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(So, to clarify things, I would like to say that while the events of Twilight Princess, and several other events before (such as Ganondorf's execution at the Arbiter's Ground), are to be held separate from this story (since this is relevant to Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask alone), the Hyrulian Civil War's events are all relevant, including the events referenced in Twilight Princess. Look it up if you have no idea what I'm saying XD)

Still a Work in Progress btw.


Prelude to Shadows


In a realm beyond sight,
the sky shines gold, not blue.
There, the Triforce's might,
makes mortal dreams come true.

Is man born evil? Or is power the ultimate corrupter?

Or is it something darker yet?

No one knows why the appearance of the Triforce struck awe, worship, and finally lust in the hearts of all Hyrule. So then, is it safe to say that no one is good nor evil? That all are susceptible to evil, and that there is only the victorious?

We have all learned the bitter lesson of war, no man unmarked by the festering wound created by the Triforce.

The Goddesses claim to have sealed away the darkness, the dark interlopers, so that they will never plague us again. But, who’s to say evil will not rise again?

The goddesses are naïve to think that simply by sealing away “evil” will it be stopped. If one thing, they should know the one universal truth.

Evil never dies.

~Kaepora Gaebora

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Hello weary traveler. Sit down and listen for awhile…

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It is said that when the world was first forged, the goddesses created another. This we know now as the Sacred Realm, a land where the skies are golden. When the goddesses finally left these two worlds, they left three glowing triangles in their wake: the Triforce. This rested atop the temple erected in their honor, the final monument of their passing.

The Sacred Triangle mustered the hearts of all Hyrule, capable of making even man’s wildest dreams come true. Myth and legend swept the land, dreams of a more perfect land born. Yet, in this light, there was unfathomable darkness.

When word of the Triforce spread, it is so said that sin was created in the hearts of men. Man and beast rose up alike, wishing to take the power for their own. Dissension and hatred engulfed the land in darkness, until finally an even darker wind fell…

A band of sorcerers, the Dark Interlopers, known for their might and magic, stood against all of Hyrule, mercilessly destroying all in their path. Through their dark tools and designs, they took the other tribes like a storm, leaving nothing but rubble of the once glorious cities. There was resistance, but the tribes alone could not stand against the Dark Interlopers might.

Thus it was that the tribes, Goron, Hylian, Zora, and Gerudo, united against their one foe. The war was long and bitter, leaving the world in ruined tatters. Cries to the goddesses went unheard, yet all was not lost. The goddesses had not forsaken Hyrule, as its people had begun think, and thus they sent their most faithful servants; the spirits of light.

The spirits of light descended from the heavens like beacons of hope, driving away the evil demons conjured by the Interlopers. The self-proclaimed gods could not stand to their might, even their most sacred tool unable to combat this newly found light. With the help of the spirits of light, the Dark Interlopers were banished into the Twilight Realm, forever sealed from the light of day again.

However, it is said that one among their ranks was never found, only the shattered remains of its greatest tool; the Fused Shadow. Eventually the sorcerer fell from memory, to be remembered by another name…

~ Excerpt from the Book of Mudora (the Annals of Jaiden)

Chapter One: Faded Memories

Flash of a memory, of a past life. Am I dreaming…?

Unseeing eyes rolled up to their whites as the man roared in pain. He did not realize it was himself. Beasts of every dark menagerie surrounded him, ready to strike. Shadowed creatures climbed over their dead brethren, walking to the slaughterhouse.

Flash of a past love. An image now blurred. Who…?

Tooth and nail grasped at him, only to be hewn off. Blood and sweat trickled down his rippling muscles as he faced the terrible onslaught autonomously. He watched himself, detached from this foreigner. The man standing there was an animal, nothing more and nothing less.

He finally understood, as the figure finally began to stumble, brought to the ground by mortal wounds. Black fangs sank into his shoulder blade, another pair grasping his calf. New clarity returned to his eyes as he crushed their heads with his bare hands.

Pitiful.

A new rage overtook him, shaking his entire being. He would not die. No, he refused to die. One final cry breached his lips as he stood up, the shadow beasts bursting into purple flame before his eyes. The earth trembled before him as his own body was consumed by violet hue, the air around him suppressed by his power.

He rose up one hand as knowledge flooded through him, new memories of forgotten powers, of dark arts, overcame him. Flames began to form around his hand and forearm, hissing in the wind. He was screaming unintelligibly now, but in dark ecstasy instead of pain. His arm fell, now completely covered by the violet flames. Fist drove into the ground, earth cracking beneath it.

The monsters quailed before his might as a shockwave burst out, causing the retreating monsters to stumble. Purple fire pursued them, those caught in it utterly destroyed.

The fire receded as the dark skinned man stood up, steam rolling off of him. He held his sword, power glowing in the steel.

“Bravo. But that is only a small taste of true power.” A man cloaked in black stood before the champion, mocking him. The man’s skin was pale, although one could only see his hands. Wicked nails sprouted from his fingertips, curving around intricately. His breath rattled his entire body, the sound echoing from out of the mask he wore. The mask’s one eye peered at the warrior.

“You!” Ganondorf screamed out, punching his finger out accusingly. He threw himself at the cloaked man, sword bursting into violet hue. His sword bit at the man, hungering to taste flesh.

“Insect…” The man’s arm darted out, catching the blade mid-swing. The blade drew a thin cut in his palm as he squeezed, blood trickling slowly down the length of the blade. He squeezed again, crushing the blade with his vice-like grip. The purple light flashed, the sword shattering into pieces.

Ganondorf knew no more.

The Book of Mudora: The End

Ah, you seem to have dozed off there. Let’s continue…

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Time ticked away, and eventually the Civil War and the Dark Interlopers were forgotten from memory. However, the corruption they spread had forever changed the face of Hyrule. Though the Dark Interlopers were gone, they left a legacy of hatred, shadowing the hearts of all who had seen the war. Suspicion and racial division reigned supreme, all suspected of lusting for the Sacred Triangle.

However, one man stood against the growing darkness. Ganondorf, King of Thieves, finally ended the civil war, bringing the nations under one banner; the King of Hyrule’s. It is thus that a pact was born between the two kings, bringing peace in the midst of chaos.

Yet, all is not well. Even now the corruption of the land spreads further, though I do not know the source. The elders of this land bar me from their presence. I fear a new evil has risen, perhaps greater and more terrible than this great land has seen…

~ Final Chapter of the Annals of Jaiden

Chapter Two: Violet Inferno

The hall was grand, marble covering the floor in alabaster white. Pillars supported a cathedral like ceiling, vaulted high above the guests. As they walked down the red carpet, each one looked upon the splendor created by Hylian hands. Golden threads guided their walk, trickling along the edges of the carpet. Majestic tapestries aided the thread, displaying heroes in magnificent color.

Their destination nigh, each of the guests took upon a regal air, concentrating upon the task at hand. Servants split from the group, leaving only the royal knights to guide their charges.

A cherry wood door reverberated as it was swung open on well greased hinges. The door was a piece of true art, battles of the past civil war etched into the grain masterfully. Silver etched like rope entwined with other “cords” forming the vertical handlebars of each door. Finally, gold plate was pounded into wood, the centerpiece of the door. An eagle, with the image of the Triforce between its wingspan, glowed in the well lit halls, and even more so as the door was opened, the crest split in half. The guests were blinded momentarily as light glistened off gold, silver, and lacquer.

Stepping into the throne room the “heroes” were greeted with thunderous applause. Hopeful eyes, of every kind, shined with hope for the new future, hope that these men among men could erase the pain of past wounds.

The group of three split off, taking a stand at pre-arranged places of honor. On the right stood a man of tall stature, his skin painted a blue patina as dark as the sapphire jeweled symbol of Zora he stood on. In stark contrast, the one on the left was build short, but powerfully, a gruff man who represented well the rocky nature of the Goron. Below him was the Goron crest, laid out in rubies.

Taking the stage however, was the King of Thieves, Ganondorf. He stood upon the Gerudo symbol, but his massive stature easily overtook the amethystine symbol. Even on one knee, he struck a fearsome figure, the air about him crackling with power.

“To you, King Hyrule, we swear forever our fealty and that of our nations.” He recited, almost chanting in a reverent manner. The other leaders followed in the same manner, the Goron first, the Zora second. Each was met with great cheering as they swore to the Royal Family, declaring them national heroes.

Ganondorf’s eyes blazed with the fires of hatred, a purple inferno stirring within his gaze. Only one noticed, a tiny girl peeking out from behind the throne…

The Book of Mudora: The Beginning

The old man moaned as his joints strained to move. Bones crackled as he left his wooden rocking chair to walk to a vast bookcase. Grabbing a dusty volume, labeled “The Annals of Kaepora Gaebora”, he sat back down, blowing the grime off the cover. He cleared his throat and began to read once again.

“The goddesses are naïve…

---

… to think that simply by sealing away “evil” will it be stopped. If one thing, they should know the one universal truth.

Evil never dies.

Evil rises again, as a phoenix will from its own ashes. The seed of corruption has been planted already, and now we can no longer return to the days of true paradise. The kings of every nation have already assembled; all thinking that by simply uniting Hyrule will evil be stopped. These men are more suited to the role of court jester, if they are possibly this blind.

Can they not see the tendrils of darkness already strangling the land? Dark things transpire, and yet they turn a blind eye. Not every evil was one of the dark ones. The interlopers have done their damage, never to be repaired. And so soon after the war, dark things have returned, anomalies seen and whispered in rumor.

The Zora believe the Great Fish has been falling deeper and deeper into madness, growing a previously unseen temper. The caves in which the Gorons find their sustenance has begun to show signs of mysterious disappearances and collapses within the cave. Who knows what dark things lurk there now? And worst of all, the Great Deku Tree’s leaves have begun to wilt, some paranormal sickness beginning to take him, though the source is unknown. His mind has become clogged, and he now has very few moments of clarity, speaking only cryptically.

The land is dying, slowly but surely.

~First Chapter of the Annals of Kaepora

Chapter 3: Tendrils of Corruption

“Pathetic…” Ganondorf strode forward, a charging goron colliding with his outstretched arm with bone crushing force. A shockwave of force exploded out from Ganondorf’s hand the instant the two made contact. Sparks shot off the floor as the goron’s stony skin ground off the granite and sandstone. Ganondorf merely smirked as the goron’s attempts were utterly futile, eventually forcing him to a halt. Seizing a jutting rock on the slowing goron’s body, he chuckled darkly. Ganondorf lifted his attacker above his head, using only one hand, and threw him into a stalagmite. Bone and stone shattered, falling to the floor with a thud. The room was littered with a few other bodies, some headless, some beaten to a pulp, others mutilated beyond recognition. All victims of this onslaught.

“Traitor… We’ll never let you… or the crown… have the ruby.” The goron croaked out.

“You’re not fit to speak to me, whelp.” Ganondorf grabbed the goron again, why no longer had the strength to fight back. Dragging him along unceremoniously, Ganondorf walked towards a boulder blocking the entrance of his destination. Grasping the now helpless burden with two hands, Ganondorf twisted his body to the side. With a heave and spin, Ganondorf launched the heavy goron into the boulder, shattering it. Dust rolled out, coating the newly dead with dirt and grime.

With shallow breath, the goron sighed out one final phrase. “You’re already too late…” The goron died with a smile. The dust cleared enough to see a large muscled form escape into a secret passage, the interior of the cave collapsing behind its retreat.

Ganondorf threw back his head and loosed a roar of anger. His hatred and malice reverberated throughout the chamber, striking fear into the stone itself. Sand leaked from the ceiling as the vibrations increased, until finally the stone formations began to crack. The murderer stormed from the newly made tomb, boulders collapsing behind him…

---

“Pray that your deity lives long enough for a second prayer.” The man beamed, his lips stretched too tight over perfect teeth. His chest heaved with suppressed laughter, but insane chuckles managed to escape his mouth intermittently. His barely contained laughs echoed throughout the dimly lit underground chamber, ripples shaking the water’s surface below. Ganondorf’s insane laughter soon changed to a bitter sneer, his disdain clear to his audience of one. He grabbed the Zora’s husky exterior, hanging him over the water. “Now watch the corruption you have wrought with your own hands, King…”

Something dark splashed into the clear lake below. Tendrils of darkness seeped from it as it floated up on its side, revealing the corpse of a dead fish shrouded in black. The shadows undulated like too little ink in too much water. The fish dissipated, leaving a dark cloud in the once pristine water. In the center floated a glowing purple and sapphire sphere, an egg that would hatch into a deadly parasite…

The placid lake began to rumble, its stillness interrupted by powerful fins. A gigantic maw broke the surface, white spray exploding outward into the cave. The maw consumed the cloud whole, the lingering fish scent mesmerizing the great fish. Jabu Jabu’s body arced back into the water, his massive body almost piscine in its movement. With a final flick of the tail, Jabu Jabu was gone- and Ganondorf’s dark designs complete. The Zora had begun to sob in despair, now beyond all hope.

“Sniveling pig…” Ganondorf cursed under his breath. “You are fit only to be fish food… But, perhaps I will let you live… Use your time wisely. My kingdom has no room for fools.” he spat out in disgust. He threw the Zora against the wall, leaving him whimpering in the corner as he exited.

---

Thunder and lightning crackled in harmony, nature’s cymbals crashing through the chill night air. Rain hissed against forest soil, each droplet shattering delicately. The distinct noise of chattering leaves joined the symphony of sound, deep and shallow rustling finding a place amid the chaos. A man spoke, but his words, too soft spoken, were easily overtaken. However, the tree knew why he had come.

The tree’s gravely voice boomed above all else, none challenging him. “You have traveled here in vain, betrayer. None but those sanctioned by the gods may take this gem.” The tree chuckled softly, but even such a small gesture struck down the clamor. The man tried to speak again, suppressed anger shining through his eyes, piercing the dark night with its intensity. However, the tree continued on, dwarfing his protests. “I do not fear you, nor do I fear death. Killing me will do nothing for you, and I will simply rise again…” The large tree said, answering unspoken threats.

“You misjudge me, Deku Tree,” he smirked, “I do not plan only destroying only your body, but your soul and all that you have created. I will erase you, and all that you have touched, from this land completely.” Ganondorf held out his hand, a green egg rising eerily from his palm. All noise had stopped, as if all were held enrapt by the two forces. The egg fell to the grass bed below, each blade slowly beginning to decay now. The Great Deku Tree’s leaves began to rustle in fear, even the deity trembling before such a man. “Without you, this forest will die, as will all within it. And you will return to see it gone, destitute, and taken from you completely.” He grinned maliciously, basking in the tree’s fear and horror.

All was silent again, none with the courage to move. Ganondorf closed his eyes, taking the splendor in with reverie. The egg seemed to feed off of the terror, growing quickly and silently. Before long, a tiny spider had emerged, cracking off the top of the egg with a pincer-like mouth. It crawled slowly but surely, devouring all in its path to the Deku Tree.

“You… would destroy this entire forest just to get to me?” The Deku Tree finally managed to whisper out, the shadow of fear clutching his throat.

It was Ganondorf’s turn to chuckle this time, his hand closing over his mouth to stop a bout of insane laughter. “I’m afraid you overestimate yourself, tree.” he wheezed out. “I plan to rule all of Hyrule, and I need the people’s complete obedience. You are merely an obstacle for the Golden Age of this land.”

“My Golden Age.”

Lightning flashed, slicing through the black void. Thunder rolled over the land, striking fear into all that heard it. His last statement hung in the air, an executioner’s axe ready to fall.

---

And so it was that the legend of the Hero of Time began, though neither the land, nor I, knew it until many years later. The boy without a fairy had become a force of destiny, and not even Ganondorf’s dark designs were able to stand against his one great enemy; the ever flowing sands of time. The king of thieves, though he did not realize that this very boy would be his downfall, felt the winds of change upon him. Sensing that time was of the essence, the dark king did the unthinkable; he declared war upon the royalty of Hyrule, starting what would become known as the Imprisoning War.

Ganondorf’s army took the city by storm, overwhelming the royal guards. For none suspected that Ganondorf would betray the king, for it was the king of thieves himself, who had become the hero of the lands of Hyrule, uniting the races under one banner. Ganondorf’s treachery had been long in the making, and by lulling the king into trust and submission, he ensured his victory. Their king brutally murdered, the knights had none to turn to, none to be commanded by. The resolve of the soldiers collapsed, many fleeing into the night, and still many more being slaughtered.

The boy and the fairy arrived, only to find that their haste had been in vain…

---

As the night of terrors continued, I, Rauru, watched in horror as all order, all reason, collapsed under Ganondorf. Dusk unraveled into starless twilight, bringing new evils from the darkness. I, one of the seven sages of this land, was powerless to help my own people as the city descended further and further into madness.

However, new hope arrived in the form of a child, a child that, it seemed, had bested the Dark King’s champions. I foolishly denied that this could be the child of prophecy, the one to liberate us from Ganondorf’s dark hold. For how could a mere boy overtake one such as the Dark King? There were signs and portents enough, though. It was as if the very spirits of the goddesses walked with him, captured in the very stones he held, within the talismans that would gain him entry to the Sacred Realm.

One could only imagine the elation- and the terror- that I felt as Link entered the realm. For that was when I realized that the prophecy had indeed been true. That Link would be the one to stop this evil- but would also give that very evil the power it needed. I took shelter in the Sacred Chamber, the place where Link had been sealed. Still too young, Link was unable to wield the sword. I stood sentinel over him, watching over him as darkness engulfed the Sacred Realm.

Helplessly I watched as Ganondorf and his minions entered. I watched as his own forces turned in upon itself, all seeking the power of the Triforce. The battle was long and terrible, comrade against comrade, brother killing brother. Finally, Ganondorf emerged victorious from the bloodbath, ready to claim his prize…

---

“The Triforce, split in three by an impure heart, marked those whose fates would forever be entwined. With new found power, Ganondorf took the lands of Hyrule by storm, none able to withstand his might. For seven years Ganondorf ruled; powerful and unstoppable. Still, there was hope.” It was raining now, and the old man was beginning to feel it in his bones. His warm voice rasped as he read from the ancient text, small puffs of breath lifting layers of dust from the aged pages. Pausing for a moment, he reveled in the story.

“It was whispered that Ganondorf feared one thing alone; the rise of those chosen by the gods. Hope had not yet left the land, and for a time, it would not be broken. The winds of change had begun to blow again, and a hero from another time began to stir…”

So began the legend of the Hero of Time.

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