Wild's POV

"Okay, I definitely don't remember it being this powerful."

I jumped to the side as Waterblight thrusted out its guardian spear.

I focused. Time slowed to a crawl. But the second my feet hit the ice, I darted forward faster than sound. I delivered blows that would be lethal to any other being.

After a few seconds, I jumped backward. Time resumed its normal speed. I could obviously manipulate the flow of time, it's maintaining it that's the problem.

"Good going, my friend!" Sidon cheered. "You never cease to amaze me!"

I grinned. "Thanks, buddy!"

"You have any idea why it's so damn powerful now?" Legend asked, just narrowly avoiding a ice mace to the face. (Hey that rhymed!)

"No!" I shouted, getting a nice slice in. Malice sprayed out as I used the ice frozen floor to skid away. …And into the Main Control Unit.

"Oof." I wheezed, falling back onto the ice. Well, now my head hurts. Great.

Mipha helped me up. "Does it have anything to do with the fact the Calamity just rose? Like maybe when you fought it Ganon's control had weakened?"

"That's plausible." I rubbed my midsection and tried to regain my breath. "I hate the Main Control Units even more now."

Mipha tilted her head. So I quickly explained how the Blights had been hiding in each of them. "That makes sense."

"Hey!" Legend said. I turned to find the poor Vet half frozen in ice. "Quick lallygagging and start fighting for Hylia's sake!"

I skidded on over to the Hero in Red. "Sorry." I took his arm, braced a foot against Legend's legs, and pulled.

"Owowowowow." Legend complained. But eventually, I was able to tug him loose. But the force knocked me down, dragging Legend with me.

"Your belt hurts." Legend complained as we got back up. "This fight is going terribly." I said, brushing the powder off my skirt.

Legend took out his Fire Rod. "You're just now thinking of this?" I asked. Legend glared. "I was a little preoccupied, okay? Besides, I didn't want you of all people finding out that I have a Fire Rod."

Now it was my turn to glare as Legend aimed the rounded tip at the Blight. A second later, Fire blossomed from the tip and spiraled through the air, hitting its target head-on.

Waterblight screeched and writhed under the flames. Legend kept a steel grip and iron footing.

I had my arms raised as the wind from the fire tried to blow me back. Mipha and Sidon were shrinking away from the fire.

I adjusted my footing as the ice began to melt.

Legend gasped and fell to his knees. The fire flickered out. Sweat pinned his tunic to his chest as he panted heavily.

Waterblight was melting, I noticed. Malice dripped off his body and hissed against the already-melting ground. Its ice mace had completely disintegrated.

It was a horrible sight.

Its mask was wonky and its hair had been burned off. Malice burned through the Sheikah tech that made up its exoskeleton.

Its blue eye seemed to be the only whole thing on it. It glared out at me.

I positioned myself between the recovering Veteran and the Shard of Calamity Ganon.

I whipped out my bow. I knocked an ancient arrow. I probably didn't need it, but I didn't want to risk it and waste an arrow.

"What is that?" Mipha asked. "Umm I suggest we back away." Sidon said, taking his sister by her shoulder and leading her away.

That was good. Because even if I hit Waterblight perfectly in the eye (despite Twilight's encouragements that I could hit anything from any distance) there's a chance that if they were too close, they could get sucked into the implosion anyway.

I pulled the string back and looked down the arrow shaft. I pulled the lever and the guardian tip flashed to life.

Waiting waiting waiting.

Finally, the beast looked up from where it had been writhing around on the ice. It glared out at me.

I let go of the string.

I felt time slow as the arrow traveled. And it wasn't under my control (remind me later to practice that ability more).

A trail of cerulean blur followed the regular arrow with ancient tech tied to it.

It hit it square in the eye.

The beast screamed. It bent over backwards. A pink light streamed through with the blue glow of the Sheikah enveloped the monster.

It imploded. But Malice flew everywhere. Everyone instinctively ducked. But I got hit with a big flop.

I screamed. It burned quickly through my skin. Even surpassing my Champion's Tunic, which has been upgraded by all four Great Fairies.

Legend sprang back up. Even though I could tell he was still tired.

He knelt by me. "This is gonna hurt." He warned. Then, he stuck his fingers into the wound on my back and wrenched the Malice free.

I cried out along with Legend, who held the hand that had made contact with the Malice.

Mipha and Sidon hurried over.

Mipha held out her hands, coming up to me first, who has the largest wound. Her hands glowed as they came to hover above my back.

Her magic was cool and calming. I could feel my skin start to stitch itself together but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was soothing.

I let myself melt into her magic.

"That's all I can do right now." Mipha said, leaning back. Sweat lined her brow and she was panting.

"Sister," Sidon said. "you should stay behind with Wild while we save Daruk."

Mipha nodded dejectedly. "Okay. I understand. But after this, you and I have a lot to talk about."

Sidon smiled, nodding.

Legend helped me up, careful to watch his hand. The pain made it hard to convince myself to move.

All I wanted to do was to curl up and wait for Twilight to hug me and tell me everything's gonna be alright. That Calamity Ganon is gone and that it was never here and that this was all a fever dream from an infection to some injury I got in battle.

But I know that every moment of this has been real.

That I just saved Mipha. That I can save all of Hyrule and make up for my failure back in my own time.

But I still want to curl up with Twilight or Flora and sleep all this pain away.

I stumbled along, against Legend. I felt him hand me off to someone.

I felt the cool armor and suspected it was Time. His strong arms wrapped carefully around me.

"Twilight'll be here soon." He murmured to me. I guess I must've been whispering his name or something.

"I'm here Wild." I heard Hyrule say as the familiar away of his magic illuminated the wound. I heard him curse.

"I can't do much with all this Malice still left in there!"

I heard more voices from me friends. Arguing. Warriors voice put it to a stop but I couldn't make out his words any more than the ringing in my head and the arrow-like pain in my back.

"You'll be okay." I heard Time whisper gently to me. "This isn't the worst thing. Just a little Malice. You gonna let thatget you?"

I let myself slip into the waiting arms of Diana.