Chapter Eighteen:

It was still early in the morning when the trio came across a band of Sheikah. They had been making their way west, to go to Kakariko actually, when the silent warriors shot forth from the treeline. There were five of them, each armed to the teeth, decked out with their signature eightfold blade, kunai and bows. They had knelt in front of Zelda, expressing their relief for her safety. One had sprinted back to inform Impa while the other four remained with them as an escort.

Ganondorf snorted, casting a sideways glance at the assassins. As if they needed an escort. They were the most powerful warriors in the land. What could possibly be a threat to them?

The Sheikah were constantly scanning the surroundings, walking in a tight formation around the Princess. Zelda looked uncomfortable wedged in between the soldiers, but having Link walk alongside her seemed to relax her. Ganondorf didn't fail to notice the almost instinctual way Zelda edged closer to him as they walked. Nor did he miss the protective glare Link levelled whenever a Sheikah got a little too close.

Ganondorf grinned to himself. While he couldn't say it was 'cute' as Athena would say it was, it was certainly amusing to watch.

They had unanimously and silently decided not to teleport straight to Kakariko. While he could guess that Zelda was tentative about owning up to her failures, filled with guilt and apprehensive about coming into her responsibilities as monarch, Link was impossible to read. Zelda had been uncharacteristically quiet on their journey. Her head was downcast, hands held timidly together in front of herself. Link's face was blank, eyes scanning the area much like the Sheikah. With a jolt, Ganondorf realized the only footsteps he heard were his and Zelda's. Ganondorf wondered if the Sheikah had taught the knight their skills.

The young knight strode alongside Zelda. Not close enough to indicate anything intimate, but closer than most guards would stand to royalty. Of course, being Zelda's own Appointed Knight meant he could get away with such a thing and not raise any questions. But Ganondorf suspected Impa would give them separate rooms when they arrived at Kakariko.

They stopped at noon for lunch at the bottom of Sahasra Slope. The Sheikah laid out the small amount of food they had brung, apologizing profusely that they hadn't brought more. Zelda waved their apologies aside, but the Sheikah still seemed embarrassed. Ganondorf ate the meager food slowly. He remembered many times where there was not enough food to fill his stomach.

After the brief break, they continued on their way. About halfway up the climb, Ganondorf noticed Zelda slowing. Apparently the Sheikah did too, because their pace also slowed. By the time they reached the road between the mountains that lead to Kakariko, the Princess was drenched in sweat and panting heavily. Ganondorf had to stop himself from sneering. Even with all the power she possessed, when push came to shove, she was still weak.

"Princess!" A voice cried out. Zelda smiled brightly, tears glistening in her eyes.

"Impa!"

The Princess rushed towards the Sheikah woman, throwing her arms around her and wrapping her in a tight embrace. Impa stroked the Princess' hair, soothing the Princess. She spoke quietly to Zelda, who was trembling in the older woman's arms. Ganondorf looked away from the show of affection.

After a minute, Zelda regained her composure and stepped back, wiping tears from her eyes. Impa's hands remained on the girl's shoulders. "Princess, I can't express how glad I am to see you alive. You have survived a horrendous ordeal. You must tell me everything. But first, go bathe and rest. You can share your story at dinner. We will throw a feast to celebrate your return."

Zelda smiled at the older woman before she was led away by two Sheikah girls. Impa turned to Link next. "Your bravery and skills will be rewarded. But for now, go and rest. I must speak to Ganondorf alone."

Link gave Ganondorf a quizzical glance before he too was led off by a Sheikah girl.

Impa's eyes hardened as they turned to Ganondorf. He just smirked. "No servant girl for me?"

"You disobeyed my orders," Impa declared.

"I don't take orders from you," Ganondorf retorted.

"When the royal family is absent or unable to perform their duties, authority of Hyrule is given to the steward, the leader of the Sheikah. Which is me. By disregarding my very specific instructions, you have committed treason against the kingdom."

"You do not have authority over me," Ganondorf growled. "While the Gerudo remain a part of Hyrule's empire, we govern ourselves. Your laws cannot touch me."

Impa scowled. "I have half a mind to kill you now and spare myself the trouble."

"I'm sure your Princess would be overjoyed to hear that you slaughtered the person who saved her kingdom."

"You saved nothing!" Impa shouted, face reddening.

"It was I who entered the Calamity's lair and killed its minions! I was the one who gave Zelda an opening to destroy the Calamity! I healed Link when your technology failed! I defeated the monster who killed my mother and freed Naboris from the Calamity's influence! I punched a hole in Medoh's defenses and aided the Princess and her knight in that battle and the one against the Calamity's final form! And where were you all this time? Hiding away in your shack, scrounging up a pretense of power and waiting for someone else to fulfill their destiny! Well, where's your destiny now?"

Impa stared up at Ganondorf, rage seething from her eyes. Ganondorf glared back, refusing to give her an inch. Their eyes locked in a heated battle of wills. Impa's lips tightened into a thin line.

"You're nothing but a fraud," she growled.

"Maybe, but at least I'm not a coward," Ganondorf retorted.

"I was following orders, like you should have," Impa snarled.

"Where would you be in ten years? Or fifty years? Hyrule is scattered and divided. It's people are scared. Their leaders refuse to take action. And all the while, the weight of the Calamity hangs over their heads. That is no life to live. Even if the Princess could keep the Calamity contained forever, Hyrule would destroy itself."

"Hyrule is stronger than that."

"What Hyrule? Look around you. Your kingdom is little more than ash and dust. If you want to help your Princess rebuild it, I suggest you stop waiting for her to carry that burden alone."

Without another word, Ganondorf stepped around the Sheikah. She made no move to stop him. Ganondorf strode up a hill and into the forest. His anger quickly dissolved as he took in the nature around him. Being raised in the desert, he rarely had the opportunity to admire any wildlife besides cacti and safflinas that would grow stubbornly from the sand. There was another oasis, deep in the desert, that provided some life to a handful of trees. But nothing like this.

Here there was life everywhere. Birds sang in the trees. Insects chirped in the undergrowth. Small critters scuttled across the vibrant green grass. The trees climbed into the sky, greedily sapping up any sunlight with their emerald leaves. Flowers bloomed below, thriving despite how their taller brethren absorbed much of the light.

Ganondorf knelt down next to one such flower. It was a blue nightshade. He placed his hand underneath the flower and lifted it to face him. The dark blue petals glistened with tiny droplets of water. The yellow stamen glittered with pollen. A lone bee buzzed in front of Ganondorf and landed on the flower. Ganondorf lowered the flower and stood.

Why did Impa have all this? Why did she deserve this rich beauty? Why should she and the rest of the Sheikah have all this? What right did they have to enjoy this splendor while he was given nothing but an empty wasteland? Why were they allowed to thrive in this lush garden of life while he and his people toiled and scraped just to survive every boiling day and freezing night?

Scowling, Ganondorf wreathed himself in shadows and disappeared into the forest.


Ganondorf did not return to Kakariko until sundown. Orange streaks of light still pooled into the village, but the long shadows made it easy for Ganondorf to glide through the town unseen. The shadows stifled his footsteps so that not even a whisper of his approach could be detected. He stalked towards Impa's cabin like a wraith. A few Sheikah looked up as he passed, shivering as they looked around for the disturbance. But none noticed him as he strode down the dirt roads.

Two guards in their proud Sheikah uniforms stood guard in front of the stairs leading to Impa's cabin. Both instinctively tensed as Ganondorf slid by them, but neither saw him. Not even when he climbed the wooden steps, the oak planks bending beneath his weight did his presence become noticed. Ganondorf couldn't help but smirk. The Sheikah were supposed to be the stealthiest warriors in all of Hyrule, and they couldn't even see him. How pathetic.

Ganondorf pushed the doors open, throwing off his glamour. Heads turned to look at him. He noted how Link and Impa both had reached for their weapons. Good. Zelda's face lit up upon his entrance. A mix between true happiness and relief. Impa had probably been grilling her about everything that had happened and she was feeling overwhelmed. Link was impassive as always. It was admirable how he could conceal his emotions so effortlessly. Impa frowned at him. That made him grin.

"Ganondorf! We were beginning to wonder where you were," Zelda said.

"I was just out taking a stroll," he replied vaguely, sitting next to Impa. Link and Zelda sat on the opposite side of the table.

"Pleasure for you to finally join us," Impa said, forcibly polite.

"Of course. I hear Sheikah cuisine is to die for," Ganondorf replied.

"Only if we wish it," Impa purred.

Zelda cleared her throat. "May I-"

Zelda was interrupted when the two Sheikah guards burst through the doors, swords drawn. "Lady Impa! Princess! Are you alright! We heard a noise!"

"Everything's fine Donovan," Impa said to one of the Sheikah. "Return to your station."

The two bowed and left. But by the scowl on Impa's face, they were going to get a lashing for letting someone sneak by them, and for their slow reaction time.

Ganondorf hid a smirk behind a sip of water. Pathetic fools. Impa turned to glare at him. His smirk only widened.

"Perhaps now we should discuss the state of Hyrule?" Zelda asked meekly.

"Of course Princess," Impa said, expression softening. "The Calamity's initial assault destroyed most of Hyrule's settlements. There were no survivors that escaped Hyrule Castle or Hyrule Castle Town. Some of the surrounding towns survived, but most were obliterated. Those that survived either fled the kingdom or moved to Hateno for safety. Hateno is overpopulated. It does not have the resources to sustain itself. Many of the people are homeless beggars. The mayor has been trying to find places for them, but has not been successful."

"And what have you done to help?" Ganondorf interrupted.

"I'm sorry?" Impa asked.

"You seem to have plenty of resources at hand. Did you assist the mayor with his issue?"

"I have been busy governing my own tribe."

"Ah, yes, but you are the steward of Hyrule, are you not? Shouldn't you be overseeing the whole of Hyrule in the royal family's absence? If you knew that Hateno was having these issues, you should have aided him. So tell your Princess, what did you do?"

"I have communicated with him and advised him," Impa stated through gritted teeth.

"You advised him. Ah. In other words, you sat down and had a lengthy meal with him and exchanged pleasantries. How exactly did your advice help the mayor?"

"Well, he never gave me any reports-"

"So in other words, you do not actually know how many people are starving or homeless. Which means those meetings where you 'advised' him were nothing more than feasts between two leaders of villages. And what of your own tribe? What issues have you dealt with here? Your people are fiercely loyal to the crown, so rebellions are unlikely. You have more than enough food to feed your people. And your tribe was directly affected by the Calamity the least. So what exactly have you been doing in your Princess' absence? Perhaps gorging yourself on the bountiful gardens and waiting for Link, who actually participated in the battle, to heal and rescue her? Does that sound accurate?"

"I-I…" Impa staggered desperately looking at Zelda. The Princess looked between Ganondorf and Impa with a look of confusion. Ultimately, her gaze landed on Impa, her eyes pleading with the Sheikah leader. Ganondorf snorted, sipping from his cup again. It's a shame that her subjects were utterly worthless.

Impa looked away from the Princess in shame. Ganondorf watched Zelda's face fall, betrayal setting across her features. Impa stood quickly, excusing her by muttering, "I must prepare the letters to send to the others."

The room was quiet after she left. The trio ate their food in silence, in slow, awkward bites. Zelda was the first to leave. She stood abruptly when there was only a little food left on her plate and walked stiffly out the door. Ganondorf didn't stay much longer. Once he finished the food the Sheikah had laid out for him, he marched out of Impa's cabin, leaving Link alone in her house.