A/N: This is the first LoZ fic I ever wrote seriously. It actually was started about three years ago and has been finished on and off after having survived through three hiatuses and a serious consideration of scrapping. But I decided to give it another chance, and am actually quite pleased with the results. Rated PG-13 for violence and Link's surprisingly dirty mouth; warnings include angst, sadness, violence, Link/Zelda pairing (no citrus), and alternate realities. The timeline I'm basing things on is a quasi-alternate-reality of my own creation: I base most if not all of my Zelda fanfiction on the idea that all the deeds done and chronicled in the Zelda games (with the exception of the Wind Waker for obvious reasons) were the deeds of one brave young lad chosen by Destiny and the three Goddesses as the Hero of Time, the Legendary Hero. Oh. And I don't own Linky (more's the pity) or Zelda or any of the game's other characters. They are copyrighted to Miyamoto Shigeru-san and Nintendo, the lucky bastards. I own, however, sole copyright of each and every one of my original characters. Steal them and I will hunt you down and break your elbows. Remember: A vague threat is no one's friend.
-Act I-
A Twist of Fate
7
Days passed, and then weeks, a full month crawling slowly by with no trace found of the Hero of Time. During the crawling interval of time, Zelda rarely left her apartments in the castle, only appearing to hear General Kiron's progress in his search for Link, and sometimes to eat, though she rarely did that, either. King Jiro was going insane with the worry; both for his daughter, and for the hero she was so deeply in love with, yet would never admit. If Link never came back, well…that was something that could not even be considered. Should something permanent happen to him, then all of Hyrule-the world, even-was doomed, for with the Phantom of Ganon defeated, all in the land knew that the real thing was bound to show up eventually.
Needless to say, the search being performed by the commanding general of the Hylian army was slightly frantic.
King Jiro, Princess Zelda, and General Kiron were in the conference room of the palace listening to another report of a complete lack of progress by the search parties when the other shoe dropped.
There was a horrendous crash from the outer chamber, and it was followed by a loud shout and the horrific sound of something striking solid bone. There was another yell as a soldier came flying through the door of the council chamber to hit the opposite wall with a sickening crunch. The poor man slid limply to the floor, dead with a broken neck. Kiron shot to his feet, immediately moving forward to block anything from hurting Zelda, and also to see what dared attack one of his fearless soldiers. Jiro was up in an instant, stepping forward to see what the commotion was.
He needn't have bothered. They already knew.
He swaggered into the room, practically oozing smug, self-satisfied amusement at the scene before him, dressed in all his gaudy black ceremonial armor and finery. His scarlet cape flowed out behind him as he walked.
"You!" Jiro hissed, tone venomous.
Ganondorf Dragmire, self-proclaimed Prince of Darkness and prophecy-foretold King of Evil, smiled calmly at the King of Hyrule. "You were expecting Link?" he asked menacingly.
That was precisely the moment when something snapped deep inside Princess Zelda. With a low growl, she lunged past Kiron, and dove for Ganondorf's throat. Unfortunately, she was too short to make the target. Once she reached him, she began to pound on his shoulders with all her royal fury. "You monster!" she cried. "What did you do to him? Where is he? What did you do with Link?"
And continuing to screech curses at him, she began trying to claw at his face and kept beating on him without mercy.
He watched her with a curious, detached look on his face, and suddenly, his eyes went hard, and he flung out one arm, sending the Crown Princess of Hyrule flying across the room. Zelda hit the wall hard and crumpled, landing on the floor in a dazed heap. Jiro made as if to charge forward at Ganondorf, but Kiron held him back. "No, sire," he said respectfully, stepping in front of the enraged monarch. "No sense in getting yourself killed, Majesty."
"That low…sneaking…" Jiro snarled under his breath.
"Aye, that he is, sire," Kiron agreed, "but we don't need the royal family butchered today, Majesty." He reasoned.
Ganondorf started to laugh; a soulless, low sound full of mocking hatred. "My, such passion…" he whispered venomously, "it's too bad you're my competition for control of this land…we could have a lot of fun controlling it together."
"Rot in hell," Jiro snapped.
"Already did, dear boy," Ganondorf retorted just as sharply. "Don't care to go back anytime soon."
He held out a hand, and suddenly it seemed to shimmer with intense, dark power. There was a blinding flash, and when it faded, Zelda was encased helplessly in a large rose-colored crystal. She turned toward her father. "I'm sorry, Daddy!" she cried. "I couldn't stop him, I'm sorry!"
"It's all right!" Jiro pressed his hand against the side. Zelda stared out at him, tears forming in her deep blue eyes, and she beat her fists harmlessly against the surface of the crystal.
Jiro's face twisted into an expression of inhuman contempt and hatred for the desert man. He lunged at Ganondorf once more, and Kiron grabbed at his arm, but it wasn't Kiron's warning that held him back, this time.
"Ah…I wouldn't do that, if I were you, old boy," Ganondorf said menacingly. He waved his hand toward the crystal, and thin, spider web tracings of black electricity weaved over the surface, crackling viciously.
Zelda screamed.
Jiro stopped in his tracks, going cold at the sight. Ganondorf smiled at the effect his display had on the king, and ceased his attack on the princess. "Are we going to play nice now?" Ganondorf asked smugly.
Jiro stared helplessly at his daughter, and then glared at Ganondorf. "No, Daddy! Don't do it!" Zelda called to him from inside the crystal. "It doesn't matter what happens to me! Don't bargain with him!"
"Quiet, girl!" Ganondorf snapped, and once more, black lightning laced across the surface of the rose-colored prison. Zelda once more began to scream in agony.
Jiro's eyes darted between his daughter and Ganondorf, frantically trying to devise some strategy to help him defeat the evil Gerudo. Finally, he could stand it no longer, and something twisted and snapped inside him. With a snarled curse, he lunged for the throat of the Gerudo king, following the actions of his daughter moments before.
Ganondorf was ready for it, however. With one, swiftly fluid motion, he reached inside his flowing cape to the scabbard at his waist. Drawing his sword, he watched clinically as the King of Hyrule impaled himself on the dark, twisted blade.
Zelda screamed again, but now it was filled with loss. "Daddy, no!" she cried as Jiro slid off the sword. Jiro stared down at the sudden hole in his chest, with glazed, uncomprehending eyes. As Kiron caught him, he fell to the floor. The grizzled general was muttering curses against the entire Gerudo race as he lowered his king gently to the floor.
Jiro turned a pale face toward Zelda, who was again beating her small fists against the crystal, sobbing uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, my daughter…" he rasped. "This wasn't supposed to happen…" he coughed hoarsely. "Don't ever surrender to him…I love you…"
With those final words, the king gave a long, fading sigh and was gone.
Kiron lowered his sovereign gently to the ground, and stood up, his eyes blazing. "You murderer," he snarled quietly.
"Oh, come now, he practically killed himself, rushing at me like that," Ganondorf countered. He watched the Hylian calmly. "Now, I can assume that you will be a little more…cooperative than the last?" Ganondorf suggested.
Kiron glared scathingly at Ganondorf, and then, turning to the princess, he laid a hand against the crystal as he saluted her. "Don't worry, my Queen, we will find Link, and we will end this. I'm sorry I can't get you out right now, but we will come for you. Or die trying."
"Go," she said weakly. "Don't you die here today too." And with those words of dismissal, the new monarch of Hyrule, Queen Zelda, retreated into a sad shell, not ready to face the loss of her father and the Kingdom he'd left for her.
"My word of honor on your rescue, Majesty," he said, and turning back to Ganondorf, he muttered a single, sharp curse. "Go back to hell," he snarled, and lunging past a surprised and somewhat confused (though he'd never admit it) Ganondorf, Kiron ran out of the chamber, and started bellowing orders to al the sentries.
Ganondorf roared in rage at the target that had just escaped him, and turned to the Gerudo warriors that served as his honor guard. "Kitara! Nidra!" He snapped. "Go find him and bring him back! I need him. For…bargaining."
The female warriors nodded and turned to leave, but Zelda couldn't help but notice the somewhat…defiantly amused look on the face of the one he called Kitara. She filed it away for future reference.
"Now, Princess," Ganondorf growled, "I seem to be suddenly in charge of your kingdom. You're not going to give me anymore trouble, are you?"
Zelda looked archly at him, and then pointedly turned her back on him.
The King of Evil just stared at her for a moment, then waved his hand, and with the dark, vile powers he possessed, sent her to a prison cell high up in the castle's tower. "Fine, then I'll take care of it myself," he said to no one.
With startling clarity, he realized that he had won. There wasn't anyone who could even hope to oppose him now. The Hero of Time, the only living person able to wield the Master Sword, was gone. Ganondorf had triumphed. He threw back his head and let out a victorious laugh.
Nothing could stop him now.
The world was his.
-Act I-
A Twist of Fate
7
Days passed, and then weeks, a full month crawling slowly by with no trace found of the Hero of Time. During the crawling interval of time, Zelda rarely left her apartments in the castle, only appearing to hear General Kiron's progress in his search for Link, and sometimes to eat, though she rarely did that, either. King Jiro was going insane with the worry; both for his daughter, and for the hero she was so deeply in love with, yet would never admit. If Link never came back, well…that was something that could not even be considered. Should something permanent happen to him, then all of Hyrule-the world, even-was doomed, for with the Phantom of Ganon defeated, all in the land knew that the real thing was bound to show up eventually.
Needless to say, the search being performed by the commanding general of the Hylian army was slightly frantic.
King Jiro, Princess Zelda, and General Kiron were in the conference room of the palace listening to another report of a complete lack of progress by the search parties when the other shoe dropped.
There was a horrendous crash from the outer chamber, and it was followed by a loud shout and the horrific sound of something striking solid bone. There was another yell as a soldier came flying through the door of the council chamber to hit the opposite wall with a sickening crunch. The poor man slid limply to the floor, dead with a broken neck. Kiron shot to his feet, immediately moving forward to block anything from hurting Zelda, and also to see what dared attack one of his fearless soldiers. Jiro was up in an instant, stepping forward to see what the commotion was.
He needn't have bothered. They already knew.
He swaggered into the room, practically oozing smug, self-satisfied amusement at the scene before him, dressed in all his gaudy black ceremonial armor and finery. His scarlet cape flowed out behind him as he walked.
"You!" Jiro hissed, tone venomous.
Ganondorf Dragmire, self-proclaimed Prince of Darkness and prophecy-foretold King of Evil, smiled calmly at the King of Hyrule. "You were expecting Link?" he asked menacingly.
That was precisely the moment when something snapped deep inside Princess Zelda. With a low growl, she lunged past Kiron, and dove for Ganondorf's throat. Unfortunately, she was too short to make the target. Once she reached him, she began to pound on his shoulders with all her royal fury. "You monster!" she cried. "What did you do to him? Where is he? What did you do with Link?"
And continuing to screech curses at him, she began trying to claw at his face and kept beating on him without mercy.
He watched her with a curious, detached look on his face, and suddenly, his eyes went hard, and he flung out one arm, sending the Crown Princess of Hyrule flying across the room. Zelda hit the wall hard and crumpled, landing on the floor in a dazed heap. Jiro made as if to charge forward at Ganondorf, but Kiron held him back. "No, sire," he said respectfully, stepping in front of the enraged monarch. "No sense in getting yourself killed, Majesty."
"That low…sneaking…" Jiro snarled under his breath.
"Aye, that he is, sire," Kiron agreed, "but we don't need the royal family butchered today, Majesty." He reasoned.
Ganondorf started to laugh; a soulless, low sound full of mocking hatred. "My, such passion…" he whispered venomously, "it's too bad you're my competition for control of this land…we could have a lot of fun controlling it together."
"Rot in hell," Jiro snapped.
"Already did, dear boy," Ganondorf retorted just as sharply. "Don't care to go back anytime soon."
He held out a hand, and suddenly it seemed to shimmer with intense, dark power. There was a blinding flash, and when it faded, Zelda was encased helplessly in a large rose-colored crystal. She turned toward her father. "I'm sorry, Daddy!" she cried. "I couldn't stop him, I'm sorry!"
"It's all right!" Jiro pressed his hand against the side. Zelda stared out at him, tears forming in her deep blue eyes, and she beat her fists harmlessly against the surface of the crystal.
Jiro's face twisted into an expression of inhuman contempt and hatred for the desert man. He lunged at Ganondorf once more, and Kiron grabbed at his arm, but it wasn't Kiron's warning that held him back, this time.
"Ah…I wouldn't do that, if I were you, old boy," Ganondorf said menacingly. He waved his hand toward the crystal, and thin, spider web tracings of black electricity weaved over the surface, crackling viciously.
Zelda screamed.
Jiro stopped in his tracks, going cold at the sight. Ganondorf smiled at the effect his display had on the king, and ceased his attack on the princess. "Are we going to play nice now?" Ganondorf asked smugly.
Jiro stared helplessly at his daughter, and then glared at Ganondorf. "No, Daddy! Don't do it!" Zelda called to him from inside the crystal. "It doesn't matter what happens to me! Don't bargain with him!"
"Quiet, girl!" Ganondorf snapped, and once more, black lightning laced across the surface of the rose-colored prison. Zelda once more began to scream in agony.
Jiro's eyes darted between his daughter and Ganondorf, frantically trying to devise some strategy to help him defeat the evil Gerudo. Finally, he could stand it no longer, and something twisted and snapped inside him. With a snarled curse, he lunged for the throat of the Gerudo king, following the actions of his daughter moments before.
Ganondorf was ready for it, however. With one, swiftly fluid motion, he reached inside his flowing cape to the scabbard at his waist. Drawing his sword, he watched clinically as the King of Hyrule impaled himself on the dark, twisted blade.
Zelda screamed again, but now it was filled with loss. "Daddy, no!" she cried as Jiro slid off the sword. Jiro stared down at the sudden hole in his chest, with glazed, uncomprehending eyes. As Kiron caught him, he fell to the floor. The grizzled general was muttering curses against the entire Gerudo race as he lowered his king gently to the floor.
Jiro turned a pale face toward Zelda, who was again beating her small fists against the crystal, sobbing uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, my daughter…" he rasped. "This wasn't supposed to happen…" he coughed hoarsely. "Don't ever surrender to him…I love you…"
With those final words, the king gave a long, fading sigh and was gone.
Kiron lowered his sovereign gently to the ground, and stood up, his eyes blazing. "You murderer," he snarled quietly.
"Oh, come now, he practically killed himself, rushing at me like that," Ganondorf countered. He watched the Hylian calmly. "Now, I can assume that you will be a little more…cooperative than the last?" Ganondorf suggested.
Kiron glared scathingly at Ganondorf, and then, turning to the princess, he laid a hand against the crystal as he saluted her. "Don't worry, my Queen, we will find Link, and we will end this. I'm sorry I can't get you out right now, but we will come for you. Or die trying."
"Go," she said weakly. "Don't you die here today too." And with those words of dismissal, the new monarch of Hyrule, Queen Zelda, retreated into a sad shell, not ready to face the loss of her father and the Kingdom he'd left for her.
"My word of honor on your rescue, Majesty," he said, and turning back to Ganondorf, he muttered a single, sharp curse. "Go back to hell," he snarled, and lunging past a surprised and somewhat confused (though he'd never admit it) Ganondorf, Kiron ran out of the chamber, and started bellowing orders to al the sentries.
Ganondorf roared in rage at the target that had just escaped him, and turned to the Gerudo warriors that served as his honor guard. "Kitara! Nidra!" He snapped. "Go find him and bring him back! I need him. For…bargaining."
The female warriors nodded and turned to leave, but Zelda couldn't help but notice the somewhat…defiantly amused look on the face of the one he called Kitara. She filed it away for future reference.
"Now, Princess," Ganondorf growled, "I seem to be suddenly in charge of your kingdom. You're not going to give me anymore trouble, are you?"
Zelda looked archly at him, and then pointedly turned her back on him.
The King of Evil just stared at her for a moment, then waved his hand, and with the dark, vile powers he possessed, sent her to a prison cell high up in the castle's tower. "Fine, then I'll take care of it myself," he said to no one.
With startling clarity, he realized that he had won. There wasn't anyone who could even hope to oppose him now. The Hero of Time, the only living person able to wield the Master Sword, was gone. Ganondorf had triumphed. He threw back his head and let out a victorious laugh.
Nothing could stop him now.
The world was his.