Chapter 1: Ganondorf Returns at Sandtopolis

Background Information: According to the legend passed down by the generations of peoples of Hyrule, there was a hero who always seemed to triumph over the evils of the realm. Never was this more true decades ago. In the year 1998, a young boy named Link singlehandedly destroyed the evil Ganon and restored peace to the land of Hyrule. Despite Link's leaving the land a few years later, the land of Hyrule entered a period of peace and prosperity unlike any other in its history. Well, until about a year ago. Within the years 2056 and 2057, the land of Hyrule had experienced numerous attacks at the hands of raiders, invaders, and other evildoers who were believed to be gerudos associated with the evil Ganondorf. The people of Hyrule believed that the hero would return before long. This is where we pick up the story. In terms of the timeline, we are between Majora’s Mask and the Windwaker.

Ganondorf: Boy it feels good to be back! Natasia, round up the troops, we're going in!
Natasia: Yes sir.

The Gerudos had been making guerrila like attacks on the land of Hyrule for about a year and a half, and everyone in Hyrule was getting worried a bit about Ganondorf's reemergence. However, that was nothing compared to what the small town of Sandtopolis was about to feel. Located along the northwest banks of Lake Hylia at the mouth of Zora's River, Sandtopolis was the major port of Hyrule, but wasn't a huge city like Hyrule Castle Town. This made it a perfect target for the gerudo attackers.

The attack began on the morning of March 29, 2057. The gerudos cut off the river in a spot north of the river, making sure no reinforcement from the north would be able to resupply the city. Then the gerudos headed into the city on horseback. The civilians, up and in the streets trading, buying things, etc, were caught off guard by the attack. Within minutes, many villagers were trampled, blood was flowing in the streets, and buildings were on fire. The gerudo archers especially did a nasty job, picking off citizens of Sandtopolis from long distances away, killing them instantly. Once a sizeable amount of people were either dead or injured, Natasia, the gerudo 2nd in command ordered the remainder of the citizens in the square to get on their knees and beg for mercy. This is when Ganondorf made his entrance into the town from the north gate. The people of Sandtopolis, certainly scared before, were absolutely stone-cold when Ganondorf became visible.

Ganondorf: Very good. Take them, all of them! We need as many followers as we can! Go.

Within the next few minutes, a mass enslavement began, as the gerudos swarmed the city, putting people into chains and dragging them out of the city north toward Gerudo Valley. Most of the people, given the demoralizing circumstances just gave up without a fight, not knowing what awaited them on the road ahead. They knew that massive trouble had just returned for the land of Hyrule, and they could only pray for the hero's return.

Chapter 2: The Battle of Gerudo Valley

Daphnes Hyrule: What is the news from sandtopolis?
Impa: They've been taken out. The Gerudos have invaded the city, killed many and taken the men in the square into slavery sir.
Daphnes Hyrule: So that's it. Send word to the Knights at Lon Lon Ranch, they are to attack Gerudo Valley and free the men taken at Sandtopolis.
Impa: There's more to it than th...
Daphnes Hyrule: Get going!
Impa: But your majesty...
Daphnes Hyrule: I gave you an order, now GO!!!
Impa: Yes, sir.

What Impa was going to tell Daphnes Hyrule is that Ganondorf had returned and that an attack on Gerudo Valley would be a suicide mission and none would survive on the Gerudos home sand. It was a lose-lose situation, but he would not listen. Impa sent out the word to the Hylian Knights stationed at Lon Lon Ranch, who then promptly made a 2-day ride on horseback down the 50 mile road to Gerudo Valley. They would enter the Valley on April 2.

Driving through the narrow cliffhanging valley leading into the Zora's River area, the Knights looked purplexed, as there were no signs of Gerudos anywhere to be found. They did see the fortress beyond the bridge, and began to cross. That's when the attack began, FROM ALL SIDES!! The gerudos came in on horseback from the west and by foot from the east, sealing an airtight trap around the Knights. Within moments, the Knights were trying to scamper back off the bridge, but for some, it was too late, as the Gerudos on both sides of the bridge cut the ropes holding the bridge. Instantly, some 20 Hylian Knights fell some 200 feet down toward Zora's River and death. The remainder of the Knights were getting blasted, as the Gerudos were far more skilled on horseback than the Knights, and their blades were far superior, knocking knights down one by one. Once on the ground, the Knights were able to gain back a bit of ground as their armor was strong enough to beat the sharp blades of the gerudo warriors. However, sheer numbers began to kick in a bit, and seeing the prospect of having to fend off a gerudo force 5 times bigger than them, the first in command for the Knights had no choice but to surrender.

Ganondorf, who savored the moment, appeared late in the battle and then declared the surrender punishment, that every single one of the remaining Knights (about 50), would one by one jump off of the cliff to their death. Anybody who did not jump within 30 seconds recieved an energy beam from the evil king. Then they had another 30 seconds to jump, upon which another energy beam came down, and if a third refusal occurred, Natasia, the Sage of Spirit and Ganondorf’s 2nd in command, was instructed to behead the individual. In other words, it was total victory for the Gerudos and Ganondorf, who made it known that he was on the warpath, and anybody in his way would feel the pain.

Upon hearing the news of the loss in Gerudo Valley, Daphnes Hyrule knew that the land of Hyrule was in major peril, and something had to be done.

Chapter 3: Anarchy in Hyrule Castle Town

With the news of the defeat at Gerudo Valley and the reemergence of Ganondorf, the entire city of Hyrule Castle Town disintegrated into a frezied mess on April 4. The city marketplace was swamped with angry and scared crowds, looters prayed on the outdoor shops and stores, mass upheaval was in the air everywhere. The Hylian Knights on duty were unable to stop the madness on their own, which carried on well into the night. An embarrassed Daphnes Hyrule was forced to call an emergency summit of the sages and the representatives of honor (the king's self-appointed body of hyrulian people).

Daphnes Hyrule: Welcome everybody to the Summit of Emergency. As most of you know, the land of Hyrule has experienced two tragedies within the past few days. First, the city of Sandtopolis was taken by the Gerudos, and then the Hylian Knights of Lon Lon were destroyed at Gerudo Valley. Worse yet, Ganondorf has returned to the land, so what are we to do about this? I will give each and every one of you a chance to speak, but by the end of this day, April 5, 2057, we will reach a decision on what to do as a nation to combat this threat. Now who will speak?
Impa: I will
Daphnes: Step forward, sage of the sheikahs
Impa: As the last in the bloodline of the sheikah, I take great pride in what my mother was able to accomplish decades ago as the sage of shadow. She, along with Link, Zelda, and the other 5 sages, were able to defeat Ganondorf. Assembled here today are the reincarnations of those great legends, the new sages, the new heroes of the triforce. I do not see why we cannot fight this threat to the fullest. When we come together as a group of people, we truly cannot be beaten.
Daphnes Hyrule: Okay, that is one option. Anybody else?
Link (the goron): Me.
Daphnes: Step forward, sage of the gorons.
Link (the goron): It has been said that force can defeat Ganondorf. But without the hero among us today, I am doubtful that we can do it alone. Decades ago, when our people tried to beat Ganondorf by ourselves, we got near extinction at the hands of the dragon Volvagia. I think trying to beat Ganondorf like Impa says is going to end in failure, which is why I propose we hide away and wait for the coming of the hero. He will come again to save us, then, that's when we will have the strength to win.
Daphnes Hyrule: Okay, that is the 2nd option. Anybody else?
Malon: I will speak.
Daphnes Hyrule: Step forward, old lady of wisdom.
Malon: Having associated with the hero myself a long time ago, I find it very doubtful that he will ever emerge again. A person like that is legendary, a being that we can never count on to do the things he has done in previous decades again. And like Link the goron says, we do not have the strength to beat Ganondorf on our own without the hero. Therefore, Ganondorf will pillage and kill until there is nothing left. We should at least be able to keep our dignity as a people and a nation.
Daphnes Hyrule: And how do you suggest we do that?
Malon: O your majesty, I ask this of you, that you wish upon the gods that a torrent of ocean wash over this land forever!
(A disquieting hush falls over the room, several murmors and shrieks also)
Laruto: She's right, that is the only way to protect the land from Ganon now. Without the hero, we are doomed into oblivion.
Link (the goron): Yeah, you say that because you are a Zora and you'll survive. Meanwhile, I get drowned and destroyed just like the rest of my people! That's rock-trash, we're going down swinging.
Laruto: That's useless. You cannot beat Ganondorf. Your people failed miserably years ago trying to do just that. Accept your fate...
Link: Why you little!!!

Link the Goron rolls up and tries to flatten Laruto, who just barely dodges, and he hits Fado the Kokiri instead. The crowd starts getting up in arms but Daphnes quickly gets them to quiet down.

Daphnes Hyrule: All in favor of wishing upon the Gods raise hands.

A slight majority raises their hands, almost all the Zoras and Hylians are in favor, while the Gorons are not.

Okay then, that is what we will do.
Zelda: Youre forgetting something though.
Daphnes Hyrule: What, my dear princess?
Zelda: the triforce

Chapter 4: The Gerudos Scheme

(If you don't recognize some of the names in this chapter, they are officers in the gerudo military)

Ganondorf: Ladies, please come in.
Natasia: Master Ganondorf, the battle here was a complete success. We should follow up that success immeadiately and kick them while they are down.
Dragmira: Yes, but we do not want to go and try and take over Hyrule yet, that will get us battles with massive armies.
Natasia: Dragmira, if we allow them time to prepare their armies, it will not be to our advantage. We need to hit them and hit them as soon as possible.
Ganondorf: Natasia, I like your thinking. I really think that a follow up attack is important right now. Where do you suggest we go?
Natasia: I would go for the jugular, and go after Hyrule Castle right now. Finish this before it gets too nasty.
Kotarika: NO WAY! Why on earth would you do that without capturing a support base first. What if we lose and have to retreat?
Natasia: We won't ever have to retreat, we're the gerudos damit! We can fight all day and all night if we have to, but we will win.
Ganondorf: Natasia, with all due respect, Kotarika has a point. We can't just go and put our heads into the lion's mouth like that. We should aim to ta---
Natasia: Oh you of all people. You're the king of let's go all out at any cost even if we get kil---
Ganondorf: (Slams sword onto table) You don't EVER raise your voice to me! I'm the King of the Gerudos, you're not. You don't raise your voice to me, not ever. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!!!
Natasia: Yes, Master Ganondorf.
Ganondorf: Kotarika, where do you think we should attack next?
Kotarika: Well, I don't think it should be anywhere too close to Hyrule Castle, but somewhere not terribly far away, so we can use it as a support base for the coming invasion. It's gotta be somewhere with a fairly good defensive system we can fall back on if necessary.
Natasia: All this talk about defense is rediculous. Where is you---
Ganondorf: That will be ENOUGH out of you. Tajria, please escort Natasia out of here, she is no longer needed here.
Tajria: Yes, Master Ganondorf.

(Tajria leads Natasia out of the quarters)

Ganondorf: Now, Kotarika, continue please.
Kotarika: As I was saying, we need some place that will be difficult for the enemy to drive us out of in case we get into trouble battling for the castle. You know the Knights will be out for blood, and the Zoras are always tough going across that dang river. So I suggest that we move out to the east and capture Lon Lon Ranch.
Dragmira: Eww, no way I'm going near those smelly, disgusting animals!
Ganondorf: You're supposed to be a warrior! What do you care if you get messy?
Dragmira: You do realize that you are the only male within a 20 mile radius right? Consequently, you are the only one who doesn't care about their appearance. It happens to be quite important to me.
Ganondorf: Fine then, you'll command the rear flank. Kotarika, how do we go about attacking Lon Lon Ranch?
Kotarika: Well, we have a horseback unit ride at the front, and the first unit will carry a bunch of bombs and bombchus, and they will take down the left wall of Lon Lon. You know that bombchus are very effective going up walls like those in Lon Lon. Then, once the wall is down, you'll shoot an energy beam high into the sky, letting those inside know that they surrender or die. If they make any hostile moves toward us, then the horse unit will charge ahead and trample the opposition, followed by the sword infantry unit. They will take down any survivors. What do you think about that Master Ganondorf?
Ganondorf: I must say, it sounds very, intriguing. BRILLIANT!! It's more evil than any plan I could have come up with myself. Only one problem though, once we break down the wall, how do we rebuild it once we take over Lon Lon.
Dragmira: That's easy, use the power of the triforce.
Ganondorf: Yes, but.....

Meanwhile, the Hylians were plotting a scheme to take control of the triforce. But first, they needed the 3 spiritual stones.

Chapter 5: Gathering the triforce

(inside Hyrule Castle)
Daphnes Hyrule: We need the triforce to wish upon the goddesses. Where is the triforce now?
Zelda: Well, after the hero left, the triforce of courage resonated and left him. Some claim that it has been passed down, but since there was nobody known to be in his bloodline, I doubt that happened. Our best bet is that it lies in the temple of light inside the sacred realm.
Daphnes Hyrule: And the other two pieces?
Zelda: The same spot. My grandmother selflessly gave up the triforce of wisdom piece upon her death, and restored it to the sacred realm. As for the triforce of power, in attempting to escape from the sacred realm 20 years ago, Ganondorf attempted to use the triforce to escape, a huge no-no insider the sacred realm. The power reflected right back onto him, causing him to lose the triforce of power. That's what the legend says.
Daphnes Hyrule: So you are saying if we go into the Temple of Time, we should be able to pull the master sword and get the triforce?
Zelda: Yes, but its a very treacherous mission.
Daphnes Hyrule: Yes it is, your grandmother and the hero nearly messed up everything horribly last time, because Ganondorf got inside when Link got sealed away.
Zelda: That's true, but that wasn't what I was going to say. There's another problem.
Daphnes Hyrule: what?
Zelda: Why do you want to destroy Hyrule and its people?

(A LOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGG Pause)

Daphnes Hyrule: Because there's no hope for this land anymore.
Zelda: (stunned) You can't seriously mean that...
Daphnes Hyrule: Without the hero, we're doomed.
Zelda: (starts to cry) Yes, I'm sure giving up and mass murdering all of our people is the way to go. How can you think of doing something so horrible! (runs from room)
Daphnes Hyrule: ............

The plan now for Daphnes Hyrule was to gather the three spiritual stones so they could open the temple of time and attempt to obtain the triforce, which was believed to have been reformed as three triangles by 2057. Daphnes and his royal entourage went first to Zora's Domain to engage in talks with the Zoras. he started there because he figured that they would be the easiest sell, seeing as they would survive the drowning by the Great Sea anyway. Princess Zelda would not be accompanying him on the journey.

(inside Zora's Domain)

Daphnes Hyrule: Do I really have to jump in Laruto.
Laruto: It's zora policy, for any talks to be official, they must be conducted in the waters of the domain.
Daphnes Hyrule: Okay then. (takes off several layers of clothing) Several other hylians join Daphnes and the other Zoras inside the Domain waters.
Laruto: Now, what is it that you want from us?
Daphnes Hyrule: We need the spiritual stone.
Laruto: Why.

Daphnes Hyrule goes into a protracted tirade about needing the triforce to make the wish to drown Hyrule, and thus needing to pull the master sword, and thus needing to obtain the spiritual stones.

Laruto: We're on your side all the way. you can have it, but only if you'll promise us one thing.
Daphnes Hyrule: What?
Laruto: That the Zoras will officially become the rulers of the new Great Sea order.
Daphnes Hyrule: That will be granted, and that is a promise from the King.
Laruto: Well, then, the deal is done. I'll be back.

(Laruto leaves, and several minutes later she dives off the waterfall, making a splashy entrance. She is carrying the stone and hands it to Daphnes)

Laruto: I wish you luck in obtaining the Goron Ruby. They did not seem too happy with our plan...
Daphnes Hyrule: I know. They are going to be a tough negotiation, in fact, if the situation becomes critical, I won't hesitate to use force.
Laruto: Be careful if you do. A goron fearing for his life will roll and roll like there's no tomorrow. There's no telling what it might do...


Chapter 6: Lon Lon Ranch Falls

The gerudos did not realize it at the time, but they could have direct attacked Hyrule Castle on April 16, and they probably would have won and taken Hyrule Castle and won control of the Hyrulian government without having to take anything else in Hyrule. Why? 2 reasons.

1.Daphnes Hyrule was on his way to Goron City, and with him were about 400 Hylian Knights, about half of the remaining force. This left Hyrule Castle Town open to some degree, although they would still have to fight about 400 more of them, along with the Zoras guarding the river entrance.

2.Link was not there to stop them, and Zelda was there in charge of interim governing duties, so she could have been caught by such an invasion.

Alas, the gerudos had no way of knowing these things, and their plan for attacking Lon Lon Ranch was in full force, so they could not back out without an order from Ganondorf. He had no intention of giving such an order, so on the morning of April 16, the attack on Lon Lon Ranch began.

The Gerudos were crafty, they stayed the previous night camped out in Hyrule Field right up against the wall they were going to attack the next morning. They waited that morning until they heard a bunch of horse noises coming from beyond the wall at around 07:00. It was at this moment that they set off the bombchus, about 50 of them sent up and over the wall. With the massive explosions and horse screams that came about 30 seconds later, they started cracking their spears and blades, and bombs against the wall. It took a long while, but thanks to some Ganondorf energy beams, the west wall eventually broke apart and crumbled. Ganondorf then threw a warning shot into the air as planned. But he was surprised to see no hylians anywhere in sight.

In fact, the ranch was completely abandoned, with the exception of a few animals left behind. It turns out that Zelda, at Malon's urging, had the ranch evacuated on April 7, a few days after the Hyrulian loss at Gerudo Valley. The fact that there were no hylians to be found irked Ganondorf a bit, but he also knew that it was official, the Hylians were afraid, and very afraid. But, he was also concerned that they might be planning to set a trap of some sort, especially up north of the ranch toward Hyrule Castle Town. It was for this reason that Ganondorf halted the Gerudos inside the ranch and told everybody to rest up while they plotted their next course of action.

On that same exact day, April 16, Daphnes Hyrule and his entourage reached Goron City. They planned to meet with the Gorons and hopefully strike a deal by which they could get the Goron Ruby. Given their reaction to the drowning plan, it was a longshot, but the King was confident. (Chapter 7)

Unbeknowst to Daphnes Hyrule, his daughter was not really back in Hyrule Castle Town conducting government tasks, she was on her way, alone, across Hyrule Field to Kokiri Forest. Already knowing that the Zoras had given up their stone, she had to convince the Kokiris not to give up theirs. (Chapter 8) The King hardly knew it, but he was about to butt heads with the Princess...

Chapter 7: Fire on Death Mountain

It was a cold, chilly spring day high up Death Mountain as Daphnes Hyrule and his band of soldiers and workers made their way into Goron City. They were to meet with Link (the goron) and his council of 7 inside Goron City.

G.Link: Welcome everybody to Goron City. And now, let the meeting of the Hylians and Gorons commence. Daphnes Hyrule, King of the land of Hyrule, I bid you please...
Daphnes Hyrule: Thank you very much. We have come with big news. We are on a such for the triforce. We must obtain the triforce in order to complete our task. But to obtain the triforce, we need your support.
G.Link: What do you need?
Daphnes Hyrule: We need the Goron Ruby.
G.Link: Uh, why would you need that, oh yeah, to get inside the sacred realm to obtain the triforce. But what are you going to do with the triforce?
Daphnes Hyrule: That's what I have come to discuss with you. We have entered into a plan to destroy Ganondorf and his minions once and for all, by wishing upon the goddesses of Hyrule to drown this land in a giant ocean.
G.Link: Are you out of your mind?!
Daphnes Hyrule: It sounds crazy on the surface. But---
G.Link: No Buts! You're going to kill every one of us! You can't do this!
(lots of ramble from the other gorons present)
Daphnes Hyrule: Look, you must understand. The land of Hyrule is doomed. We have n--
G.Link: What in the hel1 are you talking about?! The hero will return. He always does, and when he does we will beat Ganondorf again.
Daphnes Hyrule: We cannot make that assumption. The last time your race tried to stop Ganondorf, you all almost got fed to the dragon Volvagia. The fact that you people would even try to face Ganondorf again, when has his mind on revenge, is rediculous. (G.Link is getting visibly red-faced here). You must realize that this is our only choice, and you must accept it.
G.Link: I don't have to accept anything you say.
Daphnes Hyrule: You're under my power as the King!
G.Link: As the ruler of the Gorons and Sage of Fire, I cannot allow our entire race to simply perish! You are trying to kill us all! You're just like your father, the one who almost let us starve to death while Dodongo's Cavern was enclosed. What has the Royal Family ever done for us?! Nothing! You make me sick Daphnes Hyrule, absolutely sick! What you are doing will kill all of your own people. Whose side are on you on?!
Daphnes Hyrule: The Hylians and Zoras have decided to freely accept their destiny!
G.Link: You've had those people in your back pocket since day 1. The way you're trying to intimidate me, its no wonder why they're prepared to die!
Daphnes Hyrule: You raise your voice to me again and I'll...
G.Link: You'll what? (gets into Daphnes Hyrule's face, tons of ramble from the Gorons and the Hylians)
G.Link: That's right you won't do anything. Well, actually, if you don't take your sorry butt out of my city before I count to 10, you're going to find out what a Goron Pound feels like. And if any one of your merry men decide to try and steal the Goron Ruby from out of here, I swear to Din, they will not ever see the light of day again. Do you understand me?
Daphnes Hyrule: You're being a red---
G.Link: DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!!!
Daphnes Hyrule: .........
G.Link: Well?
Daphnes Hyrule: Knights, move out! (turns around) Goron Link, this is not over. You are as much a race in this land as any other, and you will fit in with our plans, whether you decide to yourself, or we make you. It's either the easy way, or the hard way, and you just chose the hard way my friend. Hylians, move out!

This was going on at the same time as the Gerudo attack at Lon Lon Ranch. But while this meeting was going on, another meeting was going down, deep in the green of Kokiri Forest...

Chapter 8, Zelda Schemes, Daphnes Sneaks

(downtown Kokiri Forest)
Saria: Princess Zelda, welcome, we have been expecting you. Fado is waiting in the Deku Tree Meadow.

Zelda trots into Kokiri Forest on her white horse, accompanied by a bunch of Kokiris. The Kokiri Forest area is exactly as it was in Ocarina, 4 houses on each side of the stream running down the middle.

Fado: Welcome Princess. Feel free to sit in the wood chair.
Zelda: Thank you very much Fado.
Fado: What brings you to Kokiri Forest?
Zelda: There is tensions brewing in the land.
Fado: Yes, with Ganondorf returning, its a very harsh time.
Zelda: Well, there's that, and then there's my father.
Fado: What about him.
Zelda: He wants to destroy the land of Hyrule in order to stop Ganondorf. I think he's out of his mind and we have to stop him.
Fado: What are we supposed to do? I mean, us Kokiris, we're pretty isolated from everything here. Even Ganondorf really doesn't mind us too much.
Saria: Back in the Ocarina area, he unleashed some of his minions into the forest, but that was because the Deku Tree had died years before and couldn't protect us. Now as you can see, the Deku Tree Sprout has grown quite massively. It will protect us again.
Fado: Well Saria, I'm not sure about that.
Zelda: Regardless, you are in a pretty good situation even if Ganondorf comes back, which brings me to the point.
Fado: What is that.
Zelda: To wish to the goddesses, one needs to possess the triforce. As I'm sure both of you know, the triforce is found inside the Sacred Realm, which is only accessible from the Temple of Time. To get past the Door of Time, you need the three spiritual stones, one of which, the Kokiri Emerald, you possess.
Fado: That is true.
Zelda: My father has been going around Hyrule trying to get the spiritual stones. The Zoras handed theirs over, but the Gorons did not. We must not let my father get the three spiritual stones and get his hands on the triforce, or we are doomed!
Saria: Fado, she has a point. Either we can live in wait of the hero in our isolation and hope the Deku Tree Sprout protects us, or we're dead, which do you want?
Fado: Well, our immortality will protect us either way.
Saria: No Fado, if the Deku Tree Sprout dies from the deluge, there goes our immortality. Plus, I don't think we would remain the same in an ocean world.
Zelda: Saria, trust me, I know what lies in your future if you accept the deluge [the koroks], You don't want that!
Fado: Well, I agree that we should protect the Kokiri Emerald. (Zelda bends down and is grabbing her head hard) Zelda, if you could stay for---Zelda! Zelda!!
Zelda: Ugh, my head is splintering! (lets out an awful moan)
Saria: She's experiencing a seizure I think! We have to get her to the know-it-all-brothers.
Zelda: No. Just gotta, get, through, the next, few, moments, aaaaaah
Fado: Are you okay?!
Zelda: I get these splitting headaches when bad things happen. You just saw one. Fado, Saria, something really bad has just happened. I think my father has gotten hold of the Goron Ruby. If so, he is coming to Kokiri Forest! Saria, where is the warp path to Goron City from here?
Saria: Well, its in the lost woods, but Zelda...
Zelda: I have to get there now.
Saria: But Zelda, if you go into the lost woods, you might turn into a Stalfos!
Zelda: I know, I've heard the stories. But its a risk I must take. If my father is coming down here with his men, we'll need the help of the Gorons, and that's the quickest way for them to get down here.
Saria: Okay then, here's the directions....

Zelda was dead on with her prophesy. Daphnes Hyrule's men had snuck back into Goron City at 03:00 the night of April 19. On that night, there were two Gorons that were supposed to be protecting the ruby high atop Goron City, but they both nodded off. Three men went onto the tightropes above the city, and undetected, they stole the Ruby from its perch. Within minutes, Daphnes Hyrule's men were heading down death mountain toward Kakariko Village, with only one stone left to obtain...



Chapter 9: Ganon, Daphnes head South:

(Lon Lon Ranch)
Ganondorf: Kotarika, what should we do now?
Kotarika: Well, I need to hear what our spies have found out. Tajria?
Tajria: We've had our spies inside Hyrule Castle Town for 3 days now, and they are reporting that both Daphnes Hyrule and Princess Zelda are away from the city. Plus, with the Temple of Time firmly shut in, the city is of no use to us right now.
Ganondorf: Dang!
Kotarika: Boy, that leaves us in a bit of a predicament.
Ganondorf: We cannot just stand here forever, they will plan a counterstrike and we will get hit eventually. We have to stay on offense. Natasia, who can we make a positive attack on right now, on April 20, 2057.
Natasia: Well, we have several options. We can go after Kakariko, which is where Daphnes Hyrule is rumored to be right now. That would be obviously difficult because of all the people and troops in the area. We can go after Zora's Domain and try to take over the Zoras and the Zora River Valley. This would be troublesome as well given our past performance against them. Or we can go after Kokiri Forest, which is where Princess Zelda is rumored to be located according to our spies.
Ganondorf: Well, Daphnes Hyrule isn't a threat. We can deal with him when the time comes. Zelda though, she's a big threat. She's so smart, and she always seems to be a foil in even our best plans. I say we go into Kokiri Forest and see if we can't capture her. Plus, gaining back a piece of the triforce, now THAT'S WHAT I'M ABOUT!!!
Natasia: Kokiri Forest won't be a difficult target, obviously because the Kokiris don't fight. As soon as we walk into the forest they'll be surrendering by the masses.
Ganondorf: Exactly. Kotarika, Dragmira, prepare your units to move out of Lon Lon Ranch at 14:00 this afternoon. We will take everybody. Blow out the east wall of the ranch now, it will make our exit easier...

(By the well, Kakariko Village)
Daphnes Hyrule: Well, did you get the Goron Ruby
Servant: Does this look like a cucco to you? (Shows Ruby)
Daphnes Hyrule: YES!! Great work my loyal servant. We shall continue to move out then.
Vizier: Your Majesty...
Daphnes: Yes my loyal vizier.
Vizier: You do realize we could have warped through the passageway in Goron City down to the lost woods.
Daphnes Hyrule: We'd all turn into Stalfos, don't be rediculous. Plus we'd be leaving the horses behind. Loyal Countrymen, Forward, to Kokiri Forest!!

(Meanwhile, inside Goron City)
Zelda: (putting hands on face, over body) well, at least the warp didn't mess me up, and I'm still me. Saria really scared me about that Stalfos thing...
Babgoro: Hey! There's the intruder! (Runs at Zelda)
Zelda: What the...(runs away from the charging goron)

Zelda gets chased around Goron City by a bunch of Gorons, some rolling, others not. Eventually, one of the rowdier gorons tries to run her over. Zelda dodges, but in doing so, falls down 15 feet to the next level. Luckily, Zelda lands on her feet, so no major injury has been incurred. However, that was not of consequence at that moment, as she got up looking into the face of Goron Link, who shoved her to the ground. Several gorons surrounded her instantly.

G.Link: Well well, what do we have here? We have little miss princess coming into our city and performing daddy's dirty work. Very well, take her to the lava pit.
Babgoro: We cannot do that to the princess---
G.Link: DO IT NOW!!
Zelda: NO! This is a huge mistake! I'm on your side I don't even have the ruby?!
G.Link: Then who does?!
Zelda: The King's servant snuck into your city last night, they have the stone and are on there way to Kokiri Forest, we have to stop them!!

(a long pause, then)

G.Link: So you're saying, we have to stop your father.
Zelda: Yes, he's trying to kill us all, and you Gorons have to help stop him. There's no time, we must go through the warp to the lost woods!
G.Link: I'm so sorry, I had no idea. Goron Guards, man up your units, we are going down to the Lost Woods right now. We must intercept Daphnes Hyrule's men before it is too late.

Chapter 10: Kokiri Forest Heats Up

It was a situation that Hyrule thought it would never see, three different groups of people from within the nation of Hyrule, unknowingly converging on the one place in the land that knew nothing about conflict, war, bloodshed, suffering. Even more interesting, the people in charge of the groups did not know what the other's intentions were, or in the case of Daphnes Hyrule, did not even know that his own daughter was leading the resistance to his gather the triforce movement. The stage was set for combustion.

On the morning of April 21, the Gerudos were held up in South Hyrule Field due to some bad navigation and a nasty attack by the peahats on the night of April 20. They were about 20 miles out of Kokiri Forest when morning broke. On the other hand, the Hylians led by Daphnes Hyrule were right outside the forest, ready to come in and negotiate with the Kokiris, and hopefully leave with the Kokiri Emerald. They did NOT expect resistance from an unlikely source.

(Inside Kokiri Forest)
Saria: Your majesty, welcome to Kokiri Forest. The sage of forest, the great Fado is awaiting all of you in the Deku Tree meadow.
Daphnes Hyrule: O great Saria, thank you very much.

The Hylians moved into the Deku Tree meadow very nonchalantly, where a bunch of Kokiris were waiting for them. At the middle of the Kokiri line stood Fado.

Fado: Welcome your majesty.
Daphnes Hyrule: Thank you much Fado. As I am sure you are aware, we are undertaking a great mission, and as such we must talk about the---
Fado: We won't need to talk about anything.
Daphnes Hyrule: What are you talking about?

(Zelda enters the meadow from the backside, flanked by a bunch of Gorons, including Goron Link, Fado points to behind Daphnes Hyrule, and he turns around)

Zelda: We aren't letting you get this! (holds up Kokiri Emerald)
Daphnes Hyrule: Z-Zelda?! What the heck?
Zelda: Father, please forgive me.
Daphnes Hyrule: I thought you were back at the Castle. How crazy are you to come down here alone, you could have been killed.
Zelda: You're going to kill me anyway, what does it matter?
Daphnes Hyrule: Don't tell me you are joining the resistance.
Zelda: Father, please forgive me. I cannot let you destroy this land like this. We all live for so much, and just because an evil force has infiltrated our land does not give you the right to destroy it.
Goron Link: Zelda and I have talked, and we are 100% on the same page. We will do everything in our power to stop you, King.
Daphnes Hyrule: I cannot believe my ears. Zelda why are you doing this?! What happened to the princess, my daughter? She is gone. (moves up close to Zelda) You, you've changed. You're becoming a rebel right in front of my very eyes. Under my nose you have grown and developed into a being that I can no longer hope to control, even as the King of Hyrule. You've, become an enemy of the state. As much as it pains me to say it, you must be dealt with. Guards!
Saria: If any of you make one move toward her, by the power of Farore you're going to pay!

(big pause)

Daphnes Hyrule: (shaking head) What the heck is going on here?!
Vizier: What is your problem?
All Hylians: Yeah!!
Saria: Think for a minute. You are all going to drown this land and kill yourselves because you do not have the courage and the valor to fight and stand for your country? You call yourselves Knights (walks toward Knight regiment) You're nothing but cowards! You are giving up right before the battle even starts! That goes against every code of chivalry ever established. Now, I don't know much about warfare. But I guarantee you this, if Kokiri Forest were invaded tomorrow, I swear to Farore we would not simply give up and commit suicide like you have decided to do. And that is why I will never, EVER give you the Kokiri Emerald. Me, Zelda, G.Link, the gorons, the kokiris, we solemnly swear we will go down fighting if you even try to take it.

Knight regiment comes forward toward kokiris and gorons...

Zelda: AAAAaaahre!!! Zelda shoots out a nasty fire warning blast in the direction of the Knights just as a massive energy explosion occurs in the sky to the west of Kokiri Forest...
Zelda: Well, that can't be good...

The clouds in the forest area, previously a yellow haze began to turn a deep black...

Daphnes Hyrule: Knights, remain at your station.
G.Link: Gorons, about face, be ready to face enemy to west!

Within a few minutes, a big regiment of gerudos, led by Ganondorf comes rolling into Kokiri Forest. They are flanked by a bunch of gerudo cavalry units. Everyone else in the deku tree meadow is tensing up and going just about crazy watching them come in, all except Princess Zelda, who perhaps stupidly, approaches the Gerudo regiment, walking straight toward Ganondorf.

Daphnes Hyrule: Zelda! Don't do it! Have you gone mad?!
G.Link: She has no fear...

Zelda continued to walk toward Ganondorf, while the two armies stood between, the Hyruleans in total in the Deku Tree meadow, the Gerudos in the main square of Kokiri Forest.

Ganondorf: Well well, it seems we have made contact. Princess Zelda, a pleasure to meet again.
Zelda: The pleasure is mine, Ganon.
Ganondorf: Hah hah hah. That's funny. Anyway, I figured you'd be hiding away somewhere since you weren't at the castle, but here you have the audacity to approach us. (shoots energy blast at Zelda)
Zelda: (dodges) What, you can't take a woman with courage?

This sentence got into Ganondorf's head a bit, as it suggested that she was courageous as much as she had wisdom, which was bad. Finally, he speaks again.

Well, if you don't mind, we'll be taking over this land. But we'll be taking you first.
Zelda: Over my dead body you are!
Ganondorf: (shoots several more energy blasts)
Zelda: (dodges again) That's it, let's go! (takes off her dress, revealing a warrior like bodysuit underneath)

Saria: Whoa, that's weird.

Zelda and Ganondorf paused for a second in the meadow, then started the battle. Everybody from the opposing sides stood watching around them in a huge circle in the center of Kokiri Forest.

Ganondorf gets up close and cheap shots Zelda, then punches her backward, she collides with a house. Ganondorf then picks her up and throws her to the ground again. Before he can get a big punch in, Zelda rolls behind Ganondorf and connects, low. Ganondorf hunches over clearly in pain, and Zelda takes her shoes off and starts raking his eyes with her heels. Then she uses Din's Fire a few times, causing Ganondorf to flee to the stream.

Zelda charges toward Ganondorf, but he charges up an energy beam and nails Zelda in the chest. Zelda is down and is in obvious pain as she can barely sit up. Ganondorf lowers his sword toward her neck.

Ganondorf: I could kill you now, but that wouldn't be very fun...

Zelda looks into his eyes, knowing she cannot continue to fight, and whispers something into Ganondorf's ear. Then she falls over into a heap on the grass.

Saria: What was that about?

Ganondorf: Very well then. Listen up, hylians, you miserable wretches of this miserable land. You have been spared today due the diligence of your dear princess. Thanks to her, you will not be dying in a flash of destruction. This emerald will be our key to success...

(Ganondorf and his minions leave with Zelda and the Kokiri Emerald, leaving the Hyruleans in their wake inside the forest.)

Chapter 11: Let the Bickering Commence

(Inside Kokiri Forest, the morning after the gerudo attack, April 22)
Daphnes Hyrule: You see, this is why we cannot bear to fight the evil forces. My daughter has now been taken captive, all because you morons would not obay me. You are all guilty of treason, and you will be dealt with accordingly...
G.Link: Wait. You are using yesterday's attack to say that we cannot fight Ganondorf?! Are you kidding?! Zelda had him down on his knees and was winning the fight! If we had swarmed onto him then, we would have won right there. But no, you're too scared to even look like you want to fight. What were the gerudos going to do, we had them outnumbered by 4 to 1! If there was ever a time to beat Ganondorf, its now!
Fado: G.Link has a point. Besides, its not like we can even wish to the goddesses now because they took the Emerald. That fact makes me want to take them out.
Daphnes Hyrule: Let me get this straight. You people saw what happened yesterday, a true measure of Ganondorf's awesome power, and Zelda pays the price, and that makes you all want to reattack him? You're all insane.
Fado: We aren't insane. You're the one that's insane. He beats your own daughter and takes her captive, and you aren't going to do anything about it? Shows your love for her, nice job King, you really know how to handle a crisis...
Daphnes Hyrule: One more comment like that and I'll have your head!
Saria: GUYS!!!
Fado: what?
Saria: Don't you all see. This is where the hero returns. Zelda has been taken by Ganondorf, this is the spot in the legend where the hero is bound to return. This is what happened in the Ocarina era. With the hero on our side, nothing can stop us.
Daphnes Hyrule: The hero is dead.
Saria: Don't you ever say something like that. The hero never dies! He will come again to save Zelda and to rid Hyrule of Ganondorf!
Daphnes Hyrule: I've had enough of this nonsense. Knights, I want you to attack them, all of them! Forward march!
G.Link: Gorons! Get ready to engage!
Saria: STOP IN THE NAME OF NAYRU!!!

(everybody stops dead)

Saria: (weilding some sort of staff) If any of you get hostile in this forest, I swear by the power of the Deku Tree Sprout I will have you all turned into Stalfos! That's what happens when you attack a Kokiri on the homeland. Why do you think Ganondorf's men never attacked us in the Ocarina era? That's right, because he knew that he would suffer the same fate that some of might right now!
Daphnes Hyrule: You little maggot! You dare circumvent my authority?!
Saria: Your majesty, get the heck out of our forest. Take your men, take them all out of here now. And don't ever come back. Fado, if you would please...(Fado takes out another staff like thingy and shoots a green beam into the sky) As of this moment forward, the lands of Kokiri Forest, the lost woods, and the Sacred Forest Meadow, are officially seceded from the realm of Hyrule! You no longer have any authority here. Now get out!
Daphnes Hyrule: Why you little (storms toward Saria)

Saria gets backed into a bushy area by the King, but Mido springs out of the bushes and dropkicks Daphnes to the ground.

Mido: You piece of crap! If you ever, EVER put your hands on her, I'll have you dead so fast you won't even have long enough to become a Stalfos!

Daphnes Hyrule gets up in a daze, and reluctantly tells his men to move out of the forest. The retreat is swift.

(Meanwhile, back at Lon Lon Ranch)
Kotarika: Okay, what are you thinking coming toward us anyway?
Zelda: You people don't understand do you?
Kotarika: No we don't understand.
Zelda. First of all, I don't have the triforce of wisdom, I tried to explain that to braindead [Ganondorf] over there but he attacked first. Secondly, we are all in big danger!
Dragmira: You are, we aren't.
Zelda: That's where you're wrong. My father has hatched a plan to drown the land of Hyrule, killing everything in the land, including you, and you, and you and you and you, everything!
Dragmira: You've got to be kidding me.
Zelda: No, I'm not kidding.
Ganondorf: We need to talk then....

Chapter 12: Zelda and Ganondorf, Partners?

(Lon Lon Ranch, afternoon, April 24)
Ganondorf: Zelda, remember our deal.
Zelda: Yes Ganondorf.
Ganondorf: So, when you were going down, you whispered something to me. Something about your father wanting to kill all of us. Now me, I could understand that, because I want to take over this land and depose him. But you, his own daughter, I don't understand.
Zelda: If I tell you the reason behind this, you must promise me one thing.
Ganondorf: What is that?
Zelda: You must agree to give me back the Kokiri Emerald.
Ganondorf: Why would I do that?!
Zelda: It'll make sense once I explain this.
Ganondorf: Okay, proceed.
Zelda: My father wants to destroy the land of Hyrule. He is going to do it because he is so afraid of you are your minions that he'd rather destroy both sides instead of fighting you. And you won't believe hi plan to pull it off. He is planning on collecting the triforce to wish upon the goddesses to summon a giant tidal wave to fill up this land with water, drowning everything.
Ganondorf: O my gosh.
Zelda: Yes, its really quite a problem, and for once, both of us can actually say we are on the same side.
Ganondorf: Zelda, there is something I must have.
Zelda: I know, the triforce of wisdom. I hate to burst your bubble, but after my grandmother got done beating you in the Ocarina era, she surrendered it back to the sacred realm. It's no longer in my bloodline.
Ganondorf: You lie! (turns over back of Zelda's hand, nothing is there) O, wow, I'm, stunned.
Zelda: And let me guess, you lost your piece trying to escape! (turns over Ganondorf's hand, nothing there)
Ganondorf: Unfortunately, that is the case.
Zelda: Well then, what should we do about this.
Ganondorf: Let you hear this loud and clear, I don't trust you farther than I can spit. I'm scared of your wisdom, it always seems to bite me. You're staying here under maximum security. I'm not going to imprison you or anything, but if I even see you trying to escape, the details are hazy, but the punchline is, you're dead. Do you understand, princess?
Zelda: You've gotten smarter, Ganon. But you're still not King.
Ganondorf: Grrr. Kotarika, get here out of here! Hand her off to Tajira, then come back. We need to decide what to do to get the triforce.

(Meanwhile, in East Hyrule Field)
Daphnes Hyrule: Those darn Kokiris are going to pay. And the Gorons. Men, beginning tomorrow morning, we begin a massive assault of Kokiri Forest. And nothing gets spared, we are going in to eliminate this silly resistance movement of theirs.
Knight: Why would you attack your own people like this? You've lost your way, you've become a tyrant!
Daphnes: Get him out of here. Knights, deal with the lost one...(Knight is taken away)
Daphnes Hyrule: now, we go across the bridge and we get going with the attack. If the gorons engage, drop back into a solid column, and avoid the rolling attacks, and they are as good at meat. The Kokiris, well, they won't do anything.
Knights: What about the Stalfos curse?
Daphnes Hyrule: Kokiris can't turn people into Stalfos, are you kidding?

Daphnes Hyrule did not realize it, but seldom in Hyrulian history has more futility been expressed in one sentence. The Civil War was officially beginning, in the land of the Farore, the Deku Tree, and the one place in Hyrule that knew no war, until April 26, 2057...

Chapter 13: The Battle of Kokiri Forest

Saria: Fado, would you be so kind as to temporarily relinquish your title as sage, so we can share it for today?
Fado: Sure Saria.
Saria: Wow, that was easy. Let's get our staffs ready then. To us, the Sages of Forest (they make an X with their Deku Stick-like staffs.

Daphnes Hyrule's army began to roll into the canyon leading into Kokiri Forest around 08:00 on April 26. They hoped to catch the enemy napping, but they failed. Quite surprising to them, the Gorons did not wait, they charged right across the bridge and started rolling right at the Hylians. A massively nasty and bloody conflict then ensued on the ithsmus leading out into Hyrule Field. The Gorons flailed at everything that moved, while the Hylians fought more conservatively, swinging their swords when the got a chance. Despite taking some losses, the Gorons had done a bunch of damage by 08:30 and G.Link ordered a retreat back across the bridge. Worse yet for the Hylians, Goron Link, once most of the Gorons had gotten across the bridge, he goron pounded the bridge, destroying it. He thought the Hylians would have no road into the city.

But he was wrong, as the Knights broke out a bunch of standard hookshots, and starting pulling themselves across the chasm. The first few who did this were obliterated by Gorons upon landing, but eventually, the Hylians began taking control of the bridge area. The advance was on.

The Kokiri unit containing Saria and Fado stood behind the Goron defensive line in West Kokiri Forest. They were determined not to let the Hylians reach the town area to the east. They awaited their chance to strike.

The Gorons did a number on the Hylians at the front lines, but they were beginning to lose the numbers battle, as they were outnumbered by about 4 to 1. Eventually a breakthrough would happen, and Goron Link wanted to issue a retreat, but Saria would not. She had a plan. G.Link knew in his mind, it had to be a good one, because by 11:00, the Gorons were losing the battle. The Hylians were aiming their swords and spears at the stubby legs of the Gorons, which is their undoubted weak spot. Gorons started going down left and right, and eventually, the Hylians broke through in the middle of the lines. A bunch of Hylians came rushing right at the Kokiri unit.

Saria/Fado: Emerealda Kokirius!!!

With those two words, two powerful green energy beams came out of their staffs, and lots of Hylians were shoved back by the force of impact. Within minutes, their bodies were beginning to decay and solidify. These soldiers began to go insane and started hitting random people on both sides while they turned into Stalfos. Daphnes Hyrule could not believe his eyes. Saria, Somebody who was docile as anybody in Hyrule, and somebody who had helped save Hyrule as a sage 60 years earlier, was now using sage magical powers on his men. He gave the signal for the backup.

The Kokiris and Gorons thought they had the battle in their favor, but they did not account for an attack from the backside. With Daphnes' signal, a bunch of Zoras began to swim down the Zora tributary waterfall, and started hitting the Kokiri back unit from behind. The Kokiris were not prepared in the least bit for this attack and were taken completely by surprise. The result was predictable, within minutes, the ground ran red with Kokiri blood. Now it was Saria that was in complete shock. Why on earth, she thought, were the Zoras attacking the Kokiris? What did the Kokiris ever do to the Zoras? She would find out the truth soon enough.

By afternoon, the battle was grinding on toward a conclusion. The Gorons and Kokiris tried to hold on against the advancing Hylians and Zoras, but things were getting desperate. With only one chance left, Saria and Fado tried turning their energy blasts from the Hylians to the Zoras, to see if it would work on them too. It didn't. With the town about to get pillaged and burned to the ground, the Kokiris and Gorons surrendered with the sun about to go down. Daphnes Hyrule had beaten the resistance, like he said he would do, but it came at a huge price. Half of his Hylian unit was dead or injured, and he was vulnerable...

Chapter 14: The Death March Ambush

(North Hyrule Field, between Hyrule Castle Town and Lon Lon Ranch, May 2)

Zelda: Oh, gosh, Ganondorf, where are we going?
Ganondorf: Darnit Zelda, if you want to stop your father, and I certainly do, then we have to find him coming back from the forest.
Zelda: Actually, I do want to find my father, but not with you being here.
Ganondorf: Well, you don't have that option do you? (gives an evil laugh)
Zelda: sigh

Daphnes Hyrule and his men had advanced north through Hyrule Field after winning the Battle of Kokiri Forest. They were brutal in their treatment of the vanquished Kokiris and Gorons, making them walk on with their injuries virtually at spearpoint and swordpoint. Saria and Fado in particular were both hurting, mentally and physically. They knew that outside the forest, they were not immortal, and both of them, and most of their race were tired and about to drop. Worse yet for them, a wave of unusually warm weather hit Hyrule Field in the last days of April, boosting temperatures from the normal 60's well up into the 80's and low 90's. The heat made the march almost unbearable to the Gorons, who are not used to such warm conditions. The result was many Gorons collapsing, and if they did not get up immediately, they were killed on the spot. Probably about 20 gorons met such a fate by the night of May 1, and several kokiris as well.

Daphnes Hyrule: (sees Saria fall and not get up). Cmon Knights! You have to keep the kokiri on her feet! We can't have her dying on us before the execution.
Saria: Oh great.
Daphnes Hyrule: Oh yes, you and Fado both, we are going to execute both of you in the center of Hyrule Castle Town. All the people in the city will see your heads of the traitors chopped off!
Saria: It's not like its gonna matter, we're all going to die this way....
Fado: King, look out!
Daphnes Hyrule: Shut up you little twerp!
Head Knight: INCOMING!!!

It was the night of May 2, just a few miles out of Hyrule Castle Town, where Ganondorf and Zelda had spotted the brigade of Hylians, Kokiris and Gorons led by Daphnes Hyrule. Ganondorf shot off an energy beam that ended up just missing the army. Daphnes Hyrule sent out the word to the Knights to engage, but when he saw Ganondorf, a fall back order instantly came from the King, who was petrified, even when he saw Zelda.

Ganondorf: Zelda, use your Nayru spell!
Zelda: (sighs, then uses Nayru's love, protecting both her and Ganondorf.

Ganondorf and Zelda advance quickly on the Hyrulian brigade, and they stop in front of Daphnes Hyrule at the front of the brigade.

Ganondorf: Well, well now, what do we have here. The King of Hyrule I presume. And a whole bunch of people who look like they've been shot out of the fires of war. Care to explain yourself King?
Daphnes Hyrule: I don't answer to you.
Ganondorf: Well then, that's okay. (Blasts Daphnes with an energy beam). Zelda's told me everythi---

Zelda Gets behind Ganondorf with one of the Knights' blades she stole from the troop behind his back and has positioned it in front of Ganondorf's neck.

Zelda: Ganondorf, you sadistic excuse of a man! You hurt my father, I hurt you very badly!!

Now Zelda stands there for a while, hoping for somebody in the Knights to make a move and kill Ganondorf. Because she made that deal with Ganondorf in the forest so she wouldn't get killed, she couldn't kill Ganondorf. But by getting him down like she did, she hoped somebody would move to kill him. To her chagrin, nobody moved without an order from Daphnes Hyrule, and Ganondorf eventually got up and smacked Zelda backward about 10 feet. Then, perhaps even more baffling, Daphnes Hyrule ordered the troops to move out toward Hyrule Castle Town. The chapter ends with Ganondorf licking his chops, and Zelda stunned at her father's seeming betrayal...

Chapter 15: The Execution

(on the grass in front of Hyrule Castle, a whole bunch of Hylians are gathered in front of the King and some of the Knights. in the center of the field is a guillotine-like contraption, and Saria and Fado are sitting next to it. Most of the other Kokiris and Gorons are locked deep inside the castle)

Daphnes Hyrule: Ladies and gentlemen of the land of Hyrule, we are gathered here today to serve witness to an event seldom seen in our land, the execution of enemies of the state. These two, who most of you probably know of as the current and former sages or Forest, mistress Saria, and mister Fado. These two are great enemies of the land of Hyrule. (bewilderness in the crowd) These two did not go along with the plan and were roadblocks in the plan to get the triforce. They seceded their forest land away from the land of Hyrule, and even went so far as to engage our Knights in battle down in the Kokiri realm. (massive oohs and aahs from the crowd). As such, it is necessary to take the lives of those who perform such misdeeds on our lands. Now as a fair individual, I allowed the two to decide who was to die first, and it was decided that #1 was none other than.....Saria.

Several Knights lead Saria to the platform, where she is looking down and away from Daphnes Hyrule. They are placing her head into the cutting zone, and she is completely emotionless.

Daphnes Hyrule: Do you care to have any last words, my lady of the forest.
Saria: I may die today, but realize this everyone. If this man you call King gets his hands on the triforce, my death will be merely a representation of what will happen to each and every one of you once the goddesses are wished upon. I am not satisfied with death, and suicide is a very gutless thing. I just hope that all of you gathered here today think about what you are about to experience as you see my death...
Daphnes Hyrule: Very well then. Knight 3, get the starboard blade re--
Vizier & Knight 3: GET DOWN EVERYONE!!! NOW!!!

A huge energy blast goes off in the skies just barely above the Hyrule castle area. The resulting shockwave force knock many people down and ends up freeing Saria from the death trap.

Daphnes Hyrule: What in the heck was that?!
Malon: (rushing into the area as fast as she can) Your majesty, our city is under attack. Ganondorf and the Gerudos! They're here!
Daphnes Hyrule: Oh no. Knights, be prepared to fall back and defend the Castle at all costs!
Knight 1: You mean you don't want us to fight for the town?!
Daphnes Hyrule: Let him have it, we are powerless to stop him.
Saria: Attention everybody! This man you call King is doing nothing to protect all of you!
Daphnes Hyrule: Do not listen to the infidel!
Fado: He won't even rescue his own daughter! Princess Zelda was captured by Ganondorf inside Kokiri Forest and instead he turned around and attacked us Kokiris!
Daphnes Hyrule: Do not listen to them.
Saria: Now he is going to let the town of Hyrule Castle Town get ransacked because he is afraid of Ganondorf. Ganondorf stole the Kokiri Emerald from our land, it is the last piece leading to the triforce, AND he has Zelda, and he still won't attack him! This man is unfit to be King of Hyrule. He is going to let all of you die!

Daphnes Hyrule punches Saria in the face and is ready to beat the living daylights out of her, when out of nowhere, with a flash somebody knocks the King out with a deku nut.

Impa: Saria, I've heard everything. It is enough. We must defend this city, and do all we can to rid Ganondorf of this land. People gathered here today, take refuge in the castle. Soldiers and Knights, move into the city, we've got some business to take care of...

Chapter 16: The Battle of Hyrule Castle Town

The day was May 3, the Gerudos were stationed outside the city walls, and Ganondorf shot a giant energy blast at the Castle. Within minutes afterward, the gerudos were charging on their horses. They figured this would be the best course of action getting across the bridge and beating the Zoras protecting the Zora's River entranceway. However, they were crossed up when the Zoras started using their fins as boomerangs against their horses legs. Within minutes, lots of Gerudo's horses legs were broken, they were down, and many Gerudos ate concrete, and some even fell into the river, where they were eliminated by the nasty Zora attackers. Before long though, most of the Gerudo force was across the river, and just as they had predicted, the Zoras did not persue them onto dry land.

Once inside the city, all heck broke loose. People started running around in the streets, panic went through the roof, many buildings started burning, and blood ran red in the streets as the Gerudos resorted to hitting just about anything that moved. But they had their fun early, the counterattack would not be as fun.

About 2000 Hylians and about 500 Knights moved into the center of the city from the castle to engage the Gerudos directly. The sheer numbers involved pretty much meant that the counterattack could not be stopped. Even with Ganondorf wanting the victory, he knew that it probably would not happen with all the villagers hitting them too. Then something weird started happening. Other Hylians started appearing from the rear, and instead of attacking the gerudos, they started attacking the 100 or so Sheikahs leading the attack at the front. Apparently, some of them had seen Impa attack Daphnes Hyrule and they wanted revenge for that. The Gerudos could not believe their good luck, the Hylians were hitting each other!!

Outnumbered badly, Ganondorf and Natasia ordered a strategic retreat from the city. By the end of May 4 they were already back in Lon Lon Ranch. They had lost about 30 warriors and 40 horses in the Zora attack, and then had another 70 or so casualties when fighting for the city. Compared to the Hylian total, this was modest. Even better, Ganondorf now knew something very powerful, their adversaries were divided! And divided, they would certainly fall. He called for the retreat in the hopes that the Hylians would continue to fight each other and weaken themselves altogether.

Daphnes Hyrule, upon learning that he had been knocked out by Impa, asked her to meet with him inside the throne room of Hyrule Castle. It was there that 10 Knights loyal to the King snuck up behind Impa while they were talking and knocked her out with some nasty shots to the head with the long sides of swordblades. Then Daphnes got up, and in one motion, slashed off the head of the sage of Shadow.

Daphnes Hyrule: There, that's what happens to people who try to overthrow me...

Chapter 17: The Gorons Break Out

(Hyrule Castle Dungeon)
Sevegoro: Darnit, we're breaking out of this dump. Bengoro, give me a rock sirloin will you?
Bengoro: Here, hey wait don't throw it!

(Sevegoro's toss goes through the bars and is thrown with such force that it destroys the look on the opposite cages door. Three gorons come right out and let them out, and soon after, every goron down in the Castle dungeon escape. The gorons are sneaky until they get up into the main throne room area. They were lucky as Daphnes Hyrule was the only one still in the room. Impa's dead body is still in the interior room though.

Daphnes Hyrule: Halt!
Sevegoro: Yeah right, like we are gonna listen to y---OH HOLY FARORE!!!
Bengoro: WHAT THE HECK!!
Goron Link: (stares at Daphnes Hyrule). Wow. Just wow. (shakes head). All she did was save you and your city, and how do you pay her back? (kneels by Impa) You go ahead and kill her?! What kind of a m, Are you INSANE?!!!
Daphnes Hyrule: Her actions have doomed us all.
Goron Link: You have officially lost your mind. We are on our way out of here now, no matter what you say or try to do. And we are going to Lon Lon Ranch, we are going to kick some Gerudo butt, and rescue your daughter from Ganondorf. It's something I thought you would have tried to do, but you wouldn't even defend your dam city, and when somebody stepped up and did, you WENT AND KILLED HER!! Gorons, ROLL OUT!!

The Gorons roll into balls and roll out the windows at the front of the castle, shattering the glass with their spikes, they head right through Hyrule Castle Town, trampling a few innocent individuals in their rage as they move quickly toward Lon Lon Ranch. The Gorons did not stop rolling either, they kept going too, all the way to the ranch, 20 miles south of Hyrule Castle Town. By the time they got there, it was the night of May 6. Under normal circumstances they would have never attempted a nighttime raid, but they felt it necessary. The gorons decided to try and create a diversion on the west side of the ranch near the horse stables, thus getting Ganondorf and his minions to attack them there, while the main support column led by Goron Link reached into the houses in search of Zelda. They believed she would be there because of the Gerudos codes of chivalry, they were never really a race to disrespect royalty, except for Ganondorf, and even he given the circumstances of the whole war situation, was in a pretty good mood.

The Gorons launched the raid around 01:00 on the night of May 7. Goron Link distributed some special bottles, with molten rock magma from death mountain inside. The oozing rock was so hot that it set the stables on fire instantly, but the gorons were able to hold it without getting burnt because of their tough skin and their rock hard skeleton features. The result was devastating. Half of the ranch's buildings were on fire within minutes, and with tons of sleeping gerudos inside, the responding Gerudos from the north end of the ranch were occupied with a rescue mission to get the gerudos housed inside out from the burning buildings. Natasia and Kotarika in particular were in trouble, and that threw things off even more. Ganondorf, not thinking about Zelda at that particular moment, rushed to the scene in an attempt to save his most trusted officers. This meant that Zelda, who was bewildered by the entire scene, was standing right inside a room on the east side of the ranch when Goron Link and his stealth troup busted in.

Goron Link: Fair princess of Hyrule, come with us. You need not stay in this place anymore.
Zelda: Wait! (runs to the dresser drawers) I need the Emerald.
Goron Link: Don't worry about it!
Zelda: Got it! Okay, lets go.
Goron Link: Roll up into a ball. We're gonna roll out of here.
Zelda: Really?
Goron Link: Just do it.

Zelda rolls up, and Goron Link swamps over her as he launches into his roll attack, blasting out the 2nd floor of the building with the rest of his Goron stealth unit. That was the signal for the rest of the gorons to get while the going was good, and they did. The operation was a complete success, not only did they rescue Zelda, but they reaped enormous psychological damage on the Gerudos as well...

Chapter 18: The Gerudo Conclave

(Lon Lon Ranch, over the burned down stables)

Ganondorf: Ladies of the Gerudo race, last night was a night that will live forever in the shadows of Hyrulian history. Last night, we were ruthlessly and fearlessly attacked by members of the Goron race of Death Mountain. In an unprecedented strike, they burned down tens of buildings in an attempt to mass murder us standing here today, they stole the Kokiri Emerald from our care, and they got away with our number one priority, the Princess of Hyrule, Zelda. We are gathered here today, this day, May 7, 2057, to determine how we are going to destroy each and every one of these miscreatents that performed this act of savagery upon us all. Is anybody going to speak?
Kotarika: This is---
Ganondorf: Kotarika, I know what you are going to say, just don't bother. We want to attack the gorons directly, right now, but we cannot because of the loss of the emerald. Ladies of the Gerudo tribe, we are in grave danger. I never thought I would say this, but our survival depends on one person right now, and that is the Princess, Zelda. The reason we did not kill her in the forest was, she was our ally. (lots of bewilderment in the crowd)

Ganondorf: You see, the King of Hyrule, Daphnes Hyrule, has embarked on a plan to kill us all. He is trying to collect the spiritual stones to open the Temple of Time, where he will get the reunited Triforce. Upon doing this, he will wish upon the goddesses of Hyrule to drown the land in a gigantic ocean! (screams now coming from the crowd). He is so afraid of us, that he will commit mass suicide of his people instead of facing us head to head. At least this is what the Princess has told me...
Dragmira: The Princess lies! They came out and fought us hard last week! I don't believe any of that nonsense! (crowd gets riled)
Ganondorf: I understand your anger. But, think about this. Daphnes Hyrule was not even at the front for that battle against us in the city. It was a group of Sheikahs led by the honorable sage of Shadow that engaged us, not the King. Also, did any of you notice how a back squadron of Hylians engaged the Sheikahs at the front of the lines? Gerudos, the people of Hyrule are at war with each other! (cheers from the crowd) Do you know what this means? Back a week ago, the King of Hyrule led the Gorons and Kokiris of the south on a death march into the Castle. The vanquished did not look good, they were bleeding, cut, bruised, etc. I overheard from one goron that many of them died on that trek from the forest.
Dragmira: What does this have to do wi---
Ganondorf: SHUT UP!!! This means that the Gorons are fighting against the King and the Hylians, as are the Kokiris. As such, despite the attack on us last night, we will NOT be engaging the Gorons!

(mass yelling in the crowd now, crowd seems mad at Ganondorf)

Ganondorf: We have a much bigger concern at the moment. the King and the Princess seem to be at odds with each other, however, if the two meet, it could be disastrous. We cannot allow the Princess to give the Emerald to the King. If this happens, he will obtain the Triforce, and we will all meet our watery graves. Ladies of the Gerudo Empire, the time has come to take no prisoners. We must re-engage Hyrule Castle, and this time, there will be no retreating, there will be no stone left unturned, there will be no civilian left standing. And most importantly, we will seek to stop Zelda and her father before they can get their hands on the triforce. Gerudos, we sought to take over this land once again. If you believe in that legend, that prophesy, now is the time. Now is the time for the Gerudos to rule again! Tomorrow, we leave this ranch, and we take our rightful place in history!

(All the Gerudos get themselves into a frenzy as chapter 18 concludes)

Chapter 19: Princess and King Collide

(North Hyrule Field, along the banks of Zora's River near entrance to Hyrule Castle Town)
Zelda: You mean you gorons have to leave so soon? Can't you stay in town for awhile?
G.Link: No, we have to get back to Death Mountain. Ganondorf is going to attack us there for the attack we put on them, and we must be ready. However, there is something I must tell you before I go.
Zelda: What is that?
G.Link: Your attendant was killed.
Zelda: Impa?! No!
G.Link: The gerudos attacked Hyrule Castle Town as you know, and it was the Sheikahs led by Impa who riled up the townspeople to defend. They did, but she did this against the King's orders. So the next day, your father had Impa killed.
Zelda: No, it can't be, my father would never do that!
G.Link: Your father has changed. He is now a very unscrupulous individual. I would be very careful around him, and above all else do not give him the Emerald!
Zelda: I am not a fool G.Link, He will never be able to beat my plan.
G.Link: Plan?
Zelda: I don't think you have ever seen me scheme have you? When I come up with a scheme, it never fails, and if what you tell me is true, my father will see my thinking in action very soon.
G.Link: I wish you luck in your endeavor. We must leave now.
Zelda: Okay then. Listen, I cannot express my deepest gratitude to you for rescuing me.
G.Link: The pleasure is ours princess.

Goron Link and his goron companions leave, and Zelda rides her white horse through the city. Everybody in the square stops what they are doing and kneels down as Zelda rides by, as is the custom for the members of the royal family. Zelda knew that her work was cut out for her as she was about to reunite with her father knowing that he had just killed her attendant.

(Inside Hyrule Castle)
Daphnes Hyrule: Zelda! You're alive! (Daphnes and Zelda hug)
Zelda: Yes, it was the gorons that rescued me from the ranch.
Daphnes Hyrule: I've been worried sick. This whole conflict has had me worried since day 1.
Zelda: I know what you mean.
Daphnes Hyrule: I've been hopeful that everything would turn out okay.
Zelda: Well, it isn't over yet.
Daphnes Hyrule: Here, come to the table and sit, you must be tired.
Zelda: Indeed, I've been up all night traveling out from the ranch.
Daphnes Hyrule: So how did the Gorons break you out?
Zelda: They set some buildings on fire to the west of my quarters to distract the Gerudos, and they swooped in and got me.
Daphnes Hyrule: That G.Link really knows how to work a plan...Did the Gerudos give chase?
Zelda: No, but I would be sure that they will attack very soon, either the Gorons or they will attack here again I am not sure. They are very angered by this attack I am sure.
Daphnes Hyrule: If you don't mind my asking, in your escape were you able to grab the Kokiri Emerald from Ganondorf?

Zelda pauses for a moment, then reaches underneath the hem of her dress. After fumbling for a bit, she pulls out the green crystal and holds it high.

Daphnes Hyrule: Yes! Vizier, grab the Ruby and the Sapphire please!

The vizier of the King grabs the Goron Ruby and the Zora Sapphire and puts them on the table in front of Daphnes Hyrule. The Kokiri Emerald sits across from Zelda.

Daphnes Hyrule: My girl, Do you know what you have pulled off?
Zelda: (suddenly saddened) Yes Father. The 3 stones of legend are here.
Daphnes Hyrule: Our troubles are almost over. If you would be so kind as to give me the Emerald....

A long pause ensues here. Finally Zelda, not really looking at Daphnes Hyrule, hands over the Emerald. You could tell that she did not want to do it.

Daphnes Hyrule: Ah yes! At last, the 3 spiritual stones have converged. It is now time to go to the Temple of Time.
Zelda: Yes, I will go with you.

Just as she says this, another huge energy blast goes off in the skies over Hyrule Castle....

Chapter 20: And the Hero is?

Daphnes Hyrule: Zelda, we must hurry, the gerudos are attacking again.
Zelda: Geez, like I didn't figure that one out. I escaped from down there.
Daphnes Hyrule: Get on your horse, we must go. Round up as many people as you can from the streets. Knights! Go forth and try to hold the enemies away from the Temple of Time, if you can we should be able to spring the trap of water upon them.
Vizier: Yes your majesty!

Daphnes Hyrule and Princess Zelda rode quickly from the castle to the Temple of Time, telling the people in the way to either run to the temple or get off the streets to a safe location. The twosome kept riding, picking up people as they went, until when they got there, there was a large crowd of Hylians from in town awaiting their arrival. It turns out that the head knights did a pretty good job hoarding the people off the streets and toward the temple.

Zelda: People of the great city of Hyrule Castle, we do not expect you to have to fight, but if the evil King comes after us here, do whatever is in your power to protect the temple at all costs.
Daphnes Hyrule: Yes, do that...

Daphnes Hyrule walks into the Temple of Time, alongside Princess Zelda they moved forward with the three spiritual stones. Placing them onto the alter, the triforce symbol behind began to resonate. Without thinking, Zelda pulled out the Ocarina and played the Song of Time. Within seconds, the symbol began to flash, and then the Door of Time swung open. The crowd advanced toward the Door, but about 5-10 Knights began to push them back, saying that only the Princess and the King were to pass.

Daphnes Hyrule: Well here we are, and hey, wait, I forgot the most important thing.
Zelda (with a smile on her face): What's that daddy?
Daphnes Hyrule: The hero. We need somebody to pull the sword of evil's bane.
Zelda: Gee, I wonder who that could be. The master sword is only for those destined to destroy the evil power in the world and return peace to the land. It couldn't be you daddy, you're much to old for such a responsibility, there's no telling what would happen to you.
Daphnes Hyrule: I don't care, I'm pulling it.
Zelda: Do you not remember what happened to the child 60 years ago. He pulled the sword at the direction of my grandmother. He was sealed away for 7 years because of his inability to harbor the power at that young an age. Ganondorf swooped in and took the Triforce of Power. Ganondorf is very near to here right now, we cannot afford another mistake of that gravity.
Daphnes Hyrule: Well then, little miss perfect, what do you suggest?
Zelda: (to the Hylians in the crowd) Is there anyone among all of you that is brave enough to pull the sword of evil's bane?

(there is great confusion in the crowd, and then everyone starts slinking backward)

Daphnes Hyrule: Gee, that worked. (Another energy blast goes off to the west)
Zelda: Well you never know when or where the hero will reemerge.
Daphnes Hyrule: We are running out of options. Somebody has got to pull that sword or we'll never get to the sacred realm.

(A long pause)

Zelda: I'll pull it.
Daphnes Hyrule: No! It's way too much power than you can possibly control! You're only a girl for goodness sakes!
Zelda: If my grandmother could help save this land, than I can as well. (Starts walking toward the pedestal)
Daphnes Hyrule: My daughter, stop! Think about what you are about to do!

Zelda reaches the pedestal of time. She kneels down at the base of the pedestal as all the people in the crowd look on in amazement. Then Zelda turns around to face the crowd and the King.

Zelda: A crisis this great calls for somebody to step up and do something great. Father, for not even attempting to defend your city, and to do the things that you have done make you unworthy to touch the master sword. Since the hero has not reappeared, somebody new must become the hero. Whether any of you believe it or not, the hero is going to be me. Is Ganondorf here?
Daphnes Hyrule: You'll get sealed away!
Zelda: Great. Maybe then I'll survive when everybody else dies in the watery tomb you'll send upon this land.
Daphnes Hyrule: You've gone mad...

Zelda steps up to the Pedestal of Time, and with a big tug, pulls the sword out from the pedestal. A giant vacuum opens up inside the Temple of Time, sucking in both Zelda and Daphnes Hyrule...

Chapter 21: Surprise in the Sacred Realm

Daphnes Hyrule passes through a portal of sorts, and is very disoriented as he ends up inside an area with tons of light surrounding him on all sides. In front of him is a vast temple.

Daphnes Hyrule: The Temple of Light. I must go in. (Looks around for Zelda, Zelda is nowhere to be seen) Yes, my daughter you have led me to my ultimate goal. (Daphnes laughs)

He walks inside the temple, and there is a room with a giant chandelier-like thing on the ceiling, and the light is almost blinding. Across the other side of the room is a door that is locked. Daphnes Hyrule cannot see anything that would open the door, because of the light it is tough to really see much of anything. He walks toward the middle of the room for a better vantage point, but ends up tripping over something. He falls down hard on his hips, which are his achilles heel due to his old age. He is in lots of pain as he tries to get up from the fall, but luckily for him, he finds that he has tripped over a switch. He steps on it and the door on the other side opens up. Daphnes passes into the next room, and the light is even more blinding than in the first room. Again, there is a locked door on the other side of the room. The King thinks again about how to get the door to open up and goes to the middle of the room, hoping another switch would be there. There is not. He wanders around the room for what seems like an eternity, and begins to get tired. He decides that he will sit along the wall for a while while he comes up with a plan to get through the room. It was when he slunk down that he accidentally found a switch sticking out of the wall. He pushes this in and the door opens up. He enters the next room, and the light is almost unbearable in here, but faintly he can see an alter with the sacred triangles glowing on top of them. It was also here that the light began to fade, and the room even began to get a bit dark, despite the triforce's glow.

Daphnes Hyrule: Oh crap, this CANNOT be good. I think Ganondorf is here.

Daphnes Hyrule starts walking backward, toward the triforce but with his eyes fixed on the door. Sure enough, he gets halfway there before Ganondorf comes barging through the door. He does NOT look happy.

Ganondorf: Ah, so it is the King, we meet again...
Daphnes Hyrule: How the heck, how d