Fanfic / And So We Fight

Perhaps it is written in destiny that the struggle between that of Wisdom and Courage against that of Power is eternal. Perhaps it is inevitable that conflict and war shall be birthed of that struggle. But what is also eternal is our refusal to let this overwhelm us. Darkness can never win. And so we fight.

— Summary text

And So We Fight, abbreviated as ASWF, is a The Legend of Zelda fanfic written by The Fighting Irishman. It was initially published on FanFiction.net in 2014.

The story is a novelization and Adaptation Expansion of Hyrule Warriors. In addition to Link, Zelda, Impa, and the heroes of legend fighting to take down the dark witch Cia, an unlikely group has joined the cause: the Ravagers, a Rag Tag Bunch Of Misfits guerrilla army—made up of settlers, ne'er-do-wells, thieves, bandits, and other lovely sorts—all led by their charismatic captain Ishaka. Together, they all stand against the forces of the darkness.

In addition to the main story, ASWF also features the "Hyrulian Codex", an extensive series of footnotes and citations at the end of every chapter. These entries build upon the history of the universe, with enough detail and frequency to channel the ghost of David Foster Wallace. Codex entries include information on characters (usually historical figures), languages, music, and even examples of profanity that would shock a Hyrulian scholar. (Trivia: one such piece of profanity is so racist that the only way to use it safely is: not. at. all.)

Oh, and as one can expect given the source material, ASWF has a lot of characters, with much of the cast including the Ravagers and several non-warrior characters.

With a diverse cast and an expanded plotline, ASWF is both a celebration of the game series' history and a more realistic look at just what kind of effect such a massive conflict can have on a large scale.

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And So We Fight contains examples of:

• Aborted Arc: As cool as the implications of it might be Link and Zelda discovering the tomb of the Fierce Deity doesn't really amount to anything in the plot other than fanservice.
• Action Film, Quiet Drama Scene: More of a literary example, but there are plenty of moments where there is a break in the fighting for backstories to be expounded upon. Considering it's rather difficult to have these moments in the midst of a battle, this makes sense.
• Action Girl: Just like in the original game, there are plenty of these in the story as well. Zelda, Midna, Impa, Lana, Ruto, Agitha…need we go on?
• Adaptation Expansion: Oh so much. Hyrule Warriors was more about the experience of playing as a bunch of famous Zelda characters than about the narrative in the first place. Here, TFI has taken it upon himself to not only create a more fluid narrative between battles, but also to expand upon the backstories and thoughts and motivations of the characters.
• Alas, Poor Villain: Cia's death is a somber scene.
• Alone with the Psycho: Said word for word in Chapter 22, when Link is captured by Cia.
• Anyone Can Die: And yes, many do.
• Armor-Piercing Question: "What's his favorite color?"
• Army of Thieves and Whores: Zant calls the Ravager army this trope almost completely verbatim, when they reach his base in the Twilight Realm. Ishaka is only upset that Zant forgot to include the fact that the Ravager army has "thievin' whores" in it as well.
• Badass Army: In a refreshing change from their usual performance in canon, the Hyrulian army in this fic tends to hold its own quite well against the forces of darkness. Particularly noteworthy are the Twilight Wolves, an elite unit of ten soldiers described by Ishaka as 'maniacs'.
• Bloodier and Gorier: Injuries are depicted in more detail than in the original game.
• Battle-Halting Duel: Everyone around on both sides, stops fighting to watch Impa and Volga's final duel. Once she wins, the Hyrulian forces immediately resume the attack on the terrified evil forces.
• Bring It: Between Volga and Impa:
  Volga: You really are a glutton for punishment, you know. The last time we fought you were barely able to stand. What makes you think this time will be any different, with my power so greater than before?
  Impa: Because this time I won't stop until you're noting more than a greasy smear on the end of my father's naginata. Let's go.
• Convection, Schmonvection: Averted. It is explicitly said that the only reason the group can travel through the Eldin Caves and be right next to lava is due to Goron Magic. Otherwise, they would be instantly immolated.
• Deadpan Snarker: Several characters get in on the action, but Impa in particular leads the pack.
• Dirt Forcefield: AVERTED. The number of people who make it through a battle without suffering some degree of dirtying or bleeding can be counted on one finger.
• Doorstopper: Over 300,000 words in length.
• Fantastic Slur: "Fecacutis" (roughly "shit skin") as an unfathomably offensive slur for the Shiekah (and to a lesser extent, anyone dark skinned). It is considered so offensive, that academics will refuse to even write it down when translating documents; and a Shiekah is considered honor bounded to kill someone who uses it against them, and will face no legal repercussions for doing so.
• Femme Fatale: Cia. And she is not above exploiting it to her benefit.
• Footnote Fever: A staple of the fic. There's enough detail in these things to tell almost an entire separate story by itself!
• Foregone Conclusion: Because it is essentially a novelization of Hyrule Warriors, you know how the plot is going to end. The real fun is seeing how we get there.
• Gargle Blaster: Bublin home grog is apparently 50% pure alcohol. Matthew Grantham can barely get a single sip down. Ishaka can drink it easily...but he immediately gets drunk. Darunia thinks it isn't strong enough.
• Good Cop/Bad Cop: Called White Knight Black Knight in Hyrule. Ishaka and Itami pull it on a few captured mooks. Ishaka beats the living hell out of two of them...and then it turns out he was the good cop.
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: Impa and Zelda are shaping up to be this over the course of the narrative. They discuss all sorts of things in private, and are not afraid to tease one another over the silliest of things.
  • Ishaka is apparently this with several people in the Ravager army. Itami and Big Finn come to mind.
• If I Can't Have You…: Cia, when she finally realizes that Link loves Zelda instead of her.
• If My Calculations Are Correct: Fi, all the time.
• Kneel Before Frodo: When Link draws the Master Sword (and kills Wizzro) proving he truly is the Hero of Time, everyone present, including 4 rulers (5 if you count Agitha), bows before him.
• Lecherous Licking: A spectacularly creepy one, where Cia licks the Master Sword, while making Double Entendres and keeping eye contact with Link.
• Not a Morning Person: Impa considers waking Zelda one of the riskier parts of her job; and Zelda has a tendency to throw things at her "with the speed of an enraged Cucoo".
• Oh, Crap!: Many, as to be expected for a war story, but special mention should go to Zelda's reaction in the end of Chapter 23, when she sees Ganondorf.
• One-Winged Angel: As to be expected, Ganondorf becoming Ganon.
• Proud Warrior Race Guy: Ishaka is definitely this.
• Really Gets Around: Princess Ruto is implied to be this. Definitely Played for Laughs, as in between that she is still a competent if slightly over-privileged ruler.
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Cia gives a vicious one to Ishaka.
  • Shut Up, Hannibal!: He gives an epic one of these in return.
• Shout-Out: After Link defeats a ravager in combat, Ishaka snarks, "He's still skinny."
  • When Ishaka suggests they go through the Eldin Caves, he and Impa have familiar exchange
    Impa: Surely, you jest?
    Ishaka: I be ser'us, though my name ain't Shirley.
  • Ishaka has a bomb knock a pillar into lava making a bridge, he quips "Made a bridge. And it only took whuh...ten sec'nds?"
  • Zelda and Ganondorf's final exchange is straight out of Goldeneye, almost word for word.
  • Cia singing "Only You" while thinking about Link is reminiscent of Batman: Arkham City.
  • The Ravagers have a marching song that is clearly inspired by US Paratrooper song "Blood on the Risers".
  • Impa kills a Gothma, only for it to fall on her. Leading to "(muffled) Get this thing off me".
  • The Water Temple has a "Watcher in the Water".
    • Also, getting to the Tomb of the First Zora requires getting through an archway marked "Speak friend and enter".
    • "The way is shut. It was made by those of the dead, and the dead keep it. The way is shut."
  • It is explicitly said that "Big Finn is essentially Billy Connolly from The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
  • The "Prayer of Relief" concludes with "The Soldier's Prayer.
  • Ishaka caps a Rousing Speech by noting they have brave enemies awaiting them..."let's go kill them".
  • In Chapter 23, Gawain relieving McClellan of command has a lot of similarities with Spiers doing the same to Dike in Band of Brothers.
    • Shortly after, Itami runs right enemy lines to meet with a pinned down allied advancement, and then runs back through the enemy lines, just like Spiers run through Voi (in the show and Real Life).
  • Cia's "Reason You Suck" Speech to Ishaka concludes the same way the one the Joker gave to Batman in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker.
  • Ishaka's Shut Up, Hannibal! is from The Killing Joke.
  • Impa and Volga's last exchange is more or less the same as the one between Superman and Darkseid in the Justice League episode "Twiight".
• Side Bet: Ishaka and Impa have a lot of these. Eventually, we don't see them making the bet, and instead simply see one of them hand the other money after something happens, leaving it to us to work out the specifics of the bet.
• Something Only They Would Say: Impa figures out that Sheik is Zelda halfway through the Era of Time campaign, all thanks to the song she's playing.
  Impa: I know that song because I taught it to you, Zelda.
• Stalker with a Crush: Just like in the original game, Cia is this towards Link. But now, thanks to the wonders of narrative point-of-view shifts, we get to see some of the ways that she goes about doing this. It is creepy.
• Tempting Fate:
  • While exploring the Eldin Caves, Impa quips that things are rather boring and she almost wished something would happen. They are promptly attacked by hundreds of Stalchildren.
    Impa: I WAS KIDDING!
  • Then there's this exchange in the final battle:
    Midna: Is that all this Ganondorf has got?
    Impa: I would not advise making comments of that nature, friend Midna.
    Midna: Why not? What's he gonna do, throw his soul at us?
    Ganondorf: (throws his soul at them)
    Midna: Ugh, I was fucking kidding!
• Sympathy for the Devil: Lana, Impa, and Ishka all admit to pitying Cia.
• War Is Hell: Death and destruction, grievous injuries, and loss. Despite the heroes recognizing the necessity of their actions, they don't enjoy the fighting.
• Well, Excuse Me, Princess!: Zelda isn't haughty (at all), but she and Link do enjoy snarky banter. He actually says this to her word-for-word, more than once.
• World of Badass: This is an expansion upon Hyrule Warriors. What did you expect?
• Wrestler in All of Us: There are a couple of moves that sound like they wouldn't be out of place in the WWE. Particularly in Impa's fight with a brainwashed Darunia, where she employs a triangle choke and an improvised tornado DDT. Darunia gets in on the action too, hitting her with a spear that nearly broke her back.
  • The author might be a wrestling fan too, considering the periodic use of the phrase "crimson mask" to describe when a character is bleeding from the face.
• Yandere: Cia slowly becomes one as the story progresses. Sadly (for her), a certain First Kiss drives her clear over the edge.
• You Cannot Grasp the True Form: A footnote says this word for word about the Imprisoned.
• You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!: Midna's reaction when Fi turns into the Goddess Sword.
  "You've got to be fucking kidding me".
• You Need to Get Laid: Midna's initial assessment of Ryu during Lana and Ishaka's foray into the Era of Twilight. Lana is appalled, but astonishingly, Ryu grants that Midna's right.
• Your Approval Fills Me with Shame: Said word for word (respectfully) when Itami compliments a kill Lord Grantham made.

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