The Legend of Zelda: The Magnum Opus

Corbin was hesitant to speak with his companion after their most recent encounter. He hadn’t before seen such intensity in Link’s eyes… in anyone’s eyes. The first few hours of their travels remained in silence. Link eventually broke the tension with an apology for his rude actions. He admitted to his callousness and sought to rectify himself in Corbin’s eyes. Through their journey, Link revealed much of what occurred after the events that crowned him as the Hero of Time. The story that he told…

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With Ganon locked away and his villainous rule a memory to few, Link and Zelda sought to keep their deeds from becoming undone. Only by obscuring the truth could it be protected. Surely, some of the story had leaked but its entirety remained hidden within a handful of minds. The people of Hyrule are fickle but imaginative. Without documented events, Link and Zelda’s adventures would fall into the realm of rumor and be blurred into that of myth. It had to be so. If another were to open the Door of Time and pull the Master Sword from its cold, stone sheath, Ganon’s wrath would be unleashed upon the world.

With the power of the sages, Link and Zelda worked backwards. They had resealed the Door of Time but were uncomfortable with the idea of merely concealing the three spiritual stones which were the necessary keys to the lock. With great calculation, they transferred the mystical powers of the stones to three perfect spheres. The power of Zora’s Sapphire was entitled to a blue pearl that was scavenged from the bottom of Lake Hylia. From the magma of Death Mountain, an orb was cast that would encapsulate the enigmatic aura of the Goron Ruby. The final piece was created from deep under the sands of the Gerudo Desert. The Kokiri Emerald’s essence was relocated and secured within the marble globe. The three spheres were enchanted by the magic of the sages and blessed by the spirits of earth, sea and wind. Abolishing the need for the Ocarina of Time, it was destroyed. In its absence, Zelda, Link and the sages used their connections to the goddesses to infuse the stones with their qualities. Thus, the three spheres, containing the goddesses’ elements of power, wisdom and courage, were deemed the Pendants of Virtue. The pendants were then entrusted to those most worthy of their safeguard. Those chosen spread themselves to the reaches of Hyrule and obscured their locations and identities so that none could purposely find them.

After their tasks had been completed, the sages, Zelda and Link retired with the knowledge that the Master Sword would forever sleep in its temple and Ganon would never be released from his confinement.

The following years brought prosperity to Hyrule. Zelda and Link cherished their time together and grew fond of one another. Zelda, being a princess, eventually became drawn more and more to her royal duties. Feeling neglected and alone, Link sought out a purpose in his life. Enlisting in the royal army, Link used his magical prowess, astute fighting abilities and natural heroism to ascend to Hyrule’s elite, The Knights of the Crown, over whom he was granted the title of Lord Knight. For a time, things were good.

That time, however, would be short lived. Just a few short passovers after Link’s knighthood, a new enemy appeared from the waters to the east. A people known as the Arcadians laid siege on Hyrule’s shores. Their boats sailed swiftly up the Zola River and the invaders quickly claimed Lake Hylia as their own. Their intentions were masked in obscurity. Some thought they had come in search of the legendary Triforce. Others projected that they were merely bloodthirsty barbarians that had come to spread anarchy and chaos to the land. Without a diplomatic attempt to dissuade the Arcadian siege, the King’s men took arms against the infiltrators and hastily attacked the threatening army. The first battle between Hyrule and Arcadia lasted 32 days before Link convinced the king that a retreat was necessary. For the next seven years, Hyrule’s population would be torn by a war that seemed an endless stalemate. Arcadia’s warriors were well-trained and skilled far beyond those of Hyrule. Hyrule’s men had the knowledge of their own lands to their advantage. Thus, they fought on all terrain and in all conditions eagerly seeking to defeat their nemeses.

During the third year of conflict, Link had nearly gained the upper-hand over the stout Arcadian empire but a traitor within his ranks sabotaged what would have been a great victory. During the Battle of Falling Sands, this treachery allowed the Queen and her two closest friends, the Keepers of Headstone, to be taken by the Arcadians. Knowing that the proud King would never surrender his country for a single woman, even the Queen, the Arcadian Lord had them tortured and executed high in the cliffs of Death Mountain so that their screams could be heard by all.

The violent and horrific death of the Queen caused great hatred towards Link by the King. Disgusted by the Lord Knight, the King relieved Link of his duties in the army and cast him from the castle. Link pleaded with Zelda for forgiveness but the Princess’ sorrow wouldn’t allow it. She begged him to leave for she couldn't bear to see his face again. Having no family of his own, Link made his pilgrimage towards the west, where the war would ignore and forget him.

Trouble had no difficulty in following Link during his travels. While attempting to keep his identity hidden, Link stumbled upon the small village of Sovern where he made his stay. He found that little of his former life could trail in his wake to this place. There he could be at peace once again. It would be five years before Corbin would uncover the lost Hero of Time and set him on a new quest.

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

© 1999 - 2024 Zelda Legends. All Rights Reserved.