Kingdom of Power, of Courage, and of Wisdom

Dragmire's War - Link's Unit

-Narrator-

With the disappearance of Link's unit, there was no longer anyone capable of standing against Harken Dragmire. The fight that had been a loss, turned into devastation. The former Royal Guard of Qin was torn asunder until finally they retreated, and as the demon disappeared into the forests to chase after its prize, Harken looked on and watched. He did not know how releasing Ganondorf's demonic form would affect the war, but nor did he care. He found it to be a happy coincidence that the boy was still alive and had grown into a strong man, and more than that, that his power had blossomed and could be utilized in such a manner. Harken hoped the demon would bring a taste of his vengeance to the Qin.

He stood in the shadows, surrounded by tens of thousands of dead, and waited.

Unbeknownst to Link's unit of men, the pillar of fire into the night did more than act as a veil from which the demon rose, it acted as a beacon. To the Zhao who had lost Harken, and were searching for him, they saw the pillar of fire and chased their way towards it. To the Qin who were searching for Harken, that they might kill him, they saw the pillar of fire and moved to surround the location.

The result was that all across the forest, hundreds and perhaps even thousands of skirmishes broke out as Qin and Zhao came across one another. Ouki Mitagi took the largest vanguards personally, and in a sweeping motion, took the location like a scythe. He had hoped to surround Harken, but the Zhao had gotten to him first and fled the place.

But the most devastating thing for the Qin besides the loss of twenty-thousand, was that the Zhao commander predicted how Harken would stir up the Qin and Zhao across the entire forest and set up flags of Qin to deceive them. Qin units who won their skirmishes would see the flags, make their way to the hill to rest, and be promptly ambushed and killed.

Ouki conquered this through simple means. He marched on all Qin flags he had not ordered to be set up and slew the Zhao where he found them. All Qin his army found were gathered together, and like a great scythe he cleared out the forest, killing all Zhao in his way.

However, in the midst of all of this war breaking out across the battlefield, Link's unit was entirely unaware. That is not to say they did not see a part of the conflict all around them. They heard the running of horses, the clashing of metal, the screams of death, and saw movement in the distance all around them. However, they had their own problems to deal with.

Namely a gigantic fire demon with a determination to chase them bordering on the obsessed.

-Link's Unit-

The great beast kept up with them step for step. It was slowed down by the many trees, but that was a faint reprieve as they could not escape it. Its roars filled the night. It's flame hide illuminated the night like hell itself was on their heels. Any sluggers were stomped by its hooves and reduced to dust.

"How long is that thing going to chase us?!" One yelled.

"Don't know! Just keep running!" Kyo Gai ordered.

"Where to!? Where are we running?"

"Don't know that either!" Kyo Gai replied. He looked sideways to where Tou and Hei were running, with Link on Tou's back. Worry was etched into Tou's face. Link was weak and wounded. If they didn't do something soon, he could die. Tou undoubtedly knew that. It didn't take a scholar to know whose blood it was on his back.

On the back of one of their strong men, Solitare roused, groaned, and screamed briefly at the sight of the demon bearing down on them relentless and inevitable as death.

"THE HELL IS THAT THING!?" Solitare yelled. That was the loudest Kyo had ever heard him yell.

"It's a demon." Kyo explained between deep breathes. He was nearly winded and the men were running on not much more than adrenaline anymore.