cackles best clown cackle*
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Red sprayed.
A scream tore out of her throat as the body fell, bright blue eyes now dull with death. Behind the body, his sword raised once again, golden eyes flashing.
Then it vanished, replaced with a black void. Sounds reached Zelda; splashing water, moans of pain, screams. Slowly vision returned, in the form of dark spatters on darker walls.
A hall appeared, dark despite the flickering torches. Sobbing sounded--a young woman was crying, somewhere. A baby began wailing.
Zelda levered to her feet at the same time the crying came louder, and louder, and then two hooded, hunched figures ran past, a wrapped bundle in their arms. Behind, a woman screamed in anguish, held back two nursemaids. Blood splattered their clothes, the woman's face. Mixing with her tears.
/
A splitting headache and pain in her wrists woke Zelda.
She opened her eyes, a low groan slipping from her throat. More nightmares?
At least the others had made sense, even if they were truly horrific. This one . . . why had she dreamt of a baby? Had it been stolen? Forbidden, perhaps?
Zelda shook her head, wincing as it throbbed. She glared at her hand, where the Triforce's imprint was as dull as ever. So much help you've been, she griped. A warning would have been nice.
She sighed. Now they were captured, the Fused Shadow was still lost to them, and worse, she didn't even know if her captors were Ganondorf's spies or not.
Who else would they be? It's not like anyone lived here.
A groan to her left had her squinting in the dark. The ground was hard, and cold. Stone? There was no light aside from a thin strip at the bottom. A door.
At least there was an exit. Another groan sounded. Cloth shifted on stone. "Zelda? Ilayen?"
"I'm here," Zelda said softly. Silence--then a sigh.
"Damn."
"You said it," came Ilayen's voice, tight with pain. Zelda gasped.
"Ilayen, are you all right? What about your injuries?"
She could just barely make out a large lump shifting. "It definitely hurts, but I'm not bleeding." Cloth shifted again. "They . . . they bandaged me."
Zelda's mind turned. If they're bandaging us, then they can't mean us harm, right?
She said as much out loud, but Link's response dashed her hopes. "Not necessarily. They may want to keep us healthy."
For what, he didn't need to add. But who was "they"? And why had they been in the Coliseum? Clearly, they didn't want anyone near the Mirror.
Well, they needn't have worried about that, Zelda thought crankily. That's not what we came here for in the first place.
Which reminded her.
Zelda sighed deeply. She glanced at her hand, but it remained dark still. No golden glow to be seen. It didn't even tingle.
She was about to speak again when footsteps sounded. She didn't bother trying to hide; it wouldn't matter. Her ankles were free, but her weapons were gone, and she was in no state to fight.
"They're coming," Link murmured.
The door opened, and Zelda closed her eyes against the light. Rough, calloused hands grabbed her by her collar and dragged her out. Behind, she could hear the others being manhandled similarly.
Her mind raced. From the sound of their steps, their surroundings were stone. Had they been taken back into the temple? Or was there a path that she and the boys hadn't seen? It was most likely the latter; they'd been there for hardly more than ten minutes, and they hadn't exactly had time to look around. On the other hand, whoever their captors were obviously knew their surroundings well.
Her grim thoughts aside, Zelda guessed they were in a hall of some kind, though when their steps suddenly began echoing, they must have entered a more open space.
She was thrown down, and was surprised to find soft sand beneath her cheek instead of stone. Her blindfold was ripped off. She blinked a few times before trying to twist around to catch a glimpse of Ilayen and Link.
All she caught were snatches of fire and dark, tall shapes, but more shifting sounded to her left, followed by grunts.
Ilayen swore immediately. Zelda struggled to rise to her knees, her neck aching as she strained to look up.
A flash of golden eyes registered, and she fell back down with a gasp. It's--!
But the voice that followed was not mocking, or hateful, or even familiar. It was . . . female.
"Well well, look who we have here. Tell me, Your Majesty, what are you doing so far from your palace?"
Zelda spat sand from her mouth. Now that her heart had calmed, she registered the sounds that filled the space. Flickering campfires mingled with soft, deep voices, though they spoke no language Zelda knew . . .
No. She knew that tongue. The sharp vowels and rough consonants, the almost guttural sounds . . .
"Oh? Figured it out, have you?"
"Zelda," Link whispered.
Pulse racing, Zelda rose up once again onto her knees and looked up at the woman standing before her.
I don't believe it.
Sand-colored robes covered her legs and chest, leaving the rest of the rich, brown skin open, and fiery red hair rolled down her back in a long ponytail. A mask of the same material as her clothes covered the lower half of her face, but it did nothing to hide the long nose, the wide hips and legendary abs.
Nor did it disguise the smirk in her voice as she raised her chin. "Welcome to the Gerudo, Empress."
/
The Gerudo.
The legendary all-female warriors, who lived and thrived in the desert, whose skill as fighters had survived all these millennia. And who had disappeared some years after the War of Monsters.
Gone extinct or into hiding, no one knew for a while. But then they started appearing once more--holding a week-long meeting once a year, somewhere in the desert. Zelda stared around in wonder. And we've stumbled right into it.
Then she gasped, her eyes flicking to the Gerudo's golden gaze. "We're looking for something here. Do you--"
The Gerudo laughed, pulling Zelda to her feet. "We'll get down to business soon enough, don't worry. You and your friends look like you could use some rest." She raised her hands. "No offense, Your Majesty, but you don't exactly look the part."
"That doesn't matter," Zelda said firmly. She tried not to let her discomfort show; the Gerudo's eyes were disturbingly similar to Ganondorf's. "We need answers."
The woman stared at her for a long moment. "Eat first," she ordered. "Then we'll talk."
"I'm trying to tell you, we don't have time--!" Zelda broke off as seven scimitars appeared inches from her face. Where did they come from? Sweat dripped down her back; if she even flinched, she'd lose an eye.
The Gerudo lowered her blade from Zelda's neck. "Eat first," she said again, voice low. "You're in my territory now, Empress. If you want your answers so badly, then do as you're told." She lowered her blade to her side and stepped away, the others following suit.
Zelda stood still, frustration boiling in her veins.
"Besides," the Gerudo said, face in shadow, eyes glinting in the firelight. "I have questions of my own."
/
Zelda tore a piece of bread, shoulders hunched. Around her, the Gerudo wandered what she now realized was the Mirror Chamber, talking quietly or sitting around small fires. She glanced about covertly, but the woman from before was nowhere to be seen.
Her mouth pulled to the side. She'd never admit it, but her shoulder was beginning to really ache. Link watched her shift again.
"We need to get out of here," he said quietly, eyes on the fire in front of them.
"We can't," Zelda said flatly. "They'll skewer us before we make it three feet."
"So we just sit here and wait for them to finish their meeting?" Ilayen muttered, twisting the ring around his finger. Zelda chewed her lip. She knew he was worried about Tetra; hell, she was worried about her, too. Every moment spent not dying gave her way too much time to worry about all the things that could go wrong.
But they didn't have a choice. They still had to find the Fused Shadow.
Sand crunched behind her, and the woman from earlier sat opposite Zelda. She couldn't see the Gerudo's expression, but Zelda knew she was smirking. She grabbed a piece of bread from the basket. "So, Empress," she said, taking a bite. "What's the most important woman in the Empire doing all the way out here?"
Zelda eyed her, crossing her arms. "What are the Gerudo, long thought to be extinct, doing in some old ruins?"
The Gerudo's chewing slowed, and she leaned forward. "There is value in broken things."
Value . . . did that mean the Fused Shadow was here? Zelda raised a brow. "I'm assuming you don't mean jewels or riches. It looked pretty cleaned out when we passed through."
The Gerudo waved a hand. "Oh, treasure hunters wander for a few days and then return to their cities. A lucky few have made it this far, though what they were looking for, I'll never know." She opened her eyes. "Nor will they, for that matter."
Zelda's blood chilled, but she refused to let herself be intimidated. "You know, people usually only kill to protect something," she said, trying for casual.
But the woman raised a brow. "Oh? And what were you protecting when you killed Zant?"
Zelda froze, the Gerudo's eyes glinting. Just like that, the memories piled in: the rain, the creak and strain of the rope, his neck cracking, his strangled gasps . . .
She swallowed, shoving them down. "My country," she said quietly.
The Gerudo leaned back. "Ah, of course. Your country."
The way she said that left an uncomfortable feeling in Zelda's chest. She shifted on the sand under the Gerudo's amused gaze. "Death bothers you," the Gerudo commented.
"And it doesn't bother you?" Link snapped.
The Gerudo took no notice. "Not when it's to protect my country."
"And what country would that be?" Ilayen muttered.
Zelda's head snapped to him, but the Gerudo simply gave an appraising look. "The Sheikah tracker . . . you left your beloved in a castle of your enemies to search for an ancient artifact. You miss her, but your loyalty is something to be admired."
Zelda stared at her. "How--"
"And the nameless swordsman--at least, that's what you would have people believe," the Gerudo continued. "You left your home with nothing to your name, and lied about the truth."
Zelda's blood began boiling. "Leave him alone--!"
But the Gerudo was merciless, watching the blood drain from Link's face. "You earned a reputation for yourself and the loyalty and respect of your peers--even the Queen of Twilight."
Link had begun shaking. "Please, stop," he whispered.
"And you have the ability to change into a wolf. A gift, passed down through your ancestors. Though it seems your father didn't realize his own potential before--"
Zelda surged forward in rage, but found the Gerudo's scimitar at her neck once again. Link was staring at her, shaking, his eyes wide with shock. Ilayen was staring at him, open-mouthed. "You . . . you can what?"
Finished with her cruel game, the Gerudo sat back and watched Ilayen rise to his knees. "You've . . . had that all this time? Ever since--"
"Since Twilight," Link said woodenly.
"And you never said anything?! When were you planning on telling us?"
Link cleared his throat. "I wasn't."
"Ilayen, please," Zelda implored. "It's not his--"
"And you? You knew?" Ilayen's face was an open book--all the heartache from the fact that his two closest friends had lied to him. If Zelda hadn't had a blade at her neck, she would have strangled the Gerudo woman.
She closed her eyes, calming the fury pouring through her body. When she opened them again, she looked the Gerudo straight in the eye. "If you've quite finished, I have some questions of my own."
She refused to let this woman manipulate them--she would regain control of the situation, somehow. The Gerudo raised a brow. "Oh? Ask away."
Yes, now that you've put a rift between us, Zelda thought angrily. "The Gerudo have been missing from history for centuries now. Your fortresses are abandoned. Your places of worship are crumbling. It would seem that such places would be perfect for concealing powerful objects."
"Such as?"
"The Mirror of Twilight, for example. Another was the legendary spinner, used by the Hero of Twilight."
The Gerudo woman yawned. "Get to the point, Empress."
"The Fused Shadow would be counted among those, would it not?"
Finally, a reaction. She straightened from her slouch, her golden eyes hardening. "And what interest would the Empress of the Hylian Empire have in such a relic?"
"I'm not here to steal it, if that's what you're wondering." Zelda waved a hand nonchalantly, sitting back. Despite her apparent leisure, her heart was pounding against her chest. "On the contrary, I have reason to believe someone else means to steal it."
"Who."
A statement, not a question. Zelda narrowed her eyes. "A member of my court. But if you don't tell me if it's here, and where, then you won't find out."
A flash of the Gerudo's eyes was all the warning Zelda had. Several hands grabbed her arms and dragged her into the shadow, her dagger left in the sand. A gag was slipped into her mouth; in the firelight, she could hear Link and Ilayen yelling her name.
Then she was dragged down a flight of stairs and into a stone hallway. Torches lit the walls, illuminating the doors set into the stone. Zelda didn't struggle, instead focusing her energy on memorizing every detail. It would be useful when she made her escape.
The Gerudo threw open a door and stood aside as the others tossed Zelda to the ground. She just caught Link's shout before they shut the door, leaving her alone in the dark.
/
It could have been minutes or hours, but Zelda thought she'd lose her mind in the pitch black. She'd torn the gag out of her mouth the moment they'd left, and now it lay stinking on the stone floor.
Her head thumped on the wall. Prisoner or not, being alone left her with her thoughts--and, lately, that had been less than fun.
She wondered how the council was handling Ganondorf. They hadn't had any news since that first letter; she hoped he was buying her story, though she was sure he had suspicions. After all, since when had Zelda ever secluded herself from people, after what her father had done?
She knew it wasn't her best lie, but she'd needed something quick to cover her absence--which, now, she suspected had become more than conspicuous. It had to have been over a week by this point.
At least the other kingdoms were doing well, with the exception of Lorule. Hilda was tight-lipped as usual, but reports coming in had worried Zelda. Ravio had sent her a secret letter describing his increasing worry over Hilda's drinking, and Yuga was more aggressive than ever.
Zelda closed her eyes. Hilda would hold out. She was strong--and Yuga was a pushover at best.
Ignoring the way that did nothing to calm her nerves, her mind turned to Laruto and her daughters and she immediately sighed. Mipha was hard at work, overseeing the cleansing of the Zora River personally, and Lulu was holding down the fort in Great Bay. But Ruto . . .
She'd promised Ruto that she would look into the Six, and she was nearly convinced that she'd figured it out. If the hero and the princess were reincarnated, then so too would the Six Sages, or so she thought. Names seemed to be important, though not all the legends had included sages.
The Hero of Time's story, of course, and some others, but by and large . . .
But then, she mused, as the story went, the Sages awoke when great danger threatened Hyrule. If she were the "princess of Destiny" and Link was the "hero", then it could be assumed that the awakening sages also bore the same names as those in the original legend. Which would mean . . .
Ruto was a sage. It explained the dreams she'd had, so similar to Zelda's own, and the words in both nightmares were close enough that Zelda was almost convinced. And if the sages were reawakening, then great danger was indeed threatening the empire.
Well, at least that's not all that difficult to figure out, she thought, snorting softly. Clearly Ganondorf and his monstrous experiments were the cause--but would it compare to the King of Evil, and the seven years of torment he'd inflicted? Would it be worse?
If monsters were involved, she had to believe it would be much, much worse. Unlike the people of that time, monsters were long extinct. The grand majority of the populace had never even seen a bokoblin, let alone knew how to fight one. If they were set loose, it would be a massacre on a colossal scale.
Her throat tightened. I won't let that happen. If it comes down to it, if our Triforces aren't enough, then we can use the Fused Shadow, rules be damned. I won't let him destroy my people.
Which reminded her.
She was just going by the legend, but most of it lined up too well. If she had the Triforce--a suspicion that was quickly becoming fact, if the imprint on her hand proved anything--then Link most likely had the Triforce of Courage, which left . . .
Which left the Triforce of Power to Ganondorf, Zelda thought woodenly. How long has he had it, I wonder?
Perhaps it was the Triforce's power that allowed him to awaken monsters--
The door burst open, breaking her from her thoughts. She straightened against the wall as several Gerudo strode in, though the figure in the back was what caught Zelda's attention. She wore the same clothing that the others did, but a hood covered her head and obscured her face, and a simple golden necklace graced her neck.
Zelda eyed that necklace as the group sat opposite her and struck flint against a pile of wood. As the flames flickered to life, the design became clear, and Zelda narrowed her eyes.
The Triforce.
The Gerudo that had thrown Zelda in there snapped her fingers. "Who wants the Fused Shadow?"
Her voice was hard and blunt. All business. No more fun and games, huh?
Zelda cocked her head. Clearly, they didn't know about the drama within her court, or about Ganondorf and his monsters. Which meant she held all the cards, trapped as she was or not. With a moment's debate, she figured as long as she held the information, she ought to get more of theirs while she had the chance.
So she jerked her chin at the hooded figure behind, who hadn't uttered a word--just sat quietly, head down. "Who wants to know?"
Her gut told her the hooded woman was important, and she was proven correct when the Gerudo shared a look. "Your friends are under our control, Empress," the first said, voice low. "I wouldn't try to play games if I were you."
Zelda opened her mouth, probably to say something stupid, but the hooded woman stood and laid a hand on her companion's shoulder. "Enough, Barta," she murmured softly. "I will tell her what she wants to know."
Just like that, the Gerudo shifted backwards, as if to give their leader and Zelda space. Barta looked unhappy, but she inclined her head and scooted back. Zelda watched curiously as the woman sat on the opposite side of the fire and looked up at her. Zelda squinted; despite the fire, the woman's face was still cast in shadow.
"The Fused Shadow is here."
Zelda didn't know how she expected to feel after hearing those words, but a mixture of relief and disappointment wasn't it. Just like that? Somehow she had expected more of a challenge--which was absurd, considering the three of them had almost died multiple times.
She took a deep breath. "Where?"
Now the leader's voice gained an amused edge. "Oh . . . around."
Zelda struggled to retain her composure. For whatever reason, she'd expected the leader to be more straightforward. "Around where? Please, this is important."
"Oh, now she says please," Barta muttered. The leader waved a hand at her, and she bowed her head. "Pardon Barta," she said. "She, like many of us, does not take kindly to intruders. Especially when they come looking for the very thing we have been entrusted to protect."
So the Gerudo do have a reason for being so secluded, Zelda mused. She'd often wondered why they hadn't come back into the fold; now it made more sense--as well as why the Fused Shadow was hidden here, of all places. Where better to hide a legend than with another legend?
She broke out of her musings as the leader chuckled. "Don't worry. I know why you have come for it. But I have yet to decide whether or not to let it go just yet."
Zelda suppressed a frustrated sigh. They didn't have time for this!
But she could do nothing--not without jeopardizing her position. If she pushed too far, the leader could very well decide not to hand over the Fused Shadow.
And it was about more than just keeping it out of Ganondorf's hands. They had to keep the warrior safe, too. Wherever he was.
The leader spoke again. "I'd rather talk about you, Empress. Or, more accurately, your family."
Zelda's heart stilled for a moment. She cleared her throat. "What about them?"
The leader's dark golden eyes glinted beneath her hood. "Everyone has their own story, Your Majesty. Often, we do things that we regret, that we would rather not do. And we try to overwrite those parts of our stories."
"Your father made one such choice early in his reign. He appointed a certain man to be his advisor--brought him into the castle, the very heart of the empire, and elected him as his right hand man. This proved to be the biggest regret of the late king's life."
Zelda's mind whirled. They knew? They knew that Ganondorf was in the castle? Then that meant--
But the leader held up a dark hand. "Your questions will be answered in due time. Now . . . this man had a darkness deep in his heart. He coveted that which has led men to greatness, and brought them to their knees."
"Power."
Zelda's heart leaped. So he has it.
"This power eventually came to him, but it soon became clear that he would abuse it, and that he did. He created abominations, creatures that should have been left behind in history. But before he did this, he committed the worst atrocity he could. He took his darkness and seeded it in the heart of the empire."
Something in her chest began to crumble. She tried to back away, but the wall was solid behind her, and her hands scrabbled in the dirt. No. Don't say it.
"He killed the Queen."
/————————————————-/
Quiet murmurs. Billowing curtains. Cold air.
The bier.
Guardsmen carried it past, covered in soft white flowers. Zelda remembered every one. Still felt the thorns that pricked her fingers.
She'd picked them all herself, after all.
Down the promenade, all the way to the Royal Mausoleum.
The priest's voice droning on and on. The shock, sadness, disbelief of the court. Her father's face, streaked with tears. And on his other side, Ganondorf's still form, hands clasped.
Expressionless.
/
He killed the Queen.
Zelda stared at the Gerudo woman, stricken. Choked.
That's not true. That's . . . that's a lie.
Her mouth formed the words. But the Gerudo shook her head sadly. "It's the truth. And the king knew."
Her chest had stopped moving. Breathe. Breathe.
But she couldn't. Her father . . . had known? Had allowed that monster to stay on the council? No. He would never. He . . . he'd loved her mother. He'd loved her. Why . . . ?
"Why?" she whispered. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you need to know." The Gerudo sighed sadly. "Yes, your father knew. But he couldn't tell anyone. You were too young, you'd just lost your mother."
Zelda shut her eyes tight against the burning. Stop.
"And telling the council would just let the killer know he'd been caught. I--" She frowned. "Perhaps it's better if I show you."
Zelda's head flew up. The Gerudo removed a perfectly spherical ball from her robes and set it on a pillow, produced from nowhere, it seemed. She closed her eyes, and as murmuring filled the air, a dull memory rose to the surface of Zelda's mind.
A velvet tent, a woman in black robes, chanting. Black clouds filling the tent, and a series of images that would continue to haunt Zelda for the months afterward.
If she hadn't been about to black out, she might have found the whole thing rather funny. Of course. Of course they would practice the same art.
"My dear," the leader murmured. "We invented this art."
She spread her hands, and disappeared. Instead of a stone cave, Zelda found herself in a dark hall. Crimson curtains billowed in the wide open windows, and with a start she realized she was standing in the council hall.
Black sky shone in a moonless night. Much like tonight, a voice said in her head, far away. She was barely listening; her eyes were fixed on the tall figure in the hall, features hidden. It didn't matter.
Her mother had always been tall. Willowy and graceful, the object of beauty. It made Zelda's heart ache to see her again. Mother . . .
She was clad in a dark robe instead of her usual bright gowns, hood up. And as Zelda watched, another figure entered the picture, as unmistakable as the first.
Ganondorf.
Blackness hovered in the corners of her vision, tinting red with rage. Then she heard voices.
"You've been keeping quite a close eye on me, haven't you, Ganondorf?" the Queen said calmly.
Ganon smiled. "You as well. Secluding yourself in the library so often, one becomes curious."
The Queen's eyes narrowed--blue, like Zelda's own. "Then one such as you, with such avid curiosity, must have realized by now."
"Indeed." He chuckled. "You've come to find out about me, correct?"
Zelda's mother took a while to answer. "Ganondorf . . . Ganon . . . the King of Evil . . . Dark Beast Ganon . . . Calamity . . . Your namesakes have a rather colorful history. I wonder." Her eyes turned hard as sapphires. "Will you end up like them, my lord?"
When he smiled this time, it was full of malice. "Such bold questions from the demure Queen. A shame, then, that you won't see the answers you desperately seek."
A blast of black power shot from his robes and wrapped around the Queen, trapping her arms. A gleaming dagger clattered to the floor.
"Goodbye, Majesty," Ganondorf crooned.
"Promise me," she gasped. A tendril of black curled around her throat, choking her. "P-promise me . . . you'll spare my daughter."
The silence stretched out, and slowly that darkness receded, leaving her free. She straightened, her eyes on him.
His third smile was pure evil. "No."
That darkness shot forward, a spike of black. The Queen screamed as it tore into her, right through her heart. She let out one gasp of breath, then fell limp.
Dead.
Ganondorf walked forward, that grin still in place, and examined her. Where the magic had impaled her, there was no wound. No blood. Not even a scratch. "Interesting," he murmured, and threw her out the window.
The scene disappeared, and Zelda was back in the stone cave. The Gerudo watched her closely--watched her stare at that orb, tears tracking silently down her face.
And they closed their eyes as a scream shredded out of her throat.
/
"Zelda! Zelda! Let me in, you bastards!"
Barta waved an annoyed hand at the others. "Let him in before he breaks the damn door."
They hurried to obey, and had to leap aside to avoid getting trampled as Link burst in. His eyes landed on Zelda instantly and rushed over. Gently, he cradled her face and lifted it, his teeth gritting as the tear tracks were illuminated.
"Don't worry. She will be fine."
He whirled on them, face set in a snarl. The fire set the black flecks in his eyes blazing. "What's wrong with you?! What did you do to her?"
The leader was unfazed. "She has been made aware of the truth. She is accepting it; give her time."
A hand on his made Link turn back to Zelda. "I'm fine," she said woodenly. The Gerudo was right; somehow, some part of her had known. Once again, the gossip from her months in hiding, all those years since the funeral, came back.
They say the queen was assassinated.
Zelda swallowed hard. "Don't worry about me," she murmured. His skin was hot, almost burning. Her brows furrowed, and she sat up straighter. "Are you okay?"
He closed his eyes for a long moment. "The wolf in me is convinced this place is trying to kill us," he said, so quietly she barely heard him. A smile found its way to her face nonetheless, and her thumb traced his cheek.
"I think he might be right."
A smile ghosted across his lips, and he brushed a kiss across her cheek before sitting back. When he turned to the Gerudo, all softness in him was gone. "Well? Finally decided to invite the men?"
The leader cocked her head at him. "This is the wolf boy you told me about?" she asked Barta, who nodded stiffly. She hadn't taken Link's outburst well, judging by the aggravated expression she wore. "That's right."
"Hmm."
Link frowned. The leader put away her crystal ball and met Zelda's eyes. "You have questions, I assume?"
Questions. Oh, I have questions, all right. The horror of seeing her mother murdered had begun to wear off, or at least dulled, and in its place, a thousand questions crowded forward, all demanding to be asked first. She settled on the most pressing one.
"Why? Why did he kill her?"
"She had suspicions about Ganondorf since he arrived in the castle," the leader said, all seriousness. Zelda and Link leaned forward. "She could sense a dark power in him, and so delved into research about the Triforce and ancient prophecies. She discovered something that he had worked quite hard to remain secret. After her murder, he made sure no one could access the material she had uncovered."
"Have you ever wondered why there are no books about the Gerudo in your libraries, Empress?" the leader asked softly.
Zelda frowned slightly. "I've never truly noticed, but . . ." Then her eyes widened. There's no way . . .
One look at Link's face confirmed it. Those books in his room, all those weeks ago . . . they were all about the desert. About the Gerudo.
"That's right," the leader nodded, seeing Zelda's face. "He took them all and hoarded them in his own rooms to ensure no one would realize the truth. But he made a fatal error."
She bowed her head for a moment, and those around her followed suit. Zelda and Link exchanged a glance as she returned to the conversation. "Her confrontation in that hall confirmed what you've suspected for a while now," the leader said grimly. "Ganondorf is indeed the reincarnation of the ancient King of Evil, the very same Malice that brought Hyrule to its knees all those centuries ago--just as you are the Princess of Destiny, and you--" she pointed at Link--"are the Hero of Time."
"This cycle repeats itself time and time again, as the goddesses will it so. When danger threatens Hyrule, as it always will, the princess and Hero will rise to challenge it."
"Wait, wait, wait." Link shook his head. "How . . . How can you be so sure? I've heard stories of the Calamity, the King of Evil. But Ganondorf is just a man."
The leader sighed. "He is just a man, young wolf, but with great power, even a man can do terrible things."
"Then Ganondorf has the Triforce of Power," Zelda confirmed. The leader nodded.
"As you have the Triforce of Wisdom. Though you knew that already, didn't you?"
Self-consciously Zelda rubbed her hand. Then that just leaves . . .
As one, she and the leader turned to Link, who looked like a lost puppy. He glanced between them several times. "I--I don't have the Triforce of Courage. I can't. I'm just--"
"Just what?" the Gerudo challenged. "Just a man? Just as Ganondorf is just a man? You are more than 'just a man', Link. You bear the gift of heroes past. You share the blood of those heroes. Have you ever wondered why you can change into a wolf?"
Link looked like he might pass out. He swallowed, his eyes flicking down to see Zelda grasp his hands between hers. "No."
"You always assumed it was because the air in Twilight changed something in you, or perhaps it was Zant's magic. But it was none of those things. Search your mind, Link," she said, leaning forward. "You went to Twilight, just as he did, for a reason."
Zelda could see the exact moment Link realized the truth. She was sure her face mirrored his: stricken, pale, disbelieving. The Gerudo's eyes glinted.
"That's right. You share the blood of the Hero of Twilight, he who helped the first Princess Midna. You are of his bloodline, and by extension--"
"The Hero of Time," Zelda whispered. The leader nodded.
"So you see, Link, you are more than just a man. Much more."
She sat back and took a deep breath, leaving her audience no time to process her words. Link himself sat still as stone, his eyes drawn inward to the turmoil of his mind.
"The players are coming back into the fold. Characters of legend are being reborn, to do as they were meant--to save Hyrule from destruction. The Six must awaken, or we are all doomed to his wrath."
Zelda's head snapped up. "The . . . it was you?"
The leader's eyes flashed. "What was me?"
That voice . . . in her dreams . . . it wasn't the Gerudo? Then who was it? Zelda thought furiously. Then another question surfaced, and she refocused on the Gerudo.
"Are monsters being reborn--beyond what he's awakened, anyway? Where are they?"
At this, the leader's face turned hard. "Yes. Monsters are returning. He has been breeding them in secret, awakening them deep in the mountains, in his strongholds around the Empire. They will be unleashed soon. I fear we've run out of time."
Zelda seized her hands, ignoring the sheen of weapons being drawn. "Where? Where is he breeding them? We still have time to--"
"There are too many to take out at once," the leader argued, her hands ice-cold in Zelda's. They curled into fists. "They are scattered, ready for war."
"Then where's the closest stronghold? Please, you must tell me!"
Her breath turned sharp in her throat. Everyone at the palace, in the town, the villages . . . an image of Ordon, with its goats and quiet villagers--the children--surfaced in her mind, and she had to grit her teeth to keep from crying. If she could find out the closest fortress, she could save them, at least.
I can still save them.
The Gerudo must have seen her desperation. "It is close. In the desert--but the path is treacherous, and it is heavily guarded. It will not be easy with just the three of you."
She took a deep breath, and Zelda thought she saw a tear fall under the mask. "The closest one is the Dragmire Estate."
Shock sent Zelda falling back, her grip on the Gerudo's hands slackening. "The . . ."
"He has put powerful spells of concealment on it, which is why you could never find it. But if you're going to go, you must know the whole story."
We don't have time! Zelda wanted to scream, but she made herself sit back as the Gerudo began.
"Before he killed the Queen, Ganondorf had made frequent trips into the desert, sometimes to check on his progress with the monsters. But most often, he was looking for something."
"Every time, he lost part of himself. The power gifted to him slowly pulled his mind apart, drove him mad little by little. No matter how hard he searched, he could never find what he so dearly wanted."
Zelda's heart beat wildly in her chest. Her father's journals flooded her mind; he'd said almost the exact same thing. He left the castle, and every time he returned, he was more and more difficult. More unpredictable.
"What was he searching for?" Zelda nearly whispered.
It was only a moment's hesitation, but it felt to Zelda like much longer. The Gerudo slowly lifted her head until she was looking directly into Zelda's eyes. Blue met gold.
"Me. I am Nabooru, leader of the Gerudo."
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EDIT: so. . . I knew I was missing something when I read this chapter over, and I was right. I've updated it, but you'll all know what was missing (everything before "the Gerudo"). So annoyed with myself. It is important plot haha, so I'd recommend rereading it before Thursday's chap if you missed it. Thanks!
Cliffhanger!
Before the review replies, I have something to say, and I won't repeat myself. In the A/N of last chapter, I mentioned having another story called Still Here. Now, as apparently some people—or I should say one person—can't read properly, I said that this story was ENTIRELY SEPARATE from Empire. It is its own story, with its own plot and as such, does not interfere or contradict anything in Empire. AT ALL. Hopefully said person will understand it this time around.
Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.
REVIEW REPLIES.
Guest: Now listen here. As far as I understand it, the review section is there to post your opinions about this story, what you like about it, or what you don't like about it. It's not to shit on my creative license or try to say something is fake when it obviously is not.
First, this story is not Sidlink. Sidon's groom was made to look like the Breath of the Wild Link, but it was not outwardly stated who he was, and I said in that chapters A/N that I got the idea from the fact that that ship is popular.
Second, as I've already said multiple times, this story is not—NOT—Miphlink. You clearly misread the A/N. The story Still Here is, at best, vaguely Miphlink. I believe I used the phrase "lost love" in the A/N for that story, but that does not necessarily mean romantic love. It could simply mean a loss of a deep, personal friendship—which is precisely what Link and Mipha had, along with all the other Champions. The fact that you tried to accuse me of "Miphlink" tells me that you are incapable of reading between the lines.
Third, your accusation of me killing Zelda to "make my furry dreams come true" is the most absurd things I've heard from you yet, it doesn't even dignify a response.
Fourth, they DIDNT imply he liked Mipha—beyond friendship, that is. That, sir, is called "creative license". Look it up.
If I replied to the rest of your inane babblings you have the nerve to call a review, I would just be reiterating everything I've already said, so I'll leave it at simply this: if all you're going to do is shit on what I've written and choose to ignore the writing and plot itself, in favor of finding nonexistent faults, then leave. You choose to continue reading, not me. If you don't like it, then find something else to suit your preferences, because I certainly should not and will not put up with your shit any longer. Take this as your final warning.
To Ultimate blazer: hmmmm (hehehe) maybe. Your welcome, glad you enjoyed it!
To Generala: poor kids XD I love him too! The pairing with Tetra was a lil spontaneous, but I'm glad it's well received. Hahaha, as for the drama, fear not ;) drama is well on its way! HAHAHA.
