Chapter Three
-----------------
Ganondorf returned to the Castle around nightfall. The guards didn't ask him any questions, and didn't seem to notice his injury because of his dark skin. He ascended the staircase where the living quarters were located. He walked slowly down the hallway to hear a child's laugh. Princess Zelda came rushing from the corner chasing a small dog.
The dog clumsily came to a halt when he saw Ganondorf, and ran in the other direction into Zelda's arms. Princess Zelda also stopped when she noticed him. The girl was silent. A few seconds passed.
"Am I invading you play area, Princess?" said Ganondrof.
"No sir..." said the Princess in a small, shriveled voice. The dog began to whimper.
"Shouldn't you be getting ready for bed?"
"Yes sir..."
"Then goodnight, Princess." and he quickly turned to his door and opened it, and closed loudly behind him. He could hear footsteps quickly running away. Ganondorf opened the door a and saw Zelda turning the same corner she appeared. He quietly stepped into the hall and followed her.
Ganondorf followed the Princess. He knew she checked the lock on the Ocarina case before she retired. Zelda walked into a large chamber, whose purpose was not known to Ganondorf. Perhaps a study? He kept hidden in the shadows as Zelda pulled a key out of her blouse pocket. What was she doing? She walked over to a glass case on the mantel by a fireplace. The Princess used to key to unlock the case, and pulled out a blue ocarina.
Curses....if he were further along with his plan he could quickly knock the girl out and snatch the ocarina. Zelda put the ocarina to her lips and began to play. He didn't recognized the tune, but it was quite good for a girl that young to be playing. Ganondorf couldn't help but pause as she played the melody. He suddenly remembered, out of the blue, one of his thieves named Merblue who played the guitar. She would play for him and the others back when he was a Lone Wolf. Those where the days... no responsibility, no fortress to look after... just live off the desert and pillage wondering travelers. Ganondorf smiled. Nights would be spent exchanging stories with each other, and he as a Gerudo Prince had several to tell. He and Nabooru would...
Suddenly, Zelda stopped playing and Ganondorf snapped back into awareness. The Princess placed the ocarina back into it's case and holder and locked it. Ganondorf quickly walked away so she wouldn't see him. That night, he slept well for the first time a days.
***
"Sir Ganondorf!" cried the King the next morning. "How fared your late night ride? You came in later than usual last night."
"Just admiring the sunset, my King." Said Ganondorf. "Quite beautiful."
"Ahh, yes it is."
It was midmorning, and Ganondorf and the King were staring out the courtyard window. The King was rambling on about treaties and other little things, such as what he used to do as a child. Ganondorf wasn't paying much attention. He was wondering how long it would take the Queen Ghoma he released the night before to kill the Great Deku Tree. With the Deku Tree dead, he could simply walk into that accursed forest and take the green stone from the decaying tree. It would take a few days, he supposed. Would the Kokiri put up much of a fight? No, no... they're just children. He couldn't shake the feeling he had last night when he was near the forest edge. He felt helpless and weak, like a child. It has thought about it for a moment when he woke up this morning. It didn't seem like the spirits of the forest, but a aura of a person. A aura so pure and good it carried past the boundaries of the forest. He...
"Ganondorf, do you a have any children?" the King said abruptly.
"Huh...what...oh....children! Ah! No, my lord." he said, regaining his thoughts. He looked out the window to see Princess Zelda planting flowers in the courtyard, and that mutt chasing butterflies. "No, I have yet to chose a wife..."
"Chose a wife, eh? It sounds a bit odd to me, I suppose. Hylians don't chose a wives or husbands. I suppose our two races are different in that respect."
"Yes." Ganondorf was board with this conversation. He had to end it quickly.
"Oh, children are wonderful, Ganondorf. I suppose you will have a daughter also..."
"Several, yes. At least to a few decades." Ganondorf said gruffly.
"Yes...I see."
The King was no doubt trying to figure out the complex system that is Gerudo birth. Ganondorf couldn't help but wonder why the gods made the Gerudos different than the other races. Perhaps it was to fuel their anger more. Having such a small population angered Ganondorf. Without a large population, the Gerudos would never become the dominant race in Hyrule, at least not easily. With the Triforce on their side, however, numbers would be but a afterthought. Ultimate power! No longer the prey, but the hunter!
"Yes, Princess Zelda is special." Said the King, already in mid conversation. "But not without her troubles. She's nothing like her Mother, bless her heart. Impa calls her a tom boy." The king chuckled. "She's been having nightmares as of late..."
"What of?" Said Ganondorf, somewhat curious.
"Oh, she told me not to tell."
Heh! He knew the dreams were about him.
Ganondorf excused himself and left the room to attend other duties.. He had much to do before tonight. A tricky part of his plan was about to be executed. He would have to be absent for at least two days. He made sure to have the King's permission first thing in the morning, when he was still tired. He said he had to check up on his fortress. The king had agreed, of course. He was far to trusting. Ganondorf would be glad when he was gone.
Chapter Four
----------------
Ganondorf and his Hylian escorts approached Gerudo Valley.
"You are to return in three days, Sir Dragmire." said one of the Knights.
"Understood." replied Ganondorf. They were keeping him prisoner at the Castle until things settled down. Letting him leave was a special treat. The Knights watched Ganondorf entered the desert on Aganhim. A few moments later, they left.
Ganondorf, when the Knights left, dismounted Aganhim. He checked his loose-fitting black robes for his necessary equipment such has his war staff, and sent his steed to the Gerudo Fort. He has attached a note telling his thieves to return him in three days.
The King of Thieves walked to the center of the bridge that connected Hylian and Gerudo territory. Far below him a river awaited him. Ganondorf took a deep breath and leapt off the bridge. He landed in the river with a perfect swan dive. The raging waters carried Ganondorf away. A few moments later, he was thrown into the waters of Lake Hylia.
Ganondorf made his way to the shore, not bothering to dry himself. He would have to wait here until nightfall.
"Hey there!" a voice yelled.
Ganondorf turned his head to see a lanky man with a fishing pole. "What!"
"Care to cast a few with me?"
"No."
"C'mon, how do ya expect to live if you don't relax, you look stressed."
"No."
"I'm serious! Take a load off!"
"Get away from me." Ganondorf's anger was growing.
"I'm a master fisherman. Really, I am! I'm not lying! Why, once I caught the Hylian Loach, I really did! It was this... b-biIIIgggggGGGG!"
Ganondorf raised his hand and used his magic to throw the annoying little man into the center of the lake. Ahhhh.... he hadn't used his magic to hurt someone in days. Ganondorf found and leaned against a rock face, and took a nap, smiling.
***
It was mid afternoon when Ganondorf awoke. The fisherman was nowhere in sight. He checked himself to make sure didn't take anything. He didn't of course. He had probably locked himself in the little house across the lake.
Night soon came, and he noticed a small shape in the water. Ganondorf was a little surprised, he hadn't seen any activity all day. After watching the figure for a few moments, a head appeared above the water. As he thought, it was a Zora. But this one was smaller, and lacked the head tail many Zora trait. A second later, the head was gone. Ganondorf dove into the water from a small cliff and followed the aqua creature.
Zora's Domain was dark, with only bits of dying sunlight and torches lighting the hollow cavern. Water reflected of the caver walls, creating a beautiful light display. But Ganondorf didn't have time to stare at it. The Gerudo stayed in the shadows has he surfaced. Not a Zora was in sight, besides for that smaller one he had seen earlier. It was in the center of a small pool, placing fish from a bag onto a plate. After a moment, the Zora ascended a long staircase. Ganondorf quietly followed.
After the small Zora chatted with a rather large Zora, who Ganondorf assumed was the King, and another, normal sized one, the Queen, entered another room. Ganondorf used his magic to create a distraction in the opposite direction. As the two royal Zoras turned their heads, Ganondorf slipped by them and followed the Princess.
The Zora Princess was standing next to a large whale like creature when Ganondorf arrived. "Lord Jabu-Jabu," Ganondorf thought. He would have to wait until the Zora left before he made his move. A few minutes later, the Zora finished feeding the god the fish she caught earlier and left into the water for quick swim. Ganondorf crept over to the god and leapt on it's back. The Zora didn't notice. He drew a slender knife and made a small cut in the god's back. He sprinkled some power on the wound, and it glowed green for a few seconds. The host was ready. The opened a small pouch and took out several tiny objects. Like the Gohma he let lose on the Deku Tree, these parasites would slowly kill Jabu-Jabu, and make him mad in the process. The placed the small creatures on the wound and they instantly buried themselves in it's flesh.
The Zora Princess was done with he swim, and climbed back onto the land. Ganondorf silently jumped off the god. Then he saw it: The Zora had the blue Spirituals Stone in her hands! He could just knock the Zora out and grab it! What luck! The King of Thieves was about to tackle the small Zora when Jabu-Jabu suddenly burst forward and swallowed her. What?!
"Aaargh!" Ganondorf kicked the oversized god.
Jabu-Jabu blinked.
"Why....Did you do that?!" Ganondorf was so mad, he was yelling at a fish.
Jabu-Jabu blinked again.
"That could have saved he a lot of trouble!"
Jabu-Jabu blinked once more.
"Now I have to come back and retrieve the decaying body after my trek up Death Mountain!"
Jabu-Jabu burped.
Ganondorf peered over one of the rock faces around the god's pool of water. Zora's River was a below him. He jumped over the ledge and landed on the river's band. He was upset. It would have been so easy to take the stone right then and there from that Zora Princess, but the mind altering poison took effect much quicker than he expected. He hoped his journey up Death Mountain fared better. Ganondorf straitened his cloak, and continued on his mission.
-----------------
Ganondorf returned to the Castle around nightfall. The guards didn't ask him any questions, and didn't seem to notice his injury because of his dark skin. He ascended the staircase where the living quarters were located. He walked slowly down the hallway to hear a child's laugh. Princess Zelda came rushing from the corner chasing a small dog.
The dog clumsily came to a halt when he saw Ganondorf, and ran in the other direction into Zelda's arms. Princess Zelda also stopped when she noticed him. The girl was silent. A few seconds passed.
"Am I invading you play area, Princess?" said Ganondrof.
"No sir..." said the Princess in a small, shriveled voice. The dog began to whimper.
"Shouldn't you be getting ready for bed?"
"Yes sir..."
"Then goodnight, Princess." and he quickly turned to his door and opened it, and closed loudly behind him. He could hear footsteps quickly running away. Ganondorf opened the door a and saw Zelda turning the same corner she appeared. He quietly stepped into the hall and followed her.
Ganondorf followed the Princess. He knew she checked the lock on the Ocarina case before she retired. Zelda walked into a large chamber, whose purpose was not known to Ganondorf. Perhaps a study? He kept hidden in the shadows as Zelda pulled a key out of her blouse pocket. What was she doing? She walked over to a glass case on the mantel by a fireplace. The Princess used to key to unlock the case, and pulled out a blue ocarina.
Curses....if he were further along with his plan he could quickly knock the girl out and snatch the ocarina. Zelda put the ocarina to her lips and began to play. He didn't recognized the tune, but it was quite good for a girl that young to be playing. Ganondorf couldn't help but pause as she played the melody. He suddenly remembered, out of the blue, one of his thieves named Merblue who played the guitar. She would play for him and the others back when he was a Lone Wolf. Those where the days... no responsibility, no fortress to look after... just live off the desert and pillage wondering travelers. Ganondorf smiled. Nights would be spent exchanging stories with each other, and he as a Gerudo Prince had several to tell. He and Nabooru would...
Suddenly, Zelda stopped playing and Ganondorf snapped back into awareness. The Princess placed the ocarina back into it's case and holder and locked it. Ganondorf quickly walked away so she wouldn't see him. That night, he slept well for the first time a days.
***
"Sir Ganondorf!" cried the King the next morning. "How fared your late night ride? You came in later than usual last night."
"Just admiring the sunset, my King." Said Ganondorf. "Quite beautiful."
"Ahh, yes it is."
It was midmorning, and Ganondorf and the King were staring out the courtyard window. The King was rambling on about treaties and other little things, such as what he used to do as a child. Ganondorf wasn't paying much attention. He was wondering how long it would take the Queen Ghoma he released the night before to kill the Great Deku Tree. With the Deku Tree dead, he could simply walk into that accursed forest and take the green stone from the decaying tree. It would take a few days, he supposed. Would the Kokiri put up much of a fight? No, no... they're just children. He couldn't shake the feeling he had last night when he was near the forest edge. He felt helpless and weak, like a child. It has thought about it for a moment when he woke up this morning. It didn't seem like the spirits of the forest, but a aura of a person. A aura so pure and good it carried past the boundaries of the forest. He...
"Ganondorf, do you a have any children?" the King said abruptly.
"Huh...what...oh....children! Ah! No, my lord." he said, regaining his thoughts. He looked out the window to see Princess Zelda planting flowers in the courtyard, and that mutt chasing butterflies. "No, I have yet to chose a wife..."
"Chose a wife, eh? It sounds a bit odd to me, I suppose. Hylians don't chose a wives or husbands. I suppose our two races are different in that respect."
"Yes." Ganondorf was board with this conversation. He had to end it quickly.
"Oh, children are wonderful, Ganondorf. I suppose you will have a daughter also..."
"Several, yes. At least to a few decades." Ganondorf said gruffly.
"Yes...I see."
The King was no doubt trying to figure out the complex system that is Gerudo birth. Ganondorf couldn't help but wonder why the gods made the Gerudos different than the other races. Perhaps it was to fuel their anger more. Having such a small population angered Ganondorf. Without a large population, the Gerudos would never become the dominant race in Hyrule, at least not easily. With the Triforce on their side, however, numbers would be but a afterthought. Ultimate power! No longer the prey, but the hunter!
"Yes, Princess Zelda is special." Said the King, already in mid conversation. "But not without her troubles. She's nothing like her Mother, bless her heart. Impa calls her a tom boy." The king chuckled. "She's been having nightmares as of late..."
"What of?" Said Ganondorf, somewhat curious.
"Oh, she told me not to tell."
Heh! He knew the dreams were about him.
Ganondorf excused himself and left the room to attend other duties.. He had much to do before tonight. A tricky part of his plan was about to be executed. He would have to be absent for at least two days. He made sure to have the King's permission first thing in the morning, when he was still tired. He said he had to check up on his fortress. The king had agreed, of course. He was far to trusting. Ganondorf would be glad when he was gone.
Chapter Four
----------------
Ganondorf and his Hylian escorts approached Gerudo Valley.
"You are to return in three days, Sir Dragmire." said one of the Knights.
"Understood." replied Ganondorf. They were keeping him prisoner at the Castle until things settled down. Letting him leave was a special treat. The Knights watched Ganondorf entered the desert on Aganhim. A few moments later, they left.
Ganondorf, when the Knights left, dismounted Aganhim. He checked his loose-fitting black robes for his necessary equipment such has his war staff, and sent his steed to the Gerudo Fort. He has attached a note telling his thieves to return him in three days.
The King of Thieves walked to the center of the bridge that connected Hylian and Gerudo territory. Far below him a river awaited him. Ganondorf took a deep breath and leapt off the bridge. He landed in the river with a perfect swan dive. The raging waters carried Ganondorf away. A few moments later, he was thrown into the waters of Lake Hylia.
Ganondorf made his way to the shore, not bothering to dry himself. He would have to wait here until nightfall.
"Hey there!" a voice yelled.
Ganondorf turned his head to see a lanky man with a fishing pole. "What!"
"Care to cast a few with me?"
"No."
"C'mon, how do ya expect to live if you don't relax, you look stressed."
"No."
"I'm serious! Take a load off!"
"Get away from me." Ganondorf's anger was growing.
"I'm a master fisherman. Really, I am! I'm not lying! Why, once I caught the Hylian Loach, I really did! It was this... b-biIIIgggggGGGG!"
Ganondorf raised his hand and used his magic to throw the annoying little man into the center of the lake. Ahhhh.... he hadn't used his magic to hurt someone in days. Ganondorf found and leaned against a rock face, and took a nap, smiling.
***
It was mid afternoon when Ganondorf awoke. The fisherman was nowhere in sight. He checked himself to make sure didn't take anything. He didn't of course. He had probably locked himself in the little house across the lake.
Night soon came, and he noticed a small shape in the water. Ganondorf was a little surprised, he hadn't seen any activity all day. After watching the figure for a few moments, a head appeared above the water. As he thought, it was a Zora. But this one was smaller, and lacked the head tail many Zora trait. A second later, the head was gone. Ganondorf dove into the water from a small cliff and followed the aqua creature.
Zora's Domain was dark, with only bits of dying sunlight and torches lighting the hollow cavern. Water reflected of the caver walls, creating a beautiful light display. But Ganondorf didn't have time to stare at it. The Gerudo stayed in the shadows has he surfaced. Not a Zora was in sight, besides for that smaller one he had seen earlier. It was in the center of a small pool, placing fish from a bag onto a plate. After a moment, the Zora ascended a long staircase. Ganondorf quietly followed.
After the small Zora chatted with a rather large Zora, who Ganondorf assumed was the King, and another, normal sized one, the Queen, entered another room. Ganondorf used his magic to create a distraction in the opposite direction. As the two royal Zoras turned their heads, Ganondorf slipped by them and followed the Princess.
The Zora Princess was standing next to a large whale like creature when Ganondorf arrived. "Lord Jabu-Jabu," Ganondorf thought. He would have to wait until the Zora left before he made his move. A few minutes later, the Zora finished feeding the god the fish she caught earlier and left into the water for quick swim. Ganondorf crept over to the god and leapt on it's back. The Zora didn't notice. He drew a slender knife and made a small cut in the god's back. He sprinkled some power on the wound, and it glowed green for a few seconds. The host was ready. The opened a small pouch and took out several tiny objects. Like the Gohma he let lose on the Deku Tree, these parasites would slowly kill Jabu-Jabu, and make him mad in the process. The placed the small creatures on the wound and they instantly buried themselves in it's flesh.
The Zora Princess was done with he swim, and climbed back onto the land. Ganondorf silently jumped off the god. Then he saw it: The Zora had the blue Spirituals Stone in her hands! He could just knock the Zora out and grab it! What luck! The King of Thieves was about to tackle the small Zora when Jabu-Jabu suddenly burst forward and swallowed her. What?!
"Aaargh!" Ganondorf kicked the oversized god.
Jabu-Jabu blinked.
"Why....Did you do that?!" Ganondorf was so mad, he was yelling at a fish.
Jabu-Jabu blinked again.
"That could have saved he a lot of trouble!"
Jabu-Jabu blinked once more.
"Now I have to come back and retrieve the decaying body after my trek up Death Mountain!"
Jabu-Jabu burped.
Ganondorf peered over one of the rock faces around the god's pool of water. Zora's River was a below him. He jumped over the ledge and landed on the river's band. He was upset. It would have been so easy to take the stone right then and there from that Zora Princess, but the mind altering poison took effect much quicker than he expected. He hoped his journey up Death Mountain fared better. Ganondorf straitened his cloak, and continued on his mission.