A/N: We officially cracked 100k last chapter xD whooo


As the group came out of the Arbiter's Grounds, Ganondorf noticed that Heath and Oasis were waiting for them along with Patricia and the two sand seals.

"Is there something you need?" he asked, tilting his head a bit.

The Molduga corpse was gone and he assumed the desert Zora had taken it back to their home.

"Our leader, Sandstorm, wanted us to thank you on his behalf," Heath said with an incline of his head. "And that if you needed us for anything else, we will be eager to help you."

Ganondorf looked at Zelda and Link.

Link shrugged then signed Do you know about any mazes in the desert?

"Mazes?" Oasis asked, glancing at Heath. "Do we know of any mazes?"

"I believe they're talking about the one past Champion's Gate." Heath pointed towards the east. "It's just past the East Barrens. We can take you there."

"That would be appreciated, thank you," Zelda murmured as she headed over to her sand seal.

Once the other two had stepped on their shields and were ready to go, the two Zora began to lead them in the direction of the maze.

It wasn't too far from where the Arbiter's Grounds lay, the sloping entrance becoming visible quickly.

"Just be careful," Oasis said. "I've heard there's something nasty in that maze."

"We've taken down a Molduga," Ganondorf said, patting Patricia. "I think we can handle it."

Heath and Oasis glanced at each other but didn't comment on it.

"Then we'll leave you three to it," Heath said.

Together, he and Oasis dove beneath the sand, leaving the group alone.

Leaving the sand seals by the entrance, Ganondorf, Zelda and Link made their way onto solid land.

The maze was surrounded by sheer cliff walls, blocking it from easy view along ground level. The walls of the maze, intricate and carved with the symbols of the boar, loomed as they turned the corner.

"What do you think is in there?" Zelda asked, all three of them hesitating to go into the maze.

"It can't be worse than facing your fears, right?" Ganondorf shrugged.

A Lynel, Link said. A Lynel is worse.

"Well, hopefully it won't be a Lynel," Zelda muttered.

Facing a Lynel in such a tight, twisting space? That was a hard pass.

There was a noise from nearby and Ganondorf looked up to see a large boar standing on one of the cliffs, staring down at them.

The boar was a muted brown with short tusks. Swirling blue marks stood out on its shoulders and haunches as well as some spikes that Ganondorf couldn't tell were bone or fur.

The boar leaped from the cliff, landing on the walls of the maze, blocking the three from entering.

"Vepar," Zelda said softly. "The boar god of power."

"You sure do know how to keep a god waiting, don't you?" Vepar grumbled, snorting and shaking his head. "Give me the scale of the fire dragon."

Ganondorf reached into his pocket to pull out Dinraal's scale, holding it out to Vepar.

Vepar reached down a hoof, the scale set on top of it then flicked it towards the maze's center.

A shaft of light shot up.

Vepar snorted, giving a nod before staring down at the three. "Good luck. You're going to need it."

With that, Vepar jumped onto the nearest cliff wall before leaping into the desert below, disappearing.

I don't like him, Link said, appearing put off at the god's behavior.

"We don't have to like him," Ganondorf said. "We just need to complete the maze to see what's at the center."

"Then I guess we go in?" Zelda asked, looking into the maze's entrance nervously.

Ganondorf nodded, beginning to walk int the maze.

Zelda and Link followed close behind him.

After taking a few turns, they came to a dead end.

"Should we split up?" Zelda asked while they retraced their steps.

"We don't know what's in here."

It would take less time for us to find the center if we split up, Link suggested.

Zelda gasped, grabbing Ganondorf's arm. "You could teleport us there."

"It only works if I know where the center is and what it looks like."

Zelda wilted. "Oh."

It was worth a shot, Link said, patting Zelda's arm.

Zelda sighed with a nod.

Link was right. She had to ask.

"So, are we back to splitting up?"

"No splitting up," Ganondorf said sharply, shooting a look at the two. "We don't know what lurks in here."

I would like it to be a few Bokoblins, Link said.

"Keese are easier," Zelda muttered. "Maybe Keese."

While the two continue to decide what monster they would rather face, Ganondorf paused when he sensed something.

"Gan?" Zelda asked when she noticed the serious look on Ganondorf's face.

Ganondorf held up his hand with a quiet 'shh'. He stared at the ground, watching the pebbles shift rhythmically.

As he was about to point it out, a lumbering form came around the corner and Zelda gasped.

What had come around the corner was a Hinox but it was a silver one.

"I thought silver Hinox didn't exist," Zelda whispered as the Hinox set its sights on them.

"Tell that to him," Ganondorf said, looking for another route to avoid the Hinox.

The maze didn't offer much in the way of space for fighting and the Hinox's bulk just barely fit between the walls.

Ganondorf pointed down a hall. "This way."

The three bolted down the hall, avoiding the Hinox as it made a grab for them.

With an annoyed grumble, the Hinox followed then, still trying to grab them.

The group took sharp turns down any opening that they saw, hoping they wouldn't run into a dead end with the Hinox on their tail.

"Shouldn't we kill it?" Zelda asked as they turned down another hallway. "Then we wouldn't have to keep running."

"In what space, Zelda?" Ganondorf snapped. "We don't have the room to take it on."

Well we have to do something, Link signed, appearing aggravated. He took out his bow and an arrow, turning to fire it into the Hinox's eye.

The Hinox shrieked, covering its eye as it staggered before falling down.

Link took the advantage to skid to a stop, unsheathing the Master Sword and charging at the Hinox.

Ganondorf gave an annoyed growl, throwing up his hands before he unsheathed his swords.

Zelda took out the Light Bow and a Light Arrow, ready to support the two from a distance.

After a few blows to the Hinox's feet and legs, the Hinox stood up with a growl, staring down at the two close to it.

Ganondorf and Link moved out of range when the Hinox attempted to stomp them.

While it was distracted, Zelda fired the Light Arrow into the Hinox's eye.

When it collapsed again, Ganondorf and Link were back to slashing it again.

Even with the small amount of fighting space, the three managed to beat the Hinox with their plan in place.

Once it was dead, the trio breathed a sigh of relief.

After sheathing his sword, Ganondorf cuffed Link on the back of the head. "That was completely stupid and reckless."

I was tired of running! Link whined, pouting at him.

"I don't care. The center of the maze would have offered more space for fighting."

"And if we had run into a dead end?" Zelda asked, crossing her arms.

"Then we would have taken it on since we had no choice. Until that happened, we should have kept on running." Ganondorf sighed, before shaking his head. "Never mind. Let's just keep going."

As Ganondorf continued walking, Zelda and Link glanced at each other.

Link gave a shrug then followed after Ganondorf. He didn't care what Ganondorf thought; now they could wander the maze at their leisure.

Zelda sighed, deciding to remain quiet.

At last now they weren't running for their lives.

After a while of wandering the twists and turns of the maze, the three were relieved to finally see the halls open up to the maze center. The pedestal in the middle of the room was empty.

"It…doesn't have anything?" Ganondorf muttered, looking around for any sort of mechanism that could open up something hidden.

So, we did this for nothing? Link asked, appearing to be torn between frustrated and disappointed.

"No. There has to be something," Zelda said, searching for something that told them what they had to do.

Ganondorf looked at the top of the pedestal, seeing indents that looked like the molds of two swords. He hummed, running his fingers down the sides of the indents before unsheathing his swords. He set one in the mold and the other beside it.

The sword etched with Koume became blanketed in red light while the other one, Kotake, glowed blue.

"What's going on?" Zelda asked, noticing the glowing swords.

Once the glow faded, Ganondorf picked the swords up, looking them over. He didn't see anything different.

What do they do now? Link wondered, staring at the swords.

"Not sure," Ganondorf muttered.

Did they get stronger? Or was something added to them?

Curious, Ganondorf scraped the swords together and they immediately flared to life.

Flames dripped from Koume while ice particles floated from Kotake's blade.

"Whoa!" Zelda gasped.

They have magic! Link signed, awed at the magic-imbued blades.

"Koume, witch of fire. And Kotake, witch of ice," Ganondorf muttered. "Of course. The maze gave my blades more power."

"So…" Zelda murmured, crossing her arms. "If the maze of wisdom gave me the Light Bow and the maze of power strengthened your blades. Does that mean the last maze is one for courage and will have something to do with Link?"

"It's quite possible."

Link gave a shrug then looked up at the sky.

The sun was slowly beginning to set.

We should get back before it gets too dark.

"I agree," Ganondorf grumbled. "I doubt even Patricia will want to travel at night."


The desert was cooling off as Patricia and the other two sand seals took the trio back to the town ruins.

As Ganondorf unlatched the lead around Patricia, he patted her neck. "I'll see you later."

Patricia gave a soft bark, leaning herself into the touch.

"Be good."

Patricia stared at Ganondorf before turning and barking at the two sand seals.

Ganondorf watched as the three sand seals left. Once he couldn't see them anymore, Ganondorf headed into the town ruins with Link and Zelda behind him.

A few knocks and the hidden trap door opened up, revealing Buliara, one of the guards to Urbosa.

"Ah, you still live."

"You doubted us?" Ganondorf asked as he descended into the underground city.

"Fighting a Molduga is hard with three people," Buliara murmured, gesturing for the three to follow her. "Urbosa had faith in you, however. Perhaps because you are Naboris's son."

"We won't intrude for long," Zelda said. "We just need a place to spend the night."

And food, Link added. We'll have food, right?

"Of course," Buliara said with a nod. "Urbosa has already set up a buffet should you return. And Dune brought your friends here?"

"Dune?" Ganondorf asked. "I'm afraid we don't know a Dune."

"He's a desert Zora. Your friends are river Zora. He said they were growing restless and led them here."

You mean Sidon and the others are here?! Link asked, appearing surprised. How?

"Underground waterways," Sidon said with a laugh as he approached the group with Mipha and Bazz beside him. "The desert used to be an ocean, after all."

"Are you guys all right?" Zelda asked, looking between the three Zora. "We're sorry we took so long—"

"It's all right," Mipha said, waving her hand. "Dune was kind enough to keep us company."

"And show us the underground waterways," Bazz added. "Dune also allowed us to be shown this place."

"We weren't aware the Gerudo still lived," Mipha whispered. "If only we had known."

"They wanted their existence to remain secret," Ganondorf said. "If they had been discovered…"

Mipha nodded. "I understand."

"Come," Buliara said. "I'm sure that Chief Urbosa wishes to see you."

Ganondorf gave a nod, following Buliara.

Zelda and the others trailed behind the two Gerudo.

Urbosa was sitting on the throne with Riju standing nearby, playing with Seally.

Urbosa smiled when she saw the group. "I'm glad to see that you've come back all right. Did you find everything that you needed?"

"Yes," Zelda said. "Thank you for everything you've done for us."

"Of course. Anything for my nephew." Urbosa looked at Zelda, Link, and the Zora. "And his friends."

Zelda smiled, giving a small bow. "Of course."

"If it's not a problem, Chief Urbosa," Mipha murmured. "As the Zora Princess, I would like to extend my hand in friendship between our people."

"Your father was wonderful friends with my sister and our mother," Urbosa said, smiling at Mipha. "Your friendship is welcomed. As if your offer to open trade."

Mipha beamed, her headtail wagging. "Thank you, Chief Urbosa!"

"Now, I'm sure you're all famished from your adventures. Why don't we eat?"


Ganondorf watched as Link continued to pantomime their expedition through the Arbiter's Grounds to a group of enraptured Gerudo watching the exaggerated movements.

Zelda was narrating the entire story, giggling every so often.

Sidon, Mipha, and Bazz sat nearby, watching the story play out in amusement.

Riju appeared awed by the entire thing, clutching Seally closer to her.

"Not enjoying the festivities, huh?" Urbosa asked, settling herself beside Ganondorf.

Ganondorf glanced at her then looked back at the scene before him. "Nah, they don't need me to act out what happened. Link's doing a good job all on his own."

Urbosa chuckled, leaning back on her hands. "You're close friends with those Hylians, hm?"

"I grew up with them. They're my best friends."

"You all care about each other deeply," Urbosa murmured, glancing at Ganondorf before nudging his arm. "But perhaps you care about one more than the other?"

Ganondorf pulled his arm away, mouth twitching. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Don't you pull that with me. I can see the way you look at her."

Ganondorf hummed, resting his chin in his hand. "It doesn't matter. We have a mission and I won't let my feelings get in the way of what we have to do."

"She care for you too."

"As a friend."

"Are you certain of that?"

Ganondorf didn't respond, glancing to the side.

Urbosa hummed, running her hands through Ganondorf's hair before beginning to braid a piece of it. "My dear Arun, the desert cannot stop being hot as much as it wishes to. Just like feelings cannot stop."

"It won't work out."

"Do you know from experience? Or are you just assuming?"

Ganondorf sighed and Urbosa smiled.

"If you have no answer, then you're assuming. Assuming is like climbing a dune during a sandstorm. I wish only happiness for you."

Urbosa finished the fourth braid and pulled Ganondorf closer to her.

"You deserve happiness, vehvi. More than you know or think you deserve. Don't discount your feelings."

Ganondorf closed his eyes before wrapping his arms around Urbosa, squeezing her. "All right. thank you for your advice, Urbosa."

"Don't forget that everyone is here for you."

"I know. And I promise that I'll make sure the Gerudo can come out into the open again. Our people belong in the sun, not hiding underground like rats."

Urbosa closed her eyes. "I know you will. You have the same strength that Naboris did. And she always followed through with her promises."

Ganondorf pulled back, staring at Urbosa. "And I'll keep you up to date with our journey via messenger hawk. We'll visit again when we can."

Urbosa smiled. "I look forward to that when it comes. Be careful on your journey, all right?"

"And you be careful as well." Ganondorf wrapped an arm around Urbosa, squeezing her. "Din light your path."

"And yours as well, nephew."


A/N: Tender Gan? Tender Gan.