Chapter 5

Previously: Link and Zelda find zombified Ganon and restore him to his much hotter form (unless you're into zombies, no judgment). They go travelling, he forgets everything for a while, until he doesn't suddenly. Kakariko was an all-round bad idea, but hey, at least he got clothes out of it. They are travelling to Gerudo Town, since that was the birth place of Ganon a long time ago, in order for Ganon to try resolve some of massive guilt he faces, for Link to face his massive crush, and for Zelda to mainly laugh at Link. They got attacked by Yiga on route (because of course they did), and Zelda noticed something...off. Link went on ahead to Gerudo town to talk to Riju while Zelda and Ganon had bonding time, with fun misunderstandings. Now: Gerudo Town itself!

So this is my fav chapter. Like really. Hope you like it! WARNING: Violence and blood.

Link POV

It wasn't the first time Link had walked through Gerudo Town with an armed escort, but it was the first time that it wasn't as a direct result of his own recklessness. There was no banter from the guards about "why in Hyrule did you decide to blast the statue of the eighth swordswoman with electric chuchu jelly?!" (he hadn't meant to hit the statue) or "how did a little vai like you end up falling asleep between the corpses of two molduga?" (which had been because he'd been to one to kill them both and he was tired). The stares were new too; eyes and whispers followed their group of three all the way to the palace, though people mostly seemed surprised to see a male Gerudo and not necessarily homicidal. At least, not yet.

After arriving in the palace proper where most of the people from the town were gathered, Link and Zelda were led to stand off to one side as Ganon was led to stand directly in front of Riju, Buliaria just behind her as usual. Ganon solemnly clasped one hand over his heart and sank to one knee before her throne. Riju sat up straight, staring at Ganon as though she'd never seen a male Gerudo before, which she probably never had. Buliara banged her spear twice against the ground, apparently the only signal necessary to announce the start of the trial. Everyone waited in silence for their Chief to speak.

"You are a male Gerudo, are you not? Are you from our town?" Whether to test to see if she had any jurisdiction over him or from curiosity, Link couldn't say. Riju's expression gave nothing away, belying her age with an emotionless shield of narrow-minded focus.

"From…a rather long time ago, yes, Chief," Ganon replied, bowing his head in answer.

Riju sat back in her throne with a hum. "Link informs me your name is Ganon. The same Ganon that is the cause of the Calamity which befell this land?" The guards bristled in surprise, readying their spears before subsiding at Riju's raised hand.

Zelda sucked in a breath sharply from beside Link, making to start forward to come to Ganon's defence. Link placed a hand on her arm, shaking his head when she turned to look at his hands. Calm. Riju has this. He discreetly signed at her in reassurance.

"I am, Chief." Ganon bowed over his fist further while saying nothing to defend himself, as Link had known he wouldn't. Which was why he'd explained everything to Riju beforehand and they had come up with a plan. Riju made a show of looking stern, then thoughtful.

"Champion Link and Queen Zelda, please come forward." Ganon brows furrowed in surprise before he schooled his expression, obviously having not anticipated the way in which the trial was proceeding.

Zelda determinedly stepped forward, with Link coming to stand just beside her before they both bowed respectfully to Riju, Link deeper than Zelda. The current role Riju was in was one which demanded respect.

"You both vouch for Ganon's character with your lives, correct?" Riju raised a brow at Ganon's sudden intake of breath, barely discernible over the muttering of the people in attendance. His head had snapped up to stare at them both as they waited for the crowd to settle. Link repeated his finger-waggle at Ganon from their first meeting.

"Silence!" Buliaria boomed, slamming her spear on the ground. Ganon lowered his head once again, expression shielded. The room fell quiet.

"We do, Chief," Zelda proclaimed, looking every inch the Queen in that moment. Link nodded once, face set.

Riju settled back into the throne once again, silent as she seemingly mulled over the current situation. She straightened with resolve and the room straightened with her, waiting with bated breath for what she would say.

"As the head of the Gerudo, it falls to me to dole out judgment for your crimes, before any other. You are possibly responsible for the death of thousands along with the ruin of this land during the Calamity over one hundred years ago. The Malice then haunted this land for a century, killing further hundreds and displacing thousands more. It would appear the blame lays at your feet, and your feet alone." Riju announced, staring down at Ganon's bowed form. Zelda clenched her fists at her sides, Link reaching out to grasp her hand in reassurance. Almost, he thought.

"However," She continued, the commotion from the audience dying away once again. "Link, the Champion of Hyrule and of the Gerudo, has put forward another theory to me. She has insisted that she does not believe Ganon to have been consciously responsible, but instead an instrument through which the Malice worked its' dark magic. The Malice which invested this land seemed otherworldly and not of human making so I am willing to lend credence to her theory. As the tamer of Vah Nabooris and the slayer of the Calamity, she also has the requisite experience with the Malice personally to be perhaps the second-most prominent authority in this land when it comes to its origins. Second only to Queen Zelda herself, whom I have been assured believes similarly." Zelda beamed at Riju, while Link hid a smug grin. Ganon had seemingly forgotten himself and was openly staring at Riju in shock. "Therefore I conclude that before any judgment of character can occur, that character must be tested. Though the Malice which tainted the land is gone, the malice which resides in the hearts of people remains; I speak of the Yiga clan."

Voices which had started as a murmur when Riju had begun her speech, swelled to a crescendo, whether in disbelief at the Chief's judgment of Ganon, or general anger at the Yiga, it was hard to discern. The Gerudo's hatred of the Yiga ran far deeper than any malice-infested monster; for they were perceived as warriors without honour.

Before Buliara could stomp her spear again, Riju's voice rang out again. "I will have SILENCE!" She glared at the arranged people who quelled; Riju had earned a fearsome respect for her wisdom and ferocity as chief of her people, regardless of her age. She reminded Link of Urbosa, from the few memories he had of her.

"The Yiga clan have worsened since the felling of the Calamity, Malice festering within their ranks. I decree that you, Ganon, overcome this menace and settle the matter of the Yiga clan once and for all. You will set out tonight and we will provide any equipment you require, but you will leave here alone. Once this task is completed, return here and the outcome of the trial shall be decided tomorrow at noon. Do you accept the task?" Riju stared directly into Ganon's eyes, who finally recovered himself from his earlier shock, and bowed his head again.

"I am honoured by your mercy and wisdom, Chief. I accept the task gladly and will do everything within my power to not fail you."

Riju nodded curtly. "Court dismissed. Guards, escort Ganon to a room to begin preparations." Riju waved her hand, and Ganon rose to follow the two guards from the room, not able to bring himself to look back at where Link and Zelda still stood. He was perhaps still a bit shook from Link and Zelda staking their lives on his innocence. No matter, Link thought, they'd see him soon enough anyway. Link turned to where Zelda still stood beside him, watching after Ganon with a dazed look in her eyes. He waved to get her attention, and then grinned.

See? Told you it would be fine.

Zelda exhaled faintly. "Oh, Goddess."

Link was really only half listening to Zelda as she worked herself into a rant that had been building for the past two hours.

"-cannot believe you were the one to suggest something like this! Although I guess I shouldn't really be surprised with who I am talking to, but Link, most normal people can't infiltrate an entire organisation of assassin's by themselves and get out alive! Your experience's are not universal, and besides you were better equipped with-"

Link zoned out again for a bit as he searched for where he'd placed his bow, finding it beside Zelda's, and reaching out to refill her quiver from his slate's inventory while he was at it.

"-could get seriously hurt! Oh my gods, what if he dies in there? Do you seriously expect him to be able to defeat the entire Yi- what are you doing?!" Zelda yelled, finally noticing Link picking up her bow and quiver. She looked around the room in a daze, registering that their stuff had once again been packed away into the slate. He watched her note the bedsheets tied together and currently hanging out the window as well. He'd honestly thought that she would have questioned him half an hour ago while he'd been doing that and then testing them by hanging out the window to check it would take enough weight, but she'd just kept ranting at the time. Most likely she was too used to Link doing weird things on the daily to really make a note of it.

Now, he held out her bow and quiver for her to take, raising one eyebrow. She took it in a daze, and he used his now free hands to sign.

Let's go help him then. He gestured out the window, watching a slow grin stretch over Zelda's face.

"Right. Let's go have a chat with the Yiga. I owe them one." She all but vaulted out the window and Link shuddered before following. And they called him the feral one.

Zelda POV

The sun had set an hour prior to their leaving Gerudo Town, following the trail Ganon would have just left on. They arrived at the entrance to the hideout in time to see Ganon disappearing within.

"Okay, so here's the plan Link-Link!" Zelda hissed after Link as he disappeared inside the hideout after Ganon. "Hylia save me from love-struck men," She muttered as she stealthily followed Link into the cool caves, dressed in her own Sheikah gear.

The halls were suspiciously empty of clan members until they rounded a corner to see them all amassed within one large room surrounding Ganon. Zelda whipped out her bow, prepared to start firing at random when Link placed a hand out to stop her. He held a finger to his lips and pointed towards them.

Zelda eased back on the bowstring, straining to listen to what sounded like Ganon's deep voice, though he didn't seem to be in trouble. She furrowed her brow, straining closer.

"-no need for further bloodshed," He was…attempting to reason with them. Apparently. Zelda looked at Link in confusion, but he was too busy gazing soppily at his want-to-be lover. Zelda rolled her eyes. She supposed it was kind of cute. Like a giant dog who looked really menacing but turned out to just wants pets all the time.

The Yiga clan started to close in further around Ganon, but Zelda noticed something off about them. They no longer had masks on and they did not seem entirely…human underneath. Malice burned out from their eyes and dripped down their chins when they grinned with a predatory hunger, closing in on their perceived prey, who proceeded to ramble onwards ignorant of the slowly closing circle.

"Not today, fuckers," Zelda muttered, drawing her bow and firing off three shots at once into the throats of two Yiga members and into the abdomen of a third. Unerringly, the rest of the clan turned as one to stare at Link and Zelda. Ganon whirled around to stare as well, eyes widening in horror.

"No!" He yelled as the Yiga rushed towards them both, drawing his claymore and hacking at the ones closest to him. Grinning ferally, Link conjured a bomb and threw it into the swarm heading towards them, some Yiga scurrying inhumanly on all fours with gaping mouths. Zelda rapidly drew a fire arrow, shooting it after the bomb and exploding it in the centre of the mass that was hurtling towards them. Link rapidly drew another three bombs to throw, Zelda igniting them in the same way before three lucky Yigo who'd dodged the bombs finally caught up to them.

Link drew the master sword with an ecstatic yell as he charged forward into the fray towards Ganon, Zelda just behind him firing off shot after shot. One Yiga blademaster got too close to Link's back and Zelda rammed the metal tip of her bow into his abdomen, sharpened to a point for this specific reason. The point pierced through the blademaster, causing him to go up in a puff of sickly, malice-infested smoke.

Zelda wrinkled her nose. It smelled worse than Ganon's cooking, and that was saying a lot. They finally fought their way to the centre where Ganon was still swinging his claymore, panting.

"What are you two doing here?!" He was bleeding from a cut over his left eye.

"Having a tea party, how about you? Helping, obviously!" Zelda retorted, her arms were burning from the amount of arrows she had shot already, but she still fired at a Yiga archer on top of a platform who fell to their death, hopefully.

Link was laughing manically where he fought three Yiga off at once beside Ganon, another two hanging back to eye him hesitantly. Even as mad with Malice as they were, they were wary of any human who easily hacked entire limbs off people, laughing while bathed in arterial blood spray.

"I had to do this alone! That was the decree of the Chief," Ganon yelled as he decapitated two Yiga in one swing. Just then, a third Yiga bit him on the arm before also sinking a knife into Ganon's right calf. Ganon pulled the knife out without flinching before stabbing the offending Yiga in the face with his own knife. Zelda could see why Link was so infatuated with him, she really could.

"Link said he cleared it with Riju! Less talking, more fighting!" Zelda panted, turning back to back with both Link and Ganon. The Yiga formed a circle around them, wary of them now. They snarled, no hint of reason or humanity about their bare faces twisted by Malice. Zelda spied a hanging platform above them.

"Ganon! Get me up!" She demanded, pointing at it. The Yiga began to close in again. He grunted; she felt the ground fall away from her as she was unceremoniously hefted into the air and thrown at the platform. She snapped her hand out, vaulting onto the ledge and whirling with her bow already drawn, starting to feel a familiar energy causing her eyes to glow with power as she fired repeatedly.

Link and Ganon fought back to back below, ducking under each other's blows and moving gracefully around the other as though they were dancing. Except, you know, the kind with a body count. Zelda picked off the archers on another platform before returning her attention below once again when the smell of smoke reached her. Link had somehow acquired a moblin club, likely from his slate, except it was currently on fire and he was running around setting fire to the remaining platforms with four archers plummeting to a fiery death.

"Who gave him the fire?! Link is expressly not allowed fire for this exact reason!" Zelda yelled at where Ganon was looking guiltily at the now extinguished torch on the ground at his feet, continuing to hold off the remaining five members.

Zelda took a deep breath. Five left. She began to dare to hope. Maybe they could do this. Link shouted a wordless warning then, and they turned to look at the entrance where blademasters had begun to pour out towards them, movements jerky with malice. Dozens of them came from the woodwork, and Zelda's heart sank. There was no way they could fight this many. She stood and closed her eyes, breathing deeply, and then she reached. Back to the place she hadn't been since the Calamity fell, an old friend now after one hundred years. The sounds of battle faded and when she prayed right then and there, she knew Hylia listened.

Please Hylia, save my friends from this Malice. I am yours, please use me, she prayed, and she felt a deep affection rise up from withinside her.

Just as I am you, you are me, little one. Use what I have, for it is also yours.

Zelda's eyes opened, white light exploding out from her throughout the hideout, similar to when her and Link first stumbled across Ganon's desiccated form beneath the castle. The Yiga screamed as they turned towards her, the Malice within burning away and leaving empty husks behind. While Ganon had been taken forcefully by the Malice, these Yiga had gleefully given themselves over and so the Malice had taken everything, leaving nothing behind but dust as it vanished. Link and Ganon looked up at her in awe. She was Hylia and also Zelda in that moment. Zelda felt the image of Goddess overlaid on her own, and she knew they both felt it too.

Link smiled and waved enthusiastically as though greeting an old friend and Zelda felt Hylia's amusement mix with her own. She floated down to them.

"Hello to you as well, my wild child. I am so proud of you," Hylia said with Zelda's voice, smiling benevolently. Link blushed and scuffed the ground in a bashful manner, before bowing slightly with a hand fisted over his heart in gratitude. As one, Zelda and Hylia turned to look at Ganon where he stood frozen beside Link. He startled out of his stupor as her gaze landed on him and immediately fell to his knees, bowing so low his forehead touched the ground.

He was silent, trembling before her and Zelda frowned at causing such a reaction in her friend. Hylia frowned with her, saddened. He has been through much, this one.

"Please lift your head, brave one," Hylia intoned gently. Ganon lifted his head immediately to meet her gaze, eyes wide and afraid as he hurried to fulfil what he perceived as a command from a goddess.

"Hylia," He breathed as he stared at her, before bowing his head again. "I can't…" He took a deep breath. Zelda's heart ached for him and wanted to reassure but Hylia stilled her. Let him say what he needs to, dear one. Ganon looked back up at her, gaze anguished, but determined. "I can never make up for the things I have wrought in this world, and to your chosen. I will not ask your forgiveness, but I will beg that if there is anything I can do to atone even a little, give my life, my service, anything, please tell me so that I may try to do so for the rest of my life."

Hylia reached out a hand towards him and he flinched but held himself still, expecting pain or censure, but she simply laid her palm against his cheek soothingly.

"Brave one, I deem that you are worthy of asking forgiveness of those you would have it from, and on my part, I give it freely. You have nothing you need atone for. I simply wish you to live your life and feel happiness, to be with those who make you happy, and that you bring joy to in return." Ganon stared up her, tears of disbelief gathering in his eyes.

"I…How? I destroyed…so much, I don't…" He trailed off with a choked back sob and Hylia shushed him soothingly.

"You did not destroy anything. Demise did. It shall not return for many lifetimes, I have made sure of that. You may live your life as you wish, and that is what I want for you and my chosen, free from the burden of Malice. Be at peace, young one." Ganon sobbed openly at that, bowing back down to the ground to rest his forehead upon the dirt again. Link crouched beside him to pat his back consolingly.

Hylia sighed in Zelda's mind and left with a lingering feeling of deep rooted affection settling into her chest. Zelda knew Hylia would always be with her as she bathed in the light she felt in her soul. She was exhausted once the presence of the Goddess faded and slumped to the ground in front of a still sobbing Ganon. Together, she and Link consoled him, holding him until his tears ran dry.

A/N: Ahhhhh, some resolution finally! Next chapter is the finale of the trial, plus there are still two remaining apologies Ganon feels he must give to two certain people. Please let me know what you think!