Note: Please leave any feedback or reviews in the comments section.
And thank you for taking the time to read the prologue, as the next chapter and another are in working progress.
Ten thousand years ago, In the ancient land of Hyrule, a tale of a kingdom that once soared to the pinnacle of technological marvel, where fierce monsters were but shadows. People of Hyrule, both strange and elegant, crafted wonders to guard against the ever-looming threat of Ganon, the embodiment of chaos and malice. Autonomous Sheikah Guardians roamed the land, and four Divine Beasts stood sentinel, piloted by Champions of the four regions surrounding the Hyrule, of valor and skill.
But the shadow of Ganon is never truly vanquished, only contained. It lurked, waiting, festering in the dark corners of the world until it could no longer be restrained.
When Ganon returned, a Hylian princess of divine lineage and a hero with a warrior's spirit, wielding the sword that seals the darkness, rose to face the beast. Alongside the Champions and their Divine Beasts, they waged a battle that would be marked into the hearts of Hyrule. The Guardians shielded the hero, the Divine Beasts rained fury upon Ganon, and the hero's sword, a blade that sealed the darkness, struck the final blow. The princess, with her sacred power, sealed away the Calamity, and peace was restored.
Yet, the echoes of that battle linger, a haunting melody whispered by the winds and sung by the rivers of a time when darkness may rise again.
The enormous dark energy of malice and hatred overflows from the castle, taking the shape of a storm, a tornado, like an enraged dark god raging and roaring within Hyrule Castle. Towering pillars rise from the ground, mimicking claws clenching the castle in their grasp. The dark beast flies and swirls in vaporous form around the castle, leaving trails of dark energies, and the sky darkens and rages, raining down corrupted fiery orbs all over the castle town and the wide fields of Hyrule. These orbs corrupt the ancient Sheikah Guardians, autonomous machines once designed to protect and serve the Hyrule Kingdom against the Calamity. Now, they turn their eyes on the people, their blue eyes beeping ominously as they begin decimating the populace in the town. Crawling through the streets, scaling buildings, and blasting devastating lasers at the Hylians, they leave trails of destruction everywhere on their path to the Castle.
The dark beast roars atop the castle tower, its glowing eyes surveying the destruction below. It roars again, flying around the castle and town, leaving trails of dark mist, while screams of panic and death rise from the populace. Ganon has awakened once again, unleashing his Calamity upon Hyrule. He roars once more, a sound that resonates like the fury of a dark god. His roar echoes as the corrupted Guardians unleash their lasers on Hylian soldiers, civilians, and all living things, destroying everything in their path. From the castle's highest tower, his roar spreads wide and far, corrupting even the Divine Beasts that turn against their piloting champions and their people. The land of Hyrule trembles, and his minions, spawned from his overflowing dark power, join the Guardians in laying waste to the castle town. Hyrule is already lost.
In the midst of chaos, just across the river from Hyrule Castle, Purah frantically gathers her documents, gadgets, and schematics in the Royal Ancient Lab. Her arms are wrapped with the precious knowledge she's spent years cultivating. Beside her, Robbie and the other scientists and assistants rush in panic, torn between what to gather and what to abandon. Their lives are in imminent danger from Ganon's Calamity, and every moment counts. The lab, once a place of innovation and discovery, now echoes with the urgency of survival.
"Purah! There's no time to gather those schematics! We have to go now!" Robbie's voice cracks with urgency as he stuffs a few papers into his bag, shouting at the others to abandon most of their equipment. The lab shakes, and the chaos outside draws ever closer.
Purah's heart pounds in her chest, torn between her life's work and the immediate need for survival. "I know! I know! I know!" she cries, her voice tinged with desperation. She stuffs the last schematic and a paper into her bag, her hands trembling. The weight of what she's leaving behind presses heavily on her, but she knows that her life, and the lives of those around her, must come first.
The blue lasers flash outside; fiery fire and dark powers are causing indescribable chaos. Her face is shined by the blue flashes from outside, and her heart shakes, knowing that the corrupted ancient machines are close to the lab.
"By Hylia, they are already here?!" Purah quickly picks up her bag and follows the others heading to escape the lab before it is surrounded. She and Robbie, and the others take the detour away from crossing the Carok bridge, which leads the central Hyrule, which is now in a chaotic massacre.
"Everyone! We cross the Jeddo bridge and make our way to the Necluda!" Robbie hastily announces to the group and moves in a quick manner.
The group crosses the bridge and then another one, passing the Coliseum, Purah gazes at the sight of the situation in central Hyrule. The menacing dark mist-like clouds circle around the Hyrule castle, Ganon in the pure of evil energy in the mist-like form of the dark beast swirls around, roaring like a god. She hears the many blasting laser beams, explosions, countless people running out for their lives in the Hyrule field, horses without their masters running amok, and the screams she hears that countless lives are being destroyed.
"Such chaos, such destruction, this is the calamity we are facing…" Robbie grabs her arm to make her snap out of it. "Come on, keep moving; we gotta move, Purah." She follows him but still gazes at the destruction of the capital, her red eyes wide and her mouth not able to close between her lips. Her breathing is shaky and slim. Her walk feels heavy as if her ankles are chained up. Robbie helps her keep on the move, holding her arm, his breathing unsteady.
The group continues passing the Dueling Peaks, almost to Fort Hateno, which beyond it lies the Hateno Village. The sounds of destruction echoing in their ears are far away now but still can be heard. The air that was thick with the scent of burning and the distant cries of terror is gone, for they are now in the Neculda region. Surrounded by mountains making the natural defense and isolation, and the only road to enter the region is through the Dueling Peaks they just passed through.
As they reach Fort Hateno, sighing in relief, it is still intact, and the garrison soldiers and Sheikah warriors are still stationed on guard on the fort. "We made it! Thank the Hylia!" Robbie rests for the moment, catching his breath, and so do the others whose lives are now safe beyond the fort.
Purah looks around the surroundings, there are already refugees gathered here and making their going through the fort. The Hyliean and Sheikah guards maintain the order in line to make sure the people go through seamlessly without causing chaos. Her red eyes linger on the faces of the refugees, each one reflecting fear, loss, and dread of uncertainty. "I wonder if Hyrule can even be restored in this state," she murmurs herself; she tucked a lost strand of her silver-white hair behind her pointy ear as they go through the fort gate.
"Let's not think about that right now, Purah, first being alive and safe, and second thinking about what to do next." Robbie walks along next to her, he cleans off his Hateno tech goggles with his thumb as they continue to the Hateno Village.
Meanwhile, Princess Zelda's royal advisor and her trusted bodyguard, Impa, is helping the princess with her appointed knight, Link getting out of the Hyrule field. "This way, my princess." she swiftly surveys the area of the corrupted Guardians and monsters around. Silent, swift, and elegantly she moves around subtly while Link holds the sword that seals the darkness, the Master's sword in his left hand with the hero's shield in his right. She comes back, and they continue on the way to Necluda.
Suddenly they hear the loud eruption from death mountain afar; the earth underneath their feet shakes itself while they try to balance themselves. "Oh, no, Vah Rudania is causing the death mountain to erupt." Zelda is shaken seeing the Divine Beast of fire, causing devastation in the Eldin region. The princess's white dress is all dirtied and smudged, and even Link's blue garb uniform is all dirtied from the burning ashes. Then the whole sky darkens, and the loud thunderous lightning storm rages in the sky. Imap turns her head and looks at the far towering Divine Beast of thunder, Vah Naboris; the machine radiates red eyes and fumes dark mists from it.
"No, no, Vah Naboris is gonna bring the storm down to Hyrule." Impa shakes her head in dread, but she grits her teeth, her silver-white hair a bit messy and dirty from the burning ashes and dirt. The sky roars with thunder and starts to rain as the dark beast of Ganon swirls around the devastated Hyrule castle and town. Ganon fixes his orb-like eyes on Zelda and Link, and as if the corrupted Guardians are being ordered by him, the autonomous machines abruptly stop their destruction. Their blue eyes all turn in the direction of Zelda and Link.
Impa's red eyes widen as she notices the blue orbs of the Guardians looking in their direction from afar, and her heart begins to pound in haste. Link grunts and the sound of the autonomous machines moving their claw tendrils toward them fills the air. The three hastily cross the Proxim Bridge, moving past the peaks as fast as they can. To their horror, they see several corrupted Guardian Stalkers attacking Hateno Fort. The garrison of Hylian soldiers and Sheikah warriors are giving everything they've got to repel the machines. Beams of laser fire streak across the battlefield, and the mechanical monstrosities crawl and pull at the barricades and wall defenses. Soldiers scream in defiance, their voices filled with determination and fear.
A couple of Guardian Stalkers scale down from the mountain, and Impa's sharp breath escapes her mouth, open in distress. "Princess, you must go on ahead and pass the fort as quickly as you can! Link, protect her at all costs with your life!" she commands. Facing the machines, she charges head-on, kodachi short swords in each hand, and uses her shadow magic to deftly avoid the blue laser beams targeting her. She catches a glimpse of Zelda and Link making their way through the Ash Swamp and quickly evades the destructive laser beams aimed at her, the ominous beeping sound signaling the machines as they charge up for another round of blasts. "This won't be my end, not now and not ever, not by these machines created by my ancestors." Impa focus her might on destroying the Guardians attacking their eyes in precision; she claps her hands and makes the quick shadow ritual of cloning herself, confusing its targeting system so that she can make the killing blow.
After destroying a couple of Guardians, Impa is momentarily blinded by a sudden burst of holy light emanating from the Ash Swamp. The machines halt their relentless advance, and the dark corruption is purged from them, leaving the Guardians as nothing but lifeless husks of rock. Impa quickly heads to the source of the blinding light, her expression stunned, her mouth agape in shock, her breath shaken by the sight of Link's lifeless body. There is no sign of Princess Zelda, only two Sheikah warriors.
"Ms. Impa," a male Sheikah warrior says, his mouth covered, holding a katana on his back, dressed in Hateno's traditional battle outfit, yet nimble and agile in his movements. He kneels on one leg and looks up at Impa. "Princess Zelda has given us the task of carrying the knight savior, Sir Link, to the Shrine of Resurrection. She has entrusted this task to us, Ms. Impa."
"The Princess, where is she?!" Impa demands, looking around frantically before turning her attention back to the male Sheikah warrior. "My lady, she has left. After entrusting us with this critical task, she took the sword that seals the darkness with her," he explains. Impa's breath catches in her throat, and her red eyes widen at the realization that the princess has chosen to walk the path to face Ganon on her own. She quickly examines Link's lifeless body, checking for a pulse, for any sign of breathing, for any indication of life at all. He still breathes faintly, and his pulse is faint but still alive and beating, Impa gets up and faces two male warriors.
"Carrying him to the Shrine of Resurrection must wait. For now, take him to Hateno Village," Impa orders the two warriors. One of them hoists Link onto his back, and they all make their way to the fort. As they approach, Impa observes the lifeless Guardian Stalkers, their eyes vacant of the blue lights that once glowed menacingly. She notices one wall of the fort, almost torn down but stopped just before the moment of the breach. A realization dawns on her that her princess's awakened power halted it.
In Hateno Village, the Sheikah people are engaged in a desperate effort to tend to the wounded and assist the displaced Hylian citizens from Castle Town. The village, once a peaceful haven, has been transformed into a makeshift refuge filled with the cries, groans, and agony of those who have suffered at the hands of Ganon's Calamity. Makeshift tents have been erected, and healers move with purpose, their faces etched with concern as they administer aid. The air is thick with the scent of medicinal herbs and the sounds of whispered prayers.
Unwounded Hylian soldiers, their armor dented and faced grim, work to keep the populace in order, directing the flow of refugees and maintaining a semblance of calm. Their eyes, though weary, are vigilant, ever watchful for any signs of danger. Children cling to their parents, their faces pale and eyes wide, while the elderly are comforted by neighbors and friends. The sense of community is strong, but the shadow of fear and uncertainty looms large.
The village's once vibrant market square has become a hub of activity, with volunteers distributing food and water and comforting those who have lost everything. The spirit of cooperation is high, but so is the grief. Every face tells a story of loss, resilience, and the determination to rebuild. But beneath it all, there is a collective realization that Hyrule has changed forever, and the road to recovery will be long with challenges.
Purah, Robbie, and the other scientists have taken refuge at the silos on the north hill of the village, away from the crowds of people. The space is cramped and filled with the clutter of their hastily gathered equipment. Purah is hunched over a table, her face illuminated by the glow of the Sheikah Slate. Her fingers fly over the device, her brow furrowed in concentration.
"Come on, come on, by Hylia, why won't you work?" she mutters, her voice tinged with frustration. She bangs the slate on the table, then closes her eyes and rubs her temples, exhaustion etched on her face.
Robbie, engaged in discussion with the other scientists about resettling their lab, glances over at Purah. He approaches her, concern in his eyes. "Do you have to work on that in this situation we are in, Purah?" he asks in a questionable tone.
"It's a personal thing, and the slate is not working, even though it was fine a few days ago. What a timing to be broken at a time like this," Purah complains, her hands working feverishly on the device. She pauses to take out a red scarf from her pocket, holding it to her forehead as if lost in nostalgic remembrance.
Robbie watches Purah, his eyes narrowing as he takes in the scarf and her expression. He seems to grasp something unspoken and nods, letting her continue with her personal task. Purah turns to face Robbie, her voice tinged with concern. "Has anyone seen my sister, Impa, yet in the village, Robbie?"
He shakes his head, about to respond, when suddenly, the door bursts open, and Impa strides in. "There you are!" she exclaims, her voice filled with urgency.
Purah, Robbie, and the other scientists jump, startled by her sudden and abrupt entrance. "Oh, Hylia, thank goodness, you're safe and sound and alive, Impa," Purah says, relief washing over her face.
Impa's expression is grave, and she steps aside to reveal one of the male Sheikah warriors carrying Link on his back. He enters and gently lays Link down on the sofa.
Purah's eyes widen, and she rushes over, her voice rising in alarm. "What happened?!" she demands, her eyes fixed on Link's lifeless form. The room falls into a tense silence as everyone awaits Impa's explanation, the weight of the situation settling heavily on them all.
After Impa's brief explanation, a heavy silence descends upon the room, the weight of her words settling over everyone present. The reality of their situation is stark and unforgiving, and the dread it instills is almost palpable.
"So the savior is on the brink of death, and we need to carry him to the Great Plateau where the Shrine of Restoration is," Robbie finally breaks the silence, his voice tinged with disbelief. He looks at Link's unconscious form, his mind struggling to grasp the enormity of what they face. "And Princess Zelda is on her own way to face Calamity Ganon by herself." He pauses, his eyes narrowing as another realization hits him. "And the sword that seals the darkness is not with him. This is a grave situation we are in," he remarks, his voice low and filled with concern.
The others in the room exchange worried glances, the gravity of their circumstances sinking in. They are faced with challenges that seem insurmountable, and the path ahead is fraught with uncertainty.
Purah's eyes are drawn to the window, where the dark energy of misty clouds, punctuated by red bolts of lightning and shadowy orbs, descends upon the castle. The sight is both mesmerizing and terrifying, a stark reminder of the calamity they face. Her mind races, grasping at any possibility of hope.
"Impa, please tell us that we can still send communication outside of Hyrule," she pleads, her voice with desperation. "We still have bird messengers or message runners, right?"
Impa's face is a mask of grim as she shakes her head. "No, the bird messengers are dead by the time the calamity happened, and the message runners... there's no point. The Exchange is burning. So we are on our own to face this now. No help from outside of Hyrule." Her words hang heavily in the room, a stark pronouncement of their isolation. The reality of their situation is laid bare, and the weight of it settles over them like a shroud. They are alone, cut off from the outside world, left to face an unimaginable threat with only their wits, courage, and determination.
Robbie's face tightens, his eyes reflecting a mix of fear and resolve. The others in the room exchange somber glances, each grappling with the enormity of what lies ahead.
Purah's fingers tighten around the red scarf, her red eyes fixed on the fabric as memories flood her mind. The world around her seems to fade away as she's transported back to a time before the calamity, to a promise made and a hope cherished. "I wonder if he knows what's happening, what we're facing, what I'm going through now," she murmurs to herself, her voice barely above a whisper.
Several agonizing weeks pass by, each day a battle for survival as the shadow of Ganon's Calamity continues to loom ominously over Hyrule Castle. The corrupted Guardians and monstrous creatures roam the Hyrule field, their malevolent presence extending beyond the crossing rivers, a constant reminder of the terror that has befallen the land.
The once-thriving regions of Goron City, Zora's Domain, Rito Village, and Gerudo Town are now isolated and wounded, each grappling with the devastating loss of their champions and the corruption of their Divine Beasts. The echoes of their defeat resonate through the land, a haunting melody of despair and longing.
Only the Necluda region stands as the last surviving bastion of Hyrule, a fragile sanctuary in a world gone mad. The people cling to hope, their eyes turned towards the castle, where Princess Zelda holds the Ganon Calamity at bay. But her power, though immense, is not yet strong enough or properly refined to imprison Ganon within the corrupted castle. Her struggle is a solitary one, a battle of wills that grows more desperate with each passing day.
The savior, the wielder of the sword that seals the darkness, lies in a deep coma, his life hanging by a thread. His still form is a stark contrast to the vibrant hero he once was, a painful reminder of what has been lost.
The path to the Great Plateau, the key to salvation, is heavily overrun by the Guardians. It's as if Ganon himself is aware of the dire situation, his dark influence reaching out to block their way, to crush any hope of escape or victory.
The people of Hyrule, once united and strong, are now scattered and broken, each day a struggle to endure, to rebuild, to hope. The land itself seems to mourn, the once-lush fields now barren, the skies heavy with the weight of loss.
A boat, carved in the shape of a dragon, glides silently towards Hateno Bay, its approach as quiet and subtle as the night itself. The Hylian fisherman, busy with his daily tasks, is startled and shocked to see an outsider of Hyrule come to the land. His eyes widen as he takes in the sight of the boat and its lone passenger.
A man steps out of the dragon boat, his presence is mysterious, and he wears clothes that are foreign to Hyrule's custom. He carries a spear that shines with a white gold luster, and a round shield of the same hue rests on his back. He looks up and around the surroundings, as he makes his way to the shore.
The fisherman, with a mix of curiosity and concern, approaches the stranger. "My word, do you not know that Hyrule is in the midst of calamity and chaos?" he stammers, his voice filled with worry. "Did you not see the looming dark misty clouds over our capital on your way here, outsider?"
The stranger turns his gaze to the fisherman, his eyes reflecting a deep understanding of the situation. "Yes, I am aware of the condition of this land, and I know of the calamity that continues to unfold even now," he says, his voice calm and measured. Despite the dire circumstances, the foreigner maintains his manners and composure, a hint of familiarity in his eyes.
"My good sir, it has been a long time since I last visited Hyrule," he continues, his tone respectful. He gestures towards the paved dirt road winding behind the fisherman, his hand steady and sure. "Is that the road that leads to Hateno Village?"
The fisherman, still taken aback by the stranger's sudden appearance, nods slowly, his eyes fixed on the man's face. There's something about the stranger that commands respect, a sense of authority and wisdom that goes beyond mere appearance.
"Yes, that's the way to Hateno Village," he confirms, his voice tinged with curiosity. "But be warned, the path may be fraught with danger. The calamity has left its mark everywhere. May I ask who you are?"
"Name's Mako and I am from the far east of the nation called 'Donggua'"
With a polite bow from this head, he continues on his way, leaving the fisherman to watch him, a sense of intrigue and wonder lingering in the air. The road to Hateno Village stretches before him, a path filled with uncertainty and peril but also hope and purpose.
