Prologue: The End Times

"He's a warrior unparallel; among all the Knights of the Alba Division, he stands out among the already extraordinary."

"You command this unit personally. I gather personal feelings don't come into account?"

"Have they ever, my King?"

"No, have you any proof then?"

"Certainly."

Dark clouds rolled across the Eastern Akkala Plains. A deluge of rain assaulted a company of mounted Hylian Knights. In wedge formation, two scores of knights charged across the wet ground. A monstrosity several meters tall roared into the bellowing winds. A Hinox with ugly leathery red hide and piercing one eye faced the knights. The rivets of water assaulted the knights, and the darkness shrouded the Hinox. Its dark blue and yellow eye glowing with evil intent, fixed on the Knights. All of them were clad in silver plate, while the Knight heading them had gold trimming signifying his rank. They thundered across the flatlands before lighting illuminated the grounds. The golden-trimmed Knight gasped and threw his hand out, signaling the rest. "Break, break, break!"

His command heeded, and the Knights broke their formation as the Hinox swung an uprooted tree. Horses and Knights alike cried out as they were violently tossed aside. Yet as the rest of the Knights circled the monster, one reined in his horse and charged the Hinox. The beast roared, spewing spit and bile poised for another strike.

The Knight ignored his comrade's shouts to retreat. Instead, he drew a bow, knocked an arrow in place, and took aim. The Hinox raised the uprooted tree above its head, and the Knight loosed an arrow dead center in its eye. The monstered wailed, dropping the tree on its head and knocking it on its rear. The Knight did not spare it or his horse as he rode forward. The Knight leaned sideways as he snatched up a Flameblade from a fallen comrade. The Death Mountain forged metal hissed against the pouring rain as the Knight charged by the creature's legs. He swiped at the makeshift wooden armor around its leg.

The magical fire defied the rain consuming the wooden armor. The Hinox wailed and slapped its hands against his burning hide. The Knight charged the beast and hopped up, crouching low on his saddle. Then as his horse turned to avoid the fire and Hinox, the Knight lept up, burning sword raised above his head.

"Hya!" He shouted and drove the sword into the monster's eye with his charge and momentum. It roared, falling on its back.

"Hyaaah!" The Knight roared, twisted the sword, and drove it to its hilt ending the beast as fire spewed from around its eye socket. The Knights of Hylia, with blades to the sky, cheered as the Knight hopped off the burning corpse of the giant. His once pristine surcoat singed.

"A Hinox single-handedly? I find that hard to believe. It should have taken at least ten men to bring that monster down."

"It does not stop there."

Fort Hateno, a fortress only in name, was a single wall between two mountains guarding the road to Hateno Village. Now its defenses were being put to the test. As hundreds of monsters from Bubinga forest poured out, assaulting the fort. Sheika and Hylian men-at-arms alike manned the fort's ramparts with bows and arrows. A gruff Hylian Sargeant commanded the defenders. He wore gambeson and a mail shirt and helm. "Knock!"

The archers knocked arrows.

"Draw!"

They drew back on their strings and took aim.

"Loose!"

Arrows flew, striking on mass the bokoblin hordes rushing the walls.

Behind the fort, Hylian Knights mounted their horses and prepared for the battle. At the head was the gold-plated Knight, and next to him the Hinox slaying knight, singed surcoat and all.

"Stick together, break their center and scatter the buggers, clear?" The gold-plated Knight looked to his men.

"Sir!" They shouted in unison.

The defenders loosed volley after volley of arrows onto the encroaching horde. Their arrows found their mark, but the night was dark, and lightning and rain battered the land making for poor visibility. The Hylian Sargeant squinted at the wet field. The grass, it was moving toward the fort. The Sargeant cursed, eyes wide, and drew his sword. "Lizalfos!" His warning came too late; the reptile monsters made it to the wall. They slithered up and pounced on the defenders with wicked serrated blades. The archers switched to swords and axes as a ferocious melee ensued atop the wall.

"Tch!" The Hinox Slayer reached for his sword, ready to dismount. But the gilded Knight raised his hand, stopping him.

The Hylian Sargeant cut down a Lizalfo before shouting to the men just blow. "Open the gates!"

The portcullis screeched in protest as the mechanism raised the metal gate. The men below parted, and the Knights raced off to the field. The Gate only allowed three men abreast to pass through, thus dampening the impact of their charge. All the same, the Knights smashed into the poorly put-together ranks of monsters. Their swords flashed against the thunder, slaying the bokoblin horde. In the heat of the battle, a lightning bolt struck close to the Slayer Knight, and his horse reared, knocking its rider off it.

Unperturbed, the Slayer drew up his sword and hacked apart the bokoblins that dared to try him. The monsters, as more of them fell to the Knight, became fearful and cowered behind their crude shields and spears, backing away from him. The Slayer raised his sword, prepared to charge until a deafening roar broke through the battle. One of the land's most dangerous and frightening monsters set through the bokoblin horde. A centaur creature with a humanoid body and a Lion's head with a crimson mane and horns.

"Lynel!" The gilded Knight shouted as he cut down a Moblin. "with me, lads, for King Roham!" The gilded Knight desperately tried rallying a force as the Lynel set upon the Slayer. Yet as the Lynel charged with a wicked blade and shield, the Slayer remained calm. The apex predator swung for the Slayer, and he side-stepped it. Then Just as quickly, the Knight surged forward, brandishing his sword. The Lynel raised its shield, blocking the strikes, then swung his sword in an upward slice. The Knight sucked in air and back flipped, barely avoiding a fatal strike. However, the blade still caught his helmet, shredding the visor and flung it from his head.

The Knight landed back on his feet. Blonde hair whipped about, and blue eyes shone against the darkness. The Slayer's face revealed a young man, barely a man yet courageous beyond belive. The Lynel roared, and flames lapped out of his mouth. The blonde Knight sheathed his sword and drew his bow. He quickly fired an arrow straight into the flame and stunned the Lynel. The beast fell forward, its front legs kneeling. The blonde Knight rushed forward, drawing his sword. He jumped on its back and held on through a fistful of crimson mane. The Lynel regained its wits and thrashed about, trying to buck off the young man.

With the momentum, the Knight hopped onto the Lynels back on his feet. He leaped up, driving his sword through its back into its heart. The Lynel roared one final time before it slumped forward into the ground. The Knight rolled off it and back on his feet. The bokoblins looked on, frozen in place, as was everyone else that watched the display. The blonde Knight looked at them before he raised his sword and took a step forward. The bokoblins screeched in horror, and a mass route ensued. The defenders of Hateno Fortress cheered, all shouting a name. "Link, Link, Link!"

The Slayer was soaked and tired, and after making sure he was safe, he doubled over, panting. Finally, he sighed and wiped his brow though it did little against the rain. The Knight felt a chill go down his spine and shivered against the cold. He looked down at the fallen Lynel and knelt before the mighty creature as his comrades rushed past him, chasing down the fleeing monsters. He put his hand against the mane and smiled as an idea formed in his head.

"I find it hard to believe, but you have never steered me wrong, Aurelius."

"I only wish to protect Hyrule, my Liege."

"Very well, bring him to me. Bring me, Sir Link."