Chapter Two: The Fall of A Citadel  

Part 5: Four Horsemen

In the very center of the Hylian Lands, where the 4 deserts meet, are the ruins of a great city. This is the city of Hylia, and it has lain in ruins for over 3000 yrs. It was destroyed in a magical calamity so large that not only was the city destroyed, but also the fertile lands surrounding it were turned to dust. Over the years, many people have tried to restore civilization to this land. Such as the Ikanans, who prospered for a time, but then decided to attempt to gain access to an ancient tower, or the Gerudo raiders, whose genetics have been so magically warped that their race is now almost certainly doomed. So twisted and wicked has the place become, that even Moblins would sooner cut off their legs than enter it. Nevertheless, there are signs of life. Treasure hunters, mages, and now, a vast army, made up of hundreds of thousands soldiers, including traitor Hylian Knights (Darknuts); moblins; Stalfos and dinofos. All the evils of the world are gathered here, as their four masters begin preparations for the conquest of all goodly realms, anywhere on the planet.

            "By the goddesses, I'm glad I don't have to organize this whole army. The logistics for my men alone are crazy!" Onox looked at the report from his underlings like any other Hylian would look at a suggestion that they remove their own ears.

            "You should do what I'm doing, Onox", Keller said over the top of his own paperwork. "Take a 200 man force of Darknuts and 5 Iron Knuckles, attack the capital, and after that's secured, teleport in the rest of your army"

            "That all hinges on you taking the capital. I prefer to be sure." Onox looked around. Majora was floating over a table, yelling instructions at an illusion from his chief officers. Veran was nowhere to be seen. "Where is that lunatic, Veran? Has she done any planning whatsoever?" "No. And she's not going to. I delegated her plan making authority to one of her subordinates."

            "Ha. I don't know what King Ganondorf was thinking when he saddled us military men", Majora coughed, "and interdimensional, god-like, tentacled mask-things, with her."

            "I was thinking of the greater bad. Sometimes the most useless people are the most useful." Ganondorf strode into the room. Or at least that was how it appeared. When his 3 lieutenants finally found their wits, they realized it was just an illusion. "I already informed Veran, and she has left. The attack begins A.S.A.P, I.E.N"

            Majora raised a tentacle. "Um, we understand A.S.A.P, but what is I.E.N?" "I.e. Now!" With that, he disappeared. The 3 of them stood up, and ran outside to their men.

            It was 5 o'clock in Hyrule city. King Marth and Queen Zelda were addressing the council of nobles in the throne room. Surprisingly, considering the importance of this meeting, security was very lax. Or not, because Hyrule City (A large town north of Death Mountain, reachable through Kakariko pass) had never, ever, fallen to enemy forces. Safety breed's complacency, as the Hylian proverb goes. All of a sudden, a guard ran into the meeting. "We are under attack! Traitor knights in the castle!"

            There was a sound a lot like Twang and he fell down dead, a Darknut arrow through his chest. 50 armored warriors strode into the room, and formed into two military rows, one on each side of the door. 4 Iron Knuckles walked in, then stepped aside, 2 on the left and 2 on the right. Finally another armored figure walked in. Dressed in black chain mail, a black iron mask, and a cloak with the cowl (Black, of course) pulled up, the only parts of him visible were his glowing red eyes. "I trust that I'm not interrupting anything important? No? Good. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lord Keller. Hyrule is now mine."

            There was a stunned silence. In it, Keller carefully strode up to Marth, and removed the crown from his head. "I don't think you need this any more, 'your majesty'"

            Marth unsheathed his sword and thrust it at Keller. There was a brief movement, a loud pop as air was displaced by the incredible speed of Keller's dagger, and then a keening noise as Marth's powerful blade, Falchion, carried by Anri himself, was sliced in two.

            "Oh dear. The weakest of my weapons destroyed your strongest." Keller snapped his fingers. The 4 Iron Knuckles marched forward and grabbed Marth and Zelda. He then turned to address the nobles. "Any of you going to try anything heroic?" The assembled worthies shook their heads. "Good. Now some of you I may kill. Others will just be demoted. But, if you want to keep your jobs, and your life, then bow before your new king." They all bowed, but for a small minority of about 10.

            An old man stood straight and tall amongst them, and said; "I will never bow before an impostor!" Keller made a quick hand gesture. Three Darknuts strode over to the patriarch, and stabbed him, and then the other recalitrants. Keller laughed and said;

            "Oh, dear. I'm afraid that because of that old fool, all of your loyalties are suspect. Pity, because I was going to have lots of land to hand out. Guess you will all have to die.

            Unless.." Keller made a Eureka gesture, "Unless, does one of you know where Princess Arryl is right now?"

Part 6:Shattered Innocence

            Impa was preparing her young charge for bed when all of a sudden there came a knock on the door. Arryl went to open it, but Impa, with her finely tuned Shiekah instincts realized something was wrong. Shoving the princess behind her, she carefully moved to open the door. Too slowly, as it turned out. The unoffending portal was sliced open, and several men strode in. "Oh dear. And it was such a nice door, too" The dark-armored one sheathed his sword.

            "Who are you? I warn you, there are several guards near by" Impa said menacingly.

            One of the blue ones dropped several weapons. "Met them. Now hand over Arryl."

            "I most certainly will not."

            "Yes you will. Know why?" Keller handed Impa a crystal globe.

            She took a long look into it. "Its Kakariko village."

            "That's right. Home of your race" He snapped his fingers. An image appeared in midair, of a Darknut Commander. Behind him, massed on a dark plain, was a huge army. "Commander. Know you of Kakariko Village? On my signal, take 700 men, go there, kill everyone, burn the village, salt the ground, defile the graveyard. Any questions?" The commander shook his head. "Good. You, Impa? If it makes things easier, I promise I will not harm the child."

            Arryl stepped forward. She was about to say something when one of the Darknuts grabbed her. Keller shook his head.

            Impa said, "Now you have her. You promised not to destroy Kakariko when you had her"

            "No, I think I would remember that" He pulled out a dagger. "In fact, I remember something else. I told my man to wait for a signal. But look at it this way. As long as you live, Kakariko is safe." His voice took a harsh turn. "As long as you live."

            He moved forward. Impa had spent her entire life training in combat. But no matter how good she was, there was no chance that she would be able to defeat Keller unarmed. There was just a slight groan, and Impa folded up on a blade that had appeared between her shoulderblades. The commander nodded, and he and some of his men disappeared. And Arryl began to cry.

What will happen next on Pathways of Fate? When will we see Mario again. What Is Arryl needed for?

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