Link's POV
The next morning we set off back to Hyrule Castle. Not having learned anything about Wild.
We should have two more months until the Princess's seventeenth birthday. Which means I could have stayed for another few weeks, but something in my gut told me to return to the castle.
Wild and Twilight were laughing behind me.
They were having a stupid, friendly competition to pass the time.
Currently, they had shot a total of fifteen apples out of seven trees, told ten stories of different bosses they had fought, and now they were seeing who could stay standing in the saddle the longest.
Twilight seemed to have the advantage with growing up in the saddle. But Wild was adaptive and flexible, so he's definitely the underdog.
They tried to engage me as well, but I politely refused.
A few hours later, we entered Castle Town. On course for the stables.
Wild didn't avoid the looks like usual. He was too busy laughing and tallying up the points with his big brother.
The mothers widened their eyes in worry at the hero's scars, the former soldiers acknowledged him warmly for the same reason. The kids tried to get his attention and ran alongside his horse.
We passed through the castle gates and left the crowds behind. Wild relaxed as we did.
I guess he did stiffen up while we passed through...
We dismounted and gave the horses off to a stable hand. We wandered around, wondering where the others where before Zelda could be heard.
We jogged up to them.
Wild and Twilight were then engulfed by their brothers and father and the surrounding conversation changed to what happened.
Wild boasted about winning their little competitions on the way here while Twilight tried sulking with a smile. It did not work.
I focused on what Zelda was saying as the heroes quieted again.
"We are more than prepared for Ganon's strike". Zelda boasted. "We've put up defenses around the castle, we're starting to move the remaining citizens inside so they're protected. Ganon'll find a hard time trying to take us."
Wild moved forward curiously. "We're staying?"
"Of course." Zelda said. "This is a fortress. No other place will be more suited to housing our troops against Ganon."
"No, you don't understand." Wild said, running in front. We came to a stop. Wild's ear twitched as Eggy came round the bend. "The Calamity comes from underneath Hyrule Castle."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the ground shook. Dark clouds formed around us, the sky turned red.
"No!" Zelda cried, turning toward the castle's spire.
A beast made of smoke, in the shape of a pig, circled around it, roaring. Four pillars burst from the ground around the castle, Guardians pouring out of them.
I grabbed Zelda's arm and started running away. The others on our tail.
"No!" Zelda tugged in the other direction. "We have to save my father and whomever else we can!"
I couldn't find a good argument so we ran toward the sanctum, where the king usually was.
Monsters seemed to come out of nowhere. Black and silver pelts attacked anyone in their way.
Wild fought viciously and with inhuman speed. The good mood from the ride back was long gone. Probably having died when Zelda said we were staying to defend the castle.
We broke through the first keep. The sanctum just ahead.
I didn't think much about it as I sprinted past the deactivated Guardians. They were just another thing you'll find in the castle.
But then they rose up from the ground. They glowed pink, malice dripping from their circuits.
Wild and Twilight took on the job of fighting them.
Wild parried the blasts and Twilight shoved his shield forward. Both with practiced ease as the deadly beams of light hit the Guardians instead.
There was another Guardian in the sanctum when we arrived. A captain and his men busy trying to scare it off most likely.
I showed my battlefield prowess through a parry of my own, Time going in to swiftly cut its head off while it was distracted.
His sword was now covered in oil and malice.
"Where is my father?" Zelda asked the captain, clutching her Sheikah slate for dear life. I should really invest in getting her a real weapon and teaching her how to use it.
"The king went through a secret passage through the back." The Captain said. "It should lead out to the docks."
We started to search for the aforementioned passage when two more guardians crashed through the celling. Debris and malice rained down on us. A cloud of smoke temporarily blocking my vision and stunning me as a red dot appeared on my chest.
I was almost too slow to act. The beam rebounded off my shield and through the wall, leaving my shield with a new crack in it and my arm giving a ominous pain as it was shoved viciously against my sternum. Which also felt like a thousand bees where inside it.
Before any of us could get any proper hits on the two new obstacles, they exploded in blue light, malice hitting the walls.
Wild stood with a strange bow in his hands. It looked like it was made from slate guardian parts. A glowing blue string connected both ends.
"What in the name of Hylia was that?" Impa shouted.
"Two ancient arrows." Wild said swiftly. He put the bow on his back. It folded backward, the string vanishing. "We need to keep moving."
Hyrule found the secret entrance the king used.
He noticed the scratches on the wall. Like something had been pulled. Then he just pushed forward and the door gave in.
Somehow, there were more monsters underground then there were above ground.
The captain and his men decided to join us. But they instantly fell under Wars' command like the rest of us.
He gave orders left and right with the grim expression of a season veteran who wanted no more fighting.
I had one second to wonder how and why by Farore a silver lynel got down here before it was roaring in attack.
At some point, Wild got on its back and started attacking it. Everyone, even the other monsters, watched in confused awe as the hero stayed on and killed the beast, letting it crumble to the floor.
Wild sighed as he stood up. He wiped sweat from his brow. He looked to Twilight. "Can I fight that Gold Lynel in Akkala when we get back?"
Twilight stared, stunned. "Yes sir."
Wild grinned like a maniac before we remembered to keep moving.
A strange little Guardian was in another keep. It was smaller than the others. It's head rose and glowing blue weapons came out of the neck(?).
Wild took it down easily. "It was just a minor!" He assured us.
We came out in a courtyard. Zelda called for the others to keep moving as she and I scanned the grass for any signs of her father.
A red dot appeared on her chest. A beeping sound filled the air.
I put my hand on her shoulder and stepped in front, blocking the dot. Even as my arm protested for the incoming weight, I lifted my shield to parry.
I gasped. As the Guardian's eye turned white, it was cut down. Not killed, just stunned.
The king stood behind it, wielding his royal claymore. I gripped the Master Sword, going to finish off the machine when I was stopped.
"You are the knight to Princess Zelda." The king said sharply. "I trust that you understand your duty."
I nodded, put my shield on my back and grabbed Zelda's wrist.
I pulled her along with me as I chased after the others. Zelda resisting me all the way.
A blast shook the corridor. Zelda sobbed and let me lead her. Her feet barely keeping her body off the ground.
We regrouped with the others outside the castle. They didn't have to ask what happened when they saw Zelda.
Warriors glared at the Calamity as we walked further down the path. Impa led Zelda gently.
"War is the worst kind of thief."