Link POV

Zelda and Link huddled together on one side of the fire, warily eyeing the figure passed out in a heap on the other side. Link had seen, and been responsible for, many strange incidents in his adventures but this took the proverbial cake. He exchanged another bemused and exhausted look with Zelda before they returned to their staring, waiting for…something.

The last thing he'd expected upon getting to the castle after Zelda said she was having one her severely inconvenient, goddess-related "feelings", was to find a shrivelled husk of a person seeping Malice. Which had then moved and nope, this was not what they'd signed up for, thank you very much, no zombies needed in this dystopia. He and Zelda may or may not have emitted a very embarrassing noise which they will never again speak of, and Zelda got this strange look on her face. She lifted her hand and hey presto, one goddess-bright flash of light later, Malice was dissipating and standing in place of the husk was a very tall, very muscley Gerudo.

A very muscley, very handsome male Gerudo, Link thought, forcibly yanking his gaze up from the partially clothed figure across from the fire, cheeks flushed. The male had been so dazed the trio had barely made it outside before he collapsed where he now lay, and no amount of mountain-climbing, claymore-hefting, or Gut Check Rock training had prepared Link for the sheer weight of the man when he tried to catch him. So they'd both left him where he lay, started a fire, and sat down to wait with bated breath for him to wake.

Link tried to share another look with Zelda, only to find her drifting off on his shoulder. He smiled fondly, turning to rake his gaze over the destroyed courtyard around them to distract from the current mess they'd gotten themselves into. The bodies of the guardians lay lifeless in the rising sun now that Zelda/Hylia had taken care of the core of Malice that had been outpouring from the castle.

"Hello," a tentative yet deep voice greeted, causing Zelda to let out an "eep" and jerk from where she'd been about to start drooling on Link's shoulder. They both stared, wide-eyed, at the figure that now sat up on the other side of the fire. After a beat, Link waggled his fingers in greeting.

"…May I ask who you are?" The male asked hesitantly.

Zelda cleared her throat. "O-Of course, forgive me. My name is pr-Zelda, and this is Link." Link saluted this time. "Do you remember your name?"

The Gerudo's brow furrowed in confusion. "I-my name is Ganon. I think," he muttered the last part.

Link nodded and started signing. There was an incident in the castle where we found you, which may have impacted your memories. There's a lot of that going around.

Zelda started to translate but was cut off. "An incident you say? Yes, that seems…understated," Ganon replied, staring at the ruins behind them both.

You understand sign? Link asked excitedly; It was always nice when travellers he met knew more than the basics.

Ganon blinked at Link's hands. "I guess that I do, yes."

"Fascinating," Zelda muttered. Link rolled his eyes, knowing she was making mental notes on the limits of trauma-induced amnesia the whole time.

Ganon stood slowly up, grimacing when his legs didn't respond the way he wanted. Link stood also, hand drifting subconsciously to his weapon just in case, though he dropped it back to his side when Ganon noticed the aborted movement. Holy crap, he was tall. It was both menacing and very…appealing. He could probably weight lift him, Zelda, and a horse or two. Link tired not to let that thought distract him too much.

Ganon smiled sheepishly at them both. "My apologies, I gather we don't know each other very well. If you'd prefer, I believe I feel alright enough to head off on my own, if you would be so kind as to point me in the direction of a settlement."

Zelda stood quickly, meeting Link's gaze in a panic. "Oh no, that's quite alright! We're heading towards a settlement too, so why don't you travel with us?" She smiled at him nervously. "Safety in numbers, and whatnot."

Link nodded. Besides, we do kind of know each other. You were a pig, we fought, there was a whole thing. Won't hold it against you though, don't worry!

Both Zelda and Ganon's eyes widened, before Zelda smacked his arm. "Link!" She hissed.

"I don't think I quite caught that correctly, but I apologize if I was unpleasant to you?" Ganon looked more confused than he had before Link's explanation.

Zelda laughed nervously. "He's kidding, don't worry about it. His version of tact is not the best, please excuse him." Link made a noise of protest, mostly ignored. "Shall we make our way towards Kakariko then? It's the nearest village to here, a couple of days travel."

Ganon stretched the length of his body, testing his legs. Link swallowed on seeing Ganon's muscles ripple throughout his bare torso, and abruptly started gathering up the camping supplies. They really needed to get Ganon some actual clothes, since Link doubted any of theirs would fit him. Or maybe he didn't need clothes, Link thought with a sideways look at Ganon's impressive form. He shook his head, scolding himself again. No, he definitely needed clothes if Link was ever going to need to focus on anything ever again. Definitely. Bad Link, he thought to himself when couldn't shake the thought of Ganon's partially naked body from his mind.

"I am very grateful to travel with you both, thank you, Zelda. I am afraid I have no supplies to contribute, though I believe I can hunt fairly well when we stop," He offered, expression exuding such gratitude that both Link and Zelda had to look away in discomfort.

"No worries, Link hoards enough supplies for half of Hyrule." Zelda grinned when Link stuck his tongue out at her, strapping her bow and quiver over her back. Reluctant to prove her point, Link nonetheless took out his Sheikah Slate and began to pack away all the supplies including the spare firewood and flint. Ganon looked between the two of them, bemused at their banter, before zeroing in on the slate with a strange look on his face, eyes narrowed.

"…so familiar," He muttered, and they both tensed. They shared a careful look. Link wondered if Ganon's memories were going to stay gone for much longer, if he was recognising things already.

***
Zelda POV

They set out with only slightly false cheer, Zelda already itching to see Impa again since she had not seen her in months. They had been in Zora's domain visiting Sidon when she'd gotten the urge to head to the castle, and prior to that in Hateno taking a well-deserved break. Link and Ganon discussed lots of things on the way; Ganon inquired as to everything he could see, from the local geography to the plant life and on one memorable occasion, the ruins they passed. Zelda interjected here before Link could say something that might upset him, curtly explaining the bare bones of the start of Calamity Ganon, without actually mentioning Ganon. Ganon didn't ask about it again, perhaps sensing her need to not talk it. They ate lunch on the road, and only stopped once the sun was too low to risk continuing without any stal-monsters showing up.

Zelda left to gather firewood, needing some time to herself away from the Ganon's confusing smile, and innocent questions. Link seemed to have no problem staying at camp with Ganon, who was currently insisting on cooking dinner for them, his deep yet quite voice fading into the background as she headed further into the trees. Zelda was no longer afraid of being in the woods alone. Her bowmanship had improved vastly lately now that Link was more comfortable teaching her without shying away from touching her.

He'd been under the impression she may have had romantic feelings for her apparently. She'd finally snapped when he refused to share the same bed roll when his had ripped while trekking through Hebra, gaining himself a cold for his troubles. After that incident, they had a particularly memorable talk where she told him she held no romantic feelings for him, nor for anyone in fact, though he was her closest friend. He'd seemed so relieved that she would have been insulted had she not noticed exactly how much he tended to flush around the likes of Sidon and Teba. She was glad he'd come across such good friends while alone in his travels before rescuing her.

Just like that her thoughts turned darker, as they were wont to do at unexpected moments. Being around Ganon was so confusing for how different he seemed compared to the manifestation of Malice which had been both her prisoner and prison for a hundred years. She still had nightmares about being trapped in that overwhelming darkness for so long that time ceased to have meaning. Though if her suspicions were correct, then Ganon had to have been imprisoned under the castle during the age before; that would mean he'd been trapped for ten thousand years in that decaying husk of a body, unable to fight the malice that had overtaken his humanity, but unable to die and give rise to the next incarnation. Zelda's heart swelled with sympathy. She could not pretend Ganon the man was responsible for everything that Ganon the monster did, not when he had suffered far more than she could imagine. As she gathered a sizable bundle of firewood from the forest floor, she couldn't help but hope he never regained his memories. He deserved to rest as well.

She stepped back into the clearing they had made camp in, nose instantly wrinkly in disgust at the smell that assaulted her senses. Dropping the firewood to cover her nose, she looked towards the source. Ganon stood gazing dismally down at the pot over the fire, dubious gunk leaking over the sides as Link patted his arm consolingly as he apologised. Link gently took the stirring ladle from Ganon's dangerous hands, signing that he likes to cook anyway, so why don't you start sorting the supplies instead?

Link noticed Zelda standing there, horrified at the alive-looking sludge leaking over the sides of the pot. He's a little confused, but he's got the spirit, he signed, already looking fond of their newest group member.