Chronicles 2: The one where he starts a revolution

Gannon was very used to having bad days by now. Like seriously, it was like fate had it out for him. See, he didn't want to bother that nice farmer more than necessary. Especially since she was married to the hero and Gannon definitely wasn't going to risk being mistaken for Ganon in case he was the type to stab first and ask questions later.

So he left.

He should have stayed.

Creepy inky after all was still after him and apparently journal stealing was becoming a sport as well as Gannon hunting.

Aside from the fact in villages and towns they kept thinking him Gerudo and basically throwing him out. So…fun.

Bad days all around and the young man was starting to wonder what he did in a past life to gather that much negative karma. Because on top of everything bad going on, he also used up his last cigarette.

Oh, the joys of nicotine withdrawal.

He thought he passed out a few times during the next few days. Risk meeting a stabby husband by returning to the farm. Thing is…he got really lost. It's been a while since he played this particular game. And between not enough food things do tend to get kinda fuzzy.

And unfortunately when things go fuzzy in this world, bad things happen. Thankfully Gannon was more or less able to trace back what happened usually.

This time around, Gannon also didn't know how he ended up in this situation. He wasn't sure he wanted to know.

His grip on his notebook was tight enough to make his knuckles go white. It was only merciful mockery that spared him the loss of it. The dark skinned women had taken it, read a few pages and then tossed it back at him laughing, his secret thoughts and feelings exposed.

As grateful as he was to be able to keep the journal after working so hard to keep it from shadow guy, it stung his pride.

Not as much as it stung to be poked by several very sharp weapons though. Or the way the cold metal chains he was tied up in basically head to toe bit into his exposed skin.

Gannon liked strong women. He really did, promise. If a woman could step on him, he'd worship her - so sue him for being a simp.

The thing is…these women - Gerudo - were stepping all over him and weren't interested at all in being worshipped, unfortunately. In fact they were rather murderous…

"I found him lurking outside the fortress" a younger, less authoritative Gerudo, likely a lower rank, reported to an older one. Yeah, no, Gannon wasn't lurking. He was hiding from inky black dude who was still after his journal and giving him the creeps. Sadly, they hadn't believed him when he told them that.

In fact, none of the women present were interested in any way in that. "I wanted to kill him but Leya stopped me. So we took his weapons and tossed him in the cell to await his trial."

"He is a man who intruded. I say we execute him" another murderous badass lady said. Oh, yikes. Well, Gannon really didn't want to die even if there probably worse ways than being killed by Gerudo.

"Please do not-" Gannon started only to be silenced by her glare. Great. Just…fantastic. She definitely wanted his head on a spike. The young man swallowed heavily and settled on praying.

"He clearly is Gerudo" a still very much kickass elder mumbled, pinching at his dark skin before abruptly slicing a dagger through his arm, drawing blood. Gannon gives a low sound of pain that goes louder as the lady digs her finger in his wound before pulling back and observing his blood smearing her fingers in the light. Double yikes. "But he is weak. Pathetic. Untrained and unaware like a newborn. I just cannot understand how there is another man born to us already. The Hylians only recently executed our last king."

Wait a damn moment. They thought he was Gerudo too? Like Ganondorf? As in meant to be king?! Gannon is a lot but not king! He just wanted to go home and not die, please!

He thought only the farmer thought this but apparently even Gerudo themselves were fooled!

"Maybe it is a sign from Din, a blessing" a middle aged warrior theorized. Leya, Gannon thought, the one who found him as well and made sure he survived until now. Even if it was bruised, bloody and beaten. The Gerudo weren't kind to male prisoners. "A proof the path we were following was correct by giving us another king to guide us."

"We cannot continue to follow the path Ganondorf set us on" the current Gerudo Chief disagreed. "Look where it got us. Banned, cut off from trade. Our last king executed as a traitor. We are branded as murderers and thieves. So many young vai die of thirst and starvation. This is where following a man got us. We are dying."

Gannon felt her yellow eyes burn through him and he shuddered. Her words feel like a death sentence.

Honestly, between death or being king, he wasn't sure which he would chose. He just wants to go home. His grandmothers must be going grey - eh, greyer - with worry.

"I don't want to be king" He finally blurted out, desperate to beg for his life. "I came here to hide. I'm not from around here. I didn't know men aren't allowed around here and I-"

"Silence, voe, or I will gut you where you stand" a different warrior warned and Gannon flinched and clammed up immediately, utterly terrified.

"No, let him speak. He might be a voe but he is also Gerudo and he just said he came to seek shelter" the elder spoke. "He may not be a sister but he is still a son of the sands and as our ancestors taught us, we must listen to every grain."

Oh god, Gannon could kiss her. Give him a way to talk himself out of this. Please. Use those skills the debate club taught him. Take that, Lighter-Thief, it was very much a useful club and not just senseless arguing about stuff they can't change anyways.

This chance didn't stop his hands from shaking, the pages of his notebook wrinkling under his fingers and didn't keep the scathing gazes off of him. He remembered his thoughts that kept him awake at night and his wishes drawn onto paper.

I want to be able to improve the world. People should understand me and accept me for who I am.

"I'm sorry I intruded on your land. I wasn't aware of your rules and I understand that ignorance doesn't excuse transgressions. So I can only plead for mercy and understanding." There. There, a good start. Nobody chopped him to pieces yet and they're watching him attentively. Now…how to build off on that?

He didn't know where he got the next words but he found them and once he had them they tumbled out of him as unstoppable as an avalanche.

"I get it that man's world gave you neither so as a man, I apologize even as I know it means nothing because I cannot offer anything to undo the wrongs done to you. Letting people die because of a lack of resources is inhumane and cruel. You aren't living, I can see how skinny you are under your muscles. You are barely surviving now but still dying. You deserve better. But…I must ask you to understand that I'm not those who wronged you. I'm not from Hyrule. I know you weren't shown the kindness you deserve…but I beg for your kindness regardless. Cast me away as you wish but please spare my life."

He didn't know what possessed him because suddenly he added: "Do not be worse than those who did this to you."

Enraged mutters followed his words. Shouts, curses, spitting. The sound of weapons being drawn, protests rising. Gannon shrunk into himself under the chaos, eyes squeezing shut at the sound of metal, awaiting a blade and death.

He didn't expect the clicks of several locks and his chains dropping off of him.

"Elder!" The Chief protested. "You cannot-"

"I can" the woman responded. "You asked for my wisdom and here is my judgment, child. This voe is a son of the sands. His body is weak. His heart a bleeding little thing. But his mind is sharp and powerful and so is his tongue and maybe that is something we need to survive. It cannot get worse. We are at rock bottom if we consider being worse than the cursed Hylians. We shall train him like we train all our daughters and sisters so his body will match his mind and we shall follow his words once his training is complete as Din intended when we were given the first man. He shall be our king and lead the revolution. Either to our deaths or to living as he phrased it."

Gannon's eyes widened and he almost choked on the panic he felt. King. Revolution. Death or living, no inbetween. Now he'd really done it. He fucked up royally.

And, knowing Zelda lore, he likely started a war that easily could lead to the eradication of the Gerudo in this timeline.