The Legend of Zelda
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V.
The Imprisoning War
It is not known what Ganondorf Dragmire wished for from the Triforce. However, in time evil power began to emanate from the Golden Land and greedy men were drawn there to become members of Ganon's army. Black clouds permanently darkened the sky, and many disasters beset Hyrule. The lord of Hyrule sent for the Knights of Hyrule, summoning them for an audience before ordering the warriors to seal the entrance to the Golden Land.
The power of Ganondorf Dragmire's power was just too great, and
he swiftly took over the land of Hyrule. The Triforce, being an
inanimate object, cannot judge between good and evil. Therefore,
it could not know that Ganondorf's wishes were evil; it merely
granted them.
Evil things beset the land of Hyrule in short order, and the
leaders of the six races tried to prevent the ongoing war. Their
efforts, however, were unfortunately also in vain.
Seven years after Ganondorf first touched the Triforce Link
awakened in the Temple of Light. Rauru, who had built the Temple,
explained to Link of the evil that occurred. Rauru was only one
of seven sages who would, if brought together, seal Ganon in the
Golden Land. Link found five more - Saria the Kokiri, Darunia the
Goron, Ruto the Zora, Impa the Shiekah, and Nabooru the Gerudo -
all of whom became sages.
Princess Zelda II, who remained in the disguise of a boy under the name "Sheik" for the past seven years, was to be the seventh.
When Link finally found Zelda - along the way befriending the
horse Epona, with whom he rode and traversed the land no longer
by foot alone and pulled the legendary Master Sword (also known
as the "Sword of Evil's Bane" and the "Magical
Sword") from its stone sheath in the Lost Woods - it was
revealed the Triforce had split due to Ganondorf's corruption. He
held the Triforce of Power, Zelda II held the Triforce of Wisdom,
and Link himself held the Triforce of Courage.
Upon hearing of this, Ganondorf was quick to kidnap Zelda and
challenge Link to face him.
Link took the full brunt of the fierce attack, and although he
fought courageously, at some points he nearly lost. However, his
efforts were not in vain, for Ganondorf was slain by Link's sword.
Upon escaping his crumbling tower, Ganondorf arose, and, using
the power of his Triforce he turned himself into the Prince of
Darkness, Ganon. Battling Ganon seemed futile, but he bought
precious time for the Seven Sages to magically seal Ganon in the
Sacred Realm (more commonly known as The Golden Land, or Land of
the Golden Power). All of Hyrule rejoiced at the victory that
upheld peace and order over Ganon's evil and chaos.
Link was returned to his land, in his time seven years before, a
young boy once more riding Epona back toward Kokiri Forest.
This epic war, which had claimed many lives, became known as the
"Imprisoning War" in stories told in later centuries.