Chapter 8: The Making of History

In his chambers the highest person in all the land sits resting. He has been busy most of the day with the affairs of his republic and is duly tired. He had not even mustered the energy to see his nemesis behind bars and in that he was disappointed in himself as he had looked forward to that a great deal but simply did not have the time for it. "Being a dictator is hard work." Ganondorf thinks to himself. "I hardly have time for the things I want to do."

"My liege, a pertinent message." Says a familiar and always welcome voice from the door. "It does bear your timely attention."

"Ah, Impa!" G-Man smiles as his second-in-command releases her salute. "What is pertinent as of this moment?"

"Zelda is back in jail. Disorderly conduct, destruction of public property..."

"Ah, her old M.O." He laughs. "I pity whoever set her off. What of them this time?"

"Alive and unhurt, surprisingly."

"If she doesn't start showing some restraint she's going to knock someone's head off with that Tri-Force." The official shakes his head with a tolerant smile. "What else bears prompt consideration aside from another mark on my favorite ex-princess's criminal record?"

"Your last patient, the traitor Link has a request. He wishes to speak to you personally."

"That does not surprise me either. Is a carriage ready for me to go?"

"Yes but my liege..."

"Yes, my most trusted? You seem troubled."

"He requested that you speak with him alone."

"That I fully expected. Considering the high crimes against the Republic he has committed by now he knows that the hearing and trial are mere formalities. Has to be desperate now. He very probably would kill me if he could."

"Precisely!" His lead bodyguard explains. "Exactly as I was thinking! This is why I strongly advise against-"

"I will see him."

"But sire!"

"Send word that his request is granted. We shall be off presently."

"He is exceptionally resourceful and dangerous! I cannot allow-"

"You do not 'allow' me!" The Prime Minister thunders. "Is there the slightest bit of opacity to your station and mine?"

"No, but in my humble opinion-"

"Should I require your opinion I will command it of you! Is that clear?"

"Crystalline, my lord." The highest ranking retainer remembers she is just that, a retainer and bows her head in contrition. "I shall prep the carriage, may I take my leave?"

"Be swift. I want this done soon. I have a special address I need to prepare for tomorrow."

X

Standing at the entrance of the Republic's first police headquarters G-Man smiles to himself. A captain leads his carriage away and the deputy chief leads him to the interrogation room.

"As requested by the Prime Minister there will be no one listening in on the conversation. Other officers are on standby. Are you sure you want to do this alone?"

"Yes, it is his request." Looking into the window at the enemy of the state G-Man frowns. "Why is he restrained?"

"Even though he has been nothing but cooperative we do have him restrained as he has been charged with an exceptionally violent crime as I'm sure-"

"Remove them."

"What?"

"Remove the restraints. He is barely out of the hospital and recovering. I did the surgery and I know this for a fact. I doubt he is a serious threat to me."

"But your grace-"

"Must I repeat myself?"

"At once." The deputy chief is in and out in a moment, chains in hand. "I know he's been very compliant but that can change in just an instant. It's a heck of a risk to take, sir."

"I am aware."

"He's an assassin!"

"A failed one." G-Man turns to enter. "Leave us."

"As you command."

"You also, my most trusted."

Impa simply salutes. "Be safe my lord."

The Commissioner and Deputy Chief take their leave and only the Prime Minister is standing before the door to the interrogation room. Through the smoky glass he can see the prisoner waiting patiently like an obedient child with hands folded and it makes him laugh. "Now time for the last act to begin..." He opens the door. "Link, you requested an audience?"

"I did." The young man replies simply. "Thank you for coming."

"I am only sorry that I could not host this in somewhere more elegant but the law dictates what we have to do, doesn't it?"

"Indeed it does." Link looks around. "Are you alone?"

"It is only us two, as you requested."

"Very bold of you to come by yourself and leave me free to move. You make this too easy."

"What can you do to me? If you break your stitches you will bleed to death internally and I assure you that I can handle myself quite well, thank you."

Link laughs, a strangely mirthless sound for one so young. "I do not have to touch you to take you down, Ganondorf."

"Call me G-Man, it is easier on the ears. What my mother was thinking when she named me still eludes me even with this Tri-Force..." He chuckles. "Did you call me here for more empty threats? Honestly I do have a state to run you know."

"Oh no, after all...I asked you here alone for your own sake." The blond youth smiles rakishly. "After all, you wouldn't want the truth to leave this room would you?"

"Truth? Ha! What do you, an enemy of the state know about truth?"

"Much more than you think."

"Do you enjoy being a dolt?"

"Do you enjoy being right?"

"Of course I do!"

"Then you have answered your own question."

"Why am I here? You tire me with your slow-witted rambling."

"Have you ever killed anyone?"

Link's question catches G-Man off guard. "I beg your pardon?"

"I didn't think my Hylian was that bad...I asked you if you ever killed anyone."

"Well..."

"Have you ever killed anyone?" Link repeats. "It is a simple question and you are far from simple, Prime Minister."

"No."

The laugh again, chilling from a face filled with childish energy. "Are you afraid of the truth?"

"No."

"Then why is that the second lie you've told?"

"Who are you to dictate-"

"It is common knowledge that seven years ago almost to this very day that the former King of Hyrule died a very sudden death. That the princess and her attendant fled the castle just hoof beats ahead of you, the murderer of the king."

"I have done countless good deeds to repair the sin of that day!" G-Man trills. "Under me this kingdom has prospered into a beautiful, constantly advancing place! Where would Hyrule be without my intervention?"

"I did not ask you that. I asked if you had ever killed anyone. Have you ever killed anyone?"

"Yes but it is neither here nor there!"

"It is but think what you like. Have any of your officers killed anyone under your orders?"

"In the line of duty of course! Your questions are laughable, what bearing do they have and why do you require my time?"

The confined one ignores that question and keeps on with his own line of queries. "Have you ever personally overseen your officers in the line of duty? Gave a specific order and led them?"

"I am Commander-in-Chief, are you mentally deficient? Of course I have!"

"With your knowledge you must oversee them regularly, yes?"

"My patience grows thin, boy."

"Tell me, do you do your own diplomacy?"

"Always. I am the face of Hyrule."

"Interesting..."

"What of it?"

"So you went to meet with the Gorons?"

"Personally, yes. We have a mutually beneficial partnership. In exchange for help with their relocation they help this kingdom expand."

"I love your phrases, do you believe half of what you say?"

"Excuse me?"

"Give a doomed man a chance to smile, forgive the cheap shot." Link chuckles and then turns serious again. "You arranged to accommodate the Gerudo also, yes?"

"I oversaw the apartments I built to house my people, yes. It was a dire need after the flooding in the valley."

"So says the history books. I have been learning a great deal about history you see. I have been so very curious about how this 'republic' came to be."

"Am I supposed to be impressed?"

"What of the Zora, G-Man?"

"Zora? An old wives tale I assure you."

The laugh again. It is like listening to pebbles bouncing lightly off a sword blade. "You are talking to the Republic's youngest historian, you must be kidding!"

"I have personally written most of the history books myself, as the holder of the Tri-Force of Wisdom. I can tell you with almost total certainty that legend is in the fairy tale section of the library."

"Most, not all. How else could a dolt like me know about Zoras?"

"There are no Zoras." G-Man says flatly.

"I'm sure you wish that were true. They've been quite the thorn in your side since they created the B.W.G."

"Zoras don't exist."

"I know that you tried to blow them up and did a very good job but that does not just erase them off of the face of time."

"You speak of make-believe, I am done here." G-Man stands and Link does as well. "I suggest you sit back down. Unarmed combat is something I invented, do not try me."

"No."

"Lay a finger on me and-"

"You expect me to believe you can sweep the existence of an entire race of people under the rug because it so suits you? Link bellows, slamming both hands down on the table with considerable force and leaning forward into Ganondorf's face, rage scribed on his own. "That through sheer strength of will alone you can alter history so that even the wise can't see you for what you really are?"

"Your lunacy is quite-"

"That you can LAUGH in the faces of the people you kill because for you there will be no reprisals? That the highest man in the land isn't a selfish murderer?" There is silence a moment and suddenly there is a pained expression on Link's face. "Ah, my stomach..." He sits back down. "This hurts..."

"You probably strained or popped a stitch or four somewhere. If you're lucky you'll live but you don't look well all the sudden."

"Damn...you may win this after all..."

"My boy, I have already won." G-Man says, sitting back down. "This was a foregone conclusion when you awakened with my brochure in hand."

"That was you!"

"Of course! I knew you would return eventually."

"Just...oh...hurts to talk..."

"Such a shame."

"Will you laugh when I die, too?"

G-Man laughs raucously. "Does that count, dear boy?"

"Sometimes I wish I were on the winning team..."

"A little late for a change of heart, regrettably."

"When you gave the order to destroy Zora's Domain did you laugh or only when you killed their king?"

"Only when I killed the king. It was coming for standing in my way. If he had simply taken my offer as the Gorons and Kokiri did it would not have happened."

"I guess the Kokiri weren't too hard to persuade..."

"The kids were cake. I'm still having trouble from those fish fools though. Destroying the place was for good measure and I can't imagine how much worse it would be if I didn't and more of them had survived."

"I'm surprised you haven't eliminated them totally..."

"Their time will come. Their leaders are exceptionally capable but fallible. Ruto will talk."

"I doubt it. She will die a hero to her people by defying you to her last breath."

"Or so she hopes. All in the name of progress."

"Your power plant."

"My greatest project yet. As soon as the Zora are out of the way I can finish it. I can harness water to create power to give to my kingdom and create something that will change the face of civilization forever!"

"But by starting this project you've already changed everything. Your own people are displaced by flooding you caused and living in a rat hole neighborhood you built for them, will this be worth it?"

"The Republic will benefit."

"Is that how you justified genocide, too?"

"I didn't justify that. That you've spent all day reading history I was sure I had kept secret..."

"I'm not the only one who knows."

"Then how am I still Prime Minister? This has been a fun game but I really must be going-"

"Drop the charges against me and Ruto or everything we discussed will be aired out during my trial."

"Aaahhh! So thisis your trump card? Pathetic. Your credibility is zero or did you forget your brief stint as a suicide bomber in the middle of downtown Hyrule?"

"The information is already on its way. Not only am I not the only one who knows but soon so will everyone."

"You plan on holding a course with a single dusty book?"

"Or have the former princess of Hyrule show up during a town meeting with a special guest. She's been an upstanding, if hot-headed, and well-known citizen. Not to mention how a living, breathing, battle-scarred old wives tale will speak for herself."

"You're bluffing!"

"Can you afford to take that chance now?"

"They're locked up!"

"How much do you want to bet?"

"Any amount!"

"How patient is Zelda? Would you bet against the Tri-Force of Power with just flimsy iron bars?"

A very dark complexion by birth and nature makes Ganondorf pale still in the brown range but it is quite light considering. It is as white as he can get as he gets up from the chair and makes for the door to call Link's hopefully very imaginative bluff. Upon opening the door he stumbles back into the room doubled over, struck in the throat and abdomen expertly by an open hand and foot. On his knees gasping for air he looks up at his assailant in utter disbelief. "Impa?" He wheezes. "Stand down at once!"

"That I cannot do." The Commissioner replies. "Not knowing what you've just admitted to."

"I specifically ordered you to leave us alone!"

"Which I grudgingly did until all of the shouting kept going on. After I heard what I thought was the table falling over I did what was only prudent with a very dangerous and unpredictable suspect-"

The truth dawns on G-Man like a stone from the sky. "You charlatan! Charades!" He attempts to shout at the person who suddenly no longer looks ill in the least. "You lied to me! There is no book!"

"I asked if you were afraid of the truth, I know that lies don't bother you." Link says with a smile. "But of course with me dying you would have to rub it in now wouldn't you?"

"Lies, all of it my most trusted!"

"Save your breath. It all makes so much sense now. The perfect crime and the perfect people to take the fall for it. You kept these things from me as you always told me that diplomacy was best done without a bodyguard. I of course bought right into it but it makes so much sense why your trips to see the Zoras were so hectic and unsatisfactory. How they were insensible war mongers who threatened the Republic you work so hard to protect. You had no choice but to attack their stronghold but instead of destroy the threat to the kingdom you created it by committing a crime so grotesque that the level of outrageously heinous that it is needs a history book in and of itself!"

"How can that possibly be true?"

"Because they had been there countless years before your attempts at 'diplomacy' and one visit from you and you've got everyone up in arms. You created the Black Water Guerillas. The savvy and dangerous rebels against the state that you told me of, you made them exist out of necessity for their own survival!"

"It was for the good of the Republic!"

"No...it was for the good of the kingdom...your kingdom." Impa sighs and is flanked by several officers seemingly out of nowhere. "Arrest the Prime Minister. He has been officially impeached."