The Nightmare of Zelda: Prologue

In the land of Hyrule, there were sages which insured the safety and security of the land and people. The eldest of these sages created the Temple of Time, the resting place of the Master Sword and the entrance to the sacred realm. When the Hero of Time entered the sealed room, he unleashed a great evil, as well as a great burden. He not only gave Ganondorf the Triforce of Power which he used for evil, the hero also created multiple histories and timelines. This is why there are 2 futures, one with a flooded Hyrule, another with a Hyrule engulfed in darkness.


But there are more histories that stem from the moment he opened the sealed door. In one such alternate universe, the heroic are less so. That is the world of the Nightmare of Zelda. The Hero of Time was a like a fairy tale prince. He loved Princess Zelda very much and would do anything for her. What if, in that dimension, Ganon had tried to attack Zelda before she was sufficiently charged to seal him? What if Link had leapt into the air and pierced Ganon's heart with the Master Sword? What if, after the death of Ganon, Link had taken the Triforce of Power? What if Link, the Hero of Time, had 2 pieces of the Triforce?

Well, let us find out. As the old adage goes, absolute power corrupts absolutely...

The Nightmare of Zelda

In Zelda’s restless dreams, her nightmares, she can see the moment where everything went wrong. She can see Ganon preparing to attack her as she charges her attack, she sees Link spring into the air with the Master Sword point down. She watches this one event over and over, every single night. She tosses and turns as the Master Sword pierces Ganon’s back, the blade plunging into his heart. She watches in horror as Ganon explodes into nonexistence and the Triforce of Power is revealed. She watches as Link retrieves the Triforce of Power and it gives its power to Link.


Link escorts her from the ruins of Ganon’s castle and into Castle town. He, using his abilities as the hero of time, returns everything to the way it was when he was young. He had made everything right again, or so it seemed. For not all was right. Link possessed 2 pieces of the Triforce, Power and Courage. Link possessed almost limitless power, not at all the way it should be. After a great celebration in his honor, Link proposed to the Princess. After that feast things started going wrong. King Hyrule was found dead and Vaati the Wind Mage was found responsible. Zelda knew in her heart it was Link, but part of her didn’t want to believe it. She was happy being with him and she turned a blind eye as his tunic began turning black and gray. Zelda could no longer deny Link’s evil when some of the sages were found dead. Rauru, the last of the ancient sages; Darunia the sage of fire; Impa, Zelda’s nursemaid and the sage of shadow; and Nabooru the sage of spirit were all found murdered in the sacred realm. If it was Link, he had violated the seal of the temple of time, and would no longer be able to enter. So Zelda and Link went for a walk to Castle town. Zelda surreptitiously lead Link to the temple. Zelda could enter but Link could not.

Zelda and the 2 others who loved Link, the Zora princess Ruto and the Kokiri maiden Saria, forced him into the sacred realm. There Link would be unable to harm anyone. All of Hyrule mourned his loss and swore to remember him as a hero. Zelda would later find out that she was pregnant with Link's daughter. In another, faraway place, a girl was pregnant with a boy sealed by destiny...

In the sacred realm, Link swore vengeance on Hyrule, the Sages, and most of all Princess Zelda.
"Sleep well fair Zelda. You have earned it by defeating the villain. I just hope that in your dreams, and in your waking days, you realize that...the NIGHTMARE has just begun..."

An evil wind began to blow over Hyrule yet again, as the power in the sacred realm began his long, slow escape...