Thank you for all the reviews you have been giving me! They really encourage me to continue. I'm really feeling Ganondorf's character. I have a thing for the antagonists of media and art. I see fics from time to time with Ganondorf as a character, but I'm really going to delve deeper than most of them I've checked out. : ) Review review!

~ Past, present, future… you must travel back through time's flow, listen to this Requiem of Spirit… this melody will lead a child back to the desert. ~

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Ganondorf was the first to awaken come morning, and the one to provide breakfast for the both of them: if it could be called that. Leftover lizard didn't leave much to the appetite. It wasn't the most fortuitous of prospects, but it would have to do under their circumstances. The trouble was, this was the only food they had, and, Ganondorf had no doubt, the only food they'd be having as long as they remained here. They'd have to find something more filling after escaping from the gorge: which brought to light another problem he hadn't thought much on the night before. How would they possibly escape from such a large gorge in the first place?

They couldn't climb up: it would be far too high and too dangerous to attempt. Ganondorf could just barely make out the top of the cliff, and if he squinted, the Valley's bridge in the distance, but beyond that, nothing. The rapids were too strong to go by way of the river, which was a pity because it led right to Hyrule Lake, where the water seemed to be peaceful. It also wasn't a great deal far away from the Ranch. He'd only visited the lake once, when the king held a meeting with some of the many visiting unmemorable ambassadors to show off one of Hyrule's greatest resources. He craned his neck outside the cavern's mouth, watching the waters rush around the gorge's twists and turns.

Hyrule's resource, indeed.

His lip curled instinctively to make a sneer. Where did they think the water came from? It wasn't a gift to the Hylians, not something they cultivated and created themselves. They hadn't even dug the lake out; that effort was claimed by the Zoras, long before Ganondorf had been born. The water came from the lands beyond the Gerudo, but was technically part of their territory since the river ran through their valley. But did they ever hear any thanks? Did they hear any gratitude or contributions whatsoever? No. Of course they didn't.

Ganondorf could still hear one of the many blank faces speaking to him among the multiple ambassadors, laughing, "I suppose your society doesn't know much about the finer points of water, does it? Living in the desert alone and poorly supplied must leave you with much to be desired. A pity. But an excellent time to ally your people with the kingdom ruled by Daphnes, after all, how else would you survive?" The memory made his ears burn. If only he could remember the man's face, he may be able to imagine killing in various ways and take some consolation in that. But thinking on the past would not do him good here and now. The bottom line was, they weren't going to be traveling by river anytime soon.

"Good morning."

Ganondorf turned, stunned and snapped out of his thoughts. The boy was looking at him and stretching a little.

"Good Morning." Had he really just wished his mortal enemy a good morning in return? Well, why not. What else was he supposed to do? The response had been instinctual; he convinced himself, and nothing more.

"Sorry I overslept." Link joined Ganondorf in looking outside the cavern. "I'm a pretty heavy sleeper."

The night had not helped the awkwardness pass. Ganondorf shrugged a shoulder. "Your laziness doesn't matter. We aren't going anywhere soon, unless you want to swim."

Link eyed the frothing water rushing past the edge of the cavern with distaste. "No, thanks." He couldn't help but look to his body's chest, jutting his chin out a bit as he spoke. "Are you feeling… better? Since last night?"

Ganondorf shrugged again to respond. "It just throbs. I doubt you have an infection, since the removal was swift. You'll likely be achy when you get back into your body, which will only contribute to your downfall, but I'm alright with that," his lips curved up into an unpleasant smile. "The weaker you are, the easier you'll be destroyed."

Link sighed. "Can we at least wait until we're in our own bodies to think about killing one another? I've had a pretty rough week so far."

Ganondorf arched an eyebrow as he leaned back, offering the boy some breakfast and chewing some himself, nodding vaguely. "I suppose we've more important things to think about. They won't be satisfied when they see our bodies haven't shown up at the Lake. The war party will come here to look for us, probably trying to dredge bit by bit. It's possible we could have died in the rapids, but sooner or later, they'll want a body."

"That dedicated, huh?" Link asked, swallowing the food he'd been chewing.

"You don't know Nabooru like I do." Ganondorf replied, wiping his hands on the boy's tunic as he finished.

Link chose not to mention it and cleared his throat instead. "… I remember her saying she used to work under you or something like that. How long have you known her, anyway?" Link sat crosslegged, an interested look on his face as if looking forward to a story.

"None of your business, kid," Ganondorf snapped, so tight and quick it almost took away Link's breath.

There's something there. Link reasoned as he analyzed his body. It was absolutely incredible how much of the man's emotions registered on a different face. He could see the anger almost pulsing through his neck veins, the hatred burning behind his blue eyes. He'd never been able to tell what Ganondorf was thinking when looking at the man before. Maybe because he'd never tried to read him. But now… he could feel something. Something unspoken. And out of all the people he'd met, out of all the history he'd learned of Hyrule, Link found he was the most curious about this man. Does he… feel something for her? Did he? How well do they know each other? Were they ever friends, maybe even more? I wish I knew.

"We have to find a way out of this cavern quick…" Ganondorf suddenly stiffened, holding out a hand for silence, his eyes drawn outside.

"Keep looking!"

"Do you see anything?"

"Nothing over here!"

"They have to be somewhere, keep looking!"

Link met Ganondorf's gaze in panic, his voice a whispered hush. "I guess it's sooner."

Damn, damn… we can't stay here. We have to think fast. Why can't Nabooru mind her own damn business for once? She always has to meddle in everything, always has to be in charge!

"There's a cavern down here, great Nabooru! It appears large enough to take shelter in! I cannot see inside from here, but we could successfully inspect it further before the night is over!"

"Good!" Even from the distance between them and the rushing of the river water churning outside the entrance to the cavern, Link recognized Nabooru's bark of affirmation. "Start preparations so we can do so!"

Ganondorf met Link's eyes and the two waited until the voices faded into silence. "We can't stay. We must leave, now, before it's too late."

"How do we do that?" Link asked, taking another look outside the cavern as the sun cast shadows along the walls.

"I don't know, alright? But we have to find a way or we'll be discovered. Think, boy, think." The boy seemed to stare all the harder at him, and Ganondorf grimaced. "What?"

"… You wouldn't happen to have any of my things with you, would you?" Link asked, in a tone that hoped the man didn't.

"Your things?... Oh… hey, that's right, all your… junk." Ganondorf reached a hand inside the tunic's folds, but felt nothing. "I don't think so, but I had a lot on hand before…" Suddenly he stopped groping and grimaced. The fairy… the boy's fairy… it was in my tunic before when I was coming to see him… He opened his mouth to say something to the effect when his hand brushed something like glass. "Hnh?" He enclosed his hand around the neck of a bottle and pulled, withdrawing the bottle holding the boy's fairy.

Even from inside the bottle, the fairy screamed. "Link! Watch out! It's Ganondorf! Don't you touch him! Link, quick, let me out!"

In order to keep her quiet, Ganondorf popped the cork, and the fairy flew from the confines of the bottle directly across the way, where she angrily attacked the boy, tugging his hair and flitting out of the way as he grabbed for it.

Link clutched at the roots of his red hair, waving a hand harmlessly to keep her away from him, careful not to hit her. "Ouch! Stop that!"

"Don't worry, Link! I'll protect you!" she called, racing back to Ganondorf's side.

He beamed from ear to ear as the fairy bounced overhead. "And you're doing a bang-up job, Nabi."

"Her name is Navi!" Link held out his hands palm-up, his eyebrows furrowing, surrendering to her. "Navi… It's me… Link."

The fairy paused suddenly in air, wings flitting to keep her hovering, her light shimmering softly among the cavern's shadows. Her voice came a second later. "…Link?"

"Yeah… it's me…"

She bobbed over to see him and then looked back at Ganondorf, who sighed. "Oh, well. It was fun while it lasted. Yes, he's right. The boy and I have switched bodies."

The fairy's wings beat faster, her light glowing brighter. "And you knew it the whole time! You let me attack him! Why, you… You evil, evil man!"

Ganondorf shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly as if rolling the insult off. "You really should be blaming yourself. You and all those so-called 'friends' of yours. Neither they nor you noticed anything out of the ordinary… which should bring to light the question… how well do your friends really know you… hero?" His eyes snapped to meet Link's, staring deeply at him, face impassive from emotion.

Link sneered, an emotion not usually seen on his face, but too often on Ganondorf's to be out of the ordinary. His face softened when he looked up at his fairy. "Navi, listen to me… you can't tell anyone what's happened… not until we've changed back. You have to do your best to pretend I am who I am, alright? Ganondorf and I have a pact together… and I don't trust him… but I don't have a choice. Neither of us does."

The fairy alighted on his fingers, tickling them and making him laugh softly. "I'll do my best, Link… but I'm worried. Do you know how to change back?"

"Not yet," Link confided, looking across the way to Ganondorf. "But I have an idea of how we can get started. Do you have my ocarina in there, too?"

"The Ocarina of Time? Come to think of it… I did see it earlier…" Ganondorf drew a hand back inside the folds, brushing the smooth surface of the glossy blue instrument. "How in the goddesses' name do you bloody do that, kid?" He removed it and shook the tunic, which appeared loose, but apparently held much more than Ganondorf expected. "How do you carry all this stuff on you without feeling it at all?"

Ganondorf's puzzlement made Link laugh again softly. "It's something to do with being the hero of time, I guess. I have to carry a lot around, so whenever I want something, I find I just have to think on it and it sort of… appears."

"Useful," Ganondorf replied, looking over the ocarina. You must be the hero the Goddesses chose. No one else could be that damn lucky or gifted. "But you should consider carrying around better tools instead of empty bottles and small instruments. If only it wasn't green I would consider a slight change of color, or style… to take advantage of it."

"Green is my favorite color. I'll take your advice under consideration," Link replied, holding out a hand as Ganondorf passed the ocarina to him. "Your fingers are a little bigger than mine… a lot bigger, but I should be able to do this if I concentrate… I think you'll have to be touching me to come with me, though."

"Touching you." Ganondorf echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Come with you? Where do you think we're going? Are you just going to 'magically' wish us out of the gorge?"

Link smiled. "Trust me. Just… take my arm."

Ganondorf stayed put for a moment or two, then sighed audibly and crawled over, hooking his arm into Link's much bigger one. "If you were going to do something, do it. I'm feeling stupider by the moment."

Link couldn't help but laugh and lifted the ocarina to his lips. I don't know the precautions about doing this with more than one person, but… I have to try. I'll go to the closest place. He took a breath, and suddenly, as he exhaled, the ocarina began to sing. It was a song Ganondorf recognized vaguely, or at least part of one. Over very quickly, the notes themselves seemed to infuse themselves into him. Yes, he knew this song. It was part of a war march he'd heard long ago, but never played himself. He looked down at himself and noted his body was tingling, as if he'd slept on everything the wrong way.

"What did you do?" he asked, but his voice sounded far away. He felt sleepy, light-headed, and nauseous as his grip on Link's arm slackened. The ground seemed to give way, and the world around him disappeared in a blur of color.

A wave of heat washed over him, and suddenly he was standing on stone steps, steps blasted with sand, staring at a towering pillar of rock forming a column in front of him, and beyond that, desert. "Wh… what… what was that?" He lost his footing and stumbled to regain it. "You couldn't have warned me?"

"I should have said something… sorry… I can warp to places around Hyrule using different melodies… they seem to have some kind of power behind the songs." Link offered him a hand.

Ganondorf regained his footing, pushing the boy's hand away as he bent to help. He turned around and faced the feat of the Gerudo- the towering stone monument, their greatest architectural achievement that was simply known as the Desert Colossus.

"You okay?" Link asked, Navi hovering by his left shoulder.

I haven't been here for some time… not like this… He gazed up, trying to see the top of the statue decorating the front of the temple, but he couldn't make it out clearly with the glare of the sun. I can't stay here. I can't do that. He turned to the boy and started down the steps. "Let's go. We don't have business here."

Link exchanged a glance with Navi and shrugged with a vague nod.

"You there! Hey! Who goes there?"

Both Link and Ganondorf stiffened, the voice vaguely familiar, a figure riding towards the temple atop of a cocoa-colored horse and approaching quickly, quivering under the guise of the heat rising from the ground like a mirage.

Ganondorf whirled to face Link. "Take cover!" Both ducked behind pillars closest to each other, stiffening into crouches. Unprepared to confront whoever was approaching the temple, Ganondorf took his pleas to the Goddesses, unsure if he did so out of desperation or belief. Please…I don't want to confront her again… please… let it be a guard… let them think it's a trick of their eyes… if I've ever asked you for anything, Goddesses, anything at all… He stopped in mid-thought, his breath stilling. He'd asked them for things before… and it had never ended well.

"I know you're there! Come out before I force you out at the tip of my sword!"

The voice rang with painful familiarity to Ganondorf, familiarity he couldn't rid himself of. A pebble bounced off his shoulder and he glanced across the way where the boy was motioning for him to listen to Nabooru, to go out. Ganondorf nodded. In the form he took now, he would be putting himself in no danger. He straightened, swallowed to steel himself, and stepped out from behind the pillar, stretching himself to the boy's full height.

"It's me."

Nabooru pulled back on the reins of her horse, slowing it too suddenly for it not to rear before stopping. She slipped off, patting its nose once as she led it over towards Link. She stopped a few feet away. "It is you… Link… kid… are you… are you alright?" she asked, coming closer. "You were, you were shot...I saw it happen. How did you-"

Goddesses… it is her… it really is… and she's right here before me. Ganondorf stared at her, unhearing of her further speech, but certainly not unseeing. Nabooru's body curved as smoothly as an hourglass, full in the bosom and curving neatly to expose her cleavage over the upper ties of her outfit. She'd been jostling as she rode. Her sculpted stomach still moved rapidly in and out with effort. Her caramel skin glistened with sweat beads, bare in so many places Ganondorf couldn't settle on one. Living among women had not lessened their physical appeal to him. Her red hair was frizzed from the ride, tied up in a ponytail among a ruby jewel. The same color jewel hung from her neck on a pendant, and similarly, on bracelets decorating her upper arms, placed there like most Gerudo women, to separate them from one another, as red hair and caramel skin were common. Jewels were chosen and placed strategically to give a sense of individuality, apart from the forehead. On her forehead she wore an amber jewel, a namesake for the Gerudo much like he did.

But the thing that unsettled him the most, the thing he'd always focused on whenever he'd seen her, were her eyes. Those golden, gleaming eyes, so rich and bright they put any treasure to shame. A soft dusting of golden makeup shimmered beneath the sun, exposing those eyes to an even greater measure.

"Kid? Hey, kid? You still with me? Sure you're alright?"

"Hnh?" Ganondorf blinked, only to see her give him a scrutinizing look. Ganondorf rarely felt nervous. He was used to being the commanding force in any situation. But seeing Nabooru's stare suddenly turn curious, suspicious, made him extremely ill at ease. If there were any one person he might suspect to figure out things were not as they seemed, he would expect it to be Nabooru. Her and that insatiable curiosity of hers. "Fine." He quickly continued, fabricating as he went along. "Took a day to heal and came here… I thought it would be the best place to figure out where Ganondorf has gone next."

"You look better," she agreed, "but why would you jump in front of the arrow, anyway? It looked to us like you were trying to save his life." She stared at him with utter confusion laced on her face.

Well don't look so disheartened by the thought, Nabooru. "The way she was going to kill him… it wasn't right." The lie flowed from his mouth with the fluidity of the Gerudo Valley river. "She was going to murder him. Enough people have seen that with his reign." Yes, that sounded good. "I wasn't going to let him die that way… he had to be taken before the king… to have a trial… there had to be justice… even when dealing with him." He finished with the slightest narrowing of his eyes to emphasize his seriousness, stealing the show entirely. If it had been opportune, he would have bowed.

Nabooru's body language relaxed after a moment. She let her shoulders sag with a vague nod. "I agree with you. I have seen Aveil punished for what she attempted. She is no longer part of the group hunting Ganondorf."

Part of Ganondorf felt giddy as he spoke. "Have you any sign of him yet? Since the fall?"

"No… we haven't." Nabooru bent her head down with a tilt of her chin, a look of frustration entering her features Ganondorf found almost endearing. "But we will not give up, not until we find him and he has taken stand for what he's done…"

"No, I know you won't." Ganondorf felt the corners of his lips turn in a smile. "And neither will he."

"In any case… we must tell the others both you and Ganondorf are alive…" She approached close, close enough so he could smell the desert scent on her, the powerful adrenalin studding her skin in sweat. She lifted a hand and placed it on his shoulder, the two of them near equal in height. Then she stared for a moment at him, her gaze deep, searching.

Though he tried not to, he managed to hold the eye contact. "… What is it?" Don't smile. Don't smile. It's a serious moment for her. For you. Wipe that smile off your face. Look serious. You want to bring the evil Ganondorf to justice. Picture them bringing you to justice.

Nabooru raised her hand and gave the back of his head a stern thwack, making him bend over for a moment in reconciliation. "That's for trying to take Ganondorf on your own and making all of us worry sick over you!"

"Ouch!" Ganondorf blurted instinctively, rubbing the back of his head to ease the pain. "That hurt!"

"Good! Maybe you'll think next time before doing something so stupid, kid!" she snapped, crossing her arms.

Ganondorf pouted, irritated at himself and at Nabooru. He could have taught her a lesson about even touching him in the first place, but not now. Not in this body. Unfortunately, he had no choice but to take the punishment in stride. "Alright, alright! Just… don't hit me again…" he grumbled, pretending to brush off his clothing of sand instead of focusing on the still throbbing back of his head.

"Would you like to join me?" she gestured to the horse behind her. "The sooner we get back to the others, the sooner they can stop worrying and we can make further plans."

"No, not now." He continued quickly to explain himself, his falsehoods knowing no bounds. "I need a while alone… to think… to reason what Ganondorf will do… ride on without me." He grit his teeth and forced the next words from his mouth. "Tell the others I will see them all shortly." She stared at him with golden eyes, so intense, so pure, they made him tack on something else he truly loathed to say. "And… tell the princess… tell Zelda… I'm sorry."

Her expression waned and she nodded, returning to her horse and swinging into the saddle with a swift motion, taking the reins in hand. "I'll tell her. Just don't stay away too long, kid. She had half my followers searching for you instead of Ganondorf." She turned her horse around and gave it a smack on the rump to send it off. Ganondorf watched her go, still looking in her direction long after she'd disappeared from sight.

"Wow, that was… really good…"

He turned to see the boy approaching him, the fairy bobbing by his shoulder. "What was?"

"The way you talked… you might have even fooled me. If I weren't… me. You said some things I'd have said myself. I didn't think I'd ever hear you apologize for anything, even insincerely."

"Don't get used to it," Ganondorf mumbled, turning away and setting his gaze on the distance westward, where the swirling sand blocked anything from view.

"So where should we go next? I can take us by warp to Hyrule Lake. That should get us close enough to Lon Lon without attracting any unwanted attention. The festival doesn't start until tomorrow night. That should leave us enough time to find a decent hiding place for you and keep you close to me." Link turned and saw Ganondorf, a finger twirling a piece of his blonde hair. "Hey! The least you could do is listen to my plan. It may not be the best, but it's all we have."

"I'm listening." The words were spoken calmly, too calmly for Link's comfort. "And I like it. It's quick and it makes sense. There's just one problem we're bound to run into."

"What's that?" Link asked, eyebrows furrowing.

"We need supplies for you. You need fresh clothing, food, water, things I won't likely be able to deliver to you as often as you'll require them. I won't even be able to risk bringing you things without someone seeing me, at least not three times a day for meals."

"I've noticed you do eat way more often than I do," Link offered, trying to soften the mood with a sheepish look.

"It's the body," Ganondorf replied, waving a hand nonchalantly. "I'm simply larger than you are. A body with more stature needs more food to survive. It probably has something to do with the Triforce of Power, as well. You burn more energy. I would bring you enough to keep my body strong and healthy, but… with all those people hanging on your every move… it's not likely to happen."

"So what do we do?" asked Link, following Ganondorf's gaze. "Where do we find supplies?"

"… I think I know a place." Ganondorf said, finger still twirling the lock of loose hair.

"Where?" Link followed his gaze, and then looked back down at him. "Wait, there? But I can't go back there! I can't play you as well as you can me. They'll be wanting to know my plans of attack, my strategies. How will we even get there? Only Gerudo know the way-" he caught Ganondorf's scrutinizing glower. "Oh. Right. But still- I can't act you."

"I know." Ganondorf sighed. "Which just means we'll have to get what we need quickly and find our hiding place for you quicker." I swore I would never go back. I've broken promises before, but this is one… I hoped I never would. So much for promises. Sumata… I'm coming back.

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Oblivion772: I wonder if he will… ;) Wouldn't it be nice and different? Thanks, but I don't feel my skill has increased much, the beginning was just terrible to write. Blah. I still don't like it. I hope you stick around to see what happens next!

FriedCuccoLady: I assume he just judged the size of his hand based on looking, not exactly measure. xD I wouldn't say at this point Ganondorf sees Link as anything but a means to an end, but that may change. Don't feel sorry for praising me. All writers/artists secretly (if not outwardly) love to have their egos stroked from time to time. I know I do! Thank you for all the praise and I hope you continue to enjoy it.

Opin88: Oh ho ho you sneaky think aheader you! Good on you! Hope you enjoyed this chapter which addresses that problem! No, it won't be a Gan/Link fic, although they do exist, it's just not my thing. I do, unfortunately, have to tell you that this fic will have romance in pieces though (because omg romance which you've probably already noticed by this point 3) but I'm glad you're enjoying it despite and maybe you can just skip those parts. ;) Feel better!

Yami no Nokutan: Lol, right you are! I am actually reminded of the broadway play "Wicked", which is inspiration for a lot of this fic. I have no idea if you know of musicals or not, but the song "What Is This Feeling" sums it up pretty well.

The one who writes the ones: Let's hope they aren't found out…