Heart of Darkness, Soul of Light
PART I: A Kingdom in Chaos
CJ walked through a dimly-lit library in the basement of Hyrule Castle, small lantern in hand. Shaylene and Stacey were walking with him.
"I owe you two for your help with the Neo Ghouls and the Corrupted Destiny Cards... Thank you." CJ said.
"So that's what we're calling them?" Shaylene asked.
"Why are you thanking me?" Stacey asked. "I got beat by them."
"That's true, but without you calling me about them, I may have not found out about them until it was too late." CJ said. "Bandit Keith may have made it to the finals and hurt a lot more duelists with those cards before I faced him."
"Well... I guess you're welcome." Stacey said with a bit of a chuckle.
"So... what are we doing down here?" Shaylene asked.
"Does it have anything to do with your stories?" Stacey questioned.
"Yes and no." CJ said. "In my stories, this ancient library was home to some of the most important texts in Hyrule's history."
"What kinds of texts?" Shaylene asked.
"That's why we're here." CJ said. "I want to find out. I want to see just how much of Hyrule links up with my stories." He scanned a bookshelf as he walked past it, and stopped as the lantern illuminated a book titled "Hyrule Historia". "Got it..."
"Isn't that the Legend of Zelda book that I got you for your birthday a couple of years back?" Stacey asked.
"Hyrule Historia." CJ said. "Before the Crystal Wii Remote, you would've been right. This would've been the book released in English for the Legend of Zelda's 25th anniversary, conveniently released on my 25th birthday, the one detailing Nintendo's split timeline for the Legend of Zelda series. However, now that we're actually living in Hyrule, this book details our kingdom's history."
"So... I'm guessing that you want to compare the history told in it with the history of Hyrule in your stories?" Shaylene asked.
"Exactly." CJ said.
"Won't it take forever to study a whole history book?" Stacey asked.
"That's the thing." CJ said. "I have no intention of sitting down and studying this whole thing. I'm just going to scan through it and check to see what lines up with my stories." He sat down for a short time and scanned the book. "My fictional history of Hyrule lines up perfectly... The only differences are after Saria, Ryan and I were born... Granted, we still faced evil, but we were triumphant. She died from a Gyorg attack off of Outset Island, and her family was killed by a man who was angry that he didn't get Patrick's position as Director at HCIS."
"And after Patrick retired, Dad was appointed as the new Director." Shaylene said.
"Appointed by SecNav herself and recommended by Patrick." CJ said, looking at Stacey. She looked at him, a bit puzzled.
"It's weird not remembering most of the stuff we're talking about..." She said. Suddenly, a scene flashed in her mind.
Stacey stood in a small office in a brick building in South Castle Town. Sitting at the desk in front of her was a brown-haired, brown-eyed man in his late 30s to early 40s. He grabbed a piece of paper and handed it to Stacey.
"Turning in your resignation, Director Floyd?" Stacey asked.
"It's about time I retire." The man, Patrick Floyd, Director of the Hyrule Criminal Investigative Service, or HCIS, said. "I want to spend as much time with my family as I can. One can never be sure what fate has in store for them, and I don't want to lose what little precious time I may have with my wife and son."
"I'm sorry for your loss, Patrick." Stacey said. "Saria was a great Queen. And an even greater Sage. I don't think anyone could ever fill her shoes."
"Thank you, Madam Secretary." Patrick said.
"So..." Stacey said. "Is there anyone in particular you would recommend I appoint to take your place?"
"Without a doubt, ma'am." Patrick said. "One of my most loyal and trustworthy employees is my Assistant Director, David Johnson." Patrick then called in a balding, greyish-brown-haired, green-eyed man in his mid 40s to his office.
"Good afternoon, Madam Secretary... Director Floyd..." David said.
"David, I'm turning in my resignation." Patrick said. "It's about time I retire, and I want you to fill my seat."
"It would be an honor, sir." David said.
"Have... We all been Sages our whole lives?" Shaylene asked.
"For the most part." CJ said. "Each one of us learned of and began to develop our Sage powers at the age of 10."
"So... Why exactly are we down here looking at Hyrule's history?" Stacey asked.
"I told you." CJ said. "To see how it lines up with my stories. I wanna have an idea of what dark forces may be coming next..." As if to respond to what CJ had just said, a loud crash was heard and the castle rumbled for a few moments. CJ and the girls ran outside, where they noticed a dark barrier was surrounding Hyrule Castle.
"Look!" Shaylene exclaimed, pointing forward. Where the Temple of Time once stood was now a pile of rubble and a plume of smoke.
"That's not good." Stacey said. "What do-" Before Stacey could finish her sentence, a golden light enveloped the three Sages and they vanished. "-you think we should do? CJ?" She looked around and found herself standing atop a tall black castle. "Where the Hell am I?"
Meanwhile, Shaylene was standing in Hyrule Field, scanning her surroundings. "How did I end up in Hyrule Field?" She wondered. "We were all just in the castle." She then pulled out her phone. As she went to dial a number, she noticed the words "No Service" across her screen. "That's weird..."
Somewhere in southern Hyrule, CJ found himself inside a vast stone temple. Around him were several stone pillars, and in front of him was a stone staircase leading up to a tall stone platform, and atop the stairs was a doorway. CJ turned again and gasped at the sight of a glowing, large gear shaped object floating in front of him. On it, forming the corners of a triangle, were the symbols of Hyrule's three goddesses, Din, Nayru and Farore.
"This looks like... the Sealed Temple..." CJ said. "But..." CJ was shocked as a white-haired man in a white bodysuit emerged from the gear object, followed by a familiar blond-haired, blue-eyed young man in a green hat and tunic. They rushed through a door and outside of the temple. "Wait a minute! That was... Ghirahim and Link?!" Suddenly, a white light surrounded him and he found himself standing in a mysterious void, standing in what looked like shallow water. Everything around him was partly cloudy blue sky as far as the eye could see. CJ looked ahead and saw the blond-haired young man standing at the back of a muscular, almost demonic man with skin seemingly made of black scales and hair made of flames. "Impossible! This looks like the battle between the Hero of Skyloft and Demise the Demon King!"
The demon-like man, Demise turned to face the young man, the Hero known as Link.
"Ah, so you've decided to meet your end in battle after all." Demise said. "It pleases me greatly to see such misplaced valor, human." Link simply glared at him. "Take a moment to appreciate your surroundings, for where we stand shall serve as your tomb for eternity."
"I can't believe I'm actually witnessing such a momentous event in Hyrule's history in person." CJ said to himself.
Demise began to walk around, circling Link.
"The hate for the gods that has boiled in my veins..." Demise said. "You will taste all of it in the bite of my blade." He stopped walking and turned to face Link. "The only question left is how long you will manage to remain standing before I take your life. Try to keep it interesting for me, would you?"
Link just looked at him.
"And when you do fall, know that your world and everything in it is mine to dominate... mine to subjugate... mine to rule!" Demise said. "When I finish with you, you can take solace in knowing your friends and kin will soon follow, as I wipe all who oppose me from the face of this world!" The skies darkened and the two readied their blades. "...It won't be long know. At last, the almighty power I've sought for millennia... I will take the Triforce for my own... And the world shall be under my foot for eternity!"
Link charged at Demise and the two clashed swords. The sound of metal clanging against metal soon echoed through the mysterious void. It wasn't long before Link managed to knock Demise to the ground. Demise swiftly jumped back onto his feet before Link could even react. He simply laughed and lightning began to strike the battlefield. Demise raised his black sword to the sky and lightning struck it, infusing it with energy. He smirked and simply swung it in Link's direction, sending a wave of electric energy at him. Demise then raised his sword again, and Link, seizing the opportunity, held his sword to the sky and it was struck by a bolt of lightning, charging it as well.
"This ends here!" Link shouted, swinging his sword and striking Demise with a wave of electric energy, stunning Demise. Link then rushed forward and began to attack Demise, swiftly knocking him to the ground. He then leaped into the air, charging his sword with lighting, and then plunged his blade into Demise's chest.
Demise slowly stood back up and weakly held his sword to the sky. Crippled by pain, he jammed his sword into the ground and watched as it simply dissolved before his eyes. Link looked at him with determination and anger in his eyes, ready to still fight if need be. Demise simply stared at him, breathing heavily and grunting in pain once in a while.
"Extraordinary. You stand as a paragon of your kind, human." Demise said. "You fight like no man or demon I have ever known. Though this is not the end. My hate... never perishes. It is born anew in a cycle with no end!"
"The Demon King's curse..." CJ mumbled.
"I will rise again!" Demise said, as his body began to dissolve. He pointed at Link. "Those like you... those who share the blood of the goddess and the spirit of the hero. They are eternally bound to this curse. An incarnation of my hatred shall ever follow your kind, dooming them to wander a blood-soaked sea of darkness for all time!" He laughed as his body dissolved into darkness. Link held his sword to the sky and all the darkness in the area was absorbed into the blade of the now-legendary Master Sword.
"Something... or someone... Sent me back in time." CJ said. "I need to get back and find the girls."
Meanwhile...
"Where am I?" Stacey wondered, scanning the surroundings. She now stood at the base of the black castle, which stood on an island floating over what appeared to be a pit of pure magic energy. Connecting the island to the cliffs nearby was a rainbow bridge.
"Aah!" A scream was heard from the top of the tower. Stacey looked and saw what appeared to be the Hero of Time and the Princess of Destiny.
"Are those... Duel Monsters holograms?" Stacey wondered.
"Link! Ganon's trying to collapse the castle on top of us using the last of his power!" Princess Zelda exclaimed.
"No way..." Stacey wondered. "This is… the Hero of Time's battle with Ganondorf..." Suddenly, time seemingly skipped ahead and she witnessed Link drive the Master Sword into the skull of a large boar-like creature.
"Six Sages! Now!" Zelda called out as she held up her hands and began to gather energy in them. Another vision flashed before Stacey's eyes.
Somewhere, deep within a mysterious chamber, a white-haired, bearded-man prayed to the gods.
"Ancient Creators of Hyrule!" The man, Rauru the Sage of Light, called out. "Now, open the sealed door and send the Evil Incarnation of Darkness into the void of the Evil Realm!" Five other people appeared in the chamber with him: A Goron male, a Zora female, a young Kokiri girl, a Gerudo woman and a Sheikah woman. The six began to gather energy around them and a portal appeared near them. Back on the battlefield, Ganon vanished and soon found himself floating in a mysterious white void.
"You... Curse you... Zelda! Curse you... Sages! Curse you... Link!" Ganon exclaimed. "Someday... when this seal is broken... That is when I will exterminate your descendants! As long as the Triforce of Power is in my hand..." The echo of his voice then came to a stop and Link and Zelda vanished as well.
"So, I've been sent back in time... Question is, how do I get home?" Stacey wondered.
As CJ and Stacey were witnessing their battles, Shaylene found herself in Hyrule Field, watching as Link traded sword blows with Ganondorf. She watched as the two locked swords, then Link suddenly broke free, knocked Ganondorf to the ground, and leaped into the air, piercing Ganondorf's chest with his sword. Ganondorf screamed with pain.
"So... It looks like I've been sent back in time..." Shaylene said.
Ganondorf weakly stood up, the Master Sword still stuck in the glowing wound in his chest.
"When the chosen ones appear... They are always born into this world in perfect balance. That is the destiny of the chosen. That is the fate decreed by your gods, the only path for those who bear their crests. When this world brings forth another marked as you are... Know too, that it shall also be visited by one of my blood. Do not think this ends here..." Ganondorf said, boasting proudly with his dying breaths. "The history of Light and Shadow will be written in blood!" The Triforce of Power faded from his hand, the glow of his wound stopped, and he began to weakly and desperately gasp for air. Suddenly, as if a force from nowhere had dealt the final blow, Ganondorf's eyes went completely white and his final breath left him, leaving his lifeless body standing in the center of Hyrule Field, Master Sword still in his chest.
"Okay... Now, the important question is how do I get home?" Shaylene wondered. As if to answer her question, she watched a blue beam of light fire up from the southern woods. She began to follow it and soon found herself in the Sacred Grove. She looked around and saw that the beam of light appeared from a stone door atop a ledge. Shaylene climbed to the ledge and stood near the door. She reached forward and her hand gave off a faint golden glow. "What the-?" She watched as the door opened, revealing a blinding light. Shaylene walked forward into the mysterious light...
Back in the days of the Hero of Time, Stacey stood near the ruins of Ganon's Castle.
"How do I get home?" She wondered. She began to look around and saw a green beam of light coming from Castle Town. She followed it and soon found herself standing outside a large mud-brown brick cathedral like building. "The Temple of Time..." She walked into the building as her hand began to glow with the Triforce of Courage. She looked forward toward a black altar that held three stones: a blue one shaped like the Zora symbol, a green one shaped like the Kokiri Symbol and a red one shaped like the Goron symbol. Beyond the altar was a open doorway leading to a small chamber with a pedestal in it. Stacey walked forward, hand aglow with the Triforce, and vanished into a white light as she neared the pedestal.
In ancient Hyrule, CJ stood within the Sealed Temple, known in those days as the Temple of Hylia. He looked ahead of himself at the large gear like object, known as the Gate of Time.
"If there's any easy way for me to get back to the present, the Gate of Time is it." CJ said. "Of course, hopefully I appear in the right part of Hyrule..." He reached out and placed his hand on the gate. His hand began to glow with the mark of the Triforce and he watched as the gate began to glow. CJ then found himself slowly being pulled into the gate and enveloped in a white light...
CJ then emerged in what appeared to be Castle Town. He scanned his surroundings.
"It looks like I'm home..." He mumbled.
"CJ! You're okay!" Exclaimed two familiar voices in unison. CJ looked as saw Stacey and Shaylene rushing towards him. Stacey wrapped her arms around him and Shaylene jumped on him, nearly causing all three of them to fall over.
"I'm glad you girls are okay." CJ said.
"CJ... What's that?" Shaylene asked, pointing to the west. CJ looked out toward the west and saw a tall black tower rising from the desert.
"Is that?" Stacey questioned.
"Ganon's Castle." CJ said. "I think I know how... and possibly why... we were sent back in time."
"At that moment, I feared the worst for my kingdom... The return of the King of Evil... And little did I know, the worst was yet to come..."