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This Fanfic is a Shakespearian Tragedy. It is a fictitious story of what happened between the events in Ocarina of Time, and The Wind Waker. The original definition of a tragedy is a story in which the main character, though possessing superhuman qualities, falls from his place of glory into despair due to his/her own flaws. Enjoy! : )



And as the green-adorned Hero lifted up his mighty sword, bringing down the final blow upon the demon's head, harmony seemed to flow through the land. Following this ultimate battle, peace returned to Hyrule, and the gears of war ceased their turning. The young hero of legend went down into history as the savior of Hyrule, and from then on, young men who reached their adulthood, would don the green robes of myth for just one day. Now, years after the great adventures have taken place, the people have moved on, but never forgotten. They still believe in the young man of legend, who will return if times are dark once more.
Thus the "Epoch of Repose" began, 80 glorious years of peace in Hyrule, where men could grow, rebuilding their empire from it's ashes. Expanding and growing, the people have buried a King, and his son, Daphnes Nohanson Hyrule, now rules with his wife, and his only daughter; Zelda, named after his late sister. Under a new King, Hyrule prospered greatly, an improved militia keeps the peace with iron rigidity, and trade has never been better with the outlying nations, like Termina.
Now this era is slowly coming to a close, and the glorious years of Hyrule will soon end. Calling themselves "The Archmagi of Truth", a fellowship has come to bring the prosperous land to it's knees. And their power will help them succeed. For twenty years war will engulf the land, and in the end, everyone will lose.
The golden age of Hyrule is going to end, as a brand new darkness is going to throttle the civilization. But this time, the Hero in green robes who once wielded the sword of legend will not come to save the day. This time, Hyrule will fall.




6 Years Ago...

"This is for the memories of what you took. This is for the deaths I cannot forget. For all the sin you committed, for all the lives you've condemned." The figure whispered to himself, watching his prey like a hawk, as he prepared for his move. Until now, the council room full of advisors and some warriors, led by his target, could not see him, as he was hidden behind a sheet of curtains and war banners. But he could see them, and waited for the best moment to strike while he mumbled incoherently to himself. Drawing his two long scimitars, the man readied himself for what he was about to do.
"Were do we go now?" One of the armored man spoke out. "Where do we get to settle, you promised us a home!"
The leader of the battalion rose from his throne. He walked up to his men, and began to pace among their ranks. As he passed the man who had spoken out, the lights flickered, and a quick flash of silver flowed through the air.
The outspoken man gurgled a bit before falling to the floor, missing an esophagus. The rest of the room was motionless, pitilessly eyeing their leader as he walked around the room.
"Hyrule. Your home is Hyrule." The large man said as he walked through the men's files. "You will have your promised lands, and I will have my kingdom. But if any of you dare question my authority, you will end up like this pitiful traitor, cold, dead, and damned." He kicked the limp carcass and backed away towards the wall in order to get everyone to see him. "Do you understand!?!?"
They did not respond. They're attention was focused on the figure who emerged from the curtains behind him and climbed the back of the throne. Upon seeing the dual blades, each and every armed man in the room drew his sword, bow, or axe, attempting to save their leader.
But they seemed moved in slow motion to the assassin, he had determination and desperation to speed his movements. He jumped from his perch, jolting forward despite the four arrows piercing his chest. Pulling back with both arms, raising the blades to either side of him like an Eagle. His prey turned enough to see the face of his killer before losing all consciousness, along with his head.
Instantly the room went pitch black as the man's power was sucked free of the environment. A swirling whirlwind of screaming torment and anguish was released from the carcass, and stuck in the middle was the assassin. Soon the light returned, and the accomplished killer stumbled over his foe, victorious. He awaited his demise, surly these followers would not let him live, and if they did, his wounds would see him to eternity.
One man came close, and reached out for the trembling assassin. He ripped out the arrows in his chest two at a time with unmerciful strength before falling to one knee. Shortly after, every man in the room descended to their knees, and bowed low. In the course of ten seconds, they evolved from violent attackers, to peaceful servants.
One rose from his knees, looked around at the men, and said aloud. "Oh, great sire! Where shall we venture? Where is our home?"
The assassin looked at the corpse on the floor, still dumbfounded by these awkward events. "Sire?", he mumbled to himself. Leading these men appealed to him very much for some reason, odd seeing as he had hated them just a moment ago. As the group stared at him, penetrating with their eyes, he began to hear whispers in the back of his mind. “it wasn’t their fault…. Purge their demons…. Give them a home….” To lead an army of five thousand strong, meant power. Power enough to rid the land of all evils, and start over at a new home. “Yes… Yes.. Demons, a home.” But where? Looking to the dead man at his heels, he said "Hyrule, will be our new home," aloud without really thinking about it.
"The War Chief has spoken!" The elder man before him shouted. "To Hyrule! Future home of the Archmagi!"
The new ruler thought things over as they rejoiced. "Eryal Desnivol, War Chief of the Archmagi... I like where this is going." He walked to his throne, and sat in it's soft cushion, checking his chest and laughing as he noticed no wounds whatsoever. Voices grew heavy on his withering sanity, and the voices continued. “Hyrule… Hyrule is your home… Purge the demons in Hyrule… Kill the king…




3 years later…

"What of the Gerudo Valley?"
"They have the Gerudo Valley in their control." Said an elder advisor, to a younger man, a General in the Archmagi militia. "And even if we do break through from the wastes, Garol, the Hyrulians could always cut the bridge, trapping us, I don't think our siege bridges can cross that gap."
The other man simply looked on. " If it can't be done with what we have, then I’d rather not risk losing our neutrality with the Gerudos by marching through their lands." He looked around to the double doors at the entry of the War Room. "I wish War Chief Desnivol were here, he's the only man this information really concerns, it's his position to make such decisions."
Just then, as if on cue, War Chief Eryal Desnivol stormed into the room, bursting through the double-doors. He unclasped his black cape from it's hinges on his shoulders, letting it fall away, to be caught by a servant just in time. His black armored, sleeveless vest coated in a thin layer of blood reeked of battle and sweat, and was next to fall from his body. It too was caught expertly by another servant. He made his way to the Council meeting, walking with a strong stride in his black-leather, steel-toe combat boots. Arriving, he looked to the General, "Garol, the encampment is secure for now, but I want you and your men at Greatsand Hill, I think they'll send the third wave there."
"Yes my liege." Garol quickly thrust his right arm to his chest, the equivalent of a salute, then turned to prep his men for departure.
Eryal sat at the head of the Council table, waiting for information, which the quirky elders didn't hesitate to provide. Maps soon surrounded him, as well as papers regarding provisions, munitions, and men count.
"Sire, we are currently working on how we are to infiltrate Hyrule, much of it's territory is either sealed off, or protected by natural barriers." Pointing just west of Lake Hylia, he continued, "where we are, we have two choices; we can go north, where there is an entry way in the neutral province of Gerudo Valley." He then trailed his finger to a water fall directly west of the valley, "Or, we could take the extra time traveling around Hyrule, and enter through the foothills of the Zora Embassy, which might prove to be safer, but would severely deplete our rations."
Eryal studied this for a time, following the paths from his encampment, marked by a wood figurine, to the Gerudo Valley. "The Gerudos are neutral, but not to be trifled with. Our ancient cousins of the sandy wastes are a very strong force, experts in hand-to-hand combat, second only to us. No, I do not wish to invade our potential allies in this conflict." He then trailed to his other option, the rivers and foothills of the Zoras. on the way, his finger caught a snag in the map, stopping them just north of the mysterious Lost Woods, marked by a large dark area, between the Zora's Domain and the forest. It made him think, his interests caught hold.
The eager advisors were quick to notice his delay. "Very sorry sire, the map has been through hard times, the map carrier shall be punished for his insolence."
"No, no. I think he should be awarded." He looked up at the confused glares. "I've found our point of entry. The Archmagi will travel Northeast, to where the Zora rivers meet the forest, and cut through the shortest part of the Lost Woods, straight into the heart of Hyrule, like bulls stampeding through a prairie."
"The Lost Woods?!" Came the universal response. "But Sire, countless men have ventured into those forests and never seen the light of day again. The darkness can hold countless enemies in those blasted woods, are you trying to lose your army?!."
"I won't lose my army, lowly advisor. And for one simple reason."
"We don't need the light of day." Eryal replied, rising. Lights flickered as he left the table for his quarters, smirking all the way.




Two months later…

Floating on unseen drafts and soaring calmly through the air; the diminishing numbers of seagulls let the men of the Archmagi militia know that they were venturing beyond Lake Hylia. This brought about uneasiness among their ranks, everyone knew they were drawing ever closer to the Lost Woods, a place none wished to enter. They marched foreword, nonetheless.
"Sir", Called a man from somewhere behind Eryal, who lead his men at the front of the army by horse. Upon reaching the War Chief, he spoke in a rushed and shaky voice, "My Liege, Zoras are drawing near are rear flank, they are forming up for an attack."
"Hahaha! Finally, a battle!” Eryal roared, reacting to this surprising news. "I though we scouted that blasted lake, there were no forces strong enough to worry about there!? What happened!?"
"Sir we did! I don’t know how they were able to amass such a force from that lake, when most of their ranks resided in their lair." He went on, "They must have some way of traveling between Lake Hylia and the Embassy underwater." He said, but Eryal was already galloping to the rear.
"Set up a camp, turn this army around!" He yelled as he retreated.
Reaching the rear, he met with the scouts. Snatching away a pair of binoculars, Eryal examined his opponents. There, about three miles away, on the outskirts of Lake Hylia, was a large bluish-white gathering of Zora forces.
Their fish-bone armor, painted blue with dried Chu jelly, glinted in the light. They were busy building an encampment, and readying themselves for an assault. Every bipedal fish-man bore oval shields, and long spears tipped with the razor sharp corals of the Great Bay in Termina. Among their normal foot soldiers were enormous whale-like creatures, with many small legs holding it up, looking like giant centipedes among their Zora counterparts. These beasts were no doubt for land transportation as much as they were for tearing through great numbers of men.
"We have to slow them down. Get me the mages!" Eryal ordered the nearest man, who took off seconds later. "Lights out, fishies."
As the mages arrived, 10 in all, Eryal gave the command. The elder men spread out among the rear of the Archmagi forces, and began to chant. Spinning their wooden staffs about their bodies, the men created large ghostly black fields that encircled the ground around them as they cast their dark magic.
Eryal peered through the binoculars once more, smiling at what he saw. Sunlight from the blaring star high above cascaded down upon the open fields, everywhere but the Zora encampment. There, the air was filled with light-preventing magic that created an area of complete darkness, a black so deep even the most nocturnal animal would be lost. The War Chief watched the confused marine-born army frantically scramble, fearing for their lives.
By now, the men of the Archmagi militia had redirected themselves, now facing the Zora encampment of confused beings looking for a way back to the safe waters of Lake Hylia. Eryal rode back and forth across the front line of troops, waiting for everyone to get in their positions. Seeing the signal from an advisor, he galloped over on his gallant steed; Thorn, to assess the problem. "What is it?!" He yelled as he arrived.
"Sire, what are we to do about their transport beasts?" The man pointed to the black haze that was the Zora encampment. “Our arrows cannot pierce their armor and I doubt it would do much damage anyway.” Though pitch black mists surrounded the area, every Archmagi warrior could see through it as clear as day, and they looked upon the giant centipede-like creatures with awe.
Looking back to the enemy grounds, Eryal understood the meaning of this query. If the men had to charge against those things, they could lose moral quickly, and when the Zora finally oriented themselves they could pose a real threat to unfocused soldiers. He turned back to the advisor as he came up with an idea, "Get me the Gorons... And their siege equipment."
"Yes my liege." Said the man, smirking as he understood the plan. As he fulfilled his orders, three mages dropped out of the darkening process, making the haze around the Zoras grow somewhat smaller. The mages made their way to the rear, where they clouded the minds of enslaved Gorons that the Archmagi kept in large mobile cells. As they returned to the front lines, Three large catapults came forth as well. Soon, the catapults were loaded with balled up Gorons who, at the moment, wanted nothing more than to rip apart the Zora soldiers limb by limb.
"Ready!" Roared Eryal from his mount, ten yards in front of the front line.
The massive wooden structures rolled into place, just behind the second line of armor-clad men.
"Aim!" The war Chief yelled, drawing closer to the men so he could analyze the expressions.
The large siege weapons turned and adjusted the power of their slings, measuring for the precise coordinates of the large bulbous creatures.
Eryal paused a bit for suspense, watching the eager look in his men's eyes. "This is the battle you've been waiting for!" He screamed into their ranks. "Months of marching for one goal, and this is it! You want your home! There it is! Take it!" He turned on the men as their roars echoed out. "Fire!”
All Catapults loosed their loads, and as soon as they did, every man went silent. Three Hypnotized hunks of living rock shot through the air, nearing the targets at alarming rates.
When the speeding bullets were halfway to their mark, Eryal turned to face his men, drawing his sword. "Those who fall today, know you will be remembered, in the songs of the day the fish-men died!" He said aloud, then kicked in with his heels, charging along the front line, clanging his beloved scimitar Virtus, across their shields. When he hit the end, Thorn dipped in towards the Zora encampment and Eryal roared as loud as lungs let him, "to glory!" 




The earth shook as four thousand fearless soldiers who made up the first wave charged forward into battle. For the first time, more than half of the Archmagi Militia was engaged at one time.
A quarter of the way to the Zoras, the Goron missiles hit their marks up ahead. Two hulking masses of rock nailed their target beasts, while the other missed, slamming into the ground and pulverizing any Zora in it's path, no doubt dying itself on impact. Not even solid rock could survive a launch from that distance and speed directly into the earth. The living two shred through the centipede-like monsters with their rough hides, landing on the other side intact, as the bulbous creatures had softened their falls. Through the mist, hey could be seen causing as much havoc as possible, swinging their massive fists wildly.
The display only encouraged the Archmagi soldiers, who picked up their pace as adrenaline pumped hard in their veins. Eryal too felt the energy flow, and he became blood thirsty for the chaos ahead.
By now the Zora had caught on. Even without their sight, they knew the direction of their attackers, and prepared accordingly. Using the vibrations of Archmagi footmen, they set up a barricade of sharpened coral spears and a makeshift ditch, building up a wall behind the spears rather than digging a hole. They blindly managed to take one rampaging Goron down, but the other still wildly smashed through everything in the way. They seemed to ignore the beast as trying to avoid it was easier than trying to find and then confront it, and they lined up behind the wall. Drawing their Coral spears and poleaxes, they readied for an assault.
Eryal saw the spears, and knew his plan. Kicking into Thorn to pick up speed, Eryal brought his legs up so he was now crouching on his steed. "You've got the moves, pal." He whispered to his mount as they neared the enemy lines. Behind him, four thousand soldiers thought up their own ways to get by the obstacles before them. Thorn galloped straight for the sharpened poles that spelled out death for all those moving at a speed greater than a trot, and at the very last moment, reared back and dipped sideways, effectively launching it's rider over the barricade. It was then that the mists faded. Not because they needed the light, as every Archmagi could see in the dark. Not because they wanted to conserve energy, the mages could hold up the mist for weeks. It was because they wanted the Zoras to know their enemies before they were cast into oblivion.
And at that very moment, just before the airborne Eryal brought his sword down to smite a guarding Zora, just as every Archmagi soldier moved to avoid the dangers before them, everything fell apart. The Zoras, as if mentally linked, let out a deafening screech in unison. It was loud enough to pierce even the deaf.
Eryal faltered and missed his mark, slamming into the Zora rather than slicing it in half with his blade. He and the aquatic soldier tumbled down the other side of the artificial mound, landing on the dirt and mud floor beyond the frond lines. Luckily, Eryal was able to hold on to his sword, and parried a number of razor coral strikes as he rose to his feet, killing off his attackers one by one. He worried for his men, who had been up against those pointed spears just before the siren. If timed right, it could have been devastating to his front line. Fighting his way up, Eryal reached the top, and had his fears proved true.
Hundreds of men lie motionless or struggling in pain at the ends of long wooden spears along the front. Others struggled to climb the mound under the unrelenting assault of Zora guards. a ways down however, some men were able to break through, creating an opening for dozens more to follow into enemy lines.
Realizing there was nothing to be done now, he simple signaled for a push foreword, and continued battling his way towards Lake Hylia, pushing the Zoras back. Every once and again, he'd slip and receive a slice or two, but never anything grievous. Eryal fought with expert skill, using his light-bending powers occasionally to get the upper hand. As three spearmen charged for him, he blinded one as the second lost it's arm to Virtus. The other charged forward, but was gutted by it's blinded companion’s spear. He sliced the last and moved on.
After six hours of screaming orders, falling bodies, and bloody mud, the melee began to subside. All the while at the encampment, the Mages continued to wither the Zoras‘ standing, with spells that blinded, confused, or even drove the soldiers insane. Having an unbelievable disadvantage, the Zoras were massacred. The few who survived and managed to flee to the safe waters of Lake Hylia, traveled to the inner kingdom of Hyrule, no doubt to report on the damage. All that remained was a single giant centipede beast, writhing in pain and fear, as most of it’s legs were either crushed or severed.
"Sire, moving in with the mages to kill it." Garol exclaimed, motioning to the beast.
Eryal nodded his approval but then quickly decided otherwise. "Wait! Do not kill it. I don't care how many mages it takes, I want it‘s mind." He said, realizing such an awe-inspiring giant could be useful later on.
"Sir!" Garol agreed, as he galloped off to call the orders.
Eryal looked up the towering creature. "How in the world did they three of these things here unnoticed..." He wondered aloud.
The Archmagi set up camp about fifty yards off, and used the lake to dump the Zora‘s dead, killing disease and smell. They buried a total of four hundred and twenty three Archmagi nearby, compared to over four thousand Zora soldiers who now rested at the bottom of Lake Hylia.

At camp, late into the night, songs were sung and dances danced, in celebration of the overwhelming victory at what became known as "The Battle of Lake Hylia", but to the men was referred to as "The Extermination at Lake Hylia."




That Night...

He remembered the good times, which faded away into the murder and rape that ended everything he held dear. The faces of his mother, father, sister, and even his one true love flashed before him, each crying out in their own ways for a savior.
And then it was over. The black spirits burst out of him, through his eyes, mouth, and bursting through holes in his palms they created. Eryal fell backwards from his knees, over the edge of the platform, falling ten yards to the dirt floor. Five feet and his heart beat hard and fast in his chest. At three the tears from all his suffering moistened his cheek. And at one, mere inches away from impact, he woke.

"Sire, you are needed at the front!" A young man said aloud, being as respectful as he possibly could to his War Chief in such a situation.
"Yes yes, I’m always needed at the front." Eryal grumbled, rising to his feet as he waited for his apparel to arrive. "What is the problem?"
The boy quickly responded, "there is no problem exactly, sir." He paused, looking for words. "You are needed because there are messengers here for you, they wish to speak to you and only you."
This intrigued Eryal, and he wondered if perhaps the proud king of Hyrule were offering some sort of deal. One that he would decline, no doubt. "Very well, run off now. Good job." He mentioned to the kid. Putting on his garbs, he thought of the fun he would have with these poor messengers as punishment for waking him.
As soon as Eryal had left his tent, he was subject to a speech by a well dressed man on horseback. "By order of King Daphnes Nohanson Hyrule, Royal magistrate of this golden provin-" The mounted man fell dead, his words cut off by an arrow in his chest. His companion screamed out in terror.
"What is your business?" Eryal yelled, lowering his bow, and addressing the other mounted messenger. "What have you come all this way to tell me?"
The boy looked upon him in awe, no doubt confused by Eryal's young age. "I-I herby release the royal decr-"
"On with it!" Eryal roared, raising his ebony bow to the boy's chest.
"King Daphnes Nohanson Hyrule would like to host a hearing, to discuss peace among our kingdoms." The boy paused, then anxiously continued. "And to address the compensation of the Zora, who lost so many valiant me-"
Compensation!?" Roared Eryal once more. "You dare ask me to pay for killing a bunch of fish who attacked my men?" Chuckling, he knocked an arrow. "And he wants to discuss peace? Between our kingdoms? Sorry to inform you boy, but we have no kingdom, not yet. But soon. Soon your proud Hyrule will be our Kingdom." Raising his bow, he pointed at the boy, "maybe then we will think on the offers of a dying king."
Bravely, the boy puffed out his chest, staring back at Eryal with fixated eyes. "Well then, Eryal of the Archmagi. You have just brought war to your people."
Now laughing harder than before, Eryal shouted, "You hear that, War!" Behind him hundreds of men who came to watch this meeting yelled out their cheers. When they quieted down, he continued. "Boy, you see, we didn't come all this way to have a tea party with your king. War is what we wanted, and now that we have it, we'll win it." He released the arrow now, fast and powerful.
The boy reared back as the bolt flew past him, landing in the ground miles off.
"You se that arrow, kid?" Eryal motioned to the tiny black stick in the distance. "When you pass that point, do not come back. If you cross that line twice, I will kill you personally."
The boy promptly left, galloping away on his horse.
Eryal knocked another arrow, drawing back as he screamed after the boy, "And tell your king to be ready!" As he raised the bow, an advisor called to him from behind.
"You wish to kill the boy? How will you get the message to their king?"
"I'm not going to kill the boy, but does he really need a horse to make it to the castle?" Releasing the arrow, he watched it soar through the air, catching up to the boy easily, and embedding itself in the heel of his mount.
He continued to watch as the horse reared back and fell to the floor, wriggling and neighing out it's pain. The entire encampment broke out in laughter as the boy broke free, and began to run away, crossing the arrow towards his kingdom. "Plus," Eryal said, "If he takes longer to return, that gives us longer to travel before Hyrule's dogs come to attack us once more.
"Move out!" Eryal ordered his commanding generals. "I want these men at the out skirts of the Lost Woods by nightfall, dismissed.”