The Legend of Zelda : Goddess Medallion
Intro - So this is my entry. An idea I've had for a while (at least the beginning and end) and so I'm excited about what you guys think. Enjoy!!
The Legend of Zelda : Goddess Medallion
Backstory – Link is a young boy in the town of Tesselet, located in south-eastern Hyrule. He is around the age of 11-13. He lives with his aunt and uncle (unnamed, as the story will progress faster than that). His town has the honor of having the Royal Family during their annual event honoring the goddesses.
It is here where you take control of Link. Similar to Ocarina of Time where you take control of a younger Link, but more in sync with Twilight Princess where it’s a short time before the main game starts, you learn the basics of movement, rolling, dodging, etc. He is also given a slingshot by his uncle. As he sets out, he finds a young girl, around 10-12, surrounded by Skulltulas. Using his trusty slingshot, you blast all the baddies to wherever they go. The young girl, happy that you rescued her, introduces herself as the Princess, Zelda. She ran away from her family during the festival, hoping to get away from the boredom of being in public and seeing what it is like in the real world (as every Princess tends to do). She takes Link and ventures around before returning to her family, telling the brave thing Link did for her. Although disappointed in his daughter, the king sees great favor in Link for rescuing her. Because of this deed, Zelda would like Link to stay with her as her “bodyguard.” The king laughs at this, and thinks it would be a grand idea (to play along with, although this has significance in a little bit). Link’s aunt and uncle find he would be better off in the castle grounds than here in a small town. They also feel a great thing will happen to him one day, and he would return one day, maybe even as a great hero!
Fast forward a couple of years. Link and Zelda are best friends. They are always around each other. In fact, Link has become somewhat of her bodyguard. He trains daily with a sword while she trains in the art of magic. Here you take control of Link again. You learn the basics of sword play, as well as some cool finishing moves. Zelda wants to practice her magic, so she magic against Link (a la Din’s Fire) so he can also practice with a shield. Around this time, Link is 15-16, Zelda is likewise 14-15.
Another couple of years pass. Link is now an official Knight of Hyrule, with the highest order to guard the Royal Family. However, the king becomes ill, and now Zelda has the highest authority in the land. As such, Link is mostly her private bodyguard. Since they are teenagers (so around 18 for Link, 17 for Zelda), and with their constant being around each other as little kids, one can assume feelings develop. And you’d be right. Zelda begins flirting more with Link. She beckons him to come to the gardens for a walk. They are ambushed by a group of Moblins, hoping to take the Princess and overthrow power since the king is ill. Something happens though. On their left hands, a triangle, separated by three pieces, appear, each with one section of the triangle lit up. They feel powerful, and as Link uses his sword play, Zelda uses her magic, and they vanquish their foes until all are gone. They do not yet realize the power within them. Only that they lock eyes and feel a greater connection than any person could have.
You’ve taken control of Link for only a few bits, but a huge section is dedicated to battles. Although they are together more often than not, fierce enemies are always tracking them. Although they are successful in bringing to justice their foes, they are unsure why they are in constant attack. It is then they realize something really was different. They noticed more and more the triangle imprint on their hands whenever they were close to another. Finally, after many hard fought battles, they decide to learn the secrets behind their imprint. And what they learn changes everything.
The Triforce, a sacred symbol left behind when the goddesses left Hyrule. Every few generations, when the previous incarnations have gone away or was no longer present in the world, the Triforce would find a new bearer. Three there are, one for power, one for wisdom, and one for courage. Each representing the one trait most present in them. With this title came great power, but at a cost. The Triforce always seek to become one again, and there are those who would wish that never to come to past.
Looking for more information, they find who previous bearers were. They found what shocked them the most. One was held in a great warrior, one in a divine princess, and the last in an evil thief, who held great power within him. Wherever he was, there was destruction. No one knew in what form he would return, but sages kept a vigilant watch. The other two always prevailed over this great evil, but at the cost of death and destruction to their land. They decided then something they did not want to ever do, but they had to. To keep from more evil returning, they separated. Although they knew each held a great love for the other, it kept the land safe.
Zelda returned to her magics and studies. She read up frequently on the Triforce, keeping hers in balance, staying ever watchful for the “Evil Thief”. But her thoughts always went to Link. Link returned to Tesselet. Being the Knight he became, he was the protector of the village. As Zelda did, his thoughts always returned to her.
Eight years pass. The king grew very ill, and unfortunately passed away, leaving the kingdom of Hyrule to be ruled by Zelda. She never took the title of Queen, opting to stay a Princess instead. She begat a daughter, named Zelda (age 9), although the father is unknown. Some believe it to be one of the Princes from another kingdom, or one of the nights. She does not say. Link met a farm girl by the name of Malen and ended up marrying her. They have a child, named after his father, Link (age 8), who grew up knowing the way of farming and swordsmanship at a young age. Link is dressed in his green apparel, although he does not don the hat just yet.
Here the tutorial stuff ends, and the
real game begins.
Taking control of the Adult Link (now 27), hears of a disturbance up in the mountains above Tesselet and the temple, the Temple of Ages. The village cannot worship the goddesses as a huge monster has taken refuge. He travels up, obtaining a boomerang, and defeats the creature known as Gohman, a beetle-like insect with ten legs huge pincers. Using the boomerang, he stuns the legs as he walks, then uses his sword on the pincers to take them off. Once off, he can now target the head inside the casing. After the defeat, he finds a strange artifact, a scroll with text written in a strange language. The sage in the town says only one such person can decipher the text. However, he has grown very feral lately. “Seek out the man in the Temple of Seasons, but beware his nature. He does not take kindly to strangers lately”. He gives his goodbyes to Malen and young Link, and sets out to the west, into the desert.
The second temple houses the same types of enemies found in the first. Link battles through, getting his trusty bow and arrow along the way, and defeats the boss, Yansera, the sage, who utilizes fire and ice from his trusty orb and staff. The sword can reflect the magic he sends, but it is the bow that stuns the orb on his staff, giving him time to use his sword against the powers of the staff. Link finds the sage was possessed by a creature in his orb, who is vanquished when the orb shatters. Link shows the parchment to the old sage. He notices the text is “ancient Hylian”, one not spoken over countless generations. The deciphered text reads as such –
“Those who seek out the two halves of the great Medallion, is granted power beyond belief. The Pendent of Light, located in the heavens themselves, shines to those who seek the true path. The Pendent of Darkness, located deep underground, keeps you unseen to those who seek you. With these pieces come great deeds, or grave misfortune.”
Yansera realizes what has happened. The scroll was almost stolen, and his possession was meant to decipher the scroll to the enemies. He knew not the group looking for the medallion, nor the deeds of which the medallion would be used, but of the man who took control of him. Agahnim, once a powerful sage like Yansera, now apparently going rouge for his own deeds. He tells Link to hurry and find more information on the locations of the Medallion pieces. Link knew if anyone would know, it would be Zelda.
Link quickly makes a quick stop back home. It is here where Malen gives him a hat. She knew the power he held, and thought a hero should be dressed like one. They embrace before he leaves, but not without a small stowaway with him.
After which, he travels to Hyrule Castle to greet the Princess. Although time had passed, there was still a strong connection between the two. She introduces her daughter, when suddenly Link’s son jumps out. Link seems angry at first, but Zelda keeps his peace, and asks the young man for his name. “Link, why, that’s your father’s name too! Meet my daughter, Zelda. I think you two will get along fine.” They play while Link and Zelda discuss the medallion. In her studies, Zelda came across a legend of this Medallion. This great medallion granted those who brought it together peace, harmony, and even life. But in the wrong hands, it could bring war, destruction, and death. The Medallion became known as the Goddess Medallion, to signify the power it held. The Pendent of Light, located in the heavens, could only be accessed by the Sheikah, to signify their divine trust with both the goddesses and the Royal Family. The Pendent of Darkness was held by those close to the earth, groups known as the Goranos, a creature described as having a rugged, big, round look, but also that of an aquatic like creature, with fins and gills. They hold power over the water and the earth, and guard the pendent in the ground itself.
A message is relayed, saying a small village is under attack. A small group came in and started attacking, and need and man that could be sent. The town… Tesselet. Link, with a worried look on his face, tells his son to stay in the Castle, and sets for home. Zelda keeps the children at bay while he leaves. He finds a lone weapon, Bombs. He arrives to see only death and destruction. He picks off the enemies who stayed behind, including a boss named Unbran. A competent warrior, Link utilizes bombs to break off his armor, revealing the man inside. After his defeat, he could find no survivors. His aunt and uncle were nowhere, his friends gone, his wife…Malen…the house they had was burnt to the ground, no signs of life anywhere. Falling to the ground, he lets out a scream of anger. His passion for revenge now fills him, and only one thing he can remember. “This great medallion granted those who brought it together peace, harmony….and even life.” He returned to the castle to tell what happened. He told his son of his mother’s fate. Without warning, he left his son in the care of the Princess and set off to find the Medallion pieces and find those responsible. At the gate, Zelda confronts him. She is worried. She knows the pain he feels, but is shouldn’t cloud his judgment. He takes it in with little remorse, and sets off. Zelda becomes very worried for him, but knows in the end, he will do the right thing, and goes back to take care of her daughter and his son.
He arrives in a long lost city in the North-Eastern part of Hyrule, a town left deserted a long time ago, known in the ancient tongue as Kakariko. It is here the Sheikah seek those out who are worthy. Beasts circle Link, and he easily defeats them. The Sheikah see this deed, and confront him from the shadows. Thinking them his enemy, he draws his sword. They hold him back, saying they are not their enemies. “You are a brave one. You, clad in the green gear of the hero, seek something only we can access, do you not?” It is here Link begins training in the art of the Sheikah, as only they can enter the Temple of the Heavens, where the Pendent of Light is held. Link learns the art of the Hookshot and Chain, a weapon that can bring enemies down with deadly accuracy, and from a distance which the enemy may never know your presence. He successfully completes the training, and uses his new weapon to gain access to the entrance. The door to the heaves is accessed in a high place, and once the door is open, it takes you to a new realm very few have seen (a la the Temple of Time in Twilight Princess). He solves the puzzles within, finds a new weapon in the Goddess Orb (works in the same manner as the Dominion Rod, where he takes control of specific things to reach places high up he couldn’t land with just the Hookshot and Chain), and defeats the Guardian within, Malchent, the spirit of the swordsman who guards the temple. The Hookshot and Chain is used to gain high places where stone guardians lie. When the spirit is stunned, Link uses these and drops them on the spirit using the Goddess Orb. He gains the Pendent of Light and sets of to his next destination.
He sets off to the land of the Goranos. However, the mountain lake of Goranos City is vacant, save for one lone warrior. He says an evil wizard came in and demanded the Pendent of Darkness. We told them no such thing existed, but he knew it did. He captured and killed most of his brethren, leaving many starving in the Temple of Earth. He begs Link to save his friends, and gives him the Goranos Tunic, which helps him withstand the pressures of both extreme heat and being underwater. “The Temple is located deep in the mountain, in the depths of a hot spring. Only with this tunic can a human survive like we can. Swim until you see it. And make sure you stay near air bubbles to give you a burst of air.” Swimming deep beneath the mountain, he finds the Temple of Earth. There are many spell-casters keeping watch over the Goranos. Defeating each one releases the Goranos to fight at your side later. Link comes across the Megaton Hammer, an ancient weapon used by an ancient race, and uses it to get to the boss. Inside is Gelenaton, the top general of Agahnim’s army. His spells are powerful, but with a mighty quake from the Hammer, he is rendered helpless, and is defeated.
Finally the Medallion pieces are now Link’s. His only concern is revenge for his village. He sets off to the burnt ruins. However, an unexpected visitor arrives. It is Zelda. She knows the anger in his heart, and knows what power can be wrought with this device. “Link, I know what brews within you. You only know hate, only anger. You want to use the Medallion for good purposes, but at what cost? Those who took your loved ones away may die, but countless others could be destroyed. You don’t know what this power could do to you. What it could do to Hyrule. What it may do…to your son…” Link hesitates for a while, as Younk Link and Young Zelda appear from behind. It is then that Link realizes he is doing this for the wrong purpose. His wish would save few, and destroy many, even if they deserved it. He kneels to the ground, and the mistakes he had in his mind vanish. He goes to embrace his son and Zelda.
But a powerful wizard intervenes. Agahnim throws a powerful spell on Adult Link, and takes the Medallion for himself. Link is encased in ice, and cannot move. Zelda tries to break the spell, but his magic is more powerful than hers. She asks him why he would do such a thing? “Do you wish Hyrule to become a desolate place, with no life, but you as a ruling power over countless millennia?” “No...” he replies…”I plan to GIVE it life, by giving life back to the one man who can bring a new age for Hyrule…Ganondorf”. Ganondorf, who had been killed generations ago, the “Evil Thief” who held the Triforce of Power, had an ideal world planned, but had been stopped abruptly by the goddesses, by the sages, by the other two sides of the Triforce. Agahnim wanted that world, and only Ganondorf could provide. He causes a powerful spell to get rid of Link, the Princess, and the children. But Zelda manages to warp out before damage could be done. It is here Hyrule goes under a dark age. Agahnim takes over as ruler after killing all other sages and Royal Family. He orders the search for the grave of Ganondorf, hidden from those evil enough to seek it. Zelda and the children hide in refuge for very long, taking in those still loyal to her, and finding a way to free the frozen Link.
Seven years pass. Zelda is under the guise as a Sheikah known as Shoka. Young Link matures into a young adult and, like his father, is one of the best swordsman around. The Young Zelda studies magic like her mother, but also becomes an extraordinary instrumentalist with here flute. Zelda finally finds the old sage Yansera, someone powerful enough to break the spell on Link. Link becomes incapacitated after his release, and cannot hold his own, although Zelda could not be happier.
You now control Young Link, now 15. He has dabbled in the art his father before him did, and is capable of utilizing all the weapons his father had. Zelda tells him only one thing can give his father the strength he requires is locked away in the Temple of Time. Her daughter will be joining him, as it requires a strong spell-caster to pass the dungeons trials, and she is the only one powerful enough to help him without needing to help the older Link. “The dungeon is located within the forest. When you find the relic, you will warn me through this pendent. I will use what energy to warp your father and myself to your location. Here we will use the relic to bring him back to strength.”
Using the techniques taught to them by the Sheikah, Young Zelda and Link travel to the Sacred Grove, the holding grounds of the Temple of Time. Inside they solve the puzzles (in a similar manner to WindWaker but using the Goddess Orb instead to control Zelda), Link finds a weapon, the Rod of Elements, and fights the boss, a dragon guardian names Onetexa. Using the rod to fire Ice, Fire, or Water at the dragon (dependent on what traits is most apparent, like Twinrova and the Mirror Shield in Ocarina of Time), the dragon is vanquished and the relic is made clear. It is none other than the Master Sword. Zelda uses the Pendent to communicate with her mother, and Link, Zelda, and Yansera transport over.
The Triforce is glowing within the adult Zelda and Link as they take him over. Link sees the sword and struggles to get up. He reaches towards it, but has a difficult time unsheathing it from the stone. His son comes over, and both pull the sword from the pedestal. Link gains the strength he once had, and has become the warrior he once was. Zelda exclaims, “Now the sword of evil’s bane is in our hand. If they find Ganondorf, we will be waiting for him. Now then, let’s leave, and take care of Agahnim, so we can live the life we should have lived.”
A strange rumble takes place once they return to their refugee camp. It seems a powerful force has risen! It is has they feared. Agahnim has found the grave of Ganondorf, and was now attempting to resurrect him! The power of the Triforce now swelled in the two. The connection they felt now felt the anger and power of the “Evil Thief”. They knew where it was taking place. In an underground cavern, underneath the burnt town of Tesselet. Link had a destiny. He was meant to be the guardian of that town. He was meant to meet Zelda that day and become a Knight, cause only he could protect the village where Ganondorf slept. Although he could not save the village from the enemy, he was meant to stop this plight when it started. He grabbed his old gear, and then looked upon the man his son became. He gave him his old sword, and asked if he would battle with him. As his son nodded his head, they set off for their old home, while both Zelda’s stayed behind, to amass an army to fight those who would hold against them.
In the underground cavern, Link and Young Link set off to see the evil. They bested all the enemies within, and found a new weapon in the Light Arrow. Once they set foot in the gravesite, Agahnim awaited their arrival. “It is too late hero. He is risen. Not you, your son, the triforce, or that little sword of yours can stop him. I’ll make sure you never get the chance!” With a swift hit, Young Link is knocked out, leaving Link to fight the battle. He fights and wins, killing the wizard who caused all the destruction. He picks up his son, and heads back to the surface. A mass army is waiting for the warrior to lead them on. Ganondorf, now with the powers present in him, has taken seat in Hyrule Castle where Agahnim set his army up. Ganondorf now is aiming for those who dare oppose him, and seeks the other two parts of the Triforce. Link steps up and becomes leader of the army.
Zelda sets him aside with her daughter and his son, now being tended for his wounds. Knowing what may happen after this charge, she tells him one secret she never told before. The Young Zelda before him…was his daughter. She never loved one such as Link. Even though they were told to move on, she never did. Young Link and Young Zelda look at each other, always knowing their connection was different from their parents, that they were as tight as blood. Young Link is set aside to have his wounds tended while the Young Zelda helps him along, wanting to know more of her little brother. Zelda then takes Link and spends the first night with him in the longest time she’s ever known.
The battle for Hyrule Castle takes place. Link, with his Master Sword at his side, commands the army to fight the initial wave while Zelda and he take the battle to Ganondorf. He leaves his son in charge while he sets off. Inside the castle, Link utilizes all the gear he’s obtained to reach the lower levels of Hyrule Castle. It is there Ganondorf reveals himself. “I know you. You two have caused me nothing but pain. Yes, you may not know it, but you two have been the cause of my misery for countless generations. Because as it seems, Power cannot live alone. It must be in balance. It must be complete. Therefore, I will show you something…more powerful than you could ever know. The Triforce will be mine. And I won’t let you stop me this time!!” Showing his part of the Triforce on his hand, he sends a wave of magic toward them both. Trapping Zelda within, the Master Sword keeps it off of Link. He charges in, fighting the battle of his life against his eternal enemy. He deflects the magic he sends him, as he did as a child growing up in the castle. He fires the Light Arrows to stun him so he could send a strike. He parried attacks with his sword so Ganondorf could not strike him.
In the end, it was Ganondorf who could handle the attack. “Not again…I will not LET YOU RUIN THIS!!” He warps out of the castle, and attempts to bring Hyrule asunder. He breaks apart the earth. Soldiers from both sides watch in horror as Hyrule rises and falls beneath them. Link and Zelda appear outside to witness the horror. Yansera comes with one last vision. “The sages of old tell me…the way to defeat him. We must send him where no one can reach him. We must send him into the Sacred Realm so he may be guarded for all time! We must send him where his minions cannot reach him again! Link, you must stun him with your sword! The Master Sword is the only thing that can down him. Only then can someone of noble birth and powerful magic can send him away!”
Link approaches Ganondorf one last time, with the intention of sending him to a place no one can find him. Ganondorf sees his enemy, and stops his casting. He takes the power within him and transforms into the beast he’ll always be, Ganon. Link utilizes the same tactics as before, using his sword and Light Arrows to stun his enemy long enough to deal the blow. Dodging his magic attacks, his sword attacks, and his gigantic size, all goes well. He is about to deal the final blow…
And something happens he did not predict. He feels this sharp pain. He looks below. Ganon’s sword was through his stomach. Ganon looks down and cackles manically. Off in the distance, Zelda screams in shock. Link tries to push himself off, but the blow is mortal. Ganon tosses the sword aside. “I’ll finish you once I get the Princess. Then power will be MINE!” He takes out his trident and heads for the Princess. Soldiers try to defend the Princess, but each to no avail, as Ganon swats them like gnats. Link can only look on as he pulls the sword from his body. Yansera quickly pulls a protective shield to protect those still left alive. Young Link thrusts his sword towards Ganon, but he bats him towards Link. He looks down to see the Master Sword. Here, you take control again of Young Link. He charges forward with weapons in hand, and another small battle ensues. Ganon uses his powers to strike, but Young Link finds the teachings of his father in him, and is able to strike down Ganon again. “I WILL NOT BE STOPPED!!” He bats away the Master Sword. It lands in none other than the hands of Adult Link, who removed the sword from his body. He charges Ganon and lands the finishing blow. Yansera cries out for Zelda and Young Zelda to send him to the Sacred Realm for all eternity! As they strike, Ganon writhes in pain. But fortune is not with Link, as Ganon grabs him before being sucked into the Sacred Realm. Link finds himself looking at Zelda, and Zelda at Link. A tear goes down her cheek as he is being sucked in. Link can only smile, knowing he now saved countless lives from oblivion, including those of Zelda, his son…and his daughter, and he knew Zelda would know his happiness. In a blink…both Link and Ganon were gone.
The group stood in horror with what happened. Drawn a mortal blow, Link managed to defeat Ganon, but was thrust into the Sacred Realm for all eternity. Zelda was worried, hoping there would be a way to bring him back. Yansera replied with this –
“The sages of old speak to me. He is within the Sacred Realm as we speak. His wounds having been healed…he will serve as the guardian of Ganon. He is to battle Ganon until the need arises for him to return…or if Ganon is released. Until then, he is trapped forever.”
Zelda became distraught, but realized with Link in there, Ganon could never escape, even if that meant she would probably never see him again. She took it upon herself to rebuild the kingdom, and honor Link as the “Hero of Realms”. She took her daughter and her soon to be adoptive son within the castle to rebuild.
And it was then that Hyrule was rebuilt to be the city it once was. People began to work to bring back their kingdom. The Sheikah and Goranos came out of hiding to help the battered civilization. When all was done, peace began again in Hyrule.
Zelda became Queen of the land. She kept the Legend of Link alive in the hearts of people, telling of the brave deeds he did, and of the courageous man he was. The Triforce now was gone from her hand. It seemed a new bearer was needed, as her prime had past. However, she always looked towards the monument of Link, hoping one day for his return back into Hyrule.
Young Zelda became as her mother, a Princess wise in the way of books and magic. She studied every day, and always honored the father she never knew. Knowing his destiny, Young Link set off on his own to wander the wilds, to protect those who needed saving. He was now the diplomat for many races, and kept peace in the land. He became renowned for his traits and skills. Both Young Zelda and Young Link became what their parents were. Great leaders and powerful in the art of combat and intelligence. However, they kept a secret from others. A powerful marking on their left hands…were beginning to show.
THE END
