Fan Fiction ❯ The Legend of Zelda: The Ballad of Fallen Angels ❯ The Battle Of Woodfall ( Chapter 9 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 9: “The Battle Of Woodfall”

The ships sailed off. It was only twenty minutes later when they reached the opposite shore and the troops quietly left them. The stairs up to the caverns had been made for Dekus, and thus the humans found themselves forced to walk bent nearly double. The caverns were wide, however, and were able to take five or six Dekus at a time without strain.

The caverns were damp and dimly-lit, but the path wasn't long and before the last Deku in line had entered the caverns, Saetoushei and the first in line were emerging from the other side.

The view was spectacular. From their vantage point, the last rays of the setting sun made the water sparkle far below them. The bridge to the Woodfall entrance stood strong as ever, dangling above the waterways below. The Swamp Skulltula House stood dark and foreboding, a large black shadow on the ground. It was there that Leon Sprintz was placed under the Spider's Curse. Saetoushei had freed him from the spell, and Leon had rewarded him with the Mask of Truth, the magical mask that could see into people's souls. The Mask of Truth now hung in reverence at the Gerudo Fortress.

Saetoushei wished he had the mask with him now. He really wanted to see what Dispurcro was made out of. For some reason, he just couldn't shake the feeling that the General wasn't up to anything good.

Corporal Drywood hurried forward to stand next to Saetoushei. “Commander, the troops are ready, as is the fleet. Shall I give the signal?”

Saetoushei looked down at the water again. A score of Deku warships stood in four lines of five, cannons aimed and ready, prepared to fire.

“Yes, Corporal, let us begin.”

Drywood unslung the large torch that he had carried on his back. Putting flint to the blade of his dagger, he lit the torch. The torch burned incredibly bright, lighting up the caverns behind them nearly to the entrance from the palace. Drywood seized the torch and waved it over his head three times, screaming as he did so. Then he quickly doused the fire.

With Drywood's signal, the armada of Epstig and Trikg began the bombardment. Cannon blasts and shells erupted from the ships, arcing upward to disappear into the crater above Woodfall. Explosions began to sound from inside Woodfall, followed by the screams of soldiers.

“Move out!” Saetoushei yelled as he ran to the bridge and began crossing to Woodfall, the Dekus behind him. They reached the ledge that wound itself around the side of Woodfall and pounded along the side towards the entrance to the crater. Dark Horde soldiers rushed from the crater, arrows whizzing through the air. Several Dekus were hit, but many more Dark Horde soldiers went down under the hail of the covering fire coming from the armada. Saetoushei reached the first of the soldiers and struck out with his blade, ripping the ribs out from a soldier's chest. The Dekus fell onto the Dark Hordes with gusto, mass confusion adding to the Deku's charge. Horde soldiers were knocked helter-skelter from the ledge, falling into the water far below, to be either captured by Admiral Epstig and Commodore Trikg's forces, or shot dead in the water by the snipers.

“Saetoushei!” Cremina yelled from the side of the ledge. “Down! Get down, wild shell incoming!”

The Hylian cleaved a Horder nearly in half with his sword and looked up to see a missile fired from one of the ships start falling short, heading right for the ledge.

“Retreat!” Saetoushei screamed to the Dekus. They began falling back to the bridge as the Dark Hordes cheered in victory.

Right up until the shell struck the wall just above the entrance to the crater.

Screams pierced the night sky as the shell detonated, ripping a chunk out of both the wall and the ledge. Saetoushei covered his head with his shield, small rocks bouncing off like hail.

When it was over, he uncovered himself and sat up. The shell had tore a large section of the wall over the entrance to Woodfall out and flung it into open space. The explosion had also ripped the soldiers' bodies to pieces; bloody chunks of what had once been living people oozed along the ledge.

Saetoushei shakily got to his feet. He turned and offered his hand to Cremina, who took it to steady herself. The blast hadn't cost the Dekus anything; some of them had some minor cuts and scratches, and Cremina had the biggest injury of all from the explosion; a sharp piece of falling stone had ripped a deep gash right below her eye that was bleeding spectacularly. But other than that, she and the others were fine.

Drywood gave Saetoushei a shaky salute. “We're with you all the way, Commander. Give us the word, sir, the entrance to the crater is open.”

Saetoushei looked out at the small army he had to command. “If anyone wants to pull back to the palace now, I will not change my opinion that you are all brave warriors.”

A hand timidly raised itself from the midst of the Deku platoon. Saetoushei raised his eyebrows as he strode forward. The Deku raising it's hand was, to Saetoushei's shock, a frightened-looking female was standing there, holding her short sword and, though obviously petrified, had a look of reckless eagerness in her large lantern eyes.

“What's your name, soldier?” Saetoushei asked her quietly.

“Private First Class Ariel, sir.” The little Deku said.

“Are you scared of going into battle, Private?” the commander asked.

“No sir, Commander sir!” the private replied.

Saetoushei squatted down next to her, smiling. “I can see in your eyes. You're terrified. But don't worry, so am I”

Ariel gaped at him. “You sir? B-b-but you're the great Captain Link of the Bombers. You're a legend in battle, sir. Every soldier in Termina knows of you.”

“It doesn't matter how many times someone can fight in battle, you're still scared of the fact that you could die, get hurt, never see your family again. I'm not asking you to remove all emotion from your heart, Private. But I am asking you to remember that we're fighting here for a reason. We're fighting here tonight to protect families, innocent lives, and ones that we love. Remember that.”

Saetoushei straightened up. Every Deku soldier was looking at him with absolute reverence. Cremina was smiling at him. Lance Corporal Drywood saluted him and said, `Commander, we are with you to the end.”

Saetoushei grinned. Turning, he swung his sword into the air and yelled, “Then run, warriors, run! Run for Woodfall! Charge!”

The small army raced around the ledge and through the cave entrance, emerging from the opposite side a few moments later. Woodfall itself was a dead volcano, where the crater now housed a lake and the temple. The temple had stood for longer than anyone could remember; made out of large stone blocks, it stood large and impassive in the moonlight.

But the areas around the temple were anything but large and impassive. The armada's bombardment had landed right in the middle of the Ikaylimu's forces. Bodies of Dark Horde soldiers littered the small islands and floated dead in the water. Several of the islands were on fire, even chunks of the temple had been blasted off by the shelling. However, there were still threescore more Dark Horders than there were Dekus. High above the Woodfall Temple, a large floating fortress, an airship, hovered. Long ropes and ladders went from the ship down into the fortress. Saetoushei guessed that a hole had been cut through the ceiling of one of the upper rooms of the temple.

The Deku army threw themselves at the Dark Horders. Pandemonium reigned as metal clashed against metal and flesh as the two armies fought in the pale moonlight.

Cremina was like a wild beast with her javelin. She struck out wildly, the sharp blade piercing armor and skin, the hard wood shaft cracking against skulls. Saetoushei swung his blade, decapitating a Horder as more swarmed out of the temple.

“We must somehow get inside!” Saetoushei yelled to Drywood and Cremina as they hacked at the ever-growing numbers of enemy soldiers around them.

“We're a bit pressed for luck as it is,” Drywood yelled back. A lance from a Horder came from seemingly out of nowhere to pierce his arm. Drywood screamed in pain and hurled his dagger. It caught the Horder in the throat. Drywood pulled the lance from his arm and drew his sword with his other hand. “Maybe we should pull back.”

“We can't, not now.” Cremina replied, splitting an enemy's skull with the butt of the javelin's shaft.

Saetoushei cut down another soldiers and yelled over the cries of battle. “Hearken to me, Dekus! The temple, fight to the temple!”

The Deku army battled it's way through the teeming masses of Dark Horde soldiers to the entrance of the temple. Deku archers covered the main army, raining shafts of death into the soldiers. Saetoushei reached the entrance and turned, brandishing his blade at the Horders. He fought and slashed, bringing more soldiers down with his sword. The Dekus crowded into the temple behind him, Cremina and the archers coming in last. Saetoushei tore out the throat of one last soldier and hurled himself backwards into the temple. The Dekus slammed the main doors shut and hurried the latch into place.

“We did it!” Drywood said panting for breath.

As he did so, an arrow came from behind, striking Drywood in the back of the head. Cremina spun, calling the archers to her as she did so. “Soldiers from the rear! There's more inside.”

The Deku archers hurriedly slapped arrows back onto their bowstrings and returned fire at the Dark Horders that were shooting at them from across the room. Saetoushei raised his shield just in time to deflect an arrow coming right at him. The Dark Horders loosed another volley of shafts and pulled back into the depths of the temple.

Saetoushei knelt down next to Drywood's body. “Drywood! Drywood get up!”

But Lance Corporal Drywood would never again get up. Ever.

The depleted force cautiously entered the temple's main room. Fires from wall torches lit the enormous room spectacularly. Doors led off the walls from all sides of the room.

Saetoushei turned to the Dekus. “Corporal Drywood is dead. Who leads now?”

A Deku in the back raised his hand. “Private First Class Le'roso at your service, Commander.”

“I promote you to Corporal Le'roso, then. Come up here.”

Le'roso joined Saetoushei, Tael, and Cremina at the head of the army. Saetoushei said. “Listen, we don't know how many troops are inside the temple. What we do know is that, eventually, the troops outside are going to break back in. I say we split out forces three ways: one to take the first floor, one the second floor, and the third to head for the boss chamber. That is where the leaders of the Dark Horde forces here will be, I know it. Whoever holds the boss chamber holds the temple. Any suggestions?”

Cremina and Le'roso both agreed to the idea. They split the Deku army and started on their way: Cremina's force headed for the first door along the wall, while Le'roso's troops headed down the main staircase towards the first floor. Saetoushei and Tael led their force along the opposite side of the room from Cremina and headed for the gigantic, gold-flecked door at the opposite end.

Cremina opened the first door she came to. Inside was a small room filled with small puddles of water. And nothing else. Cremina shut the door and motioned for her troops to follow her. She crept along the wall to the next door.

This room was a bit different. It was about half the size of the main room and filled with water. Giant Venus Flytraps floated on the waters surface.

Cremina wasn't necessarily worried about them at the moment. She was more worried about the Dark Horders that shouted warnings to their brethren as soon as they saw her.

“Archers, up and front!” Cremina yelled, waving her javelin in the air. “Everyone else, charge!”
The Deku archers took up positions along the ledge's edge and loosed arrows at the Horders running around the opposite ledge towards them. The Horders who made it across ran headlong into Cremina's javelin, and the swords, lances, and throwing daggers of the Dekus. In a matter of short moments, the fight was over. Dark Horders lay dead on the ground, or else floating on the water.

All but one.

“Get him!” Cremina cried as the lone surviving Horder ran back along the ledges. One of the Deku archers sighted along her bow and fired. The arrow ripped out his left kneecap. He screamed and fell, slipping and sliding off the ledge. He fell end over end-

-until he landed on one of the Flytraps.

The carnivorous plant snapped it's jaws shut over him. Cremina could clearly hear snapping bone and the sick wet sounds of flesh and muscle being ripped apart.

A little while later, as Cremina's troops were leaving the room, heading for the next one, the plant spat out a collection of fragmented bones and pieces of half-digested flesh, all that remained of the Dark Horde soldier.

Saetoushei opened the gold door. It was much different than he remembered it. The giant room beyond the door was criss-crossed with catwalks that Horders patrolled. Before, the room had been inhabited with large electric dragonflies and the catwalks were not there. Instead, Saetoushei had had to transform into a Deku and use the large flowers to fly across to the opposite door. The flowers were not there anymore.

Saetoushei turned to the Dekus and whispered, “Who is your best shot here?”

The Dekus turned and parted to reveal Ariel. Saetoushei blinked with surprise. “Private, you're an archer? But why don't you have a bow?”

Ariel replied, “Commander sir, the archery unit was full when I was picked for the mission, sir. I was stationed on cavalry.”

Saetoushei quickly turned to one of the archers and said, “Give her your quiver and bow, soldier. Private Ariel, trade him your sword and shield.”

Ariel nervously gave her equipment to the archer, who seemed only too glad to have the shield. Saetoushei spoke quietly with Ariel. “I want you to take all the other archers and slowly move behind the piles of stones near this entrance. Spread out to cover more ground. When I yell “Charge”, start all the archers shooting. Take out as many Horders as you can, but make sure not to hit any of us. Understood?”

“Yes Commander, understood perfectly, sir.”

“Go.”

Corporal Le'roso stabbed a Horder with his sword. The first floor troops had entered a waterway. Wooden docks covered the room from wall to wall in a crucifix design, with stairs leading to the second floor on one wall.

Le'roso's forces surged out of the doorway, arrows flying through the air as the unsuspecting Horders in the room were quickly and viciously cut down. The Dekus didn't stop to celebrate the quick and easy victory; they moved up the stairs to the second floor, leaping nimbly from platform to platform. They hurried up the second set of winding stairs at the end of the corridor.

Le'roso and his troops emerged into an almost totally dark passageway. They cautiously progressed down the corridor until they emerged in a dimly lit circular room. Le'roso walked towards the door on the opposite side of the room when a scream made him spin around.

The Dekus were running towards him, away from one of their own. The lone Deku was struggling with what looked like a black ball of darkness. The ball suddenly had orange-red eyes. The Deku moaned as the darkness ball wrapped itself around his neck and pushed itself into his mouth.

“Black Boo! Everyone out!” Le'roso cried as he flung open the door, light from the next room spilling into the circle room. He moaned as the light revealed dozens of Black Boos looking at them. The Dekus piled through the door, scrambling to get to safety. Le'roso slammed the door closed, panting to breath as he surveyed his troops.

Five, he counted. Five Dekus were in the room behind them, all taken by the Boos.

“Now!”

Private Ariel leapt up from behind the stone pile she was hiding behind and loosed her first arrow. All along the row, the other archers were doing the same thing, firing shafts of death at the Dark Horde soldiers along the catwalks.

“Charge!” Saetoushei yelled as the remainder of the Deku army pounded along the catwalks, heading right into the surprised Horders. Mass confusion ensued as the Dekus cut down the Horders, some were knocked from the catwalks in the melee. Some Horders threw themselves from the planks, killing themselves rather than be killed by the vicious Dekus soldiers.

It was done in only a few minutes. The catwalk planks were dripping with blood and gore. The Dekus pushed the bodies off to make room for their troops.

“Commander, injury, over here sir!”

One of the Deku archers waved Saetoushei over. Ariel lay on the ground, an arrow sticking out of her heart, her left breast disfigured. Saetoushei knelt down beside the Deku. “Ariel, are you alright?”

The Deku Private chuckled weakly. “'Course I am, sir. Nothing I won't recover from.”

Saetoushei looked at her. “What do you mean. That arrow's in your heart.”

Private Ariel chuckled again. “The Dark Horder that got me made the same mistake sir.” To Saetoushei's astonishment, Ariel reached up and snapped off the arrow's shaft, pulling the arrowhead free. “You forget, sir, Deku anatomy is different from humans. Our hearts are on the right.”

A wave of intense relief flooded through Saetoushei. “Thank the Goddesses! Yes I remember now!”

Ariel grimaced, placing her hand over the wound. “Still hurts like Hell, through. Got a rib, lot of muscle too.”

Saetoushei looked at the Dekus. “Anyone here with some medical training?”

One of the Dekus standing next to him nodded. “I'm a field medic, sir.”

“Stay here with the Private and tend to her wound. The rest of you, follow me.”

Saetoushei straightened up, seizing his sword again. His eyes blazed. Ariel had been the only casualty of the fight on the catwalks. Eyes glaring straight ahead, Saetoushei and the Dekus marched straight across the catwalk to the door on the opposite side. He pulled it open and strode into the boss chamber.

Cremina and her forces retreated back into the main room of the Woodfall Temple. They had progressed straight into what she thought was the main garrison for the Dark Hordes in the temple. At least fourscore more troops than she had had forced her backwards.

“Archers, defensive positions along the rim! All other Dekus, line up and prepare to make a stand!” Cremina yelled, raising her javelin. The Dark Horders flooded the main room. Cremina threw herself into the melee, the Dekus right behind her. Blades clashed together as the two armies met in fierce battle.

Cremina was losing, and he knew it. There were too many Horders for her small force to win against. Several Dekus went down in front of her to the long lances and blades of the Horders. Cremina readied herself for one final charge. A kamikaze maneuver and she knew that as well, but she didn't have any other choices or chances-

“Charge!!!”

Corporal Le'roso and his troops hurtled through a door on the other end of the and leapt onto the unprotected backs of the Horders. Cremina's face broke out into a wild smile as she redoubled her efforts, killing another Horder. The Deku archers fired arrow after arrow into the Dark Hordes, bringing down many more.

Moments later, Cremina clapped Le'roso on the back as the two forces regrouped near the golden door. “Corporal, good timing.”

“Naturally, M'lady.” Le'roso replied. “The first floor and the western side of the second is clear. How does your battle go?”

“The eastern side is clear as well.” Cremina replied. “That just leaves…”

They turned to the golden door. Saetoushei's group hadn't returned yet.

The boss chamber of the Woodfall Temple was just as Saetoushei remembered it. Bright clay and other dyes had been pounded into the walls, and gemstones have been woven into the clay, making the room sparkle. The room was large and circular, with a throne at the opposite end from the door.

The beauty of the boss chamber was lost on Saetoushei as he glared at the figure seated in the throne. The figure that made his blood run cold.

“Jasper.”

Captain Jasper Baldwin, BCTB retired, lounged in the temple's throne. His short brown hair had been dyed black, with lavender streaks. It hung in one long neat braid down his back. He was dressed in a velvet tunic that had the same crest woven on the front that the Dark Horde soldiers carried on their shields. A flowing cape of gold hung around his shoulders.

He looked up at the newcomers at the sound of his name.

“Who are you? Who dares entered my chamber?” He demanded, casting his dark eyes over Saetoushei and the Dekus. “How did a little bunch of flowers like you get in here?”

Saetoushei strode to the center of the room and pointed his sword at his former comrade. “Stand up.”

Jasper seemed unused to being ordered around. He straightened in the throne and glared at Saetoushei. “What did you say?”

“I said `Stand up', you worthless pile of s-“

“How dare you stand there and speak to the Minister-of-State of the noble Kingdom of Ikama, second in command to the Ikaylimu Descrod himself, like that. I demand to know who you are!”

Saetoushei lowered his sword, a mad light gleaming in his eyes. “Hello Jasper.”

Jasper was taken aback. “How do you know my name. Again, who are you?”

“It's been far, far too long, Jasper.” Saetoushei whispered crazily, slowly walking towards the throne. “Far too long, indeed. I came back to find that we are the only three Bombers left. How sad, I was hoping to see my old friend Ryojen again. But he's dead, and you killed him.”

Jasper's eyes widened in horror and he leapt to his feet, his voice quaking, “No, no it cannot be! You're dead, I killed you too! Stay away from me, Takeru Saotome!”

Saetoushei laughed. “T.K.? You think I'm T.K.? Ha! Wrong, try again Jasper!”

Jasper reached into his robes and pulled out a long dagger. “Ghost or poltergeist, it doesn't matter. If you are not Takeru, then for the final time, before my patience completely gives out, who…are…YOU!”

“I have a new name now, one which you would never recognize, Jasper. But you once knew me as…Link.”

Cremina and Le'roso's forces hurried through the gold door. They halted in shock at the sight of the catwalks, once pearly white, now crimson with blood.

“Le'roso!”

The call came from the side of the room. Cremina and Le'roso turned to see the Deku medic and Ariel slowly making their way across to them.

“Private Frederick, what happened here?” Le'roso demanded.

“Well, Corporal, we ambushed a task force of Dark Horders that were guarding the walkways. Private Ariel was shot with an arrow, minimal damage. She was the only casualty. Commander Saetoushei ordered me to treat her and remain here while he brought the rest of the force to the boss chamber.”

As the medic finished his explanation, a scream issued from the door on the other side of the catwalks. Cremina raised her javelin. “C'mon everyone, there's a little more fight to be had.”

As the Dekus followed Cremina, Ariel turned to Frederick. “I want to help, I want to fight. Help me to the chamber.”

Jasper's dagger clanked to the floor as he let out a horrified gasp. “No! No, it can't be! You're dead, the mask killed you seven years ago!”

“I killed Majora's Mask, Jasper. It never killed me. I left, and now I'm back.”

Jasper reached into his tunic and pulled out a round, ovular object. “Even ghosts cannot stop magic. Let's see if you've still got it, Captain!”

Jasper hurled the object into the air. Saetoushei's eyes followed it. Just as he realized what it was, the Deku Nut exploded. Blinding white light filled the room. Everyone was forced to shield their eyes.

When the light faded, Saetoushei rapid blinked, trying to force the sparks to fade from his vision. A terrible roaring filled the room. Saetoushei looked up to see that the ceiling had opened up. He could not see the sky, for it was dominated by the Ikaylimu's zeppelin. The ladders that connected the airship to the temple hung in midair. An enormous shape was climbing down the ladders towards them. It jumped down the next twenty feet to land upright in the center of the boss chamber.

The creature was at least ten feet wall, humanoid, with giant horns protruding from it's head. It was covered in chain mail and hefted a giant sword.

Jasper's voice called out mockingly over the roar of the zeppelin's engines. “Try him out for size, poltergeist! This is Montothria. The Ikaylimu hasn't fed him in a while!”

Saetoushei locked eyes with the creature. Warm saliva dripped from it's fangs and it's eyes held Saetoushei's gaze evenly. The door behind them suddenly swung open. Saetoushei turned to see Cremina and Le'roso's Dekus hurry into the room.

“Hold, hold I say!” Saetoushei yelled at them. “Stay back!”

It was then, when Saetoushei had his back to him, that Montothria struck.

The beast roared and charged at Saetoushei, swinging it's giant blade right at Saetoushei's head. Saetoushei turned and barely had time to block the sword with his own before his head was cleaved in two. Montothria struck again and again, forcing Saetoushei to dance backwards.

The Dekus had formed a circle around the two combatants, cavalry with their swords and spears pointed, archers with arrows on bowstrings, pulled taut, ready to fire. But Dekus are creatures with a strong sense of honor. The Hylian had forbade them from interfering, and they wouldn't unless he said otherwise.

Saetoushei jumped over the swinging blade, striking out with his own sword. No matter how hard he tried, the beast's sword kept him too far back. Montothria's reach was too much longer than Saetoushei's.

Then the monster lowered it's head and struck out with it's horns. Saetoushei screamed as the pointed horns ripped a long gash up the entirety of his left arm. His sword arm. His sword fell from his grasp to clatter upon the floor.

Ariel and Frederick staggered into the boss chamber just in time to see Saetoushei lose his sword. Ariel pulled herself upright, pulling her bow from over her shoulder. “I have to help him.”

Frederick looked doubtful. “Are you sure that is wise? I heard the commander tell everyone not to interfere.”

“He was addressing everyone in the room. We were outside. Doesn't apply.”

“That's shaky ground, Private.”

But Ariel was not longer listening to the medic. She sighted along the line of her bow, taking careful aim…

Saetoushei's mind reeled with pain. His entire left arm had gone dumb. He fought with his own senses, trying to force his vision to clear, trying to make his right arm grab for his sword. Just as his body started to function, just as his arm was reaching for the sword, Montothria roared in victory and raised his sword over his head-

-an arrow shot out of nowhere and thudded into the beast's left eye. The monster screamed in pain, turning away from Saetoushei to seek out it's other attacker.

Ariel loosed her arrow, not even looking to see if it struck. She was looking upwards, towards the airship that dominated the sky. The monster screamed, indicating that her arrow had been true.

Ariel used her eyes, toned from her training as an archer to look for what she hoped was there. She looked up through the hole in the ceiling into the open hatch of the zeppelin.

Bingo! She found it, the airship's fuel tank. It would have been near the hatch for easy refueling. Ariel ripped the bandage from her chest, wincing at the pain as oxygen flooded the wound and the bandage nipped at her skin. She began wrapping the cloth of the bandage around the head of another arrow.

“Ariel, what are you doing?” Frederick cried.

Ariel turned to him. “You have flint and timber, right? Start making a fire, I need a flame, now!”

Montothria turned away from Saetoushei, seeking the Deku that blinded it's left side.

That was the horrific creature's last mistake.

Saetoushei's right hand closed around the handle of his sword and brought it up. With all the strength he had left in him, he coiled his spine and leapt up into the air. Landing on the creature's back, Saetoushei raised his sword and stabbed downward.

The sword's blade slammed into the monster's skull, striking straight through Montothria's head and coming out through his chin. The monster stiffened and collapsed, dark blood pouring from the wounds in it's head.

Then Saetoushei started breathing easily again.

Frederick's small fire burst into flames right as the monster fell. Ariel thrust the cloth-covered arrowhead into the flames until it lit. Ariel sighted along the shaft of the arrow, keen eyes searching again for the fuel tank. She found it, aimed the arrow, pulled back on the string with all of her might, and let the arrow fly.

Ariel and Frederick were the only ones in the temple looking, and only Ariel could see exactly what happened, but anyone outside the temple would see a flaming arrow come shooting out of the temple's roof and fly upwards into the airship. Ariel saw the fire-arrow enter the zeppelin, saw it strike the fuel tank, saw the arrowhead pierce the tank, saw the gasoline inside flow out over the flames-

-The zeppelin exploded in a giant fireball. The sound of the metal sheets ripping themselves apart, coupled with the dying screams of the ship's crew and soldier compliment, caused everyone in the boss chamber to look up. The explosion lit up the night sky, so much that every creature in the swamp could take it in.

Admiral Epstig stood with Commodore Trikg and Romani on the deck of the Greenfang, watching the zeppelin rip itself apart. Flaming chunks of metal and human bodies rained down over the swamp.

“Well,” the Admiral noted, “I think that means we've won.”

Saetoushei cradled his injured arm as Frederick bandaged it tightly. He gazed sternly at Ariel, who stood in front of him with a new bandage over her wound.

“I thought I said to stay out of my fight.” Saetoushei said quietly.

Private Ariel hung her head. “You did, sir. I disobeyed your orders.”

“You instead saved my life, possibly the lives of everyone in this room, and you single-handedly destroyed the Ikaylimu's flying fortress.”

Ariel raised her head.

“For that, I promote you to Lieutenant. Congratulations, Lieutenant Ariel.”

The little Deku was immediately surrounded by her comrades, who were clapping her on the back and giving hugs.

“Lieutenant Ariel,” Saetoushei called out over the din of the Dekus. “Would you please sit on the throne of the Woodfall Temple to confirm out victory here?”

Ariel saluted Saetoushei and run up to the throne and sat down.

Commander Saetoushei swung up his sword into the air with his right arm and shouted, “Woodfall is ours once again!”

Cremina and the Dekus raised their arms and cheered.