Chapter 16

Road Blocks

The lonely king sat silently on his throne, immortalized in that ordinary painting. Hansen had looked at him a thousand times, and found he very much disliked that man.

"So, you were the one before me," he said. The throne room was empty and painted subjects made the best conversationalists these days, for there are times when a King needs the discussion to be one sided. "You thought you could hide your secrets from the world, but in your pride you just had to leave clues."

Yes, Hansen truly disliked the lonely king, not because of the mystery surrounding the gifts of the goddesses, but that the mystery was allowed in the first place. Hansen wouldn't have done that. He would have been humbler. He would have ensured the Triforce remain hidden forever.

"You just couldn't let it go, could you? You made it too easy."

Hansen had figured out much of his secrets years ago. The Triforce, of course, was never a secret. None before him had learned about the three keys that granted one access to it, but he had figured it out. He was meant for it. It only made sense.

He told himself that he didn't really crave the power. He just wanted it in the right hands. He had been cursed with the prediction of great evil in his day. If he had the Triforce, he could prevent evil for generations to come.

"You should have used it," he said to the lonely king. "If you couldn't really hide it, then you should have done some good with it."

He stared at the images of the sword, the shield, and the crown. The three keys. He felt a desperate hope that Impa really was close to getting them, but he wouldn't rely on that hope. In fact, he had a backup plan. If Impa failed to bring them, then perhaps his daughter would open the door for him. All he needed was fate to work in his favor for once.

He didn't like the idea of that, though.

Hansen crossed the room, sighed and slumped into his throne, staring at the empty chamber. He was a lonely king too, he thought.

All kings are lonely.

What was he doing? Feeling sorry for himself? He was a man of action, and sulking in a chair was not going to cut it. He had a road to destiny, and he wasn't about to let a few divine road blocks stop him from reaching the glory he deserved. There's always a way to clear a path, even if it means taking matters into your own two hands.

He called for his servant and bade him to prepare his mount and an escort. Impa might fail. Staggot might fail. If that happens, he'd be there to pick up the pieces.

Ganondorf rode his horse silently at the rear of the party. They had been riding for several days, heading north, and he spent all of it alone, at the back. Solitude did not bother him. He spent most of his life that way.

Impa and Knowl lead the party. He had protested against letting Impa come along unbound, but Zelda insisted her skills would be invaluable. It was as though she'd forgotten where Impa's allegiances ultimately lay. Knowl, the old sage, was eager to come along for "academic" reasons, and he worried the old man would slow them down. He hadn't.

Behind them Link and Zelda were engaged in friendly conversation about something he couldn't quite make out. Ever since Link emerged alive from that temple, she treated him differently. Less like a stranger, more like a friend.

That did bother him. Now he felt like the stranger, and he felt an overwhelming sense of loss. She ran up and hugged him. Why? She hardly knew him. There were no hugs for her old friend anymore. Not even a friendly conversation along the road.

The road was wide and easily travelled, a common road used by many folks. They frequently passed anything from merchant wagons to other small groups not unlike themselves. As evening approached they reached a lush forest. Ganondorf recalled the stories Zelda used to read about ominous woods filled with gloom and foul beasts. This was not like that at all. This forest was inviting and friendly. The road was just as wide and smooth beneath the forest canopy as it had been in the plains. Sunlight dappled the ground in a pleasant collage of light and shadow. Ganondorf breathed the fresh air and let himself appreciate his freedom. After all those years in a prison he never dreamed of getting to see the world in its beauty.

Ganondorf craved beauty. He wanted to believe the world was good, not cruel. It was hard to see it, though, what with his people on the verge of extinction and his best friend afraid of the power inside of him. He pulled his old demon statue out of his saddle bag. The bottom now read GANON; Aveil had scratched away the rest of his name. It reminded him that he was not a monster, but a slayer of monsters.

"You still have that?"

Ganondorf hadn't noticed that Zelda had held back to join him. "Yes," he said, relieved that she wanted to have a casual conversation like they used to. He handed it to her.

She noticed the etching on the bottom. "Ganon?"

"It means 'demon' in the Gerudo language."

"But your name—"

"—means slayer of demons. It's a name meant to honor the son of the Gerudo king."

She nodded and handed it back to him.

"So," he said. "Where are we headed?"

"The realm of the Zoras."

"Interesting," he said. She had read to him stories about them. Water people. Hopefully, it would be a place of beauty, not cruelty. "That's where we'll find the Triforce?"

"I'm not sure if it's there," she said, "but I'm sure that's where we need to start."

"So," he said looking in Link's direction, "you guys seem to be getting along alright."

She screwed up her face at him. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing," he said, regretful he'd even brought it up, "nevermind."

"We need him," she said. "He's got his flaws, but he's also got the third key. We all have a key. We need each other."

He nodded reluctantly.

"I mean it. We can't save your people without him anymore than we can save them without you."

"Or you," he said, forcing a smile in the hopes she'd drop the topic.

She reached out and touched his arm. "I know things have been crazy lately," she said, "but you are my friend. You always have been, and always will be."

Her sincerity lifted his spirits. "Thank you," was all he said, and he sensed she understood how much he really needed that reassurance.

"Princess," Impa said from the front. "We have a situation."

Up ahead in the center of the road stood a large man. His crossed arms and firm footing made it clear he wasn't going to move. As they approached, Ganondorf saw that he was much more than a man. He was taller, wider, and stronger than any man he'd ever seen. His head was broad, and his body was covered in some kind of armor. Once they came to a stop before him, he saw that the armor looked like rocks attached to his skin.

A Goron. Zelda had read stories about them too.

"Lord Staggot," Impa said in a tone that did not express respect for his self-entitled position. "Reduced to running errands, now, are we?"

"Lord Staggot is no one's errand boy," he said, puffing out his huge chest. "Lord Staggot does what he pleases, and it pleases Lord Staggot to have the girl and her friends."

Impa considered the implications of Staggot's presence. No one liked this so-called Lord, not even the king. His presence meant the king no longer trusted her to bring him what he wanted. What did he want anyway? She tried to convince herself he wanted Zelda returned to him safely, but she was kidding herself. The doubt churned inside, and she fought hard to suppress it. Knowl would see it, and she would bring shame to the Sheikah if he did.

"I already have the bounty in custody and am returning them to Hyrule Castle."

"You what?" blurted Link from behind her.

"Stand down, cadet," she snapped. He was going to get them killed if he didn't keep quiet. He was not, of course, her cadet anymore, which is why she hoped her use of the term would give him a clue.

"Go," she said to Staggot, "and send word to the king that his daughter shall be returned to him safely."

Staggot sneered. "Lord Staggot is not an errand boy. Give the prisoners to Lord Staggot and tell Harkinian Lord Staggot always gets the job done!" He whistled, and a dozen Goron soldiers emerged at their sides from the woods. "Lord Staggot's servants would be very upset to come all this way without a fight. They do hope you will give them a good one."

The Gorons pounded their chests and gave a few theatrical battle cries. She could sense the bravado was having its intended effect on the others. Even Ganondorf must see that his brute strength was outmatched by even one of them.

She looked at Knowl, his wizened eyes warm and inviting even in this desperate circumstance. "We cannot fight them."

"Do what you think is right," he said.

The words penetrated her unexpectedly, and she knew right then that he was aware of her doubt all along. She had shackled herself with undying duty to her king, and his words were the key to setting her free. She served the Goddesses, not Harkinian, and she had known all this time that Harkinian no longer submitted to them. He defied and resisted them. All he wanted was the keys to the Triforce, his only hope of having the power to defy the Goddesses once and for all. He even wanted it more than his own daughter.

She looked at Zelda and no longer saw a naïve girl. She had ten times the wisdom of her father, and she was doing what she thought was right. She had already been serving the Goddesses better than any Shiekah in Hyrule, including herself.

She glanced at Link and saw not a traitor, but the bravest soldier of his generation willing to face even the condemnation of the whole kingdom to do his duty to protect Zelda. He was a true Royal Guard.

Ganondorf might be a hot head, but he had every right to be. His entire life was stolen from him, and what if Zelda was right about his people becoming extinct? Wouldn't she do everything in her power to fix it? How lucky she would be to have faithful friends willing to share ultimate power for the benefit of another.

And they had the keys, no surer sign of the Goddesses' favor.

She would do her duty. She would protect Zelda to the end, wherever that would lead her, but they were no match for a host of Gorons. The woods could be of use, but she would need time. "We will surrender," she announced to Staggot. She heard Zelda gasp. "The prisoners are yours, but they are in possession of the king's property. I'll give you them, but the property stays with me."

Lord Staggot huffed in annoyance but said, "Fine. Lord Staggot gets paid either way."

"Off your horses!" she called to the others as she moved to dismount her own. No one flinched until Knowl said, "Go on. Do as she says."

Impa went to Link immediately as he dismounted Epona. His look was scathing. "Trust me," she whispered.

"Why should I?" he whispered back.

"Deal with me or them," she countered, then said loudly and theatrically, "Hand over the king's property."

Link's frustration was apparent, but he went along with it, undoing the straps around his fancy new shield.

"Navi," she whispered. "We need help. Lots of it. The kind of help you gave Link on the castle roof."

When Link handed her the shield, she could see his look of frustration had morphed into knowing conspiracy. When she took the shield, she was sure to hold it dramatically in view of all the Gorons. Upon her touch it shimmered and shook as it took a new form before their very eyes, altering its shape from Hylian in design to Sheikah, its face pure white with the Sheikah symbol bold red on the face. She hoped the distraction would give Navi a chance to slip away unnoticed.

Lord Staggot came stomping forward. "Lord Staggot wants the shield!"

"My Lord," she countered, ramping up the flattery, "you agreed that I get to keep the king's property."

He marched up and hoisted her off her feet with one fist. "Shield! Give it to Lord Staggot!"

"Fine, here," and she slammed it into his thick head with all her strength.

The Gorons rushed in from their flanks.

Ganondorf was ready, sword in hand. Zelda was next to him.

"Permission to fight," he said. He didn't want to lose her trust.

"Granted," she said without hesitation.

The monster inside burst to life and he released a mighty battle cry. The Gorons hesitated, which is all he needed. He rushed the nearest Goron intentionally telegraphing his swing. When the Goron ducked, he kicked it hard in the head. To his astonishment, the Goron fell unconscious.

He was stronger than ever.

He wasted no time engaging the next one, and like the first, he soon dropped him.

"Get the big one!" yelled Lord Staggot. Half a dozen Gorons rushed him at once. He swung wildly to slow them down, but one of them grabbed him from behind. In an instant, he was buried in a pile of them, crushed by their weight and immobilized.

The monster did not like this.

The monster was angry.

He felt the beast grow and tremble, just as it had the night he whipped Aveil. It would not stand for this.

The power swelled until he could contain it no longer. He let out his mightiest roar yet, and when he opened his eyes he was standing with nary a Goron near him.

Everyone stared at him in wide eyed fear. He glared at Staggot in the hopes of encouraging retreat, but he only laughed. "Gorons fall from the tops of mountains every day!" The Gorons he'd blasted away quickly rushed him a second time, along with a few more. He felt the monster slink into the recesses of his soul. For once, his confidence was shaken.

"I can't beat them," he said to Zelda.

"I know," she replied.

He prepared for another dozen Gorons to start a new rock pile, but before they could jump him the forest lit up with a million lights. Fairies of all colors, thousands of them, flooded into the road. They swirled and swarmed each Goron, hundreds of colorful dots blinding each and every one.

"Go!" yelled Impa, tossing the shield back at Link. "Ride!"

Ganondorf did not hesitate. He mounted his horse and the five of them galloped away from the Gorons as they swatted and cursed at a thousand points of light.

"What a rush," declared Link hours later. He was riding next to Impa. "When you smashed him with the shield… brilliant!"

"It's a fine shield," she replied. "I felt none of the impact. This is definitely of the Goddess' making." Impa handed it back to him.

Link accepted it and watched it reform itself into his familiar blue shape. "So, can I call you Captain now?" he asked.

She nodded her head. No more words were needed. She was on their side now and a powerful ally.

When Link got the chance, he positioned himself next to Ganondorf out of earshot of the others. "You were great. I've never seen such strength. You took on six Gorons and launched them like dolls."

Ganondorf acknowledged his compliment but didn't smile.

"Look," Link said. "I know I said I didn't trust you before, but the truth is, I was afraid."

"You? Afraid?" said Ganondorf.

"Afraid your power was only destructive. Afraid we were making a mistake in trusting you."

"And now?"

"Now, I think Zelda is right. I think the three of us can make a real difference in this world." Link extended his hand. "Let's do this for her, and for your people. Together. Deal?"

Ganondorf shook his hand. "Deal."

"Ahem," came a tiny voice. Navi was glowing an indignant red. "Dishing out compliments to everyone but me? Even with all that brute's strength, I don't recall him helping you escape. In fact, I've gotten you out of a lot trouble."

Now that she said it, he realized how right she was. She saved his life several times these past few weeks. "You're right," he said. "I just didn't want to make everyone else feel bad by boasting about my best friend's unsurpassed power."

She blushed purple light. She probably thought the flattery was overdone, but Navi was a sucker for compliments.

Link looked at all the people in this posse. A fairy, a sage, a captain, a princess, a fugitive, and a traitor. "We're an odd bunch," he said aloud to himself, "but maybe that's just what we need to make this work."