Chapter 29
The war of all against all
The world as they knew it was falling apart at the seams. Everything around them that was once pure, untainted, and familiar had become unknown to them as evil poured out from the epicenter of the sickened sky. Trees and all surrounding buildings were devoured by an unholy red fog that spilled out from the void of hell itself.
Toxic fumes choked the air. Wicked sparks hummed overhead them. Tried as they might, all those left standing could do was hold their breath while they looked on in terror at the evil that was manifesting beyond the ungodly red smoke which permeated out from the pearl.
A gateway to a forgotten alien dimension was broken, and the seal to this world had finally cracked, flowing rivers of malignant energy out from the mysterious beyond like water from a shattered dam. All that they held dear was now on the verge of irreversible corruption, unless…they could stop them.
The army squinted in disgust from the smoke as they fought against the burning sensation to their eyes. Realization sunk in deep their bones that the void beyond surely emptied its pits and the scourge from within which they so feared had finally been unleashed upon this world.
"What am I to do?" Zelda breathed to the others near her, Sylmoor, Seabass, and the company of men that led her. "What are any of us to do? We're…too late."
Cackling above and joyously perched atop a stone keep was Malroc, who was basking in the waves of oozing red energy that flowed freely from the ancient weapon in the sky. There he stood sentiently, soaking in its dark rays and amused at their plight. His hour has come.
Reveling in his victory thus far, the monstrous titan turned to face what was left of the battle-weary army below. "You see? She led you all to your deaths! You never had a chance!"
He stomped and lunged back onto his hind legs, arms stretched across the cursed heavens above. "And now, may the Moon Pearl bring forth that which has fallen! May blood and bone unite and become whole again! May hellfire breathe renewed life into the very sinew that which has been lost to outer darkness! I summon forth-all slaves to Ganon!"
His mighty decree reverberated throughout the capital, and the earth quaked back, bowing at his command. Winding whirling winds whipped the face who stood longing as the thunder of doom cracked above in unison. The marring of this world had begun.
"Oh, no!" Zelda screamed, gut simultaneously stood adjacent to the others on the other side of the castle with the rest of his forces, unknowingly concurred from afar. "What sort of new devilry is this!?"
Beside him, Taleran listened, one eye winced shut from the rumbling clash of clouds above and could only offer up a grunt of bewilderment and steadfastness, bracing for what was to come from the abyss of the darkness, sweat pouring down the thick of his brown brows.
And before anyone could make a move, to everyone's horror, one by one, what was once dead on the battlefield glowed putrid red with terrible swirling power. Hell's hosts' eyes lit up like torches across the darkened battlefield with the fire of Demise himself. Corpses and all manner of filth that which were maimed and broken arose and became whole once again.
First, only one stood up. Then one became three, and then three became ten, and in no time at all, hundreds had risen back up to their feet, their weapons waxed strong in their hands. What was once dead was now alive. And in no time at all, their dwindled numbers swelled to a multitude of ready soldiers. An army brought back for a single purpose. To end the world of men.
"Swords and spears!" Simon commanded, rattling in his own armor before he could let the fear overtake him. "Warriors, assemble! Fall to me! Lines, now!" The lord of Illiastar shouted, rallying his men. Quickly assessing the situation and looking for an escape. But, he knew deep down there was none.
Zelda whispered again, still saddled atop the horse beside Sylmoor. "This was his plan all along…How could I? How could I have been so foolish? Like a stupid little girl, I rushed forward for the prize without even taking a second to look around me to see what was actually happening. Instead, I played right into his hands…" she finished, head hung low.
Overhearing and not wanting to hear any more of the defeat, Sylmoor interrupted her mid-sentence, shoulder turned to her. "No, princess," He spoke softly before finishing with a shout. "Nobody could have foreseen this! Not even you!"
"But, I am the heir; I'm supposed to be wiser than this! The Goddess would never have—"
"Well, I hate to break it to you, but she isn't here right now in case you haven't noticed! All we have is you, my Princess, and that is going to have to be good enough…It is has become painfully clear to all who has eyes to see this day that we mortals are to fight our own battles. Now, we still have a chance if we could just find your man. But damn, where is he!?"
Gazing the situation over shoulder and to the skies he continued . "You cannot lose faith now! I can't lose faith! Please!? We need you, all of us!" He finished, squeezing what withering fait he had left in her hand in his.
Malroc growled again. This time to his lieutenants that surrounded him. "It is as I thought. The power of the Princess and the pearl without her blood and spirit is only strong enough to begin the ceremony of awakening the blood eclipse. We will need all of her if we are to bring Hyrule's Harbinger back."
"And now it would appear you command a renewed army, your malignancy!" the Lizalfos spoke beside him, tongue smacking in delight, joined by a chorus of cackles of other minions nearby. "You can taste their fear from here…so delicious the scent of frightened flesh upon the air!"
"Acquiring her now is all but certain. She is foolish and cares for the boy, though he is already dead. Crushed among a mountain of stone. She will find out soon enough. And the delight of her broken soul in her eyes will be all we need. We can use that to our advantage. Through his memory, she will come willingly to us. I'll see to that. In mere moments she will be ours for the taking," Malroc said, with a gloat in his voice, before offering a low chuckle of pure satisfaction to himself.
He smiled again. "They make this all too easy. And with our numbers replenished, their doom is all but sealed. Surrounded with no way out. Out manned and out speared, they will all die. It is futile for them. Thus this hour marks the end of the Age of Fairies and of Hylians. It is our time now." Malroc finished with a whisper, grinning his fangs with devilish delight down below to unfortunate souls that awaited him.
Surfing through a wake of clouds, Link soared across the crimson sky gifted by the power of his long-lost Rito friend from a century ago. To the mystery of the others and still unseen, he pierced the firmament like an arrow. With the power of Revali behind him, he gathered what strength he had left in his bones and spiraled his ax at the pearl which was hovering in the eye of the cursed storm. The force of his ax colliding with the luminescent orb sent shockwaves. Pulsations of energy rumbled those down below.
Leaves fell from the bark of every tree and buildings of solid stone cracked and split asunder. Those alive among the army and Zelda were unsure where the sudden tremor of violent energy even came from. Looking to the heavens above but they saw nothing, for the clouds of doom concealed everything.
To them below, a mysterious and frightening blinding light flashed throughout the entirety of Hyrule, but to everyone's dismay and primarily to Link, nothing happened. The pearl swirled in a bloody red defiantly, unscathed by his attack. Almost amused by his efforts, it glared more evil and as vibrant than ever. And as if in reply to his feeble attempts, the ancient object pulsated and surged a blackened bolt of negative current right towards Link just as he caught his weapon back in his grasp.
Unable to escape its beam from the catch, Link screeched in shock as he was catapulted away. Charged with a spine curling jolt of terrible dark energy that would have killed anyone instantly, yet, miraculously, he survived, f or now.
Zelda's heart sank into her belly." What's happening!? What was that?" she scanned the skies with her hand shielding her face from the devilish storm, still blinded by the light but saw nothing. Her stomach flopped inside of her, and she knew that, without a doubt, something horrible was happening elsewhere to her unseen eyes.
Malroc gleamed again and roared to all. "You see!? No power or craft you wield in your possession can unmake, which is destiny. You're all too weak!"
Falling through the clouds like a star, Link awoke mid-air again, still wincing from the pain as he felt being lifted up by the eternal vigilance of his partner. "Good grief, is this what I'm supposed to expect from the chosen knight? Get your act back together! At least, I am not willing to give up that easily, not by a long shot. So, let's dive at it again!" Revali said, catching Link in a gust of gale.
Link reoriented himself among the wind, afloat by the spirit of Revali on a whiff of cloud which carried an ever-present whirling gust around the Hylian. Determined not to give up, Link shot up again beyond the clouds, avoiding the bolts of dark power that now anticipated his every move.
From a shock narrowly escaping the locks of hair to his head to another barely singing the edge to his tunic. Nevertheless, Link flew head on straight toward the powerful orb that was eclipsing the sun, determined once and for all to end its hold over this world.
Until ta last, a desperate beam from the pearl shot a concussion wave of malice filled energy in all directions. It was inescapable.
Link saw the blast heading right for him and knew he couldn't evade and, yet uncaring for himself, still unfurled his blade yet again to dash against the pearl. But, like before, his mediocre weapons proved ineffective against the sacred luster of the ancient artifact. It was crafted by Goddesses, after all. What chance could a mere blacksmith knife or ax do ever against the majestic, celestial stone it was molded from?
Once again, he was zapped by another wave of body singing current that torched his senses and burned his flesh. Engulfed in a swirling plume of smoke, he fell.
Like before, Revali's spirit sprang into action and gave him a jolt to his heart and awoke him among the sky. Gasping for life-saving air as he fell and answering the call, Link paused mid-fall, lifted by his friend for another round.
Verbalizing aloud, finding his full consciousness yet again, he remarked to Revali as he attempted to catch his breath, "I can't stop it…it's…it's too powerful…But I have to, I must!"
"Pardon me for intervening, but if it wasn't for me bird-sitting you would've been falling straight for your grave right about now. It doesn't appear you can take much more than that. I suppose we should find another way, before you find yourself ending up on that beasts' menu…"
Revali fell silent, unsure of the words spoken from his beak. He too didn't want to believe that the one he gave all his trust to, the only one to have succeeded where he had faltered would fail. So, he stayed his tongue behind his beak.
Floating above in a part of the cloud that wasn't consumed by the wicked energy that permeated all around, Link took a gander back down to war below for a sign. Anything that could help them end the nightmare once and for all.
"If we can't destroy it, then there has to be another way! There just has to be!"
"Yeah, and what would that be, Mr. Chosen Knight? Not that I don't trust your fine analysis of the situation, but, if I must say anything of any consequence, those lackluster weapons of yours don't even scratch the damned thing! Speaking of which, where the hell is that darkness sealing sword!?"
"A long story…." Link rebuffed quietly.
"Well, our's is about to be over real soon unless you do something! And quick! We need that sword!—"
"I got it!"
"Huh, got what?"
"That's it! We have to cut off its source of power! It's the only way! Has to be!"
Revali rolled his eyes at Links assertion while the knight continued without attention to his words.
"The weapon is neither evil nor kind; it's just a weapon. Zelda said it herself." Link said as his voice slowly trailed away, paused and mesmerized by the defeat thus far. The very mention of her name suddenly caused a wave of worry to tie his tongue. The very notion of not seeing his sweet Princess for so long and the dread of not knowing if she was okay sank his vulnerable heart to the pit of his stomach. She could be dead for all he knew, and the mere belief of such a horrific thing made him loose his arms and fall motionless to the point that his lips quivered in silence. The first-ever that Link felt real fear.
"Well, get on with it! What did she say?"
Shaking away the dread that choked at his heart, he spoke again, firm and fist raised. Determined not to believe his doubts. "She said that Impa mentioned that this artifact was once wielded by a great and noble hero from an age long past to the dust of time. And if he can use it while being righteous…then that means we can too! It's just a tool!"
"So? And we should care because?"
"Because then that means—" Link spoke but before Revali could finish his thoughts. It was as if the torch of a brilliant idea idea consumed them both. "Then it has to be controlled from somewhere or something!?"
Link continued. "It was summoned to do this deed! Which means it is being commanded to do so. If we can just break the dark spell that has a hold of it, all of this will disappear! No more of this hellish sky and the filth that belongs to it. We have to try!"
"And do you have any genius insights where that could be?! Where and more importantly, WHO is controlling this thing?! I am only here for just a few more minutes, Link, in case you have forgotten! If you're going to make your flap, now's the time to do it!"
"There!" Link shouted, eyes emboldened with a finger pointing down below. "There! I see it. The Lynels! That's it! They are the key! They must be! Look at them! They are not on the attack! They are just kneeling…" he finished, stunned by the vision playing before him. Amazed at seeing such ferocious beasts standstill in a trance, unwavering and not on the attack."They have to be it! It's the only explanation!"
"What are you clucking on about? How could they possibly be—"Revali spoke too soon. In no time at all, with his keen eagle eyesight he swallowed his doubt and admitted the young warrior was right in his prognosis. He had to be.
"You see?" Link smirked.
"They are in trance, it is like they are praying or something… Who knew such monstrosities could even speak?" Revali questioned aloud, still carrying his friend among the wind.
Abruptly shaking his head of the mention of the suicidal plan, Revali scorned. "But, there's eight of them Link! How are you, I mean, how are we to defeat eight Lynels alone? You must have really bumped your head harder than I thought! That…Or—you just plain flew the coop!"
"I'm sorry, but, are you not Revali? Legend of the Rito?" Link prodded with a slow creeping smirk of adventure, one eye still half shut from weariness before he continued. "Then the way I see it, they should fear us!"
Revali gazed down below at his words and then back up to the wounded Knight. Meeting Link's confident stare with his own the Rito champion was hit by a surge of pride. Without uttering a word he clasped the young hero in his talons and sped the crusading warrior through the wind below like a vengeful comet.
Encircled, desperate and mostly frozen in fear to their bones, the army was in an inescapable position. Simon knew it, Sylmoor knew it and so did everyone else. At least, almost everyone. Even with all the odds stacked against them and the threat of utter annihilation was looming over, that didn't deter the Princess not one bit. Not at least after the thorough scolding Sylmoor gave minutes earlier. Something awakened in her deep to her core. From her heart to her shaking hands that she stilled with a shake of courage. She knew what she had to do.
"Everyone behind me!" She boldly declared, alerting the ears of all the army who surrounded her.
"What?" Sylmoor questioned. The trembling dryness of his voice shook, before he could gulp to clear it. "Why?…We are to serve you your Highness, not the other way around."
He then faced the men accompanying from the rear and before anything else could be said otherwise, he did what he thought what he could have only done in that moment. Time was slipping and she was about to break. So he shouted an order as fast as his lungs could carry him. "Nobody listen to her, she doesn't know what she is saying! She is clearly saddened with grief—"
"No!" Zelda's decree broke through his, louder than ever and echoed until the silence fell from all those watching, unsure who who's command they should follow. "No…I have a plan…It will work! It must! Everyone…all you men, behind me and form a line."
"Princess, this is madness!" Sylmoor contested.
"The world gone mad long ago Sylmoor…perhaps…" Zelda hummed softly, before taking a moment to contemplate a soft smile of acceptance of fate before taking a breath to continue. "Perhaps, that is what will save it now…" She concluded, almost defeated as the gold of her bangs lofted in the wind against her face from the raging red storm. Ever so gently she raised her head, ready to brave the unspeakable hoard that lurched in front of her. She had no choice after all.
Link was nowhere to be found and if he was really gone, she had to do what she must. For to her, a life without him, was no life to live at all. But, if she could save those around her in her efforts, she had to try.
"What are you going to do?" Sylmoor questioned, still sitting behind her on the horse.
"What I must…" She said, speaking her final word on the matter, before abruptly and without warning, sliding off the noble stallion, walking ahead of the army toward the epicenter of hell itself, facing an army of darkness that was multiplying right in front of her eyes, ready to offer up whatever it is that she felt in her being that she could muster to do.
"Yup! There is no doubt! You have clearly lost the plot!?" Sylmoor erupted, slapping his steed forward to cross her path, barring the way past. "What is this madness?" His horse neigh and stomped in front of her. "I won't let you do this! Link wouldn't want me to! And he would kill me if I did! So, you really leave me with no choice, now do you?"
"I have to try…You don't understand…I alone have the—"
A ferocious bolt of crimson lightning struck beside them and an enormous fire blazed the grass that filled the proud castle courtyard grounds. The once majestic vestige of the all the glory and might of the kingdom which reigned in the light for millennia had been scorched. It was almost unrecognizable. The hot wind rustled even more violent and just as she was about to finish, Malroc roared again from his fortress, interrupting them.
"You can kill them now! But, the girl, leave her to me! Unscathed and unspoiled! GO NOW, MY ARMY OF DARKNESS!"
The collective eyes of the weary army shot up toward the towering castle ramparts from where the thunderous roar emanated and in unified terror they braced themselves for what could have only been their doom.
"No! I won't let you!" Zelda screamed and in the commotion of the flames and the raging Malroc she evaded Sylmoors attention. Enough to quicken her feet past to where the line of the devil's army stood.
Alone she braved the foreboding wind. Against a wall of demonic spawn. The likes of which too malicious and terrible to describe. All manner of resurrected filth faced her, enraged and enticed by her presence they cackled, spat, gnawed and bit at the air while they succulently awaited to claim the prize for their lord. Yet, she stood unafraid. For if she were truly alone then there was nothing they could take from her now, and that filled her with courage. So, she made her last stand.
"No! Princess Zelda, you mustn't! Everyone, to me! We must guard the Princess! Now!" Sylmoor commanded but nobody moved an inch except those close nearby that which weren't even Hylian. Only Seabass and his fellow two compatriots.
"What is this?" Slymoor said, hesitantly glancing back. Only to be met with a shadowy array of pale faces from his men. Not one of their boots treaded against the red fog that covered the grass. "Cowards! The whole lot of you!" He scorned.
" You let your Princess, nay…a scared young girl go to battle for you! Where's your honor!? Is this the finest Illiastar has to offer?" He spoke vehemently, fist clutched at a boiling point.
But, even as he voiced his rage a thought not unlike his own hit him like a wall of bricks. Could he really blame them though? What chance did they really have? And for a girl no one has really known to be any princess for just two days? Why should they throw away their lives so carelessly. They hardly knew her at all. Doubts have been filled and he knew it.
He was hit with a wave of guilt at his own words. Embarrassed that he too, just mere moments ago would have waived. But, yet, he was still here. He did his best to quell any of those thoughts of his own. That even though he couldn't place his finger on it, he was a different man, or so he wanted to believe he could be. Just this once.
If this were just a day or two ago he would have ran for the hills. But, something deep inside of him had changed. He was moved. Something about this boy and girl he had just met touched him. She had to be the princess and he had to be the hero they so desperately needed in this darkest hour. They had to be.
Could it be his blind heroics and willingness to charge head on to brave the fire of hell, to fall into certain death without a thought for himself, or was it her steadfast devotion to the light and truth of this world, neither of which he could know for certain, but whatever it was, filled him with the courage he thought he never had.
Those thoughts swirled in his belly and his mind. And as he gulped them down, Sylmoor raised his fist up high up into the air. "So, this is the so called army that is world renowned? For Shame! Letting a teenage girl fight your war as you skulk away like whimpering dogs you really are!? Go ahead then! Let that be the mark of your gravestones!
"Because mark my words, this day none will be spared! Don't you see, this is to be our end. And if it so, then I say, let us go as men! Do you really want to be remembered as those only valiant in words? That when the minute came and went where you mattered most, and where the kingdom held its last breath you fled?" He finished stern. Only to be met with silence. And after every guilty eye shun away from him he shouted a final say on the matter. "I said do you!?"
With none to heed his word he turned away at their stone cold stares to their feet as they looked away, only to face the brushing wind back toward the princess. And as he did, just a few steps forward, to his stunning surprise, the sudden crunch of grass caught his ears from behind.
Several men broke ranks after he chastised them and followed to his heels as most stayed still and watched.
"So be it…" Sylmoor uttered softly before turning to face the scourge ahead of him. "To the princess!" He finished with a shout, slapping the reins to his horse.
But, before his men could guard her flank, Zelda raised her right hand in the air. With all the hope, memory and love of the people she cared so for so much in her heart she pleaded. "Stop!" She cried into the void, desperate to halt its demonic advance.
In full faith of the belief that she could dispel such a horrific evil; the ever presence of surety filled her heart as much as it ever could. And then, she opened her eyes to an uneasy silence. With a gasp of shock and to her dismay, nothing happened. No golden light befell her. No sparks of divinity. Not even the dim lit pulse on the back of her hand to give her the assurance that she was even a true princess at all. Nothing.
"What? I…I don't understand…No…This can't be? But, I believe?" She muttered to herself. Shaking her hand for some miracle that would only never present itself to her. The fright shot up her backside and caught up to her voice as she continued to beg for any god that would dare to listen to her plight. "You have to work…You hear me? This is our only chance…Please! You have to work! No! Please! Everyone, they are all counting on me. Don't do this to me! You hear me—I said I believe!"
It was too late. Hell's spawn of demonic warriors had gathered all around her and the army. Time was up and faced with certain death, she defensively waved her hands to shield herself from the onslaught that was most certain to befall her when—
Raining down full of vengeance, the warrior cry of Link was heard before the entire castle. Right before her eyes, robbing her breath away, he spun out his blade and ax for a decisive blow just beyond the front line, where the corrupted Lynels knelt.
Still unaware of her presence Link spoke to his friend. "They are all synchronized and are powering the pearl! If we destroy them, then the energy commanding the pearl will be hindered to nothing! We have to break their consciousness! It's our only chance!"
"Its worth a shot!" Revali concurred. "Let's do this! Let's show them who's land this is! What do you say!?"
"Yeah." Smirked Link quietly through the air, flexing his weapons wide for a deathblow amongst the enemy.
In a blitz of gust filled energy, garnered by the might of his friend, Link beamed across the castle grounds like a bolt of lightning, slashing and hacking through each Lynel throat. Narrowly dodging any counter attack from any surrounding guardian lizalfos that dared to defend them, killing them swiftly with ease. They never had a chance.
Lost in the fog of a dark trance they couldn't defend themselves from the awesome power of Link and Revali who in tandem took the life from their eyes, one by one. The eight that were bound were no more.
Zelda fell to her knees among the burnt grass, speechless, swirling in a whirl of emotion. She couldn't cry or smile, yet a slow streaked tear of joy trickled down her starstruck cheek. Her Link was alive. She couldn't believe it, yet she wanted it to be true with all her heart.
Just about to bite into his victory, the setting red sky flashed white, and Malroc turned back to the overlook.
The Pearl high in the clouds pulsed a white wave of blinding energy in all directions before splitting away from the accursed hair that bonded to it, only to fall to the outskirts of the castle without a trace to be left in silence. The dark prayer that held it together had split.
Each reanimated beast pulsed violently with a surge of power, and that power had exploded away from them. Melting them back to the bones that they once were.
Zelda nor the army could believe their eyes at what they were witnessing. A miracle, no Link had happened. And as quickly as the extra hoard arrived they disappeared into the night from whence they came. Gone forever. The spell had been broken.
Cheers of the army erupted with their swords and spears ringing in the air at the valiant Knight's swift arrival. Their faith restored. The knight with no banners had saved them from all but certain peril and gave them back the field, which just seconds ago, everyone thought was lost.
Even Simon from where he perched among his swarm of men was in awe. "Yes!" he shouted with an escaped breath under his chin, slapping back one of his own from his men in the regiment in happy reprieve. Curious eyes from his close shouldered counsel shot back at him incredulously. Just moments earlier he had only but curses for the hot shot on his tongue, yet, now he was thankful for his timely arrival.
"Shut up Villamor." Simon quickly mumbled under his breath, catching himself in the act. Leering a stiffening look of silence toward his subordinate. "Not a word. This changes nothing! It's war you hear me?"
All looked upon Link as he soared through the sky above just above their heads; mesmerized by his abilities. Zelda most of all. But, to her she was thankful he was alive. Yet, none could believe their eyes. How could Link be flying?
The how and why of things didn't matter now, she thought. Zelda had to reach him. That's all that mattered. But how? Before she could utter a word, Link flashed by overhead and as quickly as he appeared, he disappeared, lifted up among the miraculous gale. I still need to give him the sword!
Malroc roared. "Who dare!?" Frantically, he scoured the war below and that was when he saw him gracefully and elegantly soaring through the battle, carried in what could have only been described as a hurricane. "That's impossible! No hylian could endure a fall such as that! Not a one I say!
The monster bit his lip, drawing blood. "So, the stupid boy lives…I will break him down once and for all! There will be no more games! She is ours, and if I have to poison his mind to do it, then so be it!"
Caught up in the whirlwind, Link shot a glance up toward Revali, to whom he could only see.
"Let's finish this! What do you say?"
" What do I say?" Revali paused as he held Link, before continuing, hovering in the air above the war. "I say we make an excellent team… Me and you… Combined with my soaring prowess, we'll beat them before they can chirp their goodbyes. I… I suppose... I should've supported you sooner… But now, I'll do everything in my power to help you succeed… my friend."
"Revali…" Link was stunned. Never thought in a dozen lifetimes he would hear Revali say such things. He fell mute among the clouds.
"My power is withering, Link. This is the end of the line for me… My last flight."
"What?"
"There is no use me fighting it, I can feel the winds of change take a hold of me. It won't be long now."
Link listened still in the air. His icy cold blue eyes fixed on his one time rival now turned friend. No, he was his brother.
Revali's spirit breathed faintly, yet still trying to shout with whatever power he had in his soul. The energy within him visibly depleting. As if every second drew more and more breath from the well of life in this world. For he was not of this world anymore. Death's steady hand had finally reached down to take him.
Revali Breathed."It's funny, and here I thought I truly was the best of all and that you were just a wild eyed show off when I first met you, just another brat soldier lucky to be chosen by a blade. Eager to impress and steal my spotlight. Just trying to make a maiden smile or two. But, I couldn't have been more wrong. You are different…"
The humbled Rito warrior smiled at the memory of his old haughty self. "All along it was I that was the bumbling buffoon. You wanted no glory for yourself. Hell, you were happy just to munch into a good home-cooked meal if I remember right. All you only ever wanted was peace for us all and a return to normalcy. To go back home to your quiet life…to your…family…apples wasn't it?"
Link could only glance back, surprised by his revelation.
"Yeah, it was apples…Your uncle? Right? A magnificent orchard if I remember. All the tethering fiefdoms world around would come from miles away, just for a taste…of your orchard. You worked those fields didn't you? Before all this?"
Link remained silent and listened, neither agreeing or disagreeing. He wanted to hear every word.
"Yeah, I remember now. Your father was in the guard but your mother's brother…He left them with quite the estate. Well, maybe not exactly an estate by noble standards. But, it was still a nice quaint farm on the edge of the city. This city. Hyrule…your home."
Revali clenched a fist of feathers. "They took it…They took your home…While you selflessly fought to protect mine and all the others…Valuing everyone else's life above your own. I can see now why you are the true hero that we need. Not unlike me. I understand now…They took everything from you…they took it from all of us…these monsters of Ganon. Ganon…He did this!
"Save your strength Revali…no more, please…I—we still need you!"
"It's alright Link…I just want you to know…Her to know…I was wrong about you…"
Link quizzically stared at the once proud, fabled, now humbled Revali's as his lips quivered while he continued. "It is Ironic…It's my gift to harness the winds of the skies with these wings as my sails. Like a grand ship embarking on a long journey among the horizon. To sail across these skies, stars and sun. And yet, this ship has sunk. Who would have knew a century ago that it would be you who would be the one who would fly to save us all." He finished with a smirk to Link.
"Nonsense, you are here. Now, when it matters most. You can still fly!"
"No, YOU will!" Revali said abruptly, clenching Link in his claws tight, flapping yet another strong gust beneath them. "And I'm sorry it took me this long to admit to it… That it took this goddess awful mess for me to come to terms. Forgive me Link…"
"You couldn't have been more a true friend Revali! You have nothing to be sorry for, you hear me?"
"I'm sorry Link, I have to leave you now. I'm sorry…It's out of my wings! My time is up. Their voices…I can hear them calling me, calling me home…"
"What, what do you mean? No, we are supposed to do this together!? For glory, remember?"
"No, you are. I had my time. I already lived my life. It's time for you to live yours. Protect everything we love, you hear me? It's up to you now! They are all in your capable hands now, her and my people! I know now you are the only one that can do this! For if not you, no one can…"
"But, Revali, wait—"
"No, I have to go, and so do you! Time for you to shine, to continue to be what you were destined to be- my friend!"
"Always!"
Friend… I like the sound of that… yeah… Revali thought to himself, before shedding a tear of closure to himself… Though there was no more his tired soul could give, spirit drained he huffed a silent sigh, and with the last shred of power he held within him pulled his knightly rival for one last time among his angelic talons. Up past the scaling tower walls of the castle, gliding past every guard window, dodging every arrow that dared to strike them down. "You can save her Link!"
Link fell still among the clouds at the mention of her a she glided fast among the peaks of the castle walls. It was always that way with Link, quiet when he wanted to speak all the emotions of his heart to the world. But, he couldn't utter a syllable. All he could do is watch his fellow champion brother say his last farewell as he held him for one last time. Meeting his eyes in solidarity with his own.
"You can save her Link….You can save all of them!" Revali cried, as he gave his last earthly breath. What with the last ounce of his strength that was afforded him he tossed Link high up above to the tallest keep, right where the hooves of the Devil's sentry stood in waiting. The war of all against all had begun. And like the ghost he came, he disappeared into the calm breeze that was left behind them, the same still air from whence he came, fading into all memory.
"Take this you fiend! I have had enough of this!" Link slashed down upon Malroc's head with the fury of a million stars.
-Sky
UPDATE- Quick poll- In regards to my story, those that read. Does it bother you that I keep adding these filling details to chapters? What I mean is, everytime I think a chapter is done, during editing(What I am doing now) I keep adding things to it which delay the end. This prolongs the climax of the arc because I suddenly get these have these ideas I think which would enrich the story. Ones that I saved for later but realize they would fit better now. Does it bother anyone that I keep promising the conclusion and it keeps gets delayed with all this filler material? Or should I try to just wrap it up where it is and move on to the next saga of the story? Let me know. Would rather have it resolved now, or do you enjoy the backstories and extra detail I add to the characters and lore? Thanks! As always, I value all your opinions. I'm here to entertain. That is my number one goal.
UPDATE Sept 17- Currently finishing the next chapter. Climax takes time folks. Please leave a comment in the meantime, it motivates me to work extra hours. But, don't despair it is coming. Working on it right now at 3AM as we speak. Loves ya!