Chapter 11: Change, Choice, and Principles

Ganondorf closed his eyes as Storm carried him through the fields of Hyrule. By the Goddesses the wind felt wonderful against his face. Once all his work was done, this would be how he'd spend his days. Riding, across his domain knowing that he had made the world better a place.

And when he had grown too old to sit on his throne, he'd take Storm out for one last ride and never return. What tales they would tell of him! Ganondorf the warrior-king, the savior of the Gerudo. They would love him, some few would spit at his memory no doubt. But they would all agree that he shaped the age to his will and on the whole they were better for it. And then he disappeared. Yes, that would be the way of it. That's how he wished to be remembered.

"Gan," Nabooru's voice had a sting to it. "I can tell you're not listening."

"Sorry?" Ganondorf opened his eyes and came back to the present. "I'm listening. Promise."

Nabooru shook her head as she rode beside him. One bound hand cradled at her lap, the bandages that covered her feet and legs covered with her riding pants and boots.

He needed to keep his head in the present, he needed to focus. Dreams are fine things, but lost in them left one open to the dangers at hand. He could not drift off, he could not lose control. The last time he had not kept focused on what was needed at the moment… he glanced toward Nabooru's bandaged hands. Never again. Focus.

"I'm not saying I don't support what you did," Nabooru continued. "All I'm saying is that you should have told me. I could have helped plan the thing. What good is having me around if you throw moblin ambushes at me completely by surprise."

"I wanted you surprised," Ganondorf shrugged. "I wanted everyone observing you to know without reservation that you had no idea what was happening. I needed everyone to see our sisters fighting for their lives beside the Hylians. I didn't want you accidentally revealing anything to your new friends."

Nabooru looked at him, frowning, her eyes growing hard. "You're talking about Jora."

"Among others," Ganondorf said. "I believe I saw you talking to that Sheikah."

"I can't believe you!" She hissed.

Ganondorf took a deep breath, it was best to just let her say her piece. Let her get her anger out.

"You think I'd reveal something about what we're doing? You think I'd befriend a Sheikah? Jora made me sit with her, and I'll have you know, I told her I'd kill her."

"Because she made you angry, correct?"

"Obviously, what does that have to do with anything?"

"Nabooru, I owe you my life. Three times over at least."

"We counting that… thing back at the forest?"

"I don't see why not."

"Then I'm at five."

"Fine, if there was ever an enemy I wanted killed or I needed someone to watch my back you are the only person I would ever chose. But, and I am saying this with all the love in my heart. I have seen sand-seals lie more convincingly than you."

"Get off it."

"Why do you think I have never brought you in to court? You can argue better than me when you set your mind on something, and that is possibly the most useful skill when dealing with the king and the worms he calls his advisors."

"I figured you just didn't want me to get bored."

"It was because I don't want them knowing you. I don't want them to see all your little tells, the way you avert your eyes when you're uncomfortable. The way you touch your braid when you're distracted. I don't want them to see how bad a liar you are."

"I am not that bad a liar!" Nabooru said loud enough for the rest of their company to hear.

Might as well get them involved then. Ganondorf turned around in his saddle. "Sisters?"

His warriors burst out in laughter. "Nabs," Jocquine piped up. "I still remember when you actually jumped for joy when we won at Terry Town."

"What?" Nabs said. "It was hard fought, I'm allowed to let out a little energy."

"With respect," Bethmasse's deep voice followed her. "Whenever we play cards, if you have a good hand you never take your eyes off them. It's like you're worried they'll change on you."

Nabs didn't have a response to that, or to the vai's laughter. And though he tried to contain himself, Ganondorf could not help but grin as Nabooru glowered at them all.

"Well, Nabs," Mulli said, the only one to actually look apologetic. "But that's not a bad thing. It shows you're honorable." Then even sweet little Mulli cracked a shy smile. "After all how can you be dishonorable when you brush your braid whenever you're slightly uncomfortable. Gives it away."

Nabooru glared at the smallest of Gan's guard as she let go of her braid.

"Sisters! Sisters!" Desqueza raised her hands to quiet them down. "We can all see Nabs is uncomfortable, we should stop."

"Thank you," Nabooru said through gritted teeth.

"Sorry, Nabs," Mulli said.

Then Desqueza gave Ganondorf a devilish grin before she met Nabooru's eyes. "But I have a question, dear sister. After the moblins were defeated, I went looking for you and I couldn't find you. Or Sir Jora for that matter, where did you go?"

"That's!" Nabooru tried to say, but before should could say anything the blush went up her neck to turn her face completely red, sending the warriors into another fit of laughter. "Oh may the sands take all of you!"

"And to prove my point," Ganondorf said once their giggles quieted down. "I can tell right now you're furious."

"Of course I'm furious!" She rounded on Ganondorf. "At you most of all. You could have gotten us killed with your little trick."

"I would never let anything happen to you. I made certain that all of my sisters were seated well away from the doors. And, in truth, I thought you were so wounded you wouldn't take part in the fighting."

"Then perhaps you don't know me as well as you think."

"Regardless, it worked. After that bit of theater the king trusts us more than ever. I didn't even have to suggest bringing my armies to aid in the defeat of the monsters. He brought it up himself. When it's time for us to strike, I'll be seated on his throne before that fat oaf can even marshal his forces against us."

They rode in some quiet except for the occasional mumbled threats made by Nabooru under her breath. They stopped when they reached a crossroads.

"And here," Ganondorf said. "I'll leave you. Nabs, you have your orders?"

"Call the tribes," she said, her voice still in a grumble. "Tell them to prepare for war and ride toward the pass. While you go collect your stones."

"Good," Ganondorf held out his hand.

Nabooru shook her head, but took it. "So which of them are you after now?The Tree has to be dead."

"He's dead, but something killed the insect before it could deliver the stone to me. But it has been marked and whoever holds it now is bringing it out of the woods. Probably trying to find some new place to hide it. I'll be able to take it at my leisure."

"Good, I never want to go back there. And the last two? It'll be hard to deal with their guardians if they know you killed the Tree won't it?"

Ganondorf let his grip loosen, and looked to the mountains still off in the distance. "One won't be as hard you'd think. The Gorons killed their guardian years ago."

"Why?"

Ganondorf shrugged. "Don't know the details. But dragons are temperamental, and Gorons solve all their problems with their fists. Seems inevitable."

"What about the other one?"

"More difficult. In truth, I haven't quite figured out how to handle that one yet."

"Oh, so you don't have everything figured out. There's a surprise."

"I just need to go observe the details of the situation. I'll think of something."

Nabooru's glare softened a little. "Just promise me you won't contact your mothers, not again. Not when I'm not there."

"I can handle them."

"Like you did last time? Please, they'd cut your throat themselves if it meant their schemes would succeed."

Without his warriors or two powerful mages, against a creature blessed by the Goddess of Wisdom, herself. That could make things difficult. But as usual, Nabs had a point, if he lost control again that would be the end. "Very well, Nabs. I won't call my mothers for aid."

"Good." Nabooru paused for a moment, then reached over and wrapped her arms around him, as best she could while they both rode on their horses. "Stay safe."

"You as well."

Nabooru released him then punched him in the shoulder. Not hard, it was barely even a tap. But Ganondorf grabbed the spot in mock surprise. "And that's because I'm still mad at you."

And without another word, she led his honor guard to the west and their home. A part of him wished to return with them. Take time to see his home, remind himself of all its problems that he needed to fix. Plot out the path of the aqueduct he finally got the king to agree to build, and organize groups of workers to get started.

But that would only delay him. Once he attained true power and the world was at his feet, he could return. But to get home, he needed to go ever father away.


From his perch along the jagged ridge of Mount Lanayru that surrounded the Zora's Domains, Ganondorf watched the still waters below. All his weapons, armor, and jewelry he had left with his horse. Instead he wrapped himself in clothing that was loose enough to let him move unhindered, but fit his form enough not to scratch together. All colored in the browns and grays of the stones on which he lay.

One more gift from his mothers. When he was a child, they'd brought him a Shiekah they had captured under some terrible enchantment. He had not realized what they had done to her at the time. All he knew was he had a new tutor to teach him how to move about unseen.

He had never quite taken to it as he had swordsmanship. He did not delude himself that he was as skilled as a true Shiekah Needle. But he knew enough to surprise anyone that a man of his size could sneak up on him. And that talent, more than anything, might have been why they called him the King of Thieves.

Now he needed to use it to meet with the last surviving guardian. The Great Whale that the Zora worshiped as their god. Every day, the Zora came to this shore to offer the guardian food and worship in exchange for some blessing or another. But for the two days Ganondorf watched, the guardian did not appear.

And that wasn't the only thing that was missing. He had sent the Octorok to attack the Zora. The hope was that he would offer the Guardian to remove the Octorok threat in exchange for the Saphire. But, as far as he could tell the Zora Kingdom was entirely at peace.

He sighed and stretched out on the rocks. He'd wait one more hour before returning to his horse and camp. A man was not born to simply sit and wait for things to happen. It felt like a waste of what precious time he had. All this sneaking around, these plots. It was draining, things were so much simpler during the war. He and his advisors would argue for hours until they'd hammered out a plan and then they'd ride off, descending upon the unsuspecting Hylians with arrow and fire.

But that way had led to nothing. No matter how exciting that life had been, how many great victories he won, he could not crack the walls of Hyrule. And every loss he suffered his enemies could lose ten and they would still have more in reserves.

This way was better: deceit and power. There may be no glory in it. But if this is what he had to do for his people he would. Without hesitation.

But by the Goddesses was it dull.

He had almost given up for the day, ready to slink back to Storm and the tent he'd disguised to look as part of the mountainside. When a ripple formed on the center of the waters. Something small at first, but it spread out along the pool. Another followed, and another. Each growing bigger, until the ripples turned to waves.

Ganondorf moved as close to the edge of his outcropping of stone as he dared. Was this it? The scrolls had mentioned that each of the guardians was large, but to be gargantuan enough to disturb the waters so dramatically? If he angered it, the beast would just squash him.

A purple tentacle rose out of the water, it thrashed about latching itself on the shore. More sprung from the waves and the multicolored bladderlike head of a Bari bubbled forth.

"By the Goddesses," Ganondorf muttered. He knew the Octorock bred the Bari as beast of war, but he had never know them to grow so large.

The Zora on the shore screamed. Several took up spears and tried to rush at the monster. But the Bari whipped it's tentacles at them, and even if they barely scrapped their target, the Zora would fall to the ground convulsing as the Bari's natural electricity surged through them.

Perhaps the Octorok had not been as useless as Ganondorf thought. More danger to the protector's people could only help his cause both with the guardian and the king of Hyrule.

Among the Zora the warriors among them lined up in some semblance of a battle line. Spears set toward the creature. A tight formation? Against a creature that could squash many of them with a single sling of its tentacles? No, that didn't make sense, a loose order was what was needed. Unless, they were protecting something. Creating a barrier of themselves.

But what they were trying to protect he could not see. Not unless he peered so far over the edge that his head might be visible to those below.

With the screams and clanging of weapons, it seemed they were all fairly distracted by the monster. If he wanted a look, now was the time to risk it. Hooking his feet along the stones to secure himself, he leaned over the lip of the ridge.

The only thing standing directly behind the line of warriors was a small Zora child. Perhaps nine or ten of age? She didn't look afraid as her men lined up to face he monster on her behalf. She huffed and folded her arms, as if the mortal peril was ruining her perfectly planned day.

Royalty, Ganondorf decided as he pulled himself back. Useless royalty at that. He focused on the fighting, trying to make note of the Zora's capabilities. He had fought against them a handful of times, but one should never forgo a chance to learn about an enemy.

The spears did not seem to be doing anything but annoy the creature. The Bari lifted itself completely onto the shore and raised its tentacles to smash the line of defenders in one massive strike. Exactly what Ganondorf thought would happen, some few might be able to avoid the blow, but they were too packed together for all of them to escape.

But before the attack landed, the whispy tendrils that hung about its head fell back, as if a deep wind blew them. Then the tentacle posed in the air followed it. Only then did Ganondorf notice the whirlpool growing behind the Bari. Water swirled as something pulled on it, then the air whistled around the Bari's tentacles and forced it away from the little Zora vai and her wall of spearmen.

From the whirlpool came a massive jaw. Large and wide enough to swallow the Bari whole.

Ganondorf felt his jaw drop open. If the Bari was enormous, he did not have the words to describe how large this creature was. This must be Lord Jabu-Jabu, and his mind could barely make sense of it. It did not look like fish or whale or any of the other descriptions he'd read about it. It's head was snakelike, but with stalked chameleon's eyes searching all around it. As it's lower jaw cleared the water, Ganondorf could make out the thrashing shapes of Bari and Octorok caught in its throat. Still alive, still moving, but trapped within the creature's sharklike teeth.

The Zora cheered as the first of the Bari's tendrils entered their deity's throat. Electricity shimmered in the air around the monster, and when it touched the guardian's jaws the fish groaned deep and loud. Enough to shake the rocks Ganondorf laid upon. He clutched at them, trying to keep the stones together as the Bari sank deeper and deeper down Jabu-Jabu's gullet.

As more electricity struck the deity, Jabu-Jabu thrashed and from his movement waves rose all the way at the other end of the water and crashed against the distant shores. However large this thing's head was, its body must stretch deep to the very depths of the water.

"And I'm going to go deal with this thing," he muttered to himself. "By the Goddesses, maybe I am going insane."

IT IS JUST A FISH BEFORE YOUR MIGHT

Ganondorf ducked back down beneath the rocks. Visions of him straddling the deity and plunging his sword through its skull filled his mind. He was laughing and hurling witchfire as Jabu-Jabu died. Burrowing his way inside, tearing through its entrails until he came upon the Sapphire hiding within its stomach. And when he blasted his way back out, his mothers sang his praises.

"No," he shut his eyes and took a deep calming breath, his heart pounded in his chest as if he had just gone through a battle. That dark part of him was getting worse. That was not the plan, it'd be suicide to confront the creature. Patience and cunning was his only path forward.

By the time he calmed himself down and looked back out on the river, Jabu-Jabu's mouth was clenched shut and the Bari was nowhere to be seen. The Zora shouted and prayed as their guardian swam toward them.

"Get ready!" the little Zora shouted to her guard. She walked to the edge of the pool and held her hands wide. "Great Lord Jabu-Jabu, I have provided a feast for you."

Behind her, the soldiers brought out crates of food. Jabu-Jabu opened his mouth wide, and they threw hundreds of still wiggling fish into its maw.

"Now," the vai said as she stepped right up to Jabu-Jabu. "My wish. I wish to marry someone, but my mother and father don't take me seriously. They say I'm too young and my feelings will change with the tides. I am going to prove them wrong. I am going to offer my beloved the greatest promise stone so everyone knows how serious I am. You hold such a stone, I want it. Give it to me."

What kind of spoiled child is this? If any of the Gerudo children came up to him making such demands, he'd give them a hard days work out in the desert for their insolence. Evidently, Lord Jabu-Jabu agreed. The great beast closed its jaws, it's wideset eyes found the child. But it did not otherwise move. Nor did it give up the Sapphire of the Seas.

After a long time, another Zora stepped forward. This one only held one fish in his hands. He placed it before the mighty guardian and knelt. "Please, great Lord Jabu-Jabu, my son is sick. I beg you, please grant me some of your healing waters for his sake."

The guardian ducked his head beneath the shore, sending small lapping waves over the fins of the Zora's feet. When it popped back up, he raised his massive head over the kneeling Zora and opened his mouth. A thin stream of water dribbled out of his lips and down his chin. As it fell from the air, the water shimmered with bright blue light. Gleaming with the magic of the Sapphire.

The Zora gave a shout of praise and took a small bottle to catch some of the water.

"What!" the little Zora screamed. "You can't ignore me! My offering was bigger that his. My offering is bigger than all of the others. This isn't fair!"

"Princess," one of the guards stepped forward and knelt to her. "Perhaps Lord Jabu-Jabu, in his wisdom thinks that the Sapphire is too important to be used for an engagement."

"I don't want to hear it," the vai pouted. "My father will hear about this!" She stormed away from Jabu-Jabu, and her guard followed.

Except for one, who pulled out one large fish from a pouch and laid it down in offering. "Please, Lord Jabu-Jabu, let the princess learn some humility. For all our sakes." Then he bowed and rushed after his charge.

Once the princess and her entourage left, other Zora gave their small offerings and made their wishes. Some gave one fish, others two or three. But Jabu-Jabu met with all of them, some he helped others he turned aside. Always silent, almost emotionless. But as Ganondorf watched he saw the tiny flickers on the beast's eyes and lips. Spasms of something… pain perhaps?

Ganondorf backed away from his ledge and headed down the mountainside. He returned well past midnight with a basket full of fish. Catching them ended up being a more troubling diversion than he anticipated. Half of the fish he needed to blast with witch-fire, he'd never gone fishing before and now he knew he would never waste his time on it again.

He could not see the Fish God, but hopefully it would still answer when called. He swung his leg over the ledge, and climbed down onto the shore. His boots touched down on the sand, but it didn't feel right. It took him a moment of stepping around it before he figured out what was wrong. It was not the sands of his desert, dry and dangerous. The wet sand didn't wisp around his legs, nor did he need to cover his mouth to avoid inhaling it. It sloshed around his boots. When he stepped a thick indent of his feet remained.

Smiling like a fool, he took a few harder stomps and chuckled at how perfect the imprint left behind was. No. Focus, there is no time to act like a child. He went to the edge of the shore and overturned his basket, pouring the fish into the water. "Lord Jabu-Jabu," he said. "I humbly ask for an audience with you."

The still water rippled, then welled up. Ganondorf could not help but take a few steps back from the edge as waves splashed water up to his knees. Massive jaws opened, creating a vacuum of water sucking in everything that he had offered. The jaws clenched shut, as the head of he sea lord rose above water. It's stalked eyes swiveled until they both landed on Ganondorf.

Ganondorf bowed, "Lord Jabu-Jabu, I am King Ganondorf Dragmire of the Gerudo. I come on a mission of peace, and seek your aid."

One of the creature's eyes twitched before it went back to Ganondorf, another sign of pain. But what was causing it? The spasm happened again, this time on one whole side of the great deity's face. As it had when the Bari struck it with it's electricity. Was the thing still alive somewhere deep within?

"I understand the Octorok have invaded your waters, earlier I saw you best one of their minions. I offer my aid in turning back your enemies. Sending them away and never returning to harm you or your Zora ever again. I will even offer my services to slay that which lies within you and is causing you such pain. All I ask in return is the Sapphire of Waters that you protect."

A deep low growl came from deep in the beast's throat. Jabu-Jabu's lips pulled back revealing some of its massive teeth.

"I need it to save my own home!" He held up his hands, trying to show the creature he had no ill intent. "I am not an arrogant child demanding the stone for my own gratification. My home is a barren desert. With the Stone I may be able to bring life to the lands. And when my work is done, I will return it to you."

The great sea beast was not convinced. It opened its jaws revealing the vast red tunnel of its throat. A deep magical pull came from inside, a sense of wisdom and wonder. Knowledge of ages and the power of the Goddesses somewhere lying deep within the creature.

Then it snapped its jaws shut, nearly catching Ganondorf between its massive teeth. The Gerudo stumbled back, splashing through the thin layer of water that covered the sands. Then the guardian of the Sapphire sunk beneath the waters. The path to the stone was closed to him.

"Is that it?" Ganondorf stood up and rushed to the edge of the water, looking down into the black depths. "Is that your answer?"

But the deity was gone. It just taunted me, Ganondorf realized. It revealed the stone, and that it knew what Ganondorf wanted then showed him the way was closed to him. That black thought of him hacking his way through the creature with magic and sword came back to him, before he shook the thought away.

"If that's your answer," Ganondorf said, as he headed back to the stone walls and began to climb. "I'll find another way." If he headed into the beast himself, it would just capture him as it had the Bari and Octorok that went against it. He would need someone else to go in for him. Someone easy enough to manipulate to bring the Sapphire back to him, and that Jabu-Jabu would protect while it stayed within it.

Another thought came to Ganondorf, one less bloody, more nuanced than anything that came from that deep well of anger within him. But even as he worked through the details he did not like it. Manipulating a young vai's emotions felt wrong. Even one as arrogant as that Zora princess had been.

But it would work, wouldn't it? And he wouldn't even need to call upon his mothers as he promised Nabs. Two simple spells, one to play on the Zora's already present desires and another to simply make the guardian breath in at the proper moment. But could he cast that first spell? Could he destroy a child's will? Just as his mothers had showed him. The thought of it felt as sick as bile. The girl may be a nuisance, but that did not mean she deserved what was to be done to her.

And what if the spell went wrong? If the girl perished in the attempt? He'd attacked villages before. Children perished in war, it was inevitable. He avoided it when he could, and never soiled his own blade with the blood of innocents. But it would be nothing but hypocrisy to think his hands clean because he had not stabbed them himself.

But could he be so direct in the doom of a child?

He climbed over the rough mountainside in silence. Weighing the deaths he had caused against the lives he hoped to save as he returned to his hidden camp. Storm lay on the ground, his legs tucked beneath him. He opened his eyes as Ganondorf approached, the great destrier shook his mane and stood up. As ready to be gone from the Zora's Domain as he.

Ganondorf reached the horse, and pet his neck. "Almost, Storm. We're almost done."

After all, what was one more vow broken, one more line crossed, one more death on his hands?