Chapter 2

A/N: So I forgot authors notes for the first chapter and I'm too lazy to go back and edit them in. So anyway, welcome to the story, hope you like it! I'll usually only post A/N at bottom from now on. I love guilty villains so much, it's my weakness. Warning for mild cursing.

Zelda POV

Zelda was awoken from a thankfully dreamless slumber by a loud gasp. She snatched her bow up from beside her on reflex, looking around the camp. Link was sitting over the far side of the fire where he had been watching the trees, but now looked in concern at something behind Zelda. Zelda whirled, spying what woke her; Ganon was twitching in his sleep, sweat dripping off his brow and face pinched in pain. Hesitantly, she reached out to touch his shoulder, then jumped backwards as he shot upright, lashing out with fists the size of her head. She stumbled backwards on the ground, meeting Ganon's frantic gaze warily. Link was suddenly beside her, also watching him with a hint of caution in gaze. Was this when he finally attacked them? Ganon's eyes met hers and confusion cleared slightly to give rise to dawning horror. Apparently not.

"Sorry, I-, so-sorry," He choked out. His gaze flicked between the two of them as they eased out of their defensive crouches, his breath coming faster and looking more horrified by the second. "I-I, oh gods, I-" He broke off, slumping back to the ground with a choked sob. He curled his huge form into a ball, as though to defend himself against some unseen attack, breaths harsh and choked.

Link and Zelda exchanged a look, and wordlessly came to sit on either side of him, hesitantly patting his arm (Link) and stroking his hair (Zelda) until he fell into an exhausted sleep. Their eyes met over Ganon's form, dread filling them both. He must have remembered something; some kind of nightmare or a memory. The question was, what had it been about? Would he even tell them if he happened to remember being their enemy? Zelda decided she was too damned tired to think about all this now, and that would have to be a problem for tomorrow's Zelda. She lay back down but try as she might, sleep evaded her until her turn for watch came. Link fell asleep instantly after she relieved him, snores rising from his splayed form beside an unnaturally still Ganon. She envied him that ability, even as she stifled a snicker under her palm.

The next morning when Ganon woke was awkward. He stiltedly apologised for waking them both last night, which they both waved off in concern, and then he did not speak for the rest of the morning. He avoided eye contact and when Link reached towards him to hand him the breakfast he'd made (it was unfair how great a cook he was, seriously, all Zelda could manage was rice), Ganon flinched away, before hesitantly accepting it with a quiet word of thanks. He didn't speak as they started back on their journey, and not when they stopped for the next night either. Link and Zelda had tried carrying the conversation on themselves, and Link was still pointing out interesting flowers to Ganon, who still seemed haunted. He walked slightly behind them both and made no attempts to start any conversation himself.

By the time they stopped for the night, Link and Zelda were exhausted from waiting for the tension to snap. Link headed off to get firewood, after discreetly signing if Zelda would be okay, to which she nodded. When it was just her and Ganon starting morosely into the fire, she hesitantly made her way over towards him with a blanket. He was shivering, his top half still bare to the elements due to neither of them having any clothes fit for his size. He jumped to his feet when she went to place the blanket on him, causing her to step slightly backwards in surprise.

"Sorry Ganon, I did not mean to startle you. I simply thought you may be cold," She held out the blanket as a peace offering. For some reason this seemed to make him feel worse by the way he closed his eyes and crouched back down, looking anguished.

"No, it was my fault, princess. Forgive me."

Zelda froze. She hadn't told him about her past title.

"...Please, call me Zelda." His brow furrowed in confusion, watching her from the side but he said nothing more. Zelda sighed, draping the blanket around his shoulders, and sitting beside him while placing her bow down beside her. "You've remembered something then. We suspected. I am sorry, I had hoped you would not ever have to." That causes a reaction, though not one she was expecting.

Ganon shook his head ferociously, eyes burning with some internal fire. "No. Please do not apologise to me. I remember everything now, as I should; I did not deserve to forget the destruction I wrought." Zelda suddenly identified the fire in his eyes as self-loathing, bitter and hard. He dropped his gaze to the ground, trembling, breathing turning erratic as she laid a hand on his shoulder. He flinched.

"I do not believe it is your fault; the Malice had corrupted you, you were trapped for so long…" She trailed off, unsure if she should continue. She always hated it when others reminded her of her own imprisonment. Ganon shook his head again, in denial of her words, though he clutched the blanket to himself in comfort.

"You are far too kind," He muttered.

Before she could protest his characterisation of her and himself any further, Link came bounding back into the camp, dumping loot from an obvious monster eradication onto the ground by their feet unceremoniously, looking absolutely delighted with himself. His grin faltered on seeing the two looking upset, but Zelda was distracted staring at the-oh my goddess, was that blood? -drenched pile in front of her.

"Goddess, Link, have you just been looting this entire time? You have blood all over your shirt, and is that a lynel hoof? Where in the name of Hylia did you find the time to fight a lynel just now?" He shrugged, unrepentant, and bent to further inspect his loot. Ganon watched Link paw through the bloody loot like a feral animal, so fascinated by the way he seemed to smell each item that he forgot his own troubles for a blessed moment.

Zelda tapped her foot impatiently until Link looked up. "Link," She started, reaching for as much patience as she could muster. "Where is the firewood?".

He blinked owlishly up at her. Zelda pinched between her eyes in frustration. Ganon took that opportunity to rise to his feet, a little unsteadily.

"Allow me to gather some. It is…the least I can do." He did not meet either of their gazes before turning and striding into the woods, leaving behind the blanket fluttering on the ground.

Link looked up at Zelda, a question in the quirk of his eyebrow. She sighed.

"Yes, he remembers. No, I don't think he wants to talk about it yet."

Link nodded solemnly. That's okay. I'm great at not talking. He grinned at her and she smacked his arm, instantly regretting it when it comes away with bokoblin blood smeared on it.

Link POV

In hindsight, heading to Kakariko first was a mistake. Link had awoken early the next day, Zelda already buzzing with barely repressed excitement to see Impa later that day. He groaned and waved at Ganon just waking up across the burned out firepit. Ganon blinked and hesitantly waved back. Link grinned in a pleased manner before forcing his eyes away from Ganon's partially clothed form. Gods, how has his skin stayed that gorgeous colour under the castle this whole time?. Link shook himself and stood with a groan, stopping short when he noticed the aches and pains shooting through him from yesterday evening's impromptu activities. He doesn't regret the fun fight with the bokoblin camp and the surprise lynel before accidently setting fire to Hyrule field (yet again, goddess help him if Zelda ever finds out), but he does not enjoy his body's complaints the next morning.

Frowning, he started his stretches and began running through some sword exercises to limber up. He vanished his bloody shirt into the slate to clean it, figuring he may as well leave it off until he's finished the exercises. From the corner of his eye he noticed Ganon startle and stare at his many scars, brow furrowed by some dark emotion. It wouldn't do to have something so dark on someone who seemed so nice. He deserved to smile. With that in mind Link slowed to a stop, waiting for Ganon to meet his gaze. His gaze snapped up to meet Links just as he realised he'd been staring at a shirtless Link for longer than polite. Not letting that register for long, Link flashed into a ridiculous pose, impersonating Purah which caused Zelda to snort with laughter and Ganon to flush bright red, choking.

The lighter atmosphere was tentative but lasted until they reached the gates of village, at which point it all started to go wrong. Link waved to the guards on duty, Ganon having fallen back a bit as they approached the gates. The guards called a greeting to them both and then their gazes fell on Ganon. If there was ever any question as to whether he was recognised, it was answered as they hefted their spears immediately and pointed them directly at Ganon's resigned figure, who simply raised his hands in the universal signal for surrender.

Link immediately drew the master sword with a snarl, Zelda's face hardening and stepping in between the guards and Ganon with a barked order to "Halt!". Their spears faltered, a look of comical surprise on both their and Ganon's faces.

"But Queen Zelda, Master Link, that is-" One guard protested.

Zelda cut in. "We know who he is. He is with us."

Link nodded in agreement, unable to sign with his sword in hand. The guards looked at one another and slowly lowered their spears. One of them eyed Ganon with distrust as he slowly lowered his hands.

"Make any wrong move and we will not hesitate to kill you," The guard threatened with a sneer.

Link snarled again and the guard startled, eyeing him a little fearfully as though he was a wild animal. Ganon placed a hand on Link's arm.

"Please do not cause trouble for yourself on my account," He whispered, then turned to the guard with a short bow. "Understood. You have my word, there will be no trouble from me."

"Allow us through," Zelda demanded, so they stood back wordlessly as she passed, Link and Ganon close behind.

Walking through the village made Link's skin itch in a way it hadn't since he first started his journey. People lined the street to whisper and point. Obviously, the Sheikah remembered Ganon's likeness. They probably thought the history of Ganondorf's reincarnations in their schools, based on their love of keeping history alive even when others may think it better to let it die. Link kept his master sword out, sticking beside Ganon while they both followed Zelda who kept her head high the whole way. Ganon kept his gaze on the ground, though his eyes flashed up every now and then as he heard the whispers.

"Is that-"

"Oh Goddess, how is he still-"

"Do you think they are taking him for punishment?"

"-hero should have killed-"

Each whisper made Links skin crawl more and more until he was glaring at every person on the road. They scattered when they saw his glare, added to by Zelda's own. She was every inch the princess right now, seemingly the tallest of them as the one of their group who really was the tallest tried to make himself the smallest. Their group halted before Impa's house, ignoring Dorian's gasp as he noticed who was with them.

Zelda faltered. "I don't – Ganon, would you mind staying here?"

Ganon nodded. "As you wish, prin- I mean, Queen Zelda." Zelda winced. Link waved his hands to get their attention.

Go to forest. Link gestured to the woods up the hill past the town.

Ganon breathed a sigh of relief. At least he wouldn't have to put up with the glaring of the guards and townspeople. He nodded again before starting off towards the forest. Link and Zelda shared a look of trepidation. This wasn't going the way they'd hoped it would. Link nodded to Dorian who shakily nodded back before following Zelda up the stairs to face Impa about what to do with their…situation.

They argued with Impa for what felt like hours. She had heard once they reached the village what was happening and was insistent that Ganon could not stay wondering freely in the event that the Malice returned. Never mind that Zelda was sure she/Hylia had purged him of it completely, Impa wanted him either imprisoned, or executed. Link had to resist snarling at the old woman, pacing as Zelda argued with reason and logic. He felt itchy all over and was not liking the revelation that not everyone was as accepting of Ganon as they were.

A commotion outside distracted his attention from his feral stalking, and he shared a worried look with Zelda before sprinting outside. Blinking in the sunlight, they saw Ganon striding for the bottom of the steps while carrying a crying child, townspeople rushing towards him some of them hefting spears angrily.

"Cottla!" Dorian cried, rushing towards his daughter.

Shit. Link sprinted towards the growing crowd surrounding Ganon who towered above them, Cottle still clinging to his massive shoulders.

Dorian snatched Cottla out of Ganon's arms, who let her go easily at her cry of "Daddy!".

Two guards were lifting their spears, ignoring Ganon's upraised arms and intense discomfort when Link burst through the crowd, planting himself in front of Ganon. Zelda quickly followed, moving to protect Ganon's exposed back. Her mere presence caused most people to back away, unwilling to be seen defying the personification of the Goddess.

"He harmed a child!" One guard cried. "You should not be protecting him!" The crowd yelled agreement.

"I did not harm her," Ganon spoke quietly, the people's cries of outrage unwittingly falling silent while they strained to hear. Link cocked his head in silent question as to what had happened. Ganon kept his steady gaze on him even as he kept his hands up. "I found her in the forest, being attacked by bokoblins." All eyes swivelled to Cottla in Dorians arms as she cried harder.

"Dad don't let them hurt him! I-it's true, I wanted to collect food for the dinner and, and those monsters jumped out, b-but h-he saved me!" Cottla's voice broke with tears but she determinedly pointed to Ganon.

Dorian slowly looked up at him, distrust becoming replaced with gratitude. Ganon shifted uncomfortably under the attention and Dorian finally seemed to notice all the spears pointed at his kid's saviour.

"Stand down and disperse!" He ordered sharply, shifting Cottla in his arms where she seemed content to stay for now, calming now that the shock was passing.

Everyone grumbled but slowly moved away, the guards returning to their posts with some final glares thrown at Ganon, who slowly lowered his arms. "Thank you." Ganon inclined his head to Dorian, who shook his head.

"It is I who should thank you. I do not know what I would have done had you not been here. So thank you, truly. I owe you a life debt." Dorian bowed at the waist in proper Sheikah fashion after setting Cottla down, hands clasped in front of himself in gratitude. Cottla watched her father intently, then turned to face Ganon and gave her own adorably-clumsy little bow in thanks. Ganon's face turned bright red, and he flailed his arms a little, flustered. Link couldn't help thinking it was rather adorable, while Zelda smiled at Dorian's bowed figure, grateful that at least one person seemed to see more to Ganon than meets the eye.

"Please, you don't have to do that. Anyone would have done the same, children are very precious. And…" He hesitated as Dorian straightened up with a curious expression. "I am sorry for the chaos my presence has caused today. I understand your people's distrust."

Dorian scrutinised him in silence for a moment. "It isn't your fault," He stated abruptly before stopping to look around at the lingering townspeople. "Please, follow me." He turned and started towards his house, Cottla in hand, leaving behind a stunned Ganon.

"I really wish people would stop saying that," He muttered, but followed Dorian with Link and Zelda reaching the house just behind. The trio followed him inside after a moment's hesitation, Gann needing to bend his head to get in through the door. Dorian vanished into a back room while they stood uncertainly in the main room until he came back in after a few minutes carrying a bag. He came to a stop in front of Ganon, who watched him carefully.

"Some people are blind to things outside of their own situations. They distrust you not based on who you are as a person, and I'm ashamed to say I was one of them as well. Please accept my apologies and take this as a small gesture of my gratitude," He particularly ordered, gaze soft as he looks at Ganon's uncertainty.

"Apologies aren't necessary, really, and I can't accept this," Ganon protested weakly. Link spied clothes and rupees within the bag Dorian held out in offering.

"Please," Dorian repeated simply.

Objections crumbling at the plea, Ganon hesitantly took the bag, giving in with a short bow of thanks. Dorian returned the bow to a much deeper degree, much to Ganon's chagrin. Link stifled a snicker as a cough behind his hand, and Zelda did not even pretend to try to hide her own smile, to Dorian's amusement.

"We do not wish to overstay our welcome. Well met Dorian, we shall return some time in the future I'm sure," Zelda promised, leading Link and Ganon outside.

"Safe travels," He called after them, Cottla and her sister waving goodbye.

They trekked to the gateway to the village as quickly as possible without seeming like they were running.

"Stupid, racist.." Zelda muttered under her breath as Link stayed beside Ganon. Link bared his teeth at the guards as they passed, while Zelda just ignored their looks following them.

"I did not mean to make you unwelcome. If you wished to, please stay in the village, and I can camp outside until you wish me to rejoin you for…well, whatever you might need," Ganon shifted uncomfortably under their combined stares, then Zelda turned away to continue onwards while Link patted his arm reassuringly.

"Nonsense," Zelda dismissed. "It was nothing you did, we were simply uncomfortable there. We will find a more suitable village, where we can lodge together." Link grinned. He liked Zelda's confidence, and the more feral side of him enjoyed it when the villagers shrank back from her when she was displeased. So long as he wasn't the one who'd caused it anyway, which was often. Zelda linked arms with Ganon on one side, and Link took the other; together they led him onwards until they hit the mountain path proper, descending back down from the disaster that was Kakariko Village.

A/N: So that's chapter 2! This fic will be featuring mostly Guilty!Ganon with cute OT3 friendship between Link, Zelda and Ganon, plus fun pining from Link and Ganon. Six chapter total with an epilogue, updating every Monday. It's already wrote as well, just going on an editing spree on AO3 of this same fic and decided I may as well post it here too. Hope you liked it, please leave a review! Criticism accepted so long as it isn't rude, I'm always looking for ways to improve!