Fan Fiction ❯ The Legend of Zelda: The Ballad of Fallen Angels ❯ The Battle For Hyrule Castle Part I: Defense At The Outer Wall ( Chapter 23 )

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

Chapter 23: “The Battle For Hyrule Castle Part I:

Defense At The Outer Wall”

It was midmorning when Saetoushei created the top of a hill in the middle of Hyrule Field that he was able to finally see the castle, and when he did, his heart sank. Not only was Descrod here, but his army looked even bigger than it had when Descrod had brought it through the Ravine of Ghosts.

Igus stopped beside him, having a better vantage point from the top of his steed than from the ground. “From what I can see, the battle has already started. Descrod's forces have the queen's bottled up inside the castle, however, it doesn't appear that they have made much progress in breaching the walls.”

Saetoushei turned to the army. “I need every single Zora here now.”

Kaiser Reguge Zarana strode forward with all the other Zoras, including Kari and Localo, behind him. Saetoushei walked up to Reguge. Pointing to the left, he said, “A short walk from here is a river. It leads straight to the castle, and is the source of water for the outer moat. Take your warriors and swim to the moat. You can come up from the front of the Horders when then won't be suspecting a thing. Do not attack until you hear me yell the signal, which is “For Clock Town”.”

Reguge grinned. “Ah, water. A splendid idea, Saetoushei.” With that, the Kaiser led his species down towards the river.

Saetoushei then turned to Queen Melondia. Pointing to the right, he said, “Take the Dekus. A little ways in this direction lies a wall covered in vines. The Dekus can easily scale this wall. Run along the top and you'll be able to climb up onto the wall of the castle. From there, you can leap down onto the Horders from above when they won't be expecting it. If any of the soldiers or guards tries to halt you, tell them to inform the queen that “Time” has sent you to help fight. Do not attack until you hear me yell the signal.”

Melondia nodded. “Very well, we will do all we can.” With that, the Dekus trotted off towards the vine-covered wall.

Next Saetoushei turned to Ikaylimu Igus de Ikama and General Keeta. “Ikaylimu, you and your Shadow Riders will be most useful in this attack. However, this is the plan for the foot soldiers. I am very aware of the undead's ability to burrow underground and travel quickly that way. General Keeta, you and the foot soldiers of the army burrow and dig yourselves underneath the Dark Hordes. When you hear the signal, leap out and join the fray.”

Igus nodded. Keeta saluted Saetoushei and signaled to his troops. Within a matter of seconds, the infantry of the Grand Imperial Army and their commander vanished underneath the ground. Turning to the remainder of the army, Saetoushei said, “Mikhail, Swiftstroke, Anastasia. Let us split the army four ways and each take one. We must work together on this, we must not let ourselves be overcome by delusions of grandeur, not that I'm saying that any of us would.”

The others nodded. Saetoushei turned to look back towards the castle, where the battle raged. “And now, we fight!”

General Batavian scowled as another soldier on the wall fell to the deadly accuracy of Descrod's archers. They were losing men too fast; the only bit of security Batavian could feel was that the wall would hold. The perimeter wall of Hyrule Castle had never fallen before, and he was sure it would not fall now.

Another volley of arrows whizzed by overhead. Batavian ducked as still another soldier lost his life as one of the shafts buried itself in his neck.

“Damn it stop, all soldiers drop down beneath the parapets!” Batavian yelled over the din of battle. Instantly the soldiers of the Hylian Royal Army fell flap and combat-crawled towards the stairwells that led to the lower levels of the battlements.

“Ikaylimu!”

Descrod turned from his survey of the battle to see Pulleiarno, the captain of Descrod's army, run up to him. “My liege, the explosives are ready, organized by your specifics, and in place. We await your orders.”

Descrod smiled and reached into his pocket. He withdrew what appeared to be a small wind-up clock. “Take this and attach it at the annex of all the detonation fuses. Set the timer for ten minutes, that should be good enough.”

Pulleiarno bowed and took the detonator, turning on his heel to run back through the field. Descrod threw his head back and laughed, “Everything goes according to plan, just like I knew it would!”

Turning back to the battlefield, he heard a faint rumbling sound growing from behind him. Spinning, his jaw dropped as he saw a full army pounding down the slopes in front of Hyrule Castle, waving their weapons and stampeding right towards him. Descrod frowned as he perceived that they were all yelling something. He strained to make out what they were yelling.

“For Clock Town!”

And that's when all Hell broke loose.

At the sound of the frightening war cry, the ground underneath them seemed to boil and roll, as skeletons dug themselves out right in the middle of the Horders. Strange aquatic creatures leapt out of the moat directly in front of the first line of Horders and struck out at them with sharp-bladed weapons and drew their victims back into the moat with them. Small, plant-like creatures seemed to fall out of the sky, hurtling onto the heads of the Horders. The large, stampeding force crashed into the rear lines of the Horders; large tough-skinned creatures rolled and crushed several Horders, humans with scimitars and lances and pikes stabbed through the rear lines, demonic horsemen bolted through the crowds on their skeletal horses.

Within a matter of moments, absolute panic gripped everyone on the battle field. Saetoushei ran a Horder through with his sword. Yanking it out of the corpse, he spun quickly and decapitated another. Igus de Ikama lashed out with his enormous broadsword from the top of his steed, forcing dozens of Horders back with one sword blow. The Gorons had found it fun it bodily pick up Horders and hurl them into their comrades.

But eventually the numbers played against them. The Horders became more organized and began fighting better. Zoras killed by the moat, Guardsmen and Brethren fell under the concentrated Horde forces.

Batavian peeked out over the top of the battlements. He could hardly believe his eyes as he watched the two armies clash together.

Impa was suddenly beside him. “Do you recognize any of them?”

“Not by name,” Batavian replied. “I see many Gorons and Zoras that could belong to the tribes on Death Mountain and in Zora's Domain, but do my eyes deceive me, or am I watching Deku Scrubs fighting with them? And I don't at all recognize the uniforms worn by some of the humans, however, the rest of them appear to be wearing attire that reminds me of the Gerudos.”

Impa strained her eyes to search through the crowd. Suddenly she gasped and straightened on the battlements. Batavian grabbed her and yanked her back down. “Are you mad? What's gotten into you?”

Impa looked at him. “He's out there, right now, fighting for us. I can't believe it. I thought he would never return here after he last left.”

Batavian frowned at the Chief Magistrate. “Who's there? What are you talking about?”

Impa opened her mouth to answer, and the wall collapsed under them.

An enormous explosion rocked the very air around them. Both armies unintentionally halted to stare at the horrific spectacle before them.

The great perimeter wall around Hyrule Castle seemed to visibly rock and buckle in front of their eyes. A gigantic explosion ripped it's way upwards and outwards, expanding through the entire height of the wall and hurling large chunks of rock and debris everywhere. With a terrible grating and groaning noise, the wall buckled and collapsed in front of them.

Then there was silence.

The silence was broken by the Horders, who cheered at the sight of the wall's fall. Then the enraged cries of the reinforcements who began the attack anew.

Descrod fought his way through opposing forces and members of his own army to reach the gap in the wall. Turning, he screamed behind, “If you are loyal to Descrod, follow me. Those who please me shall be rewarded beyond their absolute wildest dreams!”

Immediately the army turned and made for their leader. Opposition forces tried vainly to hold them back, but the sheer number of Horders pounding for the shattered wall knocked them back.

Tatl ran into Saetoushei. “They've broken through the wall! Descrod and his goons just went through the hole. Come on!”

Saetoushei scrambled for the wall, Tatl zooming after him. A hand on his shoulder made him spin. It was Romani.

“I want to come with you!” she yelled. “I want to help fight!”

Saetoushei replied, “If anything get some of the Deku archers and block off that hole in the wall. Don't let anymore Horders inside.”

Romani screamed, “That's not good enough!”

“Why not? What's wrong with you?”

“Because I don't want you to get yourself killed, that's why not!” Romani yelled, shoving him with both hands.

As Saetoushei stumbled backwards, something fell out of his tunic. He stopped and looked down.

Bending over, he carefully picked up the Ocarina of Time. Holding the sacred instrument in his hands, he suddenly perceived a ten year-old Zelda handing the instrument to a ten year-old Link as he prepared to go off to find Navi.

“When you hold this Ocarina in your hands,” Zelda had reminded him, “you hold time itself in your hands.”

Saetoushei shook his head, cleared it, looked back at Romani. The archer was standing in front of him, tears rolling down her cheeks. Saetoushei stepped closer to her and pressed his lips to hers. Romani returned the kiss with equal passion.

They broke, pulled away.

“I won't get killed if you don't.” Saetoushei said simply, and turned, and leapt through the gaping hole in the perimeter wall. Romani looked after him, and turned back to the battlefield. She seized an arrow and yanked it out of her quiver. Fitting it on her bow, she aimed and shot a Horder in the head. Pulling arrow after arrow from the quiver, she started pouring them into the ranks of Horders remaining outside the walls.

A/N: Please read and REVIEW, it would be very nice..