"I guess I've passed my prime." A man said with a slight smile as he laid against the floor. Trying to sit up and use his blade as a prop, to support his aching body. The hard floor he landed on was made of stone, shaped and formed into an elevated circle for two people to duel in. Under the ceiling made of straw and wood, he looked up at the face that defeated him. A friendly man who recently became Ordon village's Master Swordsman, his blond hair, green clothes, and legendary sword. The Hero of Hyrule living an average and simple life within the village.
"No you haven't, Rusl. I've just gotten stronger." He said with the innocent smile he wore ever since he became an average person, once again. Link, the Hero of Hyrule and descendant to the greatest heroes of all time. It was in their lineage to have a destiny that followed greatness. But some one of his status couldn't simply hide from the world, he still leaves and runs out into the larger world, saving the good people, and slaying the foul. It kept him in shape, and his abilities stood at their peak, even after the Twilight monsters disappeared.
"Your a hero, Link. I may have helped you within the castle, but that was as far as I could've went."
"I could've used your help, their were monsters that I had trouble handling." Link said as a light-hearted joke, his happy life displayed through his manners and expressions. He leaned over slightly and extended his left hand, offering his teacher a lift. Rusl accepted and clapped Link's hand with his right, but wasn't expecting the sudden jump he was going to get. A demonstration of how physically strong Link became, like Rusl, Link was in his best condition and would remain this way for years to come.
Rusl was pulled on to his feet and patted Link on the back. A sign of friendship, but the silence meant something else, Link instantly understood. Even though his teacher could still swing a sword with the ability to battle a Hyrule Guard, Link was the only one able to fall a monster of massive size. The pat on the back was a passing of obligation and duty to protect Ordon village. And in Link's case alone, soon to be the entirety of Hyrule's empire.
"Don't say that, you know the kingdom is expanding. Because of you, Princess Zelda has forged alliances with the Zora, Goron, and Ordon village has grown." Rusl said telling Link of what he did for the entire Kingdom. The territory of Hyrule village has expanded, the Zora, Goron, and Hyrule citizens have formed a council, to govern the expanding kingdom with the help of Princess Zelda. Even Ordon village itself grew, the Ordon spring was know in the center of a town, a beautiful place. All of the houses and stores kept the traditional Ordon structure, made of wood and other objects. It became a safe-haven and place of peace for all.
There was even a small militia made to protect the peaceful village, young men pulling up swords to battle if it was ever needed. They were the police and military of the village, one of their most expected and often 'visitors' was Talo. Constantly finding new ways to get into trouble, he's upgraded from using a basic slingshot to a custom version using a glass scope. And a gear system able to put his small metal beads into wood if he tried hard enough.
It was only a few years and so much has changed, Link his self even grew physically and mentally. Now in his early twenties, Link's average build has grown to hold thick muscles which seemed small at first. His facial features matured slightly, and his dirty blond hair now reaching the center of his neck. Rusl envied Link's perfect physical status, his blond hair began to gray in the front and he was slowing down even slightly.
"Where's Colin?" Link asked about Rusl's now young teenage son, the timid swordsman, Colin. Ever since Link returned to the village, Colin trained harder and harder to become a good swordsman. It was to the point where the young boy became one of the best warriors in the Ordon Guard, and the youngest. He was still timid, his shy posture and quiet voice never left him through the years. But with a sword in hand, he became a fearless soldier, it was as if he would fight Link, if the hero ever turned against the village. The fight was suicide to most, but Colin had the ability to build up his hidden courage and fight.
Rusl's face turned a slight shade of red and he began to scratch his cheek. Nervous, and embarrassed, Link instantly understood what made the man so quiet. Recently, Colin and the daughter of the general store owner, Beth. Began dating, they'd occasionally be seen talking to each other once Colin was finished training. Link laughed quietly and it only turned the old man's face a deeper shade of red.
They walked out of the House of the Ordon Guards training room and exited the building. A straight walk through the building, and out into the open air of the village. Directly in front of them, the Ordon spring in all of its glory. A mystical glow radiated from it, only Link knew that the shining aura was an ability of the Light Spirits, preventing the darkness from overcoming the Light. And directly in front of the spring, standing on the stone path. Was Ilia, her figure began to fill out and she was quickly becoming one of the most beautiful women in Hyrule. She is also a good friend of Link's and some of the villagers gossip of a non-existent relationship between the two.
"Hey, Link. Guess what today is?" She said in a happy tone, it brought a warm feeling to everyone but left Link confused. He never forgot anything, her birthday passed a while ago, and there was nothing special about today. To him, it was another beautiful day within his life. But as he looked around, he began to notice all the villagers looking at him with a big smile. He was sure there was something he forgot, a special event that centered around him. Ilia and Rusl thought it was sad that Link forgot such a special occasion and decided to just remind him.
Rusl leaned over and hit Link hard on the back with an open hand. He grabbed his shoulder and pulled Link over whispering into his ear what was going on. Link looked down in a slight amount of shame as Rusl told him.
"Isn't today the day you saved Hyrule." As soon as the words left Rusl lips, a giant banner rolled down from a top the Ordon Guard House. The giant words of congratulations written across the banner made the crowd cheer in thanks. It was a holiday only celebrated in Ordon, they'd give thanks to Link for saving them by holding a day of no worries, work, and full with parties and fun. It was the ideal vacation, every one was happy, it seemed like a dream. The joy felt by every one made the world so much brighter, even the shaman of Kakariko village came down to celebrate the day.
All that joy within a small village, as an entire realm was tossed into the flames of Chaos. Midna descended through the sky, sitting on her thighs using her hands to hold her balance. She stared in silence as she descended into the Hyrule courtyard, guards began to surround where she was going to land. There weapons drawn ready to face an adversary they were no match against. Midna could easily pierce them through with her power, but Hyrule needed as many soldiers as they could use.
Her home was gone, she had to accept that fact. But there was a hope to save this one, even though her kind was banished from this realm. she was the only survivor, and her power allowed her to survive in the light, her stay in this realm was destined. She looked down towards the ground and noticed that she was almost to the stone pathway. Reluctantly, she raised to her feet, ignoring the still aching pain within her stomach. Holding the regal posture all royalty was trained and expected to have, she descended down to the ground in a pyramid prison colored the same shade of blood.
What was she to say to Zelda, or Link for that matter. How do you tell one bad news of an invasion, when you haven't seen your friends for years. She was sure they'd hate her, Link would forsake their friendship, because of how she ended everything. In a feeble attempt to prevent further destruction, she sealed off their worlds. And now she returns with another failure in mind.
The pyramid landed on the ground and broke apart, shattering like glass but each piece disappeared into the light. Midna stood before the guards as they stared in awe, a beauty exceeding Zelda on all standards. She was used to this type of look, but the situation called for men without her looks on their mind.
"I need to speak to Princess Zelda."
"Follow me, ma'am."
Midna looked into the face of a young soldier, his light blonde hair and innocent facial features. But he still held the eyes of a courageous person willing to die for a cause. His face brought back memories of a soldier that died protecting her, a proud young Twili, that was cut down by the King of Chaos. The thoughts of the same fate happening to this soldier seemed horrific, but it was highly possible.
The man walked in front of Midna as they entered the main chamber of Hyrule. The knight attempted to give Midna a tour of the castle, not knowing that she's seen the entire thing. And helped defeat Ganondorf on the top floor of the entire castle, but in reality, he knew who Midna was. But the poor soldier was attempting to show off for the beautiful women.
"Aren't you Princess Midna." The soldier asked looking back at her, they began to walk up stairs that spiraled within a tower. A quick way to the top of the entire castle, and to the throne where Princess Zelda was most often seen. Midna winced at the thought of some one calling her princess again, it was a painful thought. She was even going up to Zelda, with her royal garments soiled in dirt to tell her of an army. With a sigh she continued the conversation.
"Yes, I am."
"Did you really fight against Ganondorf, the Dark Lord. I was only a new recruit at the time, and I was posted at the West gate to fight the bulblins."
"I don't want to about it."
"Oh, well do you mind telling me what the Twilight Realm is like." The soldier tried to hold an interesting conversation in which she was comfortable with, but he chose the wrong topic. The memory of the Twilight Realm plagued Midna's mind, and she opened a Twilight Portal within the wall and stepped through it, closing the rift in space behind her. The soldier continued to walk until he looked back realizing she was gone.
The same portal opened on the ground in front of Zelda's throne, and in response she was ready to protect her self. Zelda reached over and drew the fencing sword from the arm rest in her chair and stood up, every guard doing the same. Their spears pointing towards the Twilight Gate, most of the soldiers were veterans. They all knew what to expect in this situation. As small pieces of the Twilight Princess floated up from the black hole and began forming her body, the soldiers lowered their weapons as Zelda dropped her sword.
She stared in silence as Midna stood in front of her, the blood of one of her loyal soldiers, splattered on the Twilight Princess's arm. A rip in the shirt where the King of Chaos delivered a painful blow to her stomach. A royal wreck standing in front of an honored princess, the silence was a stab into Midna's heart. But she had to get this over with, her body ached and she was tired, hungry, and the stress of what happened only a few hours ago put a heavy weight on her shoulders.
"Midna... how... the Mirror, you shattered it." Zelda began to say in shock, Midna knew this was going to be the response. But now wasn't the time to talk about their simple lives. At the moment, she had to warn the entire Kingdom of a coming threat that was not going to stop until everything is gone.
"It doesn't matter know, there is a problem. An army is coming to destroy Hyrule, and you need to be prepared for win they come, which will be soon."
"How do you know, what... what happened to the Twilight Realm?" Zelda asked a question that took away Midna's breath and caused an ache in her heart. The screams of her people being slaughtered, as an army of dark knights marched through the streets. Spears and swords cutting down the few Twilit soldiers that were ready when the surprise attack began, an ambush that wreaked havoc. The Twilight Princess had one answer, the truth, the painful truth.
"Dead, everyone. The Army of Chaos killed them all, and I won't let it happen here."
"I'm sorry. General, go and tell the soldiers to organize in the courtyards now, I don't care how just do it." Zelda demanded the high ranking soldier to spring into action, and he did quickly. With loud clanking metal boots, he jogged out of the throne and ran down the stairs shouting. Midna looked around the area and remembered the two final battles they had together were here, this was the area in which Link had to fight Zelda, possessed by Ganondorf alone. And the same place in which Ganondorf became Ganon, his second form, and where Midna lost against his godly shape. Another failure, another scar on her life.
"Midna, tell me what happened."
"They came suddenly, and destroyed everything. There is nothing to tell besides they have created a gate into this world by sacrificing our sages. They will do the same here, if they win."
"Don't worry, our army will handle everything."
"No, they won't. We need him again."
Both of the Princess's knew who Midna was referring to, and it was a hard thing to agree with. After defeating Ganondorf, Zelda told Link that he was leave all the major problems of Hyrule to her, as a way to repay the debt of him saving her. Now they'd have to go back to him, and recruit him into the army. Both women hoped Link would deny their offer and stay in Ordon, but only because they didn't want to drag him into more trouble. But the truth was that the world needed him once again, just like how the world needed his ancestors before him.
"Zelda, let's go. He's in Ordon village, we will go by horse. I'm too tired to use my Twilight power now."
And with that, Zelda stood up and walked down to Midna. As they left to find Link once again, on the day he saved Hyrule, it was the same day they'd ask him to perform another miracle. But this was on a different scale than his previous journey, before it was only an adventure across the land but now. It was a full-scale war, and Link would have to work next to the soldiers of Hyrule and fight in battles.
Zelda was on top of her personal white steed, as Midna rode the black horse. They traveled across Hyrule field, towards Ordon village. But as the events in the Light Realm proceeded, within the Twilight Realm, the King of Chaos stood before a massive structure. A building, sealed closed by chains, enchanted by the Twilit Royal families secrets, making them indestructible. But inside the building, he felt the powerful energy which reminded him of his self. The power of Chaos, a raging mass of pure strength which could form in multiple ways.
But he came across a problem, the doors were sealed by an ancient power. The only key to his goals was the blood of the Hero, something he didn't have. A black orb of power built within his hand and he pushed forward, sending the blast toward the building. And like the rest of his attempts, the attack was blocked by a strange wall, created by the Twilight, blue lines marking the air in which the wall defended the building. The entire army attempted to break down the wall, but it was one of the few things he couldn't overcome.
He knew the Hero was in the Light Realm, but it would have to wait. Only a few of his brothers have been found a brought to life. Living, walking, masses of Chaos energy that would soon descend upon Hyrule with great power. He looked back and saw one of his brethren standing behind him, and instantly recognized one his youngest brother, Ruin. A tall thin man with jet black skin, his dark blue eyes were hidden within his skin color, and the spear next to him was forged of bone. A vest and pants made of leather were the only clothes he wore and his hair was tied back, behind his head.
"Brother Ruin, when we are all together. We shall descend upon Hyrule, and claim what was rightfully ours."
"Mother gave the Hylians what was rightfully ours, and we shall take it back.
The two Lords of Chaos said to each other, their voices seeming demonic in every way. They were feared and respected, powerful and divine, cruel and malicious. As powerful as the two were, there was still a number of them to return from their graves and display their strength to the Light Realm.