Majora's War - Part 7


-Ganondorf Dragmire-

Ganon and his hunting party crossed the plains of Qin where it bordered with Majora and onward to his holding of Joket. The walled city was lit with flame and smoke billowed skyward in great dark towers. In the distance on a hill stood an army with Qin flags. The Qin stood in defensive formations with hastily made wooden-fortifications. The occassional Fae stood in their ranks as towering men of wood and stone.

All around the Qin army and the ruins of Joket were massive beasts and legions of smaller Twilight beasts. The beasts poked in at the men's defenses for prey and weakness before scurrying back out of reach of their spears, or hunted straglers on the country side the Qin could not save. Teams of Qin horsemen rode the plains fighting the beasts as best they could, but were sent scurrying away more often than not against the beasts superior strength and thick hides.

"How can this be?!" Ganon's second gasped at the sight. "We held these beasts imprisoned in the masks!"

"I do not know how, but the beasts have escaped their prisons," Ganon replied. The situation troubled him deeply. There were far more of the beasts than he had been told. Some of them he had personally bested before and after his youthful awakening. The Majora were ascended from a bloodline of monster hunters going back hundreds of years, even further back than the fall of Hyrule. They were jailors of the feral, tamers of the monsters, masters of the wilds and mountains, and everything they had built up was crashing down around them. While most countries might sacrifice hundreds or thousands to killing a monster, the Majora lost few lives in removing them permanently. Or, up till now, what seemed permanent.

Kuroko Dragmire had been imprisoned in a mask, but now was free. These beasts were imprisoned but were now free. How many more were free that were once imprisoned? What of the men and women who, over the generations, had been punished via execution and exile into a mask?

Ganon turned to another and ordered, "Return to Majora! Warn Nabooru! Tell her to gather the fighting men and march on the temple!"

"The temple?"

"Yes, tell her the mask's prison has been broken! With how many we have executed over the generations into the masks, just how many criminals and angry men have taken home in our temple?! How many have infilitrated our home wanting revenge after having been asleep for a hundred years?"

The Majoran paled as realization set in. He immediately turned his steed aside and turned back to relay Ganondorf's message to their home.

Ganondorf turned to the other side and faced his second, "Take command of the hunting party and enter into the Qin ranks. Do not put on the masks! We are not here to turn into monsters of our own to fight, but here to protect and secure the Dragmire to our home. Ask the Qin to transfer the Dragmire to us, and when the time is safe, together we shall escort them."

"Yes, Lord Ganon!" His second yelled.

Ganon broke ranks from the hunting party. The Majora army rode toward the Qin army on horse and wolf, moved around the monsters, and entered the conflict enough as to regroup with their allies. Ganon rode alone on his horse and surveyed the situation. It was dire, but it was salvagable. He unsheathed one of his broadswords into his hand and spurred his horse on towards the Qin horsemen to aid them.

The Qin horsemen fled from a giant wolf. It had the corruption of Twilight infested in its flesh, spotting it in scales and puncturing its skin in great thorns and swelling boils. Its mouth gaped sickeningly wide with many teeth and emitted an ominous bluish glow from its throat and tongue. The wolf had its eyes set on the Qin prey. Ganon rode up beside it, and with a burst of power, shot up Twilight tentacles from the ground to grab its feet. The wolf tumbled forward into its face. Ganon leaped up from his horse, landed on the beast, and drove his sword deep into its head. As soon as he dealt the blow, he tumbled off and onto the ground, as the beast spasmed and continued to slide across the ground from its sudden fall.

Ganon took a moment to breath and stood. He took in the smell of blood, and hissed out smoke and fire. He felt his eyes burning in the smoke, blood, and power stemming from his veins. His heartbeat filled his ears and the taste of blood filled his mouth and nostrils. His twilight mark pulsed, aching to be released. His Divine mark also pulsed, comfortably warm on his skin and letting him know another Marked Champion was near. From the particular triangle to glow, it was Link.

Ganon smirked. Good. If the pup was here, this battle would be easier, and more fun. It was always more fun sharing such trumphs with one who understands.

The Qin horsemen turned back around and met with him. They gave brief thanks for the timely rescue and offered to escort him to the camp. Ganon smiled predatorily, adjusted his grip on his broadsword, and replied he didn't need help. He was right where he wanted to be.

He was damned by his bloodline and it seemed no matter what he did, Din would not answer. No amount of effort saved him and no amount of devotion brought him answers. He was stuck between the damning of his fate and the silence of his goddess and the inability to change anything. All of his power was for nothing, so he did the one thing left to him. He fought.

Ganon had a lot of rage to let out.


-Link-

Link busied himself with going where Matsubi needed him while Soli stayed in camp discussing strategy with Matsubi. When Matsubi needed him on the front lines of the infantrymen fighting the massive herd of Twilight, he was there. When Matsubi needed him riding and trying to contend with the larger beasts, he was there. Link was not a tactitian. He could see the flow of battle and movements and saw in his mind's eye where the center point of clashes would occur around him, but he lacked the large-scale picture of the battlefield or bird's eye view afforded to tactitians.

Link threw himself into the fray of Twilight beasts assaulting the shield line of the Qin formation. He activated his mark for a second and in that moment swung his spear wide, cutting down multiple beasts before they had time to blink. Blood sprayed in every direction with each swing of his glaive. The beasts were not even trying to defend themselves! They were merely throwing their bodies at him and the Qin shield line. The Qin did not break rank to join him, so Link fled back into their formation before he got surrounded and overwhelmed. Link breathed out. The spear of Naryu was heavy and utilizing his Gift was taxing. He had practiced it more and more so he might not be exhausted, but a full day of constant movement and fighting was tiring. Sweat fell from his brow and his muscles ached to relax if only for a moment.

A whistle blew. Immediately the second line of Qin stepped forward in sync with the front line of Qin stepping backwards. One line of shield bearers swapped with the other and a new row of spears pierced into the mass of Twilight. The Twilight fled back a short distance and hissed at them.

"Thanks for the assist, kid," an officer commented. He sat on his butt, took his helmet off, and wiped sweat off his face. "It is not easy to swap the shield line out with the constant pressure."

Link nodded, panting.

"Its inhuman how persistent they are. Its like pushing back water."

"Might be 'cause they ain't human." Link figured.

"True, dat."

The group took a moment to breath and recover some energy. The heat of the sun pounded on them and cooked them in their armor. The soldiers further back passed forward jars of water the soldiers further up gulped down or dunked their heads in.

"Damn, just how many of these things are there?" The officer wondered. He looked out in the distance. "More just keep pouring in from that fortress."

"We'll figure something out. Matsubi and Soli are smart."

A cheer rippled out from the men around them and Link followed their gaze to find hundreds of Twilight beasts thrown high into the air and explosions of fire rippling out through the beast's ranks. A man rode through the gap of beasts. His skin and armor were black as night and fire cascaded off his shoulders, his blades, and erupted from his hands in every direction. It was as if an avatar of fire and power had appeared before them.

Link's hand pulsed with a familiar heartbeat and he grinned widely. Finding a horse, quickly, he raced out of the Qin camp to meet up with his friend.

"Hey, dick!" Link called as he neared.

Ganondorf turned in his seat enough to see the younger man nearing. Ganondorf grinned.

"It is good to see you, pup. Why is it everywhere there is trouble, you are inevitably there?"

"I'm just where I need to be, it seems." Link rode up beside him.

Ganondorf glanced around briefly. He pointed toward the pair of giant ogres that were giving the Qin riders trouble. "Want to take on something more your own size?"

Link narrowed his eyes at him, "Is that a short joke?"

-Moments later-

"Ready?" Ganondorf asked. He had a hand tightly wrapped in Link's collar.

Link strapped his spear behind his back and nodded. "Yep. Do it!" To emphasis his readiness, Link extended his hands forward. His horse was side by side with Ganon's horse, and they were nearing the giants from behind. "Literally yeet me!"

"No idea what you just said, but I'm doing it." Ganondorf grunted.

The moment their horses passed by from behind, Ganondorf pulled Link up and threw him into the air. The giants had long and dense cords of hair, and Link found himself thrown into the midst of them. Grabbing onto them like vines, he held on even as the hair wrapped itself around him.

Link popped his head out of the mass of hair and gave a thumbs up to Ganon as the dark skinned man stayed near. Ganon nodded and kicked his horse into moving. Link took hold of the giant's hair and climbed his way up. When he was ontop of the giant's head, he peered down at him from above. The two giants were confused. The first noticed something was on him, an the second one looked at him confused.

"Hey, I think you got one of them bugs on ya!"

"Well get it off!"

The giant punched his comrad in the head, trying to hit Link. Link managed to fall onto the shoulder and avoid the gargantuan fist. Link pulled out his spear and yelled, "Hey ugly!"

"Hey, I think the bug is talking to ya!" The other giant said.

The first giant looked at his shoulder to see what the noise was. Link threw his spear, piercing the giant's left eye. The giant screamed in pain and flung itself around. Link struggled to stay on, and with a few time-skips to practice, jumped onto the spear hanging out of the giant's face, spun up and around for momentum, leaped off, slashed a short sword across the other eye of the giant, and landed on his opposite shoulder.

"Nailed it," Link smirked.

At this time, Ganon was staying out of the way as the giant stomped around, but swept in and cut the giant's ankle. With no eyes to steady his vision, and his foundation pulled out from under him, the giant clumsily fell onto its face. The giant fell towards Ganon. Coating his hand in fire, Ganon shot his fist forward and sent a pillar of flame exploding into the giant's face. The giant fell to the ground, dead.

"Hey, Dick! My spear is under that!" Link barked from where he landed.

Ganon clicked his tongue and surveyed the body. It had fallen onto its face, and Link's spear had been in said face. "You would be correct."

"Hey," The other giant whispered in shock.

Link argued, "Well why'd you do that?! I can't get it out now!"

"Sounds like a 'you' problem."

"Hey!"

"Oh no! You buried the spear Ouki gave me under a ton of fat and brains! You're helping me get it out!"

"With what?!" Ganon demanded. Link looked at Ganon's swords. "My swords are not shovels!"

"I don't have anything to use! What am I going to do, use my bare hands and burrow my way through?!"

"I am not using my swords for such things unless you take them from me!"

"I can arrange that!"

"HEY!" The giant yelled, increasingly annoyed at being ignored. He charged at them both. "You kill bo! I kill you!"

Ganon and Link both looked at the giant, equally annoyed. "YOU'RE IN THE WAY!" They both yelled.

-One dead giant later-

Now sufficiently covered in blood, Ganondorf tossed one of his broadswords to Link. Link caught it in both of his hands. To Ganon's surprise, he didn't drop it. The kid had grown strong enough to wield it.

"Here, follow me on this," Ganondorf ordered. He approached the first giant's neck and cut down into it. He motioned to Link, and his friend did the same on the other side. Slowly the two beheaded the giant. With the problem being only his head, the two were able to roll the giant's head onto its side enough for Link to pull the spear out. To their amazement, the eyeball plucked itself out with the spear.

"Shit. That's just disgusting," Link sighed. Ganondorf chuckled.

Link tried to pry the eyeball out of his spear, but Ganon stopped him, "Wait, wait. Pup, I have an idea."

-One idea later-

"That is two giants down." Matsubi smiled in satisfaction. He knocked the pieces off the table. They clattered across the floor of the tent. "There are not many monsters left. Between the Fae, Majora, and Qin, these things didn't seem to come prepared. Your hunting party was a great boon." He nodded politely to the Majora hunting leader. The man nodded in turn, accepting the offered respect.

"What worries me is how they came to be."

"Sir, someone requests entry." A guard said from outside.

"Let 'em in," Matsubi said quickly. "I can understand that, my friend. I don't know what kind of prisons you have that they escaped from, but this does not bode well. If we can expect more of these things in the west, we will have to station more forces here and-"

"Sir, I need you to come out and accept them in." The guard said from outside.

Matsubi sighed. He put up a finger to request for a moment. He stepped to the tent door and opened it-

a giant eyeball looked back at him.

Matsubi screamed and fell back. Half of the people, including Soli, inside the tent screamed. Everyone outside laughed. Link laughed until he cried and fell to his knees, begging for air. Ganon just smirked, holding the spear the eyeball was plunged into.


-Ganondorf-

The battle did not last much longer. The remaining monsters were defeated by the champions and the combined horsemen of the Majora and Qin. The Twilight were slaughtered to the last. The combined forces of the Qin, Majora, and Fae entered the remains out Jouket.

Ganondorf walked the streets he remembered. All around him were ruins. The sight of them made his heart ached, because in his eyes, they were a reflection of himself. He felt a ruined fire in him, and a crumbling foundation in his soul. Despite the momentary amusement being around Link provided, he couldn't shake off the aching in his heart and pain of silence Din had rewarded him with.

Something in the air struck his nostrils and Ganondorf stopped. He sniffed the air. It was not fire and ashe that he smelled. It was not bodies or blood. It was something primal, something that touched and resonated with his heart almost acidly sweetly. He did not recognize it. He had never smelled it before. The mark of the twilight pantheon on his left hand creeped to the surface, and he approached the source of the smell.

Amidst the burnt ruins of a building were a pair of men. The first was a Dragmire, bloodied and bruised. The latter was perhaps the whitest man Ganondorf had ever seen. He had seen men with a dark color, men with a pink color, and men with a slightly more yellowish-white color, but never had he seen a man whose skin was as the whitest snow off the top of a mountain. Ganondorf almost wondered if he was a snowman.

The snowman looked back at Ganon, and for a moment, Ganon felt himself pulled into the incredible depths of the orbs. Emotions stirred in Ganondorf's gut as he descended into the dark well. Anger, hate, but most of all, hunger.

Why are you so full of anger?

Because his goddess had abandoned him.

Why has she abandoned you?

Because he was a demon.

Yet you feel this is unjust? Anger is an emotion driven by the belief that one is dealt with unjustly.

He had begged and prayed and pleaded and worked every day for a hundred days. He had sacrificed a hundred animals. He had built one hundred altars. He did all of this because he wanted to be devoted, to be saved, and his goddess' answer was silence, contempt, and ultimately damnation. Nothing he did mattered. He didn't want to be a demon. He had hoped she didn't want that either.

You don't deserve such silence. You don't deserve contempt and damnation from one to whom you have given such loyalty. You have been betrayed.

Betrayed. Ganondorf felt rage and anger fill his veins.

The snowman blinked. Ganondorf blinked in surprise. Reality slammed into him and he stumbled, feeling he had been daydreaming. Yes, he had been daydreaming! That is the only thing that could make sense.

"Sir!" The snowman pleaded. "Please, help us! My friend, the house fell on him and he hasn't awakened yet!"

Remembering himself, Ganondorf stepped forward. "Do not worry. The army is near. It is good we found another Dragmire. Are you his friend?"

"Yes, I know him well. Almost like a brother, you could say."

"Come, we are leaving the city. It is not safe here." Ganondorf lifted up the hurt Dragmire and started out the door.

"Thank you, thank you! You are a good and kind man!"

"I don't know about that," Ganondorf grunted. The man's sweet tongue slightly annoyed him, but at the same time, he couldn't deny it. It was a good thing to help the injured. It was not something he was accustomed to doing, but he wanted to help his people, to save the Dragmire, and in so doing, to save himself.

"I am Ganondorf Dragmire. I will personally vouch for you as we approach. The Qin and Fae may find your likeness unusual."

"I understand perfectly. I thank you again." The snowman said. "Especially those 'Fae' things. I don't know which looks more monstrous, those black beasts or the walking trees. If it is well with you, I would rather keep my distance."

"Understandable," Ganondorf shrugged. He was used to the Fae. Not everyone was.

"Oh, where are my manners?! My apologies, this is a horrible day! You may call me Ghiradrim."

-Later, Ganon-

With the final of the beasts put down, the armies of Qin, Fae, and Majora were able to reach the border and the rest of the Majora army could arrive. The Qin did not pass the border, but stationed themselves on Qin's side. The Majora stood to the other side while the Fae moved between to help formally facilitate the transfer of the Dragmire into the Majoran's arms.

Nabooru arrived at the head of the army. Ganondorf raised an eyebrow as she approached astride her wolf, "Shouldn't you be defending the prison? I sent the messenger to inform you-"

"And it is handled, Ganon," Nabooru whisked her hair behind her while rolling her eyes. "Your guess was correct but exaggerated. There wasn't an army waiting for us, just a handful. I left my brother with the Soren clan to clear it up."

Ganon frowned. He was not on good terms with the Soren, but then he wasn't the diplomatic one, Nabooru was. They were barbaric even by his standards. If she got them to cooperate where he couldn't, maybe she was more cut out for this.

It won't last. Her influence is weak, hesitant. They will turn on her. Unlike you... no one dares defy that which they fear.

Ganon shook the thought away, "Very well. He should do well. The beasts are handled. Anything more you need from me?"

"Depends, are you going to explode into flames again?"

He shrugged. He felt better after venting his frustration for a day alongside Link, but Ganon still felt volatile and unhinged. There were too many things happening at once. He needed to fix his situation with Din. He needed to figure out what the former governor of Joket's plan was, as Ganon had no doubt that he was connected to the monsters and Malon's mother returning from the masks of death. The Dragmire, his family and bloodline, were being transferred from Qin slavery to a new home with Majora in the mountains.

The mountains will trap them as they trapped you. The Majoran will never accept them, just as they rejected you... until you showed them fear.

And it didn't help that his thoughts had become abnormally dark with how frustrated he was.

Ganon hoped the mountains would not be confining for them as much as it was for him.

Ganon answered her, "I am satisfied in blood for now. Again, is there anything more you need from me?"

"A friendly face would help matters..." Nabooru appraised Ganon. "So how about you just stand to the side for now?"

"I can be friendly!"

"Really? Smile for me," Nabooru smiled cheekily.

Ganon narrowed his eyes at her, "Don't mock me."

"Alright, alright. Then let me ask you: what do you want to do?"

Ganon considered the question. What did he want to do? He turned his eyes toward the Dragmire. He had never imagined so many of his kin were still alive. There must have been a thousand of them. It was a drop in the ocean compared to the clans and nations they were surrounded by, but they were alive all the same. With their red, glowing hair, it was as if a bonfire was lit in the valley, a flame that kindled and danced to the fire in his heart. Yet, it was not right. The fire in their hearts and the glow was demonic in origin. They were born of demon-worshippers, and he was the demon.

They are yours. Mold them to your will. Let nothing in your way. Burn anything that stands in the way of your greatness!

Ganon sighed, "I don't know. The Majora raised me and accepted me, but they are my blood. I want what is best for them. But what help can I be when I cannot help myself?"

Ganon had nothing more to say and left of his own accord. He felt Nabooru's eyes follow him, but he ignored her. The line of questioning annoyed him. It only served to remind him of his perilous position.

Ganon found himself a place on a hill to watch the proceeding. Nabooru met with the Qin and Fae, and the Dragmire were handed over. Amidst this, the refugees of Joket were let go and returned to Qin. Ganon narrowed his eyes at this. If it was up to him, he would have ordered them to go to the mountains and form a new clan to serve the Majoran nation, but it seemed the new chief had other thoughts. The exchange was peaceful. It was quiet. All he heard was his own breathing and the wind grabbing at his clothes and the occasional clinking of his blades. His eyes drifted to the ruins of Joket. It was almost poetic that was drew his eyes ultimately was the ruins of Joket. Not because it was his, but because it was destroyed. It was like looking into a reflection. He was a smoldering ruins inside that burned and crumbled with each failed attempt to heal.

Suddenly Ganon found himself wishing the noisy pup was there. Or that there was something he could fight. Realms, he would even settle for a hard drink or sticking a knife under his fingernail. Any distraction was better than this.


-Link-

"There's so many!" Link jumped up and down, looking over all the heads to see how far they went. "I've never seen so many redheads before!"

"Yes..." Soli smiled, slightly embarrassed to be standing by him. "There are many Dragmire."

"I can always tell Ganon-Grumpy Dick apart because of his hair, but how am I going to tell which is him from all this?!" Link continued jumping up and down. The surrounding soldiers eyed him as if to silently ask if he was broken in the head.

"Maybe because he is up there."

Soli pointed up at a distant hill towards the Majoran side of the exchange. On the hill was a single dot of fire like a torch. Link looked closely, but unfortunately didn't have eagle eyes. No matter hard one tries to squint, it doesn't really help. It only succeeded in embarrassing her further.

"Yeah, I think you're right. He has always been the loner type. Let's go!" Link grabbed Soli's hand. She flushed red for some reason and she opened her mouth to say something, but he was already set on it. With a burst of his Gift to get through the camp, they were at the hill seconds later. Ganon jumped in surprise and Soli fell to her knees to vomit.

"Oh, sorry," Link chuckled nervously. He patted Soli's back. "I should have remembered doing that to people... usually makes them throw up."

"You make a practice of this?" Ganon questioned.

"Did it to Zelda once, back when we fought that guy in Mitagi. Done it to Tou a couple times. And just now."

"Tou?..."

"My friend with the teeth that look funny. You remember, from when we fought Harken Dragmire and all?"

Ganon stared blankly at Link for a moment before he blinked in recollection. "The one with the buckteeth. I'm surprised he's alive. I thought he'd be the first one to die."

-Meanwhile Elsewhere-

Tou flinched as a chill went down his spine. He woke up with a start, screaming demons were after him.

-Back to Link-

"What are you doing here, Link?" Ganon asked.

"Nothin'."

"Surely you can do that elsewhere."

Link chuckled. Soli coughed what remained and stood. Seeing her, Ganon nodded, "Solitare, if I recall. I am glad you have survived following this simpleton."

"You kiddin'?" Link laughed. "She's the reason any of us are still alive! After you went de-" Link stopped himself. Probably best not to bring the whole demonic thing up just yet. It was too soon since Soli had snapped. "After you went and disappeared, Soli has been taking charge of being our strategist."

Ganon looked to Soli in a moment of respectful silence, "I sympathize with your pain."

"Thank you."

"Hey..." Link grumbled. "Why do I feel I'm being shat on?" Link quickly changed the subject. "So, when is the party?"

"What party?" Ganon questioned.

"Oh, you know! The feast! Big day beating down all the beasts, saving Joket-" A portion of what remained of the city's wall fell as he said this. "And bringing the Dragmire up from slavery, surely it is worthy of a feast!"

"You just want to go from one party to the next," Solitare looked at Link sideways.

"Now that you mention it, there likely will be a feast when we return-," Ganon blinked, "-wait, you were already at one? Where? When? There was a feast and I wasn't invited?!" Link and Solitare told Ganon about the party and how Riboku had established an alliance with Qin.

Ganon stared at Link, shocked, for a moment. "Damn, I missed a lot. Nabooru likely knows, but it feels... unusual to have been kept out of the conversation."

Link sat down on the grass beside his friends and watched the diplomacy play out from a distance. It was a moment of peace and contentment. They had gone through much, and there was more to come before their visions would come true, but no matter what, they had each other, and they would pull through. He knew that, even if grumpy-pants didn't.


-Malon-

The young teen bit her lip and watched Kuroko out of the corner of her vision. Malon's mother walked beside her through the market. The air was thick with nervous tension. On one hand her mother was nervous around crowds and Malon was nervous around her. She was doing her best not to jump the easily startled woman and break her in a hug, but she hadn't seen her in years! It was just as well her last memory of her mother was one of horror and pain and loss.

Malon had learned much from Ganon of what happened and why. Her father was a decent Qin man, and her mother was a Dragmire slave. Kuroko Dragmire pleased men and may have engaged in mafia actions to steal her freedom. No matter how she accomplished it, she had ties to the governor of Joket and Chancellor Katsu, so that when Kei Ki fought over territory in Joket, the governor tried to tie up loose ends in order to fulfill his disappearance. Namely the governor murdered her father, imprisoned her mother into a mask, and tried to do the same to Malon.

Malon had never said anything about it, but she remembered the pain of the mask before Ganon saved her from it. That same pain was her mother's last memory.

How could Malon move forward from this? Was it even on her to do it? Kuroko was back, and Ganon promised her that she, deep down, remembered Malon, but there was much pain to work through that it would be difficult for a long time.

And then what did it mean for her and Ganondorf? Ganon had taken her as his ward since Kuroko 'died'. He didn't adopt her, but wanted her to take pride in her own family. Now that Kuroko was back, was Malon going to lose Ganon? Her Majoran friends whispered things they heard from their parents, horrible things about Ganon. He was quick to aggravation and yelled a great deal, but he wasn't near as bad as people said he was. He was carefully controlled within his anger. He never laid a finger on her short of the occasional disciplining rod when she wronged someone. He saw to it that she was educated by the Majoran teachers and had a place to earn her own keep if she wanted to leave him to go her own way.

Malon could understand some of the whispering that he was a difficult man, but the way he was watched behind his back, the fear to surround him and the warnings, it was unearned. He may not see it, but she did. Everyone feared him, but while many respected him within that fear, there were enough that hated him, and that ones to hate him were growing ever since the conquests Majora had conducted in the recent time.

All of these thoughts left Malon uncertain. She didn't know what to do about her mother, about Ganon, and she didn't know her place in it. She felt like a small person in a massive world constantly in motion. She was a child adrift in the ocean.

"Oh, this is a pretty color."

Malon blinked out of her worrying thoughts. Kuroko eyed a roll of textiles for clothing with an innocent smile. Malon chuckled. She was worrying too much. "It is! You have always like red."

"Have I?" Kuroko wondered. She looked back at Malon blankly for a moment. The blank stare startled Malon, but just as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared, and Kuroko seemed to remember something as if it fell into place. "Maybe I have. It is a pretty color after all! What do you think of this for a dress? feel it!" Kuroko rubbed her fingers in it, and Malon put her hand up beside her mothers to do the same.

"It's soft!" Malon giggled.

It was a moment, but she felt like she was home again.

"We don't sell to demon worshippers," The stand manager grumbled.

It was nice while it lasted.

The woman pulled out a sword and pointed it at them threateningly. Kuroko stumbled back, hands up, her face naked in fear, and stuttered, "O-okay! No trouble! We were just leaving!"

"Yeah, git! Cursed mutts. Git out of here! No place for ya in a civilized society!"

"Hey!" Malon barked, but Kuroko took her daughter's shoulder and pried her aware fearfully.

"Let's not cause any trouble, we just-" Kuroko's worrying was halted by them running into a larger man.

The man blocking their path did not have a wolf by him as most Majorans, but had tribal markings of another clan. He looked down at them darkly and glanced over her head. "Did these Dragmire just steal from you, woman?"

"Steal?!" Malon gasped.

"Yeah, they might have!"

"Is it not bad enough you got most of us killed..." The man hissed. "And now you steal from your victims?"

"We haven't done anything!" Malon shoved herself between her mother and the large man. Even as they spoke, more gathered around as they garnered more attention.

"You're a Dragmire," The man spit. "It was bad enough having one demon haunt these mountains. Now there are about to be a whole lotta ya. What's next? You gonna finish the job with the rest of us? Getting most of our parents killed wasn't enough for ya?"

"We haven't done shit! Our clan was enslaved for what-"

The man gasped and put his hand to his chest in fake pity, "Oh damn, I didn't know being taken into the homes of rich folk was worse than being buried beneath pigs. How ignorant of me!"

Kuroko's grip on Malon's shoulder tightened sharply. She tugged back on Malon. The young woman's instincts screamed to defy him, but it wasn't just him. Others stepped forward with the same burning intensity. Men and women, from all clans the Majora had conquered and reunited, stepped forward. Clans the Dragmire had played a part in scattering had come together again. They had not lived alongside Ganondorf Dragmire nor had a healing relationship with the Fae as the Majora did. The clans did not forget, and it seemed, they had not forgiven.

"Why don't you two do everyone a favor and jump off a cliff somewhere? Or better yet, go to the dark realms you love so much."

"Malon, please..." Kuroko whispered.

Malon blinked first. She couldn't fight him. She was just a girl. The mother she knew would give a rude retort but still leave. If there was one thing Kuroko had been good at, it was surviving.

-Ganondorf-

Following the Dragmire's return into the Majora's fold, as expected, Nabooru requested the Qin officers and the Fae to join them in a feast at home. Just because the homes were not built yet and the Majora were still preparing for the joining of a new clan into the fold, didn't mean it wasn't an occasion worth celebrating. It was a trifling matter.

Ganondorf glanced over to the others riding along with them. The Majora had a reputation for being little more than mountain barbarians, but to witness virgin eyes envision the home of the people never ceased to amuse him. He enjoyed seeing people have their feet pulled out from under them and left in bewilderment. Link didn't react much, but Solitare and Matsubi were left gaping by what they witnessed.

Nabooru chuckled, "If your jaw fell any lower, it would be scraping the dirt."

Matsubi stared at her. "How?!"

"You ask as if you expected something less civilized." Ganondorf grunted. Nabooru pulled a face, showing she didn't appreciate his gruffness, and Ganon shrugged. Link took Solitare's hand and they ran ahead towards the main hall. He turned his attention back to the crowd following. His people...

The Dragmire were also surprised, many of them gaping, but others hesitated fearfully. Ganon frowned. Why were they fearful?

They bask in the glory of what you made. Fear is good.

Ganon shook his head and banished the thought. This home was given to them by the Fae. The Fae had given them a refuge and haven, just as they did other races in their land. So too did the Majora turn the favor onto the Dragmire. There was a chain of compassion here that left him speechless. In a way, perhaps they were better off here, not joining into the drama and war of the plains people, but he also knew such a brief thought was stupid. The war would chase them. It had already chased them. Besides, they never would have rescued the Dragmire had he never joined into the war, and if the heir to Qin had not shown mercy to him and judgment to others.

This compassion will be their undoing. It helps no one.

Ganon blinked, wondering where the thought came from, as it was alien to how he felt standing in the momentous occasion. His thought was immediately drawn by Nabooru asking Matsubi, the Qin commander, about his deeds in the battle, complimenting him on his justice to help allies, and pushing him into a bush with a playful giggle.

Ganon sighed. He approached the bewildered Qin, grabbed his outreached hand, and pulled him up.

"What was that about?" Matsubi plucked the twigs from his hair. Nabooru flashed a dangerous smile, winked, and pranced ahead. Ganon sniffed the air. Yep, there was a distinctly 'hot' smell in the air.

"Just give it up. You will likely end up in her bed one way or another while you are here."

Matsubi's head spun so fast the Dragmire envisioned it flying off his shoulders. Ganon just smirked. Nabooru likely saw him as exotic and respectful enough to be worthy of her time.

"Do tell the alpha that I will be at the party with the final Dragmire. My ward and her mother are the only Dragmire remaining.

Ganondorf departed from the group and made the trek home. The sun was nearly down again by the time he marched to his front door. The land to the east was burned since he had his angry fit, but the fire had cooled down and the building was undamaged. Yet, it was if it had never happened. The sound of conversation and smell of cooking welcomed him. He paused on the precipice, hearing the girls talking. He couldn't make out what was being said, but it was soft and he did not wish to ruin it. Ganondorf started to turn around, but the sound of the door opening stopped him.

"Ganon?" Malon asked. "You are back from the hunt?"

"Yes."

"Are you... better?"

She fears you. Rightfully so. It was good of you to leave a display of your power on this land.

Ganon breathed in and out, "I am better at the moment." He turned back to her. As he feared, Malon was hesitant. Despite his nature, he found himself making excuses. "I was angry from Din not answering me despite my diligence. I am still angry, but I am no danger to you, you know that. I have some things to work through, that is all."

Still she was hesitant. Kuroko peaked out of the door behind Malon and just as quickly scurried back. Ganon frowned deeply. Surely seeing some of the land burned hadn't left this much of a mark on Malon? She had faced him and all of his fiery temper with one just as loud.

"What happened?" Ganon asked.

Malon looked back, whispered briefly with her mother, and stepped out. She shut the door and said hesitantly, "One of the clans... confronted us in the market today."

"Confronted," Ganon repeated. He felt his anger rising already, after having finally cooled it down.

"Mother and I were shopping and we were accused of stealing and-" her words were interrupted by Ganon's suddenly deeper, heavier breathing. Smoke blew from his mouth, his red eyes flashed, and his fiery hair seemed to glow brighter. Tinges of fire flew from the threads of hair into the wind. Ganon said nothing. He only stared, but he saw in Malon's eyes a reflection of a mountain demon. "And a lot of not-nice things were said."

"Did you get names?"

"No."

"Did you steal?"

Malon pulled a face. Ganon continued, "I ask to be sure that when I hunt them that it is not undue to them."

"That won't help anything. Not in this case."

"Removing a problem, permanently, always helps."

"They did it because we are Dragmire!" Malon stomped her feet. Ganon's eyes widened and he felt the fire in his heart and caking his skin fall away as icy sensations traveled up his spine. "And adding to it won't help this!"

Ganon looked between Malon and Kuroko, who had returned to the door. He felt confused and angry, but also ashamed, and he couldn't place why. He returned his gaze to Malon and motioned her to the door. "What happened and what was said? Tell me everything."

-Ghiradrim-

The ancient one avoided the presence, and sight, of the Fae as best he could amidst the crowd. His unnaturally white complexion made it difficult, but it was a skill he had practiced for thousands of years. It was not his fault this accursed world rejected his existence! To make it harder, the firstborn of Farore could taste the soul. The last thing he needed was them sniffing him.

Beside him, a Dragmire scoffed. Ghiradrim followed his companion's gaze around the valley of Majora before looking down at him, "You think little of the home they have made?"

"It's barbaric. These monkeys live in the ground and dirt."

"I find it quite adaptable and efficent. Rather than carve out the stone for their homes, they carved their homes into the stone of the mountain. Less steps when you do not have to transport the stone."

"You would think highly of them? They are-"

Ghiradrim rolled his eyes. His wish-maker was proving more and more irritating, if only he wasn't getting what he wanted in turn, "You have a great deal of disrespect for your enemy, Satakarta. If I were to hazard a guess, that is why you have failed to accomplish anything thus far. You cannot defeat an opponent you do not properly measure, and you cannot measure up an opponent you do not respect. One does not defeat snakes with arrogance, but understanding and patience."

"If you say so, so long as the Ice Bitch gets what's coming to her. I still don't see how this will ruin her."

Ghiradrim sighed. It was a pity his companion was so short-sighted. The foundation of Zelda's unique strength had been Majora and in the bond between the three spirits of Wisdom, Courage, and Power. Here also were the seeds of her destruction.

"It doesn't matter. It will. Coming here was the difficult part. Now all that must be done is planting of seeds and the mortals will do the rest. Now go."

Ghiradrim's fingers tingled at the thought of seeing his brother again.