Chapter 3

Link was thankful for the protection his helmet gave him from the wind as the ten trekked through the snow towards the Zora's domain to the southeast of the castle, following beside the river into their territory. A part of him wished the dragon to favor sand instead of water as the snow blew at them. He was sure it wasn't fresh snowfall, but instead just the wind picking up the powder layer and hurling it back at them. Every once in a while the terrain itself protected them as they climbed up the path to the territory belonging to the aquatic race.

A bolt of lightning caught the party's attention towards the gray sky only to see the tail of what looked to be the dragon flying above the rock face separating them from where the village sat.

"I didn't think it could fly," Phoeni said, getting Link's attention to the Lady in front of Maneld as they came to a stop.

"Swordsmen! Dismount!" Izo ordered.

Link quickly hopped down from Epona, leading her to the bit of grass beside the rock face as all but the four archers did the same. He gave Epona a pat, thankful for the moment they weren't planning on bringing all the horses to battle just yet. Leaving his horse, he turned and jogged over to where Izo stood with the other knights-of-arms.

Once the seven were on foot, the captain looked them over. "Dragon fighting may not be something any of you've been trained in," Izo started with. "Plan of attack is for the archers to bring it down and swordsmen to do what we can once down to the ground. Any questions?"

Link kept his head straight, looking at Izo as he stood beside Aldous and Haws with Maneld almost in front of him.

Izo looked up at Zelda still on horseback standing beside him, cueing her to speak.

"Archers, in the lead with me," Zelda called out, pulling her bow off the side of her saddle. She pulled the reins to get Max to turn around, leading Jittin, Phoeni, and Ivon to the bend in the path.

"To arms!" Izo ordered, pulling his sword free of his sheath. He turned around and led them behind the horses.

Link pulled his own sword free from the sheath on his back as he followed. The crackling of electricity in the air above alerted them to another fly over the dragon did, getting all to look up.

"Fire when able!" Zelda ordered, taking aim as she let Max walk forward on his own.

The party turned the bend in the path only to take in the carnage the dragon had done in the half day. Caves leading to homes were caved in with Zora knights armed with bows and trident doing their best to attack the monster.

The dragon dived into the lake that was the main entrance for the underwater castle town, Zora and Sheikah diving in after it. The dragon broke the surface of the water, letting out a loud growl as electricity danced off its lime green body.

"Don't touch the water!" a voice called out as humanoid bodies floated up to rest on the surface.

The order of, "Archers, fire!" rang out, the voice magnified by the bowl shaped arena the lake sat in.

Link watched as arrows flew from all corners of the dry land and made their mark on the flying beast. A wave of six extra arrows from behind Link turned him to see the second party had already arrived, starting a second wave of arrows from around the lake strike the dragon.

With a cry, the monster fell to the ground, its long snake-like body causing the ground below Link's feet to shake.

"Swordsmen! Now!" Izo ordered, leading the charge to the closest part of the monster's body.

Link ran over to the dragon and started slashing at the scaly hide, noticing the yellow now gone from its color. He slashed the six strike pattern engrained in his muscle memory as he realized his sword didn't seem to cut through the scales. He threw a glance towards his left, noticing the knights beside him seemed to be having the same problem.

"Up slash!" Eudo's voice called out. "Against the scales!"

"I am," Link mumbled under his breath as he focused on only bringing his blade up against the monster's thick hide. A shock jumped from his sword to his armor, forcing Link a step back as he realized the lightning was jumping from scale to scale, the dangerous light strongest where he had cut. "Step back!" Link ordered, realizing the dragon was in control of the electricity.

"Archers! Keep it on the ground!" Zelda's voice called out, warning those on foot to step away from the target.

Link watched as another raining of arrows fell on the beast, it letting out a cry of pain as it only made it off the ground the height of a full grown man. Link braced himself as it came crashing down back to the ground, shaking the earth and everyone on the battlefield. Jumping forward, he and the knights beside him resumed attacking the monster with their swords.

This time there wasn't any warning. Its scales didn't glow, the lightning hadn't returned, nor did it give out a cry. Link held tight to his sword as he was pushed backwards, his feet ripped out from under him as something made contact with his chest. Squinting his eyes open he realized the dragon was shaking away its attackers, sending bodies flying up in the air or out of its way.

Link's back made contact first with the ground behind him, forcing him into a feet first roll until his head struck a rock. He let out a moan, his body wanting him to rest. Forcing his eyes opened he looked up to see the large dragon swimming through the air, voices his mind wasn't comprehending yelling orders as arrows flew after it. He pushed himself up to find his sword now stabbed into the snowy ground beside him. Pulling it out of the snow, he forced himself up to his feet just in time for a Hylian horse and rider to come at him. Side stepping, he noticed the purple cloth marking the horse and rider as Max and Zelda as the armored queen attached her bow to her saddle.

Zelda turned her head towards Link, reaching out her right hand, and ordered, "Link! Jump on!"

Link took the hand and pulled himself up so he rode behind the saddle, holding onto Zelda around her waist. Looking up he noticed they were riding just behind the dragon, trying to follow it. "Where do you think it's going?" Link asked as Zelda took the turn a little sharp. They passed the parked horses, getting Link to quickly whistle to Epona for her to follow.

"I don't know," Zelda admitted, flicking the reins to force Max back up to a run as they rushed down the path. "But I want to know how it got here. And where its master is."

More than one set of hooves sounded behind them, getting Link to turn the best he could and look. Catching up to Epona who rode right behind them was a Hylia knight and horse-in-arms.

"Who is it?" Zelda asked.

"I can't tell," Link admitted, turning back so his head looked over her shoulder towards where they were going. Seeing the end of the path, leading them to Hyrule Field, he added, "They're a Hylian Knight." He glanced up, seeing the dragon heading south. They broke free of the path, the river leading up to the castle as they rode away from it, freeing Link to whistle Epona again.

Hearing her let out a snort, Link turned to his left to see the girl running at Max's flank. Quickly he made the mad dash to jump from one horse to the other, trusting Epona to keep with Max as he got himself properly in the saddle. Taking hold of Epona's reins, he gave them a flick as he looked up to keep an eye on the dragon as it flew over trees.

"It's going into Faron Woods," a female voice said as their follower caught up.

"Lady Hugolin," Link said, recognizing the voice.

"Izo thought it best if I come to help you," Hugolin said. Riding up so she was at Max's right flank, she added, "You knew about the dragon, didn't you?"

"Its master has the Tri-force of Power," Zelda said.

Link looked up just in time to see the dragon dive into the forest. "We can't lose it," Link called out, worried they'd do just that as the three rode into the tree cover. The snow under the trees was light, letting the three's horses run faster towards where the monster was aiming for. The hair on the back of his neck rose as a strange sparking feeling filled the air.

"There! It's going into a portal!" Zelda exclaimed, pointing towards her right as she pulled Max in that direction.

Link ordered Epona to follow Zelda, seeing the long lime-green snake flying into the ground, orange magic making it so that the creature didn't just run into the ground. They rode up to within a few steps of the portal, slowing their horses as the last of the dragon disappeared into the orange circle.

"Where's it going?" Hugolin asked.

"I'm gonna find out," Zelda said, grabbing her bow before jumping off Max.

"Right behind you," Link quickly said as he swung himself off Epona.

"You're not going to follow it, are you?" Hugolin asked, pulling her helmet off to show the two the worry on her face.

"We have to stop its master," Zelda said, slowing to a stop at the portal's edge. Link stopped beside her, cautious of the strange orange and black magic that made up the portal.

"Sir Link, as your superior, I order you to not leave your kingdom," Hugolin said, her voice low. "Zelda, I can't give you the same order, but take it as a suggestion."

Zelda gave the woman still on horseback a look as she pulled off her helmet. She looked the woman in the eye with seriousness clear on her face. "The dragon's master wishes us dead. We're still recovering from the Black Shuck so even though it has its strategic values, I would rather not fight the dragon and its master in Hyrule. You saw what it did to the Zoras. Tell Izo he's in charge until we return." She turned to Link and stared through the eye slits in his helmet, looking straight into his blue eyes, and ordered, "Sir Link, as your queen I order you to accompany me."

Link stood at attention, keeping his mouth shut as the two alpha females before him verbally fought, and gave her a sharp salute with a fist to the chest plate of his armor.

"May I be blunt?" Hugolin asked, frustration evident in her voice.

Zelda and Link looked up at her, both waiting for her to continue. Zelda quickly said, "Yes."

"You're being stupid and brash."

"Yes, and this portal to their world could vanish any second," Zelda pointed towards the magic at her feet. She turned her back to the woman and put her helmet on, putting an end to the conversation. Grabbing Link's hand, she took a step forward and fell into the portal with Link in tow.