Fan Fiction ❯ The Legend of Zelda: The Ballad of Fallen Angels ❯ Of Politics And Battle ( Chapter 15 )

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

Chapter 15: “Of Politics And Battle”

Saetoushei slept deeply that night, though he dreamed. And they were dreams filled with nightmares and images he wished not to be able to see. Strange black horses carried demonic-looking figures into battle against equally evil creatures. Blood ran like crimson rivers along empty city streets. And at the center of all of this carnage was Augustine Descrod, head raised to the heavens, laughing.

He woke with a violent start, pain ripping into his skull as he became fully conscious again. They were lying at the bottom level of Stone Tower, looking up at the forever-rolling boulders of rock that criss-crossed the upper levels. A cool breeze blew through the tower.

Tatl had attended to him all night, using her healing powers at great strain to herself. Sometime during the night, she must have become so low of magic that she appealed to the Great Fairy of the Canyon, Minck, to come aid her. Now Tatl slept on a low outcropping of rock, and Minck sat cross-legged, floating about a foot off the ground, watching over both of them.

Saetoushei struggled to sit up, but Minck gently forced him back down. “It is not the time to rise, brave warrior. You are still weak, and your body is still broken in many places. A couple of days at the most, and you will be back to perfect.”

“I cannot, madam.” Saetoushei gasped out. “For I have friends who are still prisoners of Descrod.”

“That is where you are wrong, Saetoushei. For I have heard the whispered rumors of their escape, and at sunrise this past dawn, I witnessed the punishment to the seven soldiers who the Ikaylimu believes let them escape. All seven were crucified and left for the carrion birds to feast upon.”

Saetoushei asked, “Do you know where they are now?”

Minck replied, “Nay, for I cannot read the future, nor see events without laying my eyes upon them, but, if one was to think logically, I believe that they would return to Clock Town to seek sanctuary.”

Saetoushei relaxed. “Yes. Yes, you're right. The girls are smart. They will be safe now.”

Two days later, tired, dirty, and hungry, Tael and the girls stumbled through the gate to East Clock Town. Since leaving Sakon's hideout, they had had no food and little rest, forcing themselves to go on. They were safe once they passed through the Ravine of Ghosts, but the journey took it's toll on all of them.

Grammo, Captain Mikhail's second-in-command, met them at the gate and brought them to the Laundry Pond, and from there, into the hidden rooms the resistance was using as it's base.

“My dears, you have all suffered greatly,” Grammo said as she sat them down on cots placed in the hideaway. “Doubtless the Captain wishes for you to rest. There is great trouble in the town. Mayor Doyour is enraged at what has happened in Ikama. He wants your heads, not literally of course, but he insists on all involved being brought to justice.”

“What is the Mayor's version of justice, madam?” Kari asked.

“Well, not to worry for yourself, for the Mayor will never harm one who is not a citizen of Clock Town. But as for the others, serious harm might befall them. Long term imprisonment, most likely.”

Romani struggled to her feet. “Grammo, can you get us new clothes? In a few days, we'll all go to Doyour and apply for his help.”

Grammo looked startled. “But he will merely throw you in jail. Is this really what you want?”

“He won't expect us to go to him. It will catch him off-guard.” Romani replied. Then, to herself, “At least, I hope it does.”

Three days later, Saetoushei was carefully making his way around the bottom level of Stone Tower. He was nearly back to normal. Tatl and Minck had performed a miracle with their combined healing skills.

A whistle caught Saetoushei's attention, and he turned to see Tatl flying towards him. He smiled, remembering the adventures they had together when he was a child.

The little fairy landed in her old spot, right on his head. “Hey down there! Whatcha thinking about?”

“Nothing really. I'm just wondering when and how we are going to get back to Clock Town.”

Tatl replied, “I see your point. We'd have to leave at night definitely. In broad daylight we'd be hard-pressed to make it to Sakon's place.”

Another whistle sounded across the tower. The pair looked to see Minck waiting for them by the entrance to the tower. They hurried over to her.

Minck was holding something wrapped in a blue cloth in her arms. She held it out to Saetoushei, saying, “Saetoushei, soon you shall leave Ikama, and never return. Do not ask me how I know this, I just have a feeling. I recruited Sakon the thief to search for your personal effects in the castle. He recovered your shield, and is holding it at his hideout. However, the Ikaylimu has destroyed your sword.”

Noting the dismayed look on Saetoushei's face, Minck continued, “However, a sword is merely a sword. Any sword can be used for good or evil, depending on the bearer. Last night, I and the fairies I care for put coal into our furnace and added large quantities of fairy magic to the metal as it cooled. We made this for you.”

Minck unwrapped the item from the blue cloth, and Saetoushei gasped, “A Great Fairy's Sword? Minck, this is too much to ask for, I cannot accept such a gift as this.”

“Then don't consider it a gift, humble warrior.” Minck replied, a twinkle in her eye. “Consider it a tool, presented to you by one of the Great Fairies. A tool to be used to save Termina from a terrible person.”

“Thank you, Minck.”

Just as Saetoushei's hand closed around the sword's hilt, Minck stiffened. Saetoushei stared in horror as an arrow seemed to grow out of Minck's chest. The Great Fairy looked down at it in wonder, then dropped to the ground.

A dozen Dark Horde soldiers strode up the path towards them, arrows being fitted on bowstrings and swords being unsheathed.

Romani, Cremina, and Hikari, dressed the best clothes they could lay their hands on, walked with Grammo to the Mayor's Residence three days after they returned to Clock Town. They had bathed, eaten, and regained their lost sleep. Now they hoped to win the Mayor's favor and assistance.

Captain Mikhail met them outside the Mayor's office. Beside him stood a heavy-set woman with graying red hair and a strong look on her face.

Mikhail saluted them as they approached. “Good day, to all of you. Today will either be a glorious victory for the side of good, or another setback along the road to liberation.”

Kari nodded to the woman with Mikhail. “Who is this, then?”

Mikhail replied, “This is the Mayor's wife and chief advisor, Madam Aroma.”

Kari quickly bowed to the woman. “My apologies, Madam. Please forgive me for my rudeness.”

Madam Aroma's stern expression masked her true heart of gold. “Think nothing of it, Madam Zora. It takes much more than something so trivial to get me going.”

Mikhail said, addressing Romani and Cremina. “Here, I held on to these for you while you were gone. Put them on, make the Mayor think this is more than just a plea for help.”

He handed the girls their military insignias Queen Melondia had promoted them to. The sisters quickly pinned the medals on.

“This way, since Her Majesty already has extended her hand to Mayor Doyour if war breaks out, we can use that to our advantage. Now, chins up, shoulders straight, let's go.”

The Mayor's office was lined with bookshelves filled with volumes of Terminian law. A large window on the far wall let glorious sunlight into the beautiful room. A large wooden desk sat near the window.

Seated in the chair behind the desk, Mayor Doyour of Clock Town was hunched over various documents dealing both mundane and interesting items of business, such as planning permissions for the annual carnival. He was almost half a foot shorter than his wife and didn't have the strong aura about him that Aroma had. Instead, he looked tired, with years of stress and worry etched into his face.

He looked up as the group entered. “Hello Aroma, Captain, and who do we have here?”

Madam Aroma walked to stand by her husband as Mikhail straightened. “Mayor Doyour, it is my honor to present Lieutenants Romani and Cremina, representatives from Her Majesty Queen Melondia of the Southern Swamp. And Mistress Hikari of the Zora, all to see you on an important matter.”

Doyour sat up in his chair, rubbing sleep from his eyes. “A dignified assembly, indeed. Pray tell, madams, what is this important matter?”

Cremina stepped forward. “Mayor Doyour, Her Majesty wishes to make inquiries about the formation of an alliance between Clock Town and the Southern Swamp. Nearly three weeks ago, armed soldiers under order from the Ikaylimu Augustine Descrod himself, planned and executed an unprovoked invasion of Her Majesty's territory. The forces of Ikama were driven back by the massed Deku army, led into battle by Captain, or as I should now say, Commander Saetoushei, formerly of Clock Town's Bombers.”

Romani continued, “Mr. Mayor, Queen Melondia has extended a hand to Clock Town and to all of Termina, asking for an alliance. Her Majesty feels that Ikaylimu Descrod will not rest now that his bid for the swamp has failed. Mr. Mayor, please help us. If Descrod is not opposed now, it may be too late-“

The Mayor's fist slammed down onto his desk, an angry look in his face. “Just what do you take me for, madam, a fool? The Ikaylimu Descrod is already upset with Clock Town, as well he should be, for nearly a week ago, a group of assassins, claiming Clock Town residence, tried to murder the Ikaylimu. Luckily, their plot was discovered and all now lie dead at the base of the cliff. I'm trying to prevent a war, young lady, and I don't believe that you know what you're asking me to do, it's insane!”

“Are you aware that Descrod is telling you lies already, Mayor Doyour?” Kari blurted out, unable to control herself. “Because not all of the members of the assassination team are dead. Three of them are standing in front of you right now.”

Mayor Doyour's face flushed. “I thought I recognized your names. Romani, Cremina, the two milkmaids. What happened, did farm life get too boring for you? Which reminds me, taxes are due and you are behind. I assume you cannot pay them, is this correct?”

When neither of the sisters answered, the Mayor continued, “I thought not. Captain Mikhail, please escort the sisters to the prison, and Madam Hikari to the hotel, or the town gates, whichever you prefer.”

Romani was looking for a way out when Mikhail whispered in her ear, “Just come along quietly, I'll get you out of here.” Loudly to the Mayor, the Captain said, “Sir, wouldn't it be better to let all three leave Clock Town peacefully. Because the sister are here as diplomats for Her Majesty Queen Melondia. They were escorted to the outer gate by a full compliment of Deku soldiers and Her Majesty's royal courier. It would be a diplomatic incident it we were to imprison them.”

Doyour looked outraged but said, in a quick crisp voice. “Fine then, please escort all of them out of my city at once!”

Outside the office, Mikhail turned to the girls, “I hope you realize how much is riding on you. I just lied to my superior for the first time in my career. Oh well, I suppose it can no longer be helped. Madam Aroma will try to change the Mayor's mind, as will I and the rest of the resistance. You three must leave, it is too dangerous to hide you in Clock Town, even at the Laundry Pond. Is there anywhere you could go?”

“Back to the ranch, I guess.” Romani said with a shrug of her shoulders. “Or to the swamp. We could try to raise a Deku army, hold off Descrod that way.”

“It wouldn't work,” Kari countered. “The Dekus, brave and crazy as they are, could never hold off the Ikaylimu's entire force. I have an idea, though.”

Saetoushei stepped over Minck's fallen form as the Horders came charging up the hill toward him. “Tatl, help her!”

“You're not fully healed yet, Saetoushei!” Tatl cried out. “You can't fight yet, don't-“

But Saetoushei, his blood boiling and his teeth mashing together, screamed at the top of his lungs and leapt from the top of the hill, right into the center of the Dark Hordes. He swung the Great Fairy's Sword and decapitated a Horder with a single blow. Saetoushei was like a demon, he was everywhere at once, hacking at one Horder before spinning to stab another through the ribs. Blood rained down onto the ground as the blade bisected muscle and flesh. The screams of the dying echoed throughout the tower.

When it was over, Tatl looked at Saetoushei. He was kneeling on one knee, leaning on the point of the sword, breathing hard. All around him the shredded corpses of the Horders stained the ground.

“Saetoushei…?” Tatl asked tentatively.

Saetoushei pulled himself to his feet. “How is Minck?”

“She didn't make it, Saetoushei. She's gone.”

Saetoushei stood over Minck's body as the fairy slowly vanished from his sight. He turned to Tatl. “We need to get out of Ikama, right now!”

“But it's the middle of the day. How're we to escape undetected?” Tatl asked.

“Too late for that now.” Saetoushei replied. “Just run. Or fly, in your case. Go for the cliff, it's not that far down.”

Tatl exclaimed, “You mean to just leap off the edge?”

Saetoushei smirked, “Hey, I did it once before.”

“Everything going to plan?” Tatl asked Saetoushei some time later.

“Shut up and fly!” Saetoushei shouted in reply.

They had made it past the main castle gate and were approaching the cliff when what seemed like Descrod's entire army came running after them. Arrows, lances, and javelins whizzed through the air, each one coming a little bit closer to piercing either of them.

“Tatl, the edge's almost here!” Saetoushei yelled to the fairy. “Just fly, I'll be fine!”

“No, Saetoushei, wait-!”

Too late. Saetoushei reached the edge of the cliff and hurled himself over the edge. It was about a seventy-five foot drop to the river below. He'd survived the plunge when he was ten, he hoped his luck lasted one more time.

The Horders lined the cliff-top in silence, watching their target jackknife into the water far below. The Horde captain with them whistled. “Either he's an idiot, or he knows what he's doing.”

It was mid-afternoon when the group left Clock Town. Captain Mikhail had smuggled them out through the gate in West Clock Town, claiming them to be wrongfully accused prisoners the Mayor was releasing.

“Well that could have gone worse.” Hikari muttered to herself as they descended the stairs to the main field.

“I don't see how,” Romani countered. “He did everything but threaten to kill us outright.

Tael, who they had retrieved from the Laundry Pond before leaving, said, “Just be thankful that he didn't threaten you, or else you wouldn't be talking right now.”

“So, what's your plan, Kari?” Cremina asked.

Kari answered, “We have the support of the Dekus, and Clock Town kicked us out. I'm really not up for climbing Snowhead Mountain to talk with the Gorons, so I'm thinking we go seeking out my fellow Zoras. I'm sure they'll help in some way.”

“I hope you're right, Kari. I really do.” Romani said.

Cremina said nothing, merely slipping her hand into Kari's. Kari squeezed the hand as they walked towards the entrance to the bay, the bright red sun continuing it's decent to the horizon, bathing the country in a frightening red glow.