CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
"Acceptance"
A moment later, Vaati's feet could be heard shuffling in the sand. Brittany's breath hitched in her throat as a pair of comforting arms wrapped around her. A voice, soft and troubled, whispered in her ear.
"How could you ever think that I would think you were a freak?" Vaati rasped. "I can't believe...all of this time, you have had to deal with such horrible memories on your own!"
The mage's words became increasingly anger-laden. Brittany could feel the fury surrounding her and could only imagine the rage blazing in the his already flame-colored eyes.
"Vaati..." she choked out. "How can you even stand to be near me after what I did? I turned on members of my own family for Mother and I got what I deserved-"
"The hell, you did! That was your Mother's fault. And your father and the rest of your family had their own agenda, so how were you to stop it? Or what happened with the Gerudo?" the mage sighed. "Brittany...no matter how hard you try, you cannot control the actions of everyone around you. No matter what, they will only follow their own hearts," he lowered his voice, "even if their hearts are tainted with darkness...I should know."
Brittany wiped her eyes and struggled out of the hug. Vaati sat back and looked at her.
"Whatever evil person you think you are, I assure you that those are false assumptions."
"But, how can-"
"-I say that?" Vaati giggled emptily. "I was evil, remember? When I was under the influence of Ezlo's wishing cap, that darkness contorted my heart and made me do things that I shudder to remember," he cast his eyes down. "If anyone is a monster here, it is me."
"No, you're not!" the Empath burst out, causing Vaati to snap his head up. A flood of harried emotions raced through her wide, impassioned eyes. "You're one of the bravest, most caring people I have ever met! You may have gotten mixed up in a lot of crap before, but you are most definitely not the same person you led yourself on to be-"
The mage reached out and put a finger to Brittany's lips. "And neither are you, Brittany," he smirked. "Listen, why don't we start over? After all, you are in a new land, so why not?"
"But..." she looked out across the desert. Vaati gently cupped her face and turned her gaze back to him.
"If you are worried what they shall think, do not fret. After all, if they were to judge you because such awful things happened to you, then they would just judge you on something else. And you and I both know that our companions are not like that."
"Vaati..." Brittany's eyes glistened over. She threw her arms around Vaati's shoulders and pulled him into a crushing hug. "Thank you so much..."
Vaati seemed a little surprised by the gesture but returned the embrace. "Does this mean you feel better?" She pulled back and nodded. Vaati smirked again and pushed himself to his feet, then helped Brittany up. He glanced out across the dunes toward the camp. "You know...now that you are cheered up, maybe you could go talk to Ganondorf? None of us can seem to reach him, but perhaps you may..."
And with that, Vaati left. Brittany stood and watched him walk across desert for the longest time. She let out a sigh before heading out herself. The Empath slipped around in the sands for a bit until she spotted the familiar dark figure sitting down off from the group. Ganondorf had reclined back against the flank of his warhorse and seemed to be staring off into space-much like she had been.
Upon noticing the Gerudo prince, she sucked in a deep breath and marched over to him.
"Ganondorf? May I speak with you?"
The armor-clad man looked up at her and, with a grunt, nodded. Brittany walked over and sat a small distance away from the man (she knew he'd want as much space as possible if he was ever to talk).
"What brings you over here, Little Heroine?"
"I was...kinda worried about you," she admitted. "We all are."
Ganondorf snorted. "Worried? About me? Whatever for?"
Brittany shook her head and sighed. "Look...there's no use in acting all macho and everything."
"Oh?" the prince raised an eyebrow.
"You might be able to fool others with that proud look of yours, but not me. I know you're angry and you feel betrayed," Ganondorf let out another empty chortle, "but I also know how gravely the loss of Yubira has fallen upon you. You...you really cared for her, didn't you?"
Ganondorf's expression once again became a stoic mask. Brittany growled.
"Damn," she sighed, "you're as stubborn as I am! You cannot admit that you cared for her because you're too afraid to drop that protective mask of yours!" The prince turned and glared at her, but she glared right back. "Don't gimme that look! I know you could crush me like a bug if you wanted, but I no more fear you than anyone else, so you may as well get over yourself!"
The desert warrior was taken aback by the young woman's bold outburst though he did not show it. However, his eyes betrayed him, so he turned from the young woman. When Ganondorf realized what he had done, it bothered him. Not even his own mother could make him turn away like that!
He was Ganondorf, the powerful prince of the Gerudo, a warrior of unparalleled strength...fearless! Normally, no one could withstand even a few moments in his prescience without cowering in fear...besides Yubira, that is.
...Or was. As much as his battle-hardened exterior tried to cover it, his steely heart cringed at the memory of that smiling maiden. They were an odd pair, that was for certain. Awkward would be more like it. Ever since childhood, they had been total opposites: the tall, stoic-faced brute with the bubbly, catlike girl bouncing around at his side. And yet, Yubira had been the only true confidant Ganondorf ever had. While the young thief could charm her way out of anything, she had an unrivaled lust for action...and a tender heart seldom found in the hook-nosed women of the desert.
And try as he might, it was the bearer of that heart had captured his own. Of course, he would never had admitted that, but he found himself time and again uncharacteristically doing things that would put a smile on that young woman's face. As they got older, it became increasingly harder to keep that secret. Thankfully, Yubira was too naive to realize his motives and his own intimidating power prevented any other Gerudo from getting-or, at least, spreading-any ideas.
But now, Yubira was gone. It felt like a fire-hot spear had pierced his heart. And, because of the stubborn pride he had lived with for so long, he was left alone to wallow in his grief.
"Ganondorf...look at me."
The dark prince realized his foolish mistake and focused his gaze on the brunette. Instead of the look of triumph he expected from her being able to shame him into looking away, he was met with a soft yet firm expression. Concern, thought he. The very thought burned at the pit of his stomach.
"You may think you can hide your feelings, and that may be true for everyone else," Brittany spoke, "but not me. You see, Ganondorf, I can sense strong emotions-be they worn on the sleeve or hidden behind a mask, like yours. I can do this because I am an Empath."
Ganondorf's eyes widened.
"An Empath? There hasn't been an Empath alive in Hyrule for centuries!"
"I know that!" Brittany said. "But who said I'm from this world?"
At that, the Gerudo looked like he could have crapped bricks. Surely, she jested! However, seeing the serious look on her face caused doubts to form.
"Another world? How can that be?"
Heaving a sigh, Brittany spilled out the story she had once told Link and Zelda, how she came to go on the journey and what had occurred in the forest. Ganondorf listened and grew more bewildered with each passing moment.
"I see...so the oracles rescued you and brought you here to use your power to find a key that the other oracle," he nodded his head toward the camp, "spoke about in a vision."
"That's right."
"And this world...is part of a game?" he asked. "Okay...I'll buy that. But what I don't get is why we haven't heard of this world you came from."
Brittany shrugged. "I'm not too sure about it myself. Din and Nayru said that thoughts and place memories pass between worlds. I guess the destruction and horrors in my world were too much for anything but some books here. It's a world ruled by science-not magic."
"I see..."
"I'm surprised you are taking the game-thing so easily, Ganondorf."
The dark man smiled. "It makes sense to me now why you weren't afraid of the Gerudo. And why all of this magic doesn't seem to affect you."
"It's still a little odd, though..." replied the maiden. "I mean, healing potions and all. If we had that back in the other realm, there wouldn't be so many diseases and such."
"But if we had more of your technology, fewer people would go hungry or die in childbirth."
"Still," she looked up at the sky, "I like this world better. It feels so much...purer, somehow. I never want to go back there again."
Ganondorf nodded. "I don't think I'd like your world much, either. Traveling around in machines? No, thank you," he said as he gave his own black stallion, who was sitting behind him, a pat on the neck. "Horses are the lifeblood of the Gerudo, and I wouldn't dream of trading of my companion here for a cold, lifeless hunk of metal."
Brittany sadly cast her eyes down.
"You...loved Yubira, didn't you?"
Ganondorf had not expected that question. Now not even his stoic mask could hide his shock.
"I...saw it in the way you looked at her, heard it in your voice, and...and sensed it in the grief and fear at the fortress. I know how much you cared for her, and I know also of the deep hatred you have for the slaughterer of your kin. I assure you now that I will help you find those bastards."
"...No. I cannot allow it."
Brittany's eyes narrowed on the dark man. "You have no choice! They were my friends, too!"
"They were Gerudo, my people. I was their leader and yet I could not protect them. It is my duty to avenge them."
"Same here! Or did you forget that I am a Gerudo now, too? You said so yourself! Even vouched for me at the ceremony! Do you revoke your oath and dishonor yourself, or do you save face and hush up about it? I'm gonna go whether you want me to or not, so you may as well just get over yourself now."
Needless to say, Ganondorf was more than a bit surprised at the young woman's insolence. A bit amused, as well. He chortled in his throat, then patted the young woman on the head and ruffled her hair.
"You are correct. You completed the Rites of Passage ceremony back at the fortress. I suppose that makes you the only remaining member of the Southern Kingdom."
Ganondorf paused briefly on the word 'last', as if trying to hide how painful and furious it must have made him. Brittany bowed her head in humble acceptance before standing. She glanced over the moonlit desert with a sad smile.
"Perhaps we should get back to camp. The others will be worried."
