Ganondorf looked over at Tristan as she swung herself onto the horse in front of her. She had changed a lot since he had last seen her. She was about as tall as he was and now wore beautiful silver armor that had the Hylian crest on the right shoulder and the Gerudo's on the left. A deep purple cape whipped around in the wind as they exited the stables and her hair was still braided, but she wore a similar hairpiece to his, only the jewel was lavender and it was a silver to match her armor, also a tad bit more ornate. She had also gotten silver hoop earrings and her hair just looked neater than it did when they were kids, less hair poking from the tight braid. Tristan looked over at him when they were out of the village and smiled in the dim light from the lanterns.
Both turned forward to what was on the horizon and both unsheathed their swords, the sound of metal ringing out across the clearing. He noticed that she was using her father's old sword, clueless as to where and when she had gotten it. The light from the lanterns on their saddles flickered as the huge cloud of smoke drew closer and his grip on the hilt tightened.
"What is that?" Tristan breathed as something seemed to be writhing inside of the thick smoke. He squinted at it, trying to see what it was, but the smoke proving to be too thick.
"I have no clue, but I have a feeling they aren't dropping by for the scenery." Ganondorf muttered back. Tristan glanced over at him and his pitch black Clydesdale in armor that matched his, smirking. She had always had a propensity for being more sarcastic and less hostile once she had gotten older and more comfortable around people and it had worn off on him.
And she knew it.
"What are we going to do about that cloud? I can barely see now, not even starting on how thick the fog is in the cloud." She turned back to the horizon, features going stoic and her icy eyes glancing behind her to the village. "And what could be in there?" She said quietly, her voice quivering in the most miniscule way to tell she was nervous. Ganondorf felt eyes on him when he didn't respond and saw her gripping the hilt of her sword, head tilted slightly towards him.
He took in a deep breath and studied the pulsing mark on his hand, clenching it around the hilt of his own weapon. "I don't know, but they damn well aren't going to take this village. I'm going to find out who is behind all of this when we fend these things off and personally kick their ass."
Tristan looked back at the dense fog that was almost upon them. "I'd drink to that." She chuckled and spurred the horse forward into the fog. Ganondorf followed and he squinted to try and see more than three feet in front of him, despite the lanterns. "Can you see anything?" He turned his head and could barely see the pure white horse, let alone anything that may be in the fog.
"No, I assume you have no better luck." He responded, searching for anything that could be in there with them. The strange thing was that he found nothing. Tristan seemed to become more and more nervous because he could see her switching the sword from hand to hand from where he was.
"Ganondorf, were there any battle signs in the villages that disappeared? I haven't been to any of the sites personally; I've only heard rumors." She asked, voice wavering noticeably this time.
"I didn't get many details. I just know that everyone was dead, I'm sorry." He responded. A pause. "Why do you ask?"
Tristan remained silent for a moment. "I sense nothing here. Just… darkness. Not any being in particular, just…" She trialed off and he could practically hear her snap two pieces together. "We need to get out of here. Now!" She shouted, spurring her horse in the opposite direction of the fog, trying to get out of it. Ganondorf didn't question her as he steered Titan -the massive clydesdale he rode- in the direction she went.
"What? What is it?" He called over to her as she rushed back to the village.
"There's nothing inside of it! I have a few ideas and if they prove to be right then we need to get everyone away from the village now!" She shouted back over her shoulder. Ganondorf nodded and caught up to her Appaloosa, which had slowed down. "Get everyone out of here; you're the chief and are more likely to listen to you." She reined the horse to a stop and he did the same, Titan bucking up and neighing loudly. People came out to see what the commotion was and Ganondorf looked around, doing a head count. Everyone.
"Everyone, get everything you need and head out! Get all of the horses and move out of the village!" He raised his voice. Tristan sheathed her sword and glanced nervously towards the cloud that was coming ever closer.
"What's this about?" One of the older Gerudo asked.
"This is not an enemy we can fight. Tristan has some theories about what it is and if she doesn't like it neither do I. She recommends we get everyone out." Everyone turned to the woman on the white horse.
"Should we really trust her?" He saw Tristan tense in the saddle.
"Yes, I have known her for a long time. I trust her with my life." He shot back and another Gerudo spoke softly to the first.
"Fine." The first finally hissed. Everyone dispersed back into their homes and the ones done first got to get some horses for the younger Gerudo to ride since they couldn't travel as far on foot. Tristan steered her horse to the edge of the village and watched the fog as it approached as Ganondorf helped saddle some of the other horses.
"We need to leave! Now!" Tristan bellowed and everyone rushed to get the younger ones on a horse and the parents steered them, usually two on a horse -one parent and one child since there were more males now, but they usually wandered away after a child was born. Ganondorf leapt back onto Titan and he whinnied, dark eyes flashing in the moonlight. Everyone gathered in the square and Tristan galloped up, lantern wavering wildly from its place on her saddle.
"Where are we going to go?" He asked her quietly.
"I was planning on Hyrule, and I could go and see some of the other villages attacked by this thing. Maybe I can prove my theories." Ganondorf nodded.
"I want to come with you after we get them into safety." He responded and she nodded absent-mindedly.
"We can discuss this after they are within the walls of the city, but for now, follow my lead." She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and spurred her horse forward. Ganondorf followed, along with the rest of the small village. The pounding of the many hooves was the only sound for many moments and Ganondorf decided to talk.
"What do you think this is?" He asked and the woman who had been staring forward glanced back at him, something flashing in those blue eyes. It was gone before he could decipher what it was. She looked at the sky for a moment before turning back to him.
"I have been studying everything that could make an entire village disappear. I have a feeling that fog has something to do with it and if there was an army, we would know. So it would have to make something disappear silently, unnoticably." She started as she slowed Ecaep to a brisk trot and Ganondorf did the same. Her eyes darted behind them before she looked back forward again. "I saw a particularly interesting article on an old Zora who could wield magic." Her voice was low.
"I thought only Hylians and Gerudo could wield magic." He responded, voice equally soft.
"Exactly. I have theories to that, but that isn't the point. He found out a way to make the magic into some sort of gaseous form while making it into a sort of spell for poison. Usually, only direct contact would activate the spell, but he made it into a cloud so people would inhale it and suffocate eventually. He decimated his enemies -which was nearly everyone- until two of the four Triforce bearers put a stop to his schemes. Power wasn't yet resurrected, Determination still but a myth." She tightened her grip on the reins and glanced backwards again.
"Enemies?"
"The Zora weren't as peaceful as they are now. They used to be much like the Gerudo in their quest for territory." Tristan responded as they slowed their horses and let the village catch up. "Though one Zora, Silanen I believe, came forward and stopped the one causing all of that destruction. He convinced his people to stop fighting and they listened to him; he was a great leader. Garnos was like a dictator, and he did not like what Silanen did. Garnos brooded in the prison he was put in while the Zora made peace, thinking on how to get his revenge. He managed to escape one day and they never saw him again until Silanen died one night. He wasn't sick and there were no signs of him being ill. They took him to Hyrule and an old sorcerer sensed the dark magic. He said he had never seen anything like it. They knew it was Garnos because he was the only one with a quarrel with Silanen and the only Zora that could ever use magic."
"It couldn't possibly be him, could it?" Ganondorf looked over at Tristan, eyes widening.
"I can't be sure until I have seen the ruins. I need to confirm the destruction this cloud can cause and see if it could be anyone else. Dark magic has a very distinctive feel to it, and I felt it briefly before we went back to the village. But I must be sure of this before I tell Zelda of it."
"How could he have survived after all of this time?"
"I'm not sure; it could be a descendant of his or maybe somebody new, but… I don't know." She trailed off, closing her eyes as the horses moved towards Hyrule. It took a few more hours, but they finally made it to the gate. Tristan steered the horse forward and Ganondorf followed.
"What business do you have in Hyrule?" The guard asked the pair and Tristan answered before Ganondorf could spit something mean at him in the same tone he used.
"This village has been attacked and the residents seek refuge in Hyrule." She responded calmly, but he could see a flash of annoyance in her eyes. The guard paused for a few moments and looked around at them. "I could go and get Princess Zelda for permission if you'd like." She raised her eyebrows and started to dismount.
"Who do you think you are?" The guard snarled. Tristan stood up in the stirrups and her armor flashed in the light, her horse nickering and tossing its mane. The guard apparently saw something that let him recognize her and he backed up, spluttering out incoherent words. "I-I'm so sorry about that! Go ahead in. Open the gates!" The guard called up at two others on top of the wall. Tristan rocked back and sat down in the saddle as the gates lowered to let them into the city.
"I assume you are pretty well-known here?" Ganondorf smirked over at Tristan, who urged her horse forward. He followed and she scoffed and brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face.
"I was the right-hand to Zelda; of course I was well-known." She responded and looked around the city as they passed through the nearly deserted streets on horseback. A few people passed by them, but paid them no heed; it was usual for Gerudo to be in the city now.
"Where are they to stay?" Ganondorf asked over at her and she thought for a few moments before shrugging.
"I'm sure Zelda could find a place for them. I need to tell her about this anyways. Get any new information that may have come up. You can come with me or stay out here with them if you'd like." She quickly ran a hand through her horse's mane and dismounted.
"I'm coming with you." He followed her actions and thudded on the ground beside her. She merely nodded as they strode a few steps. "You all stay here; we'll be back shortly." Ganondorf instructed his villagers and followed closely behind Tristan. Guards parted for the pair like a knife through butter, some even bowing respectfully as they passed.
"So you really did make a name for yourself." He chuckled.
Tristan smiled slightly. "I suppose I did. Thought most of it was doing my job, albeit I did it a hell of a lot better than most people would." She pushed in a pair of doors and they were met by a wind. Ganondorf flinched slightly and Tristan blinked as she pushed through. They made their way along the wall and up some stairs before she pushed open another set of doors. She clasped her hands behind her back as she walked along the rich red rug. They made their way across the long room and Tristan eyed every single one of the guards as they studied her, hands tightening on weapons.
"Tristan!" The woman came out from the doors in the back, hidden behind a statue. "What are you here for?" She asked, bowing slightly.
"We are here to ask if you have any new news on these attacks." She looked back at Ganondorf. "One of our own villages has been attacked and that adds to the Gordons, Zora, and Hylians. Whoever is doing this has no grievance against only one of us; they have hatred for us all."
Zelda sighed. "Unfortunately, we still have no clue who is doing this to us. But the addition to them attacking the Gerudo makes it clear we need to stop them even more."
"Do you have any locations that were attacked? I wish to see them myself." Tristan saw the princess hesitate for a moment before glancing at Ganondorf.
"It is not a sight that you would want to see, Tristan." She lowered her head.
"Yes, but I must see it to see if I know the person who is behind these attacks. I have a theory and I wish to prove it. Or rather disprove it since this enemy was one that no warrior -not even a bearer of the Triforce- could defeat on their own."
"Who?" Zelda raised an eyebrow.
"I shall inform you if he is the one, but I do not wish to cause panic if someone is listening on our conversation. Once we return, we ask to meet in secret to discuss what we have found. But for now, the most recent village that has been attacked is Ganondorf's own residence. We managed to evacuate before it was struck, but the Gerudo need a place to stay."
"I do not like being uninformed, Tristan, but I trust you enough. I will find a place for the Gerudo. If you would hand me your map I will mark the locations that have been attacked." Tristan handed her the map and the Princess scrawled something across several places. "I am sorry to hear about your village, and I do not wish to sound cold, but maybe you should see that village to make sure all of them are consistent and can be the same person."
"I am not offended, Princess," The Gerudo Chief rumbled, "I was thinking the same, but we need to make sure the attacker is long gone before we risk to go there. We do not know how powerful they are yet."
"I agree." Tristan stated simply as she took her map back from the Princess. "We will investigate all of the villages. If we are not back within the week, you should send for us." She turned to leave.
"Wait." Zelda grabbed her shoulder and Tristan looked over her shoulder. "You know of the Triforce?"
She turned back around. "Indeed. I know there are ones blessed with Wisdom, Power, Courage, and Determination. I know of three of the bearers."
"You said four traits; I thought the last one was only legend." Tristan paused before pinching off a glove and holding up her hand. "But who are the three you know?"
"I know you bear wisdom. I bear determination and Ganondorf power." Zelda gasped and drew back. The guards immediately collapsed in on them, pointing spears and swords. Zelda drew her own weapon and pointed it at Ganondorf.
"Wait! It is not as you think!" Tristan jumped in front of the Chief. "The bearer is not the evil one, but the power they let overtake them is!" She put her hand on the sword and glanced around at the guards.
"And how much longer until the evil overtakes him?" Zelda asked. "I know you mean well, Tristan, but-"
"Never! He is my friend and you will have to kill me before you even touch him, Zelda, let me make that absolutely clear." She snarled and the guards drew back when her grip tightened on her sword and a lavender swirled slightly around her fists. She drew the sword and the tension in the room could be felt like static electricity. "And if you even think of attacking him, consider yourself at war with the Gerudo. That is something neither of us want at this time, but don't you doubt that I will make sure that everyone in this room is dead if you put a scratch on him." Her voice lowered and Zelda's eyes flickered from her to her guards and then to Ganondorf. She sheathed her weapon and the guards fell back.
"That is very noble of you, Tristan. If you trust him that much I suppose I can trust him enough to not kill my people."
"When has he done anything but help your people?" Tristan hissed back, eyes flashing as she sheathed her sword. "He helped save all of you -including me- all of those years ago when the Gerudo were under Trimon. He had the mark of power then and nothing has changed in those years to make him any more dangerous now." She added, glaring hard at the Princess.
"I'm aware of that." She seemed slightly disgusted at the thought and that made Tristan clench a fist, her knuckles cracking under the pressure.
"Well then, we'll be back in a week, unless something goes wrong. Maybe you can think about strategies or try to find the last bearer while we are away." She eased out of her defensive position and nodded slightly before turning on her heel. Ganondorf gave a shallow bow before joining Tristan.
"Did you mean what you said?" He asked and she turned to him.
"I meant every word. I would defend you with my life because I know you would do the same." She glanced back over her shoulder to the throne room before descending the stairs. He hesitated for a second before catching up to her again.
"Really?"
"Really. You're my closest friend, Ganondorf. It's what we do." She gave him a rare, toothy grin and he felt the corners of his lips turn upwards.
"Thanks for that."
"You'd do the same for me."
OMIGOSH I AM A TERRIBLE PERSON! I literally haven't updated this in a year - well, more than a year. I hope that the next one won't be nearly as long and I am so sorry to keep you waiting. Consider this a Christmas present and I know it isn't very much considering the time I had to work on this, but I have so much to deal with right now. Hopefully in the next week I can work more on this and get another chapter up. Again, I am VERY sorry.
