Design document - "The Legend of Zelda: Heart of a Hero"

My concept for "The Legend of Zelda - Heart of a Hero".

Link lives in southern Hyrule with his father, Araysh, in a small village on the outskirts of the Lost Woods. The village is near the Forest Temple, one of three temples in Hyrule built to house Farore's Emerald, a relic of the goddess that blesses the region with bountiful plantlife and wildlife. On Link's sixteenth birthday while he is running errands in the village, he returns home and overhears a younger villager questioning Araysh where Link's mother is. A solemn Araysh tells the tale.

When Link was born with the Triforce on his hand, it was known that this was a child with a special destiny in store for him. People came from across Hyrule to see him, and it became wildly believed he would become the Chosen Hero. As it happened, the Princess had been born the same day as Link, and with the Gerudo having announced they had a new King a few years prior, people recognized the signs - the ancient legends were coming to pass once again. One night, a cloaked figure arrived at the village and asked to see Link. When Link's mother let him into their home, he drew a blade and attempted to strike Link. Araysh fought the figure off and they fled, but in the struggle Link's mother was killed. Many have presumed that it was the Gerudo King who came that night, but regardless of who it was, the Gerudo King also happened to vanish that day and hasn't been seen since, not in fifteen years.

A royal procession comes to the village and Link and Araysh attend. As it is Princess Zelda's sixteenth birthday, is it custom for her to perform a pilgrimage to the three temples and pray before the Goddess Jewels, which are kept in a sacred chamber no one but the Royal Family may enter. At the temple, Zelda enters the chamber but immediately emerges, proclaiming that Farore's Emerald is missing. The village and the procession fly into a panic, but Zelda calms them and says she can sense the presence of the Emerald nearby. She focuses and says it is coming from within the Lost Woods. The royal procession and Zelda go to find the Emerald, and Link wants to go help; Araysh agrees, they know the woods well.

During the game Araysh acts as an allied character, like an NPC party member in an an Action-RPG. Araysh fights with a sword and shield and a bow, and will fight on his own but can be given directions as well (think God of War). In the temples, the player may also switch control to Araysh, and controlling him and Link independently is necessary to solve puzzles, and his bow is also required for puzzle-solving. Through their interactions and his training Link, it is shown that Link is arrogant and cocky, as Araysh keeps reinforcing he has the spirit of the Hero as marked by the Triforce on his hand, and he is destined to be a great warrior and save Hyrule.

In the Lost Woods, the two follow the procession's path to an old graveyard haunted by Poes. Araysh stops here and says that Link must be ready for combat ahead, and the two spar as a combat tutorial. Appeased of Link's ability, the two venture forth into a mausoleum and find a passage to a beneath the graveyard - the first dungeon, Forgotten Tomb. Throughout the tomb they find Zelda's procession dead, and eventually find Zelda alone, using magic to shield herself from the dungeon boss, Stalknight. Link and Araysh defeat it and it leaves behind a glowing orb that Araysh encourages Link to touch, granting him a new magical ability, and Zelda claims Farore's Emerald from the final room. The two lead Zelda out of the tomb, and she asks them to return to Hyrule Castle Town with her.

At Castle Town, Zelda takes the two to the Temple of Time. Farore's Emerald has been brought here for safekeeping. Zelda must complete her pilgrimage to the other two stones, Din's Ruby and Nayru's Sapphire, but she is concerned. The wards around the sacred chamber are only able to be undone by the magic of the Royal Family, it was not some common thief that stole the Emerald, and why would it have been taken to the Forgotten Tomb? She asks the two become her procession and go with her to see the other temples.

The player can proceed to either Zora's Domain or Death Mountain. In Zora's Domain, the Water Temple has of course had Nayru's Sapphire stolen, and Zelda tracks it to the swamp downriver, specifically in Zora's Resevoir, a dam spanning Zora's River overlooking the swamp. At Death Mountain, Din's Ruby is tracked to the desert, the home of the Gerudo. The Gorons have accused the Gerudo of stealing the Ruby, but they deny it and their current leader claims the Gerudo have reformed and are no longer thieves. The Gerudo also confirm their King vanished years ago and they have no need for him with him having abandoned them. The Ruby is found within a dungeon buried beneath an oasis, Desert Grotto. Each time a dungeon boss is defeated, Link is granted a new magical ability from Araysh as recognition of his improving skills and courage.

With the three Goddess Jewels brought to the Temple of Time, Zelda says that just one more matter remains. If the Demon King's return is imminent, they must be prepared to face him with the weapon of the Hero. Zelda uses the power of the Jewels to open the sacred chamber of the Temple of Time, revealing the pedestal with the Master Sword. Link approaches the sword and takes hold of it to remove it. However, the sword does not budge, and after a moment shocks him and forces him to let go. A stunned Link stumbles back as Zelda questions how this is possible - why would the Master Sword reject the Hero like this?

Araysh speaks up. He recounts Link's character faults - arrogant, immature, impulsive, entitled, and wielding dark powers to combat his enemies. These are not the traits of a Hero chosen by the gods. Link was rejected by the Master Sword because not only has he not proven he is worthy, he has proven that he is unworthy.

At this, Araysh smiles and gives a small clap, congratulating Link.

Zelda questions how Araysh can speak of his own son like that. Araysh pauses and begins to undo the bindings around his archery glove, and corrects that Link is not his son. With his glove off, he raises his fist and reveals the Triforce on the back of his hand. The top triangle glows and Araysh reveals his true form - Ganondorf. Ganondorf recounts that it was he who stole the Goddess Jewels and hid them away, guarded by demons he had conjured. Zelda demands to know why he has done this, and when Ganondorf sees Link's confusion over his identity, he tells them the truth.

Ganondorf was raised in the Gerudo. When he first heard the legendary stories of the Demon King, he immersed himself in forgotten books and ancient tomes to learn more. The more he learned, the more he realized the truth that was self-evident from the Triforce on his hand - he was destined to become the Demon King and fight against Hyrule's Hero and Princess. And, more likely than not, he would die at their hands. Yet, now that he knew his fate, Ganondorf could take measures to avert it. He kept an ear out over the years, and when he heard of the two children born with the Triforce mark, he knew the time was at hand.

The Princess was far beyond his grasp, but the Hero was not. He came to the village that night to change his fate, but when he attempted to kill the baby Link, his father, Araysh, defended him. To his surprise, Araysh overpowered him, and Ganondorf found himself considering retreat. The commotion had raised the village's attention, and when Araysh was distracted by a villager calling out to him, Ganondorf used his magic to possess him and take his body. In the form of Araysh, Ganondorf claimed they had been attacked and the culprit fled. Alone with Link, laying on the floor by his mother's body, Ganondorf knelt and drew a dagger.

But as he prepared to strike, he stayed his hand. This was no Hero laying before him, just a boy, not even old enough to walk. Were their positions reversed and the Hero intended to kill Ganondorf, wouldn't he be inclined to show mercy to a child? And if he did kill Link now, it would be a short victory - he knew enough of the legends to know that he would be reborn in short time. Ganondorf would have to spend his life hunting him down, just another form of running from destiny. But, perhaps, this was a better chance to change destiny than he anticipated.

Ganondorf remained in Araysh's guise and raised Link, training him to be the warrior the Hero would have to be. And, through the years, he was sure to cultivate Link's negative traits, that he would be unable to draw the Master Sword. When he had time, he slipped away to steal the Jewels and hide them. He would set the path Link would walk as the Hero, ensuring they all played their parts as legend decreed. The demons Ganondorf stationing guarding the Jewels, the powers they granted Link were his own magic, Gerudo dark magic. The Link that stands before him could never wield the Master Sword.

With the sacred chamber of the Temple of Time open, Ganondorf declares that he will continue to play his part, and uses his powers to force open a door to the Sacred Realm of the Triforce. Link attempts to attack him but Ganondorf easily fends him off and enters the door. Zelda tells Link that she lacks the power herself to force open the door, it will only open when the Master Sword is drawn. She has an idea of how Link can prove himself to the blade - complete the royal pilgrimage, as she did. Link takes up the Bow that Ganondorf discarded after his transformation, and sets out.

The player can do any of the temples in any order - the Forest Temple, the Mountain Temple, and the Lake Temple. Link must enter the rear areas of the temples and explore them, for at the heart of each temple is a sacred spring, said to be where water flows from the Sacred Realm and where each of the Goddess Jewels were found. Link baptizes himself in each spring, slowly cleansing himself of the dark powers he had taken on (in gameplay terms, he gains upgraded forms of those powers from the springs). The journey also acts as a humbling, as Link must explore the temples alone with Araysh to help him and he finds inscriptions in the temples telling of past Heroes, always emphasizing their virtues over their deeds.

With his pilgrimage complete, Link returns to the Temple of Time and this time is able to draw the Master Sword. The door to the Sacred Realm opens, and Zelda enters with Link. This begins the final dungeon, the Light Temple, with Zelda acting as an ally as Araysh did earlier in the game, wielding the Bow of Light to dispel darkness infecting parts of the temple.

Atop the temple, the two emerge onto the roof, a large, circular area with a platform extending on the opposite side - the Triforce floats atop a small altar. A voice calls to them that they were expected sooner, and they turn to see Ganondorf sitting on a ledge to the side.

Ganondorf has not yet laid claim to the Triforce, he has gotten here and waited for Link and Zelda to arrive. He is well-versed in the ancient legends, after all - if he put his hand on those golden triangles, what would happen? It would fracture into three, leaving Ganondorf with only the Triforce of Power, while the Triforces of Courage and Wisdom went to their destined bearers, Link and Zelda. He might have had to spend years tracking them down, but they have come to him. Link and Zelda prepare to fight, and Ganondorf questions if a battle is the only outcome of this confrontation.

They three are here now, free to make their own choices. They can choose something other than what fate has decreed they must. The power of the Triforce can be theirs, all of theirs. When he becomes ruler of Hyrule as the Demon King, Ganondorf will need an heir, a general who could command his armies, and if his heir were engaged to the Princess, it would lend legitimacy to his rule. They do not need to be enemies, the three of them can rule Hyrule together. They can defy the cycle of fate and choose a better future. Ganondorf extends his arm and, referring to Link as "son", asks him to take his hand.

Link refuses, and Zelda points out that Ganondorf is lying. He knew he was destined to be the Demon King and seek the Triforce, and he did exactly as he was meant to. He hasn't defied his fate, he's embraced it, the only difference is that he's tried to get them to turn their backs on theirs. And after all his crimes and manipulations, does he really think they would accept? They stand here to stop him not because he is the Demon King, but because justice demands Ganondorf pay for what he has done to them and Hyrule. Ganondorf draws his sowrd and declares "so be it". The final battle begins - reflecting his status in terms of narrative focus and power levels, Ganondorf bears the simpler title of "The King of Thieves" as his boss description.

Ganondorf is defeated and sent flying. He turns and begins to crawl towards the Triforce, but Link steps in front of him and blocks him from getitng even close. Sitting back on his heels, Ganondorf tells him to finish it, but Link instead sheathes the Master Sword and punches him repeatedly before collapsing to his knees. Ganondorf mutters his mercy means nothing, his wounds are fatal. He laughs bitterly - he trained Link to be the Hero he was supposed to be, and now he has defeated him. "If I really were your father, I suppose I ought to feel proud of you..."

Zelda approaches the two and says that, on some level, Ganondorf was right - had he made better choices, his fate could have been averted. Ganondorf shakes his head that his failure is proof that there is no hope. One way or the other, fate would play out, and those bound to it will play their destined parts. It may take a century, or many centuries, but another Ganondorf will be born into the Gerudo someday, and shortly after, a princess and a hero. The cycle of fate will never end. Zelda claims he's wrong, there is always hope, and perhaps their descendants will make wiser choices. If the heart of a Hero (title drop!) can be corrupted to darkness, perhaps the spirit of the Demon King can be made to see the light.

Ganondorf dismisses the idea as a foolish fantasy, but quietly admits he doesn't mind the sound of it. He raises his head to look up at the light shining from the Triforce.

"Link... Zelda... we will meet again..."

With that, Ganondorf dies staring at the Triforce, a smile on his face.