Of Kings, Gods, and Girls [Ganondorf, Enel]

[Enel]

Standing on the roof of the castle, Enel listened to the sounds of the desert wind. It helped him focus, somehow.

It had been a day, now, since he’d arrived in the Omniverse. He furrowed his brow. It was strange. Despite having only slept once, it felt in truth like much, much longer. His own grasp on the passage of time was frustratingly foggy. His hangover was gone completely, and yet he still felt drunk. Was it all part of the illusion?

Or is this all some strange dream?

He was being fucked with. That was all. But he didn’t like it. He’d never been so damn uncomfortable in his mature life. He’d never been forced to use his brain so much.

“Tch …”

He rose to a standing position and did something he hadn’t done in a long time. He drilled.

His staff was waiting, ever at the ready. Ever loyal, ever his servant. He raised it and swung, putting forth all the frustration into a golf-club swing. He let his haki flow through him, guiding the stave and bringing it back round to his back. He released it into his non-dominant hand and brought it back round. Enel repeated it twice, going through the motions as he moved around the rooftop in a circle. The god pictured imaginary attackers coming from every direction and he acted out the blows that would disable each one.

One. Two. Three.

He spun the staff overhead and unleashed a storm of lightning outward …

…

“Tch.” With renewed anger he struck out at his illusory foes. He imagined breaking the first one’s collarbone, then the ribs of the second. The third …

A grin rose on the deity’s face as he smashed the hilt of the staff downward, a blow that shook the floor. As he did so, his grin faded and became a dark frown once more.

He might actually have to use these moves, now. The staff – he spun it in his hands as he pondered – had always been more of a toy than a tool. A repository of conductor for his electricity, a way to kill his enemies in a flashier way. One moment it was a staff, the next it was a trident. Then it was a river of gold, drinking its way down the throats of hapless idiots. He so loved to watch their agonising screams, to pull the gold back out from their bellies. The blood didn’t bother him. Nothing bothered him except for …

He cringed.

Being powerless.

He slammed the staff into the roof again, Ganondorf be damned. Then he raised the staff up and he drilled again.

[Enel]

It grew late. The deity’s arm draped over his head, protecting from the heat. He’d forgotten just how much hotter the sun was here. Drilling without a shirt had been a mistake.

He went inside, dropping through a hatch and returning to relative darkness. The god could practically feel his skin sizzling.

“WAITERRR!” he yelled, parading through the halls. He tried a different tactic. “ATTENDAAANT!” He paused and thought. “WEEENC-”

A loud cough cut off his sentence. Firani was waiting in a larger room below. Enel leaned out from a bannister and jabbed in her direction. “Water. Now.”

She didn’t move. Was she dumb? After a few moments she finally responded. “In Ganondorf’s castle we use the word ‘please’ when making a request.”

Enel stood dumbstruck. “Please?” he said incredulously. The word rang a bell. It was what people used to beg for forgiveness. What relevance had it in this context? Before he could inquire into the house mistress’s glaring attitude problem, she’d vanished from the room. “Crazy desert woman,” he grumbled.

Firani reappeared a moment later with a glass of water and thrust it at him. She did not look pleased to serve.

Enel narrowed his eyes at the glass, then snatched it up, lifting it to his mouth and draining it with his eyes still trained suspiciously at the attendant. Firani turned on a dime and left with no further words.

His thirst was quenched but his skin still burned. Enel wished he’d thought to request some kind of sun-salve before the attendant had disappeared. “WAITERRR?” he ventured again into the hollows of the castle. Evidently, however, she had business elsewhere. Terrible service.

“Where are my wenches?” he wondered aloud as his bare feet tramped across the polished floors. The redhead would be desirable about now. He had some frustrations to relieve.

Nowhere to be found. His irritation grew.

He spun his staff idly between his fingers. Where was that blonde woman? Surely she could entertain a god such as himself. Why was she so attached to that Ganondorf cur? Even as the thoughts formed themselves, they quickly suppressed. He didn’t want to think about that damn desert donkey.

Instead he made his way out into the castle courtyard, a shaded area of hanging gardens. He eyed the river running through it as he crossed over a pretty stone bridge and once more found the burn of jealousy adding to his foul temperament. He should own such a place.

He formed an image of grandeur in his mind. The first thing that came to mind. It brought a small smile to his face as he began to summon.

A few minutes later he was done, and the statue stood proudly in the center of the gardens. He’d had to supersede a small structure of some pissing baby, but this was much better. The sight of himself standing tall above the canopy, watching out over the desert, brought him gratification and serenity. He whipped out his member and pissed into the fountain, chuckling as he stared up at the statue. “Keep a lookout for heathens, me!”

[Ganondorf]

The fortress trembled. In its fore room, the Dark Beast Ganon raged against the structure. The very stone seemed to cry out in pain as it splintered, cracked, and sparked under the beast's fury. The Demon Incarnate struck out at all within reach, the stone walls and precious art meeting unprejudiced destruction at its claws. Rubble, strewn all about, crunched under hoof as the massive creature charged at its entrapment. It roared, and the air itself seemed to shake in terror at the horror of Ganon.

Deep down, buried underneath a mass of fury and animalistic instinct, Ganondorf struggled to regain control. When he'd first became the beast, in that cave when his life was but a fluttering candle, the Gerudo had been content to allow Ganon free reign. That time, their goals had aligned. This time, however, it had been all Ganondorf could do to keep the Dark Beast from tearing Enel to shreds, and now it was rampaging in HIS HOME! The desert man fought to bring the creature to bay, to send it back to the depths of his soul and banish it yet again. But this time, there was no strange boy to help him. The Dark Lord's mind nearly drifted to considering who that boy was, before he reminded himself of the task at hand. He was on his own, but he WOULD be the master here. Ganon was a tool, nothing more.

As Ganondorf's will began to supersede Ganon's fury, the beast shuddered and jerked in its movements. With labored breath, the massive being slowed its carnage, eventually falling to the ground. Then began the hideous sloughing of the beast's mass. Fur, viscera, and gore spread out in a puddle, leaving a sodden Ganondorf strewn in a fetal position on the floor, gasping for air. It was good Enel had taken his leave before his. If that delusional fool had seen the Dark King in this position, it wouldn't bode well for their continued relationship.

Drained from the internal struggle for supremacy with his own personal demon, Ganondorf failed to hear the massive wooden doors, scarred by tusk and claw, open and a firey-haired woman enter. Firani deftly made her way through the rubble-strewn room and knelt by her master's side.

“Lord? Are you alright? I hea-”

A large hand clapped onto her shoulder, silencing her and Ganondorf pulled himself to a kneeling position. Their matching green eyes met and he saw fear fade into pity. The idea that any would pity the holder of the Triforce of Power infuriated the Gerudo male and, gritting his teeth, he forced himself to stand. And though he may not have been steady, he was standing and able to look down upon her. As was proper. Still, Ganondorf felt he owed her an explanation, even if only because they shared a similar ancestry.

“I was showing that fool with the god complex what real power is,” the Dark Lord offered, waving his hand as if it were inconsequential. He snorted in derision, to impress fully just what he thought of Enel. “If I didn't think he might be useful, I'd have killed him. Instead, I let him take his leave and took my frustrations out on the room.”

“I see...” Firani mused, a sly smirk on her face as she eyed Ganondorf up and down. The red-haired woman chuckled in spite of herself, and looked over the room.

“Perhaps next time, you'll simply show him what a Gerudo can really do, instead of relying on your dark magicks, Lord.”

And just like that, the woman demonstrated that she had seen through Ganondorf's lie. Of course she would. Gerudo were skilled at subterfuge. Still, it was good of her to help her master save face by not directly pointing it out. And... she had a point. For a long time, Ganondorf had simply relied on his powerful sorcery and strength of arm. Perhaps it was time to return to his roots. After all, if Ganondorf couldn't control the demon within him, it might be better to use something more familiar to him.

Nodding to the lady of the house, Ganondorf moved over to, and sat upon, a small pile of stone and debris and began to focus. Images flashed through mind from his childhood. Being ingrained with the history of the Gerudo by his Mothers. Learning theft from Daborna, the tribe's greatest thief. Skipping lessons with Nabooru and running along the rooftops and through the sands. And learning the sword with Hirnil. Or rather, swords.

Time passed in the house of Ganondorf as Omnilium flowed from his outstretched hands and coalesced before him. And though the Gerudo Blades had finished forming, another sword was beginning to take shape. As it did, scenes played through the flame-haired man's mind. Scenes from another man... or another life, it seemed. In them, his play for the Triforce was thwarted by Link, while the boy was still a child. And he was sentenced to death. The means to his destruction? A brilliant sword made of light. It flew through the air and plunged into Ganondorf's gut, and even through the vision the Dark Lord felt the pain, reminiscent of that he'd recently suffered at Link's hands. A cry rang out through the fortress, and Ganondorf clutched his middle. And there, formed from the recently healed wound he'd sustained at the caves in Camelot, was the sword of light. The Executioner's Sword.

Drawing the blade forth produced no blood, and no pain. Ganondorf marveled at the weapon a moment, before the sound of the door opening again roused him from his thoughts. It seemed as though Firani had exited the room while he'd worked and had now returned. And from the look on her face, she was not pleased.

“Lord. You must do something about your... guest,” she spat, looking very much like she wanted to use the sword in Ganondorf's hands against something at that moment. And aside from that, she gave it no mind, though the Gerudo blades did bring a smile to her face before she continued.

“He moves about as though this is HIS fortress! And his orders... the gall of the man!”

The Gerudo Lord sighed, gathering his blades, and sheathing them in the sheaths which had formed on his clothing as he'd made them. The Gerudo Blades rested on either hip, while the larger Execution Sword was strapped to his back, the handle barely peeking past the shoulder of his cloak. Before Firani's tirade could continue, Ganondorf spoke.

“I shall speak to him. Where is he?”

“The gardens, my Lord. I believe you'll appreciate the work he did there. And the the roof.”

The dark-skinned King scowled and shook his head, “And I'd thought we'd come to an understanding. Perhaps I was too lenient on the man. It's time I put a leash on this dog.”

Kicking aside debris as he went, Ganondorf moved for the exit, speaking over his shoulder.

“And Firani? Please, clean up this mess. And whatever that man has caused as well.”

He grinned. “Put Eighteen to work. And Enel's wenches. It's time they paid the due of my household and were put to work.”
His laughter followed him all the way to the garden. And then, it merely turned to a chuckle as he eyed Enel's statue from the open archway leading to the life-filled place. It truly was a marvel, this Omniverse. It seemed as though the 'God' didn't appreciate the infinite possibility of this world, however. Perhaps in time, though that wasn't really any matter to Ganondorf. What mattered now was setting Enel in his place. He stepped into the gardens and gave a quick shout, startling the long-eared fellow and causing him to piss on his foot.

“Enel! I see you've made yourself at home,” Ganondorf said as Enel fumed over the surprise and the piss.

“Unfortunately,” The Dark Lord continued, “I thought I'd made myself clear when I said you'd respect my household. The damage to my roof, and this... adorable statue, show that you're still ignorant as to the rules of household.”

“A-adorable!?” Electricity ran over Enel's body in sparking trails and arcs as his anger boiled. Ganondorf inwardly applauded himself over finding such an easy to manipulate pawn so early in the game. Now, if only Eighteen were so malleable... though perhaps she was. She HAD... no. This wasn't the time to think about his other ally. Now was the time to further provoke the one before him.

“Angry, are we? Good.” Ganondorf mused, tossing his cloak aside grandly and grinning at the God. “Perhaps now I can get you to understand. You want to do what you wish? Very well. But first, you must defeat me. Come. Take your best shot, Enel. I'll allow you the privilege of the first blow. After all, that is your right as God, correct?”

[Enel]

Enel trembled with anger. It was bad enough that Ganondorf had punched him. Denied him. Dominated him.

But here he was now, challenging him. As though rubbing it in his face.

It was too much.

Enel’s body crackled with electricity. His eyes were wide.

He exploded forward.

The first few blows were almost invisible. Sparks flew as the enraged man threw his fists againsts Ganondorf’s gauntlets. The onslaught was so fast that, despite his physical superiority, the Gerudo was forced to step backwards as he barely blocked each hit. Then Enel drew his fist backwards, opening it as he did so.

“Fuck yoouuuuu!” he screamed, and threw his glowing palm forward into the Gerudo’s chest.

The resulting explosion blew them apart. Enel sailing backwards with rage in his eyes and Ganondorf, snarling, his back to the ground. Enel landed on his feet and began charging again. First one hand, then the other. The bolts of electricity were fast; relentless. Ganondorf stepped from one side to the other as they rained past him, into the walls of his hitherto pristine palace. Enel was too angry for words; his hands spoke for him.

But that was no good. No good for victory. Ganondorf paused; and then at just the right moment, he stepped into the oncoming attack. With a quick flick of his arm, he brought his cape into the path of the projectile, and it rebounded in a flash of light. Focused on attacking as he was, Enel had no time to even curse himself for his own stupidity. Before he could … it blew up in his face.

Ganondorf stepped forward, not willing nor able to suppress his smirk. “You fell for the same trick twice. Is that not amusing, Enel?”

Enel gasped, blinking to open his right eye through blood. It stung. To be hit by his own attacks. What stung more was that it wasn’t through sheer power that Ganondorf had injured him; it was through cunning. Skill.

This dream, thought the god. Perhaps it is my own way … of telling myself something.

“Whatever is the matter?” queried Ganondorf, drawing a thumb to his chin. “Too dumb to speak?”

Enel felt the anger rise up in him like a wave of sparks … but something fought back. His mind. His training. He knew, he knew that he could not overpower Ganondorf. It burned and it burned against him.

He’d been so blinded by his anger. He thought back. Since his arrival in the Omniverse, he’d been so obsessed with his loss of power, with its un-ignorable lack, that he’d forgotten that it was not power alone that defined him. No. Gods were powerful, yes. But just as much so, they were wise. Far wiser than mortals. It dawned on him like a revelation: he had been beaten, not by Ganondorf, but by the only one who could ever truly be his undoing: Himself.

He opened his eyes. Saw the Truth as it was, pure and devoid of affections. Past, present, future. What did those matter to a God? He could see the future. Read it. Change it.

He saw Ganondorf step forward, his hand outstretched like a claw. He saw the Gerudo’s palm smash into Enel’s own bloodied visage.

But it never happened. Like a spark of electricity, Enel’s face was simply there one moment. Gone the next.

Ganondorf blinked. A voice spoke from his right. It said simply:

“No.”

The next moment, Ganondorf saw stars.

[Ganondorf]

Enel’s golden staff flashed in the morning desert sun, the glint barely visible in Ganondorf’s periphery before the weapon struck the Gerudo across the temple and sent him staggering. The delusional God pressed him advantage, and his follow-up jab between Ganon’s ribs left the flame-haired King both breathless and defenseless to the finishing blow which brought the Dark Lord to his knees. Only then did Enel step back to enjoy what he had wrought. The Lightning God sniggered as Ganondorf struggled to regain his composure.

“Nice to see you bowing again, worm,” said Enel, showing his teeth in some sort of grin/snarl hybrid. “`I guess all it took to get you to show me proper respect again was a good beating.”

This time, it was Ganondorf’s turn to be enraged, his face twisting into a bestial visage and he locked eyes with the false God. Thoughts ran through his mind as the Gerudo slowly regained his feet.

I’ll kill this fool.

How did he outwit me?

I’ll kill this fool.

Where is the reckless savagery from before?

Kill this fool.

Can he really be that fast?

Kill.

Can he see the future?

Kill.

Maybe he IS a God.

KILL!

Eyes remaining on Enel, Ganondorf pushed down his fury, letting it simmer beneath the surface, and shoved away thoughts of Enel’s Godhood. The two began to circle one another, Ganondorf on the defensive and Enel cockily twirling his staff in an effort to goad his foe into attacking. The former knew that if he were to continue as he was, the latter would continue to avoid his blows until he wore himself out. Briefly, he considered resorting to his sorcerous powers, keeping Enel at a distance and perhaps even hexing the deluded fool. But, Ganondorf was determined to defeat this foe as a Gerudo. Without magic. With skill. He merely needed to find his opportunity. And opening in Enel’s defenses or a weakness he could exploit. And, as that last thought passed through his mind, the answer became clear.

“Are we dancing, or fighting, Ganondorf?” Enel prodded, taking a jab at Ganon’s pride, “Because, I gotta tell ya, you’re not my type. But, you got a couple girls in there I wouldn’t mind adding to my harem…”

This was the opening Ganondorf was looking for. A snarl of rage twisted his features and he roared as he charged at Enel. His fists clenched until his knuckled turned white, and Ganon threw his full force behind his blows. Yet again, Enel avoided the attack easily and his counterattack was swift as, well, lightning. If this was to work, the delusional fool would need to believe he had the advantage, and his strike would certainly lead him to believe that. Ganondorf’s movement with the blow was almost imperceptible, and his tumble looked real enough.

And again, Ganondorf charged, and this time Enel provided his opponent with the second needed opening. A horizontal swing of his staff accompanied the dodge this time. And this time, rather than roll with the attack, Ganon braced himself for it. The golden staff struck hard, and the Gerudo’s boots slid over the cobblestones of the garden.

Enel’s eyes barely had time to widen before Ganon’s hand shot out and took hold of the God’s ‘weakness’. And with the man’s right earlobe held firmly in his meaty hand, Ganondorf smirked and yanked hard. The man staggered forward, helpless to resist the pain accompanying that pull, and likewise helpless to protect his gut from Ganondorf’s boot. Enel was sent flying, his ear tugged from Ganon’s grasp.

[Enel]

Enel crashed to the ground, his world reduced to the excruciation of his right earlobe. He clutched at it and screamed. His sneering foe closed in with a closed fist. Enel knew what to do – move. But his distraction bought his opponent a half-second’s advantage, and that was all that was needed.

The fist rocketed into his nose and he felt another lightning bolt of pain as the back of his head collided with the ground. Another warning – followed by another barrage of blows to his chest. Ganondorf was on top of him, and his eyes held something darker now, just a glimpse of what Enel had seen in the Gerudo’s true form.

The world fell into slow-motion. Enel knew that if he didn’t move, he was as good as dead. That instinctual truth superceded everything else – his frustration of being unable to simply discharge electricity out from his body right now, and the need to rely on his baser abilities. He saw the fist coming and did the only thing he could – punch quicker.

The left jab was weak, but knocked Ganondorf just off-balance enough to blunt the might of his pummel. Instead of the blow that stole his consciousness, he simply got hit again. Enel grit his teeth and, with his right arm, swung his gold staff around the back of Ganondorf’s head. A loud clung! chimed in concert with a growl of pain. Enel followed up with another punch, this one harder, and then with a great heave pushed the heavy Gerudo off of him. He panted and stumbled to his feet once more. That was close.

He had to give Ganondorf credit. The man was no sloth, in mind nor body. Certainly a more than adequate test of what this weakened, illusory form was capable of. His face hurt. His ear hurt. His chest hurt. He had to make Ganondorf hurt more. A lot more. His body crackled with energy despite himself. He had to … find a compromise between the rage and the calm.

Because there was no stopping the rage now.

They launched at each other and began the dance. Staff in hand, Enel blocked, dodged and parried. He landed more hits, but when he got hit – he felt it cut through to his core. Each one brought back a menacing flash of things he’d rather forget. No … memories that were not his.

But there was something strange. With every punch given and received … he felt his power growing, not diminishing. Almost imperceptibly, certainly not something a lesser mind would ever have picked up on. But he felt the dynamo of power rising within him. Was this what had happened to Ganondorf?

As the distance broke between them, Enel stole a glance at his own hand, crackling with electricity. His body crowned in transcendental power. And he laughed.

“You’ve cracked, Enel,” said Ganondorf.

“No,” said Enel, shaking his head firmly but gently. He felt sorry for the Gerudo now. Ganondorf was a pitiable character. Someone who believed that what illusory power he’d gained in this world was real. When his true power returned, when he was a God once more …

Enel wore an almost pitying smile on his face as he correct Ganondorf. “You’ve cracked, if you think you can ever beat me.”

He threw the palm forward.

[Ganondorf]

Flame red hair raised on end as lightning streaked through the air towards him. Barking out a curse,Ganondorf raised his cloak and huddled behind it. Electricity burst around him, and even through the protection afforded by his defenses, his muscles shuddered and clenched as the power ran through them. Desperation and will rose up within the Dark King as he forced his body to obey. The cloak swung forward, to redirect the attack. Yet, his long-eared foe was on the move and the riposte went wide, splintering the base of Enel's statue.

Again, the God launched his lightning. And again, Ganondorf's attempt to send Enel's blast back to him failed as the speedy bastard continued his erratic movements. Despite his irritation, the Gerudo couldn't help but admire Enel's abilities. Before this, Ganon had considered him to be little more than a fool. Yet, the man had proven himself more wily than the King would have given him credit for. Even now, Enel was keeping his distance, pressing the attack, and never staying in one place.

And he was still a fool. Dark energy erupted around Ganondorf's hand in between flicks of his cloak.

Use it. End this charade. End HIM, an imperious voice whispered within the Gerudo's mind. Full of hate... and power. The green-eyed man glanced down the the flame enveloping his fist. Yes. It would be easy with his magicks. The fire flickered, then died.

What are you doing? Use it! the voice commanded, a sneer evident in its tone of barely suppressed rage.

No was Ganondorf's reply. Again, Ganondorf reminded himself that he WOULD win. And he would do so without resorting to his dark power, or his beast form. Not just for his own pride as a Gerudo. But to further press home to the lightning-wielding fool that Ganon was the superior of the two.

Still, the lightning flashed, and still they were deflected by Enel's Gerudo foe. And unlike Ganondorf, the long-eared man showed no sign of slowing. Each defensive move came just a little bit slower than the last, and the Dark King knew that he couldn't last much longer like this. Yet, what to do? The long-eared idiot was definitely the quicker of the two of them. And he had the advantage of range.

Memories flooded into Ganondorf's mind, from long ago. Fire and blood stained the countryside as the Gerudo fought against the Hylians. And at the forefront of the latter's armies: The Hylian Knights. Skilled in both sword and bow, each were a match for at least a dozen Gerudo. And so, Ganondorf had needed to come up with a way for the Gerudo to battle this impressive enemies.

First, distraction. As Enel rained lightning upon his helpless target, Ganondorf surreptitiously began to redirect the blasts in one direction. At the right moment, immediately after a blast of energy that nearly passed by the Gerudo's defenses, Ganondorf made his move. The Gerudo blades left their scabbards with a soft scrape of metal on leather as he dashed forward. Bolts of lightning rained around him as he rushed towards his target, along with Enel laughter.

“Don't think you can escape now, Ganondorf! I won't let you!”

The sound of steel on stone cut Enel off, followed quickly by the loud snap of cracking stone. A shadow passed over the man, blocking the sun, and he looked up to see his own smiling face falling towards him.

And this was only the first step.

[Enel]

Enel dove aside as his own face, summoned in stone, crashed towards him. His mantra flashed, a vision of his own fate touching upon his spiritual psyche. Ganondorf’s blade.

Enel ducked as the weapon skimmed his chin. Luckily, he didn’t favour a beard. However, his earlobes were another matter entirely. Flailing, they caught the edge of the blade and drew crimson. Enel cursed again and fell back, rage filling his eyes once again. “You bastard, Ganondorf!” he snarled, eyes bloodshot as he threw his hand forward.

At such close range Ganondorf could not block, and was instantly paralysed within Enel’s vari. Enel’s grit teeth turned into a smile and his stance grew taller, more dominating as he savoured the kill. “You fucked with the wrong man!” he chided.

“No … YOU!” spurted Ganondorf, his response punctuating his fist as it rocketed forth into Enel’s throat.

Enel was caught off guard by the Gerudo’s resilience, thrown backwards. Every time I think I’ve got him beaten … He considered this as he flew through the air. Then he grasped his bearings, flipping back and landing in a crouching position.

He’s strong. Stronger than I ever expected. Even without his powers, he’s a formidable foe. How is this?

Ganondorf came again, parrying Enel’s lightning and attacking with both blades, all of his heft behind those savage strikes. A single one might be the end of Enel. But the God was quicker, and he had his mantra. As long as he had that …

A vision of Ganondorf came again, this time a sideswipe from the left. Enel raised his staff, twirled it to deflect and catch the incoming right blow. It really was child’s play. And yet …

And yet he keeps coming. Even with my superiority. Even knowing he can’t win. It’s …

Enel was pushed backwards, he staff still outstretched defensively. He glared into the dark eyes of his opponent and was met in kind.

… Enraging!

Enel threw the staff forward, pushing all his hate into it. His frustration. He felt it tangibly, like an extension of himself that ran, like a current, through the gold bar and towards his opponent. He swung it and thunder resounded through the sky as it connected. Even through the hardened armguards of his opponent, it cracked and he heard a roar of pain. His bloodlust was sated.

And yet … Ganondorf still stood. Enel stared wide-eyed, disbelieving as the boar of a man hissed through the pain, closed his fists again and punched forward. Enel felt his nose break as this next blow connected. The explosion of claret covered the floor and he let loose a very undignified-sounding noise as he stumbled backwards. The next sound was unintelligible – inhuman. He screamed.

“I’m going to kill you when this is done. I’m going to break you down, make you wish you’d never been born. Break you … kill you …” His hate exploded. “BURN YOUUU!”

Ganondorf leapt towards him. “Try it,” he growled.

What followed next was painful for both. Blood was exchanged for pain, each trading in fair measures. Lightning bolts exploded, blood vessels erupted, burns and bruises and splits and cuts …

Enel did not enjoy it. But his sense of pleasure had warped into something else entirely. Within his mind, only one pleasure still existed. One thing that could gratify him now.

The death of Ganondorf.

[Ganondorf]

In animalistic manner, the two manner pummeled each other with fist, foot, and body. Their weapons lay aside, forgotten in their primal fury. Hate filled glare met like as the two men traded blows, each eager to feel the life of the other drain from his eyes. Like steam, multicolored Omnilium flowed from the men's pores, streaming skyward as they fought. A wind picked up, sending scouring sand across the makeshift battle field and the skies filled with dark clouds. The crash of thunder promised rain, but the arena grew hotter in response. Lightning flashed with each of Enel's strikes, and when Ganondorf's blows hit true, dust devils danced. The climax was approaching, and the combatants' own psyches had created a battle in the sky to punctuate this epic struggle.

Knuckles white with effort, Ganondorf threw a heavy haymaker towards Enel, narrowly avoided by the man. In retaliation, Enel drove a fist into the Dark Lord's sternum, a blow partially negated by a cunning turn of the body. Even so, the men staggered away from each other, mud dyed red with blood squelching with their steps. As though by agreement, each fighter spent a moment filling their lungs with air while shooting hateful sneers at the other.

Ganondorf knew that if this were to continue, death would be the only result. And his rage told him to continue. To erase this fool from existence. From deep within the Gerudo, a sinister voice once again goaded him to use his dark magicks.

This has gone on long enough, Ganondorf. Use your power. You prove nothing if you let this fool kill you over your idiotic pride.

And, for the first time in the battle, Ganondorf began to agree with the voice. He had challenged Enel expecting an easy victory. Still, Ganon had one last trick up his sleeve before he had to resort to his dark powers. As the two men caught their breath, he made his move.

“Enel.”

Ganondorf's only reply was a angry sneer. Still, he pressed on.

“If we continue like this, one of us WILL die,” he said.

“That's the point,” was Enel's response, and he rushed at his foe. Several punches landed home, before Ganondorf could properly defend himself. He focuses on blocking and deflecting the attacks, for the moment, rather than attack in kind.

“How would that serve our goals,” the dark Gerudo said, between clenched teeth.

“Right now, my only goal is to kill you, Ganondorf. And after that, Omni.”

There. An opening. If Enel was speaking, it meant he might entertain a truce of some sort. Ganon pressed the advantage, continuing his defensive posture.

“We share an enemy then, Enel. Why waste our energy fighting each other, when we could work together to topple Omni?”

Enel never stopped his barrage of attacks. He grinned.

“A desperate plea, or a distraction? Neither will work on me, Ganondorf.”

Ganondorf was nearing the end of his rope. After a particularly brutal right cross, the large Gerudo staggered back and fell to a knee. And as Enel stood over his conquest, azure light glowing in hand to finish him, Ganondorf made one last, final stand. Dark flame erupted around his fist, the desert man finally putting aside his pride, and his fist thrust forward into Enel's gut. The man tumbled away, landing face down in the dirt. And Ganondorf was soon to follow, the last of his energy spent on that attack. Neither moved as the storm fell away over the great fortress.

[Enel]

Enel’s body would no longer respond. If Ganondorf was to stand up now, he would have no remaining defence. These thoughts were like an underground river – they were there, but unseen, unacknowledged.

But seconds passed, and he remained alive. No longer did he think violent thoughts. For a time, he simply was.

But all things are temporary.

[Ganondorf]

After the fierce battle that had just raged, the air of calm that had descended upon the courtyard afterwards seemed a little strange. Nothing moved in that makeshift battleground, and yet it didn't seem peaceful. Instead, it was as if something terrible was waiting and watching. Menace hung palpable in the air, much like the taste of ozone and fine grit that still permeated the area. Firani looked on from the entranceway, her jade eyes darting back and forth between the two still forms laid across from one another. It wasn't over and like the atmosphere around them, their still forms hid a turmoil and threat within.

~~~~~

Ganondorf cursed himself for a fool. He had seen Enel as some blowhard, unworthy of his full power. Unworthy of respect. And it had cost the Dark Lord. By the time he realised that Enel was a threat, it had been too late to utilize his full power. The Gerudo's arrogance had brought him here. Once again, he had underestimated his opponent and lost.

The flame-haired tyrant struggled to rise, but his body was weak. His muscles, torn and battered, were like gelatin. Every attempt to move dimmed his vision, threatening Ganondorf with a descent into unconsciousness. Strength of will along allowed him to so much as shift along the grit and debris strewn ground enough to gaze upon Enel. And if he had been capable of dredging up the energy to do so, he would have laughed. The "God's" still form gave Ganondorf hope that his last desperate gamble had actually paid off. And beyond Enel, the Demon King could see Firani watching from the entranceway. But before he could call to her for assistance... it happened. Enel began to move. Like himself, it seemed the man was struggling. Yet his motion gave rise to an anxiousness and urgency in Ganondorf. This was it. The first to his feet would be the true victor of this match.

Heedless of the aforementioned drift into unconsciousness, Ganondorf threw the entirity of his determination into rising. His vision greyed as his beaten body slowly obeyed. And through that grey, the jade-eyed king could see Enel following suit. This was a new battle altogether. This time they battled not each other, but their own bodies. Grey vision tunneling, Ganondorf finally made it to a knee, but in doing so could no longer see anything but the ground before him. His body quaked and quavered, threatening to topple in an instant if the Dark Lord's will wavered.

It seemed but brief moment that Ganondorf remained kneeling, fighting the desire to give in. Yet it seemed as thought that moment was all Enel needed. For when the Gerudo's eyes regained focus, the man was standing before him. And while Ganon's view of his legs made him aware of the effort Enel required to remain upright, both the men knew that this was Enel's victory. The long-eared menace placed his right palm atop his foe's head and spoke simply.

"Any last words?"

And once more Ganondorf fought his body, struggling to look his opponent in the eye. He got as far as the man's waist. Jade eyes moved past Enel and locked onto Firani, the woman still watching and waiting. Then he spoke.

"Yes. Don't do anything foolish before I return."

Omni had made assurances that death wouldn't be a concern, yet the bastard had also made no mention that Ganondorf would be so weak either. Even so, while he didn't know if he even WOULD return, he saw the woman nod before Enel replied. The man's tone, and sinister laughter, spoke to his grin, though Ganon couldn't see it himself.

"Really? No begging for mercy? Not even gonna make another play at facing Omni together?"

The Demon King forced himself to chuckle. "You don't seem like the merciful type, Enel."

And with those words, Ganondorf's life came to an end. Current surged through his skull, coursing through his body and into the ground. His blood boiled and muscles spasmed. The pain was excruciating, making those brief seconds seem like years, before all faded into darkness.

~~~~~

"I'm not."

Firani watched as her Lord's body convulsed, then fell. That vile man had killed him, leaving Ganondorf's steaming corpse lying in the courtyard. And while grief and rage filled her heart, she WOULD adhere to Ganondorf's final command. She moved to re-enter the keep, but a flash of color drew her attention back to the makeshift arena. It was the Gerudo King. For a moment, she felt hope rise. Then it fell as she took in the scene. His body, Ganondorf's body, was breaking apart. It dissolved in rainbow hued streams, flowing gently towards the sky. And if she weren't so distraught over the reason why, she'd have called it beautiful.

[Enel]

As Ganondorf’s body faded, Enel felt his own body tingle. His shoulders shook, no energy left to laugh, but rocked nonetheless with the euphoria of his victory.

And what was this … this power? The God help one mighty hand up to his visage and surveyed the bubbles of rainbow light soaking into his skin. Was he … taking the power of the fallen Ganondorf?

So this is how the game is played.

Despite his elation, Enel was still in pain. As the adrenaline began to subside, he began to feel his broken ribs; his bruises; his broken nose; his right ear, nigh torn off; and the burnt skin around his face from the rejection of his own attack. The memory of Ganondorf, blood boiling and skin sizzling away, dulled the pain only slightly.

“We-ench!” he cried hoarsely as he stumbled away from the battlefield, half-tripping as he struggled to stay on his feet. “Help… You have to help me.” He spotted the woman at the side of the battlefield through bloodied eyes. She didn’t look happy; as unreadable as he found the detestable dark skinned woman, he could tell that much. Still, he headed towards her, extending a hand. “Heal me. I command you …”

She stepped backwards as he moved and he lost his balance. Despite his godly power, he found himself lying on the ground beneath this mere mortal. Such sacrilege, and yet … he had to survive. He looked up, glaring. “Heal me!” he repeated, with increased imperative.

He saw the woman’s face change, her grimace submerge beneath those sharp features. She clicked her fingers, and the … service women he’d summoned yesterday appeared in a matter of moments. Why the hell were his wenches following her orders?

The disobedient woman spoke. “Take this man to the infirmary. See to his wounds.”

“Yes, mistress,” the consorts chimed in eerie unison. They disappeared and returned not minutes later with a stretcher, which they hoisted Enel onto.

As he was carried away, Enel kept his eyes trained on the redhead. Ganondorf was dead, but his servants continued to show him cheek. Well, he had plenty more to atone for. And she, unlike her master, would not have the luck to be granted a quick death.

He lay back down.

The blonde consort cooed. “Don’t worry, master. We’re going to take care of you.”

Enel gazed past the apron clad service girls, his eyes narrowed on the passing ceiling. He had no interest in them now.

[Proto Man]

Far removed from the drama of colliding egos, a bruised and emaciated blonde lie in a dungeon cell beneath the fortress of a would-be king.

The woman had been in darkness for so long… How much time had gone by outside the walls of her cell?

With a groan, she rolled onto her side and clutched at her stomach. She wasn’t robotic enough not to feel the pangs of hunger and thirst. The scullery maids threw her just enough food and splashed just enough water on her face to prevent her from dying a natural death—if such a pleasure was possible for primes. Early on, when she was new to the cell, she had tried to cut her wrist on an uneven piece of masonry. While she had her previous bouts of self-abuse, the attempt had been motivated purely by the desire to escape.

Escape and get justice for what that bastard did to her. A maid!

The plot had worked for all of two hours before she bashed in the skull of the head cook and tried to escape the castle. If it hadn’t been for all the labyrinthine passages, she would have been able to slip out to freedom. Instead, she’d been jumped by guards and thrown down into the dungeons to languish in the blackness, never knowing the passage of time.

The only excitement was the rumbling of the entire building. When she had realized they weren’t natural tremors, joy had filled her heart. But her hopes of an escape were dashed when the staff reappeared hours later. Although they seemed visibly shaken as they did their duties, they wouldn’t tell her what had transpired.

How long had it been since that had happened? Weeks? Months?

A frail sigh escaped her chapped lips as she rolled onto her other side and stared at the brick wall of the dungeon. As she stared—as she had done for days on end—she noticed a strange band of glowing light stretch across the surface of the masonry. The light it cast was almost too much for her sun-deprived eyes, but she didn’t dare turn away as the line opened into a small blue circle whose surface seemed like glowing water.

And just to prove that she was going truly mad, the circle spoke.

“That’s no behavior for someone of your stature… have you really lost so much since coming to this place that you were reduced to bondage by a desert bandit? Come now, Android Eighteen, surely you aspired to more than this when you woke up in the Omniverse?”

…why does it sound so familiar? The woman groaned as she pulled herself closer to the talking circle. Her movements were stiff and uncoordinated—it was hard to do much moving with her hands manacled behind her back. “What are you?”

“This is a portal, my dear. A small one, of course, but I didn’t want to burn out all the omnilium from the get-go.”

“Who are you?” Eighteen muttered as she tried to stare through the opaque surface. If only she could reach out and touch it…

“A friend. A friend who wants to save you from your current situation.”

“What’s the catch?”

“I do you a favor, and you do me a favor.”

“What’s the favor?”

“I need your help in the planning and execution process of, well… something.”

“I need more to go off of than that,” the cyborg shot back.

“I’m afraid you don’t, Dear. It’s either you say yes or you stay there and rot. What’s it going to be?”

What did she have to lose? Her dignity was already dead. “Yes.” Eighteen replied as the circle in front of her started to glow brighter. The water-like surface shook and shuddered as it expanded out in all directions. Before she could make a comment, a pair of hands reached out, grabbed her by the shoulders, and dragged her through the portal.

With a faint hiss, the gate sealed shut, leaving behind an empty dungeon cell.