Throughout the next few weeks, Ganondorf was true to his word, as the citizens of Hyrule remained unharmed by the army of monsters and fiends that had begun to settle in their midst. At first Zelda was unnerved to find Ganondorf keeping company with the likes of Moblins, Wizzrobes, and Poes – especially when several of the creatures joined his cabinet – but she soon discovered they were far from the soulless beasts that the history texts described.

Life inside the castle continued much as it had before, except without Link's grating presence, and now Zelda might pass a Darknut marching down the hall on her way to lunch. At times Zelda wondered where Link had ended up, and a nagging feeling in the back of her mind told her to not count him out of the picture just yet. But for now, at least, she could enjoy his absence.

The castle staff and nobility often complained about Ganondorf's occupation, but their life was really no more taxing than it had been before. In some ways, it was easier, as Ganondorf's creatures were eager to help their king in whatever ways he needed them to. They assumed many of the Hyruleans' duties, which meant that the original residents of the castle had much more free time on their hands.

And Zelda found herself feeling a curious sense of relief. The weight of the kingdom no longer fell solely on her shoulders. Ganondorf was an intelligent and pragmatic leader who really only needed her to explain aspects of the nation that he was unfamiliar with, but he regularly asked her for her own input, and attempted to find a compromise if they disagreed on anything.

The two of them working together meant Zelda had much more time to relax, read, and generally do all the things work had supplanted. Her job had absorbed her life in the years since her parents' death, both out of necessity and as a coping mechanism, and now she could see just how much the stress had worn her down. Her mind and body appreciated the opportunity to recuperate.

All of that made it far too difficult to dislike Ganondorf, so Zelda stopped trying. Instead she discovered that she was rather curious about him. At first she tried to satisfy her curiosity by reading the old history books, but all they could tell her was the ways in which hers and Link's ancestors had thwarted the sorcerer. Very little was said about the things she really wanted to know: where he had come from, how he learned his magic, his favorite color.

Well, she knew his favorite color. It was orange. His banner colors were black and orange.

But aside from that, she decided she would have to go straight to the primary source. So she started talking to him outside of cabinet meetings. She took meals with him and his officers, and tried to catch him when he didn't seem busy with anything.

Ganondorf initially seemed reluctant to engage in non-political conversations with her, but he was never hostile, and gradually she chipped away at him enough that he started to open up. At first it was about small things, such as the family behaviors of Dodongos, but slowly he began to act more comfortable around her.

"You said you're from a desert?" she asked one afternoon. They were in the castle library, and Zelda had one arm draped lazily over a couch while Ganondorf sat on the sofa across from her, separated by a table stacked with books—history books.

He nodded, still looking a bit stiff. "A land of eternal sand and sun, where water is a precious resource. Those who live there eke out a harsh existence…" He closed his eyes. "But the desert still holds beauty, if you know where to look. The glory of a sunset, the power of a storm rolling in…"

"Wait…" Zelda reached for a book and thumbed through it. "Nothing in here says anything about a desert. You've been sealed away, or dead, or something, for—for hundreds of years at least." She looked up at him. "Do you really remember that far back?"

His eyes snapped open. Looking almost wounded, he drew back and moved to get up. "It's impolite to pry." Rising to his feet, he turned to leave.

"Wait," Zelda said again. Standing up, she caught his arm. "Why are you avoiding this? I'm not asking anything out of malice—I really want to get to know you better."

Ganondorf looked down at her, almost pityingly, although Zelda could not tell if he was pitying her or himself. Calmly, he reached for her hand and pulled it away from his arm. "Because, Princess, you do not know the full history. You know only what your books can tell you, and books are written by finite minds."

"So tell me the full history," Zelda said, moving to block his path to the exit.

He made no attempt to stop her. "If I do," he said, "you will hate me."

"I won't hate you," Zelda said. "I can't hate you. You're my friend."

A strange sort of emotion came over Ganondorf's face, one Zelda could not quite recognize. It seemed to be a mix of sadness, longing—and even a bit of fear. "I wish I could believe you," he said quietly. "But you have always hated me."

Zelda expected him to leave then, but instead he returned to the table and beckoned for her to follow him. He placed the books aside and swept his hand over the surface of the table. It became black like a bottomless pool, and Zelda stared into it.

"Many ages ago," Ganondorf said, "when Hyrule was young… we were gods." As he spoke, ethereal purple images emerged from the void to stand on the table, where they moved like animated miniatures: a winged woman and a burly male figure with flaming hair. "I was the god Demise, and you were the goddess Hylia."

The images moved and changed to fit his story. "We warred with one another, and with the help of your hero, I was defeated. In my dying breaths I pronounced a curse: that the three of us would be reborn endlessly, me to pursue my ambitions, and you and your hero to rise to stop me."

Zelda's eyes widened. "Is that how the cycle began? I always thought it started when my ancestor and Link's sealed you in the Sacred Realm…"

Ganondorf shook his head. "That was the first chapter—this is the prologue."

"So… hold on…" Zelda watched the ancient ancestor of Link running his blade through Demise, and then lifted her eyes to meet those of the god's modern incarnation. Suddenly she understood, and her jaw dropped. "All of those times in the past… they weren't Link's and my ancestors… they were us in previous lives?"

The sorcerer nodded. "Once your current incarnation dies, you forget everything that happened in that life, and are reborn totally ignorant of your past."

Zelda put a hand over her mouth. She did not expect to learn that she had once been a goddess, and that all of the Zeldas she had read about in her youth were actually her, in pasts she could not remember. "But then… how do you remember all of this? Shouldn't you keep forgetting, too?"

"I was the one who pronounced the curse. In my hatred and wrath, I vowed never to forget the wrongs I felt had been dealt me." Ganondorf flicked his hand over the images and they vanished, leaving solid wood once more. "It seemed like a good idea at the time, but then, all curses do. You two got off luckier in the end."

"Because we forget," Zelda guessed. She never would have guessed the King of Darkness had such a depressing past.

Ganondorf nodded. "All of the pain and sorrow and loss you suffer… when you are reborn, it is all erased. And…" He gripped his chest. "I was only mortally born once. My memories never die. I have to live with my hurt every day of my eternal existence. I remember every time you stood against me and, with your Link, struck me down." Bowing his head, he said, "That is how I know you hate me. It will happen again, as it has happened before. We cannot escape the cycle, Princess."

"I refuse to believe that," Zelda said. "I am not my past incarnations. I'm not obligated to make the same decisions they did. And neither are you. We can change."

"I wonder if you will say the same thing," Ganondorf said quietly, "when Link returns to slay me once more. At whose side will you stand, Princess? That of your kingdom's conqueror—or its liberator?"

Zelda frowned. He looked utterly miserable. "There must be some other way out of this. I don't know all the answers… but I do know that you're my friend now. Regardless of what went on in my past lives." She leaned forward. "Do you like hugs?"

Ganondorf blinked up at her, and color tinged his dark cheeks. He cleared his throat. "I am not really one for hugs—sorry."

"That's okay," Zelda said. "You just look like you need a hug."

"I appreciate the sentiment, but—"

The library doors slammed open. To Zelda's horror, Link charged into the room, wielding a sword with a blue hilt. "I have returned to reclaim my rightful place!" he snarled. His face was twisted with rage, and he stared down Ganondorf with a venomous hatred.

The king regarded him with a look of tired resignation. "You're early," he said.

"How did you get into the castle?" Zelda asked, trying not to sound too disappointed.

"I sought out the Master Sword," Link said, brandishing the weapon, "and its holy powers enabled me to break through the curse that kept me an exile! And now—" He advanced on Ganondorf. "It seeks to taste your blood!"

"Link!" Zelda stood up and moved between the two men. "What's gotten into you?!" Wanting to prove his courage was one thing, but this rage was something beyond mere heroics.

For a response, he shoved her aside. "Stay out of the way," he snarled. "No one banishes me from my own castle like that!"

Ganondorf leaped to his feet, eyes blazing, and put an arm around Zelda's shoulders. "Don't touch her!" he barked. Looking down at her, his expression grew concerned. "Are you all right?"

She nodded, but before she could say anything, an inhuman yell of fury split the air. Link pounced at them, bringing down his blade. "Get away from her, you wretch!"

Ganondorf raised his arm and a shield of dark magic enveloped him and Zelda, and the Master Sword swung harmlessly off of it.

Again and again Link hacked at the shield, but it held, despite the man's crazed frenzy. Finally he staggered back, panting. "I don't… understand…" he seethed, glaring at his blade.

"Then here is something your tiny brain will understand!" Ganondorf roared. He swept out his hand, and the shield became a wave of shadow. It crashed against Link, pushing him against a bookcase and searing the spines of the books around him.

Ganondorf let go of Zelda to stride toward the pinned hero. "I told you you were early," he growled, his fists seething with magic. "Foolish man. Your haste is your weakness. I will ensure this cycle ends differently."

"No!" Zelda ran over and grabbed his arm. "Don't kill him! Please!"

While Ganondorf did not lower the sword, he paused to look down at her. "You are so compassionate, Princess. Do not ever lose that purity of heart." He turned to face Link again, his nostrils flaring. "My journey takes me down darker paths."

"No," Zelda said again, tugging on his arm. "You don't have to do this, Ganondorf. All of your anger and hatred stays with you, doesn't it? It just builds and builds, and hurts worse and worse. If you strike him down while he is defenseless, you'll just be adding to that. You need to change if you ever hope to stop the cycle—and you need to do it now."

The sorcerer blinked as though he was clearing his thoughts. Then, solemnly, he lowered his hands. "Wisdom channels the proper exercise of power…" He looked back at her. "I believe you are correct."

"Hah!" In a flash of light, Link jumped away from the bookshelf, scattering its volumes on the floor. "You thought that evil binding would hold me? Fool! I wield your bane!" He raised the Master Sword again, and Ganondorf sent up another shield. "It should be working!" Link shouted as the blade bounced uselessly off of the dark magic. "The Master Sword cleaves through all shadow!"

"Link, you idiot!" Zelda said. "Did you even bother to power up the sword with the Spiritual Stones from the Desert Colossus?!"

A dangerous smile lit up Link's face, and Zelda was slammed with the crushing realization of what she had just done. She clapped her hands over her mouth and squeezed, as if pressing tighter would somehow reverse what she had said.

Link stepped back. "Why, thank you, Princess, for that valuable information. I shall be going now—to the Desert Colossus!"

"Guards!" Ganondorf bellowed. "Detain him!"

A pair of Moblins rushed into the room, but Link took a glowing green crystal out of his pocket, and disappeared in a swirl of magic.

The two Moblins looked around in confusion, and Ganondorf waved them away. "Never mind…"

Zelda felt sick. "Oh, no…" She stumbled to one of the library windows, biting her knuckle. "No, no… I'm so sorry…" She looked out at the rolling hills and distant mountains of Hyrule, burdened with the thought that out there was a very angry hero on his way to find the artifacts that would help him kill her one friend in the world.

Heavy footfalls told her Ganondorf was approaching. She spun around and put a hand over her face. She couldn't bear to look at him. "I'm sorry! I don't know why that slipped out! I'm not trying to help him, I swear! He was just being such an ignoramus—I couldn't help but blurt out the answer—" Hot tears began to trickle down her palm. How could he ever forgive her?

Before he could respond, she wiped the tears on her skirt and stared up at him, trying to pretend like she hadn't been crying. "We h-have to retrieve the Spiritual Stones before he does! I'll help you! P-please, I'll do anything to make it up to you!"

To her surprise, Ganondorf did not look angry or upset. He merely regarded her with an impassive stare, one she knew meant he was mulling over everything in his mind. Then he smiled. "Oh, Princess. I forgive you. Against all better judgement, I have always forgiven you."

Zelda's heart rose just as quickly as it had fallen. "Because w-we're friends."

"Something like that," he said.

She wiped her tears on her sleeve. "Ah, I'm sorry… you said you didn't want any crybabies in this castle."

Ganondorf reached up and dried her cheeks with his thumb. "I believe my exact words were 'constantly fainting dramatically or bursting into tears'. You did not faint during that duel, which speaks volumes about your constitution. And," he added with a gentle grin, "I feel your tears were warranted in this situation. Although I am sorry you are crying on my account."

Zelda smiled up at him. "I don't think you're a very bad guy."

"Perhaps not," he said. "I was more wrathful and ambitious in my early days, but… long ages have made me weary of being monstrous." He looked away for a moment, and then back to her. "You look like you need a hug."

"I do."

Ganondorf put his arms around her, and she squeezed him back. "Thank you…" she said. After a moment, she looked over at the bookshelf. "Oh…" she tsked, breaking away and walking over to where the tomes lay in disarray. "Some of these were antiques…" Kneeling down, she began to sort through them, frowning in dismay whenever she found one with a burnt spine.

Going over to join her, Ganondorf said, "My apologies, Princess. For the record, I owe you some new books." He helped her stack and sort them, and then began the task of putting them back on the shelves.

"You had better!" Zelda said in mock anger. "Keep better control of your dark magic next time, would you? These books were innocent bystanders!"

"Really?" Ganondorf examined one with a look of surprise. "Could have fooled me. Have you ever been hit in the head with a volume this thick? Not very innocent then, are they?"

Neither of them could keep a straight face for long.

"I should get going," Ganondorf said once they stopped laughing. "My magic is vastly more powerful than Link's, and I am sure I can summon the power to teleport all the way to the Desert Colossus."

He stepped back and waved a hand, gathering the energy that constantly hummed around him. Dark clouds coalesced around the sorcerer and he began to blur and waver like an illusion.

Then the magic snapped and he solidified again. Eyes wide like he had been struck, Ganondorf staggered and leaned against the bookshelf. "That's not good," he breathed.

Zelda grabbed his shoulder to support him. "What's wrong?"

Ganondorf swallowed hard. "How much do you know about teleportation?"

"It's an advanced technique… Impa never got around to teaching me because she wanted to make sure I had more basic things down first." Zelda rubbed her chin. "Of course, if you had a magical item imbued with the spell, like Link apparently does, you could teleport without knowing exactly how."

With a sigh, Ganondorf nodded and stood up straighter. "Teleportation only works with places you're familiar with. It has to do with energy imprints in the fabric of the universe. But it seems long ages have a way of severing those connections…" He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again he smiled down at the princess. "So it seems I'll just have to go the old-fashioned way. I trust you'll keep an eye on the kingdom for me while I'm gone."

"I'm coming with you," Zelda said.

"You don't have to," Ganondorf said. "I am familiar with the Colossus from the earliest days of my mortal existence. You would be far more comfortable in the castle."

"I know," Zelda said. "But I've always wanted to get out and see Hyrule, and I might as well take the opportunity. And the land has probably changed since you were last around—I don't want you to have to waste time searching for the Colossus when I know right where it is."

She moved to a shelf of maps and started pulling them off the rack, unrolling them until she found the one they needed. She held it up to Ganondorf. "Here is what Hyrule looks like right now."

Ganondorf's eyes scanned the parchment. "This terrain is unfamiliar to me," he admitted. "The general layout has stayed somewhat similar, but… long ages can change many details. Not the first time I have experienced this, either. It's always rather disorienting."

"There's the Desert Colossus." Zelda pointed to the farthest northwestern region on the chart. "The region around it has been uninhabited for over a thousand years. But it is said that is where the oldest secrets of Hyrule lie. And that is where my ancestors deposited the Spiritual Stones for safe keeping, after you were first sealed away—well, no, I guess that was the second or third time—"

"I don't really keep count anymore," Ganondorf said. "Do the Spiritual Stones really lend power to the Master Sword? The last I knew, they were merely tribal emblems that opened the way to the Sacred Realm."

"I guess that's how they started out," Zelda said, "but it seems that over time, as they became relics, their connection with the Master Sword heightened and they siphoned some of its power. They may also have been failsafe mechanisms, a power dampener of sorts, in case the sword was to fall into the wrong hands." She looked aside. "Which it clearly has."

Ganondorf studied the map for a while longer and then smiled up at Zelda. "This is not normally how things go, you know. You've got the quest all backwards and inside-out."

She nodded. "I know. But like I said before, we're going to do things differently this time around. Those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. I think that's true even in the case of reincarnations."

"I hope so," Ganondorf said.

Zelda paused. "Besides—I'd be awfully lonely waiting for you to come back."

Ganondorf put a hand on her shoulder. "I would miss you, too."