05-28-2015, 06:29 AM
Sunlight streamed from between the leaves and branches of the trees as the unlikely duo made their way through the forest. They walked in silence, and though he didn’t know what was on Link’s mind, Ganondorf’s thoughts were of the relatively easy scuffle they had just endured. In fact, he was satisfied, particularly considering the debacle over the hammer, that the boy had been such an easy target. And with the strange child’s gear having been added to their own, he felt quite a bit of joy that he could simultaneously increase his advantage and decrease that of another contestant. Some of what had happened irked the Great Ganondorf, such as Link’s apprehension at sharing the details of what he had found in the bag, aside from the supplies. Oh, the boy did well. His face had stayed blank as he had gone through the strange one’s belongings, but the Gerudo saw the slight widening of the boy’s eyes, and the twitch of his eyebrow. Link had found something of use in that bag.
However, Ganondorf knew that it would be best not to press the issue. Link still didn’t trust him fully, and demanding to know what he had found would only provoke the boy to anger. So, the Gerudo simply resolved to take contentment in what he had accomplished, rather than to worry about what the boy might have planned. And besides, it felt right that things would finally turn around for him and Link. They’d been through much since arriving on this island and they were certainly due for a windfall.
“Are you?” a woman’s voice whispered to Ganondorf on the wind. The Gerudo looked about for the source, yet Link had neither turned to him, nor did he seem aware that anyone had spoken to him. “Why would a murderer like you deserve anything good?”
“You’re pathetic,” another source-less voice said, gruff and full of hate. “Aligning with your enemy? To what low will the great King Ganondorf fall? And now afraid to anger the boy? What a worthless scion you are.”
“You abandoned them,” came a third voice, child-like. “You’ve abandoned the ways of your people and your innocence, all in a quest for power. And what good has it done you? Everyone who trusts you is left to wither and die.”
The voices continued to speak in turn, accusing Ganondorf and telling him of his failings. His failure to remain true to his people. His failure to stay true to his quest for power. His failure to save her. As they continued, The Dark King would see figures in the woods around him in his peripherals, only for them to vanish as he tried to get a better look at them. Each accusation was more vitriolic than the last, and the Dark King’s visage darkened as they spoke and his mood soured. Desperate to rid himself of these tormentors, the Gerudo looked to Link and asked him a simple question about his weapon. The two conversed for a moment, and Ganondorf did what he could for Link’s arm. While the Gerudo was no great healer, (of course not, he was a conquerer, a slayer of men) he knew enough to set the joint in place. It wouldn’t be comfortable, but at least the boy wouldn’t be quite as much of a burden now. As for that distraction… Ganondorf took a knee, the leafy floor of the forest providing him with a soft place to kneel, and he removed his bag. Unfortunately, Karl Jak had failed to provide him with any survival gear aside from the food and water, but it wasn’t to the contents of the bag that the Gerudo looked. It was the strap. On it, a small metal ring provided a loop through which the strap could be adjusted. The Dark King’s mighty hands took hold of this ring and pulled it open, leaving the strap to hang free before he tied it to the hoop’s anchor-point.
As the Gerudo worked, Link looked curiously at him and asked what he was doing. With a wry grin, he replied, “When you were returned to Hyrule after those seven years, I suppose you recall me saying that I was watching you. Of all the things you did then, your time at that fishing hole seemed to be one of your most joyous. It was if, for a time, you could forget the world around you.”
The Gerudo continued working as he spoke, fashioning through some work, a semblance of a hook from the metal ring, sharpening the end with a nearby stone. He reached down to his trousers, pulling free a few threads with a ripping noise, and he worked deftly to form the two items into a makeshift fishing line.
“It won’t be very strong, and it’s obviously not perfect,” Ganondorf explained as he handed over what he had created. “But it should do.”
The blond Hylian looked over the line, seemingly interested in the proposition, before the boy’s face turned sour and he shook his head. “We don’t have time for this, Ganondorf. We need to continue moving. What about the contest? What if someone comes across us while we’re distracted?”
The Dark Lord chuckled and patted Link on the shoulder. “A short diversion won’t hurt us.” His grin gre more pronounced as he continued with, “Besides, as useful as those MRE things are, they’re a poor substitute for a cooked meal, and it’s nearly lunch time. Come, from what I remember of the map Jak gave us, there should be a river nearby. And while you’re fishing, I’ll forage for some vegetables to truly make this a meal.”
And with that, the two moved off into the woods once again.
However, Ganondorf knew that it would be best not to press the issue. Link still didn’t trust him fully, and demanding to know what he had found would only provoke the boy to anger. So, the Gerudo simply resolved to take contentment in what he had accomplished, rather than to worry about what the boy might have planned. And besides, it felt right that things would finally turn around for him and Link. They’d been through much since arriving on this island and they were certainly due for a windfall.
“Are you?” a woman’s voice whispered to Ganondorf on the wind. The Gerudo looked about for the source, yet Link had neither turned to him, nor did he seem aware that anyone had spoken to him. “Why would a murderer like you deserve anything good?”
“You’re pathetic,” another source-less voice said, gruff and full of hate. “Aligning with your enemy? To what low will the great King Ganondorf fall? And now afraid to anger the boy? What a worthless scion you are.”
“You abandoned them,” came a third voice, child-like. “You’ve abandoned the ways of your people and your innocence, all in a quest for power. And what good has it done you? Everyone who trusts you is left to wither and die.”
The voices continued to speak in turn, accusing Ganondorf and telling him of his failings. His failure to remain true to his people. His failure to stay true to his quest for power. His failure to save her. As they continued, The Dark King would see figures in the woods around him in his peripherals, only for them to vanish as he tried to get a better look at them. Each accusation was more vitriolic than the last, and the Dark King’s visage darkened as they spoke and his mood soured. Desperate to rid himself of these tormentors, the Gerudo looked to Link and asked him a simple question about his weapon. The two conversed for a moment, and Ganondorf did what he could for Link’s arm. While the Gerudo was no great healer, (of course not, he was a conquerer, a slayer of men) he knew enough to set the joint in place. It wouldn’t be comfortable, but at least the boy wouldn’t be quite as much of a burden now. As for that distraction… Ganondorf took a knee, the leafy floor of the forest providing him with a soft place to kneel, and he removed his bag. Unfortunately, Karl Jak had failed to provide him with any survival gear aside from the food and water, but it wasn’t to the contents of the bag that the Gerudo looked. It was the strap. On it, a small metal ring provided a loop through which the strap could be adjusted. The Dark King’s mighty hands took hold of this ring and pulled it open, leaving the strap to hang free before he tied it to the hoop’s anchor-point.
As the Gerudo worked, Link looked curiously at him and asked what he was doing. With a wry grin, he replied, “When you were returned to Hyrule after those seven years, I suppose you recall me saying that I was watching you. Of all the things you did then, your time at that fishing hole seemed to be one of your most joyous. It was if, for a time, you could forget the world around you.”
The Gerudo continued working as he spoke, fashioning through some work, a semblance of a hook from the metal ring, sharpening the end with a nearby stone. He reached down to his trousers, pulling free a few threads with a ripping noise, and he worked deftly to form the two items into a makeshift fishing line.
“It won’t be very strong, and it’s obviously not perfect,” Ganondorf explained as he handed over what he had created. “But it should do.”
The blond Hylian looked over the line, seemingly interested in the proposition, before the boy’s face turned sour and he shook his head. “We don’t have time for this, Ganondorf. We need to continue moving. What about the contest? What if someone comes across us while we’re distracted?”
The Dark Lord chuckled and patted Link on the shoulder. “A short diversion won’t hurt us.” His grin gre more pronounced as he continued with, “Besides, as useful as those MRE things are, they’re a poor substitute for a cooked meal, and it’s nearly lunch time. Come, from what I remember of the map Jak gave us, there should be a river nearby. And while you’re fishing, I’ll forage for some vegetables to truly make this a meal.”
And with that, the two moved off into the woods once again.