Chapter Four: What Never Was

Scourge had felt his brothers' deaths, connected by the pact they had made in pledging their fealty to him and the dreams of their forerunners. Even now, he was sure, his surviving brethren were being rounded up to be exterminated, and he'd feel more such terror before the night was over.

Mandrag Ganon had slain two of his brothers personally. Scourge was surprised Ganon had taken the time to kill any of them, but it was a boon. Without the head of their leader, Ganon would waste time hunting for any remaining pockets of their dark brotherhood, unaware that Scourge was beyond his reach.

His brothers would all die, but he had known that when he formulated this plan. He would reward them, and bring them back once the power of the gods was in his hand… or he would honor their memory if such a feat was beyond the abilities of even the Triforce.

For now, he would abscond with his unknowing pawn, to a place Ganon would never find, for the King of Evil had always failed to comprehend that there were lands outside of Hyrule worth coveting, and powers in those lands he could never wield.

So, Scourge stepped through the dead tree, and began a descent into darkness with Dark Link in tow.

Dark Link, for his part, had made journeys he had not fully comprehended before. His mind could not grasp some details, the most notable of which, as he'd heard from Scourge, was that he should not have existed at all.

Dark Link understood it on one level: he had come into existence when the first Hero of Time had wandered through an immense labyrinth beneath the waves of Lake Hylia… but that event had never happened, because the Hero of Time had returned to seven years prior, and that timeline, that future… had ceased to exist, at least as far as anyone knew.

When the Dark Interlopers found him, they had extracted what they could from his memories. Though they were uncertain how, exactly, it had happened, Scourge had produced a hypothesis. The Hero of Time made at least one trip through time, after Dark Link's emergence… he had returned to the time of his childhood from Hyrule's nightmarish future, after their battle in the Water Temple.

Dark Link, unlike the other monsters Link had battled in that alternate timeline, was not a beast imprisoned by ancient peoples, or a product of Ganondorf's magic. He was the manifestation of the hero's doubts, fear, and anger… his creation was an inevitable result from the undertaking the Hero of Time had chosen to accept. Though bested by his creator, Dark Link had lingered on, always a part of the hero's soul… and had accompanied him through the time stream, and on every adventure Link and his descendants took thereafter.

His memory was not a memory at all, but rather more like a program. What he recalled was only battle- recovering the memories of his host was as easy as forcing blood from a stone. Scourge had seen only flashes, and had to piece together what he could from that clumsy and unfinished picture. Dark Link would emerge subtly, without taking physical form, when his host would do battle and succumb to anger and bloodlust. All the heroes had shared this flaw: whether they enjoyed doing battle or not, they all felt fear and tension, and would allow their aggression to show.

He had been here before, but Dark Link wouldn't realize it until Scourge needed him to. They had a long search ahead of them, one that would take weeks, months, years… when he would unearth his trump card and force Dark Link to remember the power he was capable of generating. Until he remembered that the Hero of Time's greatest moment of strength had not come from battle with the King of Evil, but something else entirely.

Dark Link didn't have the capability to wax philosophical, or understand what purpose he had, now that his host was gone. That he remained without a hero was itself an abnormality, but one Scourge had anticipated… there would always be a hero to oppose Ganon and wield the blade of evil's bane, even if it was nothing but a shadow, construed from doubt and fear.

He would obey Scourge, because he could do nothing else. Until Scourge took the ultimate risk in his master plan, that was, and Dark Link would, at least for a moment, be forced to remember…

Until they found the mask…

-

Ganondorf's minions cleaned the blood from the antechamber and disposed of the bodies, preparing a meal for the Lizalfos. Now, at last, he was surrounded by those he could trust, and would hunt down any stragglers without difficulty, given how easily they had fallen before his might.

However, Ganondorf was not looking forward to what lay ahead, now that the initial thrill of victory had worn off. Now he would have to find Zelda, and then meet with the local leaders of the villages popping up over Hyrule. Some he would pardon, and others he would banish to form new communities and make way for his minions. Any who harbored the Princess, or refused to pledge their fealty to him, of course… that, at least, he could look forward to.

First, however, the Dark Lord would enjoy a night's rest in the royal bedchamber. Though his control over Hyrule would not be complete until he held the completed Triforce and spoke aloud his wish, for now he could savor the king's lavish comforts, and enjoy a well earned night's rest.

Powerful though his ambition was, Ganondorf rarely fantasized about ruling Hyrule, even when locked away in the Sacred Realm. Instead, when he rested and when he dreamed, he would always see one of two things: memories or simple pleasures.

Simple pleasures for him were the same as would be for any man. He enjoyed feasting, and boasting of his accomplishments to any who would listen, telling his story and wowing others with his exploits. Yet, living in a community of all women had dulled this somewhat: they were mothers, sisters, and daughters to him, even if they called him King. They listened out of the laws of their people rather than any interest in him; and when he remained in those barren wastes he had felt that powerful loneliness, as the only man… he had friends as a child, he remembered, many women stronger even than he had been, yet none who he could truly relate to, with that divide of gender. After allying with the Lizalfos and the Goblins, he found an entirely new divide: though comrades, they were not like him. They had similarities, but no matter how he tried, Ganondorf could not share their appreciation for simple material wealth or inhuman amounts of meat.

Ganondorf also loved to ride, and had excelled at horseback, and had befriended many steeds, caring for them like comrades. Yet, unlike the bright, open lands of Hyrule where man and horse could let loose and enjoy a journey together, he had lived in a hot, oppressive desert, where runs were always brief, and short supplies of water led to several of them dying of dehydration; even the king's own horse was not immune to such droughts, and he had seen many of his steeds perish in those desert stands. Many more had died simply from age, as each time he returned from imprisonment or near destruction, many lifetimes had passed, and his old comrades had gone.

He had spent so much time pursuing his goal of taking control of Hyrule that he had often neglected taking the time to do such things, and he regretted that.

Memories, of course, were almost invariably of conflict. From helping the king of Hyrule to pacify a Civil War, before he had touched the Triforce of Power, all the way to now, holding the blade of evil's bane in his hand.

He was triumphant, but the cost had been greater than he ever realized. Greater than anyone should ever have had to pay for their ambition.

Yet now he was king. Now he had nothing to fea-

-he saw blood on the shimmering blade in his hand. King Gramlin lay before him, reaching desperately to Ganondorf's boot, looking up, still astonished.

"Why, my king?" Gramlin asked. "I thought our traitors were all gone."

Though hardly a brilliant mind, Gramlin was not alone in his confusion. Ganondorf had no idea how he'd come there, nor-

You're not alone in here, Ganondorf.

No, it wasn't possible.

So long as you hold my courage…

His left hand moved on its own, showing him the burning half of a Triangle, carved into his flesh.

…you hold my conscience.

Ganondorf dropped the Master Sword, watching it clang on the ground.

If the other goblins saw this… if they knew what he'd done…

Ganondorf clenched his hand. He moved it without effort, without resistance.

"Say something again," Ganondorf told the empty air.

The dark, empty tent gave no reply, but the sound of King Gramlin's final breaths.

Ganondorf reached down to reclaim the sword. Surely, some nightmare he could not remember…

…until his left hand attacked him with his own sword, and Ganon grasped the blade with his free right hand, feeling pain again…

Your nightmare has only begun.

Ganondorf found himself once more in the royal bedchamber, waking with a gasp. The Master Sword remained in his hand, the half of the Triforce of Courage still burned into his hand.

Outside, he heard cries of surprise and fury. The Moblins were reacting, cursing the Dark Interlopers for somehow eluding them… for assassinating their king.

Ganondorf lifted from bed and held the Master Sword to the pale moonlight, and saw the drying stains of Gramlin's blood upon the steel.

-

To avoid being direct, Zelda and her companions had taken refuge in a farmhouse at the town's outskirts. The area had once been a ranch, centuries before, and its outskirts were still contained by large rock walls and fences, and the sound of animals grazing proved soothing as the night neared its end.

Zelda looked on at her unhappy personal guard, each man contemplating the fate that awaited them. Some were undoubtedly considering abandoning her; none of them wanted to run forever. Surely they had families to return to, and homes to tend, and Ganondorf had never paid much heed to foot soldiers. They could probably escape punishment if they would but leave her side.

Zelda had not dreamed of late. She had no idea what the future held. It was troubling to her, having spent her entire life (including her enchanted sleep) with some form of precognition, and now events played out without her being aware of them beforehand. How else could the King of Evil have successfully captured her throne? How else could she not know which of her cohorts she could completely depend on?

"You looking for a place to stay the night?"

A mature woman walked over to Zelda and her companions. The soldiers seemed ready to defend, but Zelda waved them off, eyeing the lady. She was middle aged, with flaming red hair and blue eyes; her skin was slightly tanned but still fair, like the princess.

"I welcome the ruler of Hyrule into my home," she greeted. "Now that you've blessed me with your presence."

"Blessed you?" Zelda repeated, looking for hidden meaning, or worse –a threat.

"My husband and my son both sought to free you from your slumber," she explained. "They couldn't help it; it was their destiny. So long as they lived, they would always be bound to you."

Zelda caught on. "Are you-?"

"My name is Valon," she introduced. "And I think the two of us should be better acquainted, given all my boys have been through on your account."

-

"It was a troubling dream, nothing more," Ganondorf lied, as his mothers eyed him with barely concealed disbelief.

"A dream where you found the Goblin dead, right as he died outside the castle?" Kotake asked. "Conspicuous."

"It was odd, yes," Ganondorf conceded. "But I was in my bed when I awoke; the Master Sword was clean." It was a carefully calculated statement; it was difficult for Ganondorf to remain so calm when he too was concerned about the strange after effect of the sword in his hand.

"Or cleaned," Koume whispered to her sister, who nodded.

A knock on his bedroom door interrupted the brief silence. "Enter," Ganondorf instructed.

Veran stepped forth, wearing her purple gown. "Dark Lord," she greeted. "Have you heard?"

He nodded grimly. "The Interlopers were always going to betray us. We will hunt them down and punish them for their foolishness."

"Actually, my king, that wasn't what I was referring to," Veran replied, smiling. "Some of the townsfolk are emerging from hiding to pay tribute. The castle's courtyard is filling with the citizens."

"Begging for mercy, no doubt," Kotake scoffed.

"Who can blame them?" Veran asked. "The Dark Lord's power is the greatest in all the world." She smiled, walking closer to briefly caress Ganondorf's shoulder. "What shall I tell them?"

"Tell them nothing," Ganondorf commanded, brushing her aside. "I'll tell them myself."

"Oh, of course," Veran agreed, retracting her hand. "Nothing can equal you, my lord." She headed from his room, swaying her hips a bit more deliberately than her gown actually required.

"Trying to seduce you already," Koume noted.

"I'd watch out for that one," Kotake agreed.

"You have nothing to worry about," Ganondorf assured them. "I know what motivates my underlings. She is only interested in my power, and nothing more."

"Glad you learned not to trust women," Kotake said.

"Couldn't help but learn that, given where he was from," Koume agreed.

Ganondorf stepped out of his royal bedroom, descending down to the castle's first floor.

"Don't trouble yourself over sleep, son," Kotake told him, trying to sound soothing. "We'll find a way to quell those bad dreams of yours'."

"We haven't forgotten the best remedies," Koume promised. "Only the best for our son."

Ganondorf felt himself more at ease. Though at times they still spoke to him like a child, they respected him enough to be honest. They alone, he knew, he could fully depend on.

As he carried the Master Sword down to the castle's antechamber, Ganondorf contemplated why he still held it. With the Hero dead, and soon to be held up outside the castle for all to see, why would he still need it?

Because it was still the only thing that could harm him. A few overzealous 'allies' might one day take initiative and steal the sword while he slept… and when a man, even one as powerful as himself, surrounded himself by the cowardly, the desperate, and the violent, betrayal was inevitable.

He would sort that out soon. And once he no longer suspected any of his followers of betraying him, he would rid himself of the sword and be able to sleep without difficulty. He would truly be able to enjoy himself, once all the little details were sorted out.

He stepped into the courtyard, raising the Master Sword high in his left hand, displaying the Triforce of Power in his right. The townsfolk had not needed help confirming his identity: even though it had been decades since his last appearance, no one in Hyrule would ever be able to forget him.

He watched them lean forward, bowing to him, prostrating themselves. It was an excellent first step… he knew not every town and settlement would be so obedient.

Still, even without his rest, he could enjoy the night. And when the sun rose, he would march onto his kingdom, and feel the comfortable, temperate winds of Hyrule.

-

Scourge examined the place he was in. It was not drastically different from Hyrule field, with an expansive green valley surrounded by varying landscapes, and a single town in the center, noticeable from far off by its single clock tower.

"Come," he instructed Dark Link. "We have a lot of work to do."