123Treacherous Intentions
By: dontwaitupxx
Prologue, Chapter One
He knelt, with his head bent low, deep within the Yiga Clan Hideout in the Karusa Valley. The Lieutenant had been called there, amongst his peers, for a mandatory summons from their leader. It was an uncommon thing, for Master Kohga to have something that he had to announce to the entire clan, with little preamble or explanation. However, they all knew better than to ignore a summons from their master, and so they all scurried into the valley at the sight of red sparks flickering above their heads, like rats through a tunnel.
It was silent in the valley, as they all waited. They had come in as a procession, from mere Foot Soldiers all the way up to Admirals, every step in synchronization and every movement precise. One by one, they all knelt before the altar in the center, awaiting their master's arrival. In the undisclosed location of their hideout, they wore not their masks, their need for ambiguity unrequired. Instead they wore a simple cloth mask over their nose and mouth, allowing stealth and precision at a moment's notice.
Then, Master Kohga entered, with the doors banging behind him like a warning gong. He walked across the room to the center of his clan, his strides long and purposeful. The Yiga Clan knew better than to raise their heads to look at him until their master told them to. They were the epitome of obedience, the picture of rigid training, the product of severe loyalty.
Master Kohga was a tall and powerful man, and had commanded the Yiga Clan for the past decade. He, too, wore not his mask within the confinement of the Yiga Clan Hideout, and had his long, black hair pulled upward in a traditional Yiga fashion. His red and black armor fit to him tightly, with the inverted eye of the Yiga Clan displayed prominently on the chest piece.
He stood, with a commanding aura emanating from him, overseeing his clan. It was silent within the valley, with not even the sounds of their breathing. He looked over his disciples, and a sinister grin appeared on his face.
"My brothers and sisters," Master Kohga said, his voice commanding, and all of the Yiga Clan looked up to him in unison, "The time of resurrection for our master, the Demon King Ganon, grows closer and closer with each passing day. For years, we have waited for a sign; for years we have waited for his call to us, his message of his return. The time is now that I can tell you all with great confidence that Ganon is returning, and his return will impact this world far greater than any calamity this world has ever seen."
The congregation boomed, their cheers reverberating off of the walls of the valley.
"Sixteen years ago, the treacherous Royal Family of Hyrule gave birth to a baby girl, one who they foolishly named Zelda. This princess has been damned since birth, and is fated to die in the wake of this Calamity Ganon. Now, I am sure that many of you have heard the stories and the legends, the fairytales and the whimsical dreams. The legends tell of a prophecy, of a Hero that is destined to wield the Blade of Evil's Bane."
Master Kohga's head cocked to the side, surveying his congregation of disciples, before letting out a small chuckle, "But I ask of you, my brothers and sisters: where is that so-called Hero now? Where is he to wield this sword? That sword still lies within the Lost Woods, awaiting its fabled master. What is a sword without a master?" He paused, turning around to face away from the congregation, "It is a weapon without a calling; a weapon without purpose.
"I am here to tell you all now, that this hero of legend is not coming, and do you know why?"
Master Kohga turned back towards his congregation, his great voice booming out across the canyon.
"That hero is not coming because the damned Goddess Hylia is dead."
The congregation roared in approval in unison. The walls of the Yiga Clan hideout shook with glee.
"The Demon King Ganon has been demonstrating his growth in power: and we have laid witness to it in his Blood Moon. These nights are when his influence is at its strongest, and in his steed, when we are at our strongest. We have felt it in our blood, coursing through our veins, strengthening us and empowering us. These Blood Moons do not happen very often, but they shall be occurring with increasing frequency.
"As for why I have called you all here today," the air turned stale, suddenly, as the look on Master Kohga's face turned sour, "Many of you are not privy to the fact that a week ago, the Princess of Hyrule was here in our land. She was with the Gerudo, and it became clear to me what this was a sign of. The Demon King was giving us a perfect opportunity, and thus, two of your brothers had been sent on a mission to assassinate Princess Zelda outside of Gerudo Town: a weak princess, with only the fake Goddess Hylia to protect her. The two of them were tasked with her assassination and spilling her blood in the name of the Demon King. However," Master Kohga paused, his eyes flickering sharply to the crowd, "these two traitors were weak, and were unable to undertake the task set before them. They came back to the hideout, without completing the task set before them, asking for reinforcements, when they should have given their lives for their cause.
"Failure is not an option in the Yiga Clan, and traitors will not be tolerated."
A snap of his fingers, and the doors from across the room opened with a bang. From the door, gagged and shackled, entered two Yiga Clan members. They were stripped of their Yiga Clan ensembles: what clothes they had on their backs were in rags. Bruises and gashes covered their faces, and one of them was sporting a nasty limp. Other soldiers were dragging them forward, their faces impassive and unmoving.
The Lieutenant knew what this meant. It was an execution: Master Kohga meant to make an example of them.
His lips coiled upward.
The two Yiga Clan members were dragged up to the altar in the center, being forced to their knees, facing the congregation. The first of the two was staring impassively into the crowd, his face unwavering. The second of the two, however, was trembling, tears running down his dirt and blood stained face. They were blindfolded at this moment, the last thing that they saw being of their brothers and sisters.
"Now then," Master Kohga mused, "the two of you have been found guilty of betraying the Yiga Clan, and failing your brothers and sisters. It is no small accusation, and one that cannot be taken lightly. What do you have to say in your defense?"
The gag of the first brother was ripped down from his mouth, and his voice was steadfast, steady, and strong, his voice booming despite the pain and agony he was in, "I have lived for the Yiga Clan," he began, "and I continue to live for my brothers and sisters. I'll die for my clan, and will continue to serve our Demon King even through death."
"Brave words for a traitor," Master Kohga hissed through his teeth, as the gag was secured back in his mouth.
The gag of the second brother was yanked down from his mouth, and the former Yiga Clan member was visibly shaking in the canyon, "Please, Master, you can't do this," he pleaded, fresh tears trailing down his cheeks from behind the blindfold, "It wasn't our fault. It was the Gerudo Chief Urbosa: she had been accompanying the Princess and thwarted our plans. She overpowered the both of us, and with the snap of her fingers –" his body visibly spasmed, "–w-w-we were p-p-p-p –"
"Silence," Master Kohga thundered, his voice shaking the very foundations of the Karusa Valley. The traitor fell silent, his body shaking in fear and dread, as the gag was tied securely around his mouth once again.
"I will not hear your pitiful excuses any longer, "Master Kohga spat, "the two of you had one task to complete and one task only, and you both did not see it through and thus, you failed. Failure is not an option in the Yiga Clan, and traitors will not be tolerated."
The two were ripped upwards to their feet by their hands, tied around their backs, and tied to two posts at the back of the altar, a layer of timber and kindling lying at their feet. The two soldiers that had been restraining them rose to their feet, and crossed to opposite sides of the altar, drawing their Duplex bows and nocking a singular fire arrow, aiming at a downward angle.
The first of the brothers was calm and stoic; the second of the brothers was quivering, like a leaf on a tree in heavy winds.
"There is only one punishment befitting of traitors of the Yiga Clan," Master Kohga announced, "and that punishment can only be laid in the terrible eyes of our Demon King himself."
A snap of his fingers, and then the synchronized snap of two Duplex bows. The arrows hit simultaneously at the feet of the two Yiga traitors with a resonating ping, and instantly, the two posts were set ablaze in flames, the sounds of the screams of the two brothers resonating high over the sound of the blaze.
Every member of the Yiga Clan knew better than to look away during an execution: to look away was a sign of weakness, or worse: of remorse. It would be viewed as a sign of treason, and they were all in witness to what happened to traitors of the Yiga Clan. They all looked onward, their faces expressionless and impassive, except for one. The Lieutenant knelt, looking up at the burning corpses of his former brothers, his lips upturned in a smile, the light of the flames dancing off of his blue eyes.
"Listen here, and listen well," Master Kohga said, his voice echoing across the valley, "let this all serve as a reminder to you all of what happens to traitors of the Yiga Clan. Those who disobey orders, those who try to desert, or those who otherwise betray their brothers and sisters will face the same, if not, worse fate of what you have all just witnessed. There will be no leniency, no second chances. There will be no more room for error. You are dismissed."
Master Kohga disappeared, then, in a puff of orange and black smoke, forming into a faint outline of his figure before disappearing all together. Each Blade Master and Foot Soldier, each Lieutenant and Commander and Admiral, all filed out wordlessly, the screams of the traitors having vanished all together, the only thing remaining being the sight and smell of their corpses burning, the smoke rising from the ashes.
The next couple of hours went on that day without much commotion. The Yiga Clan would go about their day quietly, either training or preparing for their field expeditions. No one would hear from or see Master Kohga for quite some time after that, the leader of the clan having retired to his study. It would only be later that the Lieutenant was found by a shaken and newly recruited Foot Soldier in the training room, as he swung his Windcleaver against a training dummy effortlessly.
He had been alone in the training room, his Windcleaver slicing through the air, sending blades of wind careening across the room. Already had one training dummy been destroyed from the sharp blade of his Windcleaver. It lay in a pile of rubble near the wall, its resemblance lost in the damage.
The Foot Soldier stood, shaking in his wake. He had heard the rumors of the Lieutenant's temper, and knew best not to ignite it. One Foot Soldier had claimed that the Lieutenant had given a Foot Soldier a limp, merely for not having the information required of him. Another had claimed that the Lieutenant never spoke above a whisper, and somehow, that was worse than yelling. He cleared his throat, mustering up whatever little courage he had.
"Lieutenant, sir," the Foot Soldier said, his voice stammering, as he bent forward into a low bow. His voice was high, squeaking loudly against the sharp strikes of the Windcleaver.
The Lieutenant lowered his Windcleaver to the side, never taking his sharp eyes off of the training dummy, "You had best have a good reason for interrupting me, soldier."
His voice was low; nearly a whisper, and it sent chills down the poor Foot Soldier's spine. He cowered before the Lieutenant: he was only the messenger.
"I have a message, from Master Kohga," the Foot Soldier whispered, his voice faltering, "He wishes to speak with you, immediately: he did not say what about."
The Lieutenant was silent for a long moment, and the Foot Soldier was afraid that somehow he had said something wrong. Was it wrong of him to not know the details of Master Kohga's summons? Should he perhaps have not mentioned the bit that he knew not what it was about? He shook with terror. The Lieutenant was unwavering, unflinching, and the Foot Soldier was terrified that he might have to repeat himself, though he was not sure he could get the words out again.
This proved, however, to be unnecessary, as the Lieutenant cocked his head slightly towards the quivering Foot Soldier, a small smirk curling on his face, "Well then," he drawled, his cold blue eyes freezing the Foot Soldier in place, "It would be unwise for me to ignore the Master's summons, now wouldn't it?"
He strutted forward, shoving his Windcleaver in the arms of the frail Foot Soldier, "Sharpen this for me while I'm gone, soldier. I expect it to be able to slice through bone by the time I return."
He left then, leaving the quivering Foot Soldier standing gasping in his wake.
The Lieutenant marched through the Yiga Clan hideout, passing by various ranking officials of the clan. Most of the Yiga Clan's members were Foot Soldiers and Blade Masters, depending on their specialty, with those that excelled in their profession rising to commanding officers. The Yiga Clan had recruited him at the age of fifteen, five years prior, following the death of his mother.
His mother… the death of his mother was something that he pushed down, down into the tresses of his mind. He hated the Goddess Hylia: for if the Goddess Hylia had any power whatsoever, she would have prevented his mother's death. She would have saved her and spared her life. No matter how much he had prayed to the Goddess Hylia, his prayers were left unanswered, and his mother had died: cold, scared, and with the color of angry, red blood staining her handkerchief.
The Lieutenant now worshipped the Demon King Ganon, as this was an entity that he could see, an entity whose power was seen and feared, whose power was strong and forthcoming, not hiding behind false worship and fake prayer. Where prayers to the Goddess Hylia were left unanswered, with not even a sign to signify she had heard you, the Demon King Ganon was clear in his answers, providing tangible proof to all of his followers.
In his short time with the Yiga Clan, the Lieutenant was praised for his technique with the sword, both in a one handed blade and a two handed claymore. In sparring with the other Blade Masters, Lieutenants, Commanders, and even Admirals, he did well to display his mastery with the blade, and had yet to be defeated by even the most skilled and tenured of the Admirals. This earned him a great deal of respect within the Yiga Clan, even for the short five years he had been amongst his brothers and sisters. His technique with the sword wasn't his only talent: he was adept in nearly every discipline of fighting, be it sword or bow, spear or axe, hand to hand or dagger.
He made his way up the grand staircase to Master Kohga's study, the inverted eyes on the Yiga Clan tapestries staring at him benevolently and menacingly. Not many saw this part of the Yiga Clan hideout within the Karusa Valley, for only the lucky few were ever summoned to the Master's study. He knew his Master was expecting him, so rather than knock on the door, he opened it silently, making haste to close it behind him. He did not anticipate this being for prying ears. A summons to the Master's study was confidential.
Master Kohga was on a raised platform at the end of the room, his legs crossed, and his body levitating a couple of inches above the ground. He had his eyes closed as the Lieutenant walked into the room swiftly, before kneeling before him, one arm over his knee, and his head bent low.
It was silent between the two for a while yet, the tension in the room thickening. The Lieutenant knew not to speak first: doing so would end disastrously for him, and he knew better than to test his Master's temper on a day like today. There was an acute awareness in the air: his Master knew that he was there. So he would wait, until his Master deemed the time was right.
Master Kohga slowly lowered himself to the floor, his legs still crossed and his hands still rigid on his knees. Wordlessly, he opened his eyes and looked at his Lieutenant, knelt before him, awaiting his next orders.
"Lieutenant," Master Kohga began, moving to stand onto his feet, "You have been a loyal member of the Yiga Clan for naught but the last five years, and in five years, you have risen faster than any Yiga Clan member has ever risen. You've been named Lieutenant in the last six months, and are the youngest one named in the great history of the Yiga Clan. What say you in light of your successes?"
The Lieutenant's voice was prompt and clear, yet quiet and low: "My successes are not mine, but of our Demon King Ganon. I wish only to serve him and to further the Yiga Clan's cause, so that we may become closer to eradicating the very thing that taints the nature of this land."
"Indeed," Master Kohga mused, "Tell me, Lieutenant, do you know why I have summoned you here, at this very moment?"
"You have need for my abilities," he replied, without hesitation, "The Demon King Ganon has spoken with you, and desires my capabilities."
"I will never underestimate your power of perception," Master Kohga grinned, a sinister thing, as he looked at the Lieutenant, "You are correct: I have a task for you; or, if you would, a mission."
"I will not fail," It was a mantra, a chant, a prayer. It bled with the promise of his words.
"It's not an option," Master Kohga agreed, waving his hand flippantly, "No, this mission requires stealth, it requires precision, and it cannot afford mistakes, sloppy or otherwise, which is why I am not sending you with a brother. This mission is to be done alone, for it is a sensitive mission. I have chosen you for this mission because not only have you proven your loyalty to the Yiga Clan and to our Demon King time and time again, but you also possess the combat technique needed to act the part. Even in your short time with your brothers and sisters, you have shown cunning and ambition that far out paces every one of our senior officers."
"What should you have me do?" The Lieutenant breathed, "I am your sword; simply order me to strike."
"Your mission is two-fold," Master Kohga stated, "You are to infiltrate the Hyrulean Royal Army and rise within their ranks. You are to exploit them, and find out who their Hylian Champion is, wielding the Blade of Evil's Bane. No Champion has been announced as of yet, but I would not hold it past Rhoam to keep it on the down low, under lock and key. He would be a fool to not know the significance of 'Farosh's Champion' to their efforts," he looked thoughtful for a moment, his eyes diverting away, "If, in fact, this Champion has not yet been discovered, keep your ear to the ground and wait – and once he is discovered, he is to be destroyed."
"It shall be done," the Lieutenant whispered, his voice but a breath in the air.
"Very good," Master Kohga said, his lips coiling upwards, "The second part of your mission coincides with the first, but it requires not only precision and stealth, but patience as well. One wrong step out of line, one wrong move, and you will find yourself with your head on the chopping block within Hyrule Castle, and then all of your clan's efforts will have been for nothing. Don't think that the rumors of your short temper have not made their way up to me: for it is the one thing that gives me pause when handing you this mission. You must exercise caution and patience. Timing is everything in this mission."
"I understand," the Lieutenant said, softly, "I will not fail."
"This is good," Master Kohga said, pivoting back towards the Lieutenant, "As you rise within the ranks of the Hyrulean Royal Army, you are to navigate your path to gain security clearance to the Princess of Hyrule within the Royal Guard. You are to gain their trust, and by doing so, you are to gain her trust. You must make sure that the Princess of Hyrule does not awaken her sacred powers. If she does so, it will only make your mission that much more difficult. Our clan did well to assassinate her mother, the Queen, a decade ago, to prevent these powers from being learned. However, that does not mean it is impossible for her to learn without a teacher. There is no room for error at this point in the mission. You are to be the world's best actor, and Hyrule Castle, your stage.
"Hyrule Castle is swarmed with the boot licking Sheikah, and they command the Hyrulean Royal Army. Nothing about you can even hint that you are of the Yiga Clan, for as passive as the Sheikah are, they are sharp, and they will see right through you. You must not allow them to see you for what you truly are. You are to adopt their customs, their sword techniques, and their way of life. They must not realize your treacherous intentions.
"Do this, and the stage will be set for the eve of the Calamity Ganon's return," Master Kohga said, before glancing towards the door to his study, a calculating look on his face, "It seems that in light of your brother's failures, we have been given an… opportunity, if you will. With the continuing frequency of the Blood Moons, the demonstration of the Demon King's power, it has become clear to me what path our Clan must take. On the eve of Calamity Ganon's return, you are to assassinate the Princess of Hyrule in the light of the Blood Moon. It shall be the strongest before his arrival. It is imperative that she does not die before this night; you must keep her alive until this day. By assassinating the Princess during the Blood Moon, on the eve of Calamity Ganon's return, when his power is at his highest, the Yiga Clan will have the ability to offer up the Princess's power to him, bathed in the red glow of his great and awesome power."
"It shall be done," the Lieutenant whispered, "I will not fail."
"I have no doubt," Master Kohga said, stepping down from the platform and standing in front of his Lieutenant, "The Yiga Clan has already failed once, right here the Gerudo Desert, and we have failed one time too many. The Yiga Clan is already being made the mockery of Hyrule. No longer do its citizens fear us in the ways that they once did. It is time to regain this land back in the rightful hands of the Demon King Ganon, and to make its people crumble under the strength and power of him. The Royal Family must pay for the travesties and betrayal they inflicted on our people. There is no room for error, no room for mistakes. The fate of the Yiga Clan rests with you."
Link looked up then, and looked into the eyes with his master, cold blue eyes locking with deadly red.
"I will not fail."
