Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

WAR!!!

After many operations in the shadows,

the Virtuous Watchdogs resistance have won

their first victory against the evil Prince Ganondorf.

During the daring operation,

members of the Champion Contingent,

Hellwalker Squad and Intel Field Team

have managed to steal the

secret plans to GANON'S TOWER,

a fortress with enough

magic power to destroy Hyrule.

Pursued by Ganondorf,

Princess Zelda races home aboard her royal carriage

custodian of the stolen plans that

can save her people and

restore freedom to Hyrule...

Chapter Text

All across the once luscious fields of the Kingdom of Hyrule, the skies were smothered by constant, thick grey, purple and reddish clouds that emanated from one place and one place only, the ominous Ganon’s Tower. Situated where Death Mountain had once been, this fortress of suffering appeared like a building ripped straight out of the Dark World. Clouds swirled endlessly above it as a beam of pure malice shot out into the sky from its main tower, shaped like the permanently opened maw of some gigantic beast. It poured across the heavens and drowned out the sunlight, replacing it with its own malevolent glow of a magic so vile that it gnawed at the land itself. Villages burned to ash and cinder overnight, leaving behind nothing but ruin as a memory of what had once been. The Yiga, the twisted cult worshiping the one true Demon King, marched without rest as armored zealots that were augmented by the most twisted of sorcery from Hell itself beneath the banner of the ruthless Gerudo Prince… Ganondorf.

However, hope was not yet extinguished… because, deep in the shadows, yet in service of the light, far from the Tower’s piercing gaze, there are those who would seek to stop this. The Virtuous Watchdogs, a branch of the multiversal peacekeeping paramilitary organisation of the same name, led by their Supreme Commanders. They were very much organised under the same banner, fighting alongside the Royal Family, a coalition of Hyrulean natives, any and all races making up their ranks, along with foreign wanderers, yet very much connected to this Realm. In their most daring strike, they had stolen something more precious than gold or diamonds, the very blueprints to Ganon’s Tower itself, downloaded from a hidden Sheikah Guidance Stone that was a leftover from ancient times, from the structure that served as a basis for that wretched Tower. Now, they had knowledge and those who knew the enemy and knew themselves needn't fear the result of a hundred coming battles… Knowledge was power… and hope.

Unfortunately, that hope could prove to be brittle, as well as that hold on power in the face of such overwhelming odds. The burden to safely deliver the Sheikah Pad holding that vital information rested upon a single carriage. 

The Royal Crest gleamed faintly on the weathered wood of its wood, battered by time and even more so by the brutal pursuit. Its rugged wheels churned mud and grass across the wildlands, fleeing through the terrain twisted by Gloom and Malice. At its reins was Fennel Proudmoore, not a native of Hyrule, but a Berserker Saiyan. Once one of the smallest fighters, he had grown into a massive, broad-shouldered Champion of The Wild Princess, as denoted by the blue Gi that was adorning him. His hands clutched the reins like he might crush them into nothing, but they resisted valiantly at every pull to avoid and evade, veins bulging against his golden wristguards, but his ferocious brown eyes remained locked on the path ahead. His inner fury was boiling, smoldering, yet, for now, it remained contained, ready to be unleashed when the Princess’s command would come. 

Within the carriage itself, the shadows were broken by the faint glow of a lantern. Princess Zelda sat upright, her white with green gown with ornate jewellery of Zonai descent was now streaked with dust and stained from both travel as well as the operation they had been involved with, but her posture unyielding, regal even in retreat. Her emerald blue gaze was not fixed on the Pad in her lap, but on the horizon glimpsed through the curtained window, one that was still corrupted by the glow of Ganon’s Tower. She dared to hope that such a sight now had its days numbered. 

Opposite her sat Georgiana, the self-titled Gamer Swimmer. The Waverider's blonde ponytail was damp with sweat, but her composure was steady, the triple Cs that she had mastered over years of competition and battles. With eyes that mirrored The Silent Princess’ shade nearly perfectly, she glanced around, adjusting the collar of her dark grey vest as the specialised liquid Adamantine EXO-Suit had spread from underneath her red-yellow-blue tricolour shirt to fully engulf her body. Though there were no words between them, there was a deeper understanding between the two women as their gazes briefly met and a promise from the one who was once the ‘Little Dolphin.’ She would see that The Wild Princess got safely home no matter what. 

For a Romanian like her… a promise made was a sworn duty. There was no reasonable way of knowing just how soon and how much that resolve would be tested.

Suddenly, the carriage jolted violently before regaining its balance. From outside, the shriek of a warhorn and maniac laughter cut through the air rushing past them.

“Yiga again…!” Fennel snarled low and guttural, his Saiyan blood thrumming at the anticipation of battle. His grip tightened, not on the reins but on himself, holding back the rising Wrath within. “Brace yourselves, we have incoming!”

From the stones and the trees they emerged as if materialising from the very ground itself. Masked riders on twisted steeds, the symbol of the inverted Sheikah eye painted across their padded brown and green armor, their curved scythes and sickles glowing with runes of u holy origin. It was debatable if they were human to begin with because they descended upon the carriage like demons upon angels.

Inside, Georgiana pressed her fingerless gloved left palm to the wall of the carriage after adjusting the watch on her left wrist, glancing through the windows at their pursuers. She watched just as the first volley of arrows was launched and it struck all across, the shafts shattering against the carriage thankfully. Though she knew that the attacks were only going to escalate in intensity now that they knew where they were again. “Să-mi bag picioarele…”(Stick my feet in it) She muttered in frustration while moving to the other side, letting her suit scan for how many they were and trying to devise some sort of plan to shake them off quickly. “At this rate, they'll never lose our trail…!” For now, she remained calm, but she could not help admitting to herself that there was a hint of worry.

Stalwart regarding her helper's remark, Princess Zelda was unflinching. Instead, she drew in a deep breath before her benevolent and commanding voice came. “Fennel, do whatever you can to shake them off…!” She looked straight ahead with that one before glancing to the one who was like a sister to her. “Georgiana, remain inside and make sure the integrity of the carriage is not breached, no matter what they throw at us.”

“Dome Defence Force Field, understood.” The Butterfly Dolphin nodded while adjusting her Champion blue headcap, emblazoned with the four swimming styles that she was the master of. Her suit immediately began redirecting energy towards her palms, preparing for that very protection that had been commanded.

In the front, The Wrathful Saiyan only replied with a powerful “HYA!!!”, further spurring the two steeds down the trail with even more urgency. If Ganondorf himself caught up to them… not even the Goddesses may shelter them. The royal carriage rumbled onward through the dark woods and jagged passes, wheels screaming against grass and stones as their pursuers closed in. “I have an idea!” With that simple phrase, he pulled hard on the reins again and the Royal Carriage lurched to the side before barrelling into the Breach of the Demise. 

Instantly, the landscape rushing past them somehow became even more desolate, with massive cliffs jutting in all directions and looking like giant fangs, as if the very earth had been splintered open and evil itself had crawled out from it, leaving a permanent scar upon the earth scar. The wheels bucked and groaned across the uneven pass, sparks flashing as the rims struck rock but they endured still, just as the passengers had no choice but to endure and survive.

At the reins, Fennel’s face twisted into something feral. His Saiyan blood was thrilled by the perilous ride, each shudder of the carriage echoing within his core and stoking the berserker wrath caged in his chest. “Hold on!” He bellowed in a thunderous voice through gritted teeth. “This should slow them down! Georgi!” He called for her with a dire request. “Make sure the carriage stays in one piece!”

Behind them, the Yiga shrieked their war cries and manic laughter, their steeds foaming as their hooves struck and stumbled against the extremely uneven terrain. Masked visors gleamed in a vermilion hue in the purple and crimson light as they closed the gap perilously.

Inside, Georgiana steadied herself against the rattling wall, watching through the window as another volley of arrows was coming their way. With a focused exhale, she placed her palm on the floor, a dome of light blue energy forming around the carriage like a protective cocoon. The black steed arrows bounced against it harmlessly and it dissipated once the immediate threat was defended against. “They’re slowed but we're slowed down as well. If we can't shake them, we'll have to fight them off and hope the Gerudo Prince doesn't catch up to us in the process.” She commented while opening and closing the hand she'd used to generate the shield, feeling the ache since it had used part of her own metabolic resources. 

Princess Zelda did not answer immediately, not with words at least. Momentarily, she had met her gaze but she was silent, her eyes closing for a heartbeat yet her lips moving almost imperceptibly, as if trying to find the right solution to their dire plight herself. quiet calculation.

Before she could find any answer in her wisdom, the ground shook and quacked violently. It was not the tremor of hooves, nor another rattle of the carriage. No, this was something far heavier and far worse. From the mouth of the canyon behind them, a figure emerged like a nightmare coming to life. Ganondorf, the Evil Prince himself, riding his colossal stallion. The beast’s skin was an abyssal shade of black and purple, its cascading crimson and magenta as if ablaze, each step scorching the ground beneath and leaving terror in its wake. Traditional Gerudic garb and jewellery wrapped itself around Ganondorf’s towering frame, his golden eyes burning with an outright hellish desire and one goal in mind. The stolen sacred stone adorning his forehead pulsed with sheer power as it amplified his magic even further into God-like levels.

Instantly the atmosphere thickened and even the clouds parted as his looming presence rapidly approached the small royal carriage. 

Seeing the sight first out of the three of them, even Georgiana’s breath hitched despite her Hellwalker status. “...It's too late…” Was all that she whispered before starting to grit her teeth, her mind instantly switching itself into the mindset of having to face what was the equivalent of an Icon of Sin or even the Cardinal Tsar of Hell. 

Fennel snarled as he stole a glance behind them, his knuckles whitening around the reins at the more than obvious implications. “He's found us…!” The reins creaked as though they would snap under his grip as he pulled on them hard in a vain attempt to break the line of sight and lose them somehow, his Berserker Wrath clawing at its leash as he realised that there was only one way they could all go

Princess Zelda’s gaze did not waver as she pushed the curtain aside to look back. Her voice was steady, though her heart pounded with such an intensity that it could have flown right out of her chest. “Ganondorf…”

Just saying the name aloud seemed to weigh the very air down with utter dread.

Behind the Royal Carriage, Ganondorf leaned forward on his flaming steed, his deep and resonant voice carrying effortlessly across the distance the rushing winds. “Little bird… running from destiny itself. Do you truly think your broken wings can carry you beyond my reach?!” His cruel laughter echoed against the canyon walls, bouncing countless times as though several phantoms were accompanying him. 

At the threat and the realisation that he more than had the capability of fulfilling such a threat, The Wild Princess’ lips pressed thin. “We cannot outpace him and to fight him here is folly, but we must buy time.” She turned back to Georgiana, her eyes alight with renewed resolve. 

The Waverider blinked several times as the penny dropped instantly. She knew what she was suggesting and it made her instantly revolt against it. “Oh no! No, no, no! You're not suggesting what I think you are, are you?” There was a note of pleading as well as determination that was quickly rising within her, making her eyes burn more towards a wrathful green.

“We must buy time.” Princess Zelda repeated, her voice sharp with conviction yet as benevolent as ever. She placed her hand over the Sheikah Pad at her side, feeling the coldness of the screen yet knowing that within it was their hope. “If these fall into his hands, then all is lost. One of us must draw him away.”

Indeed, The Dolphin Swimmer's instincts had been right on point and she hated how fast she was able to figure out her sister-in-arms’ intentions. “No, no, not happening…!” Her tone hardened and, in her near plea, her British accent slipped for her Romanian one in her urgency. “You, Princess, are the heart and hope of this kingdom. If anyone stays, it is either me or Feni.” Her fingerless gloved hand motioned from her to the front, though her mind was already set that she would be the one. “I would never be able forgive myself if I let you—”

“Enough!” Princess Zelda’s tone cracked like a whip against the air, her royal authority more than evident… yet still benevolent. There was no coldness in her eyes, but understanding as she gazed at her sister-in-arms. They were both well aware that freedom and peace demanded sacrifice. Considering what The Gamer Swimmer was, a Romanian, The Silent Princess knew that the young woman was more than aware of that fact. “Hyrule is my land and this is my duty. Georgiana and Fennel, Hyrule is your home as well and you will do as I say in order to save it.”

Before any of them could say anything else, the carriage lurched precariously afterstriking a boulder, nearly tossing them sideways. Fennel roared, muscles flexing as he forced the reins steady again, the horses at the front neighing from the constant and highly intense effort. “Princess, with respect, we are not letting you face him alone.” He called back over his shoulder to the inside, irises starting to turn more towards a furious yellow. “Not while we breathe…!”

Suddenly, the demonic stallion’s roar drowned even his powerful words as the embodiment of hatred surged ever closer, each beat of its hooves like drums singing notes of doom. Ganondorf leaned forward in anticipation, holding his ornate Demon King's spear at the ready as crimson-purple fire began emanating around his form. “Surrender the girl and I may leave your bodies whole to have a proper burial!” Each threatening word was chillingly sincere, cutting through like daggers. “Resist… and not even Death will be able to claim you…!”

Chapter Text

The Royal Carriage was not even halfway through the Breach of Demise and The Prince of the Gerudo had already closed the distance dangerously. The Silent Princess took the Sheikah Pad in her hands and clutched her satchel as if it was the literal heart of her people. In front of her, The Gamer Swimmer steadied herself, her Exo-suit switching into Brawler mode as it brought up her faceplate to the sides of her face. Her attention was now outside and she seemed ready to defy Princess Zelda's orders by rocketing out within the next few moments.

Time seemed to slow down to an agonising crawl. The carriage rattled madly across the cracked stones of the Breach. Behind it, hooves clattered. Beneath it, wheels shrieked. All around them, the very air was ablaze burned with the malice of Ganondorf’s approach. His stallion’s flaming mane left nothing but cinder trailing in its wake, closing the distance with each monstrously large stride.

Inside, Zelda’s mind was a tempest as she only had an instant to act. She had thought of spells, of seals, of unleashing her Sacred Power, yet every path ended in ruin. Against Ganondorf himself, there could be no victory as long as Ganon’s Tower remained standing. There was only one choice that she could make for the greater good… A principle that she'd learned from The Mercenary, Fifth Freedom. Anything for the greater good. Her emerald blue eyes snapped open with a clarity that pierced her fear, determination smouldering within her. Her fingers clutched around the ancient device in her lap as her gaze flickered to it. The Sheikah Pad, with vermilion and golden handles on the sides, its screen darkened until it would be activated once more. She turned to Georgiana just as she was about to bolt. “Come here.” Came her simple yet stern command.

The Waverider froze in place and hesitated, her eyes slowly meeting hers. A growing pit in her stomach was felt as her suspicion grew… but she couldn't disobey her. So, she stepped closer even as the carriage jostled beneath their feet.

Suddenly, Princess Zelda seized Georgiana’s wrist with a force that startled even The Butterfly Swimmer, pressing the Sheikah Slate hard into her hand. “Take it.” She ordered with a gaze so fierce, it threatened to bore a hole right through the Romanian young woman. 

Partly frozen in shock, Georgiana blinked, her eyes darting nearly desperately from The Wild Princess to the Pad shoved in her hands then back. No, she could not let this happen, she had to protest. “Princess—”

“No arguments…!” Zelda snapped sternly and urgently, though not unkindly. The present circumstances did not allow for any warmth, nor did they have the luxury of time. “You and Fennel will take this and run.” She ordered, further pushing the pad into her sister-in-arms’ hands and holding hers over it as she emphasised. “You will deliver it safely right to Georgian. If it falls into Ganon’s hands, then all of this, everything we've done up until now, would have been for nothing.”

Georgiana’s fingers tightened involuntarily around the Slate, feeling the warmth and tenseness of The Silent Princess’ hands over hers. She stared down at them with a look of shock still grafted on her, lips agape as she had momentarily lost her voice. “Zelda, Princess, no. You can’t-” Her jaw clenched as her words caught in her throat, a shudder leaving her. “You can’t ask me to leave you. You yourself trusted me with your life when you asked me to be a Champion. I promised—”

“Then keep your promise!” Zelda cut in, stern again yet not without compassion and benevolence, her emerald blue eyes blazing with that unique kind of determination that only she possessed. “Not just to me, but to Hyrule as a whole. To every soul crying under the shadow of Ganon’s Tower. You promised to obey my every command, Georgiana… and now I command you: save this Slate. Save our hope.”

For a brief moment, a heavy silence filled the carriage. Only the thunder of hooves and the bellow of Ganondorf outside broke it, cruelly reminding them that they could not afford to argue, they could not afford a tearful goodbye… all they could realistically do was run.

The Gamer Swimmer swallowed nothing but her throat was dry, clenching with the myriad of emotions coursing like an unstoppable torrent through her. “If we go, you will face him alone…” Her voice came out low and almost trembling from the weight of what she was burdened to do. There was no feasible alternative… 

Somehow, Princess Zelda smiled faintly, but it was devoid of any joy. There was only resignation and even a sorrowful serenity regarding the crossroads of destiny that awaited her within the next few minutes. “I have stood alone before… and even then, I carried all of you in my heart. I am never truly alone and I will not let Hyrule stand without a future.”

At the reins and desperately trying to maintain the distance that they had from their pursuers in the second half of the Breach of Demise, Fennel overheard everything. “Don’t even think about it, Princess!!!” His snarling tone came though, safe to say, he was feeling just as desperate over this matter as The Dolphin Swimmer. “You’re not handing yourself over to that monster! We said that we will fight him together!” It just went against everything that they had discussed and planned.

The Princess With The Blood of the Goddess turned to the front, her hand gripping the carriage wall to steady herself as it rattled violently yet again. She looked at The Berserker Saiyan, seeing clearly how his massive frame tense with barely contained rage. “Fennel, I have watched you grow from a little boy into a mighty warrior… one capable of scattering Ganondorf’s armies at the right time.You and Georgiana are my only hope of seeing this through…” She touched her chest lightly with her right hand, the Mark of the Triforce faintly visible on the back of it. “I am the prize he covets most. If he must be delayed, let it be me.”

Almost instantly, his eyes flared wildly, shifting to yellow for a moment as his mind refused to comprehend what she was asking of them. “No! You can’t—”

“Fennel.” Her tone was softer than before, cutting him off and silencing both of their protests though still addressing him specifically. “Please. Protect Georgiana. Protect the Pad. That is how you will protect me.” There was still that small smile on her lips, rueful but sincere, resigned and acceptant of what was to come.

The giant of a man trembled at the sheer sincerity of that request, gritting his teeth as his wrathful green aura crackled faintly around the brownish armour on his shoulders, visible from underneath his gi. “I… I swear to you, Princess. If he harms you…” He had to draw in a deep breath in order to keep his boundless wrath under control. “I'll tear his Tower from the earth.”

With that same faint smile gracing her countenance, Princess Zelda gave him a nod, regal and resolute, even as her heart ached. “I know you will.” Then she turned back to Georgiana, who had not moved, still clutching the Pad as though it would disappear if she didn't have a desperate hold on it. The Wild Princess could tell just how much this was affecting her for the simple reason that she had no quips, no humour. So, she closed the gap between them and placed both hands over hers, steady and warm despite the whole carriage rocking to and fro. “Promise me.”

The Gamer Swimmer's lips were still parted from the shock of what was happening, her eyes emerald blue shimmering with unshed tears. However, that touch and her words snapped something into place inside her mind. Her expression shifted, becoming resolute despite their grim situation. “I promise you, Zelda… I will see to it that this Pad gets to buff boi safely.” Drawing in a deep breath to fill her swimmer lungs to their fullest, she exhaled strongly.”I will not fail you.”

“That I am certain of, Georgi.” The Goddess-Blooded Princess whispered with a more genuine smile before releasing her hands. For the first time since the chase began, she allowed herself a breath of peace, even if it was destined to be cut short. Outside, Ganondorf’s roar split the air and she could only watch as the blackened purple flaming stallion surged forward, closing the last of the distance. The carriage rocked as a burst of magic from The Demon Prince's spear struck against its side, followed by more which threatened to break the whole thing apart. “Now go!” She fiercely cried out to them as she tried to steady herself when the royal carriage shuddered again. “Go, while there is still time!”

Only for a single instant did The Butterfly Dolphin feel herself hesitating, though she quickly pocketed the pad safely beneath her grey vest before clenching her fists to keep herself together. “We’ll come back for you, Zelda.” She could not help but reiterate it yet again. “I promise.”

Princess Zelda met her gaze with quiet understanding, one that was a testament to their sisterly bond. With a simple yet regal nod, she acknowledged. “And I will be waiting.”

Chapter Text

The Prince of the Gerudo had grown tired of this chase… so he would bring down chaos upon the whole Breach of Demise. With a guttural cry that splintered the very skies, he raised the Demon King's Spear, its large, silvery edge glinting in the bright magenta light as the whole of it became wreathed in flaming Malice. Even more Dark World magic gathered in his other hand, lighting itself ablaze like a perpetual flame fueled by his own hatred.

That was when he struck.

It was as if the very fabric of existence convulsed at the moment the impact had been made with the Royal Carriage. The wood and metal frame splintered and cracked, wheels bent while some sheared off fully and that same malicious magenta fire immediately engulfed the whole of it. The Royal Carriage was cracked apart like a boiled egg in the blaze, hurling sideways and tumbling countless times down the jagged path in a rain of sparks and burning debris.

There was little to no time to react to the tremendous impact. The only reason why The Waverider did not have any broken bones thanks to her EXO-Suit, the liquid Adamantine being both resistant and flexible enough to absorb the impact without any physical repercussions. At least tangible ones because it did not save her from feeling the pain of it all as she was flung straight out of the carriage as it was breaking apart. She struck the ground hard, rolling several times until her back hit the rocky sidewalls of the Breach of Demise. Wheezing for air as she had been left breathless, she propped one hand onto the stone, lifting herself up. Battered but most certainly alive, her emerald blue eyes darted around in a panic as she regained her bearings.

For his part, Fennel was hurled higher, his Saiyan body resilient enough to resist the force of the commotion though he too ended up being slammed against the rocky cliff face. Dust and small bits of stone cascading down before his body came crashing down as well, groaning with an infuriated grunt as he picked himself up. His wrathful green aura flickered around him like a gathering tempest as he rose to one knee, fists clenched at his sides and his teeth bared in barely contained rage.

Between the both of them, there was nothing but fire as the overturned Royal Carriage laid twisted with no other signs of life apart from a single shadowed figure able to be glimpsed inside. The Wild Princess was still within that shattered husk, though there was no way of telling how hurt she was, if at all.

However, that was not the worst part of it all… The worst part was Ganondorf, who was presiding over this carnage with a twisted smirk of pure satisfaction on his flaming crimson bearded expression. His cursed stallion reared, neighing like a demon as flames of Malice spewed from its nostrils. With deft movements, almost tauntingly in how slowly and methodically he moved, he dismounted and stepped forward, the Gerudo jewellery he wore clinking softly as his bare feet stepped on the ground. In one hand, held at the ready, the ornate spear of the Demon Prince gleamed, the edge sharp and deadly as a magenta glow ran through it. In his other that he kept lifted slightly up, pure Malice magic seethed and coiled from his very being, burning purple-black in contrast to the red-yellow-orange blaze right behind him. His orange-yellow were lit with malevolence as he glanced up at the two that hovered above the crash site. That taunting smirk remained on him as he was standing between these… Helpers... and their precious Princess trapped in the blazing carriage behind him.

“You flee like rats…” The Prince of the Gerudo spoke, his tone deeply resonant, even elegant and regal yet with a sinister edge to it. “And yet… you still dare to think that you could stand against me…” He lifted the hand which burned with Malice further up at them, as if taunting them to make the first move against him. “Insolent whelps. Outsiders. Do you fancy yourselves Champions of Hyrule?”

Georgiana’s breath came ragged as she was still recovering from the impact, yet, at the same time, she could feel the fury boiling in her chest. Through gritted teeth, she seethed as, despite it all, she still wrestled with the desire to fight him, to tear him to shreds even though there was no way of truly defeating as long as Ganon’s Tower was still spewing its Malice into the land. She refused to indulge him with any sort of answer, glaring daggers… but holding her position, hovering out of his reach.

Seeing this, Ganondorf’s cruel laughter bellowed, echoing countless times across the canyon. “No answer?” He chuckled decisively as a gust from the blaze behind him made his grey robes and crimson ponytail flail wildly. “No matter… Your beliefs will not shield you from me… and they will not stop my hand from crushing her throat…” He jabbed his spear toward the wreckage behind him. Malice surged with the ground beneath the carriage now blistering menacingly as he knew full well that threats towards The Silent Princess were the way to make them irate. He wanted them to slip up, to be emotional, to give him the chance to run them through and extinguish every last bit of hope. “And belief will not keep you from kneeling before me when I peel that toy you wear from your bones.”

By this point, Fennel was hovering alongside The Waverider, staring down with a mix of shock and ever growing wrath the whole scene. It was just… inconceivable and just trying to think on it had his green aura flare brighter, arcs of lightning snapping across his arms. “You… monster…!” He seethed through gritted teeth before roaring, unshaken by the display put on by the tyrant. “You won’t lay a single hand on her while we still breathe!” His fierce proclamation came as his very words trembled with the raw power that he possessed.

Ganondorf only grinned when hearing such a threat, his fanged smile wide and predatory. “Ahhh… so the wrath filled beast bares its fangs at last.” He took a couple of steps forward, puffing out his chest as if it was an invitation for him to strike. “Show me, then. Show me your rage…! I will carve it from your very soul and feed it back to you.” He threatened with a chilling sort of sincerity, further raising up his left hand and making the malice flames burn hotter.

While every part of The Waverider screamed at her to unsheathe her claws and go for the jugular, the rational part of her not only knew that it would be futile, she knew that it would sign the death sentence for The Wild Princess and their genuinely beloved Kingdom of Hyrule. “Feni… we have to go.” Her words came out so low that even she barely heard herself. 

There was no need for her to say anything else because he knew that she was right. No matter how powerful the two of them were, if Ganondorf had that same endless ability to renew himself, battling him at this present time would only end up in a stalemate. Worse, the sheer amount of energy that would end up being expelled was liable to tear apart the very fabric of existence. On top of everything, they still had the final order from The Princess of Hyrule to fulfill, their oath to her very much prevalent in both of their minds. If they wasted themselves here, then they would have betrayed everything that she stood for and her sacrifice would be for nothing.

There was no choice to be made here, because it had already been made for them. Princess Zelda had anticipated that this would happen… There was only one path towards the greater good. That was the burden that Fifth Freedom brought and, this time, the Saiyan and Swimmer duo would have to share that burden.

Ganondorf’s laughter rose again as he watched them writhe and wrestle with themselves, his stallion pawing the earth impatiently on the other side of the blazing royal carriage. “Still you do not answer, hm?” His booming tone remained as taunting as ever, toying with them as a predator would with his prey before the glorious feast. “Come closer… Strike… and I will show you the true meaning of being a god among mortals.”

Despite all the taunting and the boasting, both The Butterfly Swimmer and The Berserker Saiyan managed to keep themselves together and not give in. It would have been catastrophic if they had but that did not diminish the agony even a little bit. The only comfort was the firm knowledge that they would come back for The Wild Princess, no matter what. First things first, they had to get away, lingering any longer would have been to their detriment. So, they did it, the only thing that they could do… they flew away. The turbines of Georgiana’s EXO-suit began to rapidly spin before bursting in blue fire as she rocketed off, closing her eyes not because of the rush of the wind, but due to the pain of the action. Right beside her, Fennel did the same, flying away just as fast with the green belt around his waist flailing wildly in his wake. The two soon disappeared among the sky, becoming nothing but dots, taking the Sheikah Pad and their only hope of turning this losing war around with them…

Witnessing this, The Prince of Evil sneered with what could be interpreted as displeasure. It seemed like his tactic did not work this time… Their will was stronger than he had given them credit for. No matter, their fate was already sealed. “Run away then, little pest…” He murmured to himself with a tilt of his head, eyes glaring right where he had last seen them as he lowered his flaming left hand, allowing the malice to dissipate. “Run away…. Crawl into your holes. It changes nothing. The girl is mine. Hyrule is mine.” Slowly, he turned… because it was time to gain his prize from the smouldering wreckage. “Soon… the precious worlds that you call home and you crawled from will be ashes as well.”

Chapter Text

The fire of the ruined carriage still blazed, belching like the breathing of some sort of ragged beast as it fed on the unlimited air around it, its embers rising and falling like cruelly beautiful fireflies. Ash floated around like snow, catching in Zelda’s hair as she stirred amidst the wreckage. By all rights, she should have been crushed beneath the splintered wood and shattered metal. However, miraculously and thanks to her own powers as well, the Goddesses seemed to have shielded her. Bruised, shaken, her Zonai gown torn and stained, but alive, she slowly, painfully, pulled herself free, her palms scraping against charred stones and her breath ragged in her chest. Steadily regaining herself, her emerald eyes lifted and her heart stilled in the next moment.

A shadow towered over her. Ganondorf.

The Gerudo Prince stood unflinchingly, prolonging each and every second, savouring his superiority. His bare feet had left a trail in the cinders that had fallen upon the stone and his demonic stallion reared once off to the side, snorting with a huff that let out puffs of gloom clouds. His orange-yellow gaze fell upon her, seizing her without the need to raise a single hand, a predatory smirk etched on his expression at the triumph that had been denied him for far too long. “At last…” His voice was deep, resonant, dripping with mockery. “The little bird has landed at my very feet.”

On her knees yet refusing to show any sort of weakness, The Princess of the Wild raised her head fully. “You may have captured me on this day…” Though ash streaked her face and smoke stung her eyes, her voice remained as firm as ever, refusing to be intimidated even in the face of such unchecked evil. “But Hyrule will never kneel to those like you.”

Quite instantly, Ganondorf burst into a roaring series of boisterous laughs that rolled across the canyon. “Hyrule?” He took a single step closer, the heat of Malice radiating from his form like a second sun, yet it was only for a moment that made his intent quite clear. “Your kingdom is a shell of what it had once been. Your precious Champions scattered, abandoning you to my mercy. Your Goddesses deaf to your plight.” He pounded on each sentence though his smile only grew as he relished in every moment of the dire reality that she had been thrust into. “You stand alone, Princess Zelda… and, yet, you still cling to hope as though it would offer you salvation.”

The Silent Princess’ fingers tightened against the earth as she knew that, from his twisted point of view and a certain perspective... he was absolutely right. “Hope is the thing with feathers…” She stated resolutely, quoting the three that had come out of this Realm on this matter… especially the Romanian duo, who knew what it meant to have hope in the face of absolute darkness. “And hope perishes last… Until you would have killed every one of us, one will always remain to inspire hope and defeat you.”

At those words of defiance, The Gerudo Prince's grin widened, savage and gleaming. “Bold words…” He crouched low, his immense figure filling her vision. His breath was hot as each word rolled off his tongue with an edge of taunting malice. “For a little girl trembling in the dirt…!!!”  His massive hand shot out and his rough fingers clamped itself around her forearm, shooting to his feet and dragging her to stand effortlessly and brutally.

Princess Zelda gasped from the sudden, jerky motion, but met his gaze head-on with as much defiance as she could. “Do what you will with me.” She goaded him, knowing that her value as a prisoner was far too high for him to just execute her on the spot. “My people will endure and the Champions will rise to meet you head on.” It was her turn to taunt him, her belief in her found family nigh unbreakable. “You cannot unmake what the Goddesses have set in motion.”

Ganondorf’s eyes narrowed and, for the briefest moment, there was a flicker of genuine irritation at the fact that she would still dare to defy him. No matter… he would not kill her, that much the both of them knew, yet that did not mean that he would not break her spirit… by any means necessary. “Endure? Yes… Endure as the Gerudo had to endure in the harsh desert winds that carried nothing but death for us… and you Hylians wanted for nothing as we wasted away…” He snarled with seething venom to his animosity though his conviction to set right what he perceived as a historical injustice that had lasted for far too many eras. “When I remake this world in my image… they will know the true definition of enduring… and they will worship me… not as a Prince, not as a king… but as their God.” Like she was nothing but a ragdoll to him, he lifted her higher by the forearm so that she may be at his eye level, the long and sharp edge of the Demon King's Spear crackling continuously with Malice. An unspoken threat for her to watch her tongue… it would have been a shame if she were to lose it. “For too long you have slipped my grasp. For too long you and your bloodline have defied my claim... but no longer.” His voice lowered menacingly as he brought her closer to his face, his eyes boring into her very soul. “On this day, your freedom ends… and with it, the last bit of light in your kingdom will fade away.”

Resolute in defying him until the very bitter end, Princess Zelda lifted her chin, meeting his gaze with her own. Her emerald blue glare burned just as bright with truly righteous conviction. While she knew that fighting against his enormous physical strength would be futile, in a battle of wits and wills, she could at the very least match him. After all, words could be as sharp as any blade. “If you believe that, then you know nothing of Hyrule.” Her tone was absolutely resolute as was her belief unshakable. “Even if you strike me down, another will rise. The Spirit of the Hero, the rage of the Slayer, the wrath of the Berserker, the hope of the Waverider… they will always stand against the likes of you!”

The Evil Prince's smile faltered… just faintly, for a moment… yet it then twisted into a sneer. “We shall see...” Was the only ominous reply that he had the courtesy of giving her. He turned, dragging her with him toward his stallion, her sandals scraping the scorched ground as she was to be taken to the wretched fortress of doom… Ganon’s Tower.