The Legend of Zelda: A Hero's Legacy

Chapter 3: Will You Save Us From Doom?

3

As the legions of men charged on Hyrule Field, Link led them, and with their hero giving them hope, courage. The battle was won. With a cost...

Their reports were true. The armies of Bokoblins, Moblins, Kesse and other monsters of the night, did not hear the attack until it was too late. Hundreds went down instantly and not one human had fallen. Good, Link thought. We have the advantage. Then he appeared. A man wearing an extravagant cape and hair as white as the goddess Hylia herself. He was smiling and then he snapped his fingers. Appearing from thin air itself, with only the trace of purple crystals, hundreds of men made of bones now stood before the men of Hyrule.

These abominations carried two massive swords and were taller than even the Moblins. The battle raged on around him but Link drew to a halt. What were-

"Do you like my Stalfos, hero?" the new man proclaimed, an arrogance that grated at Link. "But, how uncivil of me. Introductions first. I am the demon lord who presides over this land you look upon. You may call me Ghirahim. In truth, I very much prefer to be indulged with my full title: Lord Ghirahim. But I'm not fussy."

"Who are you?" Link snarled.

"What? Are you a fool?" Flicking a lock of hair over his shoulder, the Demon Lord huffed and a savage grin found its way to his lips. He was playing with Link. " I just told you."

"No," Link murmured, pausing. He gritted his teeth, glancing down. He didn't know how to feel about this Ghirahim, only that he filled him with a cold dread. "It's just you aren't like any of these other creatures."

"I am nothing like the simple-minded beings you see around. I am second hand only to the great Demise himself."

"Demise...You mean the demon king?"

"Yes. And with him as ruler, this world shall be covered in darkness and we shall rule forever." With the last word he snapped his fingers again and vanished. Good, thought Link, he's gone. But now we have to deal with these Stalfos.

The skeletal men began to split up and cut a path through the advancing armies. Link couldn't let that happen.

Already they possessed a skill with the blade none of the other, primitive beasts had displayed. Whereas Bokoblins and Moblins were brutal, and savage, their bluntness meant they were sloppy. As if they were handed a weapon and told to swing. But these... Stalfos, they were seasoned warriors.

Men fell left and right, carved and skewered, falling faster than Link could count. Certainly the men of Hyrule were no pushovers, yet they weren't prepared for such savage efficiency. Link's heart yearned as almost a hundred more men fell, more husbands and fathers, never to return to their families.

An icy fury swept through his system, and he gritted his teeth, practically grinding them against each other. No more standing around!

Link, the Hero, charged to the closest Stalfos, aiming a wide arc at the skeleton's torso. The Stalfos easily deflected his blow. A small part of Link admired that he would find a true challenge, yet he knew he had to put aside his own glee and deal with this threat immediately. No more men should have to lose their lives this day!

After a few parries, Link began to notice a pattern emerging. The creature would hold its two swords horizontally or vertically at the same time. It left an opening. Trained or not, they had exposed their weakness. A true warrior adapted to the situation, never giving his opponent an inclination that he was predictable, or a weak foe. Link was always spry on his feet, darting about constantly, changing up his attacks. This often confused the beast, and that was when he pressed forward his advantage.