"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Ganondorf asked as Zelda pulled him through the archway into the bustling market of Hyrule. Stands selling vegetables and fruit were lined up between the store fronts of the butcher, a blacksmith, and a baker. Trying to watch all of the men and women as they rushed from one destination to another made his head spin.

She kept her grip on him tight, afraid he may turn cowardice. "Trust me. The other kids never refuse to let me play, and you are with me so they will let you play too." Down the stone walk toward the center of town where the roads met at a cross, several boys and a few girls were found playing with wooden swords on imaginary horses.

Ganondorf watched on as his excitement and anxiety mounted. He made a comment to ease his nerves. "I thought girls held pretend parties and dressed up."

"You know I'm not like that. What good will knowing how to set a table do me if battle comes to Hyrule? No. This is where I belong, but everyone treats me like a fragile doll made of glass," Zelda retorted, and then stepped forward with confidence. Ganondorf decided the best place for him to be was right behind her. It surprised him that as soon as they came close, the children stopped playing and stared at her, until they noticed him. Zelda cleared her throat and said, "May we join your game?"

"You can have my sword, princess," Said one of the girls, walking up to Zelda with her weapon out to her. The same girl then brandished a bow clumsily carved from wood and three arrows that were only sticks. "Will you be on my team?"

Zelda nodded, graciously taking the play weapon. "I shall. This is Ganondorf, of the desert, he is my friend and would also like to play with us," She explained, stepping aside and waving her hand at him.

In that moment, Ganondorf realized why the witches always warned him to stay away from the kids of Hyrule, why he was so unwanted by others. The intimidation at his tall battle trained body was clear on their faces. They made a game out of what he trained in every day. He was the perfect image of a boy with no childhood. Zelda was desperately trying to give him one, so he would play along. A boy, older than even him, approached him with a wooden sword pointed at him. "I want him on my team" He said, intrigued.

Ganondorf accepted the weapon and nodded. "Fine."

Once they were claimed, the battle began. It was harmless and innocent for a while, one team trying to slay all the members of the other while protecting the house they used as a fort. They ran through streets, ducking from adults and hiding from enemies in the alleys, sneaking up for a strike! Ganondorf was exhilarated and enjoyed the game very much, although he constantly reminded himself it was only a game.

A boy on the opposing team hunted Ganondorf down a back street just beyond the leather shop. He was quiet and Ganondorf's inexperienced senses did not detect him until he lunged. Like an animal in the wild, Ganondorf retaliated, throwing the boy from his back into the wall of the building beside him. He then rushed his new victim and held a real blade to his throat. The boy was so frightened he shook violently in Ganondorf's hands. Next, he started screaming. Ganondorf's eyes widened with sudden realization at his actions. He reacted only as he was trained to. He released the boy, sheathed his weapon on his thigh, and fled when a multitude of footsteps approached. Zelda was with them, and was shocked when the boy explained what happened.

"It was that boy from the desert Zelda brought to play with us! He tried to kill me! We were only playing a game." He was shaking and crying in the arms of his mother.

"The boy from the desert!" She exclaimed. "You can't mean?"

"Princess Zelda?" A man questioned. "You brought the King of the Gerudo here?"

The determination in her eyes did not waver. She stared back at their broken gazes with defiance. "Remove my title, and what are you left with? A girl with a desire to be accepted, just like everyone else. Remove his skin color, remove his title, and what are you left with?" In the silence that followed, only a few people had the decency to lower their eyes in shame. "A boy who wants to be accepted. He never intended any harm, but we need to be understanding of someone else's heritage!" With her words ringing in her ears, and her thoughts racing with many more comments she desired to say, she stomped off to find her friend.

It was out in the fields of Hyrule that Zelda finally stopped him after calling his name five times. Ganondorf turned to see that it was only her and slowed to a walk so she could catch up. Out of breath and angered, when she was in ear shot he yelled, "Your people make fun of what we Gerudo train for daily!"

"Train for? You mean you prepare for war?" Zelda asked, slowing down to a stop beside him.

"Yes! It is how we live, stealing and killing if we need. Perhaps it is you that needs to visit my home to truly understand my people, my way of life," Ganondorf offered, standing to full height as his heart rate finally slowed.

Zelda considered it, but not for long. "Princess, you must return home." She spun, knowing yet fearing who the voice belonged to.

Ganondorf crossed his arms over his chest. "I take it this is your attendant."

"I will deal with her but please, you must remain quiet."

"This boy is dangerous Zelda. I have let your foolish idea go on for far too long," Impa scolded, taking Zelda by her arm and pulling her away from the boy.

"Impa, this boy has a name. He is Ganondorf, and he has been the closest friend I have ever had!" She yelled, yanking her arm away.

"He is dangerous!" Impa yelled, obviously afraid for Zelda's safety.

"He meant no harm!" She yelled back.

Ganondorf's rage mounted and it took every ounce of restraint he possessed to not hurt Impa with his sorcery. More harm would do him no good. "I will leave, and you will never see me again," Ganondorf said, turning his back.

Zelda immediately felt tears burn in her eyes. "No. Do not give up, Ganondorf. There is goodness in you. Do not believe what these people say. They do not know you as I do!" Despite her pleas, he continued to walk, until he was on his horse and rode out of sight.

That night the castle was a warzone.

"You did what?!" The King of Hyrule shouted over the dinner table in the west wing.

"Zelda has been meeting with Ganondorf over the past year. I believed that if anyone could save the King of the Gerudo from his demons it was our wise Zelda. I was always there in case she needed protection. Until today, I had no reason to think it would be necessary," Impa explained calmly, but shameful for keeping the secret from the king for so long. "If only I had told you sooner, we could have avoided this."

"He is kind, but thanks to you he will never return and he will be the monster you make him out to be," Zelda snapped.

"You do not understand what the Gerudo have done to my people and other kingdoms."

"And what have you done for the Gerudo? I no longer wonder why Ganondorf believes himself to be an outcast," Zelda accused.

"Because they are outcasts, my dear Zelda. They do not belong among us," Her father answered in a voice struggling to remain calm.

"Then you are not the father, or the king, I thought you were." Zelda glared.

"Don't you see? He is turning you against me! You are forbidden from meeting with Ganondorf any further, and if I find that you are, he will be sentenced to death, like I should have done last year," The king warned mercilessly, waving his finger at her. "Go to your room."

Zelda, infuriated to the point her head throbbed, stomped to her chambers.

Guards were posted to her room shortly after which added to her frustration, preventing her from falling asleep for a few hours. She felt like she had only been asleep for a few minutes when she woke to the sound of scratching and tapping on her window. Once she rubbed the sleep from her eyes she focused on a big brown owl standing on her window sill. The glass opened inward and the owl flew in to perch on the back of her vanity chair. Strapped to its leg was parchment, and excitedly Zelda removed it to read it.

"Dear Zelda,

By now your father has probably banned us from meeting anymore. We both knew this day would come, so I have trained this owl to deliver messages and he is familiar with the path between your castle and my home. As I was leaving, it took every bit of my control to avoid turning around, but I have no intention of that being the last time I see you. I will remember all you have taught me and remember that you have found light where everyone else sees darkness. If you would still like to visit my home I will see you next week where we first met.

Sincerely, Ganondorf."

Zelda smiled, yet she was surprised by the warmth his words brought her. Using the ink on her desk, she wrote on the bottom of his parchment. "See you then." She folded it back up and tied it to the leg of the owl. He waited though, even as Zelda took a step back. "I have no food for you tonight. Come back tomorrow and I will reward you. I promise."

The owl screeched in protest, as if to say, "You better, or else," and then departed through the open window. The guards rushed in as Zelda was closing the window.

"What was that sound, princess? Are you all right?" One of them asked.

"I'm fine. There was a bird at my window," She said and crawled into bed again.

The guard walked to the window to check, and saw an owl flying westward. " I see. Well, goodnight." They left the room and closed the door.