Ch. 8- The Truth Is Revealed
The Legend of Zelda (C) Nintendo
(WARNING: SPOILERS!)
In a flash of blue light, Link found himself back in the very place that started it all: within the walls of the Shrine of Resurrection. As he climbed up the cliff wall and headed up the stairs to the outside, he once again found the wolf waiting for him. Link still didn't understand how the lupine kept appearing before him so quickly, but since the old man did say he would reveal everything soon, he decided that maybe he would learn from him.
With that, Link headed toward the Temple of Time, being cautious as he walked, since some monsters seemed to be more active during the night. The wolf padded along behind him, being sure to alert the boy to any nearby danger if need be. Soon, the two arrived at the temple...which really looked like it had seen better days, now that they got a closer look at it. One of the walls had been broken down, those giant, rusted machines (one of which Link was afraid might spring to life and try and shoot laser beams at him if he got close), and grass was sprouting through the cracks in the stone floor, and in the middle of it all stood a tall statue of a woman with large wings, smiling with her hands in prayer. Link blinked up at the statue as he approached it, feeling a safe, almost warm feeling from it...and soon after, he could've sworn he heard a voice come from it as a bright, warm light shined from the heavens.
"You have conquered the shrines and claimed their Spirit Orbs. In exchange for four Spirit Orbs, I will amplify your being. So tell me what it is you desire."
Link gasped silently before putting his finger to his chin in thought. Amplify his being...it more than likely meant making him stronger. Maybe he could use a bit more vitality. So, he looked up at the statue before he made a heart shape with his hands.
"You wish for a Heart Container, yes?"
Link nodded his head.
"I shall grant you the power you seek."
With that, something began to float down towards Link's hands, and it was some sort of heart-shaped object with golden embroidery, and before too long, it was absorbed into his chest, making his body feel warm and strengthened.
"Go and bring peace to Hyrule," the statue said as her bright, divine light faded away.
"Well, well!"
Link gasped as he looked up at the gaping hole in the roof...and saw the old man, still shrouded in those mysterious flames.
"The blessing of the Goddess has made you that much more resilient, I see," he said. "Well, here I am! Get up here, quickly!"
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Link to find a way up to him. There had to be some way to get up there, but how? That's when Link noticed the wolf walking out the gaping hole in the wall, prompting the young man to follow him. As he looked up, he saw a ladder that led to the dilapidated rooftop. Link grabbed onto the rungs and began to climb while the wolf sat on the ground, watching him. Getting to the top was an easy matter...but the hard part was staying on, since it looked like the roof would collapse from his weight. However, the only thing that spurred him to keep going was the old man, sitting in the temple tower in wait.
Maybe now, he would finally get some answers from this mysterious old stranger.
With that, Link carefully made his way over to the tower, making sure to watch where he stepped before he climbed in through the window, panting heavily before he looked up at the old man, who laughed.
"Well done there, young one!" he praised the boy before putting on a look of seriousness. "Now then...the time has come to show you who I truly am. I was...King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule!"
Link gasped silently as he heard the word "King" in that name. He didn't think that this old man was...a king, of all things...but why did he speak in past tense when he introduced himself? And more importantly...why did it feel like he had heard it before?
"I was...the last ruler of Hyrule," the old man, or rather, King Rhoam, continued. "A kingdom which no longer exists."
There was a flash of light, causing Link to shield his eyes momentarily before he let them adjust, then he gaped as he saw King Rhoam, wearing regal clothing of blue and white with golden embroidery, and even a crown on his head. Also...he was floating in the air.
"The Great Calamity was merciless," said King Rhoam, grimly. "It devastated everything in its path, lo, a century ago...it was then that my life was taken away from me. And since that time, here I have remained in spirit form."
Link was even more shocked at this revelation. All this time, this old man whom had been so friendly and even ribbing him a few times...was really a ghost.
"I did not think it wise to overwhelm you while your memory was still fragile," said King Rhoam as he floated towards a window. "So rather than that, I thought it best to assume a temporary form." He glanced back at Link and nodded his head in apology. "Forgive me." He then stared out towards Hyrule Castle...where the ominous cloud of malice and darkness continued to swirl around it, almost choking it. "I think you are now ready...ready to hear what happened, 100 years ago."
Flashback
Somewhere within the walls of Hyrule Castle, there was a tapestry that depicted a horrendous monster with gigantic tusks and a fiery mane of hair, its claws outstretched, ready to attack and devour whatever was in its sight. However, standing before it was a young man, garbed in blue, whilst brandishing a blade that pointed at the beast's heart while behind the monster was a woman with golden blonde hair, garbed in white, and holding out her hands as some sort of symbol resembling a pyramid made of three triangles appeared before her.
"To know Calamity Ganon's true form, one must know the story from an age long past. The Demon King was born into this kingdom, but his transformation into Malice created the horror you see now. Stories of Ganon were passed from generation to generation in the form of legends and fairy tales...but there was also...a prophecy. 'The signs of a resurrection of Calamity Ganon are clear, and the power to oppose it lies dormant beneath the ground'. We decided to heed the prophecy and began excavating large areas of land. It wasn't long before we discovered several ancient relics made by the hands of our ancestors."
Somewhere in a barren wasteland, a group of men were using some pickaxes to dig away at the rock walls, and they were all dressed in some of unitards and had their hair done up in topknots. As one of them spoke to a nearby man holding a notebook, the ground suddenly shook and the rock wall began to crumble away, revealing some sort of structure. It had a flat face, buts its body shape was almost like...a camel. Sometime after, three more of these strange, mechanical beasts were found, one in the shape of a giant bird, the other in the shape of an elephant, and one in the shape of a lizard. Soon, more machines were excavated from around Hyrule...and they looked like those same rusted machines that littered the grounds of the Temple of Time.
"These relics, the Divine Beasts, were giant machines piloted by warriors. We also found the Guardians, an army of mechanical soldiers that fought autonomously."
The tapestry appeared again, showing these Divine Beasts in the four corners of it, as well as these spider-like machines, called "Guardians", swarming around Calamity Ganon.
"This coincided with ancient legends, oft repeated throughout our land. We also learned of a princess with a sacred power and her appointed knight, chosen by the sword that seals the darkness. It was they who sealed Ganon away using the power of these ancient relics."
Soon after, a young woman appeared, standing the royal courtyard, along with a young Hylian man and 4 shadowy figures, one large and rotund, the second tall and voluptuous with long, flowing red hair tied up in a ponytail, the third that was just as tall as the second with a bird-like shape, and the fourth being petite and fins protruding from her elbows and the back of her head.
"One hundred years ago, there was a princess who set to inherit this sacred power and a skilled night at her side. It was clear that we must follow our ancestors' path. We selected four skilled individuals from across Hyrule and tasked them with the duty of piloting the Divine Beasts."
Soon, the 5 figures knelt before the princess, who turned and faced the rising sun.
"With the princess as their commander, we dubbed these pilots Champions- a name that would solidify their unique bond. The princess, her appointed knight, and the rest of the Champions were on the brink of sealing away Ganon...but nay..."
Soon after...Calamity Ganon appeared, swirling around Hyrule Castle as four gigantic pillars of stone appeared around it. Bolts of lightning, brought out about by the entity, cracked the heavens as it unleashed a powerful roar. Soon after, this ominous energy sprouted from the beast itself, showering upon the Divine Beasts and turning their once pure blue lights into a deep, menacing red...and the same went for the Guardians.
"Ganon was cunning, and he responded with a plan beyond our imagining. He appeared from deep below Hyrule Castle and seized control of the Guardians and the Divine Beasts...and turned them against us."
The Guardians, now controlled by the evil power of Calamity Ganon, began to run rampant through the castle town, attacking anything within their sights. They fired their beams at the innocent civilians, all of them screaming as they ran for their lives...but others weren't as fortunate.
"The Champions lost their lives...those residing in the castle, as well. The appointed knight, gravely wounded, collapsed while defending the princess..."
A woman panted as she ran away from the destruction, holding her young daughter's hand while carrying a wailing bundle in her other arm...while a Guardian stood upon the roof of a burning house...and fired its beam at the family, who let out a scream of agony. All that remained...was the burning embers of Hyrule itself and the castle that once stood as the symbol of prosperity...now having been taken over by the very monster the kingdom sought to seal away.
"And thus, the Kingdom of Hyrule was devastated absolutely by Calamity Ganon."
Later...a young woman with golden hair and white robes, tattered and caked with mud and dried blood, stood before the corrupted castle, staring at the evilness in defiance.
"However...the princess survived...to face Ganon alone."
Soon after...the Calamity Ganon appeared from the highest tower of the castle...growling viciously as it glowered at the princess, who raised her right hand as the same symbol glowed a brilliant light.
"Link," she whispered. "You are our final hope. The fate of Hyrule rests with you!"
As she declared this...the beast lunged at her with its gaping maw, preparing to swallow her whole!
Flashback end
"...That princess...was my own daughter," King Rhoam whispered, solemnly as he stared at the castle. "My dear, sweet Zelda...and the courageous knight who protect her right up to the very end...that knight was none other than you, Link."
Link just stood there, staring with eyes wide in horror and disbelief.
"You fought valiantly," said King Rhoam, "when your fate took an unfortunate turn. And then, you were taken to the Shrine of Resurrection. Here you now stand, revitalized, 100 years later. The words of guidance you have been hearing your awakening are from Princess Zelda, herself. Even now, as she works to restrain Ganon from within Hyrule Castle, she calls out for your help...however...my daughter's power will soon be exhausted."
Link gasped, even more horrified at this revelation.
"Once that happens," King Rhoam continued, "Ganon will freely regenerate himself, and nothing will stop him from consuming our land. Considering that I could not save my own kingdom...I...have no right to ask this of you, Link..." He then clenched his fists and bit his lip...as if trying to fight back tears, "but...I am powerless here." He then looked up at Link, almost in desperation. "You must save her...my daughter, and do whatever it takes to annihilate Ganon."
Link, though having a bit of an unsure expression, only nodded his head in response.
"Somehow, Ganon has maintained control over all four of the Divine Beasts," said King Rhoam, "as well as those Guardians swarming around Hyrule Castle." He then turned to look towards the castle, once more. "I believe it would be quite reckless for you to head to the castle at this point." He then floated to another window, one that looked towards a pair of mountains. "I suggest that you make your way easy, out to one of the villages in the wilderness. Follow the road out to Kakariko Village. There, you will find the elder, Impa. She will tell you more about the path that lies ahead. Consult the map on your Sheikah Slate for the precise location of Kakariko Village."
Link glanced down at his Sheikah Slate upon hearing that.
"Make your way passed the summits of the Dueling Peaks," advised the spirit. "From there...follow the road as it proceeds north. Let the wolf guide you."
Link blinked in surprise before he nodded his head with a serious expression.
"Oh...and don't forget this," said King Rhoam...as he handed the paraglider to Link, who gasped as he took it into his arms. It was folded up so that it was easier to pack away, but also easier to pull out for quick use. "I am a man of my word, after all. With this, you should be able to safely fly off the cliffs surrounding this area. I am a man of my word after all. Ohohoho!"
Link smiled, gratefully...no matter how he saw him, either as the spirit of the king or as the kind old man whom he befriended...he was still glad to have met him.
"And...I think that's it," said King Rhoam. "I've told you everything I can. Link...you must...save Hyrule..."
With that...he faded away into nothingness, and thought Link was grateful to him for helping him all this time...he couldn't help but feel a sudden loneliness, now. He felt rather close to the old man, even before he revealed his true form to him. He felt as though...he was in a bit of mourning.
However, Link was suddenly brought back to earth when he felt something nudge against his hand, causing him to look down and see the wolf, standing beside him, his blue eyes staring up at him as he gave a small whine. Link blinked at him before he gave a small but sad smile before he knelt down in front of the lupine and reached his hand towards him...and for once, the wolf did not growl, but instead licked his palm, which prompted the boy to gently stroke his head, which elicited another whine from him.
It appeared that these two now shared the same sentiment: they had both lost a dear friend.
However, the time for emotions had passed...and looked out towards the Dueling Peaks as the sun began to rise. Link then turned to look at the treasure chest in the tower, and opened it to find a Soldier's Bow. Packing it away from safekeeping, he looked back towards the horizon...now knowing what he had to do.
It was time to leave this plateau...and venture out into a world unknown.
To Be Continued...
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