Fan Fiction Friday: The Era Without a Hero – Part 59

||  Part Fifty-Eight  ||  Part Sixty  ||

Part Fifty-Nine

“Cannons!” Ralphine shouted.

He had witnessed the same gruesome scene and was wasting no time. His men set to the cannons below deck as quickly as they could.

The undead pirate leaped up into the air and landed on the deck just behind Fado and Osmond. It drew its sword and began to approach them.

Osmond was quick though and drew his own blade. In one swing he cut through the bone of the arm and the opposing sword clanged to the ground.

Fado then slid on the ground just past Osmond and hooked the handle of his blade around the ankle of the monster. Pulling it quickly, the stal-pirate dropped to one knee.

Osmond stepped forward and slammed his elbow into the skull and broke it with a resounding crack.

When the bones hit the ground, they disintegrated into dust.

Fado got back to his feet and readied his blade for the next attack.

In the moment it had taken to defeat the first enemy, four more had climbed up and were engaging with the crew members.

Just as they were about to rush into the fray, another stal-pirate emerged from below deck on the Holodrumian ship. It carried a lit torch above its head and was heading towards the stern.

Fado hopped up on the railing and clung to the rigging while extending his other hand. A gust of wind came up and flew across the two ships. The torch began to flutter and then finally went out.

The skeletal foe continued onward though and then threw itself into the water, breaking apart upon impact.

“Fire the cannons!” Ralphine shouted.

Osmond whirled around to question the assault on their allied ship, but as he saw another monster climb over the railings of their own ship, he charged into it and tackled it to the ground. He slammed the pommel of his sword into the skull of the monster, shattering the brittle white bone into dust.

“Get down!” Fado suddenly exclaimed.

Just as the cannons below erupted, so too did the ship from Holodrum.

The water surged and the Labrynnian ship lurched heavily to one side. Thankfully, this shielded many aboard from the flames that exploded from inside the ship on the opposite side of the dock. Wood and debris flew all over as the explosives in the ship erupted. The heat from the explosion scorched parts of the sails above and charred many of the ropes.

As the ship rocked back in the other direction, Osmond got back to his feet. The other stal-pirates had been blown away by the explosion it seemed, and he was about to breathe a sigh of relief.

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, Osmond spotted a torchbearer just like the one they’d seen leap off the other ship. It was making for the stairs down to the lower decks.

Before he could do anything though, Ralphine leaped over the balcony of the helm and drew his sword. He swung it upward in a clean motion, the blade passing through one leg and then the arm in one clean move.

The torch fell to the ground and was quickly extinguished with a few stomps of Ralphine’s foot.

“Hold fire!” he called out.

Osmond sheathed his sword and turned to speak to Fado.

However, Fado wasn’t where Osmond had last seen him. The railing nearest to the explosion.

He raced over to the edge of the ship and looked down over the railing. When he didn’t see the Sage of Wind, Osmond’s heart began to race.

“Fado!?”

Osmond moved along the railing, continuing to look.

Ralphine rushed over to the edge as well and began looking over.

“Man overboard!” a crewmate shouted from behind the duo.

One crewmember climbed up and dove over the far side of the boat. Just as Osmond and Ralphine reached the railing, another crewmember tossed a rope out to his swimming mate.

Floating a few dozen feet away in the water was the small green-clad body of Fado.

The crewman pulled Fado’s limp body toward the boat, and together the two were hauled back up on deck.

Ralphine and Osmond rushed over and knelt down beside Fado. His chest wasn’t rising and falling, and his eyes were closed tight.

Without hesitation, Ralphine placed his hands on Fado’s chest, and he began to push with all his might.

He pushed and pushed.

Over and over.

Again.

Push. Push. Push.

Osmond held his breath.

Ralphine’s counting became shaky and desperate.

Push. Push. Push.

Fado lay limp.

“Breathe, damnit!” Ralphine shouted.

Push. Push. Push.

Then finally, Fado’s eyes sprung open, and he began coughing. Water from bay flooded out of his mouth and all over the deck as he gasped for air.

Ralphine fell back against the railing in relief, covering his face with his hands.

Osmond let his own head drop in relief, finally allowing himself to breathe normally.

Fado coughed up the remaining water, clutching his throat somewhat. He managed to catch his breath then at last too.

*          *          *          *          *

“Thirteen ships sank. Excluding our crew, at least 500 men were lost,” Fredrick reported.

Ralphine sat in his chair and held his head in his palms.

“Only five from our crew perished. Although a serious portion of our rations below deck seem to have been spoiled when we tipped sideways, m’lord. The keel seems to have taken some water also, but it doesn’t appear that we’re leaking, just flooded.”

“Thank you, Fredrick. You may go.”

Fredrick saluted, turned, and left the cabin, closing the door behind him.

Osmond stepped forward to the table and leaned down over it, “What the hell was all that?”

Dawn had arrived roughly an hour earlier and Fado was resting in the bed in Ralphine’s quarters. In the hours since the attack, his men had been searching for survivors among the wreckage and assessing the damage.

“I don’t know,” Ralphine confessed. “I’ve heard tales of cursed sailors who struck a bargain with death but never in my wildest dreams did I believe the tales.”

“Why’d they attack us? Is there anything in those stories that might give us a clue?”

Ralphine thought for a moment but shook his head. He let out a long sigh and sat back, his chair creaking slightly as he did so.

“Go and take some rest, Sir Osmond. I thank you for your aid. I’ll stay here and watch over our small friend until he awakens.”

Osmond nodded and left. He found the small cot to be more comfortable than he’d expected and easily fell asleep.

As he tried to rest though, his mind traveled back to the cave with the mysterious creature. The glowing eyes haunted him and pursued him through every corner of the dream. It was as if it was a shadow. Then suddenly, a blinding golden light erupted in the sky. The creature didn’t run but instead bowed low to the light. Osmond looked upon the creature and was suddenly no longer afraid of it. As the light faded, so did the creature.

When he awoke a few hours later, he went back to the captain’s quarters and found Fado awake and sitting up. He was mid-conversation with Ralphine and both wore worried faces.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“It would seem there have been some problems in Castletown with the Zora,” Fado began. “Some of them started a small skirmish, but there’s talk that it could signal more problems.”

“What caused it?” Osmond asked.

A sudden movement from the corner drew Osmond’s eyes away from Fado and Ralphine. A great owl wearing a flowing crimson cape with a circular clasp bearing the crest of Light stepped out.

“The causes are numerous, young Sir Osmond,” Kalia hooted. “However, it would seem somebody had deliberately caused strife among the community.”

“Lord Kalia!” Osmond bowed quickly.

“Be at ease. I felt a tremor in the spirits when Lady Rutela departed this world, and I fear another departure to be eminent.”

Fado stood up, “What do you mean?”

Kalia shook his head, “I sense much peril in the coming days. My predecessors have warned me of much, and yet there is something clouding their vision as well as mine. It’s become increasingly difficult to convene with them.”

Fado shifted nervously.

“What are your plans now that Rutela is gone?” Kalia asked.

“Her final words were regarding Lord Huron, Erie, and Death Mountain. We’re headed there to speak with them,” Osmond said.

Kalia nodded, “I will send word to Lord Huron to come as soon as he’s able. Just following the Zora uprising, we sent him to the Southern Lanayru Mountains. There were reports of a revived Dragmire Clan assembling in that region.”

“I thought they were wiped out in some giant massacre about thirty-some years ago,” Ralphine said.

“They were, but it seems Adok’s presence has awakened sympathizers and they’ve taken up the old banner,” replied Osmond. “I spent almost four months out there. Is their presence really garnering such attention?”

Kalia shifted, “We think they may have had something to do with inspiring the revolt, so yes. Personally, I think it’s still risky to divide our forces as such. However, Lord Sagesse and the King were in agreement, and Huron showed no reservation.”

“Is His Majesty in the right mindset to be making decisions?” Osmond asked.

“I believe he is,” responded Kalia. “After you and the Princess set out, he seemed to have a sort of awakening to his… foolish behaviors.”

Osmond gave a small smile and relaxed his shoulders a bit.

Just then, Fredrick entered the chamber with an urgent expression painted on his face.

“Lord Ralphine, come quickly.”

All four of them followed Fredrick topside and over to the side of the ship. Below on the dock, stood a pair of captains from the Hyrulean Army. Lined up in the streets behind them, were two groups of forty soldiers.

“Good morning, my lord!” One of the captains called out.

“The sun rises on a new day, but I hesitate to call it good. What business have you here?” Ralphine responded.

“We are here to lend aid to you by order of Lord Liam of Lanayru.”

Fado and Osmond glanced at one another, then looked to Kalia. The Sage of Light wore the same stoic expression he often did.

“To what goal is this aid intended?” Ralphine asked.

“A sort of welcoming envoy, to my understanding. But I see you are accompanied by two sages and a Knight of Hyrule. The order from Lord Liam implied you would be joined by some decent fighting force and yet I see only the one ship.”

“We were attacked in the night. I fear our one ship is all that remains.”

There was an audible unease from some of the soldiers. The other captain turned and gave them a stern glance that settled the disturbance quickly.

“I am grateful for your aid,” Ralphine continued, “but for now, I would ask that you remain on standby in the city. I will send my first mate to fetch you when your services are required.”

The captain clicked his heels together and saluted, “Yes sir. We are at your command.”

As they marched away, Osmond watched with an uneasy sensation running through his body. Fado and Ralphine turned to Fredrick and descended back below. Osmond was startled when Kalia stepped up alongside him.

“You’re much more distrusting than you used to be.”

“A byproduct of war, I suppose.”

“Perhaps. But I would call it heightened wisdom. You’ve learned to be suspicious of suspicious things, rather than charge in headfirst.”

Osmond glanced at Kalia.

“Don’t act so surprised. Think back to your encounter at the Ice Temple or the Goron Mines. Consider the events in the Kokiri Forest, even. In those times, you were eager for the fight.”

“Am I so different now?”

“In the intangible ways, yes. You have learned much patience and poise. I think it fair to say my judgment in your Knighthood was well placed,” the owl smiled.

“Thank you, Lord Kalia.”

“Now,” Kalia shifted his eyes back to the soldiers marching away, “what makes you so uneasy about them?”

“The timing first of all. It seems too… convenient. Not to mention, nobody knows where Liam is, so how did he send for such a force?”

“Reasonable questions to ask. Ones I seek an answer to as well. Which is why I have a favor to ask of you and Fado.”

“A favor?”

Kalia nodded, “I would have you remain here for a few days. Stay by Sir Ralphine’s side and be prepared to aid him in whatever he might need.”

“Instead of following up on Rutela’s lead?”

“I have a feeling that your presence here will serve our ends better at this point. Wait for three days, then set out. That should give me time to look into why these soldiers turned up so suddenly and perhaps even find out Lord Liam’s status.”

Osmond looked back to where the soldiers had been and nodded to accept the request.

“I will send word if I cannot return myself.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

Kalia hopped up onto the railing and spread his wings, “The Goddesses be with you.”

With a tremendous rush of wind, Kalia soared into the sky, then turned and flew away. A single feather floated to the ground below him and came to rest next to Osmond.

 

This story is an imagining of the final days in Hyrule prior to the Great Flood talked about in the opening cinematic of The Wind Waker. The story is getting an audio version in podcast form set to begin releasing sometime in 2022 and there’s a complete soundtrack for the first volume here. Head over to erawithoutahero.wordpress.com or follow the story account on Twitter @ZeldaTEWAH where you can keep up on information regarding the future of the podcast, soundtrack, and other TEWAH news that will be coming soon! Every Era Has Heroes…