Link recovers and finds himself fighting hopelessly against a cursed Ganondorf.
Plus, Zant reveals that he is unable to break the curse.
Waking up to blue Twili markings was a relief to the Hyrulean Hero, his pounding head nothing but an annoyance knowing he was finally somewhat safe. Link slumped back, his head landing back on the pillow, closing his tired eyes for a moment to embrace the tranquil stillness. That was until he realised he was alone and Ganondorf was nowhere within the vicinity. The Hyrulean bolted upright and began to fling himself from his bed, head spinning from his impulsive movements. The door opened silently to reveal Ike and Link abruptly found himself being pushed back on the bed by the mercenary's forceful hand.
"What are you doing? You need to rest." Ike scolded the boy, eyeing the Hyrulean in concern as Link resisted his hand.
"Where's Ganondorf?" Link asked the mercenary in urgency pushing the man's arm away and forced himself to the door. "I need to know he's okay."
Ike followed after him, deciding not to hold the Hero back knowing Link wouldn't listen anyway and instead grasped his shoulder, nodding at him before leading Link down the hall towards the Gerudo. When they entered the room and the Hyrulean laid vexed eyes on the Desert King, he let his shoulders relax and soon found himself going dizzy. Ganondorf turned to the door just as Ike caught the exhausted Link and he rushed forward with Zelda close behind.
"Link, are you okay?" Zelda grasped the boy's hand as Ganondorf instinctively took the boy away from the Mercenary's clutches.
"I'm fine, just lightheaded." Link smiled weakly at the concerned faces before landing on Ganondorf's, a look of relief on his face.
"What are you doing out of bed?" Ganondorf barked at the Hyrulean, still a little uncomfortable with interacting so domestically with him.
"I wanted to make sure you were okay." Link answered pouting a little at the harshness of the Gerudo's tone of voice. Ganondorf snorted softly, his sharp eyes mellowing out at the moping glare he received from the Hero.
"I'm fine, but you need to rest."
Link allowed the Desert King to help him to his feet, a large palm tenderly placed on the small of his back steadied him as the Hyrulean found his balance. Ganondorf escorted the boy back to his room somehow finding himself sitting beside the bed with Link's much smaller hand grasped loosely within his own. It was clear something drastic had changed in their relationship, Ganondorf was unable to pinpoint exactly when it happened but he found himself unable to care, tracing the sleeping boy's peaceful features with his eyes. When the door opened the Desert King swept his hand back to his side, not daring to wince as the Hyrulean's arm smacked onto the side of the mattress causing Link to groan out in his sleep. Ganondorf turned to the door to see the Twili Princess leaning against the door, arms crossed with a sense of smugness and knowing surrounding her.
"What do you want?" Ganondorf whispered snappishly at the woman not at all pleased with her dangerously playful smirk.
"I didn't know you two were friends, it seems a lot has happened."
"We are not friends," Ganondorf replied stiffly, somehow unconvinced of his answer. "Merely on non-killing grounds."
"With a hint of hand-holding?" Midna rose a sceptical brow before smiling as the Gerudo stiffened and scowled viciously at her.
"Do not tempt me into turning you into that imp that Zant had the pleasure inflicting on you."
Midna growled low but kept her loud comment to herself, not wanting to wake the sleeping Hyrulean Hero, oblivious to the heated exchange. Ganondorf sighed heavily and waved a hand in apology knowing he shouldn't be treating his host with such disrespect.
"Sorry Princess, I am not used to such friendly voices," The Gerudo spoke, "It's been a long time since someone has treated me with value."
"I know the feeling," Midna shrugged moving away from the door and further into the room, placing a hand on the bedpost as she watched Link curl further into himself. "He's too trusting."
"A trait perhaps we could use from time to time," Ganondorf commented, leaning back in the chair as Midna sighed and nodded at what the Gerudo said to be true.
When Link woke next his eyes fluttered open to find a snoozing Gerudo slumped in the chair in front of him. The Hero smiled lightly, smothering a chuckle as Ganondorf snorted in his sleep, the Desert King's head falling further onto his chest. Link rose from the bed and silently walked over towards him, finding himself studying the man's unwrinkled features. The Gerudo's brow was calm, not creased with constant untold resentment. The large gem that sat snug on the man's forehead, dull compared to the rare tranquil look on Ganondorf's face. The softness was soon replaced with alarm as Ganondorf's features scrunched together, Link's eyes drawn to the cursed arm as it suddenly pulsed in anger. The Hyrulean shook the large man's shoulder in hopes of awakening him from his nightmare.
"Ganondorf, wake up, Ganond-" Link choked on the Gerudo's name as a hand clasped around his throat, lifting him from the floor. The Hyrulean soon found himself pushed against the mattress of the bed, clawing desperately at Ganondorf's arm. The Hero gasped at the enraged blood red irises staring back at him, no trace of the unique liquid golden hues that always seemed to send a shiver through him. The spine-chilling ferocious growl that escaped the Gerudo had Link slamming his feet into the man's chest causing the Desert King to narrow his eyes in a moments agony. The death-like grip tightened tenfold and Link was unable to scream, his attempt coming out in silence. Link's eyes suddenly dulled as the Hero realised this could be his last breath, silently pleading with Ganondorf to stop. The Hyrulean noticed a flicker in the large man's eyes as if he was protesting against his own actions.
The hold against Link's neck loosened and he pushed the Gerudo's arm away, frantically scrambling away to put distance between the two of them. The Hero gulped in air and gently soothed his bruising neck as Ganondorf grabbed his head and backed into the wall as he fought within himself. Link watched in relief as the golden light return to the man's eyes, flinching harshly as they snapped towards him, only letting a small amount of tension leave him as they held only guilt and concern.
"Hero, I do not know what came over me." Ganondorf didn't dare move, not wanting to scare the boy. The heartache that appeared at the alarm and terror still clear as day on Link's face caused the Gerudo to bow his head. "I am sorry."
"What happened?" Link's question came out croaked, wincing as his throat cried out in burning pain.
"I do not know, all I recall is dozing off and then I found you looking at me with such intense fear, that was when I knew something was wrong."
"Your arm pulsed with the curse and then your eyes were red," Link spoke shivering at the thought of those sadistic hues, "You were not yourself."
"May I?" Ganondorf asked motioning between them, Link nodded slowly in return and stayed vigilant as the Gerudo approached. The Hyrulean allowed the Desert King to remove his hand and replace it wearily with his own, soothing the pain instantly with his bare touch. "It will bruise."
Link didn't reply too self-conscious of the other man's touch to fully comprehend what the man was saying, simply nodding in answer. Ganondorf removed his hand after noticing the far-off look on the Hyrulean's face.
"We need to have a word with Zant." The Gerudo announced as he examined Link's cursed face, to which the Hyrulean seemed to snap out of whatever daze he was in and agreed.
Once Link had calmed down and Ganondorf was no longer seen as a threat the duo headed towards the dungeons where Marth and Ike were standing guard with a few of Midna's own soldiers. When they noticed the duo's presence, the Prince and Mercenary approached them and glanced at one another both seemingly creeped out.
"The Twili keeps cooing to himself before staring in interest at the wall." Marth creased his brow the confusion clear in his voice, "Are you sure he is well?"
Link placed a hand over his mouth as Ganondorf let out a bout of laughter, slapping the Prince playfully on the shoulder. Marth grunted and jutted forwards from the strength of the Desert King, thanking Ike as the man caught his arm. Ganondorf stood in front of the occupied cell and crossed his arms glaring at the chained up Zant who suddenly snapped his head towards him and grinned disturbingly.
"It's begun, hasn't it? The darkness has spread within you."
"Undo what you have done while I still allow you to breathe." Ganondorf kept his composure as Link came to his side.
"The Wolf has been corrupted," Zant moved forward until the chains strained against his wrists, slowly tilting his head as he examined the growing bruise on Link's neck. "The Gerudo King is finally succumbing and the-"
"-Stop with your infuriating rambling," Ganondorf snapped harshly, watching Zant flinch before narrowing his eyes in malice. "Remove this curse from us immediately."
"I cannot," Zant shook his head, "And it's not because I don't want to, my God, but because I do not have the power to stop it."
"What?" Ganondorf barked in anger as Link continued the line of questioning.
"Then who does?"
"No one."