I don't know what to call this. I approached Tiger7210 back in August of last year - golly that was a long time ago - and put to her an idea of my own that involved Gerudo and Hylians alike (seeing as at the time she was writing The King's Bride) and I think what she said to me was "Make it King's Bride canon I dare you, make a King's Bride AU," so here were are just under a year later with a little taster of an Alternate Universe of an Alternate Universe to see how people like it.
Hang on, sorry, I should make some introductions. I'm Sanctimonious Ape, and I used to write big long reviews for Tiger7210 because I love reading her stories and they're amazing, no doubt about that. I should really get back to those reviews because I still haven't quite finished...
It's set before The King's Bride, and focuses around the life and times of Ganondorf, whom we saw but brief glimpses of in the original story. To some extent, the story is also set around Ocarina of Time, but I'll make it a point not to mess with the game too much. There's no way to neatly divide it, but a bit of it will happen before the game, and a bit of it will happen after.
I hope you enjoy it, and if you don't, you'll make me very sad.
"For you."
His gift was a simple thing. Unlike all the lacklustre roses of the courtyard garden, he had chosen a flower from his desert homeland to woo Alayna Percel.
She looked up, smiled, a blush touching the corners of her cheeks. Modestly, she accepted his gift, taking it from his hands with her pale, slender fingers. By comparison, his were dark and swarthy, beaten by sand and wind, and yet still delicate enough for the lover that he fancied himself as.
It was a rustic gesture, innocent and unassuming to the sophisticate society of the Hylians. He would earn their trust this way, in these talks for peace and diplomacy between their two peoples, but perhaps he would win their hearts as well.
Alayna was beautiful. No doubt.
A cascade of dark curls sat upon her shoulders, and matched her dark eyes perfectly. She had womanly figure, subdued curves that hid beneath layers of silk, lace and cotton. A pretty face.
There was not much else he could ask for. And so, the flower. It had grown from a vile and twisted plant, contorted by the harsh climate, but had still produced something stunning. Roguishly, he had taken it for his own, and now presented it to her, as a token of affection. It borne a perfume that he had given it by magical means, for it had none of its own, and otherwise coloured its petals a little more. But, of course, as a means of green magic, that of Farore and so alien to a practitioner of Din's red magic, it was hardly a master piece.
"Thank you," she said, shyly, tucking the flower behind her pointed ear, "it smells nice."
"Think nothing of it," he smiled, magnanimously, affecting a regal bow before her, "I thought a pretty girl like you in a place like this should have something that was as lovely as herself."
She eyed him, and smiled.
"Sometimes, I think people forget that the Gerudo are people too, Ganondorf. I hope you don't mind me saying, but a lot of Hylians see the Gerudo for only the girl-snatchers that the folk songs make them out to be."
He smirked, and brought himself up to his full height, "Well, you should pay more heed to those silly songs of yours. I'd make off with you if I could."
Alayna laughed good-naturedly, but stopped and leaned to her left to look behind him. Ganondorf looked around, and saw that another man had entered the rose garden. To him, the nobleman was nobody. The Gerudo had, after all, only arrived in Castle Town a day before, and had not yet met with all the nobles of the Hylian court, great as their numbers were. Alayna made their introductions.
"Ganondorf, this is Prince Daphnes Nohansen. Daphnes, this is Ganondorf. He is the prince of the Gerudo, as you can probably tell."
"Yes, I am aware," said the Hylian, with bitter vitriol in his voice, "My father and he met yesterday."
"I did not see you, your majesty," replied Ganondorf, bowing, "I hope we become friends in this time of peace and prosperity between our races."
It was a lie. Nothing but that. From the onset, this man seemed furious with his presence. He had slighted him in some way, and they hadn't even spoken before. But with Alayna present, he kept his tone cordial and smooth, to avoid enraging him. This did not have its intended effect.
Daphnes smiled icily, and bowed his head.
The princelings were cold about each other. Ganondorf was not welcome.
"Do you have anything to say, Daphnes?" asked Alayna, wryly.
"I would rather say it in private." He spat.
"I understand, your highness. I will attend to other matters, for the time being. I will see you both some other time," responded the Gerudo, stung.
He slipped past the Hylian, and into the castle, where he stole away into shadow, casting his eyes back to his desert flower.
So there you have it, a little prelude to whet your appetite. Normal chapters will be a fair bit longer and approximately 2 or 3 weeks between, but don't hold me to that. Please.
