The day was a beautiful one, with the sun warming everything it touched and not a cloud in the sky. Somewhere nearby but out of sight, a lyre player strummed dulcet tones whilst the young Princess Zelda sat her head in her hands staring out her window, thinking about the man who would one day save them all.
It was something the princess found herself doing whenever he showed up, which happened to be often now.
The leader of the Gerudo was brilliant and strong and the epitome of everything the King of Hyrule could ever ask for in an ally swearing alliance to the throne. And while he had actually never shone anything but honesty and sincerity in his pledges of loyalty to Zelda's father, the little princess had found Ganondorf to be an imposing figure, nonetheless.
He was tall and intimidating as most Gerudo were but always polite and charming when he spoke to the king or others in the Royal Court. But as days went by, Zelda could feel her concern growing for her father's associate, and visions of his treachery did not help matters. She was certain now more than ever that Ganondorf Dragmire was the man in her nightmares. The one who would set the lands ablaze with agony and misery, condemning all to a life of poverty, and hellbent on taking over Hyrule and plunging the rest of the world in total darkness and despair.
But despite her attempts to convince her father, the king had merely laughed at Zelda and claimed some time outside the castle would do her some good to ease her overactive imagination. Thus, leaving Zelda to express her dreams with the only person who would believe her—her bodyguard and nursemaid, Impa, while the princess continued to watch the Gerudo carefully despite her inability to do anything about him.
The princess huffed, pulling off her headdress in frustration and letting her short blonde hair loose around her face. The tips tickled her neck as she absently ran a hand through the tresses and let her gaze wander outside while her mind went elsewhere.
Two stable boys were working on cleaning the stables in dutiful fashion. Off to the side, a mother cucco with chicks fought off a black Guay that had swooped in from above a nearby tree, and absently Zelda mused that the hero, too, would have to be brave in the face of danger. She watched, certain the black bird would have its way with snatching one of the chicks and taking to the skies when suddenly, the mother cucco got under the Guay's guard and bit into its neck and proceeded to unlace it like a sack of grain.
Zelda grimaced but couldn't help but be impressed. He can't be afraid to do what needs to be done, she thought, though she hoped not as gross as what she saw—the chicks began feasting on the dead Guay alongside their mother.
She looked away to see one of the captains of the guard training with his shirt off and her face glowed with heat. He would have to be strong. Zelda stopped musing for a while, lost in watching the guard. A sound brought her back from fantasy and she saw her own bodyguard training in her own Sheikah style, movements were graceful and precise, without the raw power of the guard but still incredibly strong. The hero would need to be stealthy like that. Impa faced towards the window and Zelda waved down to her with a smile, the bodyguard waved back.
But what would he look like, Zelda wondered, just as she saw a group of nobles arrive at the castle and studied the pages and men. He couldn't be of high birth, she concluded with a frown, as the small parade of arrogant snobs looked down their noses at the servants and guards. He would look humble and heroic and his noble soul would shine through.
She sat back, pinning back her hair and donning her headdress back on. Maybe he could be from the village by the mountain, hardy and tough as stone from the conditions. He certainly couldn't be from the Gerudo people, as Ganondorf was reputably the only man born there, however, that worked. The Zora were another option, she supposed, though, they required water at all times, so she wasn't sure how that would work out, either.
Zelda was left stumped. Where could this man come from? She finally just shrugged her shoulders and concluded, "So long as he's not one of those forest folk who never grow up, Hyrule will be in good hands," and left the window to go spy on Ganondorf again.
Super short and something a little different but hope you enjoy, nonetheless. And yes, I made cuccos vicious, little things because in truth, they are :( Anyone who has played a LoZ game knows that.
One Guay was harmed in the writing of this fanfic. RIP.
-SJ