Chapter VII

Changing Sides

A/N: I think this chapter could be rated somewhere between T and M simply because of some rather frightening things that occur. If people have a gifted imagination, I simply suggest caution. There's no death or much of any violence, but there's a lot of sad stuff by the end. Don't worry, it'll lighten up… eventually….

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Twelve new instruments,

Eleven days to relax,

Ten Keese a-killéd,

Nine games to play,

Eight logs for fire,

Seven brand new pencils,

Six days with family,

Five happy days,

Four friends to play with,

Three…something….

Two helpings of stew,

And one angry King of Evil.

We caroled like this the night before Christmas, and all through the… never mind.

We placed the gifts for the morning under a tree just outside the shelter. I had given Nick a new fur blanket, soft from washing with melted snow and dried near the fire. I gave Chelsea a bracelet with beads of protection (hey, something's better than nothing). To Jake I had planned to give one of the knives he admired. The reason I tell you this is because I never saw my friends open them. They did, I can tell you, but what they thought of each gift is still a mystery, as is what my friends got for me. As you may have previously guessed, this eve is the last night I lived in the dome. I wonder how the place fares this day.

We four slept in the dome together from left to right, Jake, me, Nick, then Chelsea. It was warm that night with the fire roaring and warm blankets and pelts. I dreamed that night, a frightening dream, one I shall not ever forget, no matter how hard I may try…

"My beautiful little Princess…." My father was calling me. I opened my eyes and saw nothing.

Darkness.

I could only see myself and the blanket that lay over me with detail. Nothing else seemed to show. But I was not afraid. It really isn't until I awaken before I fear this dream.

"Where are you?" I asked so softly I'm not even sure I heard myself.

"Come, my child, come, follow my voice." He said. So I stood up and stepped away from the blanket, moving and waving in strange ways. There were no corners in the darkness, but I turned as if there were. I felt many textures below my feet and a strange wind in my face.

"Where am I?"

"On the outskirts. A wonderfully happy place awaits you. I will lead you there when you find me." His voice echoed through my mind. "It'll be like paradise."

Soon, very soon, I saw my father standing, still in the darkness. He smiled a strange smile. There was something weird about this. It was almost menacing, almost triumphant. But why?

He stretched his hand out, asking for my hand without speaking the words. "Will you come with me?"

His hand seemed impatient, as if it just wanted to reach out, grab my wrist and drag me to whatever location it was we were going. I stared at his hand for a long time.

"Why, don't you trust me?" His voice was laced with some sort of artificial emotion, and at his phrasing I didn't want to trust him. But he was my dad, my parent and closest family member. And trust was always a topic with him; he always wanted people to trust him unless he gave them a reason not to. He was hurt when not trusted. Needless to say, I didn't know what to do.

"Well… you—" I looked from his hand to his eyes, which was what made me speechless. He was born with blue eyes, a serene twin lake, but they were different. The looked like two bright orbs of gold, a more snake-like reflection of my two eyes in anger. I shook my head uttering "no" a few times.

Something sharp was pushed against my back and I felt suddenly heavier, like I was falling. The man before me no longer held his hand out, but stood up straight and only gave a small smirk of success. He quickly faded away….

I opened my eyes, falling to my knees suddenly. It was dark, but lantern-light made certain details easily visible, such as the menacing faces I was seeing in front of me, the trees to every side of me, and the dome bending away from me. I heard the King of Evil laugh, which, without the barrier, struck fear into me almost instantly. I looked for the barrier, and when I saw it, I jumped to my feet and tried to get there. The monsters all tried getting a hold of me, all failing. Just as my arm seemed to be swallowed by the mauve barrier, I was yanked back by a strong hand that grabbed my hair. I screamed as the pain spread across my skull and my freedom was taken from me. "No! No! Please, don't do this!"

The King turned me around to face him and nonchalantly asked, "Now where on Earth do you think you are going?"

I was so scared and so confused, I didn't know what to do or what to say. All I could manage was "Please, please don't."

He seemed surprised by my fear. "The girl to start a war. Have I frightened you?" His grip never loosened as he remarked such a false sympathy. I wanted to cry.

"What did you do to me?" My voice shakily said.

"Did someone have a magic-induced nightmare?" He was amused. I was scared and still very confused. As I continued to piece the pieces of the puzzle together, Ganondorf looked up, seeing three horrified figures standing as still and stone. He turned me around jaggedly so I may see them and they may see me.

"Sam!" Jack cried, moving forward very quickly. Nick and Chelsea had to run up to him and pull on him with all of their strength to stop him from leaving the dome. "What are you going to do with her?!"

"You cannot even guess? What have I done to so many others?"

"Captured them." Chelsea answered.

"Killed them." Nick added.

"Brainwashed them." Jake said in a final way. He and I knew well what would happen to me.

My captor's free hand brushed my chin to my cheek as if he was enjoying a prize he deserved. "This girl's mind is so young and so vigorous. I would prefer not to brainwash her…" He pulled my head backwards making me let out a scream, "…if that was a possibility."

"Then what?" Jake asked.

"That is none of your concern."

Ganondorf turned and began walking away, me still in his death grip. "No, you don't tell me what is and isn't my concern. She is my friend; anything that happens to her is our concern!" He said, gesturing to Nick, Chelsea, and himself. "You had better remember that, you—"

A dagger was put to my throat so quickly, I was rendered confused yet again. Jake was silenced instantly. His eyes were burning a black abyss, but he knew that he could do nothing. "You see, boy, although I cannot harm you for your insolence, I can harm her." At that word, the dagger was harshly pressed against my throat. I winced, and all of my friends moved forward, wanting so badly to help me.

"No!" They all stopped at my yell. "No, don't. It won't help anything."

Chelsea was fuming. Nick was tense. Jake was on the verge of crying. It hurt me to see them like this, but, then again, it must have hurt them to see me like this.

"Wise words from a wise child. Once you leave this dome, you'll never return. This I promise you." He cast me aside into a Lizalfo's arms. I was held tightly by the wrist, watching the dark magician weave his magic. He held his hand before him, which emanated darkness. It swirled like a vortex of black magic, hungry for a young soul to feed upon. It was three our four feet taller than Ganondorf.

I didn't notice my friends' reaction, but I knew for sure that I was scared. My mind was racing, almost keeping up with my beating heart. My jaw quivered as my mind begged me to beg for freedom. I tried hard to pull my arm free, wincing at his grip and whining at my failure. I did not stop, nor plan to stop, until I was forced to.

"Calm her down." I hardly heard the command, or the warning my friends were shouting; my mind was working too hard, too fast, and too loudly for me to comprehend anything except the need to get away. Suddenly, I felt me loose control of my body just before I registered the sharp pain on the lower back part of my head. All grew dark instantly and I fell unconscious, held up only by my wrist….

For those of you who already understand what happened to me, you may skip this section. However, for those who are just as confused as I was, I shall save you a year's worth of distasteful memories to look over and words to reunderstand. What this cruel man did to me was horrific, something not even the barrier could withstand. Within my sleep, Ganondorf began whispering words into my mind. He used my position to his advantage, leaving me vulnerable and unaware. He had, earlier, met my dad, from whom he took the voice and began calling to me. This was the start of his magic spell. He lured me outside, somehow leading me out of the shelter and outside of the dome. This is why I was zigzagging and turning so often. He didn't show me the corners, but I knew the way because he made it so. When my father appeared before me, I had stepped outside of my protection and was outside the barrier, confronting the King of Evil. It was his hungry hand that reached out, his calling words masked by my father's voice, his golden eyes. When I fell in my dream, I was waking up, disoriented and lost. He had put me into such a deep state of sleep that I walked in my sleep. I left the shelter and walked out of the dome.

And this is why I call him the King of Evil.

I awoke slowly, my heart slowly beating at first, but quickening as my situation was made clear. I was sitting in a chair with thick armrests where my arms involuntarily rested. Both my arms and legs were bound to this chair, this tall, throne-like chair. Besides my upper body and head, I could not move. I could not leave… wherever it was that I was. When my senses came more vividly, I could see the rope binding my arms and ankles. I tugged at the binds, lightly at first, then with all I could. The room was wide and long, I at the far end of it. My head began to throb and pound painfully. I shouldn't have moved so much. I winced at the headache. I could not ease at the touch of my hand. Not only did my head hurt, but I also felt abnormally tired.

"Are you truly awake this time?" The voice was too familiar, all too unkind. My head automatically shot up, as if the King of Evil still held my hair tightly. There he sat on a throne of his own. Yet his throne wasn't a… real, solid throne from what I could tell. It just seemed to be a black cloud of fog and mist on which he sat. A seat was visible connected to a back and two arm rests. The rest was cloudy and seemed to blur away—whether it was because of my head having been hit previously, I do not know now. It doesn't matter because Ganondorf soon stood and the throne disintegrated at the flick of his wrist. "Good. Now, let us get to business."

I held my head up and tried to be as brave as I could. "Business is hardly what I'd call it."

He chuckled almost amiably. "Of course. Perhaps a more appropriate term would be 'ceremony.'"

I grimaced, lowering my head just slightly.

"But, before that happens, I believe there is someone you should meet…" He rounded the chair to its back, giving a clear vision room where I was to the door. And there stood someone I had not expected to see ever again, and now I hope I never do see again. There stood the person to first witness my capture.

There stood Kevin Gonzalez, smiling almost ominously with eyes as dark as a silhouette.

I stared at him for a bit of time, not believing in the least who it was that was there. When it finally struck me, I could only gasp and say, "Kevin?"

He approached me the rest of the way and placed his hands on mine, leaning forward so he was only an inch away from me. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" and before I could get words out of my mouth, he kissed me. "It's really too bad we didn't get a chance to spend more time with each other."

I was surprised by the kiss, but even more by his being here. "What are you doing here?!"

"I am here to loyally help my master." He answered, glancing at the King, who still stood behind me.

I winced at the thought. "First of all, you aren't even a resident of this country; he has no power over you!"

"I understand this," he said, nodding.

"Stop listening to him! He's brainwashed you! You can fight it!" I shouted almost desperately. I had leaned as far forward as I could manage, struggling at my binds again.

He only laughed. This confused me; why would he laugh like that? "Oh dear, I suppose there is a bit of a misunderstanding, isn't there…?" he spoke differently than usual. He pushed some of my hair behind my ear. "You see, I'm not brainwashed." He said grinning.

"He would have brainwashed you to not know you were brainwashed! Please listen to—"

"He speaks the truth, my dear." Ganondorf began, moving around the chair to my front, just behind Kevin. "I haven't touched this boy's mind, and Twinrova only made him fall unconscious the evening we met. This, my dear, I promise you."

The realization of this was rather frightening. This boy, this old friend, jumped ship and now rides with this King, his witches and thieves, his monsters, and the brainwashed—basically zombified—citizens of the United States. My three friends and I watched as, daily, another of our ship was taken and turned. I had no idea that someone would willingly jump ship with this man. Fear, maybe, but Kevin stood as content as I've ever seen him, even with Ganondorf just behind him, his hands on Kevin's shoulders as if they were no less than father and son.

I was slowly moving my head from side to side, in the process, pushing myself against the chair. "No…"

"Don't you see what he can do?" Kevin questioned.

"I can, and this is why I have hidden myself." I lifelessly responded.

"He can change the world!" He said, coming closer, since he had previously back away.

"He already has." My voice grew slightly frustrated.

Kevin's face neared mine, as if he was going to kiss me again. "For the better."

"To his will." I said, meeting my forehead with his in confrontation.

He pulled away, frustrated by my stubbornness. "Well, this is exactly why he brainwashes people; to help them see the light."

I rolled my eyes, head with them, before I began shouting at this boy. "He brainwashes them to bend an innocent to his own will! The only reason he hasn't brainwashed you is because you were so easy to mold to his will without it!"

"The reason he hasn't is because he is a merciful and compassionate King!"

My eyes were wide now, I could not believe this! "Do you think he is a god? A merciful god?! Yes, merciful; I'm sure that's why he captured hundreds of young girls in the night; I'm sure that's why he killed that girl who spoke out; I'm sure that's why he ripped my arms out of socket when I asked a question; I'm sure that's why he surrounded my three friends and me in that dome with an army and a half! Compassionate, understanding, merciful ruler. He molds their mind to fit his standards! If he was so merciful and compassionate, he would have left peoples' minds alone!" I turned my attention to the king, who only seemed amused at our arguments and my speech. "And you! Let me go! LET ME GO!" I struggled more than before—so much, in fact, I didn't see him move forward. He held my face in place by locking his fingers around my chin. All was silent until he spoke.

"I do not believe we've been properly introduced. I—"

"I know who you are, and it doesn't matter who I am, because you're just going to brainwash me soon anyway." I interrupted.

His grip tightened, which made me wince a bit. "I am Ganondorf Dragmire, King of the Gerudo, King of America—"

"King of Evil." I added.

He seemed almost surprised. "I have heard 'Evil King,' but you would place me so high as King of it all?" He was almost pleased.

"Indeed."

There was a pause as he awaited my name, but when it didn't come, he asked for it, angrily and with a hint of annoyance.

"I do not feel at liberty to reveal my identity." I said. Somehow, my fear had subsided and was covered by my rage. How dare he act as if I have the right to leave whenever I want to? I was no more afraid of the hand that might come to beat me; maybe, then, even Kevin would begin to understand?

"You are at more than liberty, girl, and you'd better ease my temper before you realize how evil I can get." This whisper rose a bit of fear into my heart. My stomach began to grow butterflies.

I had no words. I couldn't speak.

"Master, if I may…" Kevin said, approaching, "…I know her name."

He paid him no heed, or seemed not to. "I would find you words, girl, before my gauntlet finds you cheek."

I clenched my teeth to stop my chin from quivering. Soon, though, I found what I need to say, "S-Samantha. Samantha Jackson."

He let go and stood up straight. "Samantha, is it?" The way he said my name made me shudder. My name wasn't one I liked hearing, at least to full length. That's why I had shorter versions, like Sammy or Sam. His voice made my name sound ominous. "I think I shall let you keep that name. It seems to suit you." He made his way around the throne again.

"What do you mean? And what are you going to do to me once I've been brainwashed?" I inquired as my stomach grew less settled.

"You see, you know things others don't. You seemed to know me at the first touch of my hand, at the first words I whispered to you, at the very first sight of me, whether my features were too dark to see or not. You know me and, from what I've heard, Twinrova just as well."

"Not quite as well." I corrected.

"However," he continued as if I hadn't spoken, "you don't know just me, you know things about me, where I came from, the magic I possess—though you can be strong minded, you do not underestimate me, and even in your fear you do not overestimate me, either. This cannot be allowed to be freed into the minds of those who follow so loyally, for I'm sure you know this could be your route to victory."

"So you plan to kill me?" I asked, thinking the idea stupid.

He turned to answer, for he was now in front of me. "Quite the contrary, my dear. Although I cannot let your words affect others, I plan to use them to my advantage."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "How?"

He merely chuckled. "Let me ask you, Samantha," I winced slightly here, not used to hearing my name in his voice, "how has The Boy stopped me in the past?"

I didn't want to answer, so I tried playing dumb.

"I do know you know this. And beyond that, I already know it. Do not think you can hide that way."

He could be terribly convincing, or perhaps just disheartening. I sighed. "He used the power of the Master Sword and the Light Arrows and sealed the you in the Sacred Realm with the help of the Seven Sages."

He was now pacing in front of me. "Seven…? So you know that detail…. And where did he get the Master Sword?"

"The Temple of Time."

"And the Arrows of Light?"

"Princess Zelda, the Seventh Sage."

"And when I returned and proved threatening once more? What did the hero do?"

"He did nothing. He wasn't awakened until much later."

"Oh? I remember some resistance. Wouldn't you enlighten me?"

I didn't want to. I know that he remembered precisely what happened. "The sages attempted to kill you. You lacked the Triforce of Power and they tried to destroy you entirely."

He nodded. "Go on."

I hesitated. "They failed. You might have died, but only briefly, because the Triforce of Power returned to you—for what reason I am unsure of. You returned… broke free of your binds... and were sent away into a new realm."

"Why?" He almost grinned.

I shut my eyes and sighed. "Because you were too powerful for them to deal with."

He nodded, less in understanding and more in agreement. "Now, we both know who has the Triforce of Power, who has the other two pieces?"

"Why am I answering you?" I asked abruptly, remembering what it was he was doing and what he wanted.

"That is not a question I can answer." He responded, his smile fading just a bit.

"Well, then, I'm done answering." I said finally.

He inhaled, about ready to angrily fire a retort to my statement, when two dark silhouettes, short and swift and so alike they might be accurately called twins. It was Twinrova, and I knew what that meant. I pushed myself against the back of the seat, keeping my wary eyes on their and their King's every movements. For some strange reason, Ganondorf didn't pose as near great a threat as when he was with the witches or completely alone, and since Kevin was still present, the second option was not an option.

Ganondorf's anger subsided as he saw what made me tense. He even grinned, leaving me suddenly more afraid than ever. Ganondorf stood behind Kevin as Twinrova decreased the space between us quickly. Each witch put one of their hands on mine, making me cringe. One hand, I believe it was my right, felt instantly frozen at Kotake's touch, and the other felt burned at the same touch of Koume.

"It has been a long time, hasn't it?" Kotake asked in an almost frosty yet kind voice.

"Not long enough, I'd wager."

"Oh, don't be so stubborn. We all know that this will be the most interesting day you've lived in your entire life." Koume said, truly cackling. Both witches seemed to burn my hands more, one with frost and the other with fire before releasing them simultaneously. My hands, then, burned from the air, making my frozen hand burn and my burned hand freeze. I wanted so badly to get my wrists loose and hold each and in the other. The fact that this couldn't be done was probably the worst feeling of it all.

"So, what now? You slit my wrists, mumble a few words I won't hear, and I fall unconscious, waking up without a mind?" I asked sarcastically.

"Oh, not quite, dear." Kotake answered.

"What you said about your wrists is true," Koume said, turning to Kevin and motioning for him to come forward, "but you will hear out words, and—well, we don't want to ruin the surprise, do we?"

When Kevin stood between the two, I noticed a velvet red cloth resting in his hands. Both Koume and Kotake began to unfold the cloth, slowly, but surely, revealing two, identical three-inch daggers. They looked less than fatal, but oddly quite sharp on the edges. I stared at them as the two witches picked one blade up each from Kevin's hands. I looked straight into Kevin's eyes, fear written all over my expression. He was calm and collective.

"Help me." I begged quietly.

His expression became determined and serious. "I am."

That was it, I was doomed. With those two words, I lost all hope and know that brainwashing was inevitable. I wasn't giving up yet, though, because if there was any way I could stall the ceremony, maybe the 'divine beings' who created the dome would do something—anything—to save me.

I was stunned by his answer until both of my wrists stung and seared in pain. When I looked, there was a small pool of blood on the arm rests of the chair, dripping drip by drip to the floor.

Then, they chanted;

"Magic of darkness, hear our cry,

See, here, this girl and give reply,

We spill her blood, warm and young

So before your mercy she's flung."

"Kevin, stop them!" My mind, though I could never explain how it felt, felt open and vulnerable suddenly. I needed help from anybody.

"Help them." Ganondorf whispered darkly to him. This, Kevin did without question or hesitation.

"Forget the King, we say,

Forget thyself and of childhood play."

My mind began to tingle as this dark magic engulfed my memories, my mind, and me entirely. But the spell wasn't finished, and I wasn't done fighting.

"Of all that has been

Forget what you have seen."

It felt like something was taken from me. I didn't forget much of anything, but it felt like fingers reaching into my mind, fingering my thoughts as if it was slowly deciding on which memories to let me have and which to take away. I was tense and after a moment or two of fighting, the hand was controlled—it didn't leave, but it was still.

"Of all that has been

Forget what you have seen."

They repeated these words and the feeling returned. Again, I restrained it and returned to a calmer mind. But soon, the three began to chant louder and faster, circling me as if they were trying to make me dizzy.

"Kevin, stop this!"

Surprisingly, he stopped chanting and circling me. He leaned forward to kiss me again, but I didn't let him. I didn't trust him anymore. "Oh, come now, one last time?"

"I'd rather spit in your face." I knew I wasn't going to be able to trust him, so I became instantly unfriendly.

He gave me a look of disappointment and distrust.

"How can you do this? Standing around and watching is—" I paused and winced as the fingers toyed with my mind again, "—is one thing, but helping them?"

"My master requires it of me. I will serve him loyally." He responded soundly. His opinion was not about to be swayed.

"God damn it, Kevin! He isn't your master! He—" again, the chant silenced me, "—he has taken everything over, including your free mind."

"Of all that has been

Forget what you have seen."

I grew extremely tense as his voice added strength to the spell. I had lost something, a memory. I think it was a name—my name, actually. I lost it, but I wasn't in need of it then. If I could get away remembering "King of Evil/Ganondorf = Bad" and "Bad = Stay away." I could make it.

"Of all that has been

Forget what you have seen."

I winced and growled the word "No" in stress and confusion.

"Of all that has been

Forget what you have seen."

I was able to ignore most of the command, and I even stopped the spell from working; my anger disrupted the magic's path. I, here, noticed Ganondorf standing no less than twenty feet away from me. He was glaring at me, as if in warning. I took no heed. I continued to fight.

"Of all that has been

Forget what you have seen."

After every repeat, I shut my eyes tight. In the time I did this, the King of Evil crossed the space between us and knelt before me. When I unclosed my eyes, he was what I saw, which melted my anger into fear. I looked away and regained my composure before the spell had time to continue.

"Of all that has been

Forget what you have seen."

I winced at the feeling, but lost nothing, and Ganondorf knew this. He also knew that I was quite afraid of him, so he seized a firm hold on my chin and directed my attention into his eyes, his hate-filled eyes. This one action did me in; I was frightened out of my mind. I wanted to pull away, but he had my head pushed hard against the back of the seat and only directed my attention with a jerk of his hand in any direction he needed.

"Of all that has been

Forget what you have seen."

I lost my army of protection in my mind. I was over-run with magic fingers—fingers earlier, now nets. I couldn't begin to stop them—I couldn't begin to guess which memories or thoughts they were going to take until it was already done.

"Of all that has been

Forget what you have seen."

I lost the names of all those who were dear to me.

I lost who those people were.

I was left with no more than a vague imprint of those who were closest to me.

"Of all that has been

Forget what you have seen."

I lost memories of those I had acquainted

I lost memories of places I had been and that meant so much to me.

I lost all of this, and was left with nothing.

The boy who circled me was even unfamiliar.

"Of all that has been

Forget what you have seen."

"Stop it! Please!" I cried to all who would hear or possibly listen.

"Of all that has been

Forget what you have seen."

I lost everything, and the very last thing to go was my memory of Hyrule and of Ganondorf Dragmire.

At this strain of loss, pain, and confusion, my mind shut itself down. I lost consciousness just after the King of Evil leaned forward and whispered three words into my ear.

"You are mine."

A/N: So, here it finally is. If you follow me on deviantART, you know that I posted this a while back. I just haven't had the time since to post it here. This version was edited a bit more accurately than the other one, though.

The story is getting depressing, I know. But what would you expect from an "end of the world" story?

Comments? Questions? Reviews? I accept them all, just don't be mean. It's always nice when people aren't mean.