In the night on the Hyrule Fields, in a small forested area, Ganondorf and Impa had set up temporary camp. Link hadn't waken up and Princess Zelda had kept close to him. She broke the silence with her shaky voice.
"Impa...? Do monsters not live in the woods?"
Impa watched the fire and nodded.
"They do, your Highness."
Princess Zelda glanced around in fear.
"I-Is not nighttime the hours of monsters too?"
"It is, your Highness."
"The-T-Then why are we out here?"
"The horses are tired, as are we, and we would be vulnerable in an open area."
Ganondorf sat down by the unconscious Link.
"Monsters tend to leave their homes to go hunt and plunder anyways. Ironically, it's dark wooded areas like this one that are the safest to be, for a time."
He raised a brow at the small girl as she scooted away from her spot. He thought little of it since she had seen him at his worst.
"It doesn't matter since I finally found the person I was looking for, Princess. You called me and Link to you, somehow, and woke up some power from our birthmarks. Birthmarks that are a symbol of your kingdom, not mine, the Triforce. I'll only ask three questions since I'm clearly a nice guy."
"... Can't Impa answer in my stead?"
"Does Impa give people haunting dreams whenever they sleep?"
Impa looked back with a slightly proud expression.
"Actually, I prefer the term, Nightmares. Haunting is a good synonym."
Ganondorf raised a hand in her direction as he stared down Princess Zelda.
"First question. Why is the Triforce on my hand. I get Hylians, like Link and yourself, especially since you're apart of the Royal Family. But why me?"
"I... I do not have the answer.."
Impa answered.
"The Triforce is split into the three most important traits of all living things in Hyrule. Courage, Wisdom, and Power. The Gerudo Desert, by the law of the land and in the eyes of truth, are still connected and apart of Hyrule. It is only in prejudice and politics that the Gerudo Empire is seen as an entirely different entity."
Ganondorf glanced at Impa and made a face at her.
"Question two. What went on in that Castle?"
Impa answered again.
"An usurpation. With help of my own kind, the Sheika aided a sorcerer to take control of the populace. For a time, they held the Royal Family hostage, as the spell had no effect on them or anyone not of Hylian descent."
Ganondorf sucked his teeth.
"Question three... What now? Or at least, after Kakiriko, what's the plan."
Impa was silent. Only the wind answered for a time. Princess Zelda then spoke up.
"We ask for help. From the Gorons to the Zoras. We do what we must to save the land, and hopefully, the Kingdom..."
Ganondorf stood up and began to walk away.
"... That's brave kid, but you can count me out. If this is just the work of some wizard, affecting only your kingdom, then I've got nothing to do with it."
Princess Zelda jumped to her feet and ran in front of Ganondorf with her arms out.
"Please! I was there! He serves a higher rank of some sort! That one being, they're behind the monsters in your land, is that enough? I ask you not as a Princess, but as a person, nay I..."
Zelda fell to her knees, then to her head, the face met the ground as she proclaimed loudly.
"I beg of you to aid me to save the land of Hyrule!"
Impa gasped.
"Princess! You can't just beg so easi-"
"Impa! What choice do I have!? ... These two can fight war heroes with little experience of their own! If not an act of the Goddesses, then by some power, even probability has given us a chance!"
Zelda raised her head to see a furious Ganondorf glare down at her with a shaky clenched fist and jaw. He spoke through his teeth.
"Do. Not. Beg. You, of all people, of any race and background. Don't have the right to beg..."
She only lowered her head into the ground once more.
"I ask for the sake of Hyrule. Where yours and my own people reside. From the mountaintop of Death Mountain to even the dark depths of Zora Domain, I want to save anyone from the pain and terror I now know of losing everything. ... Please... Only we can do it... We need you."
Impa took a step forward to act, but turned her head to an owl's call, the same owl that gave her the chance to save the Princess. They looked at each other with an understanding she had never known. Impa stood down and watched, something she'd never do otherwise, but had to this time. It had to be done. Ganondorf inwardly was taken aback. The words of Zelda struck his heart like lightning struck stone. She thought of her people, he knew she had hopes and dreams of saving them from this strange spell, but she also thought of the neighboring kingdoms. This graciousness was new to him. However, that's not what hit him in such a profound way. It was the way Zelda had acted. Pure, whole, clean of the dirt of this Dark World. Just like a small girl he knew from home. A girl who's dream was to see the green fields and blue water of Hyrule. To respond with anger was a brute's choice, but anger and struggle was what he knew, kindness and fellowship with those outside his kin was foreign. The great silence returned for a few moments. He then turned to Impa.
"How far is Kakiriko?"
"We should be there by dawn if we leave in an hour."
"Well, let's get there early. It'll be headache no matter what any of us do."
Zelda leapt up with a gasp.
"Than-"
Ganondorf closed her lips with his hands with a sigh.
"Don't. Don't thank me. Let's get going."
Impa sighed and looked behind her. The owl had vanished. So had the horse. Impa stood to her feet with narrowed eyes. Ganondorf noticed the horse's disappearance right after her.
"Impa, right? What do you think is going on?"
"Either the horse wandered off without making a single sound, or..."
A number of horses casually strolled in from all sides of the woods. Fresh raw meat hung from the horses saddles.
"Someone has followed and planned a surprise for us..."
Zelda leaned into Ganondorf for a moment, then saw something strange as she glanced to Link, gasping at the sight of a shadowy hand that reached for him. She ran for Link but was pulled back Ganondorf.
"Idiot! It's a trap!"
"But that boy...!"
Wolfos howled from the distance. Bushes and trees rustled as pig faced monsters walked out of the darkness. Lips licked and clubs in hand as they approached the group. Ganondorf's face began to twist once more. It were these creatures that plagued his Desert Kingdom. They began reaching blindly for the meat on the horses. However, as one passed by Impa, it looked directly at her with a slow turn. She struck first with a jab to its throat and threw it at the small group surrounding Ganondorf and Zelda. The others leapt forward and began a to attack the horses. One saw Link and stole him away. Zelda gasped and ran after them.
"Ah! T-They got him!"
Ganondorf snarled as Impa cried out, both reach out for her.
"No you idiot, stick with me!" "Your Highness, don't!"
A giant axe brought itself between them and her. Zelda ran alone into the dark as Ganondorf and Impa were confronted by a large portly figure. A fat gut and heavy armor, like a giant boulder, he stared down at the two.
"Strong... I fight the strong...!"
He brought the axe up fast, and swung it down even faster, which caught his opponents off guard. Impa leapt in the nick of time while Ganondorf was swept up by the edge of the axe. Impa landed on the blade while Ganondorf simply held onto the edge. The fat knight sneered.
"Oh...! Fast, good, tough like metal...!"
Impa lunged with hidden needles in between her fingers, but was intercepted with a foot to the jaw as the giant man turned the axe, and slammed Ganondorf into Impa. The two fell on top of each other and shoved each other away as they stood up.
"Use that titanic strength, boy!"
"You're the general, fight like one already!"
A lithe figure landed on the shoulder of the fat pig knight. Masked and robed lightly in dark colors, the Sheika symbol printed itself upon the chest, and strange spikes adorned the head.
"Impa of the Royal Guard... We'll deal with you in a blink of an eye. Bulblin, take the desert rat!"
Bulblin chuckled and charged at the two. Zelda ran after the pig that dragged Link away. She muttered under her breath and held up a hand.
"Goddess of Power and the Fire that resides in the souls of all things, from the radiant sun to the core of the earth, grant me the Power to draw upon my own Flame and smite mine enemies. (Din's Fire!)"
From her hand burned a weak fireball that was casted against the head of the pig. It shrieked and let go of Link.
"Y-Yes!"
It turned to her with the club raised and began to run her way.
"Oh No!"
A larger fireball whizzed above her head and near disintegrated the upper half of the beast. It bursted into a dark mist and dropped a broken tusk and club.
"Should've tried a Fire Rod, much more effective than whatever that was, trust me on that."
A voice from behind her giggled. Zelda turned around and gasped. A tan skinned girl with a small birds mask and oversized violet robes stood over her. In her hands was a scarlet scepter just barely taller than herself. A flame carved into a rose shaped gem shone at the top end.
"Still, that kind of magic with no conduit or staff? You're a pretty good witch! What's your name?"
Zelda gasped and pointed at the mysterious girl.
"Right behind you!"
"That's not a name, silly!~ I'm-"
"No, actually behind you!"
"Wow, like, rude."
The girl turned with a scoff. She then yelped as another pig swiped at her with a club that knocked the scepter from her hand.
"Y-Yikes! Where'd you come from?!"
The girl shook as she backed into Zelda before she pulled the Princess in front of her like shield.
"Y-You! Do something! Save me!"
"I-I thought you were saving me!"
The club was raised and both girls had no time to prepare. Instead, the monster made a choked gargle as a steel sword found its way to the throat, stabbed by a panting Link.
"Hyagh!"
With a twist, he cleaved the head off as spun around with all his body. For him it had felt strange, he had never fought this way, yet it seemed so natural. The beast puffed up and became a black fading mist, it left only a few fangs and its weapon behind. Zelda stared in slight awe and even a tinge of fear as she stared at Link. For a child younger than herself to have defeated a monster in rather fatal condition, it seemed unlikely. The girl however was mystified by him. From his golden hair, to his sea blue eyes, she had nearly forgotten everything at the moment. Link used his sword as a crutch as he began to look around. Zelda spoke up.
"We were attacked! An ambush using a number of horses to bring those horrid.. Things, to us!"
The girl ran from Zelda's side to Link's and held up a finger with a smirk.
"Those were Moblins! An odd case of a monster race having enough intelligence to establish a very primitive society. There's also a wide variety of them, though it is hard to make them out in this darkness, and they don't usually blow up into creepy death fog."
Link gave the girl a raised brow as she near leaned onto him. Zelda tilted her head for a moment before she continued.
"One of them took you and I ran after you. I... I don't know where they are now, or where we are..."
Zelda looked down with a downtrodden sigh...
"I was so worried for you I lost track of my own surroundings... If not for her and your second wind we'd..."
"Ngh!"
"Hm?"
Zelda looked up and saw Link pull at the girl's cheek as he pushed her away. The girl pulled at his ear and pushed him back as well.
"What's with you fairy boy!? I'm just trying to use magic to heal you, dummy! Ow! Let go, I bruise easily!"
"Grr...!"
Zelda didn't know what to make of the scene before her, but she found herself in between them as they began to slap each other.
"St-Stop acting like babies, both of you! We could be attacked at any point, we need to work together!"
The girl and Link looked at Zelda before they stuck their tongues at each other. Zelda let out a frustrated grunt.
"Ugh! Impa and that boy are in trouble back at the campfire! We have to go!"
The girl folded her arms and gave a bright sneer.
"Well!~ I, Cia, guess I could come along! Not like I have anything better to do."
Zelda offered Cia a hand.
"As long as we work together, we should be able to find and help them."
Cia looked down at the hand and back to Zelda a few times before taking it.
"Sure!~ Sure!~ With my vast knowledge of the arcane and eldritch, I'll-"
Link shoved the Fire Rod in Cia's face. Though his intentions were to hand it back, she threw herself to the ground with a pathetic wail.
"Aie! Don't just swing that thing around, are you trying to kill me!?"
Link blinked before he caught on.
"Ah!"
He held the other end and offered it to Cia. She raised her head and released a held breath for a moment.
"Oh good, you- AAAAHHH! THAT'S NOT HOW YOU HOLD IT EITHER!"
Link had the gem pointed at his head, unknowingly in line of it's fire. Cia stood up and snatched it out of his hands.
"Listen, you two probably don't know much about magic and sorcery, but this thing isn't a toy to be handled by children!"
Zelda scratched her head.
"But you are a child."
"Shut your face! I'm on a tight schedule, but out of the goodness of my noble heart, I'll help you out. From the looks of things you probably would've gotten yourselves in trouble without the danger of monsters. Pretty irresponsible of whoever is looking after you."
Cia lightly struck the Fire Rod down on the ground and jumped as it sent a fireball into the air.
"... I meant to do that!"
From afar, Ganondorf leapt from the ground and kneed the chin of Bulbin. The fat Moblin stumbled back, but ensnared his opponent with a crushing hug, a gleeful smile on his face.
"Strong man...! I like you...! But, I have you in death grip!"
Ganondorf only let out grunts as he felt and heard the snaps of his body. Across the fire, in the high branches of the tree, Impa dodged the lash of a whip with small sharpened thorns. The Shieka attacked her with more lashes, yet Impa deftly evaded each swing.
"Your aim is as bad as your partner's odor! Give up!"
"Not an option."
Impa leapt branch to branch, closer and closer to the assassin, but faltered on the last leap.
"Uh! What in-!?"
"You fell for it."
Impa's foot and both her hands were caught by a thin wire. She was pulled and hung in the air, caught in a web of the wire, helpless as the Sheika walked on the wire.
"How mighty we fall, surely you can do better, O Great General."
Impa didn't struggle, she knew this weapon all too well.
"If I move, I risk the loss of my limbs, but you also have me upsidedown. If I am like this for long, my head will rush with blood, and If I fall in that condition I will not get back up. My head will meet that rock. You must have trained extensively to be able to walk on it with such balance. What will you do now...?"
The Sheika tilted their head and took a few steps back.
"Are you admitting defeat so soon, General?"
Impa stared ahead and shook her head.
"No. I'm thinking aloud. You won't be able to make your next move."
Normally, she'd be like her enemy completely focused on one target, however Impa couldn't help but notice Ganondorf's fight. Whether it was luck or grace, or maybe even the ferocious skill of the boy and his might, she saw her escape in his hands. Ganondorf bit down on the chin of Bulblin. The fat knight released him with a roar, but threw a fist in a fit, a fist Ganondorf counted on. He grabbed the arm after dodging the initial blow and pulled the Moblin down. He kicked a leg and tripped the beast into the campfire face first.
"GRAAAGH!"
Bulblin shrieked and began to run around wildly, swinging blindly, he charged away and began to beat on the trees. He had began to flee. Ganondorf saw the large axe he dropped and snatched it. With it held tightly, he readied to throw it at Bulblin, but saw Impa trapped.
"... Rgh..."
Ganondorf threw the axe at the Sheika. They hadn't noticed his battle at all, they focused solely on Impa. It was only in the last second that they noticed Impa's eyes and followed them to the axe that was right before them. With little time, they dodged by falling back, but the axe tore the mask off. As it flew, it had also severed the wires that held Impa. Both fell, but Impa acted first as she kicked a near tree, and wrapped the Sheika in their own wire. She said nothing to them and left for Ganondorf.
"Thank you."
He rolled his eyes.
"If something happened to you, that brat of yours would never shut up from crying."
Impa glared at him, but relented with a sigh.
"You are not, wrong. We must find them both!"
He thumbed to a direction.
"I know she ran that way, but that's about it. Any ideas on how we find them?"
A bright red flare shot into the air from the direction Zelda had ran. They glanced at each other with confusion before they began to follow the light.