AN: So, a slight change in schedule. Updates will no longer be every other Wednesday, but rather every Thursday. Because why not? I'd like to thank Um I lost my name, RyoKushei, and silverheartlugia2000 for your reviews... so thank you! Seriously, you're too kind.
And now, on with chapter three. Enjoy!

3- And So It Begins

In the end Link didn't find Ganondorf in the city, but after that particular disappointment he settled into something of a routine. He travelled from village to village, from town to town, always searching, heading back to the city every few months to search there again. He quickly learned that the Gerudo were no more, apparently integrated into Hylian society if the sudden increase in dark-skinned or yellow-eyed Hylians was anything to go by.

It was weird, seeing the two peoples that had for generations been so hostile with each other mixed together in such a way. It was also a little sad, Link came to realise, that the Gerudo had effectively been lost to history.

But that revelation, and others, came with years of constant searching. He was growing up, seeing the world in new ways, resenting it in new ways. Ways that hadn't been clear to his younger self, or apparently any of his previous selves. They'd always just taken their lot in life, happy to be the goddesses' little puppet and do whatever Zelda asked of them.

The sunny days in Ordon, carefree and filled with the desire only to stop Ganondorf from hurting those he loved, seemed like a distant dream. He felt bitter and old now, too old for his body, but too young in his experiences.

And when the day finally came, after two long years, Link was entirely unprepared.

He was aimlessly wandering the deeper parts of Faron Woods with half a mind to head back to Ordon, or maybe just to do some hunting, when laughter caught his attention. He wasn't alone. There was somebody else there among the trees with him.

Or rather, a group of somebodies, as he found when he followed their voices. Crouching among the undergrowth he peered through the tangle of branches that made up his hiding place, finding a small campsite nestled among the trees. There were six people there, their bedrolls spread in a circle around a lit fire, all laughing as if they'd just heard the funniest joke.

Six people, all of them with varying shades of brown skin and orange hair. If he were closer Link was sure most of them would have yellow eyes too. One boy, five girls, all probably a few years older than him.

Link squinted at the single boy, but beyond the usual Gerudo traits found nothing familiar about him. It wasn't Ganondorf. The relief that flooded through him at the realisation caught him off guard and he sat back on his heels with a sigh, absently rubbing the back of his left hand as he waited for his heart to stop pounding. It had started battering against his ribs when he'd registered the group's Gerudo traits, but apparently for no reason.

Bowing his head Link took a few deep breaths, wondering what they were doing so far into the woods, then deciding it didn't matter. Ganondorf wasn't here, so there was no point for him to be here either.

He was just turning to go when a branch snapped behind him, alerting him to a seventh presence. He spun, so fast he toppled over, to find himself staring at a pair of legs. He tugged his gaze up, up, up, to the person's face and-

And froze. Stopped breathing. His mouth went dry, his so recently settled heart stuttered and kicked back into gear, feeling like it was trying to escape his chest. Link didn't blame it. He wanted to escape too.

It was Ganondorf. He was staring up at the youngest Ganondorf he'd ever seen-he couldn't have even been twenty yet-but his angular features were still recognisable, his hair and eyes and skin all the same. Even if they hadn't been, the sudden prickling that had started up in Link's left hand told him what he needed to know. It was Ganondorf. He seemed vaguely surprised, but mostly suspicious, as he folded his arms and frowned.

'And who might you be, then?' he asked, raising his eyebrows as he leaned down towards Link slightly. He paused, though, when Link tried to scramble backwards, only to get tangled in the bushes he was sat in. Tugging his sleeves free of brambles he grabbed for his sword, trying to ignore how badly his hands were shaking, or how absolutely terrified he was.

He wasn't ready. He wasn't strong enough, he didn't know enough. Two years wasn't long enough.

But that didn't mean he wouldn't try.

Tearing himself free of any persistent brambles Link surged to his feet, an incoherent yell that might've been a battle cry escaping him as he swiped blindly at Ganondorf who danced back a few steps, looking startled.

'Whoa, kid, calm down-' he stretched out a hand and Link immediately tried to cut it off, vaguely aware of several raised voices coming from behind him.

Snatching his hand back Ganondorf scowled, before his eyes flickered onto something behind Link; his friends, probably.

'It's fine,' he called, voice still deep even as young as he was. 'It's just some freaked out kid.' His gaze slipped back onto Link, who was breathing heavily, arms already protesting softly under the weight of his sword. 'It's all right, kid, we're not going to hurt you. Maybe you should stop waving that thing around, eh?'

Link managed to growl out a few feeble threats, shaking his head viciously, and Ganondorf blinked a few times before sighing.

'Have it your way.' He stepped closer and Link stumbled backwards, nearly tripping over some of the bushes. A grin ghosted across Ganondorf's face before he stepped forward again, forcing Link backwards into the camp. In retaliation Link swung his sword, haphazardly, and the ring of steel on steel was loud in his ears as his arms jarred, his blade bouncing off of something solid and metal. Ganondorf's own weapon. Link hadn't even seen him draw it.

'I think that's enough,' Ganondorf said, and almost before Link could register the words he was flat on his back, sword knocked from his hands as easily as if he hadn't been holding it at all.

Wheezing he tried to catch his breath as laughter erupted from nearby, blinking up at the sunlight that wormed its way through the canopy.

'What's up with this kid?' Someone, one of Ganondorf's buddies, snickered and heat flared in Link's cheeks. He scrabbled blindly for his sword, his fingers just brushing its handle before a foot came down on his wrist, stopping him in his tracks. It wasn't a forceful blow, just enough pressure to pin him in place.

'That's a good question,' Ganondorf sighed, leaning over Link and blocking out the sun. 'Well?' Though he was cast in shadow with his back to the sun as it was, Link could still easily make out the eyebrow being raised at him.

Baring his teeth in reply Link twisted, trying desperately to free himself as he demanded to be released, flinging a few curses and insults at the group for good measure. It did nothing but get him laughed at some more.

'What a mouth he's got,' another one of his tormenters chuckled, sounding vaguely impressed. 'How old's this kid? Ten?'

Spitting that he was twelve Link bucked, kicking his feet in an attempt to hit one of Ganondorf's shins, knowing he was probably bright red from anger and humiliation. So what if he was twelve? That was basically an adult. He'd grown up countless times before this, anyway.

'That's really not the question we should be asking,' Ganondorf said around another sigh, and while he sounded amused at first that quickly faded. 'What were you trying to do, kid?' He leaned closer and Link stilled, cringing as the pressure on his wrist turned to pain. 'Just who do you think you're attacking, hm?'

Link wasn't sure what did it, in the end. Maybe it was Ganondorf's threatening words, or his frustration at his own inability coupled with his fear of the man above him. Or perhaps the strain of the last two years and all the memories that didn't belong to him, or this new humiliation over his failure. Maybe it was all of them, twisted together.

Link didn't know, but he did know it was enough to make him cry. Enough to drag from him a wailing shriek that hurt his ears as he thumped his head against the ground, frustrated and afraid and exhausted.

Two years. Two years for this? To be so easily defeated? So easily put at Ganondorf's mercy?

Spluttering and shuddering he tried to swallow his sobs, tried to catch his breath, aware that he really was completely at Ganondorf's mercy but unable to quite bring himself to care.

Everything hurt. He was so useless. And so small. It was maybe the first time he'd actually felt his age. Small and powerless, just a weak, useless child.

Useless. Useless.

Twisting his shoulders half-heartedly Link stifled a few more sobs, taking a few breaths before managing to choke out that Ganondorf should just kill him already. No need to draw it out, just do it already. He wouldn't beg, he wouldn't resist. So just get it over with.

At least that way he wouldn't have to go through the whole hero ordeal again.

'Kid, I'm not going to kill you.' Ganondorf seemed surprised, actually taking a step back at Link's words. 'Why would you even think that?' His companions had stopped laughing.

Confused, Link lay still for a few moments, swallowing around his suddenly sore throat as he blinked up at Ganondorf's swimming face. Was Ganondorf showing mercy?

That wasn't right. None of this was right.

Grabbing his sword Link hauled himself to his feet, swiping at his face with his free hand as he brandished his weapon at Ganondorf. He wouldn't be fooled. He had to kill Ganondorf. It was the only way to save Hyrule, and himself.

When he swung his sword, even more haphazardly than before, Ganondorf deflected it easily with little more than a flick of his wrist, but he didn't fight back.

The gap between them was too wide. Link would never kill him like this.

So he bolted, making a mad dash for the trees before anyone could react. Vaguely he heard someone call out something, but he didn't make out any words over the ringing in his ears. He kept running. Until his lungs were on fire, until his legs were threatening to give out under him.

Only then did he stop. Dropping his sword he leant on his knees, sucking in deep, shuddering breaths, a metallic taste filling his mouth. He shut his eyes, feeling his heart pound, his whole body trembling. Then he sat, because his legs really were going to give out if he stayed standing for much longer, curling in on himself and wiling himself to calm down.

Once he managed to find some small semblance of calm he stood again, rubbing his aching thighs absently as he turned to stare in the direction of Ganondorf's camp. He wasn't sure how far he'd run, but he was willing to bet it was a fair way. Now he'd have to backtrack and try again.

Great.

At least he'd be prepared next time. He wouldn't be caught off-guard. He'd go in swinging, and wouldn't relent until one of them was dead.

The odds were seven to one, though. Maybe just charging in wouldn't work. Not well, anyway, because even if he could get to Ganondorf that still left his six buddies, who probably wouldn't just let Link do as he pleased. Definitely wouldn't, more like.

Scrubbing at his face viciously Link moved to lean against a tree, slapping his cheeks lightly. He just needed to think things through. There were lots of ways he could go about this, so he needed to pick the right one. Ganondorf may have spared him this time, but it wouldn't happen again. He wasn't the type to show mercy to kids, of that Link was sure. He'd been caught by surprise, and that was the only reason Link had managed to get away.

He dropped his head into his hands with a soft groan. He couldn't believe he'd run. He couldn't believe he'd started crying like that. Talk about embarrassing, bursting into tears in front of your mortal enemy.

Well, it had helped him get away in the end. The obvious difference in their strength still made him tremble though. He'd been disarmed and disabled so easily, in the blink of an eye. Ganondorf had barely even had to lift an arm to stop Link's strikes.

It was mortifying. It was terrifying. How was he supposed to defeat Ganondorf like this?

Link paused, pursing his lips as a thought came to him. If brute force wouldn't work, then maybe he needed to try a different tack? Stealth, maybe? Sneak in in the dead of night and slit the man's throat? Or maybe poison him? He wasn't sure how he'd be able to do that without poisoning the other six, though. And he couldn't do that. Ganondorf was the only one who needed to die.

With that in mind Link got to work. First he staked out the camp, from afar this time. He put all his previous childhoods, and their tendency to have been spent in forests, to good use, scaling trees to watch the camp from among their branches, up high and out of sight. He wasn't sure why Ganondorf and his buddies were camping out in the woods, but he was pretty sure it had something to do with the satchels he caught occasional glimpses of. When the sun hit them right they would glitter, gold or sometimes other colours, and the group were way too careful with them for them to not be of importance.

Well, Ganondorf had always been a thief.

After spending a few days watching the group Link left, combing the surrounding forests in search of plants he recognised from Uli's lessons or previous lives. Poisonous berries or other plants, as well as a few he could use for other things. If poisoning Ganondorf wasn't an option Link could always knock him out.

Or try to, at least.

He was a warrior, not an assassin. He had no idea how any of this worked.

But all the same, try he did. His stakeout of the camp had shown him that neither Ganondorf nor his friends left the camp often, and if they did it was rarely on their own, which lessened his options significantly. His conscience lessened them even more.

He was after Ganondorf, not Ganondorf's friends, so anything that would affect them too was off the table. He could maybe bring himself to sedate them, provided he found the right plants and managed to make the potion right, but poisoning them wasn't even an option.

And, to be honest, he wasn't all that fond of the idea of poisoning Ganondorf, either. He wasn't all that fond of the idea of killing the guy at all, but what else was he supposed to do? He had to. For Hyrule. What was a guilty conscience if it meant saving all of Hyrule from all the horror and pain to come? It wasn't like he'd ever felt good about sealing Ganondorf away in previous lives, even when it had been deserved.

He ended up sat among the trees for a good week longer before he could work himself up to getting on and doing something.

It took three more weeks for something to actually work. Well, not work exactly, but for Link to get lucky. Or what he thought was lucky.

He tried stealth first, sneaking into their camp in the dead of night when they slept and when whoever was on watch wasn't looking or had fallen asleep themselves. He got caught three times and had to hightail it to safety every time. They moved their camp after his third attempt, but he followed them. They weren't exactly the best at covering their trail. Surprising for a group of thieves.

After that he tried, begrudgingly, poison. He forced his conscience aside and got to work. Only for his homemade blow darts to miss or not even work, and the one time he actually managed to poison Ganondorf's food did nothing but make the guy sick for a few days. Which of course meant all his buddies watched him like hawks for a week.

Nothing he tried worked. After a little while his annoyance at failing began to outweigh his relief, until he finally decided to just charge headlong into the camp, odds be damned.

But then, on the day of his planned attack, he finally got lucky. Or at least, he thought he did, when he saw Ganondorf start making his way away from the camp. Link almost couldn't believe it. Three weeks of barely leaving the camp, and now he was heading out?

It seemed almost too good to be true, but Link wasn't about to let this chance slip away from him. He stayed up in his tree for a minute before leaving his perch to follow after Ganondorf. He went as quietly as he could, keeping an ear out for any of Ganondorf's friends and sticking to the most overgrown patches of bushes. A few times he had to duck behind trees, which were luckily tall and fat in this part of the forest, but he was pretty sure he was going mostly unnoticed.

Until, that is, Ganondorf stopped and turned to look directly at his hiding spot.

'I know you're there, kid. You can quit hiding.'

Link balked, cringing down further amongst the undergrowth as fear coiled in his belly. How had he been spotted? He'd tried so hard, why was he so useless? Had this all been a trap? He couldn't believe he'd walked right into it.

Maybe if he just stayed put and didn't move Ganondorf would think he was wrong, and move on.

He didn't, though. He just sighed. 'Come on, kid. You're not fooling anyone.'

So, gritting his teeth and clenching his fists, Link stood, pulling free of a few brambles that snagged at his clothes. He kept his back straight, trying to give an air of confidence. Even if inside he felt like he might turn to run any second. He'd already learnt how difficult it was to face this Ganondorf head on, but he didn't have a choice now.

'So what now, then?' Ganondorf raised his eyebrows, not moving any closer. 'Want to try rushing me again? Maybe shoot me with a poisoned arrow?'

Link told him to shut up and watched a grin flash across his face briefly in response.

'All right, no need to get worked up.' Folding his arms Ganondorf leaned back slightly. 'But seriously, what's the plan? Because I'd like to get this over with as quickly as I can.'

Feeling anger pooling in his chest Link scowled. He was being mocked. Dismissed, even. Could Ganondorf make it any clearer that he didn't see him as a threat? He hated that even after he'd tried so hard, he was still the one being looked down on.

And then he snapped. It was too much. Ganondorf was mocking him. All his carefully laid plans had been so, so easily foiled. Even though he knew he had to do this or all of Hyrule would be in danger somehow he still couldn't do a thing. He was so fed up. Why was he even bothering? He should just let Hyrule burn, because why did he owe them anything? Why did he have to get blood on his hands, why did he have to go through so much again and again and again only to be forgotten every single time? Nobody cared about him, not the goddesses or the spirits or the Hyrulean people, so why should he care about them?

He didn't care. He just didn't care anymore.

He launched himself forward with an unintelligible battle cry that even to his own ears was more like a wail, thin and high, abandoning all thoughts of weapons as he charged with every intention of just throttling Ganondorf.

Of course, he only got a few steps forward before he was face down on the ground, a boot planted firmly on the small of his back. He didn't really remember how he'd got there, but he knew he felt bruised, sore.

Turning his head slightly he tried to breathe, mouth full of the taste of dirt and blood. Had he split his lip?

'Kid, this is getting ridiculous.' Ganondorf sounded weary, and when Link struggled, trying to get up, he forced him back down with ease.

He was right. It was ridiculous. It was ridiculous that despite all his best efforts Ganondorf was still alive. It was ridiculous that he was still trying, still trying to save this goddessforsaken country. And from what? For what?

'You could at least tell me the reason you're trying so hard to kill me.' With a sigh Ganondorf stepped back, the pressure on Link's back lifting. 'Because as amusing as it is, it also makes my life kind of difficult.'

Rising to his knees Link spat dirt from his mouth, briefly trying to find the source of the metallic taste in his mouth. Turned out he'd bitten his tongue when he'd be shoved to the floor, or whatever Ganondorf had done. With that in mind Link shifted to glare at Ganondorf, who was now sat casually on a nearby tree stump, questions all over his face.

For a moment there was silence, before Link rubbed his arm against his lips and demanded to know why exactly Ganondorf hadn't killed him yet.

'Do you really have that much of a death wish?' Leaning his elbows on his knees Ganondorf peered at Link. 'Kid, you're not even a threat. You can barely lift your sword, and as far as being stealthy goes… well, it doesn't really work for you.' He sighed, cupping his chin in a hand. 'That being said, I'd probably be more inclined to do something if you were ruining my plans, or my work. But luckily for you, me and my crew are laying low right now.'

Link wasn't sure how lucky that was, really, but he supposed it had to be if it meant he hadn't been killed yet even after everything he'd done.

Maintaining a steely silence he kept on glaring, wondering how quickly he could reach his sword. It was lying a little way away, having been knocked from his hands. With his pride wounded he swore to himself he would show Ganondorf just how much of a threat he could be.

Sighing again Ganondorf leaned back, rubbing a hand against the back of his neck. 'Clearly, though, you're not about to just give up. How many times do I have to ruin your plans before you tell me why you want me dead so badly?'

There was another silence as Link pondered his options and tried to see the Ganondorf he knew in this young, almost reasonable one. It proved surprisingly difficult, so he went back to weighing his options. His newfound attitude of not giving a damn said he should just tell Ganondorf everything, but there was still a fairly large part of him that clung to the idea of saving his friends, saving his country. He felt torn between wanting to just give up and spill the beans, and making one last-ditch effort to kill the man sat across from him.

Well, his pride was still stinging and the guy had insulted him, so Link sprang upright to make a wild grab for his sword. Apparently Ganondorf had seen it coming, though, because no sooner than Link had got upright he was on the floor again, this time completely pinned by the entirety of Ganondorf's substantial weight as the guy sat on him. Actually sat on him.

Once he managed to breathe again, albeit shallowly, Link spat a few curses, tempted to beat his forehead against the ground. Honestly, why did he even bother trying? He was so fed up with this.

'Come on, kid. Give me something. It's not exactly the nicest feeling in the world, knowing someone wants you dead as much as you seem to.' Ganondorf prodded Link's shoulder and he growled into the floor, unable to do a thing to stop it. 'So what is it? Did I steal from you? Your parents maybe? Something precious? It would have to be for you to go to such lengths, wouldn't it?'

Link squirmed, just slightly, and then when he realised it was utterly pointless he took a breath and started explaining. He told Ganondorf everything. About their past lives spent battling each other, about everything past Ganondorfs had done, how close they had got to destroying Hyrule so many times. Maybe he sounded crazy, but he didn't care. Once he started he found he couldn't stop, everything spilling out like water from a busted dam.

Ganondorf, to his credit, listened in absolute silence. When Link finally stopped talking, hoarse and shaking just slightly from memories he didn't want to recall, there was a long, long pause.

'That's…' Ganondorf exhaled sharply. 'That's one heck of a tale you've spun there. Reincarnation? The Triforce? Kid, you've got one serious imagination. And you think I'm some ultimate evil's newest form?' He gave a low, somewhat shaky whistle.

So he didn't believe him. Link couldn't say he was all that surprised, though that didn't stop him from being annoyed. He'd just spilled his guts to this guy, and he didn't believe?

Squirming he demanded that Ganondorf look at the back of his right hand, where the Triforce mark was.

'Kid, it's just a birthmark. It's kind of weird, yeah, but that's all it is. And how'd you even know about that?' Ganondorf seemed suspicious but didn't comply, so Link set about worming his left arm free, contorting himself until he was able to pull off his glove with his teeth. Once he had he waved his hand in Ganondorf's general direction, his subtly glowing Triforce piece on show. He closer he waved it, the more it prickled, until his hand felt like it was going numb.

'Wait, that's…' Link felt Ganondorf shift, and knew he'd succeeded in at least getting the guy to look. 'How is that… what?' Ganondorf seemed at a loss for words. 'It's glowing? What the-?' In his peripheral vision Link watched Ganondorf crane his head round to stare at him. 'What did you do?'

Link, as calmly as he could, said that he'd already explained everything. They were reincarnations of the King of Evil and the Great Hero, doomed to battle each other for all eternity.

'So what you're saying… is that I'm the reincarnation of the most evil man in all of Hyrule, and it's your destiny to kill me?' When he finally spoke again Ganondorf's words were slow, ponderous. Sensing a chance Link squirmed some more, feeling a little like his ribs were being crushed as he tried to escape. For good measure he flailed, aiming a few weak punches at whatever parts of Ganondorf he could reach.

'That's just…' Link pause when he registered the alarm in Ganondorf's tone, as well as a twinge of something he was getting to know well. Resentment. 'So you've been going to all this effort just to stop something that might happen? Just 'cause I share a name with some guy who lived, what, hundreds of years ago?'

Link didn't say anything, hoping his silence was enough of an answer, wondering how Ganondorf could not know about his heritage. Surely the Gerudo kept a record of their Kings, all of whom had been Ganondorfs, and all of whom had attacked Hyrule?

Ganondorf was silent for the longest time yet and Link twisted, trying to see his enemy's face. From what he could make out Ganondorf was frowning, though it was with a start that Link realised he was also shaking, ever so slightly.

'That's ridiculous. You're kidding me. No. No way. I'm not evil. I mean, sure, I'm a thief, but how is stealing from rich sods who don't give a damn about anyone but themselves evil?' All at once he surged upright and Link sucked in a huge breath, rolling away as he revelled in the sensation of being able to breathe properly again. Clambering to his feet he picked up his sword, turning to face Ganondorf who had wandered a little way away, disregarding him entirely.

Link scowled. He was being ignored.

Or he thought he was, until Ganondorf whirled, a horribly vulnerable look on his face. It was so out of place Link was sure he'd seen wrong, but a few cautious blinks later he realised he hadn't.

'Don't look at me like that,' Ganondorf managed after a moment, sounding a little choked. 'Who do you think you're kidding? I'm not him- them- whatever!' His voice rose, until he was yelling in a way Link had only ever heard when he was losing. Except this time it wasn't with rage, or in defeat. He was desperate, he was horrified. 'I'm not some evil sorcerer from hundreds of years ago, I'm me! Screw you, kid, what's destiny got to do with any of this?!'

He closed the gap between them, brandishing his marked hand. 'This doesn't mean anything. It doesn't control me or- or whatever. I make my own path-' he paused, eyes wide, looking almost broken. 'You really think I'm evil? That I could commit treason, that I could…' he trailed off.

And all at once, Link realised they were the same. Neither of them had asked for this. It wasn't fair. They weren't the goddesses' puppets, it wasn't fair.

Link couldn't fight this Ganondorf. And he certainly couldn't kill him. They were the same.

Stumbling away, back to the tree stump, Ganondorf sat down, hard. He put his head in his hands and Link could do nothing but stand silently and stare.

This wasn't how it was supposed to go.

And that, Link realised all at once, was amazing. Things were different this time. They weren't following the same cycle, or treading the exact same paths that they'd followed a thousand times before. Ganondorf wasn't evil, Link wasn't a hero in any way, shape, or form. And they'd met long before they were supposed to.

So where were they supposed to go from here? Could they change things?

Could they, perhaps, change their fates?