of them Zora under King Ralis's command, stepped forward. Rishu was among them. The air filled with the creaking of their bowstrings.
"Archers!" Link yelled a warning. The steady beating of the drum signaled the archers to prepare. Each bow aimed for the sky.
The entire valley held its breath in anticipation. Even the wind seemed to stop as the sun continued its daily cycle. Like a child peering from behind a blanket, it finally peeked over the mountain.
Link's face hardened. It was time.
"Fire!" he yelled.
A loud war horn carried Link's orders to the archers stationed in the back. Thousands of arrows sailed through the air like deadly hornets. Kari strengthened the wind blowing behind them, increasing the distance the projectiles sailed. Each arrow had a light, fragile sphere attached to them. As the arrows plunged into the enemy below, the small spheres burst open, releasing a strange, pink gas. Within seconds, the first waves of the army were covered in a mysterious fog. Kari manipulated the winds to spread it around.
It had begun.
While the volley had killed a small number of the enemy, it had confused them even more. Many of the shifters sniffed at the mysterious gas, puzzled but not intimidated by it. However, it took only a few seconds for the sulfuric scent to scorch their noses, throwing their sense of smell into disarray. They didn't know that the worst was yet to come.
"Archers! Fire the bomb arrows before they spread out! Quickly!" Link shouted.
The cry of the war horn signaled the next wave of the attack. A volley of bomb arrows sailed through the air towards the enemy. As the projectiles hit the ground and exploded, a handful of blasts suddenly became a flaming blanket. The strange pink gas that had been floating harmlessly before suddenly ignited into flame. What the enemy had expected to be a series of small explosions instead roared into a massive conflagration, searing thousands of monsters and shifters in the process.
A few of the new recruits behind Link shouted in triumph at the success of their plan. Link gave them a stern glare.
"Now is no time to celebrate! Form ranks! This battle is only beginning!"
His glare froze the young soldiers in place, quickly sobering them up. Every one of them, no matter which country they had come from, had heard of the legendary hero from Hyrule. While the rumors about him were many, there was no mistaking the battle-hardened intensity of his expression or the feral nature hidden beneath those deceptively-innocent blue eyes. He commanded the respect of everyone in that army, even Queen Zelda. If they were to have any chance of winning this war, they had to listen to his every word.
"Archers! Aim for the sky again! Wait until the enemy comes near!" Link called out.
Although Link's words only reached those around him, the captains knew the plan and communicated his orders to those under their command. As expected, hundreds of shifters emerged from the large cloud of smoke burning among the enemy ranks. With wings flapping in the fierce winter wind, they came at Link and his forces with vengeance. The attack had only stoked their bloodlust and aggression. The air filled with their angry shrieks as they sought to avenge their comrades.
Everything was going as Atrayu and Eidel had predicted.
The shifters' inside knowledge of the enemy was proving invaluable. While it was Terminan technology that made it possible, it was the shifters who had suggested disrupting the enemy's sense of smell and introducing chaos early on into the battlefield. It would stoke the shifters into a blood rage and encourage them to charge thoughtlessly ahead. All of the shifters would rush at them, but it would be the fliers that would be easy targets.
Link nodded at Kari; the Sheikah knew what to do. With a loud shout, he blasted a large wave of wind against the birds flying towards them. This disrupted them mid-flight as they fought to readjust to the turbulence beneath their wings. The wind tamer never gave them that chance. He twisted and turned the wind in every direction, trapping them within an invisible vortex. The archers saw their chance and released another volley of arrows. Too busy trying to navigate the merciless air currents, the first wave of fliers succumbed to the wave of flying projectiles.
Link took a deep breath as he saw the birds fall out of the sky. Things were going well so far. Their strategy was actually working. That should've eased his restlessness, but it only enhanced it. Nothing ever went well for long. It was only a matter of time before the enemy launched a counterattack.
As to confirm his fears, fire rained down from the sky in front of him. The agonizing screams of burning soldiers pierced through Link's ears as the flames consumed them. He looked up to see dozens of wizzrobes preparing for the next round of spells. He regretted to see such young men lose their lives, but casualties were inevitable. It would be a miracle if they could even win.
"Link, let me and the archers handle things in the air," Kari assured. "You need to take care of things here on the ground." He pointed to the massive wave of enemy forces rushing at them. Monster and shifter alike showed no sign of slowing down.
The hero nodded. "Sounds good. I'll meet you at the tower."
Link unsheathed the Master Sword and let it shine in the morning sun. The ferocious instincts of the wolf and the righteous fury of the hero combined within him to form an unbreakable courage. He pointed the sword at the enemy and ran to meet them head-on. The war cry that echoed from his lips only spurred his determination. Losing this battle was not an option.
A rider holding the war horn rode past the front line, signaling the beginning of the charge with his call to arms. The soldiers, many from different lands, all followed behind the legendary hero with determined shouts. The moment they had been waiting for had finally arrived.
The two sides collided like clouds engaged in thunderous combat. The air trembled with their cries and shrieks. Allied cavalry and infantry clashed against shifters and monsters. Kari and the archers struggled against talented wizzrobes and merciless birds. Tooth and claw scraped against metal armor; steel blades sparked against bloody daggers; bomb arrows whizzed past fiery magic through the air. The enemy attacked with anger and ferocity, but the allied forces fought back with equal determination and spirit. With no more clever tactics at their disposal, only strength and courage would carry the day now.
Link's sword danced through the air like an extension of his arm. The Spirit of the Hero seemed to fight with him, guiding his eyes where to look and his hand when to strike. Without it, Link knew he wouldn't stand a chance against this many enemies. He had fought monsters most of his life, but shifters were a different threat altogether. They, after all, were a people who lived for battle. They were quick, powerful, and fought with reckless abandon. They would gladly endure a severed arm if it meant landing a killing blow. Link was grateful he had sparred with Atrayu and Kari to prepare. Because of them, he had learned what fighting a quick enemy felt like and how to counter it.
A shifter's one weakness, and the one Link exploited, was that they wore no armor. To wear protection during battle was beneath them. It also slowed their movements. Unfortunately for them, it also allowed Link's blade to strike through them before they were close enough to touch him.
The monsters, although more familiar to him, provided a different challenge. They were slower and more methodical, but no less dangerous. Especially in great numbers. He had to cut first and think later. Especially with so many people depending on him.
As monster and shifter fell before the blade of evil's bane, the enemy came at him in larger numbers. The hero was glad for it; if he could draw extra attention, it was less the other soldiers would have to deal with. Because he was constantly surrounded, it was hard to gauge how well the battle was going. The cries of battle echoed all around him; the wind continued to whip against his cheeks. He killed one enemy after the other, doing whatever he could to increase their chances of victory. Unfortunately, the enemy was equally effective at fighting back. With each dead body Link stepped over, he feared he would see the face of Colin or another friend he recognized. Many of these soldiers simply weren't prepared to fight warriors as vicious or cunning as the shifters.
Link looked at the five Stalfos and four shifters surrounding him. They were all at a safe distance, approaching him cautiously. They had seen too many go down by his blade to rush at him recklessly.
Link evaluated the distance to the nearest enemy and how long it would take him to strike. He knew if he went for one foe, the others would smother him. He had no choice but to attack them all at once.
The hero held the sword behind him and bent his knees. He hadn't used this technique in a long time; he hoped he could still remember how to use it. He took a deep breath and recalled the final hidden skill only those with the spirit of the hero could perform.
Link let the anger build inside him until the Triforce on his wrist resonated with a heavenly glow. As the first of the monsters came at him, he unleashed that energy in a devastating Great Spin. The sheer force of his attack cut through the air and anything within range. The enemy was dead before their mangled bodies toppled to the ground.
Link admired his handiwork while he caught his breath. Despite the doubts that had been plaguing him earlier, he was still a hero after all. This technique proved it.
"Link! Watch out!" Kari hollered as he pushed the hero out of the way. Seconds later, another rain of fire scorched down from the sky. The hero quickly looked up to see three wizzrobes. The monsters' surprise attack was short-lived as a wave of arrows pierced through them. So many arrows hit them that the monsters' bodies resembled large, disfigured porcupines by the time they fell to the ground.
"Thanks," Link replied, quickly readying his sword and shield for the next wave of enemies.
"Link! The tower!" Kari yelled, pointing towards the tall structure. Link blocked a moblin's spear with his shield while Kari blasted a gust of air to push him away.
Link nodded. He knew exactly what Kari was getting at. Their true objective was to infiltrate the tower and stop Mudora. The more time they spent here, the more men they lost.
"How are we doing?" he asked quickly as an approaching Stalfos drew his sword. The weapon clashed against his shield.
Kari shook his head, jumping on the head of the Moblin's spear. He ran up it and delivered a sickening kick to the monster's jaw. The monster fell back as Kari leaped off the spear and beside Link. "Not good. We're losing ground."
They were hopelessly outnumbered and outmatched. While Link and Kari were able to hold their own against the enemy's overwhelming numbers, the more inexperienced men were falling by the hundreds. Between the shifters in the air, the magic of the wizzrobes, and the endless onslaught of Zant's forces, Link and those fighting with him were losing ground. Even the archers providing support were slowly getting picked off by those shifters able to fly.
Where was Zelda with the rest of the troops? They should've been here by now.
The plan was to split the force in half. The primary force, led by Link, would lure the enemy away from the tower and engage them. The second force, led by Zelda, would circle around from behind and wedge itself between the enemy and the tower. With Kari's careful manipulation of the wind and Termina's ingenious stink bombs to hide their scent, the main force would occupy the enemy's attention while the secondary force traveled undetected.
With the Stalfos dispatched, Link grunted as the weight of a Dark Nut's blade crashed against his shield. The force was tremendous; it took all his strength to keep it from driving him into the ground. The sweat trickled down his neck as his muscles strained against the monster's superhuman strength. There seemed to be no end to the attacks.
Someone else struck the monster's armor in the back, diverting its attention away from the hero. Link seized the opportunity and shifted the monster's blade off his shield. When the monster turned to face him again, he shield bashed the monster in the face, sliced open its armor with the helm splitter, and countered with a quick spin slash. The Dark Nut's heavy armor crashed to the ground. Realizing a heavy weapon would no longer be useful, the monster threw it at Link and drew its rapier. Link rolled out of the way.
Before the Dark Nut could initiate an attack, another swordsman lunged at it with a jump slash. The monster successfully blocked the attack but stumbled backwards. Seeing an opportunity, Link attacked. His blade struck true and penetrated the enemy's guard. Working with the other swordsman, the monster was quickly dispatched.
Link turned to express his gratitude to the other soldier. Instead, his words caught in his mouth. It was Colin!
Praise the Goddesses he was still alive!
The youth was breathing heavily, and his hair was dripping with sweat. The light armor covering his chest was soaked with the enemy's blood. His eyes were wide with fear and his hands trembled. But he was still alive!
Link wanted to offer him encouragement, but three shifters were upon them almost instantly.
The two looked at one another and an unspoken agreement passed between them. Colin ran at the first shifter while Link went for the other two. As soon as the shifter saw the Ordonian approaching, it transformed into a panther and leapt at him. The animal's weight crashed against his shield, nearly knocking Colin backwards. It roared and growled, attempting to slash his face from behind the shield. The youth pulled back his head and stabbed the animal in the side, eliciting an angry cry. The shifter retreated back a few steps, stalking around him while it looked for a sign of weakness.
Colin's breathing came in labored spurts as he watched his enemy's every move. That had been a close call! He was grateful for all the traveling and training he had done in the past few months. During the Battle for Hyrule Field, he had struggled immensely. With all of the trials and challenges he had endured since then, he was better equipped to handle this battle. His muscles were tired and his mind was weary from the constant threat of attack, but adrenaline kept him going. For Zen and Uli's sake, he had to live through this.
A ball of fire landed perilously close to him, diverting his attention from the shifter for only a second. That was all the shifter needed to close the gap and lunge at the swordsman. Colin sidestepped as quickly as he could; the shifter's claws scratched against his armor and knocked the youth off balance. Before Colin could regain his footing, the shifter turned around and lunged at him again. It body-slammed him to the ground and pinned his arms with both claws. Colin was helpless as the creature's hot, disgusting breath steamed his face and warm saliva dripped onto his nose. He struggled to throw the creature off him, but it was futile.
When Link saw the youth pinned beneath the enemy's jaws, a wave of panic swept over him. He dispatched the first shifter quickly enough, but the other still blocked his path. He would never make it to Colin in time.
Colin saw the monster's jagged, carnivorous fangs only inches from his face. It would take little effort for those teeth to puncture the exposed flesh around his neck. The shifter leered at him with the same blood lust he'd come to expect. If these were his final moments, at least he had fought bravely.
As the shifter was about to sink his teeth into Colin's flesh, a blaring horn momentarily silenced the battlefield. The shifter, along with the rest of the enemy, turned their heads to the source of the strange noise.
Off to the east, cloaked in the rays of the morning sun, stood an impressive host numbering over ten thousand. Queen Zelda and her horse, along with the other sages, rode at the front. Hundreds of Gorons and thousands of cavalry stood ready to charge at her command.
Zelda glowered at the enemy and lowered her body closer to her horse. With a wave of her sword to signal the charge, she kicked her horse into a gallop. The ground rumbled and thundered as she and the thousands of soldiers behind her plunged into battle.
Without a leader to organize their movements, the enemy was thrown into chaos. While they shifted position to meet this new threat, they tripped and stumbled over one another, causing tempers to flare and internal fighting to break out. Monsters and shifters turned against one another as much as they did the enemy. Meanwhile, Zelda's forces, guided by the morning sun, charged towards the enemy. Their unified momentum broke through the ranks of the confused enemy, quickly dispatching them with little resistance. Atrayu and Eidel rode high above the charging horde, raining fire down upon the enemy as dragons.
In the chaos of Zelda's charge, the shifter atop Colin lost its focus. In those precious few seconds, a sharp gust of wind from Kari's baton knocked the shifter off of Colin. Before the panther could regain its footing, Kari jumped atop it and snapped its neck.
Link finished fighting the second shifter and joined his two comrades. The sudden chaos within the enemy ranks bought them a precious few seconds to rest.
"Link! Colin! The tower!" Kari tried to shout above the thundering of Zelda's forces.
"I know!" Link shouted back. Somehow, they had to find a way through the enemy so they could meet Zelda and the others.
Link saw two figures flying towards them. Mistaking them for enemy shifters, he reached for his bow and an arrow. Kari stayed his hand.
"Look who it is!" the Sheikah explained. "They're on our side!"
Link adjusted his eyes and smiled. It was his mother and Atrayu. They were just the people he wanted to see.
They shifted into their human forms and landed beside the trio.
"Need some help?" Atrayu asked coyly.
Colin scowled. "I'm doing just fine."
Eidel looked around. "Where's Rishu? We need to get the four of you to the tower!"
Link nodded towards the back of the army. "With King Ralis and the rest of the archers."
Atrayu nodded. "I'll go get him. Coming Link?"
The hero gave her an odd look. "How do you intend to carry me?"
She cocked an eyebrow. "Do you really have time to ask? The enemy is distracted. If we don't act quickly, we'll lose our opportunity."
The shifter transformed back into her dragon form before he could respond. Suddenly, the ground lurched from beneath his feet as she grabbed his waist with her claw and took to the sky. Kari and the others shrunk to small specks in the distance. Link felt his stomach lurch at how high he was. From here, he could see the entire battlefield.
From this height, the armies looked like morphing blobs. One blob, Zelda's forces, was in the process of securing the tower's entrance. The second blob, Zant's forces, stood in mass disarray. The third blob, the forces he had been leading, looked to be barely surviving. He could see thousands of bodies scattered across the ground, not counting the ones burned alive from their initial attack. Link scanned the battlefield for any signs of Zant or Mudora, but they were too high and moving too fast for him to see anything.
Just as he was slowly acclimating to the feeling of flight, Atrayu barrel-rolled to the right, leaving Link's stomach behind in the process. Arrows flew by them, not distinguishing between friend and foe. When Atrayu finally straightened out, Link looked to see where the arrows had come from. Their own men were firing at them! Link groaned as he saw a battalion of Zora archers reach into their quivers for yet another round.
Link hollered and waved frantically to get their attention. Despite his efforts, they drew their bows and released the deadly projectiles anyway. Link closed his eyes as he awaited the metal heads to pierce through his skull. Instead, Atrayu dodged them by descending into a nosedive. She quickly straightened out her path and flew right at the Zoras. They started scattering in fear. When she judged them to be sufficiently close, she released the hero and landed. He rolled with the momentum and quickly regained his footing.
The Zoras were about to draw their bows again, but Link yelled at them to stop. "Don't shoot! It's me!"
The Zoras looked at one another in confusion and then apprehensively to Atrayu. She glared back at them but did nothing more.
At last, King Ralis pushed through the ranks of archers and approached the hero. "Link, you scared us all to death! We almost mistook you for the enemy!"
Link nodded. "I know, Ralis, but I don't have time to explain. I need to find Rishu."
The Zora King scratched his chin. "Rishu? Can't say the name sounds familiar."
Link sighed. "Try to remember, Ralis. He carries around a guitar made of fish bones. You can't miss him."
Ralis's eyes lit with inspiration. "Ah, I know who you're talking about now. I'll take you to him!" He looked back at the other Zora. "Well, what are you standing around for? Form your ranks before the enemy is upon us again!"
Luckily, Ralis knew exactly where Rishu was after hearing a description from Link. The Water Sage looked at the hero with a puzzled face. "Something wrong, Link?"
Link pulled the Zora by the fin and dragged him to Atrayu. "We have to get to the tower now!" He eyed the shifter. "Ready?"
The shifter nodded absentmindedly. Her attention was focused on the shifters flying towards them. She had managed to attract quite a bit of attention already. Being one of the few shifters outside of Alpha and Eidel who could maintain the form of a dragon, she was easy to recognize. Seeing as they still viewed her as a traitor, they would no doubt target her.
Link noticed the approaching shifters as well and looked to Ralis. "We're making a break for the tower. Can we count on you and the others to provide us some cover?"
Ralis nodded. "Of course! May the goddesses grant you success!"
Before Link knew it, both he and Rishu were in the air again. A fresh volley of arrows went ahead of them, felling any shifters and wizzrobes foolish enough to stand before them. Atrayu launched several fireballs of her own, clearing the path ahead to the tower. Link watched helplessly within the shifter's grip as they shot through the enemy straight towards the tower. The column of smoke floating into the sky from the bonfire below served as a beacon, showing them the way to go.
Zelda was relieved when she finally saw Atrayu and her two passengers approaching. The enemy was in chaos. While they lacked organization, they were no less dangerous. They were just as likely to attack a Hylian as one of their own. A wall of troops and Gorons stood between her and the enemy pressing mercilessly against them. Up until this point, their plan had succeeded, allowing them to secure the tower's entrance for now. The difficult task would be holding that position.
Kari walked briskly up to her. "You should prepare yourself, Zelda. As soon as the other sages arrive, we must work together to open the door. I have not seen Mudora, so I can only assume he is already inside."
She looked towards the door that sealed the Tower of the Gods. Like the rest of the tower, it glowed with a strange otherworldly aura. The archway was large and imposing, easily towering over Atrayu's dragon form. On the doors were carved the symbols for each sage. From the snow accumulated around the edge, it looked like it hadn't been opened in centuries.
"How do you know that's how you open it?" she asked, glancing quickly in his direction.
"I cannot explain it. I just know that we need the power of all six sages to open this door. The enemy will likely try to stop us. We must push them back at all costs."
"Then it's a good thing I arrived," Link said, landing on the ground nearby. He was unsteady on his feet from Atrayu's acrobatics, but ready nonetheless. "Go open the door." He drew his sword and shield. "I'll stop the enemy from advancing."
"I'll help as well," Colin said, readying his own weapon.
"Then start fighting!" Eidel screamed. "We have flyers heading our way and no archers to take them down!" She glared at the other sages. "We'll hold them off! You open the doors!"
Kari, Zelda, and the others raced to the door while Colin, Link, and Eidel rushed into the fray. Kari and the sages gathered in front of the large door and concentrated. One by one, a brilliant ball of light appeared above each sage, matching in color with the corresponding symbol on the door. The door began to pulsate with the magical energy, but it didn't move.
"Focus harder!" Kari hollered.
Frantic shouts from the surrounding soldiers filled the air as the enemy broke through the first line of defense. Link, Colin, Darbus, and a platoon of Gorons were there to meet them. Steel and rock met against monster claw and flesh. They refused to let even one body past them. Eidel patrolled the skies, clashing claw and fang against talon for those shifters foolish enough to challenge her.
"Almost there!" Kari encouraged. "We just need a little more time!"
The door pulsated quicker and louder. The six emblems on the door, shaped like the six sage medallions, bathed the door in a rainbow hue as the ancient structure began to move. The tower groaned as the door that had been sealed for centuries at last welcomed the cold winter air inside once again.
As the doors opened wide enough for them to enter, Zelda felt an ancient power leak out and chill her bones. The door had been sealed with powerful magic that required all six sages to break it. Clearly, it was protecting something. But what could be so valuable that the ones who made this tower would go through such lengths to protect it? There was something about this whole scenario that made her uneasy.
That uneasiness reached a fever pitch when a blinding light flashed in front of them. As her eyes slowly adjusted, she saw Zant and Mudora standing before her.
"At last! The doors are finally open! Everything is finally coming to fruition," Mudora exclaimed, raising his hands to the tower, watching with approval as the doors opened fully with a loud crash.
"Mudora!" Kari growled. "What are you doing here? We thought you were inside!" His eyes honed in on Sharlo, standing right next to the deity. "And Father! Why are you still helping him?" However, the usurper king ignored the Sheikah's remark, choosing to ignore his son's gaze.
When Midna also recognized Zant, her grip on the Conch Horn tightened. Flashes of her dead people jumped through her mind. She thought she had heard Kari say something as well, but that mattered little to her. This man's head would be hers before the day was done.
Mudora turned around to acknowledge the presence of the sages. "Of course I couldn't be inside. This door was designed to keep me out. But with your help, it is now open."
"You used us?" Zelda exclaimed as she prepared to summon whatever magic she could on short notice. "But why?"
Kari raced ahead. "What does it matter, Zelda? We must stop him now!"
Mudora stretched his hand forward and erected a barrier that prevented Kari and the others from approaching. The wind tamer attempted to break it but to no avail. Rishu tried launching a few arrows at it to help but they bounced off ineffectively.
"I'm afraid that I don't have time to deal with all of you right now," Mudora said, his face growing serious. He looked up at the sky and let out a sly smile. "Besides, it looks like you may have your own problems to deal with." He turned around. "Come along, Zant. I have work to do."
As the two raced into the tower, Zelda wanted to go after them. However, a huge explosion just behind them knocked her and the other sages off their feet.
Just as she stood back up, Zelda heard a deafening roar behind them. The soldiers behind her all hollered in fear. The monarch turned around to face the commotion but saw it too late.
A blast of fire crashed into the ground around her and the other sages, sending them sprawling in various directions. Zelda landed head-first in the snow, the white powder quickly chilling her skin. The cold took the monarch by surprise; it seemed Ilia's magic wasn't able to melt everything. The ground shook as the beast landed just in front of her, kicking up a large cloud of snow that covered her back. Thinking it to be Eidel, Zelda slowly got up from her position and prepared a sharp rebuke in her mind. However, as she looked at the monster towering over her, she could only give voice to her fear.
"W…what are you?" the monarch whispered to herself.
She quickly looked up to see the monster's scaly, black head looming over her. Yellow, reptilian eyes stared at her shaking frame. The dragon snorted clouds of hot smoke and let out another terrifying roar. Her heart slammed against her chest as she struggled to her feet. She recognized this dragon! It was the same one that had plagued her nightmares!
Atrayu's eyes widened. She was dizzy from the impact, but she could still recognize Alpha's monstrous form. "Zelda! Run! You can't win against him!" she cried. The shifter rushed to her feet but stumbled back into the snow. Her head was still spinning.
Where had he come from? What was he doing here? It didn't make any sense.
Suddenly, it dawned on her. The smoke from their attack. It must be visible for miles at this point. Add in the sounds of battle and it was no wonder they had attracted his attention. If they didn't take him down, the entire battlefield could end up a scorched wasteland.
Hearing the panic in Atrayu's voice, Zelda tried to run away, but her legs sunk in the snow like quicksand. She looked back; a ball of flame was already building in the dragon's mouth. Her pulse quickened as she invoked Nayru's Love under her breath. The flames left the dragon's mouth and slammed against her shield. The magic protected her from being burnt, but she could still feel the searing heat as the flames sizzled in the snow around her.
Alpha prepared to attack once again with his breath, but a fireball slammed into his chest instead. Eidel flew at full speed into the black dragon and tackled him with all her might. The two toppled into the snow several hundred yards away, leaving a long channel of snow in the process. As Zelda attempted to get away, Link came beside her and offered his hand for assistance. Still shaken up by the ordeal, she was more than willing to take it. She hoped it would impart some of his courage to her.
Atrayu rushed up beside them. "The door is open! Isn't that the whole reason we came this far? Now get inside before you get killed!"
"What about you?" Link asked.
Her lips curled into a snarl. "Alpha and I have a fight to finish."
Link looked to the dragons wrestling in the snow. "That's Alpha? Wrestling my mother?"
Atrayu nodded. "She won't be by herself for long. We both have an unfinished score to settle with him."
Zelda flashed a look of concern. "Will you be okay?"
The shifter nodded. "I'll do my part. Just don't mess up yours." With that, she rushed into the fray.
Link and Zelda heeded the mercenary's warning and raced to the entrance, joined shortly by the others. As they reached the doorway, Colin suddenly came to a halt.
Link flashed a look to Colin. "What's wrong? Aren't you coming?"
The youth looked guiltily as Alpha and Eidel continued to struggle against one another. Their fight had taken to the sky, where they exchanged blow for blow. "You two go on. I'm going to help Atrayu and Eidel take down that monster."
"Are you crazy?" Ilia asked. "You'll get yourself killed!"
Colin nodded. "That's certainly possible, Ilia, but I need to do this."
Link saw the fire burning in the youth's eyes. He understood it all too well; it was the desire for redemption.
"Are you sure you'll be okay by yourself?" the hero asked.
"He won't be by himself," Ilia said. "If he stays, then I'm staying as well."
"I'll stay with Deku Baba as well," Rishu added. "Our final stand will be one to remember. One day, there will be songs written about this day."
Tifa pointed to the inside of the tower. "Go Link! We'll take care of the meanies down there so you can beat the meanies up there!"
Kari looked to the inside of the tower. "We need to get going! They can handle things down here. While they guard us from behind, we should focus on what's ahead."
Link sighed. "Thank you, all of you. I promise you that we won't fail. I want to see everyone one of you alive when we come down." He looked to Zelda, Kari, and Midna. "Let's get going. Mudora and Zant are waiting for us somewhere inside."
As the four of them disappeared into the tower, Colin and the others raced to help Darbus and the others defend the tower gate. The soldiers were in an uproar. Explosions were rippling everywhere and bodies were flying. Colin looked to the dragons still dueling in the sky. This wasn't them. Something else was amiss.
There was a loud cry and dozens of soldiers fell to the ground. A large figure covered in shadows emerged from the crowd unscathed. Darbus, growling in rage, rolled at him with all his might. Effortlessly, the figure caught the large Goron and threw him over his head. The stunned Goron leader fell to the ground.
Colin and the others tensed. Who was this man that could stop a charging Goron?
The dark figure glared at them with a menacing snarl. He didn't seem human. "You are but pawns to me. The ones I seek are inside. If you value your lives, you will get out of my way."
Inside the ancient tower, the sounds and chaos of battle were distant rumbles. Just like the structure itself, the first floor was enormous. Thick, marble columns held up a ceiling so high that it was difficult to ascertain just how far up the tower truly rose. The floor was a solid sheet of ice, as if there had been a flood and the harsh Nevkah winter had frozen it over. Large ducts towards the center of the room indicated where water had once flown. Strange glowing patterns adorned many of the walls, matching a design and color reminiscent of the Twilight Realm. If the threat ahead of them wasn't so real and the stakes so high, they would've enjoyed exploring the ancient structure further.
The group trekked across the frozen floor and up the stairs on the other side of the room. Once there, they discovered a mysterious beam of light shooting straight into the ceiling. Hesitant at first, it was Kari who decided to test it. As soon as he entered it, he disappeared before everyone's eyes. Startled at first that something terrible happened, he soon returned a few seconds later. He quickly explained it was some sort of teleportation mechanism to facilitate travel around the tower.
They stepped through the light and advanced further up the tower. The ice that had plagued the first floor was nowhere to be found. Even so, an eerie foreboding soaked the air. Despite the tower's age, the defense mechanisms were still active. Beamos and Armos hindered their progress. Neither was any real threat. They all knew the true challenge lay somewhere ahead. To make matters worse, Link couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed.
After traversing several more floors, they came upon another fairly expansive room. The room was donut-shaped with a tall column at the room's center. This was where they entered. Beamos statues littered the room's entire circumference. The path to the exit on the opposite side of the room was blocked by lasers.
"How are we supposed to advance now?" Midna asked.
Link took a quick look at their surroundings. "I've seen plenty of puzzles like this. I'm sure all we have to do is destroy a few statues and the door should unlock."
"Or we could leap over it?" Kari suggested. "The barrier doesn't seem too high."
Zelda looked at Midna and scoffed. "Not all of us are that agile, Kari."
"This will only take a few seconds," Link said. He equipped his bow and notched a bomb arrow. He aimed for the nearest statue and let sail the explosive projectile. The beamos crumbled to the ground before it even had the chance to activate.
Several bomb arrows later, the room was clear. Just as Link predicted, the lasers shut down. Their exit was clear.
They were halfway to the exit when Link suddenly paused. The Triforce on his left hand began to glow. A shiver went down his spine. Kari and Midna continued for the exit, but Zelda stopped beside Link.
"What's wrong?" she asked, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. The other hand was already reaching for her bow. She had learned to never ignore Link's instincts.
"My hand," he said, showing her the glowing Triforce. "Is yours the same?"
She looked down at her gloved hand. The Triforce of Wisdom was glowing just as strongly. "It is. But I don't know what it means," the monarch said.
"Me neither. But I have a bad feeling about it. This whole time, I feel like someone's been following us."
Zelda nodded. "Same here. But I haven't been able to pinpoint why."
"Link? Are you coming?" Midna called after him. She and Kari had already reached the exit.
The hero was about to respond when he heard a sound that made his blood freeze. It had come from the portal room where they had entered. Someone was following them!
With sudden horror, he understood what the glowing mark on his hand meant.
"Midna! Kari! Get out of here!" he shouted.
Suddenly, a wave of dark energy flew over his head towards the ceiling, blasting a whole through it. Small particles of debris fell to the floor. The ceiling began to groan.
Link whipped around to find the source of the blast. Standing in the middle of the room was a monster that looked all too familiar. A large pig twice Link's height towered over him, wielding a large trident that seemed capable of tearing him apart. His blue skin recalled the skin tone of moblins, but his beady red eyes burned with intelligence.
"Link!" Midna screamed.
The hero turned around and looked up at the ceiling. It could give way any second.
"I said keep going! We'll catch up to you!" Link shouted back.
"I'm not leaving without you!" Midna shrieked.
Link bit his tongue. They didn't have time to argue. "Kari! Take Midna and get out of here! The ceiling's about…"
Before the hero could finish his sentence, debris from the weakened ceiling broke loose and hurtled towards Midna and Kari. The Sheikah, already understanding Link's request, grabbed Midna by the wrist and dragged her out the door. The avalanche of debris crashed to the floor just as the door closed behind them, sealing off the room's exit.
Relieved to see Midna safe, Link turned his attention to the new threat opposing them. He drew sword and shield and crouched into a fighting stance. Zelda already had her bow out and an arrow in her other hand. She was surprised to find members of Scorpio now standing behind the blue-pig monster.
"What is Scorpio doing here?" She notched the arrow and prepared to release it.
The pig laughed a throaty laugh. "Scorpio is doing what it was founded to do: kill the descendants of the hero and princess that killed so many of us." He snarled. "Geroshida is no more. I am Ganon, the King of Darkness!"
Link scowled. "That changes nothing. I've slain Ganon once before. I'll do it again."
Geroshida looked at his two targets and snorted. "You can say what you want, but you are only a few moves from checkmate." He tapped his Trident against the ground and held out his left hand. The Triforce of Power glowed brilliantly. "The board is set. The trap is sprung. It won't be long before I obliterate you both and obtain what is rightfully mine."
"Open, you cursed thing!" Midna shrieked. She was on her knees pulling on the bottom of the door with all her might. "Let me in!"
They were outside the tower once again. Kari looked ahead to see a marble stairway that climbed along the side of the tower, leading yet even higher. The winter wind was harsh and merciless this high above the ground. The Wind Tamer wrapped his arms tightly around him to keep warm and looked back to the wailing Twili. Even her cries and the whipping wind couldn't drown out the sounds of battle from far below.
"The debris has probably sealed the door shut. You are only wasting your strength," Kari said quietly.
Midna stiffened, as if his words had poured salt on a wound. She slowly turned around to look at him with a gaze icier than even the winter air.
"Do you think I care? I would rather be in there with him than out here with you!"
Kari flinched but then regained his nerve. "I only did what Link asked. You would've been crushed by the debris otherwise."
She slowly rose to her feet. "You could've just left me there." She paused. "After all, you have no problem doing it to your other friends."
A wave of confusion washed over Kari's face. "What are you talking about? You're not making any sense!"
She stepped towards him. "Do you think I've forgotten your betrayal so easily? How you abandoned Link to Zant and nearly left him to die from some eternal slumber?" She pointed to her forehead. "The others may have forgotten…but that little deed is burned in my memory forever. You're just lucky we were able to get him back."
Kari looked away, his face clenched into a scowl. "You have every right to hate me, but arguing here won't accomplish anything. Even if you could open that door, we have a duty to press ahead. Link and Zelda will have to catch up."
Midna's lips tightened in resentment. "I suppose you're right." She looked up into the sky as the wind whipped against her cheeks. "Lucky for you, I hate the man waiting for us far more than I hate you."
Kari tensed. "You mean Sh…I mean Zant?"
The Twili nodded with a scowl. "I will make that man's death as painful as I know how."
The Sheikah nodded, his body shivering ever so slightly. "We should go." He began to head up the stairs.
Midna took one last solemn glance at the sealed door before following him.
As Kari walked up the stairs, his mind recalled Midna's words. He always knew he'd have to fight his father, but murder never entered his mind until now. Sharlo certainly had plenty to answer for; Kari still felt the anger boiling within. But kill his own father? Would he even have the strength to do it? There had to be another way that didn't require so much death!
"You know, I was just thinking…" Midna began, snapping Kari out of his thoughts. "If we're outside right now, why couldn't we just fly up here? Wouldn't it have been easier?"
Kari briefly glanced over the railing. The mountains of Nevkah stretched out as far as the eye could see. The armies continued their struggle down below while dragons dueled in the sky. Although everything appeared normal, he could sense not everything was as it seemed. "There is some sort of barrier that surrounds the tower. A powerful one. I doubt we could penetrate it even as sages."
"So the way we came is the only way up or down, huh? I hope Link figures out a way to get that door working before we have to climb back down."
Kari acknowledged her statement with a nod but said nothing. For him, there would be no return trip.
At last, they reached the top of the stairs. As they looked up, the roof of the tower was not much further. They were almost there. The door ahead of them was the same as any other door they had been through. Yet, at the same time, once they passed through it, they would not return through it until their task was complete. Their journey was almost over.
With a deep breath, Kari opened the door and they both entered.
They emerged into a medium-sized room surrounded by pillars. A short hallway led to a small dais at the end of the room. Zant stood atop the dais, awaiting both of them with weapons already drawn. As the pair made their way down the short hallway, Midna met Zant's glare without flinching.
"I was expecting a bit more than just the two of you, but this certainly makes things interesting," Zant said smugly.
"Don't sound so happy to see us," Midna said, clenching her fists tight enough to turn her knuckles white. "I assure you I won't have that problem."
"Where's Mudora?" Kari demanded, withdrawing the Wind Waker.
Zant laughed smugly. "He's in the room beyond here. But I'm afraid you won't be meeting him."
"Loyal to the end, huh?" Midna asked bitingly. "You always ate your food out of someone else's hand. If it wasn't Mudora, it was Ganondorf. You've always been a follower; never a leader."
Zant raised a brow. "Bold words to say from someone who doesn't even have a kingdom anymore." Midna growled at him, eliciting a cocky grin from the usurper king.
"Just let us pass, Father. I have no desire to fight you!"
Midna gave Kari a double-take. "What did you just say?"
Sharlo pointed one blade at his son. "I'm doing this for your own good, Kari. If you go to Mudora, you'll only be playing into his hands. Don't you see? He's using you!" Sharlo shook his head. "I would rather kill you myself than allow him to have you."
"Father, there has to be another way! I have no desire to fight you!"
The Usurper King shook his head. "I'm afraid it's too late for regrets now. You had your opportunity to return to Kasuto with me, but you chose a different path. Now here we are. Either you turn around and walk away or we fight to the death."
Kari shook his head. "I can't turn away now. I've come too far." He stamped his foot. "But I will not kill you either!"
Sharlo let out a sigh. "Then I'm afraid I'll have to kill you." He looked straight at his son. "The less you resist, the easier this will be for the both of us."
Midna slapped Kari across the face. "Get a hold of yourself! What are you blathering about? He's the enemy! That's all that matters!"
Kari looked down at the ground.
Midna glared at the Sheikah. "Are you going to kill him? Or will I have to?"
"But I…" came his weak reply.
Sharlo began to descend the stairs leading up to the dais. "You better make your decision quick, Kari. You can hesitate to kill me, but I won't hesitate to kill you."
And so the final battle has begun! I love writing these action-filled chapters. I hope you can feel the same tension and excitement reading it as I felt while writing this. Things are about to get intense.
I apologize for the long wait. I've been working 50-60 hours a week plus other life activities for the past two months. As you can guess, that doesn't leave a lot of time for writing. Nonetheless, the final saga has started. We only have a few chapters left until the end. Stick around…you won't want to miss a thing! See you all next chapter!
Edit: I updated a small portion of this chapter to address a plot hole that's been bothering me for years. If I've done it right, you hopefully won't even notice.