Din, despite Dora's reassurance that the current situation was not her fault, felt responsible for the break her mom and dad were taking. Ganondorf isolated himself from them completely. The only time she saw him was in passing through the castle's halls, and he treated them like strangers. She could see that it broke her mom's heart, so she was determined to fix her mistake.
Din took her shift at patrolling the castle. They were all on high alert of any suspicious activity involving a certain hero. The Master Sword was raised once more in an attempt to lure the hero into the open. Lucien was courageous, but not a fool. Part of her still felt this could all be worked out peacefully. After playing scenarios in her head repeatedly for days, she knew there was only one way to bring peace to Hyrule, and, as its princess, that was her priority.
As nearly every time she walked the halls in the late morning, Ganondorf passed her, and said nothing. The silence had worn on her, and she could barely contain it anymore. She stopped and stomped her heel on the floor. Her fists clenched tightly. "How can you just pretend like I don't exist?" she yelled.
He continued, not even hesitating.
Wise or not, Din decided to follow him. "Do you even care what happened to me when I ran away?"
Since she was so insistent on following, he said, "I already know." He still did not look back at her.
She was determined to annoy him until he acknowledged her. "So, you know I tried to convince Lucien to surrender?" she asked, while correcting the lies he had convinced himself to believe.
He stopped, but did not turn around. "That means you failed."
Din lost all thought, because he was right. Before he could walk away again, she quickly said, "That may be true, but this is all my fault, and you should not have taken it out on mom."
Ganondorf groaned and shook his head. "You are not permitted to question my decisions," he growled.
"Regardless of Mom's position, I am still your flesh and blood, and therefore the princess of Hyrule."
"You are a curse, a burden," he shouted, interrupting her. "You are fortunate that I permit you to keep your life."
Din was wounded by his words. "Say what you will, but I know the truth! You didn't comfort away the nightmares, or scare away invisible monsters, and teach me how to wield a weapon, just to throw me away. I haven't forgotten, and while I made a selfish mistake, you are making an even larger one."
Ganondorf turned to face her finally, and his gaze on her was cold. "It is not what you have done, but who you are, that warrants my actions. The reason you have past memories, your ridiculous compassion toward the hero, and your desire to protect Hyrule, is because the Goddess, Hylia, is reborn in you, just as I am the Demon King, Demise."
After a brief moment of comprehension, Din asked, "This just couldn't get any worse, could it?"
"When I complete the Triforce and have my wish fulfilled, the goddesses spirit will be removed, leaving your fate unknown."
Din was speechless.
"I see that you are not entirely as foolish as your mother. You are calculating the consequences of your next actions," he complimented. "What will you do?"
"Hylia was given the Triforce by the three goddesses to protect it from evil, but was also charged with protecting the people of Hyrule. The cycle of rebirth has continued long enough and I wish for that to end, but to also know I have done what is best for this kingdom. Lucien and I must have met out of circumstance, and he is undoubtedly the hero chosen by the goddesses. I would not choose him as my hero though. He has decided to continue the cycle, where you would end it with the power of the Triforce. It is this rivalry that has caused so much death, not a desire for destruction." Din spoke proudly and with certainty, and not a doubt remained when she said, "The Gerudo were grossly mistreated. The way you led them from that deadly desert to prosper in Hyrule was the act of a king, not a tyrant. I firmly believe that you are still that man. No, if I could choose a hero, it would be you, Dad."
Ganondorf immediately wanted to insist that he was not a hero, but she was so passionate about her emotions even he believed it could be true. It was only a matter of perspective whether he was a hero or villain. "You inherited intellect, but you talk just as much," he said, and smirked. "I will consider your words."
Din smiled. His eyes had softened just a fraction, enough that she knew she had punctured the wall he built over the past few days. "There's one more thing," she added with concern. "Mom and I have been talking about how we can expose Lucien. She wants me to take the Master Sword to him in the woods, and then she would ambush and kill him. She seems pretty convinced this is the only option, and that it will win you back, but I'm afraid for her."
"Because she will die," he said, his voice emotionless. In their current state, his power could not save her. "No. You will convince her to-."
"Why don't you?" Din asked, fighting a grin that pulled at her lips. "I mean, she is the general still, right? So, any schemes you have that involve your soldiers or minions have to be relayed to her anyway. Or, are you afraid you still love her?" she teased.
Ganondorf glared at Din. "Did she put you up to this?"
"No. You are my parents, you are both miserable, and I'm tired of it. Mom has put on a good face, but I have heard her cry in her room at night. This needs to end! If you want my help in obtaining the Triforce, which you undoubtedly will to lure Lucien unwittingly into a trap, then you will make amends with Mom," Din said with finality. Her father's eyes shifted once more, but not toward anger, toward his usual arrogance.
Ganondorf filled with pride, and some anger that he had allowed her to deceive him so well. He felt accomplished, knowing she was raised with a perfect balance of his and Dora's best traits, despite a few bumps along the way. No one was as perfect as him, but she was pretty close. "I will talk to her," he said, still stern, "but I make no promises."
"I don't need you to promise anything, because you were destined to be with her," Din said with a smile. "Thank you, Dad. I love you."
Ganondorf grunted in response and turned from her to continue down the corridor. Din returned to her patrol through the castle, satisfied.