Time

The teleportation was as dizzy as ever as we rematerialized at the foot of the Great Plateau, where Kohga said the Calamity's army is (they're going for the resident Stronghold), but I think I was getting the hang of it.

Can't say the same for the Yiga, though.

They may be able to teleport themselves, but the second someone else does it, they keel like a lost puppy.

Thankfully the way onto the Plateau was still open and was wide enough that there wasn't very much issue with getting everyone on the Plateau. Why Purah didn't just teleport us to the top, I'll never know.

Monsters flooded the Plateau, throwing us immediately into a battle.

"Some troops are under attack in nearby outposts!" Zelda cried. "Everyone, onward to their rescue!"

Everyone split off into four groups. Four, Sky and I went off to save one Hylian Captain, all the way in the north.

We quickly dispatched the Silver Moblin terrorizing the division before helping the soldiers, even parting with a red potion or two.

"We've lost contact with our other divisions." The Captain explained. "The Hyrulean army is in tatters."

"It seems everyone is confused and unable to grasp our situation." Impa said from my slate.

"Mmrgh…" Kohga complained. "I don't like not knowing things. Underlings, go snoop around and tell us what you find."

"You got it, boss!"

If anything, I admired the Yiga for their loyalty. They would jump off a cliff if Kohga asked them to, and it sort of reminded me of Wars' troops during the war.

The both of them were strong, respectable leaders.

That's why I always looked up to the blue-scarfed hero as a little kid. Although, I don't know if he recognized me yet…

We regrouped outside the entrance of the Plateau while waiting for the Yiga to come back with information.

"We're back with a report." The Yiga said, reappearing right in front of us, almost startling Wild into muscle memory.

"But the way to the temple is blocked." Legend argues. "There's no way through."

"We Yiga could hop right over the rubble…" Kohga sighed, rubbing his mask where his chin would be. Do they ever take them off? Either way, I imagine it must seem like a second skin to them, a much less literal analogy then what happens when I wear some of my masks. "But bringing people back over will be the hard part…"

"Aha! I know!" Purah said, startling me. I'd genuinely thought we'd left her at the Fort. She'd been practically non-existent the whole way here. "How about we activate the Shrine of Resurrection and use it as a travel gate?"

Even with my back turned, standing a few feet away, I could feel Wild stiffen up at the name of his old tomb.

"Steller!" Robbie said with just as much enthusiasm, ignoring the Hero of the Wild's visible discomfort. "We can approach the temple from another angle! And we can activate the shrine with this Guardian!"

The male Sheikah picked up the little Guardian as a sort of demonstration.

"Can you help us activate the shrine?" Destiny asked Kohga. "Since you are the only one capable of crossing over the rubble blocking the path?"

Kohga shifted uncomfortably. "I feel kinda queasy about helping a member of the Hyrulean Royal Family, but… sure. Yiga! Roll out!"

"Wait!" Impa reached out, stopping them just in time. "To activate the shrine, you must take this with you!" Impa said, taking the Guardian from where it had sat listlessly in Robbie's embrace.

A Yiga footsoldier took the Guardian, nodding politely to the future Sheikah Matriarch.

Then, Kohga and the footsoldiers disappeared in a flurry of talismans and runes.

"Gah! We're surrounded!" A Yiga called out almost immediately. "It's a Black Hinox!"

"What?" I heard Kohga cry in response. "After all the tough scrapes we've been in, this is gonna do you in?"

"It sounds like they're struggling to reach the shrine!" Destiny remarked, shooting an arrow through a moblin skull. "Time for us to lend our aid!"

"Do we, though?" Legend whispered beside me.

He's just salty because of the time a Yiga interrupted his bathtime.

Either way, we ran in the direction of the cries, the heart of the battle.

"I see an Electric Hinox as well!" Hyrule remarked, pointing out the second problem.

"Twilight and I'll handle Mr. Static Electricity over there!" Wild called as he and Twi ran off to the super-powered monster.

"Won't they need some help?" A Yiga Blademaster asked, sounding genuinely concerned for them.

"No." I said, looking at the blue and green heroes dodge between the Hinox's legs expertly. I looked back to the Yiga. "I don't think they will."

I brushed past the Yiga, taking out my bow. The Hinox's weak spot was conveniently large and glow-in-the-dark-y and obvious.

Malice was dripping out of wounds inflicted by the Yiga's obsidian weapons.

I took my perch at the top of a large rock, praying the others kept the Hinox's attention long enough for me to fire an arrow and hopefully get it in its eye.

If only it would stop moving around so much.

Or if it would face me.

But not like that. I thought, swearing under my breath as the Hinox suddenly notices me and starts charging at me in a way that would be comical if not for the fact that it was charging right at me.

I tried not to panic, or else my arrow would fly anywhere that's not the Hinox's eye.

But it was shaking too much. Still making it a leap of faith as I let loose my arrow. I closed my eyes on instinct, bracing myself for the Hinox's strike…

But it looks like those archery lessons with Zelda and her teacher paid off.

The Hinox gave a cry that shook the treetops, causing birds to erupt into the air.

It clutched its eye as it fell back on the ground with a mighty shake that almost made me lose my balance. Malice poured out from around its hands.

"Whoo!" Wind cried as Cal closed in for the kill. "Nice shot!"

I hopped down from the rock, putting my bow away as Twi and Wild ran up to us.

Wild's hair was standing on end, and he was twitching violently, with a large, shit-eating grin on his face as Twilight just looked bewildered. Though his hair and facial markings look to be a shade or two lighter.

"Uh, th-thanks for the help." A Yiga Footsoldier stammered. "I'll head for the shrine now!"

He took off once again. I guess their teleportation only works for places they've been to before, because I doubt any of them have seen the inside (or outside) of the Shrine of Resurrection before.

We regrouped and started to follow, but were almost immediately cut off by a SIlver Lynel.

A damned Silver Lynel.

"This can't be!" Destiny cried, stumbling back a little as the beast seemed to appear out of thin air.

"Oh but Princess," Four sighs, eyes flashing indigo as he helped her back up. "It is. It always is."

"I'm sick and tired of them." Hyrule said, reading his sword. "Why can't Ganon throw some new, creative monsters at us? I'd even opt for a Malice Octorok."

If I didn't know better, I'd say the Lynel looked offended.

Flora huffed, and, in a flash of blue, the Lynel simply ceased to exist.

Everyone turned to Flora, whose bow was still in the air, its string quivering, her arm still where she had held the string.

She lowered her arms, shrugging at our expressions. "I'm tired." She stated simply, putting away her bow and pushing through to follow the path. Leaving the rest of us bewildered.

"What the…" Hummed a Yiga, walking up beside Impa and I. "Some new allies have appeared and they're taking town enemies left and right!" They explained at Impa's questioning look.

"There aren't many people with that level of skill. Even in Hyrule!" Impa mused. "I mean…it could be… But that's impossible."

Impa wandered away, murmuring to herself.

"The Shrine of Resurrection has been activated!" The Yiga called.

"And now…we head to the temple." Destiny nodded. "We must hurry and provide assistance."

"Let's head to the tower." Impa said, jogging ahead.

"Yeah…" Wild said, pulling us all to a stop. "You all go to the shrine, I'll meet you there." He said, running directly at the rubble blocking the path, easily vaulting over and disappearing on the other side.

"Guess we'll see him later." Twilight said, easily waving away any concerns and questions from Cal, Desi, and Impa.

"Aw yeah!" Purah said as she came back into view. "Good going! This battle will be won yet!"

"We must travel to the shrine quickly!" Destiny said. "Even with Wild's aid, they're gonna need more assistance!" She curled her hand into a fist, straining a cut on the flesh between her thumb and index finger, causing her to wince slightly.

"To the shrine!"