This part's longer. More dialogue, too bad I suck at it. Constructive Criticism and Comments (CCC) welcome. All previous disclaimers apply. ~Animal Cracker

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The entire four days of negotiations had been a waste. Besides refusing his people the use of the land at the entrance of Gerudo Valley, the Hylian king had also brought up some of the rumors of Gerudo women "enticing" men in alleys. The king had ordered a cease and desist if such things were going on. He wasn't implying anything, of course, but one could never be too careful. Ganondorf snorted in his mind. As if his sisters would ever lower themselves to such despicable acts.

The negotiations--if they could be called such--were finished and they were leaving. His entourage was waiting at the gates for him. As he turned to mount his horse, he caught a flash of something out of the corner of his eye. He swiftly turned around, and found the back of the youth from his dream coming out of a shop.

Ganondorf swiftly turned to the horse mistress and with a curt order to, "Hold Baham," was off through the milling crowd.

*****************

It was mid-morning, a few days after his strange dream. Denna was nearing the end of her pregnancy. She could still do most of the chores around the house, but she tired more quickly, and she could no longer run errands around town. Link stopped working with Tekir in the fields to take care of her, and also to run errands for her when necessary. She had just sent him out to retrieve their weekly supply of milk and a hoe Tekir had wanted mended.

'Now I just need to head down to the smith's. It should be just around this alley--'

Someone tapped him on the shoulder. "Excuse me."

Link turned around, about to utter a cheerful "Hello!" when he came face to face with Ganondorf. The greeting died on his lips.

Ganondorf saw the surprise and suspicion in Link's eyes, and backed up a step.

"I take it you know who I am."

"Ganondorf, King of the Gerudo people. You're here in Hyrule Castle Town for negotiations with King Arkanon." 'And if the rumors are to be believed, for the Triforce.'

The comment was unspoken, but Ganondorf could infer the gist of it from Link's wary expression. He sighed. "Once again, my reputation precedes me."

Link blinked. From what he could see, there was no anger in Ganondorf's eyes, merely annoyance and resignition. It contrasted sharply with the Ganondorf of his time, ruthless and intolerant of opposition. Before he could reply though, Ganondorf continued.

"To be fair though, the rumors of my pursuit of the Triforce aren't all inaccurate. However, I am certain that my perceived reasons for wanting the Triforce are wrong. I want it for my people, so that we will not have to rely on late shipments of half rotted food and a few canteens of absurdly over-priced water. I found out about the Triforce from an ancient tome in my library. It mentioned a Key with two halves. One half of the Key is the legendary Master Sword. The other half is a lad with blond hair, blue eyes, great courage, and a pure heart. I believe that you," and Ganondorf fixed Link with an even stare, "are the other half of the Key."

At this comment, Link interrupted him. "You have never met me before today. How can you be certain that I am who you are searching for?"

Ganondorf once again gave Link a long, appraising look before answering. "You have just given me proof of your worthiness. You are unlike any other Hylian I have ever met before. When you first met me, you didn't immediately turn your head. You have obviously already heard many unsavory things about me, and yet you still decide to see what I have to say. As for how I can be certain that you are the Key...you did not question whether the legendary Master Sword actually existed, and you did not ask me how you could possibly be half of the Key to the Triforce. Instead, you asked me how I knew *you* were one half of the Key. And that is answer enough."

Ganondorf sighed once again before continuing, "I know I can not expect you to help me when you have heard nothing but ill of me, but I will lay down my pride and ask you. I don't know what it is about you that is different, but there is something. So, will you help me help my people?"

Link merely stood in the center of the alley, not moving, looking anywhere but at Ganondorf. When he finally looked back up, his face was expressionless and his eyes guarded. Ganondorf growled low in his throat, before turning sharply on his heel, striding away. Before he could turn the corner however, Link spoke.

"I will consider it."

Ganondorf froze mid-stride, before turning slowly around to face Link.

"You...what?"

"I said, I will consider it. It's true, I was initially wary of you, though not for the reasons you think. I can not fully trust you, as I can not be absolutely certain of your good intentions. However, I grew up in an atmosphere of hate and prejudice, where people suffered merely for being from a certain race. I will not judge you as of yet, but I will need more time. So, I will consider it."

"Then...how will I know your answer?"

Link simply smiled. "I will find a way."

Then, to Ganondorf's surprise, Link etched a deep bow that should have looked ridiculous with him holding two milk bottles, but instead looked like a gesture of deepest respect. Before he could react Link had straightened up, turned the corner, and disappeared.

*****************

Link had finally gotten the hoe back around lunch time from the smith's and was heading back when he passed set of stairs that led to a path cutting through a stand of tall trees. He looked around curiously, surprised when no one seemed to notice it. He looked at the path again only to realize, with a jolt, that this was the path to the Temple of Time.

As he walked up the steps, he looked back once more to see if anyone was going to stop him. No one seemed to even see him. Link shrugged and continued down the path.

It wasn't long before he was standing at the entrance. He hesitated, before setting down the milk and the hoe and walking up the steps and entering the Temple of Time.

It was exactly as he remembered it. Light streamed down from high windows no matter what the weather was like and there was always a feeling of peace. It always felt peaceful in the temple. Even those times when Ganondorf had...

Link walked up to the altar where the Spiritual Stones would stand in the future. When he reached it, he looked up at the Door of Time, the giant stone slab that stood between the outside world and the Master Sword, Gate to the Sacred Realm.

'Ganondorf...the Ganondorf of this time is very different from the one of my time. He really does seem to want the Triforce only to help his people.' Link walked up to the Door of Time and put his hand over the barely visible break where it would open ten years later.

'Ten years...it took ten years to ruin Ganondorf...maybe this is what Destiny wants me to do. Not to prevent Ganondorf from getting the Triforce, but to make sure he uses the Triforce for good.' Link backed away from the door, blinking. Shaking his head, he turned around and walked back towards the entrance.

'I almost want to trust him. I'll just have to wait and see.'

*****************

Denna looked up from her mending just in time to see Link walking through the door with a mended hoe, two bottles of Lon Lon milk, and a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Did you have any trouble in the market?" she asked.

Link started. "Huh? Oh, no problems."

"Are you sure? You look a bit tired..." she trailed off, worried.

Link blinked, then smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, I guess I'm a little tired. Um...could I go rest for a little bit, if you don't have anything for me to do?"

Denna just smiled gently. "Of course! Don't worry about me, Tekir should be home soon anyway."

"Well, if you're sure..." he said, an embarrassed expression on his face.

"Go on! Go, you look like you need some rest." She shooed him towards the guest room while he laughed.

As she watched him go, she sighed and patted her stomach. 'Link is such a nice boy...I hope he'll stay around after I give birth. He would make such a good older brother.' She returned to her mending, this time humming a little tune.

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To be continued...

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I think this chapter has the single longest scene I have ever done. Yay me.