(Act)The Legend of Zelda: (working title) (T- minmal language/cursing/violence)

An excerpt from the Legend of Zelda


The Legend Ends

Prologue


The rain poured from the sky in a tranquil and faint manner as the night trudged on slowly and peacefully over the solitary keep. The windows lit up with the sole illumination of the candles inside and it remained a flicker in the distance. As seconds passed uneventfully, lightning darted across the sky and struck the dampened ground in glory. A neigh of a horse could be heard across the woods as hooves began to banter on blatantly as the squalls began to subside their fury. A gentle but low rumble began to sound throughout the forest, its intensity growing as the it neared. A small but formidable group of riders surged forward, gleaming lances drawn and shiny armor displayed under their wet robes. They stole away into the night swiftly towards the decrepit keep.

The stillness shattered and evident in the stronghold, the King crept from his throne, his eyes showing anguish and pain, a feeling of general terror. His hands wavered towards his crowned wrinkled forehead and he became rubbing it if he had a headache. He looked forward to his room where two knights stood by his side with their pikes ready to defend their sovereign. Further beyond, down the steps that led to his audience stood another pair of guards. The defending party all held somber looks upon their faces, holding the dread that it was inevitable that they would die tonight and soon. A thump of footsteps emerged from the hall adjoining the throne room. A balding black robed man and a well decorated looking knight in green mail with the medal of a captain rose from the sentry tower. The King steered his face towards them with a serious look and the two simply nodded with similar grim looks. A vague slam on wood rang as the captain and the robed man took their places in front of the King, ready to defend him at all costs. The King frowned but no sweat dripped from his temples as the deafening blasts began to grow louder by the second. A loud sound blasted through the air as splinters flew into the room. Now there was doubt to it, he had come.

A narrow angular face emerged first from the dark corridor, with a great and mocking sneer on his imperfect face, dotted with various moles and wrinkles. He was clad in simple battle regalia combined with a royal tunic, but formal nonetheless. At his side stood an intimidating battle rapier called a flamberge. The two soldiers tried to hold their ground, but the glare from the man caused them to hasten backwards towards the small staircase. More figures began to show themselves into the room consisting of many well bodied and rough soldiers all in red garbs, with might axes slung over their shoulders. It was silent as they began to pour into the room, taking positions along the lower platform of the chamber, smiles withdrawn into angry scowls directed at the hapless duo of guards standing by their entrance.

“So, my dear brother,” began the smirking leader in his cold voice nearly in a drawl, “It has come down to this. Look at you, you are defeated and yet you still stand there firm with your pathetic silly entourage of no more than a half dozen. You really think you can defeat me or are you simply joking with me?”

“It is done,” said the old man in slightly terse tone, ready to be defiant until the end.

The challenger’s face began to transform into a annoyed look, “I don’t think you understand the seriousness of the situation, do you, Harnikan? I have given you many opportunities to go away a peaceful man, but you have declined them so. I will now give you one last offer, to you and your pity band of rebels against the true king. You can surrender your crown now and you will can enjoy a life in exile. No, I am too merciful. Prison for eternity would be the right sentence. Now, what is your answer?”

“And what of the people?” asked the King in a louder and more confident tone, “What will they say of old King Harnikan? Ousted by his insolent little brother? No and I do not even leave my own country, because what kind of example would I make? They would want their king to flee in times of trouble with no leader to guide them? They would sulk so slow to disgrace to offer their enemies’ offers of eternal shame? Resorting to such methods will only gain me an image of character like you! And for that, I will pass.”

“What?” spat the junior brother with a sullen expression, “It was enough that father always favored you, but now you insult me as a bad ruler? And who are you to judge? To stand with the people? Is that what you did when that Dragmire ousted you? You were even foolish enough to support the men! Bah!”

The King began to lose his speech as he began to stutter something incoherent, then fell back into his throne with cold defeat as his brother continued with rage, “What have you done since the war ended? Nothing! Hyliad has been barely rebuilt and the masses are angry and restless! And why? Your doing! You have done nothing to restore Hyrule! You have sat on your fat arse all day, crying over your wife, pampering your little brat Zelda, and nothing to do with the kingdom! And look at me, I will give you redemption, free of you regret. Just hand over the crown now and you may live. I will bring Hyrule to glory that it has never touched! That it will never touch under you.”

“I may have my shares of faults, contradictions, and follies,” started Harnikan with a quiet defeated tone, “But if this the end of King Harnikan II of Hyrule, it is comforting to know that I have died a honorable death.”

His brother smirked, “You and your code of gallantry and heart. What good will it do you now? A pity. And I remember when you once told me that you wanted to accompany with my night about town to pick up some whores…what is the mourning over your poor woman’s soul for me, then? You old stuffy fraud!”

The King did not falter this time and nor did any expression change from his loyal and lasting group. Their opposition began to look bored now with perpetual glowering and one such man began to rub his buttocks with his blunt end of his axe, but remained steady. The King’s adversary finally said, “But so be it. If that is your choice, your final choice, then I will not question it. But dear brother, pray. I will give you that long before we strike you down your shameless lardy arse.”

He snapped his fingers and they moved forward now. Fear struck into the eyes of the first pair of guards as they held their spears forward and thrusted into one of the columns furiously. But he screamed with pain as an axe slammed down through his spine. Blood spurted and he slumped down to the floor. His companion gave a cry as the first died, jabbing on violently before being overwhelmed by the trained mountain men. Harnikan’s captain summoned his remaining duo forward and forced a barrier, but their efforts were futile as a barrage of sharp shafts fell into their barely sufficent armor. The man on his right fell down and soon an axe through his chest told of his end. The man on his right cried after an arrow met him by his neck, only to be beheaded by the next unit. The captain stood his ground though, he raised his broad sword valiantly and charged into the heap of hired hands until the King could no longer see him, but he was sure that he had met his end when another cry of pain echoed throughout the marble chamber. But the King stood still, shutting his eyes and preparing to meet his end.

“By the power of Din! I summon thee!” shouted the King's cleric as a sphere of scarlet fire flared from his palms and shot into the massive assault. All the King heard was a low rasp of agony before he could feel his last servant’s soul leave the earth. Harnikan opened his eyes now and he saw his brother’s rapier at his neck, as blood began to trickle slowly, feeling a puncture emerge from his throat. His temples pounded and a solemn, cold limpness overtook his body. It was no more to it, sense lost its very meaning inside him, only replaced with dread and terror. He saw his rival now, give a cold smile before he whipped back his rapier and bolted forward. Before the King could comprehend anything further, it was over in one great flash.

"And thus always to tryrants..."

The regicidal deed done, the ouster placed back his extravagant rapier and retrieved the jeweled crown from blood stained carpet. Another happy but cruel smile escaped his lips as he put it own his own head and began to adjust it to himself, turning it and twisting it to his fitting. He motioned two men from his army with his gloved hands. It was not finished yet. “Search the inner chambers for anyone who hid. Kill them with no questions asked.”

The three nodded in unison and stole away into the inner hallway that laid beyond the throne room into a bedroom. It was relatively modest as a four poster bed lay mainly at the center of it, with a violet hue for the carpet and walls. A oddly large wardrobe and a small counter with a mirror made the only decorations in the room, although there was a closet and a set of open windows. The tallest one proceeded in and began to inspect the room with his narrow eyes. His first action was to simply look under the bed but it was bare with nothing. His two comrades stood idly with dumb expressions until they noticed the closet and began to thoroughly search through it. It was mainly filled with boxes of robes and other attire. Naturally though, the men began to help themselves with the deceased man’s earthly possessions, slowly examining the soft silk and expensive fabric. Their other companion paid little heed and after searching through the counter, his eyes went towards the cabinet. As he approached with heavy steps, he could faintly hear another sound. Breathing.

He opened both of the door of the wardrobes with anticipation and inside was a whimpering man, curled up in a poise as if to shield himself. In addition, to his side stood a silent woman, buried into her hands. The soldier grinned and he unsheathed his sword slowly to torment his would be victims. And with a mocking grin, he went forward and hacked inward into the wooden wardrobe. Two blood curdling screams rang as blood spurted into the floor in crimson glory but the assailant's two friends did not respond immedietely, still fiddling over the King's robes. The murderer’s two friends jolted up as their boss strode into a room with a surprised look on his face. He slowed down as he noticed his subordinate bent over two limp frames on the floor busily hacking away and pausing at strange intervals.

“Now you look purdeee…” said the man ignorantly as his hands began to flex around the dead maid's face, pulling her face into many more expressions from her last, simply terrified gaze.

“Well?” snapped a rude voice and he darted his head backward to see his boss in a somewhat inquiring gaze. “Where did you find these people?”

“Uh, these was servants, boss,” replied the soldier in a slightly unknowing tone, jolting upwards to meet his master's ugly visage. He kept his face firm and concerned though, as if not stir any trouble.

“But there are only two…and this is not her…where is the girl? Where is Zelda?” he cried upon this revelation.

The rain provided a soothing sound as the newly crowned ruler began frantically searching for the missing girl. Outside the keep, on a nearby tree branch stood a strange young man in a tight looking, purple attire combined with a cloth at his ribs that resembled that of an eye, surrveying the scene below him through the lit windows. He kept a surprisingly slim build, almost that of a woman’s, and his eyes were covered up by a helm of bandages and such with blond hair flowing from one of its openings. He looked on with a mournful gaze and then heard a owl hoot suddenly, followed by a loud bang from the crack of thunder. He swung his head both ways in a nearly frightened glance and threw something into the ground with a loud crack. And he was gone, far away into the raining night.

Kwin... I'm sorry it took me so long to read but... it was excellent. I cannot wait untill you write more chapters!

Nah. It's allright. People have different reader speeds. Any conventional wisdom to offer(criticism)?

very nice work. The only thing was. the theme of the story may need some buffing up in the next chapter. Make it more. . . unexpected to the most part.

This first part was very nice though. I like the use of your wording, as always. I'll be waiting for the next part. Don't rush yourself by the way. i know people wait and want to hear the enxt part of a story but if the writer rushes the theme falls. Think strongly at every word as you did with this one.

I read it fast but I kept getting sidetracked before starting it...

Good story. I almost thought it wasn't really a Zelda fanfic until I saw Zelda's name lol. When's she (and Link too, if he's in here) coming in?

Thanks, everybody. I apperciated the feedback and compliments.

Originally Posted by Kirby Air Ride

Good story. I almost thought it wasn't really a Zelda fanfic until I saw Zelda's name lol. When's she (and Link too, if he's in here) coming in?

We'll see. I'm kind of in a brainstorming phase right now. And I guess it was kind of hard to tell it was Zelda. But I dropepd a few hints("Dragmire", "Harnikan", and "Din").

Nicely done, I only noticed a few small grammatical and spelling errors. I look forward to more.

i read the whole thing because the begging part glued right on to me nicly done

nice job i really liked it