Routine

by Archangel507

(Being rewritten! Details in first chapter!) Post-BoTW. A Hero's Routine often comes with a price. You fight for those you love only to see them get hurt anyway. Some Heroes have accepted this payment, others refuse. This is the tale of one such Hero, the most recent of many, and the Blue-eyed Wolf who guides him along. [Violence, Lots of Swearing, and Some Shipping.]

31. Special: False King

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

"Routine"

Special Chapter: Agahnim

"False King"

[Updated]

---

The heat...

The damned heat...

It could take your life and you'd be none the wiser, roasting slowly as you wandered the sands aimlessly, begging the gods for water and food before finally succumbing to a quiet end.

Forgotten.

Ganondorf furrowed his brow, wiping his gloved hand across his forehead to rid it of sweat and dried blood. As much as he loved his homeland, it would be suicide to stay out in the rays.

Not that he had other plans.

He had just walked out from the cave that imprisoned him, and was no more than a few footsteps outside the entrance before fatigue already weighed him down.

Gerudo Desert was an unforgiving place, even to it's natural inhabitants. Although the blame mostly rested on the male gerudo's attire. When he was resurrected, his new body was adorned with the black armor and cape he'd worn in the Twilight Era, although it appeared to be a more light-weight set because of his new, shorter stature.

He was more lean and was no longer muscular, although he still seemed to possess the strength his tribe was known for.

Even then, the dark colors and heavy cape were both horrible ideas for the desert.

But with some relief, Ganondorf hoped they'd hasten his death.

A grim look remained etched in his features, amber eyes softly scanning the dunes and scattered rocks of his homeland. Straight to the west was a settlement, with Gerudo markings on the walls and flags.

A knot formed in the former king's stomach, a longing for his people. But, for what he knew, he'd never be accepted back.

Not after all the chaos he'd wrought upon them.

The memories came in at random, but often enough, filling his already bursting mind as countless traumas after traumas were lain upon him.

Past lives.

And the harrowing feeling as their evil might was ripped from their grasp, leaving their tattered, ruined corpses to rot.

However, another glimpse he recieved, was that of an alternate scenario.

His eyes closed as he reminisced a little, "remembering" per say, the events that occurred if he had defeated the Hero of Time.

Defeated being the key term.

His knowledge of the battle...It held no blood from either combatant, nor did the stench of death become prevalent. He had not killed the Hero...Nor had the Hero killed him.

Yet, he had done something to stop the Hero from succeeding.

But what?

He thought back to those people, the Yiga, the clan who followed him, or his past self that is. Whose blood stained his skin and armor at this moment.

They had done something wrong with the resurrection ritual.

Gathering the blood of the hero who'd slain him was a feat in and out of itself, but managing to botch such a simple ritual, so simple that nobody would ever think of it, was something that quite literally baffled him.

He snorted, good riddance.

His eyes drifted closed as he stood still in the whirling sands, head lowered, looking much like he did when in his death throes during the Era of Twilight, when the Master Sword was planted in his chest.

This time however, he was fighting a much more sinister force. Hatred clawed at his mind again, feeling a little tug to the west. A small, insignificant voice called in his mind. It's voice was sweet and golden, reminding him much of his mother before the Hero of Time's era.

Yet, unlike his mother, this voice's words had a much more sinister meaning. Little prods to make him return to his previous life as a mass murderer...

Seek Them.

Conquer Them.

Destroy Them.

Gain Power.

Gain Revenge.

He shook his head, throwing away these thoughts for the third time since his resurrection. He looked to the east, seeing a large dust cloud wrapping around a cliff face and covering a good portion of desert. A sandstorm by any other name.

A perfect place to die.

It was a mad statement, that much he was aware of, but given the situation and his temptations, he'd be much better off dying in the desert. His fragile mindset could lead to chaos and death if he ever succumbed to desire again.

Looking back on it, he still held a grudge against the Princess and her chosen Hero. Hyrule had still attempted to slaughter his people and had caused the death of his parents and friends.

Yet, the outcome, his plan of revenge, had worked in their favor anyway. His revenge for his people failing spectacturally when a little boy from the forest came to the Royal Family with evidence against him.

His banishment and years later, a war ensued between the two races. It was at that moment when the little boy returned, now grown and adorned with masks around his body. He'd placed one on his face and transformed before his very eyes into the Fierce Deity, a ferocious God of legend.

It was little surprise when he was defeated and imprisoned.

Then Executed.

The next events were more clear, his battle with the Hero of Twilight that ended with the Master Sword in his chest.

Subconsciously, Ganondorf stared down and pulled back at his chestplate, revealing his bare chest. Faintly, the outline of the scar that adorned his chest glowed, revealing that it had never faded.

His mind raced through the other scenarios too, the time he'd suceeded in his coup and laid waste to Hyrule for 7 years before the Hero of Time returned, all grown up and wielding the Blade of Evil's Bane.

Defeat and Banishment to the corrupted Sacred Realm was all that awaited the King of Evil then. Yet it continued onwards when he found himself on the Great Sea...Yet it still continued on.

Ganondorf grunted in pain, a palm pressed to his temple as another surge of Memories nearly overloaded his mind. He shook his head furiously, trying to push through the pain as he took a step forward.

Slowly, he nodded to himself.

One step at time.

Death would be mercy from the millennia of torment he'd wrought, not only on himself, but others as well. For every memory he received now, the more pain was laid onto his soul. He felt sick and the desire for death grew for every memory of the man he once was forced back into his mind.

But, He realized, as he walked through the sands, that his memories did extend further back, all the way to the nigh-fabled Era of the Sky, when Hylians lived among the clouds while his presence loomed on the surface.

A violent shudder coursed through his body and a wave of nausea settled in his stomach as the sting of hatred coursed through him, along with feeling of disgust at knowing where this hatred came from.

Demise.

All of this, the ages of battles and death, was because of some childish curse by the late Demon King. A grudge that bound his own soul to the Hero and Goddess, fating them all to endless reincarnation until the curse is removed.

Which, frankly, he had no idea how to do.

A sour taste in his mouth, Ganondorf thought back to when he was still a child, being raised to be the King of the Gerudo. He'd meant well back then, listening to his friends and family to try and gauge what needed to be done.

Peace with Hyrule was top priority.

Yet, fate had driven his people to fight a loosing war. So much so that he'd committed an act that nobody would've thought possible.

He would steal Hyrule's source of power, the Triforce.

He had read the legends that revolved around the mythical, god-like artifact that lay in the Sacred Realm. That if you possessed the whole triforce, it would grant you any wish. So, being his young, naive self, he began to kiss up the Royal Family. Swearing fealty and what-not to the ones who hurt his people.

When he was close enough, he would dash for it, and wish for peace so that they would suffer no more, and neither would Hyrule's people.

He had every reason to want to hate the Hylians and hurt them like they hurt his people, but he wanted to be better than that.

But as the years passed and he got older, he began to...change.

His intentions became dark, subterfuge and murder was used to discover the dark secrets of the Royal family. Peeling back the dark layers of their past while slowly manipulating them into revealing the Location of his desire.

Soon, it was revealed.

Then, when the time was right, he struck down the King and chased down the Princess at the time, seeking the key she held for the Sacred Realm.

And when the boy who would later thwart him had opened the door to the sacred realm, when he was sealed away, and Triforce was revealed to him...

He laughed.

An evil cackle of pure evil that would terrify his younger self, he stepped forward, mocking the child, with evil intentions racing through his once righteous mind.

His noble side had to smile in relief when the Triforce split into three, leaving him with one.

And so, Ganon, the man he'd become, ranted and swore revenge.

But it turned out well.

But the lesson was learned. Unnecessary death caused by temptations of power. Temptation was unavoidable and it still pulled at him.

When he thought of it, had he only recieved a single set of memories, he probably would have been the same evil madman he'd been for that and several other lifetimes. But the many, many memories of past lives and alternate ones had opened his eyes to the truth of the situation.

Like some divine prank, he'd just been a pawn in the scheme of things. Along with the Hero and Princess. If he ever saw them, the ones of this era he'd awoken in, he would apologize.

It's the least he could do.

A blank look adorning his features, he hefted the mighty trident in his grasp, the weapon too long for his smaller form. Moving through the sands towards the sandstorm.

But what good would it do?

Apologizing would mean nothing and he would be unlikely to encounter them in the desert. Apologizing wouldn't bring back the countless people he'd murdered, all for power or some twisted revenge.

It wouldn't bring back his family. It wouldn't bring back the Princess' father.

The best way to make up for it...would be to die again, a forgotten memory in the sands of his home, that would never resurface again.

Not in this form anyway.

Faintly, he heard a voice urging him on.

While the other screamed in vain.

---

The sands swirled around him, blinding his vision and obscuring his hearing. If something snuck up on him, he'd be defenseless and be easy pickings. Yet, He didn't feel the vibrations of sand worms, or the chilling echoes of poes that once haunted the sands. They had either died out or moved on.

Despite that, he still felt death creeping onto him. The harsh conditions around him taking their toll as his health steadily deteriorated for every second spent in the storm. Twice, he had tripped and was forced to climb to his feet and continue on, moving closer and closer to the heart of the storm.

Normally, sandstorms had no "eye" and were a simple chaos of flurrying winds and sand. But on occasion, they would attain a perfect vortex of winds and have one similar to a hurricane, a small clearing where one could have reprieve from the harrowing conditions.

While Ganondorf didn't seek it, he'd still stumbled upon one. An instant feeling of coolness and soft winds met his fatigued form when he stepped out form the wall of sand. The coarse substance weighing down his cape and sticking to the blood on his armor.

His eyes opened, no longer blinded as he realized what had occurred. His gaze looked around the circular, enclosed area, immediately noticing an oasis in the center, a single tree blowing gently in the wind.

Ganondorf licked his chapped lips, walking down the dune and into the indention where the oasis sat. A drink of water would clear his head...and be a blessing before his death.

When he turned a large boulder, he was surprised to find several bodies littered about the area, obscured and covered by sand. His throat became dry as he felt a deep feeling of sadness creep over him.

He moved towards one of the bodies, stabbing his trident into the ground before turning the person over. It was a hylian voe, a smattering of gray hair atop his head fashioned into a topknot, it was his natural hair color judging from his young facial features.

To the Gerudo's surprise, the voe's similarly grey eyes shot open and he gasped for breath.

"GAH!" He cried, before devolving into a coughing fit. "Hack! Gouhh..."

Ganondorf frowned, looking over at the voe's companions. There were two more men, and two vai, women. The men had black and brown hair respectively. The women had similar hair colors, albeit one was a greyish black and the other reddish-brown. All of them wore simple tunics that breathed easy for traveling in the heat.

Gentle rising of their chests indicated they still held life as well. They all had probably collapsed in exhaustion.

"W-who?" The grey-haired voe coughed, looking at Ganondorf in confusion. "Who are you?"

Ganondorf paused for a moment, trying to think of something. A name. Anything, but his real one.

An alter-ego perhaps? One he had taken the form of before.

Or maybe, alternately?

"Agahnim." He said cooly, voice lighter than his former gruff baritone. "And you?"

The voe stared for a moment, before slowly nodding. "Gradai. What are you doing out here?"

"The same could be said for you, Voe." The newly-dubbed Agahnim replied. "I came seeking death, what of you?"

"You speak fancy. So I can't imagine why." Gradai mused, sitting up. "We heard of Calamity Ganon's defeat, so we came out to see if the Yiga Clan had abandoned their hideout, we were planning on scavenging from it."

"Calamity Ganon?" Agahnim inquired, although he already knew of it.

The hatred and malice of his most recent form was fresh in his mind and made his stomach do flips. Although some more information aside from scattered memories would be helpful.

"The beast that was trapped inside Hyrule Castle?" Gradai said, waving his hand. "He was defeated by a lone knight a few days ago. Where've you been?"

"Dead." He said with indifference. "You said a Lone Knight?"

"Yeah, from what's been passed around by the Rumor Mill books, it's actually the Hylian Champion from a Century ago, he helped the Princess who's been trapped inside the castle seal the Calamity Ganon away."

"So that's how I perished this time," Agahnim thought. "Or maybe sealed would be a better term."

Gradai stood up, sand spilling out from his tunic, moving over to his companions. One by one, they gasped for breath and returned to life as he helped them up. Judging from the lack of worry in any of their movements, it seems like they had only recently arrived and were trapped here until they all passed out from exhaustion.

"You went too far." Agahnim eventually said, crossing his arms. "The Yiga's hideout is south of here, only about a mile down the rock face."

Gradai nodded silently as he helped the greyish-black haired woman to her feet, she stumbled and Agahnim stepped in to help, taking her right arm while Gradai took her left. He stepped away when the Voe began to speak with her, observing how he held her with great care, like she was a fragile piece of glass that even the lightest breeze could shatter.

"Everyone okay?" Gradai asked aloud, getting mixed replies of grunts and mutters.

Agahnim stepped away when he noticed a pile of sand covering the grey-black haired Vai fall away, revealing a light-red petticoat around her waist. The woman struggling to her feet like the other, he offered a hand, which she reluctantly took as he pulled her to her feet.

They all stood up and brushed the sand away, and each one, beginning with the Vai he'd helped up, began to eye him with apprehension and curiosity. The reason was obvious, since a Gerudo Voe were a rarity, especially so long after the appearance of the last one.

Even then, he wasn't liked that much.

"Guys, uh, this is Agahnim." Gradai said at last.

His companions looked at him, then to Agahnim.

"Uh, Shadda." The brown-haired Voe slowly nodded. "But my friends here call me Shadd."

"Sir Cormac" Said the black-haired Voe, nodding his head to the grey-black haired Vai. "And my sister, the wet-ear, Shey."

"And I'm Viola." The reddish-brown hair Vai in Gradai's arms said lastly.

A silence hung for a moment after Agahnim gave a quiet nod, a care not really given toward their greetings.

"So, You're...a Gerudo?" Shadd asked.

"Yes." Agahnim nodded. "Do I not look like one?"

"Uh...No?" He tensed. "I mean, the Gerudo are all females, right?"

"Yes, but Males born say, every thousand years or something?" Cormac remarked, nodding his head thoughtfully. "But even if that's the case, where've you been?"

Agahnim gave a slight shrug, what these people didn't know was for the best, he'd rather them not spread the knowledge of his existence.

"Cormac! Can we not pester the stranger?" Shey said in exasperation, placing her hands on her hips. "We still need to get out of this sandstorm."

"Yeah, you came in. You outta know the way out." Shadd said with hope.

Agahnim swallowed before speaking. "I do not. I'm lost just like you."

It took a moment for the information to settle in, the look of hope on the group's faces soured into horror.

Viloa was the first to react, giving a wail of despair, placing her hands over her face as she crumpled into a sobbing wreck. Gradai, who seemed to care extremely for the girl, was the first to comfort her.

Cormac and Shadd both blew a huge breath out, rubbing their eyes before pivoting on their heels and looking into the swirling wall of sand surrounding them. Shey on the other hand stared at the ground, shaking with her hands clenched into fists.

"So that's it then. We're stuck here?" She growled, turning to Gradai with fury in her eyes. "All for some scavenging, you fucking moron!?"

"Wait, hold on-" He attempted to defend himself, only to be cut off.

"No! You dragged us out here, promising the treasures of the Yiga, and now we're going to waste away and die in a sandstorm! What about our families back home!? They won't ever find us!" She screamed, causing Viola's sobs to increase in intensity.

"Shey, calm down." Cormac called sternly, still looking away.

"And why are you defending him!?" She yelled, turning around.

"I'm not!" He shouted. "But this doesn't mean we should freak out, we need to think! We're not dead yet, so the gods must favor us."

Agahnim regarded the man for a moment, feeling a bit of respect for his authority. He was probably second-in-command of the group and was prepared for the job if it went awol. Which, given the situation, was a justified choice.

They had water from the oasis, but with no food, they would perish quickly. The reaction she was giving suggested they indeed had none.

"And you!" He blinked out of his thoughts when he realized she was addressing him.

"Me?" He said confused. What had he done?

"Yeah! What kind of Gerudo gets themselves lost in their own homeland, in a sandstorm no less! I swear that you tell others to avoid them!" The Vai's face was beet-red, downright furious.

"Cause unlike you, I came here to die." He said flatly, snapping her out of her outburst.

"Huh?" Shey blinked. "...But...why?"

"It's my business." He grumbled, grabbing his trident from the sand. "And I intend to stick to it. Goodbye."

He turned from the group and began to walk, heading back the way he came so he'd become enshrouded in the swirling sands again. As much as it pained him, he didn't have time to help them.

"Wait!" Agahnim froze and turned back, seeing the cry had belonged to Viola. "Please...help us."

"Viola, it's pointless...He just said himself he was lost as well." Gradai said softly. "We have to figure something else out."

"Yeah..." Shadd muttered from nearby, pinching the bridge of his nose again. "I think I've got a book about sandstorms in my pack, I'll check and see if we can tough it out."

Agahnim frowned a bit. That wasn't going to happen, he thought with a sadness.

He looked down at Viola again.

"Please..." She begged, blue eyes wide with fear and hope.

Why was he caring now? Why should he care?

Yet...

Vividly, he saw a flash of death and destruction crease his vision. He saw houses and tents burning, people screaming in pain and horror as he walked through the destruction, a horrified, blank look on his face. He looked to his feet and saw a young Gerudo vai lying face down, blood draining from a spear drilled into her back, her tanned skin pale.

"Please..." She looked up to him with teary amber eyes, whispering with all her strength. "Help us, Ganon-"

Her voice was lost and she fell limp, lifeless to the sand as he began to run away, fleeing from the burning bodies and homes of family and friends. With a jolt, Agahnim snapped back to reality.

...Is this really what he wanted his first act after his resurrection to be? Leaving these people to wither and die in the sands while he left them to that fate to do the same. He'd done the same before and now seemed no different. Even if he wanted to help, how could he? His magic would not respond to his command and his new body was too weak to force it to respond, it'd kill him anyway or damage his body.

A sour pit formed in his stomach again, a tremble tingling up his spine at the grim choices he faced. It ran up and through his shoulder, down his arm and to his right hand. His amber eyes drifted to it as he noticed his Triforce, the top mark, once dim, now glowing with a ferocity, a need.

The voice came back. The good one. Urging him on.

He had said he had no time for them...

But it seems Time was all he had now.

He held up his hand, a golden light eminating from the mark on his hand, projections of grand magic streamed from his palm and fingers, whipping against the sand barrier surrounding them, creating "splashes" of sand against the surface. The energy too began to swirl, going with the motions of the storm, combining into a solid ball of divine energy. The water in the oasis forming a whirlpool and eventually spires of water surrounding the ball.

Unlike his previous magic from past lives, this golden magic left a feeling of warmth in him, a feeling of good.

The group stared in awe at the light show as more mixtures of magic formed into the orb, becoming as big as a Talus before shrinking into a condensed ball the size of a Hydro-Melon.

It shot across the sands and back into Agahnim's palm, forming a glowing sphere in his grasp, coursing up his arm in fine silky wisps of golden light. The wind and water in the oasis calmed as he regarded it.

"Hold on." He warned, waving his other hand.

Gradai and Viola gasped when they realized they were trapped in a green crystal, now floating up off the ground. Upon looking, they found that their allies were trapped in similar crystals as well.

Seeing them safe, Agahnim steeled himself as he held the orb upwards.

Then slammed it into the ground.

A shockwave of golden energy pulsed outwards from where he stood, coursing over the dunes, harmlessly past the protection crystals, and up the walls of the storm. A loud sonicboom-like sound cracked through the air as the sands shuddered, divine energy blasting them away as the air began to clear.

Slowly, the enclosed area became more and more open as the swirling walls were forced away, eventually dispersing.

And with one final crack of a shockwave, the sandstorm disappeared, leaving them in the open desert.

Agahnim dispersed the crystals, gently lowering the group to the ground as they were freed. They slowly looked around in shock and awe, murmuring curses of disbelief among themselves.

Agahnim however simply looked around, then focused back on his palm, the top triforce dimming again.

"That wasn't even a bit of your power, destroying a storm of that magnitude." He whispered to it. "What have you been hiding from my past selves, I wonder?"

"Can I see your hand?" Agahnim flicked his eyes to side, looking to Shadd who had come up beside him, the sand crunching under his boots.

As much as he should've declined, his right hand had already moved upwards to show the Hylian Voe. Shadd took hold of his wrist, pulling back his glove carefully even though the Triforce shone through it.

Upon seeing the black marks, along with the single glowing one on his flesh, he gasped.

"You possess a Triforce piece!" He said in amazement. "And the Triforce of Power, no less! How'd you manage to be blessed with it?"

"I guess I'm just lucky." Agahnim replied nonplussed, pulling his hand away and replacing his glove. "C'mon, I'll take you to Gerudo Town."

"You will?" Shey asked, confused.

"Yeah, now hurry up." He turned and began walking. "It's a bit of a hike."

They looked among themselves for a moment, still in shock, before quietly gathering their dropped belongings and packs, following the Gerudo into the distance.

---

Agahnim sighed, why did he see if necessary to escort them to Gerudo Town in the first place? Maybe it was courtesy, or maybe he was waiting for the Sandstorm to reform itself. Probably the latter.

He felt the eyes of the Hylians drill into his back all the way there, he had been praised and asked many questions already. He brushed each one off and their curiosity was insatiable even if he flat out refused to answer.

It was night-time now. His eyes, blazing ambers obscured by a tan Hood given to him by Gradai, gazed out at the sand dunes dimly lit by moonlight.

He sat against the outer walls of Gerudo Town, the faint glow of a campfire highlighting the bottom of his face, but gave no evidence to his identity. Only Vai could enter the town, so he'd settled with sitting outside with the others and setting up a camp while Shey and Viola went to get supplies.

Agahnim had specifically told them to not mention him or any Male Gerudo at all, even going as far to threaten them if they did. Despite the harsh talk, they arrived later with the supplies, even with a little something for him.

Gerudo Voe armor, tailored by a secret club in town Shey knew about. They gave it to him to replace the heavy black armor he wore, hoping to ease his pain while traveling the desert. They also gave him a curved short-blade with Sheikah designs inscribed on it, it was meant to be worn on your back, the hilt pointing downwards.

He appreciated the sentiment, changing into the armor immediately and placing the blade on his back. A black shirt and shorts to wear underneath were given to him as well, to compliment his preference while not in the desert. He wore those too, to stave off the chilling night air, using his cape as a blanket while huddled around the campfire.

Atleast now the glowing mark on his chest wouldn't be so easily seen.

The black armor he'd worn sat in the sand beside him, being slightly regarded by him, a hand waving over the chestplate. Despite it's dark past, it still held a bit of nostalgia as he traced the crack on the torso. He wondered what became of the Sage Sword he'd wielded, now so long after his death.

He was positive another Era had passed before this one. Flashes of Blue, Green, Red, and Purple were present in his memory, related to the Four Heroes who slew him. This seemed quite long after his last death however, so it was a given.

He licked his lips again, reaching to grab a cup in front of him, tipping the water it held back to refresh himself. He sighed with relief, peering over the rim of the cup to the group he'd accompanied.

Viola and Gradai sat together asleep against the wall, the Hylian Vai's head resting on her Voe's shoulder in a comforted way, a thick fur blanket covering them.

Lovers by any other name.

But he did notice the patches on their tunics, most kingdoms used armor to define ranking, other's used smaller means, like the patches they wore that indicated that Gradai and she were both in the army at some point, defining him as a Footsoldier and her as an Archer.

His gaze turned to Shey, who was still awake, staring with a passion into the flames as they illuminated her ivory-colored eyes, always alert and searching. Trinkets adorned a necklace she wore, gold, crystals, gems, and rupees.

A thief.

She was the one to give him the Sheikah short-blade. A smart weapon for any situation, give her experience. Cormac sat beside his sister, eyes closed with his arms and legs folded in a meditative pose. Despite this, Agahnim saw that his guard was up, ready for anything.

A warrior.

That left Shadda, or Shadd as they preferred. He sat to Agahnim's left, rimmed glasses perched on his nose, a history book in his lap, relaxed and easy-going as he read the tales.

A scholar.

A ragtag bunch of misfits trying to make do in this world. Sticking together through thick and thin while thay made the best of everything they could get. Their bane being only the most impossible of situations. But where did that leave him?

He didn't sleep that night.

---

He'd risen early, gathering his things quietly and exiting his tent into the cool morning air. Everyone was asleep, except for Cormac, who sat against the wall stoking a crackling campfire, ivory eyes unmoving as he glanced to him.

"I'm going." Agahnim stated, pack slinged over his shoulder. "Give my farewells to the others, you'll never see me again."

"..." Cormac didn't reply for a second, mouth a thin line. "So, you're truly set on dying, aren't you?"

Agahnim nodded, deciding to give a bare minimum. "Forces beyond my control have forced me to kill in the past, no longer shall they decide. I'll pay my debts with death, my own."

The Hylian sat up. "That's not how it works...You need to work for redemption, suicide won't meet it's price."

He frowned and rolled his shoulders. "...It'll count for something."

Agahnim set off, walking off across dunes and into the distance, figure obscured by the rising heat waves of the desert.

Cormac sighed internally, poking a bit at the campfire before getting out some meat from his pack and nibbling on it. Within the next thirty minutes, the others awoke, beginning with Gradai and Viola.

The couple shared a tent and the kind-hearted woman always rose first, stretching lazily before settling in for breakfast. But this time, Cormac noted, it was with a degree of worry.

"What? Has it gone bad?" He asked, pointing at the meat skewer in her hand.

Her eyes were soft, yet sharp and alert, pointed ears almost laid back like a dog.

"I...have this awful feeling." She said quietly, looking to the discarded Tent Agahnim had used. "...Has he gone?"

Cormac paused when she glared at him, eyes hurt when she noticed him stutter.

Slowly, he nodded.

"And you let him!?" She nearly screamed, eyes already watering. "You heard what he said, he's going to kill himself!"

Despite being a bit sensitive, Viola was still a soldier at one point and could be quick to anger, and could probably out-yell his sister, which was quite impressive.

Her screaming drew out both Gradai and Shey, both alert, while Shadd lazily came afterwards, rubbing his eyes.

"What's happening?" Gradai inquired, a broadsword in-hand.

"Agahnim's gone!" Viola said, tears streaming down her face. "Cormac let him go back to the desert!"

"What!?" Both Gradai and Shey yelled, glaring daggers at the black-haired man.

"What the fuck, bro!?" Shey growled. "Why didn't you stop him?"

"His moral compass was set, I had no intention of stopping what he thought was right." Cormac said passively.

"You idiot!" She howled in a rage. "His moral compass is a roulette wheel!"

"Why do you care, he's just a stranger." Cormac said flatly. "Besides, you saw the look in his eyes. Death and Fear was all I saw, he's a madman hanging by his fingertips."

"He helped us!" Shadd loudly disagreed, fumbling when Viola rushed past him, grabbing her things.

"Where are you going?"

"After him, I'll not stand idly by while the man who saved us kills himself, not if I have any say-so." She said firmly. "Us. Total strangers. He still saved us and we repay him by waiting for the desert to take him away? No!"

Gradai seemed to agree, nodding and beginning to help her. Shadd joined in while Shey looked down at her brother, disappointed.

"Which Triforce did he possess, Shadd?" Cormac asked aloud.

"The top one, the Triforce of Power." He replied. "Why?"

"Because, the last person to hold that piece..." He glared daggers. "...was Ganondorf Dragmire."

Everyone froze in their tracks as the information seeped in. Even Shadd, who knew this fact, stopped when he thought of the implications.

Male Gerudo, Triforce of Power, with death in his eyes.

It all made sense.

Viola "Hmmph!" and continued grabbing her things, charging out to the desert. Gradai, while frozen for a moment, snapped out of his shock and ran after her, followed by Shadd and eventually Shey.

Cormac sat alone for several moment, staring as the fire infront of him finally fizzled out.

"Idiots..." He sighed, standing up and running after them.

---

Agahnim sat criss-cross in the sand, the black armor he wore lain out in front of him, his Trident above it. The swirling of the sandstorm was beginning to pick back up, within minutes it would be back to it's previous ferocity. He sat just outside the Oasis, so that he'd still be in the thick of it.

Maybe, in a thousand years, they'd find his remains and fashion a tale of the Gerudo Monk who sat for many days and nights.

Or maybe they'd just take his items and leave his skeleton to wither, buried in the sand.

As was the way of things.

But faintly, he felt a bit of remorse for leaving his new "Friends" behind. Leaving them wondering about who the mysterious Gerudo Voe was who rescued them.

But it was for the best...wasn't it?

Soon, doubt began to crease his mind and he wondered if this truly was the answer, to die again and waste the chance to truly redeem himself.

Maybe he could start again and do right this time. Ignore the temptations and continue down the righteous path.

"Agahnim!" A voice called to him.

He blinked and looked up from his lap, surprised to see the group he'd left at Gerudo Town fast approaching, Viola rushing ahead of them, with Cormac lagging behind.

"Thank goodness, we made it!" She cried, dropping to her knees and hugging him tightly.

"W-What are you doing here?" He asked, bewildered by the embrace. "You need to leave before the storm picks back up."

"We came to stop you, you fucking idiot!" Shey said.

"Shey, don't be crass." Viola chided, pushing away from him. "Listen, you helped us and we don't want you to needlessly waste your life. It's pointless and won't solve anything."

"It's true, taking the easy way out won't give ease to whatever burden you carry." Gradai crossed his arms.

Agahnim stared for a moment, then sighed. "If only you knew..."

"Knew what?" Shey snapped. "Just tell us!"

"You'd never believe me if I did." He scoffed.

"I have an idea." Cormac said gruffly, earning glares from nearly everyone.

"Listen, Agahnim." Shadd knelt down next to him, placing a friendly hand on his shoulder. "Whatever you've done in the past, just tell us so we can help you. It'd be wrong for us to just let you die, we need to know Why."

"Exactly." Gradai agreed.

With all of them looking expectantly at him, Agahnim sighed in defeat, curled fists loosening as he laid it into them.

"My name, my true name...is Ganondorf Dragmire, former King of the Gerudo and the fabled King of Evil. I was resurrected by the Yiga clan just yesterday and I've found myself wandering aimlessly. I've been haunted by memories, of my past lives and the horrible crimes I've committed as...that monster. The stench of death and horror I've wraught still remains fresh in my mind, I can feel the hatred pulling me away, to commit evil again. I found you all by chance and only helped because I didn't want my first act as a man of free will to leave you all to die."

There was a silence, he half-expected them to call him out or run away. Cormac sighed and rubbed his eyes, Gradai grabbed Viola and pulled her away in fear. Shey's mouth dropped a little in disbelief.

Shadd, however, remained unmoved, looking at him with a curious expression.

"Prove it." Shey said, glancing at Cormac.

Agahnim sighed, holding up his hand to show his Triforce to them, the top one he bore glowing brightly.

"The Triforce of Power has only been held by Ganondorf and his counter-parts. Yet, I possess it. Explain that..."

Viola observed the man infront of her for several moments, noticing the total resignment in his movements and the guilt that sagged his shoulders. This man, this "Evil" man, felt more remorse than any person in the world.

"You poor man..." Viola murmured. "Having to go through that pain."

"Huh?" He blinked, looking up in surprise.

She pulled away from Gradai and knelt down. "But...All those years of torment, stacked down on you, and yet you still have retained an inner goodness. I can feel it."

"No...I...It really doesn't stop the fact that the storm will soon be on us again." He said. "You probably should go."

"No!" Viola said, firmly, grabbing his arm and standing up, tugging on it. "You're not getting yourself killed!"

"Then what?" Agahnim inquired sardonically. "I apologize and grovel at their feet, begging for forgiveness that I don't even deserve? Do I get executed or simply imprisoned?"

"Agahnim...Or, do you prefer Ganondorf now?" Cormac asked.

"Agahnim." was the reply.

"Agahnim, redemption is not given on death, or your crimes would've been forgiven. Suicide isn't rewarded either, in fact, I'm sure it's punished more harshly."

"Then maybe that's my fate." Agahnim sighed, resigned.

"We don't believe in fate!" Shey grabbed his other arm and began tugging on it as well. "Get your sorry ass up and stop pouting over some silly destiny!"

"Silly Destiny?" He had to scoff. "It can't be fought that easily, I'm afraid."

"But. You just did." Gradai said matter-of-factly. "You said that you were horrified by your past acts, but you still saved us, didn't you?"

"Yeah, but-"

"You said you didn't want your first act as a man of free will to leave us to die, so you've suggested that you were fully capable of making the opposite choice."

"Yeah, who says you can't keep making those decisions?" Shey said, having stopped tugging for a moment. "Because Destiny says so? Screw Destiny! Redeem yourself by setting right what is wrong and not just giving apologises or begging for forgiveness."

"Forgiveness is earned, not given." Gradai said, bumping his chest with his fist. "I, for one, believe that if you try, you can truly make a difference and redeem yourself through hard work."

"As do I." Viola said, smiling warmly. "And we can help you do it."

Agahnim withdrew a bit, surprisingly touched.

"I...just...I can't..."

He stared at his lap, trying to think and consider it all.

Maybe they were right. Maybe all he needed to combat his desires was to make up for it...dying all over again could potentially complicate the problem even more and waste this opportunity.

Death didn't mean Redemption, nor did apologizing. He had to work for it and even if he couldn't be redeemed, he'd still try.

With all their talk and praises they reaped upon him recently, he had felt a warmth in his chest. It felt good and made him happy and willing to help. A feeling a doing good, if you will.

"Why me? A stranger?" He asked quietly. "A total stranger who you just met, who has the potential to end the world? Who is the reincarnation of the most vile person in existence?"

They were silent, before Gradai knelt down as well, putting his fist over his heart again.

"Because." He said. "If the most evil man in existence takes the time to save some doomed travelers, strangers themselves...Is he really that evil?"

Agahnim stared for a moment, then slowly nodded.

Maybe morality wasn't so black and white after all, the choice was his in this situation, on what he wanted to do with the threat of impending death.

So he had decided.

This was the path he choose now. The path of righteousness, of what his noble side had strove for before he fell for the temptations of power. Doing right because it was right. Doing right to help others.

Selflessness in the face of Temptation.

"You'll help me?" He asked finally.

They all nodded. "Of course."

"You'll fight with me?"

"Of course."

He smiled. "Then, I shall do the same."

---

The change was slow, to say the least. Agahnim used his new name often, as to not incite fear in those who heard his real one. His new allies respected that and referred to him as such.

Over the next few weeks, he'd learned a bit about the group. Gradai and Viola were a couple from Ordona, returning home to Hyrule after Calamity Ganon had been defeated.

The others had a more interesting story, they apparently were descendants of a resistence group key in the defeat of his previous incarnation during the Era of Twilight.

He had to assure them he bore no grudge for it.

Cormac and Shey were both descendants of the warrior Ashei while Shadd was the descendant of Shad.

"Hey, blame my parents." He had said when Agahnim gave him a disbelieving look.

They spent their days roaming the desert, scavenging for more artifacts from forgotten ages. They all seemed okay to the idea of traveling and fighting with the former King of Evil.

Maybe it was because they saw an actual person beneath his appearance, rather than the monster his past-lives made him to be. They knew he had feelings and did their best to help him whenever he needed it.

His amber eyes were dim as he sipped the porridge made from Lizaflos tails, it tasted funny and smelled horrid. But it was the only thing they had to eat at the time.

"Ugh...You two need to make another trip to Gerudo Town." He blanched. "Or the Bazaar."

Shey shrugged, tipping her bowl back to empty it and wiping her mouth. Slowly, she smiled. "Y'know, I had an Idea for you to get into Town with us."

Agahnim raised and eyebrow, casting a glance to the equally interested Gradai and Cormac next to him.

Shey reached back to her tent and grabbed a pack, setting it out in front of them and opening it, she pulled out some clothes, light blue ones with gerudo markings on them.

Agahnim took and looked them over, eyes slowly narrowing.

It was a Gerudo-made top and face mask for a Vai.

"Not a chance in hell." He said flatly, tossing the clothes aside. "What kind of moron cross dresses just to get into town? I mean, honestly! It's just distasteful."

Gradai and Viola burst out laughing, even Cormac chuckling a little at that.

Shey shrugged a little, cackling loudly at the Gerudo's bemused expression as he shook his head disapprovingly.

Thanks to Agahnim's past knowledge, they were able to locate many hidden ruins in the desert during their journey. They even discovered the long-buried ruins of Arbiter's Grounds, a haunting place in the young Gerudo's memory. So much so, he had to leave the moment he recognized the place.

It was simply too much.

Nevertheless, he sought to return later, steel through his fears, to find any items of his past before they were lost to the sands.

Their biggest discovery, however, was a collapsed room buried in the sand to the east. Agahnim recognized it as the Spirit temple's main entrance. The rest of the age-old temple was long buried and inaccessible. Although they did find a chest with a bunch of preserved Light Arrows.

He had to stop Viola from using them for target practice.

Shadd, indeed a scholar, informed him of recent events and what had happened during his mindless existence as Calamity Ganon. The reconstruction of Hyrule Castle had piqued his interest, as well as the appearance of a taller, green-clad version of the Princess' Knight. The Rumor Mill books called him "The Wolf", the Princess and her Knight's green shadow.

He'd seen pictographs of him and recognized the sharpness in his features and the fire in his eyes almost instantly.

It was the Hero who'd slain him in the Twilight War.

He was shocked, if not mystified by how he'd managed to survive this long. But he reasoned it must have had something to do with this "Sheikah Slate" the Knight and Princess carried. It seemed to have magical, and benign abilities.

Gerudo Desert was filled with monsters of a variety, Lizaflos and Bokoblins the most common during the day, with Stalbokoblins and Stalmoblins rising from the sands during the night.

Since his trident was ineffective, he used the Sheikah Short-Blade Shey had gifted him religiously, easily taking down assailants that assaulted them or the occasional traveler.

It was their luck when they saved the owner of the Rumor Mill books.

Soon, people began to seek them out. Searching for the "Gerudo Voe" that stalked the Desert, helping those in need. Few found him and they often just asked a few questions, before being sent on their way. It seemed they respected his privacy and only wanted to know that he was real.

His allies were already a well known group of travelers in the Desert and other south-western regions of Hyrule. Fewer sought him out when they accompanied him to aid others. Personally, it was nice to fight alongside someone he'd grown to trust, not just another brainwashed minion.

True friendship forged by steel.

But it seemed like his own people were in denial about his actions. Viola came back to camp one day in tears, holding up a poster with a sketch of his face, hidden by a tan hood, on it.

A wanted poster, preferred alive for questioning.

Of course, he remembered, a Voe Gerudo born without the main tribe's knowledge would be sought out and often struck down as a false heir. It was surprising how many people, how many non-Gerudo had attempted it so they could have a chance at ruling over something.

He, on the other hand, had no intention of turning himself in and made a hasty escape if he saw Gerudo Guards rushing to aid whoever he was helping at the time. His trips to Gerudo Town and the Bazar became less and less frequent then.

Soon, sitting in a camp became unbearable, they needed a home base. A house with a roof and four walls and a door.

Just something.

"And how are you planning to do exactly that?" Cormac inquired.

"Magic." Agahnim responded with a wave of his hand, faint wisps of golden, blue, and green magic shifting through the air before dispersing. "The same way I cleared that storm, albiet of my own power. I've spent my free time practicing these past three weeks and I think I've almost got my Magic abilities back on point."

"Wait, how is that going to get us a house?"

"Remember what I told you? During the Era of the Hero of Time, Ganon destroyed Hyrule Castle and rebuilt it bigger, grander than before, just for himself. He did it in only a year and spent the next six terrorizing Hyrule. Now, how long did it take them to build Hyrule Castle?"

"About...Ten years, give or take."

"Exactly, If He had the power to permantly build structures like that in a year, not even just a simple house, I should too. It'll even last if I perish, so if things turn out for the worst, you all will still have a home when I'm gone."

"Don't talk like that!" Shey snapped, mid-bite on her Hydro-Melon slice.

"I'm just speaking realistically here." Agahnim conceded. "But all we need is a location."

"Where could be possibly put a house without drawing attention from anyone? We were able to brush off questions from the guards when you blew away that sandstorm, it'll be harder to excuse a house suddenly appearing." Gradai said, eyes narrowed when he saw a smirk on his face. "Unless...You already have an idea?"

"Actually, I do." Agahnim said, grinning.

---

"This was your idea!?" Cormac yelled over the howling winds. "A sandstorm!?"

"Shush, I can't concentrate!" Agahnim hissed, hand held out with his Triforce glowing, the energy carving through the storm, giving him and the group shelter from the raging winds. "And it's not the sandstorm itself..."

Eventually, they broke through into the eye of the storm, the oasis sat untounched from their previous time there.

"It's what's inside." He said finally.

"Ah, I see." Shadd nodded. "If you built it here, we'd have a supply of water and nobody would be none the wiser unless they searched here deliberately."

"But how do we get out again?" Shey asked.

"You just pray I show up." Agahnim said cheekily.

"Oh, that's good to know." Shey rolled her eyes.

"Yep, now stand back." He held his hand back up. "Let's see what we have to work with."

Blue and Green wisps mingled with the golden magic of his Triforce, caressing the sands they stood on while swirling with the winds.

"A simple sandstone structure that the Gerudo prefer, but perhaps in a Mansion-like style? A single floor with stairs leading to a platform above the room, the master bedroom with a domed roof overhead, with windows all around to see out." He said, moving both arms about, carving at the sand walls around them. "What amenities?"

"Storage for one." Gradai said, scratching at his cheek. "We can't just drop these supplies anywhere, we'll need a proper place. If you're adding stairs, put a storage space underneath them."

"A kitchen and a dining room." Viola suggested. "A bathroom too, it's been too long since we've all had a proper bath."

"Simpler things, like a living room and a study." Shadd added. "Something to preoccupy us while we're not out adventuring."

"Finally, you should add a workshop area." Cormac said. "A built-in forge outta help with keeping our weapons from shattering at any second."

Agahnim nodded then looked back. "Shey? Any suggestions?"

"Hush, I'm thinking." She grumbled, staring at her feet. "Bedrooms for us of course, but we should also have a inside garden for growing our own food."

He nodded again, turning back to his work. He'd add those along with some implements of his own. The sand his magic gathered began to condense and reform, binding to an invisible mold around the Oasis, forming a large square platform at the water moved on it's own and began to flow around it in a moat.

Rails were formed over a bridge leading from where they stood to the platform, where walls began rising, with arches and collumns of sandstone rising up and forming the roof. In the center of the top, an circular platform formed with four pillars moving up and forming a dome, giving it four large windows to look about.

The group stepped forward, watching as the finishing touches of the home were put into place, the magical swirling sands dispersed as Agahnim dropped his hands, letting out a steady breath.

"Incredible." Gradai whistled.

"That's nothing." Agahnim said, with some dark pride. "If you saw the castles I built."

"We believe you." The group said in unison.

Agahnim chuckled lightly, walking across the bridge and onto the front porch, covered by a sandstone overhang. Wooden benches sat about, with wooden front doors with Gerudo marking on them. Each symbol was unique, but each held the same meaning.

"Home."

When you entered, there was a little entrance area. Racks for weapons and other things sat against the wall atop a table infront of the door. To the left was a open doorway to the kitchen and dining room.

Room was longways, just from the doorway was a square area with a long, but short table. Pillows, instead of chairs, marked a spot for each person. Two on each side, with one at each end of the table. It was unorthodox, but was a traditional thing back in the old days, and was personally comfortable to Agahnim.

The Kitchen was on the other side of the room, a sandstone counter with a smooth wooden top sectioned off the left corner of the room, where cupboards and a stove sat, ready for cooking. Beside it was a hallway, with two doors on the back and right side.

The one on the right led to a bathroom, one of two. A stone bath, toilet, and sink with running water adorned it, the shelves bare for later-added amenities.

The back door led to a porch that ran lengthwise down the left side of the house, the roof covering it from the sun, with railings and pillars the only thing seperating it from the outside. Padded chairs and couches, along with with end tables for relaxing sat just outside the door, in a little square area just outside the kitchen wall, facing the railing.

On the other end of the porch, past a narrow path that opened into another squared off area in the corner of the railings and by extension the house itself, was the workshop area. A forge was built into the wall, with shelves and racks for materials covered the walls. An anvil, grindstone, and workbench sat side-by-side, with the just right amount of spacing to allow for a convient work space.

Back at the entrance, to the front, next to the tables, was a doorway that led to a small room where the stairs were, on the left side of the doorway. At the bottom was a door for underneath the stairs itself, for storage.

Up the stairs, that curved around to go upwards towards the right, was the rounded Master Bedroom atop the house itself. The stairway entrance dominated the bottom half of it, but the top consisted of a low bed, about ankle-height, with dark-brown sheets. To the left was a end-table with a drawer.

The wind blew steadily through the open walls, four pillars holding the dome roof as the air current brushed past them, keeping the room cool at all times.

Plenty of windows adorned the walls of the house, making this true for the entire structure in a way.

Back at the entrance once more, through the right doorway, was the living room. Spacious and L-shaped, it dominated the bottom right corner of the house and good bit of the right side. Padded chairs and couches sat here as well, including a fireplace in the back with a few seating pillows infront of it. Bare bookshelves sat against the walls, waiting to be filled. A red caret with golden designs covered the expanse of the stone floor.

Next to the fireplace, at the north-western corner of the room, were two more doors, one two the left and other to the back. The one of the left led to the other Bathroom, which was similar, if more spacious than the previous one, with another door leading to the Bedrooms in the center of the house.

The back door led to the Study, which dominated the top-right, north-eastern corner of the house, with two wooden desks, bookshelves, and tables around the room. All bare, ready to be stocked. A area on the wall was sectioned off for a map of Gerudo Desert and another for a Map of Hyrule.

On the left wall, at far side of the room, was another doorway that led to the back of the house, the Garden area. Another porch with long square rows in the stone where you'd put the dirt, with grates in the roof allowed sunlight to beam down onto it. At the western end, at the wall separating it and the Workshop area, was a metal shelf and cupboard for tools and supplies.

Finally, on the southern side of the wall, leading back towards the center of the house, were the Bedrooms. Each bed was at ankle-height, similar to the Master Bedroom, with a soft cushy mattress with dark-brown sheets. Comfort was obviously in mind.

"Well..." Agahnim said after the tour. "Make yourselves at home."

Viola and Gradai made way for the Kitchen, to hopefully make a proper meal after weeks of campfire-roasted food. Cormac headed off for the Workshop area after gathering everyone's weapons. Shey took to the Garden and began to plant some Hyrdo-Melons. Shadd fell into his studies, putting and sorting his books away in the study.

That left Agahnim, who resigned himself to the bath, peeling away his armor and washing away weeks of blood, sweat, sand, and grime. Setting it away to be washed, he put on his black shirt and shorts, moving to the mirror to inspect himself.

When he looked at his reflection, the first time he'd seen his new face, he was surprised to see how young he was. He couldn't even be Twenty, let alone the mid-thirties he'd been in previous eras.

Just what HAD the Yiga done wrong?

Nevertheless, his shoulder-length hair and sideburns made him resemble his past lives. He wanted a new image for himself, a simpler, and with this face, younger image.

With no razors on hand, he had to borrow some scissors from Viola, who brought them for the express purpose of cutting long hair to prevent the sun from slowing them down.

He trimmed away at his sideburns, giving his face a smoother look. Then he did his hair, cutting it away until it was short and flowed back naturally.

Gerudo tradition often had them put their hair into braids, into a fancy style. But since he never really was one for rules and he wasn't technically under Tradition anymore, he opted for the simple look.

As he went off to bed, he got compliments from his companions.

The warmth was there.

But it didn't last.

---

The beds were his idea, the gerudo used the style of ankle-height beds back when he was kid, before the war with the hylians.

He sat on the edge, the soft mattress a welcome feeling, running a hand through his now-short hair, breathing out a sigh through his lips. He peered out of the windows surrounding the round-room, watching the vortex of sands whirl around. A mesmerizing sight for a weary gerudo.

At times like these, when relaxing, he'd think of the past and what he had done wrong. What choices that, if he made them, would've led to a better future.

He thought of his mistakes.

Being Born.

Being a Gerudo.

Running from his burning home.

Leaving his family and friends behind.

Being captured by Twinrova.

Being raised by Twinrova.

Becoming the king of the Gerudo.

Going after the Triforce.

Killing the King.

Chasing the Princess.

Fighting the Hero.

The list went on, didn't it? It was so ingrained in his mind, the stench of death and blood pooling onto the sand. Tears streaming down his face as his legs carried his useless, unresponsive body through the carnage.

He remembered seeing a Hylian Soldier approach him and, maybe, capture him. Only to be tackled by another Gerudo, his teacher that taunt him the arts of the Sword and Spear.

She was a hero and idol to him.

Despite that, she was slashed across the throat while digging her dagger into the Hylian's chest, blood sprays from both warriors splashing onto his face, blinding his left eye while all color drained from his face, a faraway look on his right eye.

He kept walking, stepping over the bodies and watching in complete, abject horror as the burning bodies of Gerudo and Hylians alike ran amok, screaming in agony as their flesh bubbled and peeled, before falling silent to the ground, cracks and pops of their skin being their only noises.

His foot bumped something and he looked down, seeing that same Gerudo Vai from before, the spear impaling her to the ground, her blood turning the sand a murky crimson, her skin, tanned by days spent outside, turning a ghostly white.

"Please..." She looked up at him again, tears dripping down her pale cheeks, whispering so quietly he barely heard it over the screams. "Help us, Ganon-"

She fell again.

He ran once more.

He cried as his feet met sand and it was night when he stopped, the wind blowing dust clouds everywhere, as he stood alone atop a sand dune, watching the burning light in the distance that was his home.

For a moment, Agahnim felt himself there, looking down at his younger self, the tears fresh on his face as they cried together. The boy that he had been looked up at him in fear, sniffling and sobbing.

"I-I'm scared..." He whimpered, cowering from his older self. "W-why...? Why did they...kill them? We did nothing..."

Agahnim tried to say something, something that would reassure the boy, of a better future, of something good.

But he couldn't say anything.

No lies were permitted.

When the familiar stranger fell silent, the child's placed his face in his hands, a significant mark on his hand glowing brightly as he screamed to the stranger and the wind.

"Why!?"

Agahnim gasped, snapping back to reality as a wetness rolled down his cheeks, a hand on his temple. His triforce was pulsing rapidly and itched like crazy. The memories had flooded back too soon and left him unconscious on the bed, looking up at the domed ceiling.

He lay there for a second, letting the present seep back into his conscious. After a moment, his head throbbing and cheeks dry, he sat up and sighed.

The stench, the voices, the everything tearing his mind apart, it all remained.

It placed a very sour taste in his mouth and left his throat dry and tongue useless. He felt sick and wanted to throw up, but he held it back, breathing slowly and remembering that it would work out.

He clenched his fists and just breathed.

That was millennia ago.

He was no longer a helpless, useless child. He was no monster either.

He would redeem himself, by doing the utmost good or dying the most painful death..

A hand-bell ringing brought him away from his morbid thoughts.

"Dinner!" Viola hollered, quite loud for the normally-timid Vai. "Come get it, or you don't get served!"

He blinked, tired, and sat up, brushing a hand down his black shirt and shorts. They were a bit over his size, obviously meant for Voe that Gerudo Vai dreamed of, tall and well-built.

Give him a few years and he'd be just that.

Again.

He smiled a bit, shaking his head, and walked down the stairs and into the dining room/kitchen. Everyone but Cormac was there, seated on the pillows at the low table.

"He'll be here soon." Shey said, unconcerned.

Agahnim sat down at the left end of the table, sitting criss-cross, acting rather casual for such a fancy means of dining.

So fancy, in fact, that Gradai, Viola, and Shey were all sitting on their knees. Only he and Shadd, who knew about these traditions and knew such formality wasn't required. It took for a few minutes for the others to notice and settle down, criss-cross like them.

A spread of different dishes lay spread across the table, mostly oven-baked Lizaflos parts and pot-stew made from desert fruits and meat bought from town or the Bazaar.

It smelled delicious, or at least better than the campfire-made gruel served in a clay bowl they often had, though he kept quiet about that around the girls.

Cormac joined them mid-meal, covered in soot from the forge, leading Shey to chatsie and make him take a bath before he got near the food.

It was quite the picture, a bunch of Hylians eating with a Gerudo Voe who also happened to be the Demon King reincarnate. Agahnim bet his predecessors were turning over in their graves right now, or wherever they were.

He laughed at the thought of a weary Demise somewhere in the afterlife suddenly looking up and going "...No way" in an comically disbelieving tone.

He shared his thought with the group, who found it quite humorous as well. They took turns passing around jokes they've heard, trading many gems about.

Sometimes, it was nice to have a sense of humor, Agahnim thought with a smile.

The warmth was there again.

Again, it didn't last.

That night, he had a nightmare. A flurry of green and silver running him through, extending beyond with the same silver, striking him through the forehead. And another through his heart, before being atomized by a golden light.

Then he saw him approaching, his double-helix sword in hand, his dead white eyes boring into his very soul, white hair and grey armor glowing in the dimmed light as he raised his blade.

And the Fierce Deity struck him down.

He woke up in a cold sweat, breathing hitched with the cover bunched in his fists. But he didn't hear the quiet tapping of his boots, or the haunting screams of his past and alternate lives.

All there was, was the whistling of the sandstorm surrounding him, and the cool night air.

Sleep only came a few nights for Agahnim.

Only a few.

A Month passed and the dreams began to worry him. He'd asked Shadda for a journal to record them and did so every morning. Some were simple memories of the past and the others were glimpses at the alternate scenarios.

As time passed, he thought that maybe they just weren't scenarios, but actual events. An alternate timeline, maybe?

Agahnim never considered himself a scholar, far from one. But with the current glimpses, and the fact that he was aware of the Hero of Time's exploits with...well, Time. It made sense in a way.

Often times, he'd be asked by Shadd to tell everyone a story about these scenarios and how they came about. So far, he saw two alternate timelines. He named them the Decline and Future Timelines respectively.

The Decline seemed to be the events he'd glimpsed at while walking towards the sandstorm, where he had prevented the Hero of Time from winning somehow. It was sad, watching the Land crumble with fear and his alternate-self become limited to the Beast-like Ganon form, devolving into mindless rage at times. This was where the name Agahnim come from as well, an false identity for his alternate-self.

The Future Timeline seemed to stem off from when the Hero of Time defeated him and later disappeared. Ganon, his form that was sealed away, later broke free and, when the Hero failed to appear, the gods flooded Hyrule, forming the Great Sea.

"You really should write a book." Viola had smiled, sipping from her cup. "Or several."

He smirked back. "Maybe, I should."

His time spent with the group seemed to change him, he had mellowed out during down-time and was often relaxed in their presence. They treated him with respect and like a dear friend, and he did so to them in turn. Although, Cormac seemed to still distrust him. But Agahnim couldn't blame him honestly.

But it was nice...to have people who cared for him.

---

When word of a traveling group of adventurers that had been clearing out monster camps around the desert, the Chief of the Gerudo herself sent them a letter thanking them and suggesting certain spots where Bokoblins and Lizaflos liked to camp along trade routes and paths.

Taking it upon themselves, they saw to it that both remained clear.

Agahnim smirked, the Trident felt great in his hands, now that he finally took the time to shorten and enhance it for his new body. And what better way to practice than to hurl it at some Lizaflos?

The first one didn't even see it coming, and the second one shrieked in horror when it's comrade was impaled into the rock in front of it. Flanked by Gradai and Cormac, who wielded Swords and Shields, Agahnim drew his short blade and dove right into their nest, hacking and slashing his way through the camp.

He ducked when one lashed it's tongue out at him, rolling back onto his feet and reaching for his Trident, withdrawing it from the bloodied, lifeless corpse.

He ducked and weaved, stabbing at any who came close. Two ganged on him, and just when one was about to get a cheap shot in, Cormac jumped in roaring with fury, slashing downwards to cleave it's head from it's shoulders.

Soon, they were huddled about, collecting monster parts to later sell in the Bazaar.

"It's a shame we don't see many Electric Lizaflos around here anymore." Gradai said, turning over a Lizaflos horn in his palm. "Their horns sell for better prices."

"We'd have to wait for the next blood moon, or go north." Cormac scratched his chin, looking to the Gerudo. "But with the bounty on you, that'd be horrible decision. The guard would find you in an instant."

"Let them come, I'm not afraid." Agahnim replied cooly, searching the sands for buried treasure chests. "I won't harm them, but I don't intend on going quietly."

As his hand shifted through the sand, he began to get an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. His amber eyes darting about the terrain, a speck of red coming into his peripheral vision.

He drew his trident and stepped up the dune to face the approaching Yiga. There were three in total, two footsoldiers and one Blademaster, albeit with different markings.

It took a second before Gradai and Cormac realized what Agahnim was staring at, both drawing their weapons and standing at his back. He waved his hand to tell them to ease away, stabbing his Trident in the sand with the three points upward.

They got within arm distance, the Blademaster bowing before him.

"My Lord." He said cooly. "We've come to retrieve you."

"Under who's orders?" Agahnim went along with it.

"My own." He said, standing up and nodding his head, "I am Strum, clan-master of the Yiga and the instigator in your resurrection."

Agahnim's mouth became a thin line. "You ordered my resurrection?"

Strum nodded. "I did."

"Then I have you to thank for the memories and nightmares that plague me." The Gerudo growled, voice already seeping with venom. "What exactly did you do wrong that made me remember not only the past, but events that never happened?"

"I...My lord?" He asked in confusion.

"Ugh, why am I even bothering?" Agahnim sighed to himself. "You'd be unlikely to know as well. Nevertheless, I have no intention of going with you, or leading you, or being your 'Lord'. So get out of my sight."

Strum seemed taken aback. "Sire, I think you are confused. Please, come with us. Mingling with these peasants is probably worsening the problem-"

"They are not peasants." Agahnim said lowly.

"Oh? They're your servants?"

"No!" He roared. "They are not pawns in your stupid game, they are my allies and you are not! Now get out of my sight before I lose what little reason you've left me!"

"...!?" Strum stepped back in shock. "But..."

"What can't you get through your thick skull?" Agahnim huffed. "Alright, alright, tell me then...Who am I?"

"You...are Ganondorf Dragmire."

Agahnim nodded. "Alright sure, and what am I known for?"

"You are the King of Evil, destined to destroy the Goddess and Her chosen hero."

"Wrong." He shook his head. "That's who I was. Not who I am now, my name is Agahnim and I protect those who cannot protect themselves. My goal is not to conquer, but to redeem myself and right the wrongs I wrought upon this land. Maybe not now, but soon."

He jabbed his finger into Strum's chest. "Tell That to your little clan."

Strum looked down for a moment.

"Then, forgive me for this, my lord."

In a flash, he'd drawn a barbed sickle and slashed it across Agahnim's chest, a spray of blood staining the sand as he fell to his hands and knees, clutching the wound. It wasn't very deep, but it had crossed the glowing scar on his chest, intensifying the pain...

Before another, more intense pain settled in.

"Agahnim!" Gradai and Cormac yelled, rushing to help him.

"I wouldn't if I was you." Strum laughed in triumph. "Your friend will be gone soon!"

A swarm of Yiga had appeared, surrounding them as they went back-to-back, watching their friend writhe on the ground.

Agahnim felt liquid fire running through his veins, the voice, once so quiet, now came back in full force. Temptations of power began to tease him, the other voice becoming quieter and quieter, telling him to fight back.

"Hehe, feel that 'Agahnim'?" Strum mocked, kneeling down next to him. "That's pure, liquid Malice running through your veins. See, we've observed you for quite a while, and your helpful nature seemed quite troubling. So we gathered what Malice remained after your previous form's defeat and doused this blade into it. So just sit back and let it run it's course, and all those good thoughts will vanish."

It was pure torture, his entire body shaking as pain wracked through him. He screamed and cried, but it did nothing to dull the agony he was experiencing.

But as he fought to open his eyes, his friends calling to him from nearby, he noticed his Triforce glowing again. The pain throughout his body began to ease and that's when he knew why.

Why the divine power came back, in his time of need.

Need.

That was it's secret.

It had always came to him when he needed it the most, never when he called for it, when he wanted to use it's power for ill will in past lives. Because that would be a desire, not a need. And right now, he didn't desire it. He needed it.

Funny, even in a serious situation like this, he was still learning new things. About himself and others.

Strum noticed when he stopped shaking, curiously tilting his head, using his sickle to lift his face up.

"What is your name?" He asked.

Agahnim's amber eyes opened, blazing with fury.

"Agahnim. Son of a Hylian and Gerudo. Raised and Trained by the powerful Twinrova." Divine energy pulsed from him, forcing Strum and his Yiga to step back in fear. "And as much as I loathe the man Ganondorf was, I must thank him for one thing."

He stood up tall, nearly meeting Strum's height, who withdrew in shock.

"The lessons he taught me." He drew his short-blade, holding it in an icepick grip while showing off the Sheikah symbols on the blade. "And his mistakes, that I'll never make again."

The air was tense. Nobody moved, waiting for the other side to make the first action. But Agahnim was as still as a rock, as was Strum.

With all eyes on him, they didn't notice Cormac move until two Footsoldiers had been decapitated and another impaled. Gradai joined in his onslaught as the moment caught up to the Assassins.

Strum roared, swinging his sickle downwards. Agahnim sidestepped, catching and trapping the Clan-Master's arm with his own, digging the Short-blade into his upper arm. As Strum gasped in pain, Agahnim placed his palm flat on his left side, his triforce glowing brightly.

With a slight nudge, the artifact blasted him point-black, sending Strum flying across the sands a good few meters, unconscious.

The faster footsoldiers were upon him, but were easily bested by his speed. Having a smaller, younger body had it's perks, like enhanced agility. He tanked punches and kicks and ducked and weaved around blades as he slaughtered them down.

As he turned to change opponents, he saw Gradai and Cormac under stack by a Blademaster, not Strum, but just another one. Even then, they were having difficulty with the high-ranking Yiga General.

Agahnim retrieved his Trident and sprinted across the bloody sand dunes, flanking the Blademaster. Taking his Trident and two hands, he hooked it over the Yiga's head and pressed it back against his throat, pulling him down with enough force to crush his windpipe.

And with a upwards yank, snapped his neck.

The lifeless corpse dropped to the ground, the spear that took it's life held loosely in it's owner's hand.

"Thanks." Cormac nodded, retrieving his discarded shield and inspecting it for damage. "That guy had a mean swing with that windcleaver."

"I'll say." Gradai murmured, retrieving said blade and giving it some experimental swings. "How much do you think it's worth? Or how about we keep it? Could be a nice weapon."

"Nah, those are very fragile and aren't meant for physical attacks. You're best off selling it." Cormac said.

Agahnim left them to their banter, looking around to find that the remaining Yiga had scurried off, leaving their bloody and broken comrades behind. He looked off in the distance to where Strum had landed.

But he was gone too, leaving only a few droplets of blood in his place.

The man resilient, he'd give him that.

Agahnim held a hand over his new wound and the glowing scar that adorned his chest, the golden light surrounding his hand began to give into a green hue. When he removed his hand, the recent wound was gone, but the centuries-old scar remained.

He looked at his hand, mystified, clenching his fist and nodding as he looked off again.

He had to start searching.

---

A week gone and the dreams got worse, and he swore they weren't even memories this time. They were premonitions. Glimpses of the future.

He was standing in a large circular room with giant obsidian pillars. The princess of this era sat weeping in front of him, cradling the body of her chosen knight, eyes lifeless and blood draining into his blue tunic from a large gash in his chest, the Master Sword laying useless at his fingertips.

Behind them was the Hero of Twilight, staring in shock and horror at the scene before his eyes, trying to force himself to stand with his own Master Sword as a pool of his own blood formed below him.

Agahnim took a moment to look at himself, seeing the black armor he'd previously discarded, the glowing Sage Sword in his hand. His reflection was that of his older self, but the one thing he noticed was his right eye.

It was covered by malice.

He heard a furious cry of battle behind him, turning just in time to see a flash of green and silver before he woke up.

It seemed destiny still had it in for him, he realized in a cold sweat, shaking rather fearfully.

He got out of bed and headed down the stairs, making his way to the study. If he was to speak to and hopefully help the Princess and her Hero, he'd need to make up for his lack in magical ability.

Yes, it was a factual statement. While his magic was intense and bursting with potential, it still paled in comparison to most others.

He knew the perfect enhancement for it.

---

Arbiter's Grounds was desolate now, just like when they'd found it months ago. A few pillars pointing from the sand, the entire structure had been long buried. That made his job harder, but he was determined to see it through.

Memories of torment plagued his mind as he searched the area of his former prison. It made his spine tingle and Triforce itch as the thoughts nearly overwhelmed him.

As he took a step forward, he felt the presence of a familiar magic.

Twilight magic.

Panicked, he rushed over a sand dune. Digging at the sand until he was completely buried, with a little gap to breathe and see what was happening, the tan hood he wore completing his makeshift camouflage. He watched as two people landed with a splash in the sand, one wore a blue tunic and seemed panicked at the increase in temperature, fumbling in his pack for a potion.

That wasn't much of a problem for them, him and his friends being used to it.

The other one made his blood freeze when he saw the Green tunic he wore. A panic setting into his bones as the Hero of Twilight shot a glance his way, eyes narrowed, searching.

Thankfully, he seemed to be well hidden and was ignored as he walked off to search around.

What followed was an amazing show as the two Heroes awoke a Molduga, using their shields and a nearby pack of sand seals to evade and dispatch the beast. Luckily, he was far enough to not be seen or detected by either hero nor creature.

He saw what they'd come to retrieve, a Fused Shadow that the Molduga had swallowed.

One surprise after another, he watched as the Twilight Hero raised the buried Prison out of the sand, the one in the Blue Tunic entering and coming out again, bloodied and holding a sword in his hand.

When they warped away, he rose from his spot and walked to where they'd been.

A loud rumble echoed out, the structure soon began to sink back into the sand. He only watched as his former prison was washed away into the sands once again.

His gaze flicked to the side, across the dunes of the desert, and to Gerudo Town.

"It's Time."

---

"Hey, Agahnim." Viola's tired voice chimed.

The Gerudo's amber eyes flicked up from the desk, books and their pages illuminated by the dim light of an oil lamp. He wore only his black shirt and shorts, with a cover draped over his shoulders as he read.

It was early in the morning, or late at night, if you will. Viola held a small cup of boiling tea in her hands, leaning in the doorway in her nightgown, with her own cover over her shoulders.

"Hey." He nodded slightly. "Um, Good Morning."

"You mean 'Good Night', Right?" She smiled, sipping her drink. "What're you doing up this late? Did you just get back?"

He nodded tiredly, leaning on his fist as his eyes scanned the book. "I'll be heading out again soon, to Hyrule Castle, but first I need to do something."

"Really? Why?" Viola inquired curiously at his first statement, withdrawing from her tea. "I thought you weren't going to apologize to them."

He shook his head slowly. "I'm not, death is on the wind and I can sense it. They can too." His gaze became dark. "I saw the blue and the green-clads at Arbiter's Grounds. Not to mention the Yiga are mobilzing."

"They are?"

"Yes, after they attack Gradai, Cormac, and me, we went to scout their hideout. They're clearing it out and are moving out of the back entrance, into the snowy, mountains area."

"So...You're going to warn them?" Viola nodded in understanding.

Agahnim nodded. "Yes, but I want to throw the Yiga off the trail too, and get some information while I do it." He turned a page in the book in front of him. "I need to figure out what the Yiga had done wrong in the ritual, I need to find one who was present at my resurrection and survived the rampage I wrought afterwards."

Viloa walked over to his desk and peered at the books he was reading. It was spell book, dating back to a date she had no idea was even recorded.

"'Brainwashing'?" She read the title with confusion an worry. "Why brainwashing specifically?"

"Because interrogation won't work on these guys." He said, scratching at the wood desk. "They're too loyal, and not to me after my stunt, for that. I'll need to force the information out...But it's proving tedious as is."

"How come?"

He placed a finger on the page. "This is a spell book I recovered from some ruins south of here, but it's been damaged and the lesson for the basic brainwashing technique that I was taught by Twinrova has been ripped out. So, I need to find an alternative."

Viola frowned a bit, then slowly nodded. "Okay, I'll get you some tea in the meantime."

He nodded gratefully and went back to his search, scouring through that book and several different others. Viola came back with the cup and pot of tea. She even helped in search, although she needed help finding the right section for the spell itself.

"Hey, what about this?" She said suddenly.

Agahnim turned from his search as she leaned down to show him the page. A page full of ancient Hylian text, which thankfully he'd translated for her.

"'Branding'." He read. "Hmm, it's something."

He took the book and read through the page, slowly nodding.

"Ah...This is an ancient technique, doesn't even require a mind-gem to work either. Good, good." He frowned. "Damn...It's an advanced spell in that case though, says only supernatural beings like Wraiths can use it naturally, my current magic pool can't handle it..."

"Can you...I don't know, train it?"

"Yes, but it'd be too time-consuming." He murmured, scratching his cheek. "But...A magical artifact may be able to permanently enhance it, like a...Ah damn!" He slammed his fist into the table.

"What?" Viola stepped back, surprised.

"The Heroes from before, they took the Fused Shadow from Arbiter's Grounds." He grumbled, rubbing his eyes. "That means the easy one to get is long-gone."

"Fused Shadow? You mean like-"

"Yes, the artifacts the Hero of Twilight and his friend, Midna, used during their journey." He hummed a moment. "Midna tried to kill me with all four, but I survived and shattered one of them. But, if rumors are true, she survived and returned to the Twilight Realm...Which means..."

"All Four are still in our world."

He nodded. "Yes, but chances are the Hero of Twilight, 'The Wolf', as everyone calls him, took it as a memoir and probably repaired one of them."

He reached across the desk and grabbed a big blue book titled "Ancient Era Artifacts; Volume Four".

"I've looked into their locations before, and rumors circulate frequently about them, probably from snooty collectors...From what I know, Two were located in Arbiter's Grounds, One in a nearby kingdom called 'Marsh', and one in a temple dedicated to the Sages in central Hyrule."

"Wait, that means there's one more in Arbiter's Grounds." Viola pointed out.

Agahnim shook his head. "The green-clad, 'The Wolf', he could sense them and seems to possess Twili magic. However, he only sensed one and I feel no negative energy there, other than my memories. That means one was already excavated..."

Viola nodded slowly, understanding.

"I'm hoping it's the Gerudo...But I may be wrong." He sighed. "I'll find out tomorrow..."

"You're going to Gerudo Town?" She gasped in disbelief. "They'll arrest you!"

"Not if I go in quietly." He said matter-of-factly. "I don't aim to kill anyone, just speak with the chief. Maybe even get this stupid bounty off my head, I've seen her before, she seems like a reasonable Vai."

"Cause all of us Vai are reasonable, eh?" She smirked, leaning on his chair. "Or do you just find us charming?"

"Oh hush, you're starting to sound like Shey." He smirked back, standing up from his chair. "I'm gonna go off to bed, good night."

"Good ni-" Her voice quieted a little. "Hey...Agahnim."

He turned at the door. "Hm?"

"Did...did you ever love someone?"

Agahnim both blinked and frowned at the question.

Had he? He didn't remember a particular woman in his past lives, especially when he was mongering about as the king of evil, destroying things and generally being evil. Love seemed pointless in his state of madness.

Now, he did love platonically.

He loved Viola, Gradai, Shey, Shadda, and Cormac as friends and considered them family, being dear to his heart after bringing him back from the brink.

"Well..." Viola continue, despite his lack of answer. "...Gradai and I have courted for quite some time now, four years after leaving the Ordonian Army..."

"I don't think I know you all well enough for this topic, Viola." Agahnim interrupted, scratching his cheek nervously. "...Courting isn't exactly my forte."

"I know...just, can I ask you this?"

She reached into her pocket, and pulled out a tiny little box, holding it out for him. Agahnim blinked and took it, opening it to reveal an ear-ring with a light-purple orb, a silver dome across the top.

"I...want to propose to him." She confessed shyly. "I was...wondering, do you think he'll like it?"

Agahnim regarded the ear-ring and it's gem for a moment, a bit confused at such an engagement "ring".

"Why an Ear-ring?" He inquired, looking at her. "Why not just a normal ring?"

"Oh...It's, uh, an Ordonian tradition." She explained. "You see, after Ordon established a Kingdom, it expanded it's borders and eventually took over a large mountainous region along the sea. They're called the 'Tone Cliffs', because they house the 'Tone Gems', which is what that purple stone is. See, they have magical properties and normally have a grayish hue, but when you hold it for a while, it'll change color to match your personality."

"And..the ear-ring?" He asked again.

"You see, even if you get the same color as someone, the gem's properties are unique to each person, so when you gift someone a gem, you're telling them that you'll always be by their side. Forever. When couples get married, they wear two tone-gem ear-rings, one of their color and one of their partners."

She reached into her nightgown and tugged on a necklace that had escaped Agahnim's notice, on the end of it was an identical ear-ring to the one he held, light-purple stone and everything.

"Gradai and I wear ours as necklaces so nobody steals them, we hide the chain under our collars." She dropped her hand. "But...I just don't know if he'd like to wear a purple ear-ring."

Agahnim nodded a bit, understanding. He handed the box back and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"For you, that man'd probably wear a dress and makeup." He lightheartedly reassured, then turned a bit serious. "He'll cherish it, I'm certain."

He meant both statements. Gradai came across as a natural soldier to him, but held a deep loyalty for his allies and an especially deep affection for Viola. He had no doubt the man would suck up some pride for her sake and even go beyond that.

"Ha, really?" Viola laughed a bit, nodding. "...Thank you, Agahnim. That means the world ot me."

Getting thanked was a weird feeling, but he accepted it before retiring to bed.

The warmth was back.

And this time...It lasted.

---

He set out early, a black bandanna with grey gerudo markings covering his face. Paired with his tan hood, only his amber eyes were visible. He reached Gerudo Town at noon, stopping atop a sand dune to observe the guard patrols along the walls.

They seemed to be slightly stricter now, but they were awfully linear. He nodded to himself and sprinted across the sand, dodging the not-so-careful eyes of the Gerudo Guards.

He scaled up the rocky wall, climbing past the large open view at the back of the throne room, avoiding entering there for obvious reasons.

He needed to speak to her alone and not at spear-point.

Riju sighed heavily, rubbing her tired eyes and adjusting the braclets on her wrist. Today she set out with Bularia and several other Gerudo to board Vah Nabooris, their goal to learn how to control the Divine Beast.

Much like her predcessor, it would eventually become a trivial task, but the start of it was the part she loathed the most.

"Mistress, remember to retrieve the Thunder Helm from your room." Buliara called from the Throne Room, the clank of a sword tapping on stone echoing after her loyal guardian.

"I will!" She called back, turning about on the stairs and walking back up to her room.

Some would call her childish, keeping plushies of sand seals on her bed right next to the Heirloom, the golden helm right where she left it the night before.

As she picked it up, scoffing at her thoughts, she didn't even notice the shadowy figure landing in from the window, their footfalls quieted with a spell.

By the time she turned around, Thunder helm in hand, a blade had been pressed against her throat.

She was about to yell upon catching sight of the intruder, but the icy cold edge of the blade against her skin made her stop in her tracks, along with the chilling threat that followed.

"Scream, and your entire Guard dies."

Riju clenched her teeth. "How so?"

"By means unknown to even myself." He growled in reply.

It was tense standoff for both parties, one at the edge of death, and the other in enemy territory.

Riju studied their features, they were quite masculine, and their voice made it obvious they were a Voe, but what struck her as odd was his tanned skin and amber eyes were similar to those of the Gerudo.

It clicked into place faster than anticipated on Agahnim's end.

"You." Her eyes widened in surprise. "You're the Gerudo Voe we've heard about. You travel with...Gradai's group, right?"

Slowly, despite his surprise, Agahnim nodded. "I am and I do. And I truly don't mean to cause any unnecessary hostility, Chief Riju."

"Really?" She deadpanned, casting a glance to the blade at her neck. "You could've fooled me. Between threatening to kill my guards to drawing a blade on me."

"It's nice to see that our sense of humor hasn't dulled." He remarked, withdrawing the blade and placing it back in the sheath. "Sorry for the hostilities, had to make sure you wouldn't give me away. My name is Agahnim, I need your assistance, Chief Riju."

"Agah-nim?" She repeated carefully, frowning. "That...sounds really familiar."

The male gerudo looked a bit apprehensive, before reaching up and undoing his bandana and putting his hood down. Riju openly stared upon seeing his face.

"It is an alternate persona for Ganondorf Dragmire." He said quietly. "It is who I was and who I am fighting to not be again, but I need-."

"What...!?" She stepped back, in either shock or fear, he couldn't tell. "Y-You're Calamity Ganon?"

"In human form, yes." He nodded. "But I do not have that degree of malice on my concious."

"I...What...Hehe, you nearly had me." She shook her head, chuckling with relief. "Calamity Ganon is pure evil incarnate, and is very well dead, Link saw to that. Besides, Ganondorf has been dead for several Millennia! How can you be him?"

"I was resurrected by the Yiga." He said simply.

"The Yiga?" She turned about and scoffed. "So then, are you their errand boy? Here to assassinate me? Do their dirty work while they sit back in their little den?"

"No." He said firmly. "I don't serve or lead those damned fools, they can rot in the desert for all I care. Even then, I came here for help only, not to interfere with your affairs, Chief."

Still a bit tense, Riju stood up straight. "How do I know you won't pull a weapon on me?"

Agahnim sighed deeply, unsheathing his short-blade again. He tossed it onto the bed nearby and unhooked his trident from his back. Giving it a few fancy twirls, he laid it horizontal in his fist, held outwards toward her.

Riju gulped slightly, still not quite believing him. When she glimpsed downwards at his right hand that held the trident, a particular mark on the back of his gloved hand took her notice.

"The Triforce?" She murmured, reaching out to take his hand, inspecting it. "But...only Zelda and Link have..."

Her eyes widened, letting his hand go. "You are Ganondorf."

"Rather accepting, I see." He snarked, then frowned. "Listen Riju, the Ritual for resurrecting me was botched somehow, the Yiga made an error that made me like...this." He motioned to himself. "I found a spell that an allow me to get information out of even their most high-ranking officers, but my Magical ability cannot handle the input needed."

"...Why should I help you?" She said, even more tense now.

"Because I just revieled myself to you, gave up my defenses, and told you my plans. That is three different signs of trust and if you can't accept it, I'll just go elsewhere."

"No! It's..." She looked at her feet. "I'm just quite shocked is all...A Gerudo Voe hasn't been born since the Era of Twilight. And when one just...shows up one day without prior notice and just so happens to be the resurrected form of Ganondorf...It's quite...shocking."

"I can see that." He stated flatly, twirling his trident again and placing it on his back. "Now, a while ago, I went out with Gradai and Cormac, we were assaulted by the Yiga who attempted to convert me back into my previous persona, but I managed to resist and fight them off. We went and scouted out their hideout that same day, and that's when we noticed something. They were moving out, packing things away and moving them out of the back entrance, into the snowy mountains."

"Really?" Riju frowns, pacing around the room. "Well, at least their attacks won't be a problem here anymore. However, it present a problem to the people wherever they end up."

"Yes, I want to create a diversion before going to warn the Princess and her heroes." He explained.

"Hmm...You said magical ability?" She inquired.

"Yes, I possess the Triforce of power, unfortunately, it's power is awoken by need. Right now, I only desire it and cannot use it's full power. For the spell to work, I need an magical artifact that can permanently increase my input and output."

"A fused shadow?" Riju said suddenly.

"I..." He blinked. "Yes, how did you know?"

"Because, we have one." She smirked.

"You do!?" He gaped. "Since when?"

"Since the Hero of Twilight returned our people to Hyrule, he became friends with the chief and chieftess and gifted them a piece for safe keeping. We've kept it throughout the ages and I myself buried it in a safe place."

"Where?"

Riju crossed her arms. "Do you swear on a Gerudo's honor that you won't use it for malicious intent? Those artifacts were sealed away millenia ago for a good reason."

"I thought there was no honor among thieves." Agahnim said sardonically.

"We are not thieves anymore!" She hissed, genuinely offended. "We've left that life far behind."

"Heh...And I'm proud of you all for that." He smiled lightly. "It's good to see my people rise above such trickery. So, on a gerudo's honor, I won't use the artifact for evil. I swear."

Riju noticeably looked surprised, not quite expecting that.

"Alright..." She pointed at him. "But don't think this makes me trust you. I'll have an eye on you, Voe."

Riju turned on her heel and walked to the top of the stairway outside her room, there she pointed to the west.

"Follow the path pointed by The Seven Heroines, they will lead you to the Western Gerudo Ruins." She looked at him. "At the foot of the statue there, is a wooden chest buried deep underground."

"Alright..." He nodded, promptly turning about. "I'll be off then, sorry for the hostilties."

"Wait." He turned back to her. "I'm going with you."

Agahnim blinked then shook his head. "I thought you had to go fiddle with that 'Divine Beast' thing."

"It can wait." She reassured, grabbing a nearby shield. "Here, we'll take sand seals."

"I don't know how to ride those." He replied, exasperated by the younger gerudo.

"It's easy! Come on, let's go!" She rushed past him.

Agahnim sighed heavily, following after.

---

Riju had told her guards that they would wait until tomorrow before heading to Vah Nabooris.

Luckily, Agahnim had put his hood and bandanna back on just in time when they passed through the Throne Room and into the town proper. From a guard or passerby's perspective, it was just the chief and a friend going off for a ride.

Now, they were surfing across the sands at high speed, weaving around rocks and letting the wind blow past them. Agahnim held on tight to the handle, steering carefully and casually. It was kinda easy to control the sand seals, even if Riju making a few puns nearly made him go crazy.

"Not bad for your first time, eh?" Riju said as Agahnim came alongside her.

The Gerudo Voe shrugged. "There were no Sand Seals back then, we got around with Horses since Gerudo Town was a bit closer to the Province border."

"...So, you really are Ganondorf?" Riju inquired.

Agahnim gave her a look. "Uh, yes? I thought you already admitted that?"

She shrugged. "I honestly still didn't believe it. Legends say the his Triforce was passed down through the Gerudo, but it never show'd up until you came along, even then it's a bit iffy. But I can tell by the way you talk when relaxed, you're experienced and aged for someone so young. How old are you...well, in this form?"

"I'd place around eighteen." He shrugged as well. "But I've been telling people I'm twenty."

"What? Do they not believe your young age?" She asked cheekily. "Stings the pride, doesn't it?"

"My pride died years ago when I first fell for temptation." Agahnim replied flatly. "Call me nostalgic, but I'd prefer people saw me as an man, not some child."

"I see..." Riju nodded, mouth twisted to the side. "I'm rather glad I didn't yell for help, you're just a wealth of advice. I should be angry since your last form took Lady Urbosa from us, and countless others."

Agahnim nodded solemly, not blaming her for not realizing that was a touchy subject, whispering to himself. "I remember every one of them."

"So...do you plan on talking to Zelda and Link?"

"I do. Hopefully soon, while we figure out what the Yiga are planning."

"Y'know, there's a festival coming up in a week, something about the Harvest or something. It's a mask festival and I've got an invite for a ball in Hyrule Castle."

Agahnim nodded slowly. "So I'd be your guest?"

"Sure, why not?"

"I just...doubt meeting them will be that simple. It's hard to forgive what I've done, especially since I doubt they know of the work I've put into redemption..."

Riju looked forlorn for a moment. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm cut out for being chief, but Link helped put those doubts to rest." She gave him a small smile. "As your chief, I suggest you do the same, Agahnim. They'll be glad to help."

"Well...No offense, I don't really follow the chief anymore but I'll try...Look out!" Agahnim yelled, sharply turning his seal and tackling Riju to the ground, just as a hail of arrows whizzed past their heads.

And dug into the statue at the Western Ruins.

---

"Where is he?" Cormac murmured, watching the Yiga group carefully through his telescope. "They're alert, and if we don't attack soon, they'll soon move onward."

"Patience." Viola said, cradling her bow. "They'll be here."

Right on cue, footsteps from behind them approached, and from them Gradai and Agahnim. The latter, Viola noticed, seemed to hold a dark aura around him that didn't seem to be there before.

She thought nothing of it, blaming it on lack of sleep.

"About time. How'd the talk with the Lynel go?" Cormac inquired. "Fenrir, was it?"

"Still a jackass." Agahnim replied crassly, his voice gruff and annoyed. "But he's agreed to withdraw aid from the Yiga and Strum. Where's Shadd?"

"At home." Viola replied. "Prefers books to combat."

They settled into the little nest, observing the large group.

"What does Strum want with a Fused Shadow anyway?" Gradai crouched down next to Cormac, taking his telescope for a peek. "He sure fought tooth and nail for the one you grabbed at the Statue."

"I don't know." Agahnim shook his head. "All that matters is that I got it, and I managed to save Riju's life too. That should get that bounty off me."

"Are you sure that thing isn't affecting you?" Viola asked worriedly, brushing hand across his cheek. "You seem...pale."

He moved her hand away, shaking his head fervently. "I'm fine."

In truth, he wasn't. The past week was hectic and grated his already raw nerves with each passing day. He and Riju were ambushed at the Western Ruins, and while he was able to repel them, he'd been very badly injured. He recovered the Fused Shadow and, after parting ways with the grateful Gerudo Chief, headed home to study it and find a way to enhance his own power.

It required a lengthy ritual that took several tries to get right.

But it worked, and his powers were permanently enhanced, even when not in the Artifact's presence. But he hadn't expected the consequences with holding onto it. The voice came back.

The bad one.

The Fused Shadow seem to amplify it's temptations and whispers.

Each passing day, he felt himself fall deeper and deeper into a chasm of complete darkness.

Of Shadow.

Not only that, but rumors of a Golden-Mane Lynel began to resurface, the infamous King Bokoblin had decided to leave his fort and roam the land again. Agahnim, accompanied by Gradai, had tracked him down to the Province Border and warned him not to ally with the Yiga. He sardonically agreed and led his own army away towards the Breach of Demise while they headed back.

All things considered, he was lucky to be sane right now.

He shook his head and began looking around, immediately trying to cobble his attack plan together.

"Alright. Viola, see that rock formation over there?" He whispered, the reddish-brown haired girl nodding. "It's a good sniping spot, I need you to get up there with your bow for the diversion, then come down when the fighting starts. Cormac, Gradai, you're both with me."

Viola nodded, sitting up from her sitting position, rushing across the sand with her bow and quiver. For such a sweet girl, Agahnim couldn't deny she had good aim, especially at long range.

When she was in position, she nocked a bomb arrow and aimed at a nearby cliff side, mainly the lower supports. She loosed it, the arrow sailing quietly through the air before shattering the cliff's foundations, raining rocks and debris on the hapless Yiga group they'd tracked down.

It was a larger one, obviously split from the main force while roaming the desert. This led to Cormac and Viola stalking them back to the entrance to their hideout while Agahnim and Gradai attended to business elsewhere.

Namely, the certain Gold-Mane Lynel.

Seizing the moment to get the information he wanted and create the distraction, Agahnim gave the signal to attack.

The plan was simple, Viola would create a diversion by literally dropping a cliff on them, before he, Cormac, and Gradai would go in and stage a full assault. By the time they realized they were being attacked, it'd be too late.

Four Footsoliders were already on the ground, their heads removed neatly from their shoulders by the Hylian warrior and soldier, while a Blade-Master followed, felled by Agahnim's trident going through his mask, face, and skull.

Nine remained.

Agahnim let out a battle cry, leaving his trident behind as three footsoldiers ganged up on him. A quick blast of magic left one's head flying into the distance, while the other felt nothing when a Sheikah Short-Blade severed his larynx and top of his spinal cord, his dying body limp on the ground. Another screamed in horror and agony when Agahnim's hand seized his face, a blue energy rushing through his skull, before it popped like a grape.

Six.

Cormac saw no pattern in the panicked Yiga's movements, the footsoldier was increasingly sloppy, it was almost pitiful. An attempt to knock his sword away only led to Cormac catching it's handle in an icepick grip, bashing him in the face with the pommel before slicing his head clean from his neck.

Five.

Gradai came under stack when two footsoldiers ganged up on him. He'd be worried if an arrow hadn't conveniently planted itself in one of their skulls. He cast a grin at the approaching Viola, who was picking off enemies from a distance. Grabbing the deceased Footsoldier's sickle, swinging it down hard to sever the other footsoldier's arm, retrieving his sickle as well before placing both around his neck and slicing inwards, scissor-style.

Three.

"Agahnim!" Gradai called, tossing the two bloody sickles to the Gerudo, who was fighting off twp blademasters.

He was quick and sheathed his blade before catching the sickles, holding one in a normal grip and the other in an ice-pick grip as he stared them down. Both swiped downwards, the razor wind from their windcleavers ripping through the sand towards him. In a flash, he erected a barrier, blocking all three assaults before falling away. Before they registered what'd happened, he was already on them. An electric arrow met one of their throats, the victim being knocked out in an instant.

Two.

Agahnim slashed the first sickle into the remaining blademaster's arm, then the second across his leg, severing it. As he fell onto the stub, Agahnim planted the second sickle into the side of his head, twisting it around a full 180 degrees for good measure. The gerudo let go of the sickles, leaving them hanging out of arm and head awkwardly, then casually kicking the body down and stepping over it.

One.

"Where the hell is the last one?" Cormac murmured, looking about. "I counted twenty of them. The rocks took out seven while we dispatched twelve."

"Maybe you're just getting old." Gradai suggested.

"Shut up..." He growled, then added silently. "I'm only thirty-five."

"Well, ain't this a carnage?" Viola mused as she ran up to the group, looking around at the torn-apart bodies littering the sand. "Sure you didn't go a bit overboard, Agahnim?"

"They want me to be the King of Evil? So be it." Agahnim grumbled, crossing his arms. "I've had a long day and I needed to relieve some stress, combat is a natural at that."

Gradai slowly backed up. "Remind me not to mess with you when you're stressed."

"I'll keep it in mind."

In truth, he would. Agahnim felt...wrong, agitated and feeling like his skin was crawling. He felt darkness clawing at his soul and he felt like he wanted to kill every single thing in the vincinity, friends included.

He swallowed those thoughts, gazing to the Fused Shadow on his belt.

Too much trouble, it was.

"Uh oh. Look out." Viola pointed past them. "We got a runner."

They turned around to see the one who'd been stunned with a shock arrow, the blademaster desperately trying to crawl away.

"Well, time to test this." Agahnim sighed, a hand reaching for the artifact on his belt. He approached the crawling foe and nudge him onto his back, jumping back when he sprung up back onto his feet in an attempt to strike him.

What he didn't expect was Agahnim's hand to grab hold of his face just as quickly.

"On your knees." The Gerudo commanded.

A white hot blue light burning his cheek as he was forced into a kneeling position, his mask falling away to reveal glowing all-blue eyes. He cried out in agony as Agahnim spoke.

"You serve me now."

Slowly, his cries subsided. Agahnim removed his hand, leaving a glowing out of the Triforce on the Yiga's cheek, the top one marked in and glowing brighter than the others.

"I...serve you now." He repeated, bowing.

"Huh, it worked..." Agahnim mused, nodding to himself. "Tell me, you were present for my resurrection, correct?"

The possessed Blademaster nodded.

"What did the Yiga do to end up with...me?"

Slowly, the Blademaster explained. "Your ashes were procured from the Temple of Time atop the Great Plateau. They, along with your trident and armor were brought to the Yiga hideout. They then set out to hunt for the Hero's blood. Unfortunately, there are two heroes at this current time, forcing them to compromise by taking each Hero's blood. Just before the ritual, your ashes were split, as was the blood, in case anything went wrong."

Agahnim blinked, genuinely surprised that his ashes were placed in the Temple of Time. Where royal family were laid to rest, and yet he was laid to rest just like them. Did they respect him?

As for the ritual, it made sense now. The split ashes and blood, the Two different bloods of heroes, no matter how similar. Of course he'd be different than before, but he was still missing something of importance.

"What happened to the other half of the blood and ashes?"

"Used."

"For what?"

"To make something."

Agahnim visibly gulped. "What?"

The Blademaster nodded forward. "Him-"

Agahnim's eyes widened when the Yiga's head fell from his neck, spurting blood everywhere, and before he could react, he was grabbed by the back of the collar and tossed across the sand, and into some rock pillars.

"What...the!?" Everyone gasped upon catching sight of the assailant.

It was...Agahnim, or at least the one they'd met in the sandstorm. He wore the same black armor and his face was near identical, if far more pronounced and masculine. He was older definitely, with more wild sideburns and long hair. His amber eyes, not the dull ones they'd seen first, but ones bursting with madness.

Agahnim, the real one, gasped in pain, looking up to see his friends staring with shock and fear at the adult gerudo with a familiar face.

He stood up, muscles taunt and screaming for blood.

"Ganon!" He called.

With a crackle, like an unnatural spider, the man snapped his head around and glared at the younger Gerudo, a sickened, mad smile spreading on his lips.

"Ganondorf..." He cackled in return. "Finally, we meet. Or do you prefer...Ah-Ga-Nim?"

Agahnim seethed at both names, but remained his cool when facing down this doppelganger. Or worse, another clone.

"...You're me?" He asked tentively.

"Yes, I am." The clone grinned. "Just without the...quirks."

"Quirks?"

"Oh yes." He looked about at the hylians around him. "These peasants following you, you 'helping' them. It's just poetic really."

"Not to me." Agahnim stepped forward, drawing his short-blade, ready for blood. But when he looked back, Ganon was gone, his friends looking around in confusion.

He felt a rush of wind and a tingle of Twili-Magic behind him, whirling about and throw a hard upward hook. Only for Ganon to catch his wrist effortlessly, looking at the Triforce mark on his hand with interest, perhaps feigned.

"Interesting, you've gotten it to work several times." He said with a pouty tone, holding up his own right hand with a grin. "Mine won't do a thing."

Agahnim gaped in shock at the Triforce Mark on the back of Ganon's hand, a loose grin on his doppelgangers face as he showed it off.

"It's a shame really, I'll have to kill you to get the other half." Upon noticing Agahnim's confused look, he elaborated with the same mocking tone. "Since we both possess the same Triforce piece, but it's power is split between. If one dies, the other gets the remaining half, So..."

Ganon grabbed at the Sheikah blade, wrenching it from Agahnim's grasp and holding it over his eye, slowly lowering it while Agahnim struggled against his superior strength.

"I'll take it...and you'll be just a forgotten memory." He grinned maniacally. "Won't...that...be...fun?!"

A wet sound met Agahnim's ears as Ganon's grip was taken away, he turned around to look behind him. Agahnim looked up and past him to see Gradai, holding his bloodied sword.

He'd just tried to save him.

"Pfft, begone Hylian." Ganon swat Gradai like a bug, bones cracking as he sent him tumbling unconscious in the sand. "Now, where were we?"

"Here." Cormac appeared at his side and shoved his blade between his ribs, eliciting an actual groan from Ganon. Just a groan.

"Pathetic humans..." He mumbled, fist moving at blinding speeds, catching Cormac by the throat as his other fist met his side.

Slowly and painfully, he slammed his fist into the Hylian's chest, until his ribs were cracked or broken, then tossing his limp body away.

That left Viola, who Agahnim couldn't see anywhere. Thankfully, She'd probably gone and hid.

Agahnim raised his hand, summoning the dark magic within the Fused Shadow and-

Ganon had already seen what he was doing and socked Agahnim across the face to break his concentration, holding his hand out as the Fused Shadow attached to Agahnim's belt was ripped off by an invisible hand and into Ganon's waiting grasp.

"Whew, that was close...Hey...I was looking for this one." He said, still in that mocking tone. "Now all I need to do is find the remaining two."

He pulled back his cape to reveal another Fused Shadow attached to his belt, hidden from view. He placed Agahnim's piece there right next to it, throwing his cape back over and grinning.

"Now that the riff-raff are dealt with, time for the main event." He said with a big, jagged grin.

Agahnim gave a cry and launched himself at his doppelganger, but one lesson not learnt led to him getting into even hotter water, especially when Ganon met his speed and caught him by the throat in a death grip.

The wind knocked out of him and his air supply cut off, he was quite literally choking to death as Ganon lifted him into the air, with that Goddesses damned smirk on his face.

"I'm surprised you keep fighting, even if it gets you deeper in trouble each time you resist." He chuckled. "I admire and respect a fighter, it's a damn shame I'll have to kill you to get that Triforce. But hey, we'll both get to kill the Princess and her Hero, right?"

"I...am...not...a-" Agahnim choked out.

"Yeah, yeah. You're not evil, you're atoning for good. Yadda Yadda." He sneered. "I'm you, dumbass. I have the same memories, even ones of the alternative timelines. So your motivations mean nothing to me."

He reached to grab the discarded Sheikah blade, swinging it down and into Agahnim's chest, right into the scar. He gargled, blood seeping from his closed throat.

"Like that?" Ganon whispered, grinning like mad, raising the blae again. "Then you'll love thi-GAH!"

Agahnim gasped for breath when Ganon released his grip, his gloating turned to an agonizing scream as an arrow pierced his chestplate where his own glowing scar would be, giving Agahnim a twisted revenge as he clutched at the shaft poking out of him.

"W-what...Is this!?" Ganon growled, blood seeping from his own mouth. "It...Burns!?"

"Light arrows..." Agahnim smirked wearily. "Courtesy of the Spirit Temple...You remember them, don't you?"

"Why...you little...gouuh..." Ganon gasped, falling to his knee as the pain coursed through his chest. His pained gaze turned from Agahnim to the Hylian in the distance, the woman, the vai, the whatever that had shot him.

She gave a thumbs up to Agahnim before turning back to her fallen foe.

"I'll...give you credit." Ganon muttered, breathing heavily and glancing at Agahnim. "She's got good aim."

Strange minds think alike.

Or...well, similar minds think alike in this case.

Agahnim wasn't sure if he was supposed to take it as a compliment, but managed to get a raspy breath hitched in his throat when Ganon forced his hand outwards, the Fused Shadows on his belt glowing.

Then another Light Arrow pierced his right eye.

His head snapped back, his last sound a barely managed throaty gasp before collapsing, a dark pool of crimson seeping from his chest and eye, completely limp.

Time felt still for a moment while he waited for him to move again...But he didn't.

Agahnim took a moment give a thumbs up back, and a signal to Viola to check on their fallen allies, while he checked Ganon's body.

He knelt down, and already, the odd feeling he felt earlier began to intensify. Amber eyes gazing over the fallen Gerudo before him, the blood that ran from him flowed oddly and left a familiar, senseless feeling in his body.

He reached out and hovered his right hand over Ganon's chest, watching in increasing horror as his Triforce glowed in defense.

Malice.

His blood was Malice.

Agahnim felt like he was going to vomit, watching as the evil substance melted away the arrow in his eye socket and chest, making it seem like they sank all the way through his body, into his chest and brain.

Faintly, Agahnim remembered the premonition he had.

His reflection in his blade...the right eye swimming with malice.

He looked down and found that person lying in front of him.

Was...this who he will become?

"What did you do to yourself?" He whispered to his fallen clone, gaining no reply.

Agahnim felt cold as he stood up and walked towards his friends, grabbing his blade and trident along the way.

"Who was that!?" Cormac exclaimed, rubbing his ribs. "I think he broke my ribs..!"

"Speak for yourself..." Gradai groaned, supported by Viola, his arm right and left leg limp. "He broke my arm and shattered my leg..."

"Agahnim, who was that?" Viola went straight to the point. "Was it...Ganondorf?"

Agahnim frowned and shook his head.

"That was not Ganondorf, that was Ganon." He murmured. "The Evil King...Who I would've become if you hadn't helped me...A pitiful man, really...Corrupted so intensely."

He turned around to look at the clone.

And gasped when he saw no corpse.

The others noticed and stared in shock and horror. Agahnim noticing black twilit particles escaping into the air.

He had survived.

Of course he had.

"...Come on, let's head home." He sighed after a moment. "I'll heal us up there, and then I'm going after him."

"Not alone! I'm coming with you!" Viola said firmly.

"No, he tossed us around like trash." Agahnim shook his head. "He'll kill you."

"Then...what can we do?"

Agahnim sighed, rubbing his temple and eyes, looking up to the cloudy sky.

"Viola...I need a mask." He said. "I've got a Festival and Ball to go to."

---

The rain poured down, the first he'd seen in ages.

His face was hidden behind the wooden mask of Boar, covered by his tan hood as his Amber eyes peered out from the eye-holes.

Atop Vah Nabooris, traveling across the mountain ranges towards Hyrule Castle, he began to think.

Of where he was now. Of who he was.

With no Fused Shadow bringing back his temptations, he felt a relief flood through his body. But a dread as well.

The Yiga had brought another Ganondorf back to life, one full of Malice and Hatred like their predecessors. His personality was psychotic, unlike the refined, courtly style of the Ganondorf of the past.

Faintly, Agahnim wished to save his "Brother".

Ganon, as he referred to him.

But He was on the opposing side, and the next time they'd meet, would be in battle for sure.

With a sigh and a turn, Agahnim retired to bed.

A Weary Soul.

A False King.

---

Word Count: 21,826 (About 3.5x my average)

Thanks for reading, remember to review and fav!

Author's Note:

Cormac and Shey, mix em up, change the E to an A, and what do you get? Shay Cormac. (Love AC Rogue.)

I kept it noticeable, especially around the end, that Agahnim is STILL Ganondorf reincarnate. When in possession of Fused Shadow, an artifact that corrupts, he noticeably reverts to a brutal, uncaring fighting style.

Originally, Viola would've been a love interest of Agahnim, but I thought it would be a bit weird, so I switched it to a more Brother-Sister relationship. Lucky man, that Gradai.

Speaking of Cormac and Shey, they are descendants from Ashei. With most of her personality given to Shey and her combat skills to Cormac. Best of both worlds.

Ganon and Agahnim both have a split-personality type issue. Agahnim is split between Good and Evil, being either cruel or merciful at anytime, while Ganon can be Psychotic or Courtly at any moment. We orignally saw a Fused-Shadows altered, courtly Ganon at the Battle of the Ball, but here we see his unrefined, psychopathic self.

A love interest I'd want to explore would be Agahnim/Riju. I think it could work...maybe.