So there was one thing I forgot to mention: updates are going to be very sporadic from here on out. I don't plan on taking another 3 year hiatus, but I did just update this story...what? last night? It all blurs together after a while. Anyway, once again, this isn't my proudest work, but I promise my writing will be back to halfway decent by the next chapter (plus there will be plenty more nabsxganon goodness)!

She supported me through almost everything. While most girls her age thought about whom they would marry, what their wedding would be like and how many kids they would have, her only dream was to stand by my side, not as my wife, but as my protector.

Ganon frowned at himself in the mirror, turning from side to side. Kotake and Koume smiled crookedly behind him. "It looks quite dashing, my Prince."

"So dashing."

He still wasn't too sure. "I don't know, it's a little...grand for my taste. I won't really have to wear this to the crowning ceremony would I? And why are we even getting ready so early, it's not for another month."

"The real outfit will be made in pure silk, Young Lord."

"And why wouldn't my Lord want to look as perfection should?"

"Oh, no, it's great, it really is," Ganon assured them. "I just kind of miss my...I don't know..."

"Your kiddy clothes?"

The twin witches shrieked in unison, and Ganon whirled around to see Nabooru leaning against the threshold of his room. She gave a whistle and raised an eyebrow. "Well don't you look dashing, Milord."

Kotake and Koume, peeved at the interruption but slightly relieved to see Ganon grin and strike a pose for her, shuffled out of the room. They were careful to mutter insults at the common girl as they trundled past her, though. "What do you think? This is what my outfit is supposed to look like at the crowning ceremony in a month. I mean, after the actual crowning. I do that in my war armor."

"For a tribe of thieves, we're some serious sticklers on tradition," Nabooru observed mildly. Suddenly, she clapped her hands. "Anyway, guess what I'm here for."

"To tell me that red and gold would look better than red and blue? Because I kind of like the red and blue. Keep in mind that this will all be silk." He swirled the cape jokingly.

"I got accepted!"

He dropped the cape. "What?"

"I get to go into raids early! The generals talked it over and they finally caved! Got the news just now!"

"Nabooru that's great!"

Beaming, she rushed into his open arms, but with the outfit Ganon was trying on and Nabooru's overexcited gusto, they toppled over into one of the giant piles of cushions. They laughed hysterically as they tried to get loose, Nabooru's limbs only getting tangled in the loose fabric.

After a while they gave up, gasping for breath and sprawled across the cushions. "Ahaha..." Ganon rolled over to look at her. "You know, this is the most I've laughed in a week I think. Kotake and Koume have been breathing down my neck with all this ceremony crap. I still have a month too, for Din's sake!"

"Well considering they can't even stand to be in the same room as me, maybe I should just follow you around all day. Now that I'm officially a soldier I wouldn't even have to play hooky from training."

"Honestly, that would be the best thing to happen to me. I'll even give you a reason to follow me around: you could be my...second-in-command! My right hand man! Er...woman."

Nabooru laughed and jumped up, tossing the cape around her dramatically. "Nabooru Spirit, Second-in-Command to the Gerudo Thieves! I like the name. Do I get to wear silk like you?"

He stood up and adjusted the huge cape around her smaller shoulders with a smile. "Only the best for my better half."

Nabooru beamed up at him. He could see it in her eyes, that same look she'd had when he met her years ago, the same look that she had every time she challenged him to a fight, pushed him onward towards his destiny as her king. 'Better half' was a serious understatement.

"Tell me, what was it like your first time?"

Ganon broke out of his stupor in time to see her admiring herself in the mirror. "Wha?"

She grinned at him. "At battle. It was a year ago, wasn't it? You'd think they'd take better care of a Prince that only comes around every hundred years."

"Well I was such a prodigy among you commoners, they thought they'd send me into raids a little early. You know, just to try out the war machine in the making."

"Oh you're such a stud." She wrinkled her nose and threw the cape back at him. "Anyway, what was it like?"

Ganon laughed. "Why do you want to know so badly?"

"Aww, cummon! Tell me! Was it exhilarating? It must be, that feeling of a knife in your hand, no-holds-barred combat, all in the name of jewels and gold and glory..."

"Nabooru..."

She laughed and danced back over to him. "Tell me, or you might not be able to call me your 'better half.' I can get pretty brutal, you know that."

He chuckled. "Maybe you will be okay then," he said under his breath.

She stopped and looked at him, raising an amused eyebrow. "What was that?"

Ganon looked up. "What? Nothing."

Nabooru dropped her smile. "Gan."

He sighed. "You're just so excited. I don't want to ruin it for you." It was pathetic how quickly he caved, he thought to himself.

"What is there to ruin? I've been working my entire life for this." The lightheartedness was quickly ebbing away.

"I'm just saying...I don't want you thinking like that, just in case..."

"In case what?"

"Nabs, look." He put his hands on her shoulders, completely serious. "Killing...it isn't for everyone."

"Oh, Din..." she rolled her eyes and looked away. "I got the same talk from the generals when I first brought up the idea of going into raids early. And you know what? They even had the audacity to bring up my mother. They said that they were worried weak-mindedness ran in the family. Said they already had once deserter, two would just be a disgrace."

He didn't know what to say to that, and decided it was best to keep his mouth shut. Wrong decision.

She opened her mouth, closed it, then sighed. "Please don't tell me..."

"Nabooru, I'm just worried for you. You're going in so young..."

"You went in when you were sixteen!"

"Yeah, but I'm—" He stopped himself.

"What, you're saying because you're the prince you're immediately stronger than the rest of us? Are you saying I'm not qualified?"

"What? No! Nabooru..."

"No, don't 'Nabooru' me!" She pushed his hands off of her and backed away, angry. "Do you think I'm weak? That I can't do this? I've been kicking your ass up and down this fortress since we were seven!"

"What's going on here?"

Kotake and Koume had conveniently returned, wearing identical masks of false confusion. Nabooru looked over her shoulder at them. "Nothing. I was just leaving." He could hear her gritting her teeth from across the room.

Just as she was striding out, she wheeled around. "Oh, and as for your outfit, my Prince," she sneered. "Red and blue silk will just look tacky on you."

He winced as she slammed the door behind her.

All she ever wanted was to be by my side...protect me from dangers I wasn't even aware of...

Again, apologies for any disappointments! Let me know how you feel!