Shadow Invasion: Difference between revisions

Over a century after the [[Twili|Twili's]] exile from [[Hyrule]], the Twilight Realm entered a period of political instability when an evil [[Twili]] named Zant usurped the throne from the true heir, [[Midna|Princess Midna]]. Zant had been a servant of the Royal Family of the Twilight Realm, and was embittered that he was not chosen as successor.<ref>{{cite|I had served and endured in that depraved household for far too long, my impudent princess. And why, you ask? Because I believed I would be the next to rule our people! THAT is why! But would they acknowledge me as their king? No! And as such, I was denied the magic powers befitting our ruler.|Zant|Twilight Princess}}</ref> With the ascension of Midna to the title of Twilight Princess, Zant became emotionally unstable and severely depressed. It was in this state that he was approached by the spirit of Ganondorf, who posed as a god and offered an exchange: he would give Zant the power to take the throne by force, and once he was secure as the ruler of the Twilight Realm, Zant would release Ganondorf back into Hyrule.<ref>{{cite|It was then, in the thrall of hatred and despair, that I turned my eyes to the heavens...and found a god.|Zant|Twilight Princess}}</ref><ref>{{cite|I shall house my power in you...If there is anything you desire, then I shall desire it, too.|Ganondorf|Twilight Princess}}</ref><ref>{{cite|My god had only one wish...To merge shadow and light...and make darkness!|Zant|Twilight Princess}}</ref>

Zant transformed the Twili into [[Shadow Beasts]] and attacked the [[Palace of Twilight]], where he overthrew Midna by force and transformed her into an impish creature before she escaped Zant's coup.<ref>{{cite|Midna...Foolish Twilight Princess...The curse on you cannot be broken...It was placed on you by the magic of my god! The power you held as leader of the Twili will never return!|Zant|Twilight Princess}}</ref> He then sealed away the [[Sol]]s, the source of light in the Twilight Realm, within the Palace of Twilight, leaving the land in darkness.<ref>{{cite|The Sols were like the suns that illuminate this world. Once they were lost, everyone began to transform...|Midna|Twilight Princess}}</ref>

Zant opened the gateway between the two worlds and used his sorcerous powers to shroud the areas he conquered in twilight. Zant first targeted three of the four [[Light Spirits]] that had been responsible for locking the Dark Interlopers away in the Twilight Realm long ago. He sent his [[Shadow Beast]]s to steal their light and divide it up amongst a multitude of twilit insects that would scatter around the provinces.<ref>{{cite|I am one of four light spirits that protect Hyrule at the behest of the gods. I am Ordona. The black beast you slayed was a shadow being. It had come to seize the power of light I wield. My brethren in Hyrule have already had their light stolen by these fell beasts.|Ordona|Twilight Princess}}</ref> The Twili army conquered province after province with ease until they reached [[Hyrule Castle]].

The Twili army eventually even reached the gates of the fortified [[Hyrule Castle Town]] itself. He marched into the throne room in defiance of the brave soldiers who ineffectually tried to stop him. He reached [[Princess Zelda]] herself, whom he presented with an ultimatum: to surrender or die.<ref>{{cite|It is time for you to choose: surrender or die.|Zant|Twilight Princess}}</ref>

Zelda, not wishing to risk the lives of her people against seemingly impossible odds, dropped her rapier sword as a sign of surrender. Twilight surged from Hyrule Castle and covered the land like a shroud, causing much of the Hylian populace to be reduced to spirit form, unaware of what had happened to them.<ref>{{cite|Twilight covered Hyrule like a shroud, and without light, the people became as spirits. Within the twilight, they live on, unaware that they have passed into spirit forms...|Eldin|Twilight Princess}}</ref> With this, the land was under Zant and his master Ganondorf's control.