Hello readers! Chapter 175 is finally here! I would had uploaded it earlier today but was down for a while. This week,it's a battle between Link and Governor Balterius! How will this turn out, and what truths will be made known?
"It's him, the Gerudo King! Kill him!"
A group of Hylian Parliament guards shouted out as they all charged down the stairs of the castle, their swords and spears at the ready to strike down their target.
"Sorry to do this, but I got no choice."
Link ran up the stairs with his knight's sword and the Shield of Hotaig at the ready. He slashed at one guard, blocked off another attack with shield before decking him in the face with it, then did his Spin Attack to knock away the others.
"I-it's no good, he's too powerful!" spoke a knight nervously.
"Send in the archers! First man to put an arrow through his heart will receive commendation from the Governor!" shouted the lead guard.
Some archer knights at the top of the stairs took their bows and aimed down at Link, all firing off in unison. Link took his Fairy Bow and pulled back his arrow, quickly firing off three arrows of his own. The arrows impacted into the other three, deflecting them all away from each other.
"You gotta be kidding me!" an archer exclaimed with bugged out eyes.
"Yeah… can't win this!" said an archer, trying to sneak off.
"Oh no you don't!" said the lead guard, grabbing and kicking him down the stairs at Link.
"Woooaaah!" the archer exclaimed, tumbling down the stair with spiraling eyes.
"Ran out of arrows already so you're going to use your own men as ammo?" Link asked, bringing up his boot to stop the archer and carefully setting him aside.
He then heard footsteps and looked down to see more guards were running up with swords, so Link ran up the staircase at the lead guard. The guard pulled out his own sword to fight Link, but he easily blocked it off and spun around to kick the guard the back of his head, causing him to tumble down the staircase himself and crash into the other men.
"I'll give you credit, it's pretty effective." Link grinned before he went in through the door, leaving all the knights and archers laying about the stairs unconscious.
Link soon came to a door and went through it, finding himself on a rooftop balcony that gave him a great view of Hyrule Field. He could also see Death Mountain, Lon Lon Ranch, and several other familiar locations in the distance.
But what caught his interest was a certain individual sitting up before a short table with his back turned to Link. It was a large muscular man with black hair down into a pompadour, with a well-groomed mustache and short beard, wearing black sunglasses, and dressed in a white suit with a black tie.
He was known as Governor Balterius, head of the former Hylian Parliament, who eleven years ago was once known as King Sirius Terrakon Baldwin of the doomed kingdom of Vividel.
The governor seemed to be unaware of Link's presence, focusing on stacking mahjong tiles on the table. He took a second to drink down a small cup of tea by his side. He took a deep breath before speaking up,
"Mahjong… it's such an enjoyable game that tactically challenges your mind, and helps you maintain a sense of peace. It's one of the few things that I hung onto from my past, even after I discarded my old self eleven years ago."
He picked up and put down another tile,
"Despite the tactics though, it's still namely a game of luck, where the tiles may work out in your favor, or bring about your demise."
"…" Link stood silently as he gripped his sword and shield cautiously.
"To think it would be the Gerudo King who would come to me. It'd be impossible to consider it a mere coincidence. Perhaps it was destiny that you and I fight here."
"I don't believe in destiny anymore. All I believe in is following the path I think is best for everyone." Link held out his sword, "Now hand over the Toxiplume!"
"Sorry, but I'm afraid the tiles did not work in your favor." Balterius said putting down another tile,
Just then, Link turned as steel bars came down over the door behind him. He narrowed his eyes and turned back to Balterius.
"The truth is, I don't have the Toxiplume," the governor stated, "It should have been in the hands of Judge Isambard, but apperently he lost it at some point."
"Yet you all still went through with this plan of splitting up like this?" Link questioned.
"Burafu." Balterius said, putting down yet another tile.
"What?" Link asked in confusion.
Balterius put down yet another two tiles, "The deal was mostly a bluff, a test to see if Princess Zelda would make the right choice for Hyrule. Unfortunately, it would seem she's just as much of a fool as her father. Too sympathetic to scum like the Gerudo to preserve the safety of their kingdom."
Link clenched his sword as he gritted his teeth in anger of how he disrespected the king and princess. His eyes flashed white for a brief moment, only to shake it off.
"Either way, the Gerudo's fate is sealed…"
Balterius took one mahjong tile form his stack and put it in the pocket of his suit, slowly standing himself up and turning to Link, taking a brief moment to adjust his tie.
"...and soon you Gerudo King, shall meet the same fate."
"Before we start, tell me something, Balterius…" Link asked, "Was all of this revenge, to get back at the Gerudo for what happened eleven years ago at Vividel?"
"… …" Balterius stared downwards, "I'm disappointed Gerudo King, you greatly underestimate me."
"As much as I do hate the Gerudo, none of this has anything to do with that incident. Just as we said before, we of the Parliament have always had Hyrule's best interests in mind."
"How can you say that when you treat the Gerudo as you have?" Link asked, "They're a part of Hyrule too, you know!"
"It's amusing you say that, when you would have said the same as me ten years ago when you fought against Ganondorf's forces." Balterius spoke.
"Fighting Ganondorf is one thing, but I'll never condone hurting innocent people." Link said narrowing his eyes, "I'm done talking for now, it's time to put an end to this!"
"Heh… the Gerudo… innocent? How amusing." Balterius chuckled, "I was hoping you would back down, but it seems you've made your choice."
With that, Balterius kicked the mahjong table out of the way, scattering the tiles across the ground. He then gripped at the handle of his sword and unsheathed it; revealing the long, wavy-bladed, two-handed sword known as the Windcleaver. He gripped it firmly and leered at Link.
"Let's go."
Link and Balterius rushed at each other with their swords and clashed them against one another. Both sides held their stance, putting all their strength in to see which could overpower the other. Seeing they were at a stand still, the two broke the clash and jumped backwards to give each other space.
'This guy may be a politican, but he's no joke.' Link thought, 'I can't hold back against him.'
Balterius brought up his sword and swung it downwards, causing the weapon to slice through the air and release a powerful blade of wind right at Link. The Gerudo King dodged out of the way with a roll and pulled out his Fairy Bow, using the power of the elemental crystals he obtained to shoot two fire arrows at Balterius, but the governor used his sword to drive them back, before rushing at Link.
Link blocked off the first hit with his shield, as the two began striking their blades against each other. Balterius swung out with a downward slice, but Link backflipped over it and then ran forward to continue the attack. He attacked Balterius' Windcleaver to the right, knocking it away a little, before swinging upward and doing a spin attack to smack the governor back.
"Hmph, impressive. Now let's see you deal with this!"
Balterius brought up his sword and started generating air around his blade, causing a spiral of wind. He brought it down at Link, and the young king could feel the impact even when blocking against his shield. The wind was pushing against his shield, until it managed to knock him back and allow Balterius to slash at Link, sending him flying backwards.
Link groaned out and his eyes opened, just in time to see Balterius slash through the air with his sword, releasing a powerful wing blade that shot straight at him. Link rolled out of the way of it just in time, only to see the blade left a large scar on the wall.
"Woah, that's move's powerful!" Link spoke in shock, looking to Balterius gripping his sword with both hands, "Just what has that guy been through to train himself that much…?"
"Come at me Gerudo King, if you truly value the lives of your people." the governor adjusted his tie.
Link stood himself up and ran forward at Balterius. The two went right back to clashing swords. Link blocked off a side attack with his shield, but Balterius managed to deflect away his sword before kicking Link to send him staggering back. Balterius fired off another wind blade at him, so Link quickly rolled out of the way. Another blade of wind came at him and he blocked it off with his shield. Balterius fired off a third wind blade but Link took his sword and swung it at a diagonal angle to offset the wind and managed to cut it half, before running up and slicing at the governor.
"Your... technique is impressive." Balterius spoke, shaking off the attack.
"Back at you, how did you get yourself so strong?" Link asked while Balterius lunged in for another attack.
"Over the past eleven years I've devoted myself to make up for the failures of my past life." Balterius spoke as he clashed with Link's blade, "Training not just my body in the way of the sword, but my mind as well, by researching the ancient history of this world, pouring all the resources I could salvage from my old life to find the truth that I was too blind to see."
The two swung out their blades wildly, Link swinging downwards with his sword, but Balterius retaliated by blocking it off and swinging upwards with the Windcleaver, knocking Link back, before the governor jumped back a bit from the Gerudo King to give himself space.
"Back in those days I was drunk on the prosperity Vivdel thrived in… too naive and ignorant to grasp Ganonodrf's deceit… I had been far too persuaded by… by…"
"…?" Link looked curiously at Balterius, who hung his head down, staring at his sword.
"Balterius?" Link asked.
"…and it was all that Ganondorf needed to claim what he was after… the true power that gave our kingdom the prosperity we loved so much…"
He glared up at Link and lunged out with the Windcleaver, so Link started to resume the fight, dodging another attack and following up with a counter strike.
"What? What's this power you're talking about?" Link asked, blocking off another attack and pushing Balterius backwards.
"Due to my ignorance, I had been unaware of a power that laid deep within my kingdom, one that my ancestors had taken control of many centuries ago…" Balterius spoke, "The all-powerful dark magic of the Black Lightning!"
"Wh-What?!" Link exclaimed, "Isn't that the same power that Ganondorf used?"
"Where do you think he obtained that power to begin with?" Balterius spoke, "That was the reason he and his people came to Vividel, and how he managed to destroy our once great kingdom!"
"I had no idea…" Link spoke, recalling Ganondorf using that very power in his past battles with him, like at his castle in the dark future when he went ot save Zelda, as well as in the final assault against the dark forces in the Era of Warriors, a power so great it required tools like the Master Sword or the Fierce Deity Mask to combat it.
"And just as I once had been, your ignorance shows how little you understand the situation at hand." Balterius spoke.
"But how did your ancestors get that Black Lightning to begin with?" Link asked.
"I'm still not certain myself." Balterius shook his head, "Part of my research has been sunk into learning where it came from, but I fear documents providing that have long been destroyed. Regardless, while my kingdom lived in peace for many years, it seems it was due to the kings of the past, my very ancestors, using that Black Lightning to threaten and maintain control of the land."
"To think that place had such a history…!" Link said, "But knowing how dangerous that power is, why do you insist so much that Ganondorf not be executed? It would solve a lot of problems going on right now!"
"Once again, your ignorance shows. So allow me to educate you." Balterius spoke,
"Tell me Gerudo King, you must have battled many powerful monsters throughout your travels, correct? Have you ever wondered where those beasts of the damned originated from…?"
"What? What does this have to with-?" Link paused, scratching his head, "I, um… I've never really questioned it. Where are you going with this?"
Balterius spoke, "It is said back in ancient times, there was a powerful being known as Demise, a deity who was said to have 'conquered time' and is the origin of all monsters in this world, from the feeble ChuChu to the pig monster Moblin, to even the almighty dragon Gleeok."
"One god created all those monsters?" Link asked.
"According to the texts I read, he felt these monsters served as a means of properly balancing the light and darkness of the world." Balterius explained, "But overtime he went too far with his creations, and grew to crave additional power to take control of that balance."
"And his greatest desire was the Golden Goddess' gift to the world, the Triforce. It's said that he emerged from a fissure with a vast army to try and claim it for his own purposes. To that end, he fought against the ancient sages, who were led by the Triforce Goddess herself, Hylia."
"The very ancient sages who built the six temples?" Link exclaimed, "And H-Hyiia herself?"
Balterius nodded, "In order to defeat Demise, Hylia was forced to sacrifice her godhood to become a mortal, so that she could properly harness the power of the Triforce, as she knew a god wielding that power would be far too dangerous. Alongside her most trusted knight who also reincarnated, she emerged victorious over Demise and completely destroyed him."
"I see…" Link spoke, recalling the Rito Mayor Nymnalo of Dhaijialoft told him about the legend,
"People... that used to live in the sky?" Aviel had asked the mayor.
"Legends say it may even be that the fabled reincarnation of the Goddess Hylia descended from there." Nymnalo spoke, "And that she founded the land of Hyrule itself alongside those who followed her down."
'It's starting to sound more likely now that Zelda really is the descendant of the goddess' reincarnation.' Link contemplated to himself, before speaking up,
"Well thanks for the history lesson Governor, but how is all of this the Gerudo's fault? Why the need for the Banishment Law?"
"…you see, there's something about the war that went untold in the legends…" Balterius stared down, before looking up and glaring at Link, "A secret so horrible that Minister Odleh had to spend extended years of training so she could properly consult with the sages themselves to speak about it…"
Link gulped, he had a feeling he wasn't going to like hearing this.
Balterius spoke, "When Demise was finally struck down; with his last breath, he brought about an evil curse, one so powerful that he had to sacrifice and destroy his very soul to create it." Balterius spoke, "A curse that would ensure that no matter what happens to him, his very will and dark desires would carry on through the ages, reborn in the body of a new god in his image."
"To enact this curse, he chose an isolated tribe in a far off wasteland, a tribe that was vulnerable and seeking guidance…"
"…namely, a desert tribe of warrior women..."
"Th-The Gerudo?" Link exclaimed.
"Demise placed his curse on the Gerudo, ensuring that once every one hundred years, a sole male Gerudo would be born, and that there would come a day that one child be born, that carries the 'Will of Demise', a deep and dark desire for power and control, and being capable of manifesting godly strength no one in this world would ever be able to match."
"Seriously…?!" Link spoke, "And you think Ganondorf carries the 'Will of Demise'?"
"Indeed, that's why he sought the Black Lightning power from my castle, it was a piece of Demise's power that he could use to put himself one step closer to godhood."
"I've fought that power before… but I never could have thought it came from a literal god." Link spoke with sweat running down his head, "I do think I should tell you... his daughter Princess Ghilmarelm, also seems to be able to wield the Black Lightning, though a weaker version of it."
"I see… so that power is passing on from Demise's will…" Balterius spoke, he glared up at Link,
"Now you understand how dire the situation is Gerudo King? Even if we manage to find a way to execute Ganondorf, it won't matter, as his will shall carry on again, thanks to the Curse of Demise."
"His will shall carry on…" Link contemplated, "Wait, you're serious?" he then realized what the governor was getting at, "So that's what this has all been about all along?! The exile… the banishment law… it was all for…?!"
Balterius nodded and spoke,
"All the Gerudo throughout the ages carry Demise's curse, every single one…"
Meanwhile, far off in Gerudo Town, many of the Gerudo people were going about their lives. Talking, shopping, dueling and playing together, it didn't matter whether they were full-blood or half-blood.
"And as long as at least one lives, a sole male shall always be born, every one hundred years..."
In Gerudo Fortress, a group of soldiers were training for the upcoming war with Hyrule Castle, standing in a perfectly parallel formation as they were swinging their spears in unison.
"So in order to completely rid this world of Demise's curse… no Gerudo can be allowed to live."
Some Gerudo children went running down the streets of the desert town, running past an elderly one sitting at her porch.
"We of the Parliament will do whatever it takes to deal with them,"
Meanwhile in Sarami's medical clinic, a nurse held up a newborn Gerudo baby daughter, and handed her to her mother, who took her happily with tears running down her face.
"Every… last… one."
"I... can't believe it…!" Link muttered, taking a step back as his legs grew shaky,
"Your goal with the Banishment Law, was to bring about the end of all Gerudo…?!"
"We don't personally desire to eliminate the Gerudo per say," Balterius spoke. "But we must do anything and everything needed so that the inheritor of Demise's will can never be reborn again."
"So I was right all that time ago…" Link whispered, recalling when Nabooru first told him about the Banishment Law after he arrived in Gerudo Town.
"It... it sounds like the Hylian Parliament had given your people the death penalty."
Balterius spoke, "We of the Parliament created the Banishment Law hoping it would finish off the remnants of the Gerudo that survived the war ten years ago, but it seems they are a stubborn bunch."
"You underestimated their will to live." Link said, "And Nabooru's the one who inspired that will to not just defy Ganondorf, but the Banishment Law as well. They formed a new society that's finally beginning to thrive, and then they made me into a king that could support them."
"Yes… It's ironic that the chosen hero of legend would become the leader of the very people the demon king commanded." Balterius scowled.
"There had to have been some other way to stop all this?" Link asked, "No spell, or ritual, anything to break Demise's curse?"
"Naturally we sought out other ideas before we resorted to the banishment," Balterius acknowledged, "But after all this time we've failed to find anything. If what Odleh has been told by the sages is true, Demise's sacrifice made the curse so powerful not even the Triforce would be enough to break it. That's the power of a god's soul."
"I can't believe it…!" Link whispered.
"That said, there has been but one saving grace." the governor continued, "The fact we currently hold Ganondorf captive at the moment is a miracle, albeit a miracle that cost the Light Sage his very life."
"And until all the Gerudo are destroyed, we must hold Ganondorf imprisoned by any means!"
"So that's why you won't have him executed…" Link spoke, "But if that was all there was to it, why not explain it to the Royal Family?"
"You tell me Gerudo King, what would had changed had we told them?" Balterius pointed out, "There's nothing that can be done otherwise. This is the path we must follow for peace in this world."
"So that's it then? The Gerudo just need to die, no questions asked?" Link clenched his sword angerly, "You call that peace?! That's genocide!"
"They are a lost cause," Balterius spoke with a glare, "It disappoints me to see you would be so stubborn as to risk the future of this land for the sake of worthless desert scum like them."
"You bastard…" Link spoke, "Who gave you the right to decide who is worth having around or not?"
"Why the people of Hyrule chose us." Balterius spoke,
"Even now, there's many who are protesting in favor of the Banishment Law, they understand the threat of the Gerudo, regardless of whether they know the real truth or not. Those people follow the way of the Parliament Gerudo King, and soon all of Hyrule will."
"You really think they're just going to allow you to do what you please when the Royal Family is still in charge?" Link asked.
"Hmph, the King was a fool whom the people have mistrusted for years, he allowed himself to cave in to your melancholy, and let his guard down just long enough to result in his death. Pathetic."
"You…!" Link narrowed his eyes coldly at the governor.
"Meanwhile the Princess is a feeble maiden who lacks the strength to lead the people properly. Not even able to grasp the great power that her ancestors once held."
Balterius swung out his sword and slammed it down to the ground.
"When this is all over, we will stage a coup and overthrow the Royal Family! There will be no need for them anymore, only the Hylian Parliament shall reign over this kingdom! We will bring about a society that fears and understands it's leaders!"
"That makes you nothing but a tyrant!" Link shouted.
"…" Balterius narrowed his eyes, "I was hoping to appeal to your humane self, but it seems your demonic side has completely consumed you, boy. I look forward to finishing you off, here and now!"
With that, Balterius brought back the Windcleaver, of which the blade started to generate a great around of spiraling wind around it, before he swung it out with considerable force, causing the wind to pick up around them.
"What th-?"
Link looked around as he saw a massive tornado of wind start spinning wildly around the castle. It was going so fast that the stone tiles that lined the roof started to break off and get carried away by the tornado. He noticed there were parts of the wind that took on blades that actually cut through the stone of the rooftop, breaking them apart and causing large chunks to fly through the air as well.
"What's going on?"
"A cyclone! Hurry! Get everyone inside!"
At the castle grounds, the outdoor patrol knights saw the wind blowing. They hurriedly worked to bring inside all the people and animals that were out on the grounds.
Some tried their best to seek shelter, though a few were caught and carried off by the wild wind.
"Aaaarrghhh!"
"Dovidkin, NOOO!"
"Leave him, we have to retreat!" said one knight as the others could only watch helplessly as the wind blew their comrades away.
"Neeeeiiigh!"
Nabooru's horse Thunder was doing his best to help the knights escort the other horses into the castle. He saw one knight had been stunned by a piece of debris hitting him, so the large horse grabbed the knight by his pants and threw him on up onto the back of another horse as they all went herded inside.
Meanwhile in Hyrule Market Town, the citizens were all watching with surprise as they saw wind blowing wildly around the castle.
"What the hell's going on?" asked a villager, "Where did that come from?"
"You don't think the Gerudo King is behind this, do you?" asked another.
"No way, he wouldn't do that!" said a third.
"How do you know? This could be just like what happened back when Ganondorf tried to take over the place!"
"Damnit, take this!"
As the villagers were arguing and fighting each other over the situation, a few particular people in the town were watching all that was unfolding.
Professor Bradson was looking out his window, concerned for Aviel and Link's wellbeing. He clutched at the compass strapped to his suit, the same one that Link's mother had given to him long ago.
Darling had ducked out from all the fighting going on by holding up in a local cafe, as she watched and wondered what was going to become of the town. She looked out to the castle and put a hand to her chest, praying to the goddesses for the safety of her new boyfriend and his people.
Jovie meanwhile was looking out her apartment window as she held her cat Shada for comfort. The cat looked up to her master and meowed out with concern. The former parlor girl just pet her cat as she thought about a certain man she was concerned for...
"Linky…"
"This is insane!" Link spoke, looking at all the debris blowing around the castle,
"Now Gerudo King…" Balterius spoke, running at Link, "Prepare yourself for the great beyond, your time in this mortal plane is at an end!"
Balterius swung his blade as Link began fighting back. The two clashed with their swords wildly as before, but Link noticed Balterius's attacks had much more speed and power to them.
'I-Is this the power of the Windcleaver?' Link thought as he tried to fend off the attacks, 'This must be why he choose the rooftop as his meeting spot. It gives him a huge advantage!'
"HRRAAAHH!" Balterius shouted, slicing through the air with a wind blade that knocked Link backwards and made him impact into a wall.
The young king recovered just in time as Balterius charged at him with his sword spiraling with wind. Link tried to jump out of the way, but then Balterius turned and aimed his sword at Link, releasing a huge cyclone of wind that caught Link, the miniature wind blades sliced at his body and sent him tumbling to the ground.
As Link forced himself up, he saw Balterius send another giant wind blade at him, but he was able to block it with a last minute guard of Hotiag's Shield. He brought up his Fairy Bow, charged it with the power of fire arrows, and shot a few of them at Balterius.
"Fire? Hmph, useless."
Balterius swung his sword with such might that the wind quickly extinguished the flames and reduced the arrows to ashy remains. Balterius fired off another wind blade at Link which he dodged out of the way off and fired off some other charged arrows. The governor swung his sword out to block them, but he was suddenly affected by a violent jolt that threw him off, giving Link and chance to run in and slash at him with his sword.
"GRK!" Balterius gasped, "Electric arrows... to think you were able to harness their power as well."
Link fired off more electric arrows, but Balterius ran at him, dodging left and right to avoid each one that flew at him. He brought up his sword which forced Link to switch to his sword and blocked it off. Balterius' sword started to generate a wild spiral of wind that sliced at Link's body.
"Gaaah!" Link shouted, being blasted backwards.
He looked up to see Balterius rush at him with his sword, so he quickly took his Longshot and fired it off at one of the stone blocks flying through the air with a plank of wood stuck to it. It impaled into the wood and sent Link flying up to avoid Balterius' attack. While standing on the block, he aimed his electric arrows and fired off a number of shots that Balterius tried to avoid, but was hit by a few of them.
"You whelp!" Balterius scowled, jumping up onto one of the stone blocks as it flew by and allowed himself to ride it. He jumped from block to block to get closer to Link, before firing off another wind blade.
"Is this guy persistent or what?" Link asked himself, jumping from the block he was on just before it was sliced in half by the blade attack. Link jumped onto another block and fired off more arrows, but Balterius sliced a nearby block in half so that the two pieces would deflect away the arrows.
Link leapt from a stone block and fired his Longshot at another wood plank to pull himself through the tornado, dodging past a piece of debris, and bringing his sword down at Balterius, who blocked it off with his Windcleaver.
"Foolish boy… just die!" Balterius shouted, firing off wind blades from his sword.
Link jumped from block to block to avoid the blades colliding into the ones he was standing on before they were destroyed. He had to use his Longshot to propel himself out of the way when he was out of blocks to jump from. He fired off a few arrows, managing to get in an electric shock in on the governor, but as he jumped down onto one block, a wind blade flew out at him in advance and knocked him into the sky, he was struck by the tornado's wind blades and was hurt badly by them.
"Gaaaaahh!" Link shouted as he began to get carried by the wind, he snapped out of the pain and fired his Longshot again to propel himself onto another stone block. He looked down at Balterius who was jumping from stone to stone himself to get into a closer range to Link.
Link looked around and saw the wind tearing up the land around the castle. He narrowed his eyes and turned back to Balterius.
"This is crazy, he's going to destroy everything!" Link spoke, "This can't go on any longer, I gotta put a stop to this madman!"
He took a breath, before crouching down and leaping off the stone block, coming right at Balterius just as he was leaping up at Link. The two of them landed onto a stone slab and brought their swords at each other with a powerful clash, the two of them held the stance in midair as the wind blew fiercely around them. Link narrowed his eyes, trying to drive Balterius back, while the governor remained as unflinching as ever.
The stone they were standing on couldn't handle the intense impact though, and soon crumbled apart. Link took his Longshot and fired it off to grab onto another wooden plank and swung through the air, doing what he could to dodge the blades of wind spinning around. He landed to the ground and looked up to see Balterius coming downwards.
The governor quickly diced up a few stone blocks until they were as square and flat as tiles, and swung his sword again to make the wind send them all downwards at Link.
Link quickly dodged out of the way of most of the tiles, using his shield to block one or two, but then he was hit in the side with one tile, and more started to impact into him. He used his shield to block off more, but he was taking quite a beating. Balterius took that chance to come down at Link with the Windcleaver and swing a powerful attack that impacted right into Link and sent him flying back.
"Gack!" Link shouted as he impacted to the ground. He looked up to see Balterius slowly walking towards him with his sword out.
"Soon we shall strike down each and everyone one of the Gerudo. Your effort to 'save' them from their fate was for nothing." Balterius spoke coldly, "And your blood shall be the first one spilled!"
Link got himself up, gripped at his sword, and glared coldly at the governor, the one who caused so much pain to the Gerudo for many years, the man responsible for his beloved fiances being poisoned and slowly dying, the one who wanted to bring about the complete end of everyone Gerudo woman, child and even infant…
"I've just about had it with you…" Link whispered.
"…?" Balterius gazed at the king.
"This obsession with Ganondorf… it's driven you power hungry." Link spoke with a cold stare, "You've become no better than he was!"
"That's bold words for someone who holds the demonic power of the Fierce Deity within you." Balterius pointed out, "A dangerous force that threatens every single life shall not be tolerated in our great new future!"
Link shook his head, "I don't give a damn what you think of me, I'll never allow myself to give in to that power and become a threat to this kingdom." he clenched his fist, "Rather I'm going to protect everyone from fiends like you..."
He closed his eyes for a moment as he thought about his beloved family who were suffering from the poison, all the citizens of Gerudo Town, the infants that he had fathered with his royal childbearers...
"The Gerudo are far more than just minions of Ganondorf; they've become a true society of people, no different than the Hylians, the Kokiri, the Goron, the Zora, or anyone… they simply wish to be a part of this kingdom like anyone else…"
Balterius looked in surprise as small white embers of flame started to rise up from Link's body. At first it seems like his body was on fire, but the young king didn't even so much as flinch at the flames. It started to grow more wildly, as his long white hair had faint embers at the split ends. He could see faint markings appear on Link's face for a brief moment, only for them to fade as the white flames to grow more wild around him. Even his knight's sword was now engulfed in the flames, not too different form how Balterius's sword was engulfed in wind..
Link gripped at his sword and shield, and narrowed his blank white eyes at Balterius, as he shouted out,
"IT'S NOT A CRIME TO WANT TO LIVE!"
"What…?" Balterius found himself taking a slight step back at the state of Link now, he knew full well of the white flames from Odleh, but he could have never thought they would grow so powerfully, 'What is this power within him? Is this truly the Fierce Deity's true strength, or…?!'
A trickle of sweat went down Balterius's head, before he gritted his teeth, and stomped his foot down to the roof, causing a stone to come loose and rise up from the ground, and he sliced it in half with his sword, before blowing them right at Link, but the young king simply deflected it away with a single swing of his sword. Link leered at Balterius as he held out his flaming sword.
"Now fight me with all your might!"
With that, Link charged at Balterius with his sword and clashed it into the governor's. Balterius held his ground through, and started to generate a powerful cyclone from the Windcleaver. Wind blades started to rise up from it and impact into Link.
"You young fool… I shall cut you down with my wind until there's nothing left!" Balterius shouted.
But the governor saw that no matter how many slashes and cut he got, Link didn't even flinch. The Gerudo King instead shouted out as he thrust his sword forward with the white flames burning more, and Balterius could feel the burning starting to hurt him.
"G-Gaaah!" Balterius tried to hold him back, but the flames were getting too intense. He then realized that as hot as the flames were, they weren't burning off the sleeves of his suit like normal fire would.
Rather, the burning felt more… internal, like the flames were burning at his very soul.
"N-No, I won't lose here…!" Balterius gasped out, he leaped backwards and took some labored breaths, staring at Link. His hands shook a little, before he brought up his sword and fired off another cyclone wave at Link, "JUST DIE ALREADY!"
But Link dashed right at the cyclone with his sword, bringing up his blade to protect himself from the wind. The blades tore into him, but he didn't even flinch from the pain. He forced himself through it, engulfed in white flames. With a loud shout he brandished his sword and swung it out at Balterius.
"GRRRRAAAAAHHH!"
Balterius was struck with a powerful streak of white flames as he went flying backwards. His sunglasses shattered to pieces, exposing his differently colored sunken-in eyes, before he impacted onto the ground, and the Windcleaver fell to the ground beside him.
Link paused as he watched Balterius carefully, making sure his opponent was down for good. Seeing the governor was taken out, Link's eyes then went from blank white to the gentle blue they were before. He put a hand to his head and gasped out.
"That… was… was that the flames from before…?" Link whispered, looking down at the embers lingering on his hands until they went away.
"I remember now… I used this power to save Jovie from the fire at the Bombchu Bowling Alley..."
"I wonder… did the Fierce Deity give me that to use, or was it…?"
But then Link looked around to see the wind was starting to die down. No longer being carried by the wind, the stone blocks that broke off from the castle fell to the ground around the castle.
Even in another area of the castle, some of the knight managed to find their comrades who had been carried off by the wind. Even one who was dizzy and tangled up in a banner.
"It's over…" Link sighed with relief.
He then looked across the roof at Balterius, the governor groaned as he gripped at his sword and slowly began to stand himself up. He tried his best to keep level, but buckled under the pain of Link's last powerful blow and fell to one knee, using the Windcleaver to hold himself up.
"Indeed, it would seem in the end… you bested me… Gerudo King…" Balterius gasped out.
"Let's put an end to this Balterius." Link said, "Give up and turn yourself in."
"After all these years of planning… all this time I've spent trying to protect this kingdom from the evils that plagued it… it was for naught… I've failed at protecting my home... once again."
"Well you don't have to worry about that anymore." Link stated, "Regardless of what you think about me, the Princess, or the Gerudo, we're going to see to it nothing brings harm to the kingdom and it's people. And we'll do it without resorting to the Parliament's dirty tactics, or mass genocide."
"We're going to go about building a bright future for everyone that wants to live their lives."
Balterius stared at Link, before lowering his head, his features darkened, "...I see…"
The governor slowly forced himself up onto his feet with the Windcleaver in one hand, confusing Link.
"In that case… take this."
He used his other hand to reach into his pocket, pull out a mahjong tile, and tossed it to Link, who caught it.
"What's this for?" Link asked curiously.
Balterius explained, "Show it to Minister Odleh if you see her, and she shall understand."
"I don't get what you're talking about, but okay." Link nodded, "You know, it's a shame you went down this path." he said to Balterius, "With your skills in governing, research and battle, you could have been a great part of Hyrule's future."
"Hmph… as if you're such a fine judge of character…" Balterius spoke, confusing Link, "You've spent this whole time as king of the Gerudo, without realizing the greatest threat has been stood right beside you this whole time…"
"What are you talking about?" Link asked.
The governor spoke, "I have no reason to educate you on your ignorance… if you truly wish to know… than ask the Grand Corporal herself..."
"The Grand…" Link whispered in thought for a moment, before shouting out, "Wait, do you mean-?!"
But before Link could make him elaborate, he saw Balterius bring up the Windcleaver with both his hands, and plunge it directly into his own lower abdomen.
"WHAT?" Link exclaimed with wide eyes, "What are you doing?!"
Balterius didn't even flinch from the sword jammed in him, he slowly looked up at Link as the young king went running up to try and stop him.
"Prove what you said... isn't a falsehood Gerudo King Link… by protecting this world!"
With that, Balterius activated the power of the sword, causing him to become engulfed in a powerful surge of wind. Link tried to get close, but the wind caused him to back off. He could only look helplessly as the wild wind tore at Balterius' clothes, and then his flesh...
"ERRRRRAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
When the wind finally died down and it was all over, Link looked in shock and horror at what just happened,
Before him was the shattered remains of the Windbreaker sword, as well as what little remained of Governor Balterius, the leader of the Hylian Parliament, or what he was once known as, King Sirius Terrakon Baldwin of Viividel…
"I can't believe he did that…" Link whispered.
He stared down at the mahjong tile Balterius had tossed him just a moment ago, wondering how the significance of it was, before pocketing it.
'And then there was what he said about a Grand Corporal… but wasn't that…?'
'It couldn't be...'
And that ends the chapter. Next time a battle-weary Link returns back to his friends having seemingly failed their mission, What could be done for the Gerudo, and what will Link do with the information he's been given...?
Thank you all again for all your support over the years as I've written this project! If you're new please leave a like and follow, or just send me a comment or private message! Your feedback is always encouraged!