Snowhead Mountains, Termina, 7 years later…

Snow fell from the sky. This time of year, the snow drifted down in thick, fluffy flakes. The peaks of Snowhead looked particularly lovely today, coated with the soft blanket of snow.

Dark lay on top of the cottage's roof, having cleared the snow off the sunny side. The pleasant winter sun had dried the shingles, so he didn't have to worry about his clothes getting wet.

Dark yawned, pulling the hood of his jacket up to shade his eyes. He often hid up on the roof, usually to escape his responsibilities. He smiled to himself, enjoying his self-dedicated afternoon off.

A sweet voice drifted up to him from down below. Someone was singing. Dark bolted upright, impatiently pushing his hood back. Slowly, he crept on his hands and knees to the edge of the roof. Peering over the edge, he could make out the form of a young woman walking through the snow-covered yard.

The girl pushed the hood of her winter jacket back, revealing her long auburn curls. Dark found himself smiling. She turned towards the cottage, and he instinctively ducked. Luckily, a copse of trees near the cottage obstructed Sienna's view of him.

Dark lay on his stomach, watching Sienna go about her work. She hunted through the snowdrifts, digging through the snow until she found the struggling plants buried in the frozen earth. She sang quietly as she worked, cutting off the leaves or roots and stowing them in a basket. They made excellent soup ingredients. Dark crossed his arms under his chin, closing his eyes as he listened to her singing.

"There you are."

He started, flipping onto his back and raising his arms in defense. He paused when he realized it was just Fierce. As usual, he was as stoic and emotionless as a rock. He didn't even seem angry that Dark had played hooky on him. He wasn't even triumphant at having found his hiding place.

"Stop doing that!" Dark hissed, climbing to his feet.

Fierce raised a pale eyebrow. The rest of his face remained blank. "Stop doing what?"

Dark opened his mouth, then closed it, unable to come up with a suitable explanation. Fierce waited patiently for an answer. When he received none, he turned and leapt off the roof. He landed gracefully on his feet, like a cat. He turned and waved for Dark to follow him.

"It's time for your lesson," Fierce said, voice even.

Dark sighed and climbed down from the roof, grabbing a tree branch and using it to swing down to the ground. Fierce turned without a word and led Dark around the back of the cottage to the corral. Dark followed, kicking at clumps of snow as he went.

Fierce had always unnerved him a bit, even when he was a kid and he'd simply known him as "big brother," his imaginary friend. Now that he knew who Fierce really was, it didn't make him any less strange.

Dark and Sienna had been staying at the Snowhead cottage with their "guardian" for nearly seven years. After they'd left Hyrule, they'd traveled east and into Termina. For months they'd wandered, camping outside until they'd come across the cottage in the Snowhead mountains. Thinking it abandoned, the kids had set themselves up there. Instead, they had found Fierce waiting for them…

With a groan, the rotted door came free from the frame. Dark tumbled back into a snowdrift, the door hitting him in the nose. He tossed it aside, accepting Sienna's hand as he climbed to his feet.

"Okay, ready to look inside?" he asked her.

Sienna shifted nervously. "I don't know, Dark, what if there's…something living in there?"

Dark patted her on the shoulder, pulling a small dagger out of his pocket and flipping it over a few times. "Don't worry, Sienna, I can handle this."

Dark crept into the old abandoned cottage, holding his dagger out in front of him, trying to look confident for his friend. They'd made it this far, he was sure he could tackle any monsters that might be lurking in the dark. A floorboard creaked under his foot and he leaped back in surprise. Sienna gasped, grabbing the back of his coat. Dark took a deep breath, steadying his heartbeat.

"Come on," he whispered, leading her forward into the darkness.

"Dark," Fierce's voice cut off his reverie.

"Yeah?" Dark asked.

"Let's get started." Fierce held out his hand, palm open. An orb of light appeared in his palm, and quickly stretched into a distinctive form. It stopped glowing, and the light-form became a solid steel longsword.

Dark raised a brow. He figured by now he'd be used to Fierce's little tricks, but they continued to intrigue him. Sure, lots of Hylians had magic. Dark did. Fierce was teaching Sienna the healing arts. According to Fierce, Dark had to learn how to use a sword first, though. Dark rubbed his hands together against the cold, reaching behind his back to unsheathe his own sword.

The pair of them raised their blades, crossing them together in classic prelude to a duel. Fierce's sword glowed with that same energy, the light reflecting off Dark's blade.

A glow of yellow light sped towards them out of the darkness. Dark jumped back again, pushing Sienna behind him as he raised the dagger in shaky hands.

"Hey!" he shouted at the darkness. "Come on out and fight!"

Something moved in the corner where the light had come from. Dark tensed, raising his dagger threateningly. He could hear Sienna breathing quietly behind him, her heartbeat hammering against his back. The shadows scurried away as a flame appeared, lighting up the shape that moved towards them. He stopped right in front of the children, still as a statue.

"Dark," the figure spoke, his voice almost toneless. "Sienna."

Before Dark could recover from his shock, the entire room lit up, candles hanging on the wall suddenly bursting into life. Dark turned to the man standing in front of him. He was tall, frighteningly so. He towered over the children. Dark took a step back. He was wearing armour and carried a sword on his back. His left hand was held up, palm towards the ceiling. A flame danced in his hand, leaving his skin untouched.

"Who…who are you?" Dark asked, trying to keep the tremor out of his voice.

The man smiled, holding the flame closer to his face. "Don't you recognize me?"

Dark looked again. With the man's face now illuminated, Dark studied his features. He had long, silvery blonde hair pulled back into a short ponytail. His skin was pale, almost transparent. His eyes were also too light-coloured to look natural. They were so light a blue they were almost indiscernible in the whiteness of his face.

Dark's mind slowly focused on the present, the fog of memories clearing just in time for him to see Fierce's blade slicing through the air an inch from his nose. Dark jumped backwards, going cross-eyed.

"Focus," Fierce reprimanded, face still expressionless.

"Sorry," he muttered, taking a defensive stance as Fierce continued to rain blows down on him.

He easily blocked and parried every swing that Fierce threw at him. Of course, practice had improved him. The first time they had sparred, Dark hadn't been able to land a single hit or stay upright long enough to block a consecutive blow.

Eventually, Fierce stopped, giving Dark a moment to catch his breath. "Most impressive," Fierce congratulated him. "You're improving."

"Thanks," Dark said between pants.

Dark hated that even a short sparring session with Fierce made him this tired. Then again, Fierce was no ordinary man. Any normal teacher might have limited himself, strength-wise. Of course, if Fierce were to unleash the remainder of his strength, Dark knew he would look a lot worse for wear. He knew why Fierce worked him so hard, but it had never ceased to irk him that he had near limitless power at his disposal.

"Wha-what are you doing here!?" Dark asked, incredulous. "And how can she see you!?"

Sienna could indeed see the man before them. All this time, Dark had thought his "big brother" had been a figment of his imagination.

"Dark," Fierce said, a small smile breaking the emotionless face. "I'm not a figment of your imagination. I'm not who you believe me to be."

"Then…who are you?"

Sienna piped up from behind Dark's back, her voice quiet. "He's…the warrior god. The Fierce Deity."

Fierce shrugged. "I have many names."

Dark started. "You're…a god!? But, how?"

The god placed a hand on each of their shoulders and looked at each of them in turn. Dark stared in confusion, feeling the weight of his hand on him. It was so weird to see a supposed god like this, in the flesh.

"There are many things I must explain to you," he started, crossing his hands in front of him. "But for now, I ask that the two of you remain here in this cottage."

"Why should we do anything that you tell us?" Dark asked, crossing his arms in defiance. Sienna tensed next to him, squeezing his hand in warning.

"Dark," Fierce said quietly. "I am sorry I lied to you, but as you might have guessed, I could not reveal my true self to you then. No, I am not your true older brother. However, I am here to guard you and Sienna."

"Guard us?" Dark asked in disbelief.

"Yes. As you have seen, Hyrule has been overcome by darkness. I have waited here for the both of you, so I might protect you during this time."

Dark scoffed. "If you're a god, why aren't you helping Hyrule? Why are you here, acting like a mortal man?"

Fierce lowered his eyes. "Hyrule is being watched over by others. I am here because it is my duty to guide you. Assuming a mortal form was simply the easiest way to do so."

"Guide us? What do you mean?" Sienna asked, frowning.

"It is my duty to guide the pair of you along your paths of destiny."

Destiny. That's what he had called it. It was then that Fierce had become their guardian. It was then that he had started training them. Dark began to learn swordsmanship, and Sienna was taught how to use her magic to heal.

At first it had been strange, living with a god. A god in mortal form, albeit. Sienna had warmed to him quickly, though. Eventually, Dark had begun to see him as his older brother again, and not simply as his heavenly guardian or whatever he was supposed to be. Over the last seven years they had created a makeshift family.

Life had been peaceful and simple. Termina had been blessedly excluded from the darkness that still consumed the kingdom of Hyrule. Not that the Terminians didn't care about their sister kingdom, just that nobody could do anything to help Hyrule. Its borders had been blocked by a strong magical barrier; no one could get in or out.

Certainly, life in Termina was easier than in Hyrule, but for Dark it wasn't without grievances. Like training, for instance.

"Ready?" Fierce asked, raising his blade in a defensive position.

Dark sighed, readying his sword for attack. He and Fierce stared each other down, Fierce with his characteristically serene expression, Dark with his usual scowl.

Abruptly, he rushed Fierce, the heels of his boots finding traction in the snowy ground, propelling him forwards. He was fast, that was one advantage he had. He was a dark blur as he raced towards his opponent.

His boots crunched against a snowless patch of dirt as he leaped through the air, swinging his sword. Fierce moved at the last second, bringing his sword up to block. The ringing sound of metal on metal echoed through the mountain forest.

Fierce knocked Dark back, throwing his weight against him. Dark hit the ground and back flipped out of range of Fierce's follow-up attack. He landed gracefully, blocking another consecutive hit.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sienna approaching the old corral. She leaned against the fence, repaired by Dark years ago, her basket of roots and other plants swinging from her arm. She waved at Dark, a cute smile lighting up her face.

Dark grinned, automatically raising his arm to wave back. Fierce's blade whistled through the air; Dark barely had time to retract his limb before it was chopped right off.

"Hey!" he shouted at his teacher.

"Focus," Fierce said again, pointedly nodding in Sienna's direction.

Dark growled and attacked Fierce again. To the side, Sienna was blushing, embarrassed. She mumbled something about making dinner before retreating to the house. Dark continued to strike at Fierce, his blows getting consistently more forceful.

Fierce held up a hand to stop him and Dark paused mid-swing. Fierce shook his head as if in disappointment.

"What?" Dark demanded, lowering his weapon.

"Battles aren't won with sheer force, Dark," Fierce said. "You can't rely on your anger to bring you strength."

Dark rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. And anger is bad for your soul and all that. I get it."

Fierce sighed, perusing him with those freaky, ice-blue eyes again. "Revenge is a fruitless ambition, Dark. It will not bring them back."

Dark rounded on Fierce. "I know that! You've reminded me enough! Besides, I don't even know who or where that man is!"

Fierce was by his side in the next second, hands on his shoulders. "Dark," he said firmly. "You were young at the time. There is no need for you to torture yourself with fading memories from the past."

Dark shrugged him off. "My memories are just fine. I remember that night like it was yesterday. I just don't know who that bastard is that murdered my father."

Fierce sighed. "In good time, you will find out. Then, you will have a choice to make."

"I've already made my choice," Dark clenched his teeth. "I could carry through with it sooner if you told me who he was."

Fierce shook his head, something Dark thought he recognized as sorrow in his fathomless blue eyes. "You know I am not permitted to reveal that information yet."

"Yeah, the whole rules of godhood and all that." Dark sighed.

Fierce put his hand on Dark's shoulder again. "Dark, I am here as your guide and your friend, but I cannot reveal anyone's future to them. It must be you alone who makes your choices."

Dark sighed again after a long pause. "I know."

"Dinner's ready!" Sienna's voice called from one of the cottage's rear windows.

Fierce patted Dark on the back. "That's enough training for today."

Dark grinned and took off for the cottage, eager to taste Sienna's cooking for the night. Fierce remained in the corral, sheathing his sword. He turned westwards and watched the sun as it slipped beneath the horizon. He closed his eyes, thinking of home.

Soon, he thought, soon everything will change.

~oOo~

Hyrule Castle, King's study

In seven short years, Hyrule had been utterly transformed.

Its once rolling green hills and lush valleys had become a barren wasteland of dirt and ash. The pure, crystalline waters had turned murky and uninhabitable.

Towns had been ravaged by fires or ransacked by bandits or monsters. Creatures born from nightmares crawled over the earth, living in abandoned towns or hiding in the darkest corners of what was left of the world.

Hyrule Castle had, miraculously, remained standing. Of course, like the land it looked upon, it had been morphed beyond recognition.

Instead of the pristine white structure it had been, it had been burned black by fire, and turned into the nightmarish castle of a tyrant; a tyrant who controlled the land with the stolen power of the gods.

He stood proudly, anger etched into his expression as he surveyed the world he had destroyed and made his own.

The window he looked out had been beautiful once, a work of art by a true craftsman. Crystal-like panes intricately woven together by a detailed metal frame used to show a spectrum of colors. Now that frame was empty, the glass shattered.

Everything had changed, including himself. He was no longer the leader of the Gerudo thieves. He was Ganondorf, King of Hyrule.

"My lord," a servant approached him, quickly dropping to his knees before the King.

He waved his hand for him to continue, turning from his examination of the scenery. The servant stood, relaying the message that Captain Aalrian had returned.

"Send her in," he commanded, seating himself in his throne as the servant scurried off.

Moments later, the Gerudo captain strolled in. She bowed to him, one hand on the hilt of her sword as was Gerudo custom. "My lord," she said.

"Captain Aalrian, your report?"

"Yes, sire. I'm afraid the rumours proved to be untrue. We were unable to locate her." She shifted uncomfortably, knowing the King wouldn't be happy to hear the same bad news again.

He leaned back in his chair. "I see. Keep searching, I am certain she is hiding nearby…I can feel it." He clenched a fist, feeling the surge of power sizzle up his arm.

"My lord?"

He glanced impatiently at the captain. "Yes? Out with it."

"It's Nabooru, sir. I'm afraid she's gone missing."

Ganondorf arched an eyebrow, standing up from his chair. "Missing? Really? Now that is interesting…"

"Sire?"

"Pay no mind. She is not a priority."

Confused, Aalrian nodded. Her duties complete, she bowed again and left the King's presence, breathing a sigh of relief.

He settled back into his throne, clenching and unclenching his fist. The former Princess of Hyrule had evaded him for seven long years. He didn't expect her to be found easily.

But I must find her, he mused, and soon. Before he reappears. I must have the other two pieces.

He glanced down at his clenched fist, enjoying the constant surge of power that coursed through him now. But his power was incomplete. The power he had waited so long to wield was his, and yet it was not enough.

"I must redouble my search efforts…" he said to himself. Standing again, he called for a guard.

The soldier, who had once served the Royal family and had been forced into new employment, entered from his position just outside the throne room's massive doors. He knelt in front of the King, hands shaking on his spear.

"Yes, sir?"

"Bring me the captain of the guard, tell him it is urgent," Ganondorf said quickly before waving the guard away.

He watched the man leave with hateful eyes. He despised having Hylian soldiers around, but they were useful. Still, he kept a close eye on them for any deserters. Any man found betraying the king was immediately executed.

Speaking of executions…He strode again to the window. From its vantage point he could see clearly the castle courtyard, where a line of prisoners stood with their backs to him.

Traitors.

His lips curled at the sight of them in their dirty rags, bodies emaciated from spending weeks in the castle's dungeons. In front of them was a raised wooden platform with wooden poles attached. From each of these poles hung a noose; one for each prisoner.

All the prisoners were Hylians, yet there was no crowd of townspeople assembled to watch their execution, only a small amount of guards, all Gerudo.

No one would be present to watch these traitors die. No man would stand before them, giving them final words of hope, or shedding tears of grief. These men would die alone.

A cruel smile twisted his mouth. These men had fought against him, in one way or another. Their efforts had been futile. They deserved their fate.

He continued to watch as the prisoners' Gerudo guards pushed them onto the platform, securing the ropes around their necks. Their defeated expressions and hollow eyes he could see from here. It gave him immense satisfaction to see these people as helpless as he had felt under their reign.

A Gerudo guard stepped forward and pulled the lever.

Ganondorf closed his eyes briefly. There was no ceremony, no parting words said for the souls of these men. Not even any birds cried out as they fled from the nearby trees, disturbed by the sight of death. Instead, there was nothing.

There was only silence.