Chapter One

Surprise Visits

That Night, Palace Rooftops..

He has to be up here.. Zelda thought as she searched for the prince. After she had told him the rest of the story about the Prophecy of the Merge- to which he'd reacted better than Zelda thought he initially would- Niklas had disappeared from everyone's sight, the Queen being the last to see him, just before she was to have dinner prepared for the evening. That had been hours ago, and no one had been able to locate him since.

So, Queen Ganondora had asked Zelda to look for him, knowing his more unusually known haunts. Also, the fact that he'd listen to Zelda enough to calm down or whatever he needed to do was a factor. Ganondora was sure- if motivated that way- Zelda could convince Niklas to destroy the world for her, even before the semi-relationship between them that she was still trying to sort out. And that's what brought her up to the rooftops of the large Palace, jumping gracefully from one parapet to another as she got a bird's eye view of the city at the same time. Then, she heard the sigh she had grown so accustomed to over the years as she turned to one side, seeing the missing prince sitting on the Palace wall. "Fucking Heroines, Niklas! You've had me and your mother worried sick! Have you been up here all this time?"

Niklas looked at her. "Oh, hey Zelda. Yeah, I just.. I didn't want to face my mother after learning about the whole.. harem thing."

"You're truly an odd voe, Nik." Zelda giggled. "Anyone else in your position, even some vai, would kill to be in such a role. Is it really so bad, my love? I have voiced my dislike of the situation in general, but Trixi.. She may have a point about how it wouldn't be so bad to see other vai swoon over you as I have for years without your acknowledgment. As long as I'm first." She smiled at him, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"When did my little priestess become so bold? I'm.. not totally against it, really.."

"But..?" Zelda pushed, nudging Niklas' shoulder as she finally sat next to him.

"I don't know if I'm right for it, you know? Being king will be easy enough, as is being with you. But then add in Trixi? Whoever else may come? How do either of us know that I could handle having multiple vai at once like that?"

Zelda giggled. "We don't. Or, more like we can't just know something like that, even with my clairvoyance. But, what we can do is something else Trixi told me would help us figure it out, in the long run. She said we need to take things slow for now, try not to escalate things to the point where we can't handle it. Trust me, once this thing gets off the ground, history dictates that it won't fail unless we're all really fucking dumb about things. Now, come back inside. It's getting late, and that caravan from Hebra is coming to town tomorrow." Zelda shivered despite the desert air being much warmer than you would anticipate. "I hate that area of Hyrule. I don't understand how the Hebra Tribe can live in such frigid conditions."

"Gerudo have a talent for fire and lightning magic, so that may have something to do with it. You're right, though, we should head inside." Without another word, Niklas gripped the edge and hopped off, swinging himself neatly into one of the many open-air windows on that level of the Palace. "You know, it really wasn't that hard to figure out where I was."

Zelda nodded as she landed next to him. "I figured you were up there all along. I just didn't want to disrupt your brooding."

"I do not brood." Niklas said rolling his eyes as the two walked down the hall, Zelda's hand grasping Niklas' as they went.

Queen's Chambers..

Ganondora smiled as she heard Niklas' laughter from outside her room, sighing as she looked at the lone picture she kept on the desk Nik had found her at that day. In it, Ganondora stood next to a Hylian voe, the main choice of husband for a Gerudo since most times the lone voe King wasn't too eager to form a harem. The Hylian's blonde hair fell down his shoulders as the two looked at the camera with big grins. "Maybe you can instill some more confidence into our son, my love." She said, smiling as she went to draw herself a bath before bed. It wasn't most days when your businessman husband came home, after all.

The Next Morning, Crystal Oasis Main (North) Gate..

The entirety of the trading guild had turned out to the gate to see the arrival of the caravan, Niklas and Zelda in attendance as they sat together on a lower rooftop. As the slew of vehicles came whirring down the road, Nabooru stood with an open scroll. "Now presenting the caravan returning from Hebra," Niklas watched the vehicles drive by, straightening up as he recognized the person driving the lead van. He leapt down as Nabooru continued. "And leading the excursion, none other than the president of the trading guild-"

"Father!" Niklas said as he hopped into the car next to the blonde Hylian, who looked over and grinned at him.

Nabooru chuckled. "All who wish to enter the trading fair later today will be allowed entry no earlier than noon. Until then, the Queen urges all of you to go about your regular business." Finished with her little speech, Nabooru faded into the long shadows of the morning to report back to the Queen.

Niklas' father, the tradesman Elias, laughed. "That's my boy, always making an entrance. How's your mother?"

Niklas shrugged. "Fine, mostly. She misses you, but then again it's kind of law that you aren't allowed to just live here and run the guild so you're with us, although she has all the authority to change such things."

Elias chuckled. "Yes, indeed your mother has always been one to toe the line between tradition and radical, so it comes to no surprise to me. Everything alright here at home, though?"

"Yeah, yeah.. it's all good." Niklas deflected much to his father's amusement.

"Hmm. I know that tone. What's changed, my boy?"

"That would.. depend on how you rate it?" Niklas replied with an unsure chuckle.

"Girl trouble, then?" Elias said in a knowing tone.

"No.. Actually, that's pretty good right now. I won't deny it may have something to do with women, but again it all depends on how you view it, personal opinion and all that." The caravan was arriving in the market square, meaning Elias would most likely have to help the rest of the guild members unpack their new wares from across Hyrule.

"Hmm. We'll speak of it later, then. Can you do your old man a couple of favors while I help start setting up the fair?"

Niklas nodded. "Of course, dad. What do you need?"

"Along with the trade guild, the caravan has brought Chieftess Sakura's daughter, her reasons unknown to me in all honesty. Sakura requested I bring her to your mother, no other stipulations or reasoning. Would you be able to bring her to the Palace?"

Niklas frowned. An unexpected visit, of any kind, was practically unheard of in Ganondora's specific corner of Hyrule. And Sakura was the Chieftess of the Gerudo Tribe in Hebra, which made doubly less sense. "Yeah, sure. Makes enough sense for it to be me, too, since any meeting like that requires me to be in the throne room."

"Ah, mandatory attendance. Bet you wish you weren't born the prince now and then, doesn't it?"

Niklas laughed. "You'll understand why my answer is only a slight yes when we speak later. Is she in the backmost van?" When Elias nodded, Niklas hopped back out of his seat.

Elias looked back, watching Niklas approach the van in question when a certain blonde vai appeared next to him, the two embracing in a way that had Elias look away and chuckle. Oh, so you and young Zelda finally made moves on each other? Atta boy. The older Hylian climbed out of the van himself, going to the doors in the back to begin unloading supplies for the trading fair.

~WotG~WotG~

"You keep disappearing on me, I'm going to assume you're shacking up with Trixi, you know." Zelda laughed as Niklas turned to face her, the two smiling before they were both in each other's arms and on each other's lips.

Niklas chuckled when they pulled back apart. "Nah, it's still too early to consider Trixi in that way, plus she isn't you."

Zelda blushed as she sighed. "Oh, you. It's nice to see the technical King back in the Oasis." While it wasn't official since he wasn't of Gerudo blood, Elias was still considered the King to many of Ganondora's subjects.

"It is. Mom worries a bit less when dad's in town. Wanna tag along with me for a minute? Chieftess Sakura's daughter has come for a meeting with mother and I was about to escort her there."

Zelda grimaced, crossing her arms as Niklas announced himself to the vai in question. "Hinami's here, huh? Entitled princess, not even of the bloodline.."

"Hey, no fighting. Apparently this is something a bit more diplomatic in nature than some schoolgirl rivalry. When were you ever in Hebra, anyway?"

"I've had to go there with your mother multiple times. Why do you think Trixi was always around to keep you occupied? Did you ever even actually miss me, not realizing I wasn't at home at all for several days at a time?"

"No, more like she told me you were off traveling with mom, and we were young enough where we didn't really question things more than that. I assumed it was to one of the Springs."

Zelda giggled as the door of the van opened and Hinami stepped out, combing her long pink hair with one hand as she smirked at Zelda. "I thought I heard the priestess out here, but who else was calling for me? I don't recall the Oasis hiring any voe though, they're still mostly prohibited from even entering the Oasis without prior permission from the Queen."

"Yes, well, even the Gerudo Nation makes the exception when it's their prince, and son of the trade guild president." Niklas said, arms crossed as Zelda giggled.

"Careful, Nik. What did you tell me before? Ah, yes, no fighting. This is diplomatic."

Niklas looked at her, amused. "You're one to talk, hothead." Zelda growled at him but stopped once he pressed his lips to hers for a brief kiss. "Cool it, Zee." It was then, as Niklas looked back at Hinami, she morphed into another, just as Zelda and Trixi both had the day before. Holy Hylia and Heroines above.. Zelda isn't going to like that.. "Welcome to the Crystal Oasis. I'm Nicklas, Elias's son as well as the Gerudo prince." Niklas bowed in respect as Zelda continued to roll her eyes behind him.

Hinami smiled, giggling. "You never told me you knew the prince, Zelda. It's an honor, my liege." She bowed back, but not before leveling a glare at Zelda.

Niklas sighed. "Yes, well, my girlfriend has always been a bit.. possessive of me." He winked at the priestess.

Hinami was surprised. "The prince courting the priestess? Isn't there a tradition or two that state that isn't allowed?"

Zelda smirked back at her. "Yeah, when the Queen herself doesn't agree with it. Fortunately for me and Niklas, Queen Ganondora herself has tried pushing us together for years."

Hinami frowned, her expression unreadable as Niklas stepped in again. "Alright, alright. settle down, vais. Now, let's get to my mother. She's probably wondering where I am since I didn't go to sparring with Nabooru this morning." Nodding, Zelda looped her arm in his as they began trekking towards the Palace, Hinami following shortly behind.

~WotG~WotG~

Palace Throne Room, Several Minutes Later..

"Ah, Hinami! What a surprise. How is dear Sakura?" Ganondora greeted, smiling at the vai from Hebra.

Hinami smiled back. "Mother is just fine, your highness. The hot springs the Gorons were able to guide the Tribe to have been a great help in improving living standards at Tabantha Peak."

"Good, good. The cold up there is too much for any Gerudo, even you vai raised in it. Now, what could possibly be your reasoning to come all the way out to the desert?" Ganondora wasn't missing the tiny, almost too quick to notice glances Hinami kept throwing at Niklas, who stood on one side of her being poked by Zelda, the vai giggling madly in a hushed tone as Niklas struggled to keep his poise. "Or is this some proposal from your mother, perhaps?"

Hinami blushed. "A-actually.. Mother sent me here to offer myself for marriage to the prince, not realizing how Royal he really was (Niklas being Ganondora's son would have been planned to coincide with the single voe every 100 years, but otherwise the prince could have been to any Gerudo, really). Or that he might already be taken when I arrived here."

That got Zelda's attention as she stood straight, glaring at the other vai while Ganondora chuckled. "Ah, your mother always was a bit fanatical about being part of the royal bloodline. Did you know she once tried undergoing a ritual to try making her a voe in our youth? Sakura would have had herself marry me if things had worked out."

"Was that kind of thing even possible?" Zelda threw out.

Ganondora laughed again. "Heroines, no. But she has always remained a valued friend. However-"

Hinami bowed. "It's alright, your highness. I have already seen how the prince and priestess care for one another. I shall stay for the trading fair and be back on my way back home after the weekend's end. Mother shall have to suffer me finding a nice Hylian voe."

Hinami turned to leave when Zelda called out. "No, you stay for a couple of weeks. I'll speak to you later. Go enjoy the market for a bit." Niklas and the Queen both looked at the priestess,who dared not meet either of their eyes. Hinami, though shocked by the words, nodded and left the throne room, Zelda following after her, turning away and towards her own chambers once.outside the throne room.

Ganondora looked at Niklas, who had a thoughtful expression. "Thinking won't solve the mystery, my love. Go about your day, I'm sure Zelda will clue you in at some point. It seems our headstrong priestess has a plan in mind."

Niklas nodded. "Yes, mother, but how do we know it's a good one?"

His mother laughed. "Oh, you know Zelda. That girl very rarely has a bad idea pop into her head." Shaking his head with a sigh, Niklas followed suit and left the throne room behind as well.

As the throne room doors closed behind him, Niklas' bumped into a rushing Trixi, who stumbled and started falling towards the marble floor of the Palace. Acting quickly, he stopped her fall, one arm wrapping around her waist and the other resting on the back of her head, the vai looking up at him with an intense blush and mouth open in surprise. "Prince Niklas! I'm so sorry, I was in such a hurry-"

Niklas chuckled as he helped her stand back up straight, his hand around her waist still there as he replied. "No need to worry, Trixi. What's got you in such a hurry, anyway?"

Trixi's cheeks heated up even more as she realized Niklas still had a hold on her. "I was on my way to find, Zelda, actually. Speaking of our best friend, how would she react to you holding me like this? This close, no less." She said quietly, her breath catching in her throat as she realized Niklas and her were in a similar position to how Zelda must have been when they had kissed just the day before.

Niklas must have realized it as well, as he let Trixi go as she released her breath. "Then it is I who should apologize to you, my lady." He bowed to her, making the vai bite her lip and giggle in amusement. "Although, by prophetic design, aren't you supposedly just as involved as Zee?"

Trixi groaned. "I can't tell if you're joking or not, but it's not a joke, Nik! I mean, yes, but not until we figure out how this harem thing is really going to work. Especially now with Hinami over here trying to get hitched to me, too."

Trixi looked at him like he'd grown a second head. "Hinami? That vai bitch from Hebra?" Nick nodded. "The Hylian fuck?"

"I wasn't paying the most attention, honestly. Zelda was poking at me relentlessly so I wasn't paying the most attention to the rest of the meeting. Go find Zee, before she does something the rest of us regret to see." Niklas smirked at Trixi as he walked by her.

Trixi yelped in surprise as she felt Niklas' hand grip and squeeze her ass as he passed, a chuckle the only other reaction he gave. "See you later, Trix." He laughed as he continued walking away.

Trixi huffed. "I'll tell Zelda, you prat!"

"Go ahead, she's already said you're just as much a part of all this already. Don't go pretending you didn't like or want it." When Trixi looked back towards him, Niklas was gone.

The vai huffed again. "Fine. Fine, that's just fine. Now where in Hylia's sake is Zelda, anyway?" She started moving towards Zelda's room on the far side of the Palace.

Palace Training Grounds..

Trixi approached Zelda as the priestess twirled around, a spear in her arms gracefully swinging through the air before Zelda cried out, her hand glowing with Light as the spear was sent flying towards the other side of the training grounds, the spearhead embedding itself into one of the targets. "Wow, Zee. What's got you in such a mood?" Trixi asked her best friend,the priestess only ever honing her battle skills when something was in fact deeply bothering her.

Breathing heavily, Zelda turned to her. "Trixi. There's just a lot going on right now. I needed some time to think."

"Mm. I'm guessing this has to do with Hinami being in town?" Zelda said nothing, which told Trixi volumes nonetheless. "And Niklas mentioned something about her visit being to marry her off to him?" Another spear flew through the air, this one not having been physically picked up. "Heroines, Zee! Get a grip on yourself, vai. Niklas needs you level-headed, not pissed off over the situation you've already accepted."

Zelda sighed, the light fading from her hands. "You're right, Trixi. You usually are, although how Nik doesn't catch on to everything as easily as you, I'll never know. I would think you're the princess."

"Aren't I though, being involved in the coming harem?" Trixi laughed at Zelda's dumbstruck expression as the priestess shook before ultimately shouting what could have been considered a war cry.

"Hylia be fucked, Trixi! Don't just bring that crap up like that! Anyone could hear you." Zelda finished, leaning closer to Trixi's ear.

"So? Don't tell me you're afraid of letting Hinami into this thing."

"No, no! That's not it. I.. I actually don't mind letting her in. I'd rather it not get out that Niklas has a harem beginning to form. He's the one who sees us in these other forms that tell him we're meant to be with him due to the Merge, so let him deal with that part. But, there is also nothing saying that others can't throw themselves into the situation, and Nik is the prince, Trix. How many vai in the Oasis alone do you think want him? I'm not letting random hussies into this family-to-be."

"But.. Hinami is okay? The vai you literally swore for years you would kill just to get her out of your hair?"

Zelda nodded. "I had her wrong, Trix. The Queen thought that Hinami coming was about Niklas, and only confirmed it by telling us in the throne room a story about Chieftess Sakura and the Queen. Apparently, before Niklas was born, they were lovers. Sakura was even supposedly going to take some potion that would- if it worked- turn her into a voe and allow her to site the future Royal bloodline. And yeah, I may not like her but being pressured as she has been? It doesn't surprise me that Hinami always acted higher than she was. So, I told her to stay a couple of weeks. I'm going to give her a chance to prove that she can be more than just a stuck-up bitch because of who her mother is, as insignificant as her stature truly is in our society."

"You vais talking about me?" Hinami said, entering the training grounds without her signature jacket.

"Where's the coat? Isn't it enchanted to keep your body temperature regulated?" Trixi asked as Zelda elbowed her in the ribs.

Hinami shrugged. "I left it back in my room at the inn. It's been years since I felt the sun on my skin in full force. And it's just amazing, really."

Trixi laughed. "It's better than the frigid north of Hebra, at least. Here, wanna take a few shots?" She asked Hinami, holding out a bow and quiver of arrows towards the Hebran Gerudo, the bow being the signature weapon of their Tribe.

Hinami shook her head. "Nah, this is technically a vacation for me. I'll be damned if I waste time here in the training grounds."

Now Zelda giggled. "Fair enough. Alright then, let's get this little talk we need to have out of the way, shall we? Come on." Without waiting for an answer, Zelda led the way out of the training grounds, Trixi and Hinami following suit.

~WotG~WotG~

Elsewhere..

Ganondora smiled as she walked down the waterline of the Oasis located in the center of town, Elias walking alongside her and telling her stories of his travels abroad. "You really must see Hyrule Field during the winter from atop the Great Plateau, Dora. During a snowstorm, the field is absolutely breathtaking." He chuckled. "Of course, not as much as you are, my Queen."

Ganondora giggled. "Then, one day, we shall take the trip together, my love. So? What do you think about the news?"

Elias exhaled. "I don't know what to really think. I remember you had your theories on the prince mentioned in that prophecy and how it may be Niklas, especially with how popular he's become as he's grown up. I never would have thought that prophecy would come true, honestly. I mean, there hasn't been any news of dissent from the kingdom at large, and no Chieftess of another Tribe will try to claim the throne your family rightfully took centuries, even millennia ago, not from the absolute gem of a Queen who has kept Hyrule out of any internal and external conflicts. I guess that explains why Nik seemed more than hesitant to tell me himself about this harem of his to come."

"Yes, Niklas is still very innocent in some ways, and much more mature in others. He's nervous about it all, of course."

Elias laughed. "Who wouldn't be? He's barely an adult, even by Gerudo standards, yet he's destined to amass a harem of wives as he rules the kingdom. And from a threat no one knows of? Something is up with that. And if this Merge occurred, how the hell are we going to know?"

"Niklas has his own theory about that. Of course, he apparently remembers the Oasis differently from before yesterday. He says all these machines we use were much more.. medieval than they are today. Whatever the case, it seems Niklas is sure to do some great things in the future."

"Agreed, but we knew that as soon as you named him. Niklas does mean victor of the people, after all. Oh, isn't that Zelda over there?" Elias pointed towards the far side of the Oasis where Zelda, Trixi and Hinami were now walking.

Ganondora looked, smiling. "Yes, that's her along with Trixi and Hinami. I wonder if Zelda is letting her in on the secret?"

"Is Hinami also involved? You only told me about Zelda and Trixi.. Which, if I'm correct, is Nabooru's daughter?"

Ganondora shook her head. "Close, slightly younger niece. It's hard to remember that, despite her prowess for combat, my current captain of the guard is no older than our son. As for Hinami, I do not know if she is part of this harem or not. Niklas didn't mention seeing her in another form like Zelda or Trixi, but the way Zelda stopped her from just leaving with you once the fair is over? It wouldn't surprise me if her and our Nik both had a hand in forming their future family. Perhaps Hinami is the first pick Zelda makes, but only time will tell right now," The couple looked over at the trio of vais again as Hinami shouted to the heavens in shock. "Ah, it seems the secret is out, then." Laughing, the couple continued their walk.

With Zelda, Trixi and Hinami..

"What?!" Hinami exclaimed in shock. "What the hell do you mean Niklas is gathering a harem?!"

Zelda couldn't hide her giggles. "Exactly what I said, and us three may in fact be the first of the vai involved. Well, definitely Trixi and I, you're still a wild card in the situation. That's why I wanted you to stay the two weeks, so we can see if you would even be right for it. Of course, Niklas would know for sure if you were, but I'm allowed to have my own misgivings."

Hinami nodded. "Alright, that I can understand, but why even give me that chance? I thought you absolutely hated me for how I acted in our youth?"

Zelda nodded, humming. "Oh, I did. But, what the Queen said in the throne room, about her and your mom? That got to me and I was able to see that you acting out against me was truly just a grudge leftover from the older generation. I would be a hypocrite of the highest order if I denied you even a chance, at that point."

"Well, I'm grateful, Zelda. Truly. But, what do we do now?"

Zelda gained her signature mischievous grin. "Oh, that much is simple. Tonight, Niklas will meet you here for a date, thinking I'm the one he is to meet. Give you two a bit of time to get to know each other. Outside of the Oasis, Niklas doesn't have a wide range of friends and acquaintances, so whoever joins this from outside the Oasis will all need to do similar."

Hinami nodded slowly. "Alright.. I guess it's better than sitting around and doing nothing." The three vai all laughed as they continued hanging out by the water of the Oasis.

Later That Night, Palace East Wing..

Wow, that was.. something. Hinami really isn't so bad, although Zelda and Trixi are probably the ones who set this all up. I was supposed to meet Zelda, after all. Ugh, I'm just ready for bed after this afternoon. After Niklas had left the throne room earlier that day, he had hung about in his room, brushing up on some of his studies before Nabooru appeared at his door, asking him to take over delegations with the other visiting Tribeswomen from across Hyrule. Other than his father's caravan from Hebra arriving and the meeting with his mother, Ganondora had greeted the trade guild members from the central settlement located in Hyrule Field, Gerudo Town (since Crystal Oasis is this Hyrule's version of Gerudo Town) as well as those from the northern Eldin village of Groosha. Niklas had been needed for the final arrivals of the day, the Sheikah Tribe from Kakariko Village in the mountains in the Eastern region of Hyrule.

"Oh,the call of my bed rings loud and clearly for me." He said in a sing-songy voice as he opened the door to his room, freezing with his back to his bed as a voice hummed from behind him.

Turning around slowly, Niklas found a vai in his bed, one he recognized from the Sheikah Tribe, her half white and half-blue hair put up in pigtails and with several other colors strewn about. "I was wondering if you'd ever return to your chambers, my prince. Come, join me." The vai said in a sultry tone, gesturing him to come closer with one hand's index finger.

"I saw you come into town with the Sheikah, but I.. don't know who you are. Kind of shocked someone had the audacity to sneak into the prince's private chambers." Niklas said, walking closer only to disappoint the girl by sitting down- leaning, really- on his desk. At least, someone who wasn't Zelda, but she's allowed in anyway..

The girl frowned. "Aw, not even a playful flirt back? Mm, I must be losing my touch. My name is Impa, ring any bells?"

Niklas' eyes widened, both in recognition of the name and from seeing Impa flash to another vai as the others had, making Niklas curse internally. "Aren't you the Sheikah priestess? Or some higher rank in Kakariko? I know I've heard mother mention you before.."

Impa nodded with a giggle. "Good, sometimes I wonder what reaches the beloved prince's ears of the Queen's travels and delegations. And yes, I am the current Sheikah priestess. Us chosen vai are trained much more adeptly in stealth tactics than most voes, even within the Rito race."

"Mother clues me in on most things, I must have the knowledge to be able to handle such things in the future."

Impa purred, like literally purred. "So serious in your duties, as well? It's a miracle you haven't been married off, yet "

"Yes, well mother believes I should be free to choose my own wife, thank you. In fact the last few generations of my family being in power have abolished quite a few of the more.. archaic traditions the Gerudo somehow kept the peace with while they were active."

"You're right, but of course you are. You would have studied such subjects in our youth, correct?" Niklas nodded, Impa smiling back. "Then, what about your other wives to be? The entire kingdom knows of how priestess Zelda is absolutely in love with you, our prince, but I'm sure very few actually know of let alone have noticed that the Merge has indeed occurred, meaning you are the prince who will in fact have an entire legion of women around him."

Niklas narrowed his eyes. How could she..? "What in the Heroines are you talking about? I know of the legend, yes, but how do you know the Merge has happened already?"

Something in his tone must have answered the question partially by itself, as Impa smirked while biting her lip. "Even before the Hylian and Sheikah races integrated so fully with the Gerudo, the Sheikah were highly advanced, technologically. Several days ago, we were still using wood stoves and ovens as well as the Ancient Blue Flames that continuously spark near Kakariko. Starting yesterday, however, the village is using electricity utilizing those blue flames as generators, and even several more veins of the flames. I believe it's safe to say that a leap in technological prowess so major is a safe bet that the world has become something more than it originally was, whatever the true purpose of having two realities existing parallel to one another in the first place may be. Was there some plan from a higher power to cause this? Were the two worlds always destined to become one, no matter the reality in the infinite potential of the multiverse? It's hard to say, but we Sheikah love a challenge."

"I can tell. But, I still don't think you have the right idea about this. Plus, there's actually a bit of a buffer to even being involved.."

"Oh, I know all about the Zelda situation already, watching her and that other vai prepare the Hebran princess for that little date you were just on."

Niklas slapped his forehead. "Of course. The Sheikah are also goddamn ninjas. Well, either way, Impa, I cannot give you a final word, as it must be discussed with Zelda before anything can be arranged, and no my mother will not help you in that."

Impa pouted, sighing. "I guess it's nice to see you still looking to the vai of our people for guidance, since a Gerudo King is just as rare as a Korok in the desert. Fine, then I shall retire for the night. But know this, my prince, I will not give up on this decision, for something tells me this is how things must come to pass, in the end." Getting up from the bed, Impa sauntered over to the door, shooting Niklas one last smirk before leaving, making Niklas sigh.

"This harem business is going to kill me. I need sleep." Without another word, Niklas stripped off his shirt and armor before promptly flopping onto his bed for the night, the last thing he saw being the moon glowing pink, the tobe darkening to crimson as sleep overtook the Gerudo prince.

~WotG~WotG~

Gerudo Desert Outskirts, Hyrule Border..

Despite the land of Hyrule being somewhat separated from the other regions of the world by nigh impossible to cross cliffs, there was indeed a way into the Kingdom from beyond. At the mouth of this tunnel sat a lone Gerudo vai, her outfit far more concealing than was usual in this day and age. Upon hearing footsteps approaching, she looked to find several Hylian people, their fairer skin being a dead giveaway to their foreign status as even current Hylians in Hyrule had adopted a somewhat darker skin tone than these others. "Ah, Mistress Dendra of the Gerudo, I presume?" Asked the man who led this small party, his armor showing his status as a knight in this other nation's army.

Dendra nodded, pursing her purple-painted lips. "Indeed I am, as I am sure you are the army official come to assess the situation in this pitiful nation." Dendra had been sour with the Tribe, and Ganondora especially, due to the soldier wanting more from life than the battle that would never come while Hyrule stayed in its strange perpetual peacetime.

"That is me, Sir Bart of New Hyrule, at your service. Lord Vaati sends his regards and thanks for the opportunity to take our homeland back."

Dendra looked at the rest of the small group. "Why is it you and your Lord worded such things like that?"

Bart chuckled. "It does not surprise me you do not know, even with the peace this Hyrule has endured, the actions of the Gerudo Tribe in the past must be answered for. You see, in ancient times long ago, before the first King Ganondorf led the successful coup against the then tyrant Hylian King, Rhoasham Hyrule, for which his family the Kingdom was initially named. Those few soldiers who believed the then King was still honorable left with him and his daughter Hilda, and we established New Hyrule across the continent, far from the now Gerudo-ruled Hyrule where we bid our time, waiting for the right time to strike back and reclaim Hyrule in the name of it's founding family. Our Lord, or the Lady Queen Hilda, now awaits our initial assessment of the situation and, upon our report, decides the next course of action."

Dendra nodded. "Then you will need these," She handed the knight a large satchel. "Clothes to allow you entry into the trading fair being held in the capital, the Crystal Oasis. It which ends in three days. You will get your assessment there."

Bart nodded with a smile. "Lead the way, then." Dendra hummed before walking further up the narrow canyon path.

Another knight approached Bart. "Sir, are you sure we can trust her? The Gerudo are not to be believed in such matters."

Bart chuckled again. "Steady, Camille. She still has her uses, after all. Worry not, no Gerudo will be allowed in the renewed Hyrule of Old, not even one who sympathizes with New Hyrule's goals. Let us go, before she begins to suspect something." Nodding, the two soldiers caught up to the rest of their group as they traversed the desert towards the Crystal Oasis.

Early the Next Morning..

The Oasis was burning. No, it was the entire desert, as if the goddesses themselves had deemed the world a failure and looking to start from scratch. Niklas could only watch as soldiers battled his fellow Gerudo, the nightmare ending as Niklas screamed, witnessing Ganondora getting speared through the chest several times before her now lifeless corpse fell to the ground..

Niklas woke with a start, looking around frantically as if the world was indeed about to fall to fire. Hid door swung open as Zelda was seen standing there. "Nik? Everything alright? It's four in the morning."

"Zee? Holy Hylia, what was that?" He asked himself as Zelda, concern written all over her face, approached and sat on the edge of his bed.

"What happened, Nik? You've never been one to suffer from nightmares." Zelda asked, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I don't know. I.. I saw all of Gerudo Desert lit aflame, warring factions in the streets.. Mother's death.."

Zelda looked at her boyfriend. "The Queen? It really does seem like you've gained some sense of clairvoyance, but I wouldn't think about it too much, my prince. I have no doubt everything will be just fine, I just.. have a feeling. Now, get some more rest, love. The trading fair begins later today, and I know how you like to help your father out in peddling his wares."

Niklas nodded. "Yeah, right.. Sorry to wake you, Zee."

Zelda smiled and giggled, shaking her head. "It is of no consequence, my love. Now sleep." Her palm glowed, the priestess running the appendage over Niklas, who fell asleep with the extra push of Zelda's light use of magic.

Zelda smiled as she got up, going back to her own room down the hall. Upon exiting the room, however, she jumped in fright at the sight of Impa standing there, arms crossed. "There you are, high priestess," Impa greeted, bowing. "Is the prince alright?"

Zelda half-frowned. She hated when people used the High part of her title as priestess, which was only present at all because she was the priestess so close to the Royal family. "What's it to you, Impa? When in Hylia's sake did you even get here?"

"Yesterday, early enough to know all about this harem you and the prince are spearheading. As well as the truth that the Merge has indeed occurred."

Zelda hummed. "Throwing all your cards on the table out of the gate, huh? You didn't say why this is any of your business."

"Always so serious. You'll get wrinkles, Zelda, live a little! We're still young vai, not old maids. As for why I believe it's my business? You'll have to ask the prince about that. Pretty sure he wasn't telling me everything when I ambushed him in his room earlier tonight. You're lucky he's so faithful to you, denying me anything without going through you."

Zelda huffed. "Really? You too? First Hinami and then you? How does he even garner the attention of vai from literally the other side of Hyrule?!"

Impa laughed. "He's the prince, Zelda, and the prophesied one as well. That boy is part of something much bigger than any of us vai, and you would do well to remember that instead of grilling any of us on why we may be interested in Niklas. Girlfriend or not, you're not meant to be the only one. Just food for thought. Night, Zelda." Bowing, Impa turned and walked off, leaving Zelda once again in a more thoughtful mood as she went back to her own room.

A/N: This is.. late. I'm sorry. I wanted this out by Christmas, but the final conversation with Impa and Zelda wound up being a bit difficult to wrap up, as slight as it really is. Chapters may be a bit slow coming from now on as I have begun writing up a new attempt (my maybe fifth try) at a Tremors story. Also I really have to get the end chapter of my Secrets of the Pizzaplex series Part 3 so I can move on to the Ruin side of things. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the small look at upcoming conflict as well as the silly banter between the girls. A lot more of that will be coming since it's essential in a harem story. Until Next Time.