Everything was black. In the spinning void, it was impossible to tell up from down. The black ether surrounding him obstructed any sense of orientation or direction. His hands, his legs, his entire body felt numb and unresponsive as if frozen in ice. He opened his mouth, but the void sucked all his words away. He felt like he was floating through a night sky without a single star to guide him. There was only suffocating darkness and eternal emptiness.
A voice cut through the darkness. Its words came in hushed whispers, impossible to decipher, but it was still a sound in a void that otherwise stung his ears with silence. He strained to hear its words, but his body stubbornly ignored his desire to move.
How had he come to this strange place? He had vague recollections of a large man wielding a strange weapon. There had been a dark orb heading towards him, a sharp surge of pain, and then everything had gone black.
Was this what death felt like?
The voice continued to call out to him, this time louder and with more urgency. The whispers were replaced by a low, steady chanting, almost as if reciting the incantations for a ritual. It was with great concentration that Colin realized it was saying his name. But how did it know who he was? How could it reach him in this empty place? Was it only a trick of the imagination?
"Colin…Colin…" it chanted seductively.
The youth wanted to follow it, wanted to go where the voice beckoned. Yet, he also wanted to stay where he was. His body wanted to remain where it was. Here, he was safe. Here, he couldn't be hurt.
"Colin! Colin!" the voice called with more urgency. The voice had lost its seductive quality. It now grabbed his attention with ferocity, shaking him with invisible hands. It grew louder and more urgent until it was impossible to ignore. Slowly, a medley of cries, hollers, screams, and roars joined in unison with the voice, bursting through Colin's silent sanctuary. It was like the curtains had been drawn and a window thrown open, allowing the light to reach him. The darkness that was once around him now shone with the intensity of the sun. His body lurched forward.
Colin's eyes shot open with a gasp. Two silhouettes leaned over him, blocking the morning sun from inundating his eyes. The youth slowly lowered his head back down to the ground. Everything was spinning; his hand clutched at his chest as a sharp pain jabbed through him.
"Colin! Get up! This is a battlefield for goddess' sake!" one of the voices chastised him. It was the same voice he had heard in that empty void.
"Take it easy on him, Talo," the second silhouette chastised the first. It belonged to a young woman. "Give him time to recover." There was a slight pause as the woman's silhouette turned to face him. "I'm just grateful he's still with us."
The first silhouettes moved to his side, causing the morning sun to hit him with all its fury. Colin shielded his eyes and turned his head away, now focusing on the young man who stood beside him. He was relieved to find a friendly face.
"Talo! What are you doing here?" Colin asked.
The Ordonian's long brown hair came down to the back of his neck. His hair and face were drenched with sweat despite the cold winter air. He wore chain mail and a thick leather jerkin to keep from the cold. His hand still clung tightly to a sword; the blood smeared on the blade showed it had been recently used.
"Helping you," Talo replied curtly. He knelt down and reached into his pack for some red potion. "Here. Drink this. This should help you recover some strength." The Ordonian looked over to the young woman. "How does he look, Ilia?"
The young woman was diligently checking Colin's arms, legs, and torso for any injuries. She gently lifted the hand that was clutching Colin's chest and let out a sigh of relief when she found no blood. "Well, I can't find anythin' serious." She looked at Colin as he propped his head up to get a better view of his surroundings. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. "I'm just glad you're still alive."
Colin enjoyed the embrace while he could before Talo interrupted them.
"Can't you two do this later? We're in the middle of a war!" He shoved the red potion in Colin's hand. "Now take this."
Ilia quickly returned her arms to her sides, her cheeks painted a hint of red. Colin took the red potion from Talo's hand and downed it eagerly. The taste was bitter but he could feel it beginning to work. With its contents relieved, he let the empty glass bottle roll on the ground.
"What happened to you?" Talo asked. "You were out cold when I found you. Almost feared you wouldn't wake up." He saw Colin attempting to get to his feet and offered his hand. "Need some help?"
Colin held his head with one hand as he grabbed Talo's hand with the other. His childhood friend pulled him up and held the brunt of the youth's weight.
"I don't remember much," Colin said. "There was a large monster with lots of men. He wanted to get into the tower. We tried to stop him, but it was over before it ever started."
Ilia nodded her agreement. "I don't remember much either. His strength was overwhelmin' though. I passed out as well."
Talo succeeded in getting Colin onto his feet. He held Colin's arm over his shoulders until the swordsman's legs found their strength again.
"Whoever they are, they seem to be long gone," Talo said. "Probably went in the tower like you said. Lucky for you we're near the base of the tower. We've been able to hold the rest of the enemy back so both of you could stay safe."
Colin looked around. "What about the others? Tifa and Rishu and Tatl?"
Ilia looked to the front lines. "Rishu is fightin' with the others. I haven't seen Tifa or Tatl though. I hope they're alright."
Talo shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sure they're around somewhere." He looked to the line of Hylian soldiers and Gorons battling against the enemy. "Wish we had time to find them, but we have bigger problems. Colin, are you still able to fight?"
Colin gently pushed Talo away so that he could stand on his own two feet. He stumbled a little as his legs adjusted to the weight. He soon caught his balance. When the dizziness faded, he looked around for his sword and shield. He spotted them a short distance away and walked over to them.
"How long have I been out?" he asked over his shoulder.
Talo shook his head. "Too long if you ask me. We need every able-bodied fighter we have."
Colin picked up his weapon and gave it a short practice swing. His arms felt strong again. There was still a slight sting in his chest from before, but he ignored it for now.
Colin felt like there was something he was forgetting. Like there was something he had to do. He looked to Ilia while he tried to remember what it was.
"Talo, are any of the other Ordonians fighting this war?"
Colin's friend nodded solemnly. "Not many. Besides the three of us, only Bo and Fado."
Ilia looked out to the base camp on the horizon. "The others are all helping out however they can. It's up to us to do our part."
Colin let out a sigh. "You're right."
His gaze settled on the column of smoke ascending to the sky like a bridge to the heavens. It was a perfect symbol of the chaos and destruction this war had brought. It wouldn't end until Mudora was finally defeated.
A loud explosion pulled his attention to the sky. Eidel and Atrayu battled with Alpha amongst the clouds with a barrage of flames coming from either side. The dragons flew through the column of smoke constantly, using it as cover as they fought to the death. The glare of the morning sun made it impossible to tell who was winning.
Colin quickly remembered what he had forgotten.
"I have to take down that dragon," Colin said. "It could wipe out our entire army by itself."
Talo scowled. "It looks like those other dragons are handling it. Besides, what can you possibly do? You can't even fly! We need to focus on where we can be of use!"
Colin looked down at his feet. Talo had a point. What could he possibly do? He had fought against Alpha once before. He had thought himself clever by trying to severe the monster's tail. Instead, he had nearly been killed.
Alpha's skin was resistant to conventional weaponry. Only dragon fire seemed to have any effect. How could he possibly defeat an enemy that could shrug off all his attacks without blinking?
Ilia placed a hand on Colin's shoulder and smiled at him. "Colin, I'll admit I think fighting him is suicide. I don't want you to do it. But I also won't stop you if you're committed. I want to support you however I can."
The youth looked down at the ground. "But I failed the last time I fought him. It seems hopeless."
"As I recall, Link has faced impossible odds as well. What would he do?" Ilia suggested.
Her words got Colin thinking. He recalled a story Link had told him while in Labrynna of a monster he had faced during his travels. The hero had been exploring a cave one dark, rainy evening only to find it infested with Dodongos. The monsters have impenetrable hides, Link had explained, making them impervious to any conventional weaponry and also very dangerous. After building suspense with his story and enduring Colin's questions, the hero had explained how he had survived: Dodongos were vulnerable to bombs. While their outsides were tough and resistant, their insides were soft and vulnerable.
Colin's eyes lit up. Perhaps they could do something similar with Alpha! They would need a really large bomb to pull it off though. Was such a thing even available?
"Talo! Do you know what the Gorons from Termina did with those large bombs?"
Talo shook his head. "Probably still back at the base. Those things looked heavy. Our force had to travel light so we could remain mobile."
Colin cursed to himself. It would be impossible to go back to the base in this condition. Even if he could retrieve one, how would he transport it here? And how would he get Alpha to consume it?
There was a loud roar followed by an explosion as one of the dragons began spiraling out of the air. Whoever it was, they were falling hard and fast right towards the tower! Colin's heart sunk when he realized it wasn't Alpha; it was one of their own. The other dragon continued to fight Alpha, too busy dodging the monster's relentless assault to help her comrade.
The falling dragon was heading right towards them. Colin was about to run out of the way when the sinking dragon transformed into a hawk mid-fall. She flapped her wings frantically to try and slow her descent. The hawk spun and flapped in a desperate attempt to regain control, slowly losing speed but also losing precious altitude. By the time she caught wind beneath her wings, all she could do was improvise a crash landing.
The shifter scraped to a halt through the charred ground not far from the tower. Colin rushed over to help. From the hawk's size and coloring, he quickly recognized it to be Atrayu.
"Din's Fire!" the shifter cursed, transforming into her human form. "He must've gotten behind me. I didn't even see him!" She attempted to get up, but reconsidered and lay back down to recover some strength.
"Are you alright? Can you move?" Colin asked.
Talo and Ilia, both breathing pretty hard, finally caught up to his friend. "Colin! What are you doing? Isn't she one of them?" Talo asked.
Atrayu scowled at Colin as if no one else was there. "I'll be fine, Colin! Get out of here! I don't have time to be protecting you! Can't you see I'm in the middle of something?"
The youth nodded. "I know. But you'll never beat Alpha with brute force. We tried that already. His skin is too resistant to anything we can throw at him."
She lifted her head off the ground and began brushing the snow off her breastplate. There was a hint of irritation in her voice. "Do you have a better idea?"
Ilia looked to Colin. "Do you have a plan?"
Colin nodded. "As a matter of fact, I do. We have large bombs at the base. If we can get him to swallow one, it'll wreak havoc on his insides."
Atrayu raised her brow. "Take him down from the inside? Will that even work?"
"It will cause him untold suffering. He'll be helpless. All of his insides…"
Atrayu leaned forward. "You had me at 'untold suffering.' What do we need to do?"
Colin looked around. "I'm still working on that. We need to find bombs that are strong enough to be effective but light enough that we can easily carry."
The shifter scowled. "So you haven't even thought this through? Useless!" She put her weight on one leg but grimaced sharply.
Ilia knelt down to look at Atrayu's injuries. "Before she goes anywhere, we need to address her injuries." She pulled some cloth to address the shifter's wounds but was rebuffed.
"I said I'll be fine. I don't need help."
Colin saw the strain on the shifter's face. He looked to Talo. "Do you have any red potions left?"
"Well…yes…but…"
"Give it to her. We need her at full strength."
Talo reluctantly pulled the bottle from his pack. "But she's a shifter!"
Colin snatched the bottle from Talo's hand and offered it to Atrayu. "Here. This should help."
"I said I don't require your help!" she glowered.
Colin met her gaze head on. "Do you want to kill Alpha or not? Swallow your pride for once!"
Atrayu flinched at his words. They stared one another down for a few more seconds before the mercenary backed down. She grabbed the bottle from his hand and gulped it slowly. Colin nodded to Ilia, who began to wrap some cloth around the shifter's arm to halt some of the bleeding.
After Atrayu was finished, she wiped her mouth and threw the bottle on the ground. "I have no pride left to swallow. That'll have to do."
Talo pointed behind Colin. "Hey! Someone is running right towards us!"
Colin refused to pull his glare off Atrayu. "Is it friend or foe?"
"It's Rishu!" Ilia exclaimed. "And he's running pretty fast."
The words were out of the Zora's mouth as soon as he reached them. "Deku Baba! Why aren't you fighting?"
Colin held up his sword. "I was about to join the fight. What's wrong?"
"General Bacon did a number on our defenses. The other monsters are taking advantage of it and pushing us back. We need all the help we can get."
Talo glared at the youth. "See! What are we standing around here for? We need to go help!"
"General Bacon?" Ilia asked. "What kind of name is that?"
Rishu shrugged his shoulders. "It's the name for that pig monster that attacked us. What can I say? I was hungry when the name came to me."
Colin shook his head. "Rishu, do you know if the Gorons from Termina have any more of those powder kegs? We need some if we're going to take down Alpha."
The Zora shook his head. "Would mini-kegs do the job? Powder kegs are far too big for anyone but a Goron to use. Mini-kegs are far stronger than your average bomb and a lot more portable. They're pretty easy to strap to an arrow too." He chuckled absentmindedly. "And quite a useful ingredient for soup."
Colin stood up and gave Rishu his full attention. "Do you know where we could find one?"
Rishu nodded. "Well…I used most of mine up near the beginning of the battle. I might have one or two left if we're lucky."
Atrayu grabbed the Zora firmly by the arm. "Then given us whatever you have! Valoo knows Alpha needs to suffer as much as possible."
"Chillax, Dodongo." He brushed her hand off his arm and reached into a pocket on his belt. From the pouch he pulled two small compact spheres roughly the size of Deku Nuts. "These are all I have. You can have them, but use them wisely."
Atrayu snatched them from the Water Sage and looked them over. "How in Din's name am I supposed to use these?"
"Be careful with those!" Rishu exclaimed. "Once you press the button, they can blow up at any time. Heat'em up a bit or jostle them around and you'll be caught in the fireworks if you're not careful."
Colin held out his hand. "Maybe you should give them to me, Atrayu. I learned quite a bit about bombs from Barnes during my stay in Kakariko. I can use them while you fight Alpha."
Ilia noticeably tensed at Colin's words but restrained from saying anything.
"Are you suggesting that I depend on your help during this fight?" Atrayu asked.
"Do you really want to try and figure these out while Alpha is firing at you?" Colin responded.
Atrayu glared at him but said nothing.
"Can we get back to the fight now?" Talo screamed. "In case anyone forgot, there is a horde of monsters trying to kill us!"
Rishu agreed. "Porcupine is right. We need to get back to the fight."
Talo looked at the Zora. "Porcupine?"
Atrayu glared at Colin. "I'm assuming you're coming with me?"
Colin nodded. "You'll need my help."
The shifter shrugged her shoulders. "Very well. You come at your own risk. This battle is too important for me to risk myself protecting you."
The youth gulped. "Hopefully it won't come to that."
Talo looked to Rishu. "If they're leaving, then we should get back to the fight." He glanced at the Fire Sage. "Ilia, are you coming?"
Ilia couldn't take her worry-filled eyes at Colin. "I'll stay behind the front lines and help the wounded."
The shifter transformed once again into a dragon and spread her wings. He held his sword firmly in one hand and the two bombs firmly in another. Atrayu gripped his waist firmly in one claw and stretched her wings.
Ilia looked up at the youth as they were about to take off. "Are you sure about this Colin?"
"Not really, to be honest, but I know it needs to be done." He smiled. "Ilia?"
"Yes?" she said no louder than a whisper.
"I…I…" he looked down, unable to say what was truly on his mind. "I'll see you again soon."
Ilia's mouth moved to form a response, but the words were lost as Atrayu shot into the air. The ground lurched beneath Colin's feet so that his feet dangled freely beneath him; it was both dizzying and exhilarating. The cold wind slapped his cheeks while the tower walls rushed by only a few feet from his face. As Colin looked down below, all the combatants looked like tiny seeds spread across the snowy tundra.
Despite the doubt in his heart, Colin knew there was no turning back now. He tried to push Ilia out of his mind so he could focus on the task ahead. She was one more reason why he needed to stay alive.
He looked up and saw Atrayu's long, arching neck. She flew higher and higher with a single purpose. Her gaze was fixated on the duel between Eidel and Alpha just above them. The fire from both dragons' attacks rained down around Colin and Atrayu like a fiery apocalypse. Colin took a deep breath. This was the battle he had volunteered for.
Colin saw movement from the corner of his eye. He looked down and groaned. Several shifters were hot on their trail. With Atrayu so focused on Alpha, she'd never notice them.
He yelled to get the shifter's attention, but the wind screeched so loudly at this altitude that it was impossible even for him to hear his own words. Colin pounded on her claw instead with the hilt of his sword. After a few slams, she finally looked down in annoyance. He pointed to their pursuers and she understood.
Colin's stomach lurched when she stopped midflight and turned to face their pursuers. He could feel the heat of the flames building in her mouth. With a loud roar, she launched a ball of flame straight at the shifters pursuing them. The flames flew a foot from Colin's face and slammed an eagle square in the chest, hurtling the incinerated animal back to the ground. The other shifters dodged in time, continuing their relentless pursuit. Atrayu continued to bombard them with flames, knocking a few more shifters out of the sky.
The pursuing shifters managed to reach Atrayu with a third of their numbers intact. Several flew around Atrayu's head, searching for a weakness they could exploit with their talons. Another shifter, in the form of a raven, took advantage of the distraction to attack Colin instead.
The youth hardened his gaze and met the raven's talons with his sword. The bird avoided the first slash and tried to grab the blade with its talons once Colin's hand stopped moving. The Ordonian refused to let up and followed up with another slash in the opposite direction. The shifter flew just out of reach, choosing to go for the kill with its beak. Colin thrust his sword at the bird to meet the attack, causing it to jerk right and fly behind him.
Colin looked frantically over each shoulder and above his head but still couldn't find the shifter. The hair on his head stood on edge. Atrayu's grip prevented him from readjusting his position. Reacting out of a mixture of fear and panic, Colin swung wildly at the air behind him. The blade managed to cut the wing off the unprotected raven, sending it into a spiral. Colin let out a sigh of relief.
Atrayu let out another roar as Colin watched the rest of the shifters fall to the ground. Whether burnt by her fire or slashed with her other claw, they were clearly outclassed. Now if only they could be that successful against Alpha.
As they resumed their flight towards the battlefield, Colin was amazed by how fast the two dragons moved. It was like watching two leaves dance around each other in the midst of a windstorm. For each charge or fireball launched, the other dragon was always able to counter it. The youth was grateful Eidel was keeping up with Alpha. Now he knew why Link was so strong.
Colin tightened his grip on the two bombs in his hand. In order for them to stand a chance, they had to banish Alpha from the skies. If they could get Alpha on the ground, then they would have the help of Rishu, Darbus, and the other fighters. He recalled that Rishu had successfully blinded one eye back in Nevkah. If they could take out the other eye, then things might be even easier.
Atrayu suddenly twisted through the air. Colin felt the heated air as one of Alpha's flames grazed by his face. She twisted around again as another flame flew past him. The ground exchanged places with the sky as Atrayu looped around yet another flame.
They had been spotted! There was no retreating now.
The pair was able to catch a break while Alpha turned his attention back to Eidel. Atrayu seized on the opportunity and flew into the monster's blind spot. Colin held his breath as they slowly got closer, his grip on the bombs tightening with anxiety. The monster's attention was completely focused on Eidel for the moment. If they could get just a little bit closer, they would be close enough to use one of the bombs.
The flapping of Atrayu's wings alerted Alpha and he turned his attention back to her and Colin. The monster readied another breath of fire and launched it in their direction. They were far enough away that Atrayu had time to react. She nose-dived, allowing the blast to pass over them. Eidel tried to use the distraction to shorten the distance between her and Alpha, but the monster turned his attention back to her before she could get close enough to do anything.
It soon became apparent to Colin that getting close enough to Alpha to use one of these bombs would be more difficult than he predicted. While Atrayu and Eidel were fast enough to avoid most of his attacks, they also weren't strong enough to risk taking a direct hit. The fierceness of the wind and Atrayu's unpredictable flight patterns made anything besides a point-blank throw impossible.
The game of cat and mouse repeated itself several times with Alpha switching his attention back and forth between the two combatants. The former king was relentless in his assault against either shifter. More than once, a flame sizzled by Colin's face as they failed in their attempt to sneak up on the monster. He held onto his equipment tightly as barrel rolls and evasive loops folded his stomach on itself, allowing them to avoid Alpha's counterattack. Still, they had Alpha on the defensive. As long as there were two of them, Alpha had to split his attention.
Colin caught what he thought was an expectant glance from Atrayu. There was something different in her demeanor he couldn't quite place. Did she have a plan?
He had no time to think about it. Eidel once again made an attack on Alpha, allowing Atrayu another opportunity to strike Alpha's blind spot. Once again, the mutated shifter turned his attention to them with fire burning in his mouth when they got too close. Colin expected Atrayu to back off at any moment so they would avoid a direct hit. Instead, she maintained her course.
Colin's eyes widened as a fireball came straight for them. Atrayu countered with one of her own, creating a huge conflagration in the clouds. The mercenary came at Alpha with all she had, letting out an angry roar in the process. With one claw, she grabbed Alpha's thick throat. With the other, she brought Colin dangerously close to Alpha's back.
What was she thinking! Did she want to get them both killed?
Alpha had already recovered from the hit and now had a firm grasp on Atrayu's torso. He could see the anger and hatred in her eyes as she thrashed against his control. Nonetheless, she refused to fly away, struggling to maintain her loosening grip on his neck.
Colin looked around him and realized what this was all about. Because of her daring maneuver, he was now positioned right above Alpha's wings. This was his opportunity! With one well-placed explosive, he could blast the monster out of the sky!
Colin pressed the button on one of the bombs to activate it. He shielded his face with his sword hand as he aimed his throw. The wind was powerful and unpredictable up here. The position of Alpha's back left little margin for error. What if he missed his throw?
Alpha let out a fierce roar, pulling Colin's attention up. The monster had pried Atrayu's grip from his neck and was now aiming a fireball point blank at Atrayu's chest. Why wasn't she defending herself?
Colin felt the pressure pounding against his head. He had to act before Alpha released his attack! He brought his hand back and threw the bomb, praying fervently underneath his breath as he let it go. Time slowed for him as it flipped through the air, floating on the currents of the wind towards Alpha's back. He held his breath and watched in anticipation as the mini-powder keg lodged itself in Alpha's upper back, just above his wings.
Nothing happened. There was no explosion. The bomb remained lodged where it had landed.
The events that followed happened so fast that Colin didn't have time to ponder where he had failed. Alpha released his fireball straight into Atrayu's chest, devastating the shifter and sending her flying. Her grip on Colin faltered, releasing him to the merciless heights. The cold fear of death gripped him as his body began to free-fall. His sword fell out of his hand and began its own descent back to the ground.
Atrayu was out cold, involuntarily reverting back to her human form. Colin saw the monstrous Alpha looming over them, watching the both of them plummet to their deaths.
Had their plan failed? Had it all been for nothing?
Suddenly, a loud explosion crashed above them, shaking the very air and sending a wave of heat and sound that sent Atrayu and Colin spinning and only hastened their descent. A large cloud of smoke enveloped the spot where Alpha had once been. Colin tried to look to see what had happened, but it was too difficult to control his wild spinning as he fell.
During his tumbling, he caught a quick glance at Alpha's body plummeting from the pile of smoke. A small smile crossed the youth's face. They had succeeded after all! But how?
Eidel! Perhaps one of her fire attacks had set the bomb off. Rishu had said the bomb was sensitive to both impact and heat. Regardless of the method, the deed was done. Unfortunately, Colin's problems were only beginning.
The speed of his plummet was overwhelming. The air pushed fiercely against his face and clothes. Out of pure fear and adrenaline, he clenched his teeth and his fists tightly, thus keeping the bomb safe in his other hand. He maneuvered his body and spread his arms to catch the wind and steady his spinning and slow his descent. Unfortunately, at the speed he was falling, it wouldn't be enough.
He looked to Atrayu. She was out cold as her body spun wildly at the wind's mercy. There was nothing she could do to save herself. They were both plunging towards the same fate.
What would happen to him when he died? Would it hurt? Would he ever see the others again?
Colin closed his eyes as he hurtled through the air, unwilling to let his last moments to be ruled by fear. He thought he had a minute left at best until death claimed him. As he cleared his mind, he was surprised by how peaceful it was up here. With no sounds but the rushing of the wind against his body, it was quite easy to think.
When he had finally calmed himself, he reopened his eyes. He could see the tower and warring armies below. With every passing second, they grew larger. Off in the distance, snowy mountains stretched for miles. The morning light on the glistening snow was stunning. The view from up here was unparalleled. If the circumstances were different, he would've enjoyed it.
He closed his eyes again, resolved to accept his fate. He wished he would've had the courage to tell ilia how he really felt before it was too late. And that he had spent more time with Uli and Zen before departing for the final battle. Alas, there was nothing more he could do. He had done his part. Now the rest was up to Link.
Soon, very soon, he would join Rusl in the afterlife. His only remaining concern was whether his end would be quick and painless.
The youth was surprised when he heard the flapping of wings and felt a strong force pushing against him to slow his descent. His eyes shot open. It was Eidel! She was descending with him, trying to get him to grab her wing.
This fight wasn't done yet! He had given up too early!
Colin struggled to find a place where he could get a good grip. When at last he found a place to take hold, Eidel fought hard with her wings to slow their descent. Colin's arms felt like they might fall off, but he clung with all his might. The ground was quickly approaching and they were still falling too fast!
When fighting against gravity proved to be fruitless, the old dragon decided to redirect their speed instead. With several powerful flaps, she used the wind to smooth the angle of their descent, allowing them to soar across the ground instead of directly into it.
As they blazed across the battlefield, Colin looked around for any sign of Atrayu. Perhaps they could still rescue her. However, there was no sign of her. All he could find was Alpha's body falling from the sky.
Colin watched in awe as Alpha continued his plummet unhindered into the battlefield below. It was as if a great floating fortress had been destroyed, and the rubble was now returning to the earth where it belonged. The great dragon's body crashed hard on the outskirts of the battlefield, landing with a thunderous boom.
Eidel and Colin circled above the remains of Alpha's body, watching as the snow thrown into the air from the impact settled once again on the ground. Every muscle in Colin's body tensed. He looked for the slightest movement. There was nothing.
Was Alpha really dead? Was it even possible to survive a fall of that magnitude? If there was even a chance he survived, they couldn't take it.
Eager to be thorough, they landed close to where Alpha's motionless body lay. Colin was all too relieved when his feet finally touched solid ground again. His heart still pounded against his chest. The ground around him seemed to tilt back and forth as he reoriented himself from his terrifying descent.
He turned his attention to find Eidel, whom had returned to her human form. She was panting heavily and sweating profusely. Scars and bruises painted her face and arm from her scuffle with Alpha, but she had sustained no injuries that wouldn't heal with rest.
"We did it," Colin said to her with a forced smile.
Link's mother wasn't amused. "I won't rest until I see the life gone from that monster's eyes for myself." She fell to one knee and coughed up blood. "Goddess! I've never maintained a dragon form for this long. Every muscle in my body feels like it's on fire. I don't think I could shift again right now even if I tried."
Colin nodded. "You don't think the other shifters will try and attack us, do you?" He looked around. They weren't close to the battlefield, but a shifter could very quickly close that distance if they wanted to.
"They won't come near us," Rin answered his question from behind. "They fear Alpha now more than ever. They would rather pick at easier prey than risk dying a foolish death."
Colin turned sharply to see Atrayu's sister walking slowly towards them. His face curled into a scowl. He would never forget the torture this woman made him and his companions go through while they were her prisoners.
She was carrying someone over her shoulder. The dead weight was pressed against her shoulder but she seemed to be struggling with it. She managed to carry the body a short distance before she finally set it down in the snow.
It was Atrayu!
"Is she…?" Colin asked.
"She is alive," Rin cut him off.
"Rin. I'm glad you managed to rescue your sister," Eidel said weakly. "There wasn't much time. I'm sorry I couldn't help her."
Rin shook her head. "You had other concerns, Eidel. I'm just glad I was able to reach her in time."
"How is she doing?" Colin asked.
Rin looked up. "Now isn't this a sight? I never thought I'd see a human care about the well-being of a shifter. Especially a human who tried to murder her."
Colin looked away. He had no words for that.
Rin continued. "Anyway, she is alive for now, but she needs medical attention right away."
Eidel nodded. "She took a blast from Alpha right in the chest. It's a miracle she's still with us."
There was a weak cough. Atrayu was awake.
"You both worry too much," the mercenary scolded. "These are just…cough…minor wounds."
Rin scowled at her sister. "Atrayu, you're hacking up blood. We need to get you out of here."
Atrayu pointed to the motionless dragon not far off. "Not until he is dead."
Colin looked around at the three shifters. Eidel was so weak that she couldn't even stand. Rin was busy tending to Atrayu's wounds. He had to be the one to venture near the monster.
"I'll go take a quick peek and make sure he's dead," he offered. No one objected.
The Ordonian took a deep breath and began the short walk to Alpha's motionless body. He had been watching for any movement from the large dragon's body. So far there had been none.
Perhaps the fight was truly over and they could rest.
Then again, if there was even a remote chance Alpha had survived…that wasn't a risk they could take.
He tightened his grip on the remaining bomb. Without his sword, it was the only weapon he had left. Colin felt vulnerable and exposed as he trudged through the winter snow, walking towards the dragon's large, motionless body. He was alone and barely in any condition to fight. If something went wrong, he would have to think on his feet.
As Colin trudged closer, it became apparent why Alpha had fallen out of the sky in the first place. There was now exposed flesh where there had once been two great wings. The explosion had blown them clean off. Dark blue dragon blood trickled onto the exposed scales.
Colin's boots clomped in the snow as he stomped in the snow towards Alpha's face. Both eyes were closed. The body was stiff and still as stone. He could hear no breathing from the monstrosity, nor was there any stirring or movement. It amazed him how large the monster was even when laid prostrate in the cold Nevkah snow.
The youth walked around to the dragon's side as he continued to investigate. Despite Alpha's unresponsiveness, Colin couldn't shake the horrifying feeling that he was being watched. At times, he thought he might've detected twitches from the monster in his peripheral vision, but every time it turned out to be snow stirred up by the wind.
There was extensive damage on the side that Colin could see. Charred scales and exposed flesh gave testament to the fight Eidel and Atrayu had given him. He wasn't sure if this damage too was from the blast or if had been there before from the ensuing struggle.
Colin saw something again out of the corner of his eye. He turned around to look at Alpha's tail, but it was as motionless as it had been before.
Was his paranoia making him see things?
Tired of playing mind games with himself, Colin took the mini-powder keg and activated the button. He began to walk back to the front of the monster. Even if Alpha was dead, Colin wanted to blow off the head just to be sure.
"This ends now," the youth muttered.
He looked into the monster's eye. A shiver ran down his spine when he saw a beady yellow eye blinking back at him.
The dragon lifted its head with a roar and rammed it into his chest. Colin stumbled back, causing the bomb to fall out of his hand and into the snow. As Alpha rose to his feet, smoke fuming from its nostrils, it kicked up snow that buried the bomb even further.
"Goddesses!" Eidel screamed when she saw the dragon rising to its feet. Her screaming caught Rin and Atrayu's attention as well. "Alpha's still alive!" She scrambled to her feet. "I'm coming, Colin!"
She tentatively stood on two feet, her heart pounding. The world spun viciously around her as her body cursed her. Even as she struggled through it, she knew she was fighting a losing battle. Despite her effort, her body allowed only two steps before her legs gave up on her.
"Din's fire!" she cursed. "I can't even move." Her head rested on the cold, hard ground. "I'm sorry, Colin."
The youth dug desperately through the snow on all fours, scooping and tossing snow frantically in his search for the bomb. At last, after what felt like an eternity, he finally saw the little sphere buried in the snow. He reached out to grab it.
Before his hand could touch it, Alpha wrapped his claws around Colin's body and snatched him away. The monster's grip on him was overwhelming. It compressed his airway and made it difficult to breathe and impossible to scream for help. He pushed against Alpha's claw to free himself but it was useless. The dragon's grip was too tight. His power was too overwhelming. His only hope lay with the shifters, but even they might not reach him in time.
Coming to terms with his situation, Colin looked straight into the dragon's eyes. There was animalistic fury contained within. He could smell the rancid air coming from the monster's mouth and feel the heated steam flowing from his nostrils.
He had already cheated death once today. It looked like he wouldn't be spared a second time.
Rin looked frantically to Atrayu. "What should we do? We can't fight Alpha in this state, and reinforcements are too far away."
The shifter struggled to find her strength. She was able to find her voice, even if her body refused to obey her. "We fight like true warriors. We fight to the death." She nodded with her head. "Colin has a bomb that can kill Alpha. I'll try and distract that beast while you find it. As soon as he opens his mouth, you need to throw it in. Swallowing it should finally kill him."
"But how will you…?"
"There's no time for questions, Rin! I told you what needs to be done. If you trust me, then you'll do it! Otherwise, we'll all die."
Rin looked at her sister with pain in her eyes before transforming into a wolf. She dashed off in Alpha's direction.
Atrayu's mind raced. Rin would never find the bomb before Alpha finished off Colin. She had to stall for time. She attempted to get up, but the pain was too intense. Movement was not an option, and neither was transforming. Her injuries were too severe and her strength too depleted.
Flames built up in Alpha's mouth as he prepared to finish off Colin. She had to act now!
"Alpha! I thought you wanted to kill me!" Atrayu's voice echoed through the cold winter air.
The flames in Alpha's mouth fizzled out as he looked frantically for the location of the familiar voice. To her relief, she had managed to stop the attack and grab the monster's attention. The dragon's one good eye swept the landscape looking for her.
There was no going back now. Atrayu knew what she had to do.
"You boasted that you would be the one to kill me! And yet, here I am! Clearly, you're not as strong as you'd like to believe!"
Eidel looked at the former mercenary. "Atrayu! Are you crazy? What are you doing?"
The mercenary glared at Eidel with the fire of redemption in her eyes. "Keeping my promise."
Alpha looked to Colin and then out across the landscape. It began to stomp in her direction, following the sound of her voice.
Atrayu looked back at Alpha. "What's the matter? Don't you want to finish me first?"
The monster roared with rage when it finally spotted Atrayu lying in the snow. It stomped over to her, ignoring Rin and Eidel in a bloody frenzy. The monstrous eye honed in on its new target.
The mercenary found the irony of the situation almost funny. She was about to die at the hand of the monster she had been trying to kill. She was sacrificing herself to protect a person that hated her. And all so she could maintain one last shred of honor and dignity after losing everything else. She couldn't think of a stranger turn of events.
Atrayu glanced over to Rin one last time and smiled. Her sister had just found the bomb and pulled it out of the snow. She was heading back towards Alpha, but she would never make it in time.
It was hard to believe at one point they hadn't spoken to each other in years; Atrayu had even denied her existence for a time. In the end though, her sister had come through for her when it counted. Perhaps there was hope for her after all. Atrayu wanted Rin to survive this war so she could live a better and fuller life outside of Alpha's shadow.
The roar that echoed from Alpha's mouth pulled the shifter out of her thoughts. Slowly, surely, as many times before, the fireball formed in its mouth. Angry eyes focused on her alone. The mercenary glared back, fully resigned that she wouldn't escape this. This was the kind of honorable death every shifter aspired to.
As Alpha's fireball hurtled towards her, she reveled in their victory.
"You lose, Alpha," she mouthed as the flames consumed her body.
Colin couldn't believe his eyes as the blast hit with such power and ferocity that the heat stung his skin and the smoke blinded his eyes. He wanted to cry out, to say something, but his lungs were too overwhelmed. All he could do was watch as the dust settled and the smoke cleared. Sure enough, only a lifeless and unrecognizable corpse remained in the crater from the blast.
Atrayu was dead.
Alpha turned his attention back to the youth trapped in his grip. With Atrayu gone, there was no one left for the monster to set his sights on. Colin saw Rin coming up from behind, but Alpha didn't seem to sense her. She had something clenched in her talons. Had she found the bomb?
It was all or nothing.
Alpha opened his mouth to incinerate Colin. Rin flew with all her might to reach them. Flames formed in Alpha's mouth. Rin circled around the dragon's head and stopped in front of him. Before he could unleash his flames, she released the bomb. Unaware that he was sealing his own death, the dragon swallowed it and prepared to follow through on his attack.
Alpha swatted Rin from the sky with his claw, sending her crashing into the snow. He looked to Colin but the flame had fizzled from his throat. His beady yellow eye looked around, slightly confused. Something didn't feel right.
KABOOM!
A crash as loud as thunder shook Alpha's body, ripping open his hard scales with a force that could not be contained. The violent force severed his neck and sent his innards flying. The explosion forced open Alpha's grip, throwing Colin through the air and sending him tumbling in the snow.
For a while, Colin just lay there as the ringing in his ears settled down. His vision hadn't quite recovered either; the spots were slowly fading but he still couldn't see clearly. His whole body ached as well. Despite all that, he felt content.
It was over. It had taken immense sacrifice, but it was finally over. Alpha was dead.
It took him a few minutes before he was finally able to stand again. He grimaced at Alpha's scattered remains as he walked over to the crater where Atrayu had given her life. Rin was already at the spot, mourning over the charred body without tears. Eidel had managed to crawl over as well, with some assistance from Rin. When he arrived, he decided it best to pay his respects in silence.
As he looked at the charred remains of her body, he couldn't help but feel a pang of loss. For so long, all he wanted to do was kill her. It had driven him mad, alienating him from Link and everyone else who cared about him. It had been his single goal to the exclusion of all else. Only after a long and hard road had he finally come to realize how wrong he had been. Now, after all that, he had finally succeeded in killing her, although not in the way he would've expected.
She had died protecting him. He knew the reason why; it stemmed from the promise she had made Rusl before he died. After all this time, even when Colin had refused her help, she still honored his father's request. She had carried it out to the very end, not abandoning it even in the heat of battle. She had found a way to die on her own terms.
Despite honoring his father's last wishes, Colin still couldn't forget that she was the reason Rusl was dead in the first place. The pain was likely too deep for the scars to ever heal. He never considered her a friend, and likely never would. But he no longer hated her either. How could he after what she had done for him?
She was an ally. That he could accept. At one time, he had only seen her as the enemy, a savage villain that had to be killed. Over time, his eyes had been opened to who she really was; his hatred for her had slowly transformed into a profound respect. Her culture and beliefs, once foreign and bizarre, gradually made sense the more he listened. She was a warrior who followed what she believed, regardless of what other people told her. Her courage in the face of battle rivaled none but Link. And although she claimed to have lost her honor, he now realized she couldn't have been further from the truth. She had died with her honor intact. And now she was in a better place.
Colin said a prayer for her. He hoped the afterlife was everything she thought it was and more.
The Master Sword swung through the air and pierced its target through the chest. Blood poured out of the man's chest as the blade retracted from his body. He collapsed to the ground and joined his dead comrades. Link paid him no mind as he circled around and met the blade of another Scorpio assassin. The man tried to stab Link in the side while he wasn't looking. The hero parried the blade, kicked the man to the ground, and finished the job with an Ending Blow.
The hero's feral eyes scanned through the Scorpio assassins to find his real target. Geroshida, or Ganon as he now called himself, lurked somewhere in this room. Defeating the man who held the Triforce of Power would be difficult enough. Having all these distractions only made things worse.
He saw Zelda fighting against another Scorpio assassin. He was pleasantly surprised by how well she held her own. Armed with a sword in one hand and a tanto in the other, she blocked the assassin's attack with one weapon and killed him with the other. Her movements were graceful and agile, no doubt thanks to her Sheikah training.
Link spotted a few more assassins heading her way. He wanted to cut them off before she became overwhelmed.
"Where do you think you're going?" Ganon's voice echoed from the air. Link looked around, but the villain was nowhere to be found.
A flash of pain rang through Link's side. Ganon appeared unexpectedly to Link's right; a large blue fist plunged into his torso with tremendous force, lifting him off the ground and sending him staggering sideways. The hero's vision blurred as he stumbled from the impact. Looking up, two of the thieves that were headed for Zelda now rushed at him. Ganon was nowhere in sight.
The second man stayed back while the first rushed at him. Link's vision cleared just as the man was about to attack him. A scimitar slashed where Link had once been but found only air. The hero countered with a back-slice, tearing through the man's back and sending him to the ground. While Link finished off the first man, the second backed off, throwing several smoke bombs to hide his location.
Link wasn't worried. As he pulled his sword from the first man's back, he transformed into a wolf. His enhanced senses had no trouble pinpointing the man in the smoke. Although his vision was obscured, his nose caught the smell of the man's perspiration. Link used his enemy's own smoke against him and jumped onto the unsuspecting man, knocking the weapon from his hand and plowing him to the ground. Powerful jaws snapped the struggling man's neck open, draining away his life slowly but surely. The man grasped desperately for his weapon, but his hand stopped moving before he could find it.
A dark ball of energy flew straight at the wolf before he could leap off the dead man's chest. Dark pulses coursed through his body as he was knocked to the ground. The waves of darkness paralyzed his body momentarily. His breathing came in rasps as he tried to get up; his body refused to obey him.
Ganon teleported in front of him. A sinister smile spread across the pig's brutish face has he pinned Link's wolf body down with his massive foot.
"How do you feel, hero? Are you getting tired yet?" he asked. He pressed his foot harder, straining Link's rib cage. "Surely someone as invincible as you doesn't get tired."
Link didn't like the way the battle was going. Geroshida clearly had the superior numbers and knew it. The villain was using his underlings to wear them both out, striking occasionally when he saw an opening. Time was ultimately against them. If this fight dragged on much longer, it was only a matter of time until one of them was too fatigued to fight. If that happened, Geroshida would surely finish them.
The hero growled his response. The animalistic rage within him wanted to lunge at the pig and snap his neck. Link pushed against Geroshida's weight, but the villain was too strong. Claustrophobia enveloped his mind, throwing his body into a frenzy driven by adrenaline and fear. He thrashed further against the force pressing him down. He refused to be trapped ever again.
A gold blur whizzed by and hit Geroshida square in the stomach. One of Zelda's Light Arrows!
Ganon cried out as the sacred light enveloped him, sending waves of paralysis throughout his whole body. The sacred energy caused the demon king to shift his weight, loosening his hold on Link. The wolf threw Ganon's weight off him, dashing away far enough for him to transform into a human once again. Before the arrow's effects wore off, he drew the Master Sword and slashed without abandon at the thief lord's chest.
Ganon grunted as the blade cut through him. As soon as he was able to move again, he teleported to safety. Those minions that were left quickly gathered around him and formed a protective circle.
The wielder of Power looked at the cuts across his chest and growled. The trident rested at his side. "You'll pay for that, hero!" he growled. He glared at his underlings. "What are you all standing around me for? Attack them!"
Zelda rushed to Link's side, her bow ready in her hands and another Light arrow notched on the shaft. Link readied his sword and shield. The room soon filled with the shouts of Scorpio as they all rushed at the two Triforce wielders.
"Any bright ideas?" the monarch asked, eyeing the approaching mob nervously.
"You're the one with the Triforce of Wisdom," he replied.
"You've done this more than I have."
"You have me there." He glanced at her quickly. "Can you still use Din's Fire?"
She nodded. "I can. Do you have a plan?"
Link looked to their enemy. "The longer this draws out, the harder this will be for us to win. If we both cast Din's Fire, there's a chance we can end this decisively. Worst case scenario, we eliminate all the distractions and can focus on Ganon."
"Good idea." Zelda gave the hero a playful smile. "Are you sure you didn't steal the Triforce of Wisdom from me?"
Link smirked. "I'm pretty sure. I'd never be able to work up the courage."
Link sheathed his sword and grasped Zelda's hand, the Triforce on their wrists glowing in unison. The remainder of Geroshida's forces rushed at them as they recited the spell's incantations. Geroshida watched in anticipation as his minions pressed in against the enemy. The confidence in their eyes told him they were up to something.
Ganon's lips curled into an arrogant grin. It didn't matter what they did; he would have what he desired. Even if they survived this, he still had a few other surprises in store for them.
A brilliant flash of light enveloped the room followed shortly by an enormous ball of flames. The mob of assassins was already committed to an irreversible charge by the time they saw the attack coming. With carnivorous ferocity, the blaze burned their bodies to the bone, leaving nothing but a pile of ashes. Geroshida teleported to safety before the wall of flame could reach him.
"Did we get him? Is it over?" Link asked when the wall of flames had dissipated. His eyes scanned the room for any sign of Ganon. Ashes covered the floor surrounding them, but there was no sign of the Evil King.
"It's never that easy," Zelda replied. "Remember how long it took to kill Ganondorf? Something tells me that Geroshida is no different."
Their eyes met briefly for a second as they both recalled their fight together against the Dark Lord. It had been a brutal battle that spanned the top of Hyrule Castle and bled out into Hyrule Field. Link had hoped that his troubles would end with Ganondorf's death. How wrong he had been.
Link marveled at the resolve within Zelda's stormy cerulean eyes. Geroshida had stolen his father from him and destroyed Ordon, facts he continually used to fuel his hate for the man. However, Zelda had lost far more. This man had maligned her image, slaughtered her people, and ousted her from her kingdom, just to name a few of his crimes. Zelda's dignity and honor as Hyrule's Queen were on the line. For her, this was as much a personal battle as it was to save her kingdom and the rest of the world. She was determined to win no matter the cost. She had certainly earned his respect.
A shiver went up Link's spine. Ganon was near! But where?
"Link! Behind us!" Zelda shrieked.
The hero was already moving in that direction. Sparks flew as the Hylian Shield clashed against Geroshida's trident. The wielder of Power pushed against Link, slowly sliding him back. Zelda readied her bow and armed another Light Arrow. Just as she lined up her shot, Ganon teleported away.
"Farore! How are we supposed to fight him when he keeps disappearing like that?" Link cursed.
Zelda scanned the room for any sign of the enemy. She was ready to release the arrow at a moment's notice. "Perhaps the answer lies in what you just said."
"What?"
"Farore. Or more specifically, Farore's Wind."
He pondered over her words for a second. His eyes visibly brightened when he finally understood her intent. "Brilliant! And that's why you have the Triforce of Wisdom instead of me."
Zelda's ears reddened. "Not that anybody's counting, but I'm pretty sure we both have had good ideas. Perhaps best two out of three?"
Link smiled. "I say the loser has to make dinner."
A green aura surrounded the hero as he invoked the incantations for Farore's spell. He closed his eyes and waited. Knowing Ganon, he would strike when he thought there was an opening. Zelda remained silent lest she disturb Link's concentration. Her eyes scanned the room for the slightest sign of movement.
Sure enough, a ball of dark energy flew around the room's central column and towards the hero. Link instantly deflected it back in the direction it had come, watching as it curved back around the column. Seconds later it came back with more speed, forcing Link to react quicker. Zelda took a few steps to the side to get a better angle for her shot.
This time, the dark sphere changed directions and headed directly for Zelda. Link jumped in front of her soon enough to intercept the attack. He sent the sphere spiraling back around the column. It came back as expected, this time aiming for Link. For several volleys, the sphere attacked either one at random, forcing the two of them to stay together. Even so, Link was always able to return it.
"Why do I feel like I've done this before?" Link muttered to himself as he returned the dark ball of energy yet again.
"Because you have," Geroshida snarled, teleporting behind the hero and catching him by surprise. "Your assumptions make it easy to predict your actions."
Geroshida lifted the trident and prepared to skewer Link. It was already in motion before Link could turn around. He would never be able to block it in time.
A flash of light enveloped the Evil King. Zelda's Light Arrow hit its mark. Lightning enveloped the villain, paralyzing him and stopping his attack cold.
"Who's predictable now?" Zelda asked.
Gathering his anger, Link cut into the Evil King's chest with a flurry of slashes. Geroshida cried out in pain, enduring the attacks until the Light Arrow wore off. He teleported away before Zelda could land another shot.
"You're not getting away this time!" Link shouted. He felt the power of the Triforce surge through him as he activated Farore's Wind.
Zelda watched in awe as he disappeared in a green flash. She notched another Light Arrow and looked frantically around, searching for where they might reappear.
CLANK!
Sparks flew as Geroshida's trident clashed with the Master Sword, illuminating the hatred in the combatants' eyes. Before Zelda could fire an arrow, Geroshida disappeared in a cloud of darkness. Link followed an instant later in a flash of green light. Zelda watched in awe as the two clashed like bolts of lightning. The speed with which they teleported around the room, weapons clashing and grunts roaring, seemed superhuman. They were never in one location for more than a few seconds.
Link's battle cry echoed from the far side of the room, pulling Zelda's attention to the sound of his voice. The weapons clashed once again, Geroshida using all his strength to send Link staggering backwards. This time, they remained where they were. With the hero's guard penetrated, the thief lord intended to end their game of cat and mouse.
Zelda wasn't about to let that happen. A bright flash of light in the corner of the villain's eye forced him to reconsider. He teleported away before the Light Arrow could hit him.
"Keep firing, Zelda," Link encouraged. "We have him on the ropes." Before Zelda replied, the hero was gone in another flash of green light.
All around her, Zelda heard the clash of weapons and the cries of fury as the hero and the evil king battled. She kept her aim steady even as her heart pounded in her chest. Her arm muscles burned beneath her skin from maintaining the tension in her bowstring. Her shoulders and legs stung from several shallow cuts she had received from Scorpio assassins. The mental exhaustion of leading an army also burdened her. She ignored it all. There was too much at stake in this battle to listen to exhaustion. The Triforce was lost if she couldn't endure.
Zelda finally caught sight of the two combatants. Link managed to dodge a powerful stab from Geroshida. The thief lord launched a ball of dark energy at him. Link promptly returned it. Ganon disappeared before it could hit him. Link quickly followed. Zelda adjusted her aim on the fly so she would be ready regardless of where the two combatants reappeared.
There! She thought she saw movement! She aimed and released the arrow in one smooth motion with little regard for where it would land. Before the thief lord even knew it was coming, the arrow hit him square in the shoulder, paralyzing his body.
Link appeared in front of him. Righteous fury burned in his eyes. "This ends now!"
His anger took over as he cut up Ganon's torso in all directions. Working up all his strength and fury, he plunged the Master Sword deep into the monster's gut to land the finishing blow. Ganon's grunts and cries of pain were cut short as green blood flew out of his mouth from the sudden impact.
His hands tight on the hilt, the hero brought his mouth close to the villain's ear. "This is for Eidel," he whispered spitefully. Geroshida's body convulsed as Link plunged the blade deeper.
When he was satisfied with the Evil King's pain, he sharply withdrew the blood-soaked blade and returned it to his side. Ganon fell to his knees, gasping for air. His body began to convulse and a low roar gurgled in his throat.
Link looked at Zelda. The bow was resting at her side as she desperately caught her breath. They still needed to save their strength for Mudora. Link glared back at Geroshida in disgust. "If I could, I'd make you suffer ten times over for every person person's life you've taken or ruined."
Blood trickled to the floor as the Evil King continued to gasp for breath. He held his chest with his large hand. The low gurgling grew louder.
"I wish I could sympathize with you, but your motives don't justify your actions. In the end, you're no better than Ganondorf."
The gurgling grew even louder. Link scowled at the villain. It was laughter. Geroshida was laughing!
"You fool!" Ganon snarled. "Do you really think this is over?" He coughed up more blood. The Triforce of Power glowed brightly on his left hand. "Do you really think I will let you and your whore make a fool of me?"
"You're dying even now. It's over," Link growled. "There's nothing you can do to either of us."
"Really? Do you think I didn't plan for this?" Ganon laughed as he slowly got up. The Triforce seemed to give him new strength. Even so, he still held his chest wound with one hand. "Do you think I charged blindly at you without planning for all possible scenarios?"
A wave of panic rushed down Link's spine. Geroshida should be dead! How was he still standing?
A large crackle sounded behind him, followed by a high yelp. The hero whipped around.
Dark lightning enveloped the monarch, paralyzing her movements. A grimace on her face masked the pain she was fighting. Standing next to her was a hooded member of Scorpio. The stranger's hands glowed with magic, no doubt the source of her pain. The fact that her weapons were sprawled on the ground told Link that he had caught Zelda by surprise.
"Hello, Link. I apologize I'm late to this little reunion," Agahnim snickered, slowly lowering his hood. "Well, actually, I've been here for quite a while, but the Master forbade me from showing myself unless the fight turned against him. He truly does think of everything."
Link's fists turned white. How could he have been so foolish? He should've never dropped his guard.
"Hang on, Zelda! I'm coming!" Link called out as he sprinted towards Zelda.
"You're not going anywhere!" Ganon snarled as he used his magic to throw the trident at Link. The hero was too distracted to see it coming. It slammed into his body and knocked him to the ground.
Geroshida teleported next to the dazed hero and ripped the Master Sword from his grasp. He grabbed the hero's sword arm, rotated it behind Link's back, and pulled. Link cried out in pain as his shoulder cracked out of its socket. The villain then threw Link to the ground and plunged the Trident through his leg, tearing skin and muscle, rendering the leg useless. The shock was so great that Link passed out. Geroshida withdrew the bloody Trident and glared at his handiwork.
"That should prevent you from being a nuisance even if you do wake up," he said. His gaze turned to the monarch. "Now to secure the other piece of the Triforce."
Zelda gasped when she saw Link unconscious on the ground. She had to do something, starting with figuring out a way to break Agahnim's paralysis spell. Unfortunately, she wouldn't have the time she needed as Ganon teleported in front of her. His trident hit her so hard in the side that she was sure she heard a few ribs crack. She fell hard on the ground. While the impact seemed to have dispelled the paralysis spell, it did little to help her. She tried to get up and grab one of her weapons, but the pain in her side was overwhelming.
Geroshida sneered at the struggling monarch. "After all these years of struggling beneath your family's oppressive regime, your reign of terror finally comes to an end."
Zelda spit on the ground as she willed herself to grab her tanto. "Who said this was over?"
The thief lord raised a brow. "You still possess a fighting spirit? I will be more than happy to break you of that."
Zelda grabbed the tanto and lunged at the Evil King. He caught her wrist long before her weapon ever reached him. To punish her for her resistance, he kicked her firmly in the ribs and threw her to the ground. She writhed in pain, hugging her knees to her chest as she bit her tongue to prevent from crying out.
Geroshida grabbed her right arm and lifted her off the ground. He forced the tanto from her grip and threw it away. His grip on her wrist tightened considerably.
"What are you doing?" she moaned.
He glared at her. "Making sure you will never trouble me again."
The grip on her wrist tightened even more. The pressure was overwhelming. It was as if a boulder had fallen on her hand. As the pain grew, she resolved to keep from crying out, to maintain her pride and dignity. First one bone cracked. Then another. Zelda felt the screams of agony piling on her tongue as tears streamed down her cheeks. With overwhelming force, Geroshida continued his methodical torture until every bone on her right hand had been broken to fragments. The monarch could hold back her cries of torment no longer. Her pain-induced shrieks filled the small room.
Ganon let her hand drop limply to the debris-covered ground. He reveled in the sheer agony that covered her face and the death-inducing screams coming from her mouth.
"That, Zelda, is only a fraction of the pain you will feel. I'm sure you would like to die now, wouldn't you?"
Zelda was in too much shock to deliver an adequate response.
"Unfortunately for you, I'm not done with you quite yet. Your pain is just beginning."
"Master," Agahnim said timidly, "forgive my interruption, but your injuries look quite grave. Perhaps you should take what you need from her first before your body gives out."
Geroshida looked at his servant and back to Zelda. "I will take your precious Triforce of Wisdom and let you stay here while you deafen yourself with your own screams. You're lucky that I still have to dispose of that fool Mudora. But once that is done, I will return for you."
He glared at her, reveling in the despair written on her face.
"And when I do, I will make you watch as I slaughter your people and their allies by the thousands. Only after you have heard their cries of agony, only after the full measure of despair has washed over you and the full impact of your failure has drained every last shred of hope from your broken body, only after you fully understand the kind of suffering your people have inflicted on mine, only then will I allow you to die."
And so the war rages on. The tension continues to build and the casualties continue to mount. Everything is coming to a head. There are only 2-4 chapters left now and things will definitely go out with a bang. I apologize this update took so long to come out, but I wanted to make sure I did justice to this chapter. Now that work has calmed down and I've finished off quite a few games I've been working on (Mass Effect Trilogy and Bioshock Infinite), I'll be focusing a majority of my free time on writing the last remaining chapters.
Please review if you can. I love hearing feedback from my readers and it makes putting so much effort into each chapter and the story as a whole worthwhile.
Finally, RIP Atrayu. Your character evolved so much more than I ever imagined and you were incredibly fun to write.