Endless War

IV

"Welcome back Link. I've been waiting over 10,000 years for you to return." 

- Great Deku Tree

Hyrule Castle - 06:23:15

The sun's rays were finally coming up over the horizon, but it had not quite warmed the land beneath it yet. For Link, this was fine. With the empty void within him, he felt that nothing could warm him up enough for his meeting with his oldest friend.

Private Soap's rather accidental discovery was immediately relayed up the chain of command to the King himself, who exercised for the first time in years by running to Link's room in the guards' barracks. With much shouting, cursing, and cold water, Link was finally able to come around to the King's order that he go right away to the Lost Woods and pull out the sword. Never mind that this was three in the morning, or that it was so cold outside that even the Rito were wearing fur coats; no, after months of waiting Rhoam could wait no more.

Clad in only a green tunic and a rather elfish hat, Link and his entourage of two soldiers crossed the freezing cold river and ran across the green fields to the Lost Woods, where the report had come in from a rather oddball lieutenant who always wore a skull mask. There was no point asking for directions, Ghost had said: Anybody who dared to enter the Lost Woods better have their bladder emptied, because they were about to have the ride of their life.

It was at this moment that the guards turned pale white. They were not afraid of being teleported around the forest - indeed, it sounded rather thrilling - but of losing the princess' favored one. So the three decided that, in order not to get separated, they would all hold hands just in case. It was a strange sight to be sure, three men holding hands as they carefully took tiny steps so as to not stray too far off the beaten path.

Needless to say, the first attempts failed. No one could accurately navigate the Lost Woods, which was why it was one of the few unexplored places. Talking to the one they called Soap also did no good; he had only found the sword because of a misadventure. Can you imagine how frustrating it was for them, to know that the sword was within their grasp, and yet they could only barely brush their fingertips against it, never quite catching it? I felt sorry for them, I won't lie.

It was after their 58th - or was it the 60th? - attempt that one soldier finally noticed a torch burning in the distance. This one said it must be a clue. The other one, always on the pessimistic side, said no, it's a trap. It was a lead, the other had argued, and they had no leads left. This was their last chance or else all would fail. Soldier number two still resisted, afraid they would head right into an ambush, and so the first soldier switched tactics, shaming his compatriot in the way soldiers do, with speculative commentary about whether or not he had any crown jewels. And so, furious with his partner, he ran straight at the torch.

Here I can't decide whether I should congratulate the first soldier or the second soldier, as they finally, finally, did not teleport to some obscure part of the forest. And from there on, it was fairly simple, with Link leading the party deeper into the Lost Woods.

Fast forward a minute or two or thirty, and then Link finally found himself face to face with the legendary sword itself...along with a ginormous tree who claimed that he had visited him over 10,000 years ago. Of course, Link had no recollection of this, though he did listen to the tree's rather outdated speech on how he needed the spiritual courage to pull the sword.

The spirit of the blade was a picky mistress, and demanded much from Link, almost making him collapse to the ground. The irony of it was not lost on Link, who almost smiled: After picking up claymores and swinging giant sledgehammers, he almost died picking up a single-handed weapon. And it was ultra-light too. He had expected it to be slightly heavier based on its looks alone, but then again, this was the ultimate sword. Of course it would be made as light as possible without sacrificing strength.

For a brief moment, Link felt a sense of deja vu, as if he had been here before, forging the fully masterworked Master Sword. But he had never forged such a beautiful, deadly sword, let alone even held it...right? Everyone said he was the legendary Hero incarnate, but that didn't make sense. He was just a normal kid who happened to be really good at weapons.

Of course, he never would have been if destiny hadn't thrown its anvil at him.

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To: Shepherd Miyamoto

From: Simon Riley, Fort Woodland, Hyrule

Subject: Mike Sierra

Importance: DOUBLE REDLINE

Confirm one (1) Cpt. Link Miyamoto successfully wielded Mike Sierra. Request extraction team. Location: Lost Woods. Intelligence indicates heavy concentration of monsters in area, including eight (8) lynels and twelve (12) taluses. Will require DEFCON 2 or DEFCON 3 reinforcements to safely bring Mike Sierra to destination. Request Sheikah researchers Impa and Robbie accompany extraction team to study Mike Sierra en route. If extraction unsuccessful, request evacuation of Fort Woodland to Hyrule Castle. Estimated eighty percent (80%) casualty rate in ensuing battle.

Cpt. Miyamoto severely wounded after ordeal with sword. On verge of death. Requesting help immediately.

END TRANSMISSION

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Removing the sword had consequences of course. The forces of evil didn't like that a mere boy had pulled out the sword, and as if by some evil magic, a great horde congregated on the Lost Woods. The Hyrule Castle garrison was immediately raised to DEFCON 1, and deployed elite forces known as Angelblades immediately to the Lost Woods. Their mission: find and extract Link no matter the cost.

Everybody else was insignificant to the moment. Only he mattered.

But in the end, it was all for nothing. For Link single-handedly bested the ravenous monsters despite being near unconsciousness from pulling the sword.

For the kingdom, it was a sign of hope. They had a hero who could stare at death without flinching.

For Zelda, it was the end of an era.