She walked over to him and helped him stand. "Volga, I have traded your soul for eternal life. Use this gift well." Cia took her scepter and tapped him on the chest, pushing him back, and making him convulse and shake. His body began to glow red, and then the shaking stopped. He growled deeply and reared his head back, blowing a column of flame into the air. Cia stepped back and held her hand out.
"I require the blue ring," she said.
Volga nodded and pulled out the ring he had bought at the blacksmith. He put it in her hand and then summoned his dragon-bone pike.
"Thank you. Now, prepare for your journey. You will intercept the Hyrulians on their journey to Eldin, and with Wizzro at your side, you and your army will obliterate them. I do wish that you leave the Hero of Legend and the two Sheikah alive; I need them in order to win the Hero of Legend's affection."
"Yes, my master," he said, and vanished from her sight.
Cia tossed the ring onto the ground and waved her scepter, bringing a shadow from the ring. The shadow began to morph and was soon wearing a purple robe. It was spherical and had two arms, each wearing two blue and red rings. The hood of the robe revealed two red eyes and large red lips.
"Thank you, Master," he hissed. "I have been waiting a long time for you."
"I understand this, Wizzro. Did you happen to hear the conversation between Volga and me?"
"Yes, Master. I know I am to go to Eldin with Volga, and using our armies, we will defeat the Hyrulians, sparing only the chosen three."
"Good. Now, leave my sight," she ordered, and he disappeared.
She turned and waved her scepter, creating a window through the dimensions, and gazed at the Hero of Legend, who had not the slightest clue she was watching him. She slammed her scepter down, and darkness rose from the ground next to her.
"You will be mine, Hero."
***
Impa entered the chamber of the goddess and walked down the dimly lit path. She arrived at a pedestal; a folded green tunic lay on it. She lifted it carefully and turned to leave.
The Hero was ready.
***
Link answered the door to find Impa standing with a folded green tunic in her hands.
"This is for you, Hero."
He took the tunic and looked up at her. "Thank you Impa." She entered his house and sat at his couch in the common area. She unhooked a cerulean and white sheath from her back and set it down on the table in the middle of the area.
Link walked to his room and changed into the tunic. It was forest green with two silver shoulder pads on his right. The gloves were brown, leaving the fingers open. The pants were white-brown and went to his feet. A blue scarf with the Hylian crest at the end hung behind his back, and a green cap rested on his head, leaving the front of his messy blonde hair showing. The belt was brown and had a gold buckle. He pulled on his brown leather boots and entered the common area.
"It suits you," Impa said.
"Yes, I suppose it does…What's with the sword?"
"You need one since your general's blade broke, so I purchased one for you."
Link picked up the sheath and pulled out the blade. It was the white sword he had viewed at the blacksmith’s.
"Thank you, Impa," He said, and set the sheath down. He swung the blade in front of him, and put it back in its sheath. He hooked it on his back.
"You're welcome, general," Impa said, and left his house.
***
Five days later…
Link looked to the army massed in front of him. To his side, mounted on their steeds, Impa and Sheik waited for his command.
"Soldiers of Hyrule!" Link cried out. "We have been viciously attacked! We have been shown disrespect! The kingdom of Hyrule has been disgraced! Dishonored! And we will show the ones who have disrespected us what it means to be a target! The target of Hyrule! We ride today to show the world that Hyrule is not to be tampered with!"
Link pulled back the reins of his horse and moved to the side, turning himself from the army. He drew his sword, and the army of Hyrule set out on their journey to determine Hyrule's destiny.
Ch.4.
Link's pep talk was wearing off. His soldiers were weary and moping in the cold. He wasn't doing so well either; His nose was red, his cheeks stung in the cold, and his fingers were numb. He looked to his left, and saw Impa struggling too. She clung to her horse tightly, and he could see her shivering. No wonder why, though. She had no coat, just her chest binds, her tights, and her thin Sheikah tunic. She did have a tiny black scarf covering her neck, but nothing else to protect from the cold.
Link looked at the snowy ground. It was covered in the thick, white coldness that went to the horses’ knees. Who knew that this side of Eldin Mountain was covered in snow? Link looked forward and saw nothing but white. He hoped they would make it out of this blizzard.
They had left the calm fields of Hyrule the day before and were still adjusting to the cold and the snow. Snow only came in the darkest part of winter, and Hyrule never sent armies in the winter, so the soldiers, who were used to traveling through forests and deserts, were dealing poorly with the cold.
The snow was coming down fast and hard. Link had seen that several soldiers had blue fingers and faces, clear signs of frostbite. Link gritted his teeth and urged his horse on…
***
Link was about ready to give up when a soldier shouted through the thick snowfall. "General!" The soldier ran as fast as he could through the snow to Link. "General!" When he arrived near Link, he bent over slightly for a second to catch his breath.
"Yes, soldier?" Link asked, and the soldier stood up straight again.
"I saw something," the soldier said, and Link stopped his horse.
"What did you see?"
"I don't know. It was a flash of white, and maybe a red eye."
Link took a deep breath and said, with a hint of condescension, "You realize that we are on a mountain where there are animals, and the color white is abundant?"
"Yes, General, I do know this, but this wasn't an ordinary animal!"
"What do you think it was, then?"
"I'm not entirely sure...maybe a wolf? And wolves travel in packs…"
"…so there are bound to be more!" Link finished and looked around the army, almost immediately detecting a flash of red and white, and another, and another, until he heard a howl come from behind the army.
"Run!" Link cried out through the wind to his army, and he heard cries from the back of the army and saw soldiers being brought down by white Wolfos.
The Army picked up the pace, adrenaline running through their veins, and a soldier shouted through the wind to the army. "CAVE!"
Without Link having to give the order, the army ran into the cave, which turned out to be almost as big as the Noble District.
The soldiers in the back of the army that entered the cave turned and drew their weapons, fighting off the Wolfos, till the threat had dissipated.
Link sighed, relief flowing through him, and he hopped off his horse. He pulled a blanket from the horse’s back and draped it over himself like a cape.
"Take a rest!" he called out to his army. "We camp here tonight!"
***
Link awoke to the sound of Impa sharpening her Naginata.
"Ahh," she spoke, "the Hero finally awakes." She stood and hooked her Naginata on her back.
She helped Link stand, and he straightened his green cap.
"General," she said, "I sense the Triforce of power, and if my instincts serve me correctly, I would suggest we search this cave for the entrance to the Fire Temple."
"I agree," Link said. "Has Sheik been healing the army?"
"Yes. She works very diligently. She has a passion for her craft, and she knows how to use her craft, too."
"She does. She kind of reminds me of Lana, but Sheik is a Sheikah and wields magic."
"Lana does seem similar to her…"
Sheik soon joined them. Link could slightly see Sheik's eyes through the
cloth covering her face, and she showed no emotion except for some yawning.
"Are you ready to search for the Fire Temple?" Sheik asked.
"Yes, but how will we get our army through the temple?"
"That won't be a problem, Chosen hero." The Trio spun around and found a barrier of fire between them and the army. Volga stood in front of the flames, glowing red and clearly alive. Behind the fire was a huge army of bBkoblins and Stalchildren. Link cringed. The Hyrulian army was worn out from their journey so far, and they wouldn't stand a chance against an army that size. Volga neared the Trio, and Link stepped forward, drawing the white sword from its sheath on his back. He pulled his shield from his back, too. It was similar to the Hylian Shield the Hero of Legend used, but it was a steel shield with the edges made of white steel, and the center made of cerulean steel. A silver Hylian crest was painted on the center very precisely, and surrounding the crest were ornate designs. He held his sword in his left hand and slipped his right arm through the shield strap.
"You must be wondering how I live," Volga said, and the two began to circle each other.
"No, I've seen some crazy stuff, and you living doesn't surprise me even slightly." He was lying; of course, he was bewildered at the fact that the dragon knight lived, but he didn't show his confusion. He wasn't scared though; he had defeated the dragon knight before, and he could certainly do it again.
"No?" Volga said, and chuckled violently, "Oh, Hero of Legend, you continue to amaze me. Just yield and surrender. Your kingdom might survive.
"We will never surrender," Link said, and charged Volga. He swung his blade heavily, locking himself against Volga's pike, and bashed Volga in the side with his shield. Volga stepped back, dangerously close to the fire barrier, and swung his pike at Link, who intercepted the blow with his shield and let out a series of furious slashes on Volga, but each blow was deflected. They continued to clash blades until Volga broke his pattern of attack and leapt straight into the air, dodging Link's slash, and smashed his pike down on Link's head.
The Hero fell to his knees, and Volga kicked him in the chest, launching him to the wall of the cave. Impa stepped up, and Sheik checked Link for injuries. Impa drew her Naginata, and she and Volga swung and bashed their weapons against each other's, always failing to sneak in a blow that would wound the opponent.
Impa was beginning to tire, and she flipped backwards, avoiding one of Volga's swings. She spun her Naginata, and flame began to flicker in front of it. She kept spinning her Naginata until the flame was twice the size of a toddler. She smashed it into the ground, launching the flame toward Volga. He chuckled as it neared him, and he put his hand up to show the Trio his new power.
Volga caught the flame when it neared him and tossed it into the air. He dragon-kicked the flame, and it flew toward Impa, who stabbed the flame with her Naginata. She thrust her Naginata, and the flame shot toward Volga. He brought up his Dragon bone pike and deflected the flame.
Link and Sheik's eyes darted between the two warriors as they launched the flame back and forth, each hit making it bigger. Across the flame barrier the army of Hyrule struggled against the massiveness of the monsters fighting them. Link's injuries were healed, and Sheik was waiting for an opening to join the fight against Volga.
Impa's speed was slowing, and each strike left her more vulnerable, while the dragon knight was empowered by the flame.
Link saw it coming, and he moved to help, but the flame had gone too close.
"Impa!" He cried out, and dashed toward her, but the now boulder-sized ball of flame smashed into Impa, hurling her back into the wall behind her. Her Naginata absorbed most of the flame, but her chest and arms were scorched by the flame.
Link brought his sword up and leapt to the dragon knight, who was glowing brighter than hot lava.
"So the Hero returns," Volga said as they locked weapons. He pushed Link over, landing him on his back. "The Hero who stands no chance against the might of the dragon knight…"
***
Lieutenant Wesley struggled against the mass of his opponents' army. He slashed his broadsword at every monster near him, killing everything in its path, but the monsters kept coming. He could see that the army contained only Bokoblins and Stalchildren, very weak opponents, but the size of their army was the factor contributing to the looming defeat. He was getting cornered when a shadow burst from the ground, spiraling as it came down. It was wearing a purple robe and had grotesque arms that were wrinkled and brownish black. It swung its hand through the air, sending a blast of darkness through his soldiers. The soldiers who came in contact slowly morphed—skin falling off, revealing bones, eyes turning red—and all let out a howl. The soldiers turned Stalfos began hacking away at the Hylian soldiers.
Wesley's broadsword continued to cut the Stalfos and Stalchildren down until a blast of darkness swept through his heart and instantly began decaying his skin. Wesley, with a fraction of his life left, pulled a knife from his belt and slit his throat, blurring his vision, and dropping him into darkness.
***
Link scrambled to his feet and lifted his sword. He knew that Volga wouldn't be taken down so easily, and fear now entered his mind. He glanced behind him, and saw Sheik tending to Impa's wounds. Volga prepared to strike, and Link thrust his sword beneath Volga's pike. The blade slipped through the dragon knight's armor and passed through his gut. Volga convulsed and pulled back, falling off Link's blade.
Link stared at his sword covered in hot glowing red blood. How in Hylian's name did he just do that? Volga pulled back, clutching his wound with his free hand.
"You really are the Hero of Legend" Volga said. Then he vanished, along with the barrier and the monster army. Link looked at his army, or the remains of it. There were probably less than a hundred soldiers remaining. No deceased bodies could be seen, as all of the remains had morphed into Stalfos.
Link turned to find Impa nodding in approval toward him. For what, though? He had led his army into a trap, and now only a fifth of his army remained! He shook his head at her; he had failed as general. He took off down the cavern, sword and shield on his back.
Sheik looked at Impa to ensure she was okay then ran after the Hero.
Link sprinted down the narrow paths of the cavern, nearing the ominous sound of lava. His eyes bulged, and his face reddened. Hundreds of lives had been lost because he chose to give up for the day. He slowed and put his hands on his knees, trying to gain his breath. He felt his chest; his right rib felt too…squishy. He slipped off his tunic and found two punctures in his chest. He gasped for breath, and blood squirted through the wounds. He put his fist to his mouth, gagging. Oh crap, he thought. A punctured lung wouldn't do him good right now. He turned to his left and found Sheik sprinting toward him, her light feet pattering silently against the heated cave paths.
She stopped when she got to him, and cupped her hands to her mouth. "Link!" she exclaimed and knelt down to examine his wounds. She put her hand on the two wounds and muttered a few words.
Link instantly felt his skin seal together and his right lung close its wounds. He looked down at her and smiled. Her blue braid looked similar to Lana's…
"You know," he said as she stood back up, "you really remind me of my wife, Lana."
"Is that so?" she said, smiling under her clothed face. Link picked up his tunic and slipped it back on, making sure the scarf was arranged right.
"Yes, she was always a good healer, except she used physical aid, not magical aid."
"Really? She sounds like my type, maybe when this is…”
"Sheik," Link said, interrupting her.
"Yes Link?"
"Look straight in front of you." She did and saw what he was talking about. Directly parallel to them a golden Triforce was implanted in the wall.
"It's the entrance to the…"
"…Fire Temple!" Sheik leapt to her feet and yanked Link up. She sprinted back toward the cave where the army was lingering, and Link followed.
&nb
sp; The soldiers edged carefully in single file to the entrance, the Trio at the front.
"So, you think I can unlock the entrance?" Impa asked the two.
"Yes," they said simultaneously.
They arrived at the entrance, and Impa leapt between the two ledges, bracing herself by holding her hands on the wall, her right hand in the middle of the Triforce. The Triforce on her hand glowed, and the Triforce on the wall spun. The cave wall split revealing a stairway down to the Fire Temple. Impa looked at the army behind her; she walked down the path. As she stepped on the first tread, a long slab of stone slid out from one of the ledges, connecting each other. Link, Sheik, and their army followed, entering the Fire Temple.
Ch. 5.
Link, Sheik, Impa, and their army walked down the dimly lit staircase. Is it ever going to end? They had been walking for hours, and they were becoming exhausted. Link was sweating thoroughly, and Sheik was tempted to pull her mask down to breathe easier. Impa seemed fine. She was actually enjoying the heat. Ever since Volga had hit her with that flame, the heat didn't seem to bother her. This would probably come in handy when they entered the actual temple…if they ever got there.
"So Link," Sheik said, choking on her breath, "how is it…being general…of Hyrule?"
"It's um…it's good…I guess…"
"Stressful?"
"Oh…yeah…Managing paperwork is…a big part…of the job…It's not all…battles and conquests…"
"That…sounds like…It would be…pretty boring…sometimes…"
"Yeah…" Link gasped, and they didn't speak for the rest of the walk.
"General?" Impa asked.
"Yes…Commander?"