Genre (s): Fanfiction/Fantasy

Written When? Freshmen Year of College

Prologue

Onslaught

The White Moon is the key. After 100 years, it’s time for the Hero chosen by the “sword that seals the darkness” to wake it.

The Golden Lynel cannot let this happen. If it does, Ganon will never regain his true power. Link may have defeated him, but his spirit remains. It lives inside the Lynel. He’s trapped between two worlds: Hyrule and Mokavich.

Since the beginning of the week, the gate’s become impatient. Every time the Lynel does morning duty, it shakes, as if from fear, and whispers, “The Hero,” constantly. This tells the Lynel something is going to happen. The Hero is coming. He’s after the White Moon itself. The only thing the Lynel can do is prepare.

***

“That’s it, Tulin! Catch that updraft and draw your bowstring!” Teba, a Rito warrior yells at his son. He’s training him at the Flight Range, which is at the base of Hyrule Kingdom’s chilly Hebra Mountains. His white feathers ruffle, to keep him warm, but he is very proud.

Tulin, who looks just like him, draws back the bowstring of his Swallow Bow, and his arrow smashes the target right in the center.

Teba is standing on the Flight Range’s landing pad. He excitedly clenches his finger-like, black feathers at his wingtips. “Perfect!”

“I did it, Dad!” Tulin shouts. He flaps his little wings and joins Teba on the landing pad. “Did you see it? It was a perfect bullseye!”

Teba ruffles the feathers on top of his son’s head and says, “I am proud of you. With just a little more practice, you will no doubt reach Master Revali’s archery level.”

Revali is the name of the Rito Champion, who perished with the rest of the Champions during the Great Calamity. His spirit pilots Divine Beast Vah Medoh, a bird-like machine that watches over his, Teba, and Tulin’s hometown of Rito Village.

Teba’s words excite little Tulin even more. “Yay! Thank you, Dad!”

But then something happens. The ground under Tulin and Teba’s feet suddenly shakes, and a huge rock from the mountain drops in on them.

Teba makes haste to grab his son and get them both to safety, before it breaks through the launching pad, and disappears into the pitch-black pit below the archery range.

“Daddy, what just happened?” asks Tulin, his voice now sounding more nervous than happy.

The snowstorm that usually engulfs the range picks up, as well as the wind. Something weird is happening with the weather.

Teba flaps his wings and hops into the sky, while Tulin watches from below. He climbs higher, until he can get a good view of the North Summit, and his beak drops.

A silver cloud circles it like the clouds of Malice that once invaded Hyrule Castle. Not only that, but it’s shaped like a dragon. However, it’s not one of Hyrule’s three dragons: Farosh, Naydra, and Dinraal, but the birthplace of the White Moon.

Teba knows this, and he is not happy.

Hyrule is in danger.

A great blast of wind knocks Teba out of the sky. He frantically flaps his wings, but he struggles to catch himself.

Tulin is horrified. He brings his wings to his beak and shouts, “Dad!”

Finally, Teba manages to hover. “Get back to Rito Village!” he yells.

“But–!”

“Now, Tulin! I need to check this out!”

Tulin’s nervous, but his dad is one of the best Rito Warriors in the village. He’ll be back. He just knows it. He nods and flaps his little wings.

Teba waits until he’s off to the village before he prepares himself. He soars into the Flight Range’s shack and picks up his Falcon Bow, putting it over his shoulders. He launches himself like a catapult towards the North Summit.

The dragon-like cloud notices his tiny form coming towards it and roars.

Teba momentarily stops in midair. Through the roaring snowstorm, he places an arrow in his bow and aims it at the cloud’s heart. “Bring it on, White Moon!”

The cloud roars again, and it closes in on him.

Teba is more than ready.

***

Things aren’t much better in the Gerudo, Eldin, and Lanayru Regions of Hyrule. A historic sandstorm hits the Gerudo Desert. It’s so violent that Riju, chief of the Gerudo tribe, has to shut the gates of Gerudo Town.

“Get everybody in!” she shouts at her soldiers. “Take the sand seals if you need to!”

“Chief!” the soldiers announce at the same time.

Likewise, a plume of ash and lava erupts from Death Mountain in the Eldin Region.

To stop it from destroying Goron City, a young Goron named Yunobo calls for Dinraal, the Dragon of Fire, to protect it. At the end of the day, the Gorons abandon their home and take shelter at the Foothill Stable.

Yunobo and the Goron Boss literally push everybody down Death Mountain and tell them, “We’re not safe here. We need to evacuate.”

Finally, in the Lanayru Region, the Zora people retreat inside Zora’s Domain, because an awkwardly powerful thunderstorm unfolds, and they are very vulnerable to lightning.

Prince Sidon tries to keep everyone calm, but even he doesn’t know what’s going on. He holds his hands out to his people and tells them, “Stay calm, everybody. This storm will pass before we know it.” Then, he whispers under his breath, “Hopefully.”

His father, King Dorephan, mumbles, “Goddess Hylia, please protect us.”

The onslaught’s begun, but it’s going to take more than just the Hero who wields the “sword that seals the darkness” to stop this unconscious, invisible threat.

Chapter 1

The Lizalfos Incident

Hyrule Castle is no longer the devastating ruins it was six months ago. All Malice has vanished, and Hyrule Castle Town Ruins is finally starting to look like a town again. It’s as if the incident with the Zora, Gerudo, Rito, and Gorons never happened. For the time being, Central Hyrule is safe.

A bright, warm sun shines over a now peaceful Hyrule Field that’s not overflooded with Guardian Stalkers and Skywatchers.

A large, white horse, who sports a Royal Bridle and Saddle, gallops through the tall, green grass. Sitting on top of the animal is a young woman who has long, blonde hair. Princess Zelda. She missed these days of galloping around Hyrule Field, not having to worry about Calamity Ganon’s next move. The wind feels good on her face. She can tell her horse, Storm, also enjoys it. She feels wide open and free out here. Horseback Riding is the only way she can escape the stress of royal life.

Storm whinnies and throws his head, in order to look cool. After all, the Royal White Stallion is a legendary horse.

Zelda rides him to Irch Plain and stops in front of a small plateau that has two trees on it. She came here with Link 100 years ago to take some pictures of Hyrule’s flowers. One of Zelda’s favorite flowers, the Silent Princess, grows on this plain. It’s a rare being that nearly went extinct during the Great Calamity, but since Link’s defeated Ganon, it’s finally able to thrive again.

Zelda is relieved when she sees that none of the Silent Princesses have been washed away after the recent storm. It hit Central last night. She dismounts Storm and pulls her saddle off his back, hopping onto the plateau. Zelda props it against one of the tree trunks in the area. A smile stretches across her face when she sees all the Silent Princesses. The blue flower’s glow shimmers on her slightly sunburnt face.

She steps into a Fairy Circle of Princesses and sinks to her hands and knees. “They’re beautiful,” she tells herself. “What do you think, Link? Link?” Strange, she could have sworn her appointed knight followed her out here.

He did. He just had to run, because his horse does not want to cooperate with him today.

Zelda hears heavy breathing behind her, and she turns her head to look. There’s Link.

He joins her on the plateau, out of stamina, and tries to catch his breaths.

Hyrule’s hero is a handsome, young man who has dirty blonde hair with sideburns. He wears the blue Champion’s Tunic, as well as some Hylian Trousers and a Hylian Hood (and is covered in mud). On his back is the Master Sword, or the “sword that seals the darkness”. It’s the one he used against Ganon.

At the sight of him, Zelda asks, “What in the name of Hyrule happened to you, Link? Where’s your horse?”

Unfortunately, he’s not much of a talker, so he doesn’t say anything.

Therefore, Zelda has to guess. “Did he throw you in a mud puddle?”

He nods.

Zelda can’t help but to chuckle. “Do you want me to ask Storm to go get him?”

Link shakes his head no, which tells Zelda he wants to get his horse himself.

“Very well,” she says. “I’ll go with you.”

She and Link follow Irch Plain for a little bit and find Link’s horse munching on some grass. He’s standing on a steep hill that overlooks the Hyrule Castle Moat. He’s a brown horse who has four black socks and a white diamond running down his nose. Link’s named him Despereaux. He looks like a Despereaux.

Zelda settles down in some of the grass and pulls out her Sheikah Slate, an iPhone-like piece of technology created by the Sheikah people of Hyrule. She pulls up the camera function and points it at Link.

Slowly and carefully, he crouches and starts to approach Despereaux’s backside.

The horse does not notice him. He continues to feast, for he is very interested in this grass on this hill. Perhaps it tastes better than other brands?

Link’s almost at him. He doesn’t have his Stealth Armor on right now, so he has to be extra careful. When he manages to jump on his horse’s back, Despereaux freaks out.

He neighs and bucks his rider all over the place.

Link pats his neck, trying to soothe him, but nothing works.

Despereaux throws him off, causing him to land in a second puddle of mud.

Zelda captures the entire thing on her camera. Laughing, she comes within reach of Link, who sits up in the puddle. “You should have seen your face! That was, by far, the best thing I’ve seen in 100 years!”

Link has no idea why Despereaux is acting up today. He was fine yesterday. They went to Outskirt Stable to pick up some wood that just came in from Rito Village. Although, Link has to admit, something does feel off. His blue eyes land on a buildup of tall storm clouds on the horizon, and it becomes significantly colder.

***

Link and Zelda return to the castle by early afternoon. They are greeted by two guards standing at the gate. It once had a Guardian Skywatcher patrolling it.

“Princess, there’s something we need to discuss with you,” explains one guard, who is clearly on edge.

Zelda rolls her eyes. “Oh, please, I don’t want to hear about the Bokoblin Incident again.”

“I’m afraid this is something a little more serious,” says the other guard. “And we promised to never speak of the Bokoblin Incident again!”

Not so long ago, a group of red goblins, or Bokoblins, came to Hyrule Castle because they were cold. They built a fire in the library and stole some fruit from the dining hall. Link and Zelda found them when they came for dinner, and Link beat them to a pulp. Oh, how he missed his monster-hunting days.

Zelda scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Fine.” She peers over her shoulder to Link. “I think I can handle myself from here. You need to finish your chores, great hero of Hyrule.”

However, Link does not want to leave. After all, he’s Zelda’s appointed knight.

The gates open, and he tries to follow her, but she merely snaps, “Why are you so annoying?”

Because he’s Link.

“I’m not going to tell you again; I can handle myself!” Zelda adds.

Well, someone is a little grumpy today. Everybody is.

Even though he doesn’t want to leave her, Link has to. He boards Storm and Despereaux in the Royal Stables and returns to the library to clean up from the Bokoblin Incident.

The library is a long, narrow room that has two floors, tons of books, and few secret doors. There is a chandelier on the ceiling, and a few tables scattered here and there. The library was once home to a bunch of Black Lizalfos (lizard-like monsters), but just like the Bokoblins, Link cleared them out. Well, most of them. To his surprise, while he’s cleaning, he finds a Green Lizalfos hiding under the spiral staircase at one end of the library.

Like its name suggests, it has green skin. There is a horn on its head and some silver armor on its back. The monster’s tail is spiral-shaped, and it has beady, purple eyes. It stands on two legs and carries a Lizal Boomerang in its hand.

Link wastes no time to draw the Master Sword. He threatens the monster with it. First Bokoblins and Lizalfos? What’s next… Moblins (bigger forms of Bokoblins)?

The lizard-like being begs for mercy, or at least tries to. It’s not very smart. It talks to Link, shows him its multi-colored tongue, and scratches its chin.

He lifts his sword over his head and prepares for a swift, overhead strike, but the monster quickly runs away from him. Stupid, little thing. It thinks a wardrobe is a window. It bangs its nose over and over on it.

Link chases it around the library. They run up and down the staircases at least three times each, but finally, the Hero manages to corner the lizard. They are on the second story. He again lifts the Master Sword over his head, but it suddenly gives off a bright blue, holy light that blinds him.

While he’s distracted, the Lizalfos snatches the Master Sword right out of his hand. Laughing, it stomps its feet and dances. Then, it takes on its true form. The Lizalfos is not a Green one, but a Golden Lizalfos. It just disguised itself as one. These monsters have a knack for camouflage.

Though surprised, Link tries to grab the Master Sword back. He and the Lizalfos fight over it, but a great thunderclap comes from outside. The entire library shakes and starts to collapse on them. Bits and pieces of the ceiling barely miss them. Both Link and the monster’s eyes widen.

The Lizalfos regains the Master Sword, but it does not swipe at the Hero. Instead, both it and he sprint through the collapsing library. They find a secret passageway behind another bookshelf and quickly dive into it, right as the whole interior of Zelda’s Book Heaven smashes into the floor.

Wham!

Link is officially all alone with a Golden Lizalfos.