The Legend of Zelda: Illusions of the Past Homepage

The Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda: Illusions of the Past

        The tale of The Legend of Zelda: Illusions of the Past begins several years after the defeat of the evil thief, Ganondorf, at the hands of young Link. Perhaps to understand this tale, one should recount what happened before: the ancient legend of the Triforce and the greed of Ganondorf, King of Thieves.

        Back in the mists of time, before the era of The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link, Hyrule was a land of fabulous palaces and magic. It was also a troubled land, and the divisions of Light and Dark were tearing it apart. The origins of the conflict lay even deeper in the shadows of time, with the coming of the Triforce.

        In the Golden Land, where it was placed by the creators of the world, the Triforce beckoned to people. Ganon and his band of thieves long searched for the secret entrance to the Golden Land, eventually stumbling upon it. Then Ganon defeated his fellows for possession of the Triforce.

        In a period known as the Imprisoning War, the Kind of Hyrule brought seven wise men together to seal the door to the Golden Land, for Ganon's evil power had been spilling forth, causing a corruption and darkness. The once peaceful land became a place of dreadful rumors of the coming of a magical enemy. At this time the Master Sword was forged, but there was no hero valiant enough to wield it.

        Before the wise men could seal off the Golden Land and the Triforce, Ganon's army surged into Hyrule and besieged the castle. The Knights of Hyrule fought heroically, but the power of the Triforce controlled their enemies, giving them inhuman strength. The battle raged back and forth through the gate. Many foes fell in the tide of battle, but too many Knights also were lost. It seemed that they were beyond hope.

        Then, at the end of the day, the wise men finally succeeded in blocking the door to Ganon's Realm. With the power of their master removed, the enemies fled or threw themselves into the moat. Hyrule was saved and over the years the Golden Land, which then became known as the Dark World, faded from the memory of people.

        The people of Hyrule may have forgotten about the Dark World, but the master of that evil land had not forgotten about Hyrule. Ganon brooded in his prison, surrounded by reminders of his fall. He grew ever more bitter as the dark years passed like the wailing of cold winds on a winter's night. Ambition burned in his eyes. He would find a way to wreak vengeance and claim total power.

        Many centuries passed with Ganon and the Triforce safely locked away. Then the disasters began: plague, drought, quakes, and fire. The King sought sage advice and a wizard named Agahnim stepped forth and ended the strange disasters. He became a powerful advisor to the King, but he kept his true plans to himself. It seemed like a Golden Age, but it wouldn't last.

        Once Agahnim had consolidated his power, he began to abuse it. First to fall victim were the ancestors of the seven wise men. The wizard imprisoned six maidens in crystal cocoons and they were never seen again. Then Princess Zelda herself was taken as she sent a telepathic plea into the night. The Hyrulian gift that enabled Zelda to send her message also allowed Link to hear.

        Link heard her call and, through a great test of courage, came to the rescue of the imprisoned Princess Zelda. Forced to travel between worlds and battle the numerous monsters of the army of Agahnim, young Link persevered. In a final battle, he confronted the treacherous Agahnim and discovered his true identity: Ganon, the evil thief. Despite Ganon's overwhelming power, Link triumphed, defeated him, and saved Hyrule forever.

        All the monsters in the Light Word fled back after the fall of Ganon, and the gates to the Dark World were destroyed permanently. The powerful Triforce was placed under the protection of the Kingdom of Hyrule, to serve it and ensure the coming of a new and true Golden Age. Link, the savior, was titled "Protectorate of Hyrule" and his name commanded respect second only to the King among the people of Hyrule.

        Several happy years passed in the land of Hyrule without the slightest turmoil. The power of the Triforce ensured prosperity. Then, suddenly, the rain ceased. A great draught caused famine in the lands of Hyrule. Whispers of "Ganon" circulated among the villages. However, Ganon was long since dead, killed at the hands of Link. Nonetheless, the beautiful lands of Hyrule were quickly becoming a desert. The people were quickly fleeing to the forests and sea to escape the peril. Soon, only the castle and a small village named Miranda remainded.

        Each day, the King would go to the chamber in which the Triforce was kept and plead to no avail for it to restore beauty and properity to Hyrule. One day, unbeknown to the King, a black-hooded figure followed him into the locked chamber. Quickly overpowering the King, the figure grabbed the Triforce and threw it to the floor. The Triforce shattered into 6 pieces. The figure picked up the the largest piece, the Heart of the Triforce, for within it lies the majority of the Triforce's power and cannot be broken. Five red-hooded figures walked into the room and picked up the remaining pieces.

        Following the five, Link ran into the chamber, sword drawn. The black-hooded figure raised the Heart of the Triforce above his head. In a brilliant flash, a bolt shot from the stone and struck Link unconscious. He picks up Link and casts him through an open window into the river. Seeing their hero defeated, the soldiers flee the castle. The Royal family is taken prisoner and cast into the dungeons. The five red-hooded figures depart from the castle with their Triforce shards and go to the corners of the Kingdom where they begin to call forth hordes of monsters from thin air. Meanwhile, our hero, Link, is carried down the river.

        Some time later, an old friend fetching water sees Link's unconscious body settled among the weeds on shore. She takes him back to her house in Miranda where she cares for him daily. The magic at work was strong for weeks pass before Link awakens. When he does, only one thought repeats itself in his mind...Zelda...