The entrance to the Sacred Realm, an alternate dimension with only a single door, was heavily guarded in the basement of Hyrule Castle. The duty of the sentry, day in and day out, was to notify the royal family at the first sign the seal began to fail, but they were oblivious to the dark power trickling around their feet. Only those sensitive to such magic were aware of the kingdom's impending fate.
"This is a new threat, with unprecedented challenges. We will no longer be ravaged by a mindless beast."
"If your mother's reports are to be believed," a councilman interjected.
"You dare question my mother's wisdom?" Princess Zelda inquired with a glare of her sky blue eyes.
"When she recorded in her journal that a mere woman stopped that terrible monster, using only the love in her heart," he explained obnoxiously, "it becomes impossible to believe."
Another councilman retorted, "That beast is not capable of love, or a shred of kindness."
"She even documented that she witnessed the ethereal demon transform into a man. Ridiculous," the first councilman mocked.
Zelda's eyes shifted from the councilman in a forest green robe, back to the one in ocean blue. Their colors simply signified their tenure as a member of Hyrule's Royal Council, not their knowledge of Hyrulean history. Her dress was simple, and the color matched her eyes, but it clung to the curves of her torso because of a rose pink corset. The sleeves ended at her wrist but were wide and hung down to her knees. She wore a belt around her waist to carry a variety of magical trinkets. The skirt of the dress was straight and ended just above the short heels of her boots. Zelda crossed her arms around her bosom with her fingers delicately resting on her elbows. "The woman was a Gerudo who wore a crown identical to the one around Ganon's head," she argued, pointing forcefully at a picture of the beast from the library's archives. Her golden hair fell over her shoulders because she forgot to pull it back, which was the only acceptable way for royalty to wear their hair. She flicked her wrist to toss her hair back, and then situated her tiara back in place atop her head. "Each incarnation bore the same jewel. She confronted my mother in secret to offer help in preventing the calamity. She warned that the machines would fail. Our only mistake was refusing her help."
"If it is as you proclaim, then we face only a man and woman. They will be easier to defeat."
Frustrated, Zelda declared, "Wrong! The archives are proof that, as a man, Ganon was a foe of tact and deceit. He manipulates the weak and greedy to serve him. It is said a woman once stood constant and faithful at his side. They may be unpredictable and are not to be underestimated."
"Is she immortal?" the councilman in green laughed. "The more you speak, the more farfetched this story becomes."
"As the council for the kingdom of Hyrule, I am disappointed you are not educated in the legend of the Gerudo King and Queen of Evil," a sultry voice called from the doorway.
Relieved, Zelda greeted, "Welcome, Riju. I am grateful you were able to meet us here so quickly."
The council members bowed their heads collectively.
"Perhaps you can help me educate these men on your history," she suggested with a bitter tone.
Riju moved toward the head of the rectangular table with slow, deliberate strides. She was of brown skin and the purest red hair and turquoise eyes. She wore a cloth that wrapped around her shoulders to support her breasts, and the rest of her torso remained exposed. Shoulder guards were strapped to her arms, and her legs were barely covered by a skirt that was short on one side, but reached her knee high boots on the other. Her hair was pulled back and hung low in a hooped tail. Zelda appeared to shrink when Riju arrived at her side. With a strong, confident voice, she explained, "The woman of whom you speak is none other than an ancient Gerudo legend that is barely whispered among my people. Ganondorf and Ganondora Dragmire decimated Hyrule. We were oblivious to his demonic identity and intentions. For that reason, no one could have predicted that she would be granted eternal life by marrying him."
Astonished, a man wondered, "This beast was born as a male Gerudo?"
"Yes. in a time when the single born male of every one hundred years was named King of Gerudo, and given the name Ganondorf. Dora received her name from her mother, who hoped her daughter would bring the Gerudo out of isolation and back to power. They were born the same night. Our elder sorceress sisters used the newborn boy to revive Demise's demon spirit. For a time, he remained in a human form, until he claimed the Triforce. It turned him into a beast when he called upon too much of its power, although at the time he was still capable of intelligence and cognitive thought. Eventually, he lost all senses to the beast we know as Ganon. Ganondora's story faded. She no longer appeared to fight at his side, and one can only speculate why. After Calamity Ganon appeared and laid Hyrule to waste, an unlikely hero came to our aid. Dora's faith, love, and trust freed Ganondorf, simultaneously saving Hyrule and unleashing an even more dangerous threat on our peaceful kingdom."
The room fell still with heavy silence when Riju finished.
"The situation is grave," Zelda said intensely, leaning forward on the table with her hands covered in pink gloves. "Their strengths have not been combined for centuries, so we have no idea what to expect, except that their return promises to be ruthless. Now, I implore you, how do we prepare for a proper counter attack?"
Riju provided time for the councilmen to think as she gazed between them individually. They shifted their eyes amongst themselves, uncertain. Disgusted, she said, "I have an idea," and held the council's attention to formulate a strong plan.