"Hello, little Princess."
Zelda felt an uneasiness overwhelm her. Centuries of war were behind them now, but perhaps peace could come about in this meeting.
A tall, burly red haired man stood before her, clad in heavy, dark armor. His face bore signs of age compared to her young, delicate features. Two great royals stood before one another, their advisors standing just behind them. Relations between the Gerudo and Hyrule had soured throughout the centuries, leaving war and bloodshed. But perhaps, Zelda thought, Hyrule and the Gerudo could come to an understanding.
"Lord Ganondorf. My father is not well, so I have elected to take his place in this meeting. I do hope you understand."
The red haired Gerudo scoffed. "What makes the King of Hyrule think his seventeen year old daughter can carry out diplomatic solutions like this?"
Zelda attempted to push his degrading remark aside and tried to focus on the current situation. "Hyrule is requesting a truce. A treaty to end this unnecessary war effort that has plagued our kingdoms for centuries."
Ganondorf's eyes narrowed. Zelda attempted to keep a level composure, her gaze meeting his. It would take much persuading to get the King of the Gerudo to give up his quest for world domination, but her training as Hyrule's Princess and diplomatic ambassador would not go to waste.
"Hyrule has come to a decision where we believe war is no longer necessary for our efforts. We have lost our line of Heroes, and we have yet to find another reborn. For the sake of the world, we request you sign this treaty to end this bloodshed," Zelda took a parchment and a quill handed to her from one of her advisors," and we will give you anything you please."
The King of the Gerudo was silent for a few moments, pondering the Princess' offer for a couple of minutes. Zelda stood, waiting impatiently for his answer.
"I want," Ganondorf began, a devilish smirk forming on his face, "Hyrule."
Zelda felt the air suddenly leave her, finding it hard to stand up straight. "Lord Ganondorf, I cannot…"
"You said anything, dear Princess." Ganondorf scoffed out accusingly.
"I cannot give-"
"You can either give your kingdom to me the proper way," Ganondorf interrupted, "or I can take it by force."
Zelda could no longer meet his gaze and instead let her head hang, clenching her fists tightly around the parchment that was meant to be a peaceful treaty.
"Your precious line of Heroes is gone!" Ganondorf spat. "I killed your previous Hero with my own blade. I saw his head topple to the floor beneath my feet. He asked for it. He begged to be killed. Is that how you treat your Heroes now? With disdain and hatred to the point he came to me begging to be killed? How pathetic, dear Princess. It is your kingdom's fault that the next Hero in line has not been born. He will never be born, and your kingdom will never find the hope it needs without a Hero.
"It will be my kingdom. I will unify it with the nations of the Gerudo, and together we will have the most powerful kingdom in the world. Powerful enough to do anything it pleases. Powerful enough to take anything we desire. All you need," Ganondorf paused, walking closer to Zelda as he spoke, "is to give me Hyrule."
"Other people's lands are not yours to take…" Zelda breathed lightly, stepping back. The advisors on each side of her followed in suit, gasps escaping their forms.
"The pathetic Gorons, the sickly Zoras, and the childish Kokiri are inferior races that deserve to be annihilated." Ganondorf spoke the names of the other races with intense disgust.
"No…" Zelda breathed again, finding it harder to compose herself in a dignified way. Ganondorf frightened her immensely, and she felt the treaty in her trembling hands fall to the ground.
After a few more paces, Ganondorf stopped in front of the parchment and picked it up, examining it with little interest.
"Tell your father," Ganondorf began, placing his hands on the top of the paper, "that this war is about to escalate to a level that Hyrule cannot match. My soldiers are ready, and your kingdom is crumbling. Your soldiers continuously desert you. You find traitors in your ranks almost every day. Your economy is crumbling, and your morale is low. Hyrule will be mine, and there will be no stopping me."
With one swift movement, the Gerudo King tore the treaty in half, letting the torn paper fall to the ground before he turned to leave.
As Ganondorf and his advisors quickly left their site over the hills, the royal advisors quickly spouted countless random questions, their panic evident in their voices. However, Zelda did not hear a single thing they said.
She failed her kingdom, she failed her father, and she failed herself. She did not bring peace to Hyrule. Instead, she brought their ultimate destruction. How could she be so foolish?
The Hero of Time was gone, and he would not be reborn. As her thoughts raced, Zelda felt an immense feeling of guilt crush down on her, and before she could catch herself, her knees gave out underneath her. She toppled to the ground, falling on her hands and knees as her advisors quickly shot forward with worried cries. Soundless tears streamed down her cheeks.
A/N:
The debut of my Zelda fanfiction! v
This fanfiction has been in the works for over 10+ years and I am now just writing it. I want to get all of my thoughts out to the world and share my story. ;v; I've had it trapped in my head for so long and now I just want to write it all out!
This is the first fanfic in my series "Chasing Concordia". This book in particular is titled "Time Thief". I plan to have several books in the series!
While the world and story in this fanfiction are roughly based on the Ocarina of Time game, I have other elements from other games that come in to play, as well as a few of my own ideas. The Zelda world here is pretty much a Zelda AU.
Feel free to review. ;v; Thank you~