Fan Fiction Friday: Urbosa’s Song – Part 5

How had it come to this? One moment, I had been watching Link escort Zelda off to Mount Lanayru for her divine training. The next, I seen them returning in somber fashion. Daruk impatiently asked Zelda how her mission had gone, but she merely shook her head.  My little bird had failed yet again. I watched as Zelda tried to hold back her tears, but in my heart I wanted to do more. The brightness in her green eyes had faded. Even Link looked downtrodden. My thoughts turned to Zelda’s mother, as they often had over the years, My dear friend, why has that Goddess not blessed her yet? Does Hylia not understand how persistent Zelda is in her prayers and training? 

“Then let’s move on,” I said, brushing her failure off. “You’ve done all you could.” Those words did not sound good enough, so I continued, “Feeling sorry for yourself won’t be any help.”

I had shocked myself. Had I become insensitive to my little bird because of my loss of faith in Hylia?  I tried to change tact, “After all, it’s not like your last shot was up there on Mount Lanayru. Anything could finally spark the power to seal Ganon away. We just have to keep looking for that… thing.” There was a bit of hope in my voice, but still I was shaken at Zelda’s failure. 

“That’s kind of you. Thank you.” Was all that Zelda could reply. Her voice was sad, her head hung low. Disappointment was written across everyone’s faces, not just hers.

I listened as the other champions spoke and encouraged the princess, and then it happened. The ground shook violently beneath our feet! Zelda’s face transformed from disappointment to fear. Her last chance really was up on that mountain! I felt so ashamed for thinking that we had more time. My eyes turned to Revali as he took to the skies. His grimace as he descended back to earth confirmed all of our fears. Calamity Ganon had returned!

Dark clouds poured over the ridges and peaks surrounding the Lanayru Promenade. Daruk shouted for us to make way to our respective Divine Beasts. I couldn’t help but feel liughtening run through my bones. The time had finally come for me to show that traitorous entity who was boss! As Daruk finished his pep talk, I grabbed Zelda by the shoulders and told her that we needed to move. “Come, we should go!”

Zelda’s eyes were glued to the horizon, which had turned black. Magenta lightning thundered violently across the once beautiful Hylian sky. I squeezed her shoulders, “We need to get you someplace safe.”

Her locked stare finally dropped, and I felt like I had reached her. I could only imagine what was going on in her mind.

“No! I’m not a child anymore! I may not be much use on the battlefield… but there must… there must be something I can do to help!” Zelda’s eyes were defiant of the situation, her gaze turned to the sky again. “There must be something…”

“For now, we need to get you safe. We can plan on our way back to the castle. I will be with you until we need to break off. Come now…” I urged Zelda forward, and Link began to lead the way. Her feet moved reluctantly. It started off as a walk, and then a run. I encouraged Zelda to press on even though she was exhausted from the day’s events. Link pressed forward, his sword brandished. I wish that I had my respective sword and shield, but I left them behind in Gerudo town. For now we ran. We ran even when our breath became ragged, we ran and didn’t stop because our feet were aching. We ran because there was no time left to be had.

---

Making my way back to Gerudo Town went by so much faster once I commandeered a horse from a merchant traveling into central Hyrule. I warned him to stay clear and to seek refuge as far away from the castle as possible. Thankfully, he heeded my warning, surrendered his steed and headed the opposite direction. I had pushed the horse to its limits by the time I reached the threshold of the desert. 

“My Lady! We’ve heard the news!” an armed Gerudo woman hastened to tell me as I approached. She held the reigns of a sand seal in her hands and passed another set to me.

“Word must travel fast. Is the city prepared for an attack?” I asked, taking the reigns. 

“Yes,”she replied. “We must make haste. I have told our people to take refuge in their homes.” Her eyes were fearful, but her bravery had brought her here, to me. 

“Let’s ride. I must get to Naboris as quickly as possible.”

Our ride through the desert was not without peril as monsters had started to manifest around us. The rain poured, the sands swirled violently, and the sky began to crack with lightning. As we approached Gerudo Town, it was apparent that the Gerudo Guard was on high alert. The gates were closed and the usual two guards that were posted had tripled. I was allowed through immediately and I marched purposefully through town. The lights were dimmed, the shops were empty, and there were no sounds of children running through the streets. My home felt abandoned. I entered the palace, grabbed my sword and shield and marched back out again. I noticed that a small legion of soldiers began to follow me, but I dismissed them, taking only three with me to Naboris. 

The Divine Beast towered in the distance, but I was ready. Ganon had been a threat long since I came to reign over the desert. 

“Stow your fear! We are the Gerudo!” I shouted, as we boarded Naboris. Upon entering the Divine Beast, I regretted allowing any of my people to accompany me. Malicious lightning crackled through the belly of the beast. “Get out now!” I shouted to the vai. “Run, go!”

I tried to push my comrades out the exit before it sealed. I wanted no Gerudo life loss, the only one I would accept would be my own. They tried to cry out for me, but sounds were deafened by my apparent foe.

A piercing roar screeched through Naboris and my foe made itself known.

“So we finally meet…”

Another roar.

“Calamity Ganon!” I raised my shield and brandished my sword; if my life was lost on this day, I could say that I faced the Gerudo’s worst fear head on. 

Ganon lunged forward at lightning speed. I met his sword with my shield and pushed back. I tried to strike, but the beast dodged too quickly. Never had I seen a foe so fast; it was faster than Yiga foot soldiers. I parried the large, glowing sword again. The demon’s red hair flowed down past it’s weapon. It’s body looked ancient and Malice flowed through it like blood. It snickered, “I will not be mocked!”

I summoned my fury and struck at the beast, hitting it square in the eye. It roared in pain and I took that as my opportunity to strike. I struck at Ganon repeatedly; putting the hope for a future with my people into every strike. As I swung again, Ganon dodged swiftly. I looked around, but the demon had vanished. I raised my shield and spun around quickly. Calamity Ganon’s laugh echoed throughout the belly of Naboris. I spun again, ready to defend myself, but it wasn’t enough. History told of Ganon, who had turned his back on his people, and the world. And just like the Gerudo of the past, I was stabbed in the back.

I always thought my life would end among the shifting sands in my old age. I always thought I would get to see my little bird soar. But alas, this life was over. Green flames flickered around my spirit and I watched as a thunderous Ganon cried out his victory. 

“Lady Urbosa!” It was the vai who had accompanied me. Naboris’ belly had opened again to let others in. They ran to my body, lifted it quickly and exited before Ganon thought to strike. They wept loudly as they sat outside the beast. I tried to step outside with them, but an invisible barrier held me inside. It dawned on me that my spirit would be trapped here until Ganon was defeated. I stood tall and proud as a Gerudo warrior and watched as they carried my broken body away. I died a valiant death, but still, I had only hoped that death would bring me closer to my dear friend.

---

Sandstorms have plagued Gerudo Desert since the day of my demise. A perfect representation of my fury at being trapped with the likes of Ganon. Over the last one hundred years, I have wondered how my people fared. A new chief or two would have taken the throne, and Gerudo Town would be ever the same. Ever the same. Not long after I became a spirit, I accepted that Link and Zelda must have failed to seal Ganon away. I had no way of knowing if they were trapped spirits too, but knowing that my little bird was lost to me brought me great sorrow. 

Naboris had spoke to me again, like it had in the days of old. As Naboris told me of its unbridled rage, a new force entered. He was alive — Link! I had many questions, but I held them back. The young man looked around curiously. His blue eyed gaze had not changed, and neither had he. He still looked as he did one hundred years ago!

I proceeded to guide Link through Naboris. He faced every challenge head on, and before long he, was face to face with Ganon. Their battle played out very much like mine, but every time Link fell down, he got back up again. There was a newfound fire in his eyes. He was able to exploit Ganon’s weak point far quicker than I could. He fought like a true warrior, and in my heart I found hope that Zelda was not lost to this world. I couldn’t help but smile as he dealt the finishing blow.

“I knew you wouldn’t let us down, Link.” I finally made myself known to him. “Thanks to your valor and skill, my soul is free and Naboris is ours once again. Which means that finally… we can complete what we started years ago. We Gerudo have no tolerance for unfinished business.” I smiled at him. What a wonderful time we would have now that my spirit was free. “I’ve waited so long for the moment to see you rush Hyrule Castle. As well as for the moment when I incinerate Ganon into a pile of ash. Which reminds me, I wanted to give you a little something.”

If it would give Link his best chance, he would need it. I summoned all of my power, “Please accept this gift, which has come to be known as Urbosa’s Fury. It will no doubt be of use to you!” I watched excitedly as lightning surrounded him. It sparked in a way unique to him, but reminiscent of me.

Link snapped his fingers and watched as the lightning danced around him. He then looked at his hands in bewilderment.

I knew Zelda was alive, so I had no hesitation in what I said next, “Both you and the princess… I know you have suffered much regarding what happened to us champions. But this is how things had to happen. No one need carry the blame. So please, make it clear that she understands that. Tell her shed any worries… and let her know… I couldn’t be more proud of her.” I felt my words catch, as I tried to hold back tears. If only I could have told her those words myself, but I knew she was alive. I knew that, and I knew that Link would pass my message on to her. 

In those final moments, Link began to fade away. He had my hopes, and the hopes of others resting on his shoulders. My spirit was finally free, but there was still unfinished business to attend to. Link’s presence was almost gone, but I had one more thing to say, “Oh, and also, take good care of Hyrule.” I gave him a final wink and he was gone in a flash of light.

With Naboris under my control again, I piloted the beast to a high plateau in the desert. I could feel Naboris’ fury as it held its head high and took aim at Hyrule Castle. Malice swirled around the once familiar spires. If only I had lived long enough to see the castle return to its glory.

“Nabooru, Legend of the Gerudo, celebrated over ages. And you, who were named to honor her — you are a legend as well! Isn’t that right Naboris?”

The Divine Beast rumbled as happy reply.

“The bitter essence of defeat from a century ago still sits upon my tongue, but that is now in the past. It was written that Calamity Ganon once adopted the form of a Gerudo. And that will make this victory all the more satisfying. I like that. Now I can take this personally. Once we’ve established a lock on that thing it will be up to Link to keep Ganon occupied until the moment we unleash our strike. That moment is going to be so delicious.” I chuckled at the thought as I looked away from Naboris’ locked gaze and up into the heavens.

My dearest friend, it has been so many years since our faces have met. I look forward to see what the afterlife is like, and to be welcomed by you. I’m sorry I failed in watching your little bird to the end, but I can’t wait to tell you of her life and her successes. I can’t wait to tell you of mine, and to tell you of life’s shifting sands.