Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Zelda or any of the characters owned by Nintendo. The Stal-King is my own character though his species is Nintendo's… Confused enough?

LEGEND OF ZELDA:
RISE OF THE STALFOS

Prologue

It is 7 years after Link opened the Door of Time and pulled the Master Sword. After Link was sent back in time, the Triforce parts remained with their owners. Using the Triforce parts of Courage and Wisdom, Link and Zelda protected Hyrule from being conquered by Ganondorf, holder of the Triforce of Power. After several terrorist attacks on Hyrule, Ganon was finally driven out by Link, now a knight of Hyrule. Though weak from countless battles against Hyrule's hero, Ganondorf has summoned all of his creatures for another attack.

Chapter One
Summons

"Where are they?" A Lizalfos hissed impatiently. A nearby Moblin grunted and looked around. The Lizalfos shook its head and jumped to a rock near a sleeping Dinolfos. He looked around impatiently for any sign of the latecomers but all he saw was the rest of the army summoned by Ganondorf. Not a bone to be seen. "Those boneysss better get here sssoon!" He hissed.

"Sslivik! Quit worrying about them! Ganon is here!" Another Lizalfos hissed at him. Sslivik shook his head and slipped on the rock. He managed to regain his footing before a Like-Like that was below the rock was able to eat his foot. The strange tube like creature snapped in annoyance over losing its lunch. Sslivik simply hissed at the Like-Like and sat down on the rock.

"My loyal minions!" Ganondorf yelled out to the crowds of creatures that belonged only in nightmares. "The Hylians have hunted you down to near extinction!" This brought an angry roar from the seething crowd. "The Gorons, Zoras, and Sheikahs helped the Hylians in their hunt!" The crowd roared again. Ganon turned to a group of evil Deku Shrubs. "The Kokiri shoot your people without mercy!" The Shrubs rustled their leaves at this and screeched madly. "The time has come to make them pay!" The entire audience shouted and roared with approval. Ganon looked around with an evil grin and noticed there was something missing. He saw Moblins, Lizalfos, Dinolfos, Like Likes, Deku Shrubs, Skulltulas, Iron Knuckles, ReDeads, Gibdos, and even some Deku Babas. Where were the Stalfos? Hmm…

Suddenly, the crowds were filled with the living skeletons as the Stalfos pushed their way to the front. Skeletons of all shapes and sizes streamed between the gaps of the crowds. Bony jaws snapped at the more stubborn creatures that wouldn't move fast enough. Small 'Stal-children' brushed past the Lizalfos eager to join their parents up front.

Leading the group was the mysterious Stal-King, identified by the golden crown atop his skull. Now most people would think of the Stalfos King as being a colossal skeleton with a hammer able to smash Death Mountain to pieces, however that is not the case. The King was actually fairly small for a Stalfos. He stood eight feet tall but was thin as a skinny Hylian. Unlike Hylians however, he had sharp razor-like teeth. Red eyes glared from the eye-sockets of his skull, contrasting to the typical absence of eyes in the normal Stalfos.

It was the King's unparalleled cunning that was what actually made him dangerous. What was not widely known was the fact that the king was a sorcerer before he joined the ranks of the undead.

"You are late!" Ganon grumbled at the King.

"Yes, we are sorry about that, but we needed to get something… valuable." The Stalfos replied with a grin. Even Ganondorf had to grimace at the sight of the translucent muscles pulling the decayed pieces of skin and tendons into a smile over his jaws and teeth.

"Indeed, what is it that was so… valuable?" The Stalfos didn't reply but brought his bony claws up and snapped his fingers. Elite Stalfos, no bigger than the king but extremely fast and agile, leaped around and put their sword blades to Ganon's neck. Ganondorf was more surprised than angry, as he demanded an explanation.

"Your plan is excellent, but I don't think you are fit to lead it! Unlike the rest of your generals, I know a thing or two about leadership!" He growled. "That crowd out there probably doesn't realize that you are the weakest you have ever been!" A hushed silence ran through the mob of creatures as they heard this. "Face it Ganon! Link has defeated you too many times!"

"So you think that gives you reason to betray me?" He snarled. "Fool! I had hoped you were smarter than that!" With a yell, a shockwave knocked the elite stalfos away from Ganon and he laughed at the skeleton King who was looking at his fallen comrades. "I have the Triforce of Power! What do you have? Nothing!" The glowing triangle appeared on Ganondorf's hand as he called on its power. The Stal-King smirked and raised a white translucent crystal that he had in his hand. A blast of power shot from the evil king's hand but the Stalfos absorbed it with the crystal. Ganon suddenly realized he couldn't stop using the Triforce and watched hopelessly as the crystal absorbed his piece. After the Triforce of Power had been sucked away from him, he fell to the ground, gasping. Weakly, he looked up and saw the Stalfos King absorbing the energy from the crystal. The Triforce symbol appeared on his bony hand and the new holder of Power laughed.

"The Stalfos will no longer be pawns of this game!"