A/N: Slight spoilers to Tears of the Kingdom for whoever hasn't yet played, but I promise it isn't much, more like two scenes before the story is all AU.
Prologue
An Era Untold
Long Ago, Time of Legends, Hyrule Depths..
Ganondorf panted with a smirk aimed at his foes. Rauru, leader of the near-extinct Zonai and first King of Hyrule, his Queen the Hylian Sonia, the would-be holders of the Zonai Sacred Stones- or Tears- and needlessly named Sages. "You have not won yet, Rauru! This kingdom will be mine!" He proclaimed as the Zonai frowned.
"You are wrong, Ganondorf. This will be the end of you and your tyranny. Now!" Suddenly, Ganondorf was surrounded by orbs of different colored light as the Sages assaulted him with their elemental powers, enhanced by their Secret Stones. Ganondorf batted the attacks away like they were nothing, his own Stone- stolen from the Queen- pulsating as his power over the red and black substance known as Malice exploded around him, giving him a closer form to that of the Demon King of Legend, Demise. He froze, however, as Rauru appeared, his right hand flat against the usurper's built chest. "Hyrule shall know your terror no longer!"
Ganondorf chuckled. "And how do you expect to stop me? With this Secret Stone, I am invincible!" Rauru's arm began to glow brightly, runes stretching from it in wispy green lines of Zonai text. "You expect to seal me here, then?"
Rauru grunted. "It is the only way!" His voice was strained, this would be his final attack or else the Zonai would perish.
Ganondorf only chuckled as he felt the power from Rauru's arm absorb itself into his body, the Stone on his forehead pulsating quicker than before. "You don't have the strength to stop the Demon King!" He laughed as Rauru's arm glowed brightly before disintegrating from the hand holding Ganondorf down.
"What is this power? The Stones are not made for such things!"
Ganondorf only grabbed the Zonai by the collar, Rauru's body beginning to glow as his arm had moments before. "This is the power of a true King. All of Hyrule will bow to me!" Before Rauru could say anything else, Ganondorf sent a pulse of malevolent energy out from his body, the Sages falling to the ground, lifeless. Then, the Demon King leveled his evil red eyes at the Zonai. "The Gerudo will rule this pathetic Kingdom of peace, and my dynasty shall never end!" Rauru screamed in agony as his body was destroyed, the magic held within him absorbed into the now unstoppable, and without equal, Ganondorf, who laughed as the sky outside the depths became as red as blood. This was the beginning of the Era of the Gerudo..
Eighteen Years Ago, Hyrule Castle..
Ganondorf frowned at the wrapped-up infant in his arms. A daughter, his second in fact, but she wasn't what he had been expecting. No, it was about time for the Gerudo Cycle to begin again, with a new male born into their now Hyrule-wide tribe. Like his forefathers had, Ganondorf had thought the child would be the next King, destined to continue the family dynasty.
No matter. It only allows me longer to rule. He thought as he looked at his new daughter. His older child, Sonia, was wide-eyed with a smile on her three year old face. "Zelda?" She asked cutesy, making Ganondorf chuckle.
"Yes, little one, this is your sister Zelda. Protect her, always." The tiny girl nodded enthusiastically before she rushed off to wherever she wanted in the castle.
Meanwhile, Zora's Domain..
The Zora midwife, a shark-based Zora named Sharyl, smiled at the Hylian woman laying on the delivery bed panting, even though her eyes were quick to notice things. "Your healthy baby boy, Hilda. Congratulations."
Hilda froze and stared at the Zora in shock. "Boy..? But.."
Sharyl nodded. "Yes, it seems you have given birth to the boy who would be destined to rule our land. Once that despicable Ganondorf is put out of his misery. I'm sorry it took a day to get him ready to see you."
Hilda looked at her son, a tuft of blonde hair like her present on his tanned head. "Well, if he's to be a king- a good king- then he must be kept safe."
"And we Zora will protect you both with our lives, as you were promised when you first ran away from Castle Town all those months ago. In fact, the King has declared you both live in the old farmhouse on the outskirts of the city. Even if Ganondorf comes knocking, the only way he will know of your son is if he sees the little guy in person. Now, did you have a name picked out?"
Hilda nodded. "Yes. A good name for a good King. Nik."
"Nik.. a variation on Nicholas, correct?" Another nod from the small Hylian. "A good name, one meaning victory for the people. He shall indeed be a strong ruler. I'll let you both rest up." Sharyl smiled before leaving the room, her tail lightly smacking the inside of the door as she passed, causing it to close.
Hilda looked down at the little baby in her arms, more surprised that his eyes were blue- like hers- instead of the usual amber or red most children in today's Hyrule were born with. "Little Nik. No harm will come to you, my prince. It seems you are destined for great things."
One Month Ago, Hyrule Castle, Throne Room..
The now seventeen year old Zelda was livid as she slammed the doors open to the throne room, making her father pick his head up from his hand as one of the guards were not quick enough to dodge the door, earning a loud thud as they hit the wall. "Father! Did you really kill all those women?" She had just come from the dungeons, or at least a part no one usually dared to tread, where she had found dozens of women, all recently pregnant at time of death by the looks of the ones on top of the sickening pile. "It's sickening!"
Ganondorf grunted. "Of course I did, my dear princess. None of those unborn children were to be your brother, the next Gerudo King. I already have you and your sister, I do not need or have want for any more."
Zelda was fuming. She had seen the signs of her father's Malice everywhere, but only recently had she begun looking into such things, her scientific outlook a product of her own mother's personality. "You're disgusting! A true King wouldn't do such things!"
"Quiet down, Zelda. I would rather not have to lock you up. Not with your powers." Ganondorf said calmly, pointing to Zelda's now glowing hands. Despite her parentage, she still somehow retained the light powers of the Hylian royal family from before the first Ganondorf, Gerudo King of Hyrule had defeated the opposing side in the Imprisoning War. Of course, since then both the depths of Hyrule in which the legendary final stand had taken place and rhe Zonai Sky Islands above had been hidden, inaccessible. Z3lda was also valuable in this regard, with her inquisitive nature into the history of her kingdom. Admirable, despite the trouble it caused both her and him.
A:N .5: Sorry, just want to clarify. See, the way the story goes in TotK, you're made to believe Queen Sonia, allmother of Zelda's line in-game, was killed by Ganondorf, and in fact the tear he wears was hers. But with the final sealing of Ganondorf, the Hylian royal family couldn't exist. There was no mention of a child, but it's the only way the family line of Zelda in Breath and Tears even works based on what they give you. Back to the story..
Zelda groaned, shaking her hands until the glow died down. "Of course that's all you care about! Power this, power that. It's all so damned annoying! What do we need more power for, father? Our family already rules the entire kingdom! You've taxed many of our citizens into poverty, Castle Town has a fourth the population it had before you took over from grandfather! It's no way to run a truly prosperous kingdom, and it will cost you." Her words were laced with venom, a disdain Ganondorf had not heard before, neither from Zelda or her older sister Sonia, who was curiously absent from her sister's side, the less troublesome daughter that she was.
"That's enough, Zelda!" Ganondorf said, standing up and stomping one foot, causing the room to quake with a terrible power. "I have had enough of your rebellion against your own family! Guards, put her in the solitary cell. Only meals are to be brought to her. Is that understood?!"
The two Gerudo straightened and tapped their spears on the floor. "Yes, your Majesty!" They said in unison before grabbing Zelda by the arms, proceeding to drag her away towards the dungeons even as the princess struggled against her would-be captors. She shook her head, her blonde braids swaying.
"You will pay, father! I have seen the future foretold! Your power will soon mean nothing." She managed to shout out as the door to the dungeons slammed shut behind the three, leaving Ganondorf to stew about her words.
One Week Ago, Hyrule Castle Dungeons, Solitary Cell..
Zelda hummed the lullaby she only knew from memory, having not heard it sang out loud aince she was just a baby. She stopped, however, as she heard the door that lead to her confinement opened and closed, a bit too quietly for it to be a regular guard. "Hello?" She called, thinking she'd be ignored.
"You are down here!" Cane the excited voice of Zelda's best friend and self-proclaimed advisor, Purah. "I've been worried sick and all your father would tell me was that you were away from the castle. But then I went and asked my contacts in the other settlements and all of said you hasn't passed through, so I could only think of down here and then I had to fomigure out when the right guard was on duty to nring your food down. I told her it was a form of community service to the king, and of course they believed it hook, line and sinker. We gotta get you out of here and-"
"No, Purah. I will not put you in danger like that. No, but maybe there is something you can do. You and your contacts." Zelda never knew whether or not Purah's so-called intel network was legitimately a real thing, but she figured it didn't hurt to play along with it for the occasion.
"The Sheikah Corps is at your disposal, princess. What do you need?" Bold for her to name it that, considering how long it's been since the Sheikah were really a thing. Zelda thought, knowing the significance of the name to Purah (from her studies), who thought herself descended from the now otherwise extinct human faction of Hylians, her white hair the clear indication, in Purah's own words.
"My father has been killing all of his recent wives. For how long, I can't be sure." Purah's face had a look of pure terror on it. "He's been after the son he never got, the-"
"One who would be the next king.. The Hundred Year Rule.. And yet, no son has been born of the kingdom since your father took hold of the throne."
"Not unless they're hiding out in Zora's Domain, or even Rito Village. The Koroks wouldn't be much of an option, nor the Minshi in their Woods. Just have your Sheikah keep their eyes peeled for any signs. Even better if you can get my father to send you out on delegation duties." Zelda gasped. "That's it! I don't need you while I'm locked up, say you heard a guard mention I was down here and you wanted to be of use. You know father, he'll take the offer and ask around. There's no way the Hundred Year Rule has suddenly broken itself. Start with the Zora. They're usually the most compliant to delegations, and known to have hidden away a person or two through history."
Purah pursed her lips, not wanting to volunteer for anything that involved Ganondorf himself but knew how important this must have been to Zelda, judging by the pleading tone. "Alright, fine. I'll go looking for your hunch, but done expect anything to come out of it. It's hard keeping anything secret from your father."
Zelda nodded morosely. "I know, Purah. Now go, and be quick. Goddess knows how long father will decide to keep me locked up like this, but I'm sure he'll do it for as long as he finds necessary."
Purah rolled her eyes. "With your track record, it could be upwards of a year if he thinks you're really rebelling against him like this."
"What can I say, Purah? A princess needs her Prince, right? Or King, in our culture or at least. Here's hoping he's easier on the eyes than my father.." She laughed nervously as Purah sighed, leaving the dungeons and going to tell Ganondorf what 'she' wanted to do.
Two Days Ago, Lanayru Province, Zora's Domain Border..
Purah straightened herself at the sight of the Zora guarding the path to further enter their personal domain. For a Gerudo like Purah, her entrance meant sacrificing her weapons to the guards just up ahead as well as the promise of no violence, otherwise you would be treated like nothing but a prisoner. And with her mission, that wasn't an option. "Greetings. I come in delegation from King Ganondorf, hoping to speak to Queen Mipha." The Zora Queen knew of Purah's actual allegiance, and was a part of her little spy network since the Zora outwardly despised the rule of the Ganondorf dynasty. She had sent word to the Domain of her imminent arrival, so Mipha should have been fine with the visitor. Purah hoped, at least.
The guard, an imposing red Zora resembling something of a shark took a step forward, smiling menacingly before laughing at Purah's suddenly downed expression. "Ha! Oh, Purah, of course my sister is expecting you. With the urgency of your visit, I hope you come with news of when we may finally strike back at Ganondorf."
Purah rolled her eyes at the sharkman's enthusiasm. "Sorry, Sidon, I don't think we're there yet. But, what I am here to discuss with Mipha may in fact bring us closer to Hyrule's retribution against Ganondorf, his entire family line and the shame the Gerudo should feel for slaughtering those who would call us friends, allies."
The now-named Sidon nodded, flashing a grin. "Exactly what I figured you would say. Come, Mipha is just out of a meditation bath." Nodding, Purah followed after the tall Zora.
They eventually arrived in a chamber, the Queen's private one, judging by the decoration. And there, sitting at a small desk, was Mipha the Zora Queen. Other than their close to the same shades of red skin and vague shark-esque qualities, Mipha and Sidon could have been as different as a Gerudo against a Pure Hylian, Mipha representing the smaller humans. "Sister! Your guest has arrived."
Mipha turned around and smiled at Purah, standing up and moving to embrace the white-haired Gerudo in a hug. "Oh, Purah! It is good to see you well. Now, what seems to be so urgent? Your letter made it seem-"
"It's not a long story, but it's a bit of a headache to me anyway. But, check it. So.." Purah then went into detail about her visit to the imprisoned Zelda, and what she had been theorizing. "You know of the tradition of the Gerudo known as the Hundred Year Rule, right?"
Mipha, being intrigued by the many cultures Hyrule once sported, nodded. "Yes, I do. It's how Ganondorf's family has stayed in power for so long, making sure they birth the Heir and keep the power of the throne to themselves ever since the first Ganondorf- the Demon King- destroyed the opposition in the Imprisoning War long ago. What does that have to do with all of this?"
"Mipha, according to that timetable, the last Heir to Ganondorf's throne would have been born eighteen years ago, the same day as Princess Zelda. But, from what Zelda told me last week, Ganondorf has been trying, failing and killing the mothers of said failed attempts at an Heir. Which can only mean that there already is an Heir born, but obviously hidden from the dark legacy of the Ganondorf Legacy. Zelda had it in her head that I'd anyone would hide such a person, it would be the Zora."
Mipha frowned. She was old enough to be the new Gerudo heir's grandmother, even if she didn't look it due to the aging of the Zora, but she didn't remember seeing any Gerudo around the Domain, not in such a regard. "I don't think the Zora have any-" The Queen was interrupted by the voice of an older (than Mipha) Zora, who sighed as she spoke.
"My Queen, my name is Sharyl. I'm a midwife down at the Nursery. I.. I know of this boy. Although he doesn't realize just what he is, due to never interacting with other Gerudo before. Both myself and his mother figured not knowing his Gerudo heritage would help him stay away from the darkness associated with Ganondorf and his dynasty."
"And why wasn't I to know of this? I have been the Queen of this Domain for over twenty-five years, and we have been harboring a Malduga-sized danger for eighteen of those years?!"
"I'm sorry, my Queen," Sharyl said, bowing her head in apology. "His mother, Hilda, is Pure Hylian. Just the fact she managed to escape that horrid Castle back then was enough for me to shelter her. Although, Hilda also said she was never touched by the fiend, only that she found herself pregnant shortly before she arrived here. I can take you to him, but I do not know how Hilda will react to such visitors," The midwife looked to the Gerudo girl. "Hilda may be but a pixie to the stature of a Gerudo, but she bites much worse than she can bark."
Purah shook her head. "I need to see him. At this time, that young man is the only possible person who can truly put a stop to Ganondorf, is the rumors of the previous King's powers being siphoned by the next until they take the throne are to be believed."
Sharly nodded, feeling the importance of Purah's words. "I will take you to them." She turned around, leading the way for Purah to follow along with Mipha, who still couldn't believe she hadn't known there was any Gerudo present in Zora's Domain at all.
Present Day, Mikau Lake, Zora's Domain..
Purah groaned. "Why did it take us two days to make the journey here? The main part of the Domain is right there!" She pointed down the cliff at the large aquatic cityscape below.
Sharyl chuckled. "If you wanted to hide, you'd want to be as off the beaten path as possible, wouldn't you? Worry not, it is only a long journey by foot."
"Yeah, like I have any other method of getting here than walking.." Purah muttered as they approached a small farmstead. "They live here?"
"Yes, and have provided many crops we Zora wouldn't usually be able to grow to our province. We owe Hilda and her son much. Hilda! Nik! Are you two home?"
The door opened and in the doorway stood the.. fourth Pure Hylian Purah had ever seen in her life, and the white-haired Gerudo was amazed at how small the woman was, standing up to about Purah's stomach. "Sharyl? What brings you.. here..? A Gerudo?!" Suddenly, the short woman had a dagger as long as her arm out, pointed in a battle stance towards Purah, who put her hands up in panic.
"Whoa, whoa! Hold up, check it. I'm not here on Ganondorf's orders. Well, not entirely. I'm acting on those orders made by Princess Zelda, not the King. I need to see your son, and I'm sure you know exactly why."
The Hylian shook her head, her long blonde hair swaying back and forth along with it. "No, absolutely not! I will not have my son subjected to whatever cow shit you Gerudo want with him." She was about to say more when a definitely Gerudo hand- although a much lighter shade than most- clasped her shoulder as her son (?) exited the house. "Are you alright, mother? Who is that with aunt Sharyl?" The boy- no, young man- was taller than Purah, probably close to if not maybe even taller than Ganondorf himself, with skin only a shade or two darker than his mother's, but he carried the same long blonde hair and blue eyes she did as well while sporting a much more athletically-built body which made Purah bite her lips as she scanned the male Gerudo.
Hilda sighed. "I'm alright, Nik, dear. Sharyl brought the Zora Queen to visit, as well as a.. well, a Gerudo."
The young man took his own dagger out from a sheath on his hip, holding it sideways and backwards in one hand. "A Gerudo?! Why would there be a Gerudo here?" He asked, eyes narrowed at Purah, who could have cried at having weapons pointed at her twice in all of five minutes.
"Oh, boy. Ignorance really is bliss sometimes, I guess. Step inside, boy, I'm not here to hurt you. Think of me as your new private tutor for the next couple of days." Nik lowered his weapon when Hilda nodded to gim, but he still glared daggers at the white-haired Gerudo on his doorstep even as she entered the house along with Sharyl and Queen Mipha.
Two Days Later, Present Day..
Nik hummed as he listened to Purah give yet another history lesson on the Gerudo people and culture. His apparent culture. Knowing what he did about the state of Hyrule under Ganondorf's rule (admittedly, not much), the eighteen year old could see why his mother would never tell him, or why the Zora who did know about his existence didn't blab about it straight to the King's mouth. "So, you're saying that, as a voe, or male Gerudo, I am technically the next in line for Ganondorf's throne, even though I'm not related to him at all?"
Purah nodded, remembering that Sharyl and even Hilda had told her that Hilda had undergone divine impregnation, for whatever reason. Yes, she had been captured by Ganondorf to birth a potential Heir, but he'd neither touched nor penetrated her in favor of- most likely in Hilda's opinion- the much better suited Gerudo women Ganondorf had otherwise put in the same position she'd been in. "Yes, because it's stated as such in the Gerudo rule of succession, or the Hundred Year Rule as we otherwise call it. Now, with you turning eighteen yesterday," A day earlier than Zelda, which would make so much more sense with all this. She thought before continuing. "You would potentially have enough power to usurp the throne and change how the Kingdom is run due to the siphoning of power from the elder Gerudo- Ganondorf in this case- to you, the younger voe."
"And what about that other thing you mentioned? The Triforce and something about Ganondorf pertaining to it?" Purah nodded as he asked the question, knowing just how unusual knowledge of the Triforce was now, ever since the first King Ganondorf had taken mention of the artifact from most if not all historical tomes he could find, and subsequent versions if they had shown up later on in the centuries since.
"Yes, now that's a piece of true Hyrule history. The Triforce is a massively powerful artifact given to the people by the three Goddesses of Creation Din, Farore and Nayru and blessed with the power of the Allmother Goddess Hylia. One who finds themselves worthy of it can make any wish they desire, and it will come true without fail. Ganondorf, as part of a Curse laid by the Ancient Demon God (Demise is a God opposite Hylia, and with the Ganondorf who technically started this Gerudo-ruled Hyrule known as the Demon King, this is to distinguish the two as separate entities) Demise, is destined to carry the Triforce third that embodies Power. It was once said, and this information is so rare most wouldn't believe you if you were under even a truth-telling spell, that the other two parts of the full Triforce were held by the Princess of Legend and her chosen protector, who was able to destroy Demise with the help of the Goddess Sword, a blade infused with the power of Goddess Hylia. The Sword has since disappeared from all of Hyrule and may not be needed to win this upcoming war, but it probably wouldn't hurt to find it. Those two pieces were the embodiment of Wisdom for the Princess and Courage for the Hero.
"If things are playing out as I think, you may just hold the Triforce of Courage within you, because it was said the Hero was known to be blonde with blue eyes, and there are a very small number of Gerudo with such features. But, that's just a stretch, really."
Nik frowned. "Alright, I can see where you'd get reasoning. But, then you expect me to do what, exactly? Go travel about, find this mythical sword and eventually kill the King?"
Purah nodded, hesitating slightly. "Yeah, actually.. Kind of exactly that, of course we're not entirely sure whether the Sword even exists anymore, even being a literal Holy relic. I will be leaving soon for Goron City at Death Mountain, and will be unable to help you until further notice. Here, take this." She handed him a map of Lanayru Province, a small circle marking an area not too far away from where his and Hilda's farm was located. "My contacts have told me there's an unusual set of ruins around here. It doesn't seem like it's Hylian, at least barely anything like the Pure Hylian ruins scattered about. The theory is that if there's information about the Sword, you may find it there since Ganondorf hasn't seemed to locate such ruins as of yet. But it isn't an up and leave situation, stay with your mother and make sure she's alright before you leave. Parents always worry for their children."
Nik nodded. "I'm all ma has. I wouldn't leave her alone unless I absolutely couldn't help it."
Purah beamed. "Good. Keep those values, you'll make a great king, yet. I gotta go, before the King decides to check in on my journey and stumble upon you and Hilda. Stay safe."
"Yeah, you.. too.. Damn ninja tricks." Nik said as Purah disappeared from the house in a puff of smoke and he moved to do his daily farming routine.
Only to be interrupted by Purah reappearing outside. "I'm such a scatterbrain. Forget the map, this will help you much more." Now she handed him a rectangular device emblazoned with a slightly altered Gerudo symbol. "That's the Purah Pad, invented by yours truly. It's map is still very incomplete, but you can update it with the use of the Gerudo Survey Towers all across Hyrule. It has a while bunch of features, you'll probably find a use for most all of them. Alright, gotta fly." Purah said before disappearing again.
And this is only the beginning.. Nik thought as he examined the tech in his hands, figuring out how to boot the screen up and seeing the Hyrule map was indeed mostly incomplete, only Zora's Domain and the immediate surroundings were fully mapped out, including the area Purah had told him to investigate once he felt ready. He noticed a little picture on the screen that looked similar to the Purah Pad, but when Nik's finger brushed it, he heard a snap and the screen had changed to that of his face, slightly shaken from the sudden sound. That was a.. camera? Shaking his head, Nik turned the device off and attached it to his belt. He could prod the thing further later.
~When disaster strikes, Hylia's Chosen Gerudo sets forth to end the tyranny of a Demon made King. Twilight's Queen shall return to the land and venture forth with him, the Demon's minions turning against their shamed ruler in the Hero's favor. Ice, Fire, Forest, Wind, Water, Spirit, Darkness, Light, Twilight and Time shall join him in both spirit and body, and a time of True Peace shall befall the Lost Era..~
A/N: Yes, this idea seems pretty random coming from me, but I honestly have loved Zelda since my days as a kid trying and epically failing to win my grandfather's endgame save file of Link to the Past. Unfortunately, I have yet to play Tears myself, but I spoil myself when it comes to the Memory scenes so I have that reference to start with, but then I had the thought; Oh, shit. If Ganondorf had won here, won at any time, how different would Hyrule look further on down a specific timeline? Then I realized it would in and of itself cause a timeline split of epic proportions, one what could see a Link and Zelda not paired in life at any point for hundreds even thousands of years. I figured by that point, Ganondorf would have figured out the prophecy of such things and further stomp out the regular Hylian presence leaving practically only Gerudo walking around the entire Kingdom. So, we have this gem of an idea that is equally fueled by my passion of writing as well as my most likely unhealthy attraction to the Gerudo as a race lmfao. Seriously, it's bad lmao. Anyway, I hope this isn't too far out of anyone's realm of possibility, I mean all I'm really doing is creating an alternate version of Hyrule circa Tears of the Kingdom. But with everyone being Gerudo pretty much (even some who aren't at all thought of in such a way, should be obvious by the little prophecy at the end as well as my Deviations for this story over on Deviantart. Username if anyone cares is ChocoboFarron2012. Got some fun stuff on there, and surprisingly not as much nsfw as you may think lmao. Yet, heh. Also, obviously this is going to be a huge harem fiction, be warned.
