centrum_malitiae | (no subject)

The aftermath of Ganondorf's reign over Hyrule was not an easy thing to rectify. Weather and proper cycles of day and night, were restore, upon his sealing, but much was still to be done. The city was a ruin still, and so many people had been either lost in the years, either to fighting, or running for safer lands, that able bodies were still scarce. At best, the castle had a skeleton crew, of volunteers, to act as guards- a motley bunch of Zora, Goron, the odd Kokiri, and a small handful of Hylians. These are who ran to investigate that sudden burst of power. Though at the front of the group, was Princess Zelda herself. And when she came rushing into the throne room, her heart skipped a beat.

"It's not possible!"

Her mind raced, trying to fathom, how the Demon King could break free so soon. He had been weakened, beyond recovery! At least, beyond any plausible recovery within her current lifetime. While her mind worked, her instincts were still keen as a blade. Her Bow of Light manifests in her hands, and she brings it up to bear.

"Defend yourselfs," she ordered her equally startled guard. They were not as quick on the up take, but give them a moment.

Oh he definitely expected this welcome, again he'd been paying close attention to this timeline. He'd picked his moment of arrival very, very carefully, and he'd planned on this exact kind of reaction.

And he knew exactly what to do.

Raise his hands up as if to placate, and look extremely confused, if not alarmed.

"Hold!" He was unarmed, by the looks of it, no sign of his sword upon him. "What madness is this, princess?"

"Madness? I would think you'd be used to such a welcome, by now, Demon King."

Though her words were cold and unmoved, but she did not loose the arrow. Nor did she order her guard into action. Cautious was the Princess of Destiny.

"The only thing staying my hand, is that I wonder how you escaped the sealing of the sages. I should hate to make the same mistake twice."

"Demon...?" Several emotions crossed his face. Surprise, offense, and then once more, confusion. He didn't move his hands, keeping them up where she, and everyone else, could see them.

"Sealing- I don't understand. I know I have traveled far from my own world... Is that all you know me as?" He had to work, to make his voice that soft. So used to uttering growling threats, battle roars and barking orders, it took effort to smooth it all out. Gruff, but not dangerous, at least not right now, his back straightening.

"I come seeking help from an old ally, and I am greeted with the point of an arrow?"

"I am not a fool, Ganondorf. Whatever lies you're thinking to spin, I am not interested."

However, the mention of another world, does what he likely intended for it to do- spark a hint of doubt and curiosity, in her eyes. But her bow stayed level, though how much longer that could be maintained, was not much. Not without easing the tension on the string, one way or another.

Without taking her eyes off him, she murmured direction to her guards. With varying degrees of bravery and caution, they moved to surround their unwanted guest. Though they gave him a decent birth, and didn't move into the possible path of a stray arrow.

He could have, and with terrifying ease at that, slaughtered almost everyone in the room. Even without his sword or the Triforce of power, he was still a formidable warlock. Half of this room could have been reduced to quivering viscera and charred corpse at the snap of his fingers, and yet...

He did nothing, the look of righteous insult growing ever clearer on his face.

"A demon and a liar? How dare-" And then, he paused, as if caught in a sudden moment of realization, slowly speaking again as it seemed to dawn upon him what might be at play here.

"... Princess... what has happened here?" Another emotion he had to focus on, to work at making it sound real. Hurt, no longer offended. ".... What have I done here?"

She was gifted with wisdom, beyond that of any mortal being, in the world, but it did not mean she could not be fooled. As a child, she had known, instinctively, of the wickedness that lay within Ganondorf, and she had been right. Her doubt in the surface, was what had changed the path of her world. Now, she was faced with another situation, one that was...difficult to decide upon. Her instincts told her to stay strong, subdue this threat, ignore his story. But Ganondorf was a master of lies, and somehow managed to seem truly sincere in his confusion, his hurt. And though part of her screamed that this was a trick, she eased the tension on the bow string, and lowered the weapon.

"You happened here."

Let him respond to that. Her attention was all focused upon him, looking for any sign of deception.

Perfect.

He watched as the bow lowered, and his shoulders fell just a little with it.

Well yes. He did happen here. He happened all over here, he knew everything was in absolute ruins because of how wonderfully close another iteration of himself had gotten to getting exactly what he always wanted. He let that smug sense of self appreciation warm his chest, even as his expression faltered.

It was only there for a moment, faint and fleeting, but the princess should still be able to recognize it, considering the tragedy the entire kingdom had underwent. It perhaps, was a look that had crossed her own face, more than just a handful of times.

For only a second, horror had crossed his features. Quickly, though, it'd seem he tamped it down again, as if unwilling to let himself express those true emotions. Stoic, calm, despite the apparently shocking news.

"... Not I." Not this him, anyway.

"I may have left behind a world in ruin, but it was not at my hands- Please. Believe me... I could not harm you even if I desired to." His right hand raised, displaying now the back of it.

Perhaps she'd feel it... the nothingness there, where power should have been. Here he was, openly exposing it now.

He had nothing.

"I come only seeking aid, but I see that no matter where I go, tragedy has already struck."

She could feel it. Or rather, the lack of it. No triforce there. She was the only one in the room still baring one, and that... added weight. She was loathe to admit it, but it did. Why would Ganon come bursting in, when he had nothing to support him? No army, no triforce. Though if he expected her to believe he had no abilities to his name, then he really did think her a fool.

She moved closer, head high, and not a bit off put by his size. She keeps that coolness, as she circles him, looking him over. He was certainly broader in the shoulders and chest. His hair much, much longer. Far moreso than could have been grown out, in so short a time. And that lack of power, still, that vacant space where the full force of the Triforce of Power ought to exude, pressed against her doubts.

"You look different, feel different, from the Ganondorf we have recently defeated." Let him think on that tidbit. She'd done it once already, she could do it again.

Well, maybe, but without Link, even a weak Ganondorf might be a challenge for her. But he needn't know that.

"Do not take this admission of difference, as a declaration of believing your story. You are the very being of our enemy, and while I will not dismiss you, out of hand, nor will I simply accept your tale."

Well no, he still had enough power to easily wipe out almost anyone who'd dare stand against him, he'd not consider her stupid enough to believe otherwise. But against one who still held a fragment of the Triforce, all of his power was little more than an intimidating, but inevitably destructible obstacle.

He could put up a terrifying fight, but his fate would be sealed if he tried it.

The King had even come with a crown, elaborately woven into that wild mane, the armor thicker and sharper. But distinctly, obviously, there was a point where that intimidating, seemingly impenetrable armor had been pierced.

The wound of course, had never healed, it never would, perhaps. The damage was as clear as day, and deep, and while he held himself tall and regal, his head high and his shoulders back, there was an ever constant, subtle undercurrent of pain to it all.

He spread his hands out, his arms held wide to reveal no weapons concealed under his cape, not even the scabbard of his great sword.

"I understand. Please, princess... I beg of you to listen, hold your judgement until I finish. Should you still find that I am not worthy of your trust, I only ask that you kill me quickly." He rested his hand now across the fissure in his armor.

"I will not return home powerless. If I cannot defend my kingdom, I do not deserve to rule it." By the Goddesses themselves was that hard for him to get out. The hesitation in his words were edged with pain, real pain, because that hurt to say.

It hurt, but he'd be a liar if he said he wasn't extremely proud of his own acting ability here.

Oh he was a liar. A wicked, convincing liar. And it caused her to waver, just a little more. He knew how to press on her, where her softness lay, which would always be with the people.

"Defend your kingdom, from whom?"

Details. Details were the important part. There was so much truth in his words, that it was hard to pick out a lie. So details would be necessary to see if she could weed out his honesty, or lack thereof.

He's had a lot of time to perfect the art of lying, and a lot of people to practice on. Of course he's going to be great at it.

The king kept his hand over that fissure now, as if more keen on obscuring it from sight than even thinking about defending himself from possible execution.

"It happened so quickly. Even I, in all my knowledge of the arcane, can't begin to fathom where... it came from. It's as if the sky itself spat out a demon. I know not it's name, it gave me none.

But it lay waste to the Gerudo Valley. My palace, my guards, my people, gone.

I battled the creature, this demonic blight, for as long as I could but-" He drew his hand back, the edges of that vicious wound visible just beyond his fingers.

"... I was left for dead, and the Triforce of Power, the gift bestowed upon me by birthright, was stolen from me. I know it heads now for the Hyrule Castle of my world, they cannot battle this beast without my aid, please, princess... I seek help."

Ganon asking -no, begging- for help, was something she thought impossible. His pride would never stomach such a thing, not without the sneering crack in his facade, that she had often caught, watching the Gerudo King, as a child. If he was lying to her, he was doing so far better, than his counterpart. A decision needed to be made.

"I have listened to your story, and while I can hear a ring of truth-" Her guards immediately shifted, uncomfortable in her admitting such a thing, even if they had been swayed by the tale themselves. "I cannot decide on this matter immediately. In the meantime, you will be confined here. A guest, but a guarded one. Do you submit to this ruling?"

Yeah he thought it was going to be impossible too, it was very hard to think about this act at home and not laugh himself sick, but here he was. No cracks, all for the world like he meant every word he said, even as he recoiled internally from every sentence that left him. He'd found a way to vent the feeling, at least.

It'd certainly add to that feeling of understated anguish, the halting tone could have easily been applied to a fallen king mourning the loss of thousands.

The sound of armor clinking around him in response to the beginning of that sentence did finally prompt him to look at the surrounding guards, seeing if any of them had begun to raise their weapon. Back to Zelda, however, as she chose to think on the matter.

A 'guarded guest' was just a diplomatic term for 'prisoner'. Normally of course, he would have more than just argued with the ruling, a veritable tsunami of spells would have already been at the ready.

But instead, he nodded, resisting well the urge to smirk. The very fact that she wasn't still ordering his execution was proof enough that he'd sunk his claws in deep.

"I do."

It had been another test, knowing the infinity, of even polite imprisonment, would be a blow to his pride. But he kept passing, and that was frustrating and confusing, and continued to increase her doubt. While it would have been best to simply slay him, there and then, she couldn't do it. Not in good conscience.

"See him to a room," she directed to the Zora, on her right. Though the race wasn't as large and intimidating as the Gorons, they had a more refined combat ability. She was taking this seriously. "I will send someone to add extra precautions."

The Zora nodded, and gestured for a few others to act as guards. His spear held ready, but not in active threat, he motioned for Ganondorf to come along, the three other guards surrounding him, to follow.

It was not a fun walk. The castle was still in great disrepair, and his honor guard was tense. They clearly didn't trust him, the one Hylian visibly pale, to be so close to the massive Gerudo King. His reign was not easily forgotten.

Quick and deadly, that was how he'd remembered the Zora. Someone else less knowledgeable about the Gerudo king would have chosen a collection of burly, though clumsy Gorons. Something that could have potentially matched his physical prowess.

But Zelda... Well. He was't surprised. What the Zora lacked in size and defense they more than made up for in evasiveness and skill, two things far more useful in dealing with him than sheer brute strength alone.

Consider him vaguely impressed, excellent perception, princess. Without comment, he moved as directed.

Of course he was going to take some time to look over the damage of the castle, quietly admiring the work of his alternate iteration. What carnage, he could have only imagined the battle was an intense one. He was almost upset that he wasn't here to see it personally. Great claw marks scoured across walls, singed stone and burnt wood, the gouges where the holy sword of the hero had missed its target and instead sliced chunks of rock from the wall, clean and sharp.

The wound upon his chest burned, and he raised a hand again to touch it, unconcerned with displaying this weakness. It helped play into the image he was working to display, his expression unreadable as they passed damaged wall after damaged wall.

Oh... and he'd absolutely noticed the fear in the surrounding guards. Did a body good. Even 'captured' as he was, he was still a figure of absolute terror. He didn't have to say a goddamn word to them. Not at all, no, that disquieting confidence he still had now could do all the talking for him: Despite being flanked on all sides by seasoned warriors, he still walked with his shoulders back, head held high, stride easy as every step rattled with the weight of his thick, battle scarred armor.

A king, and untouchable, as far as he was concerned. Even now.

The walked, and the silence was deafening, to those who escorted him. Hallways curved, turns taken, that seemed roundabout, but we're easily explained as necessary. Too much damage to the castle, had collapsed the most direct route. As they strode down a painfully long hallways, a figure revealed itself.

It did not appear, exactly, but seemed to be there, leaning against the far wall, as if it always was. Clad in blue, with white wrappings, the sheikah, waited with an endless patience, known for their kind. He, for it seemed to be a he, had twin daggers, strapped to his thighs, and a lyre on his back. His face was nearly completely covered in wrapped cloth, save for a shock of blond hair, and red eyes.

As the group approached, the sheikah casually straightened, and nodded to the Zora.

"I will take it from here." An odd voice, young. Perhaps he was no more than a teenager, to have such a lilting tone, yet it was smooth and sure. Perhaps he was just not gifted with a deeper masculine rumble. It didn't seem to bother him.

The Zora glanced between the sheikah and Ganon, as if to say 'are you sure', which spoke volumes for his dedication. But he bowed slightly, and motioned for the rest of the guard to stand down. The Hylian didn't run away, exactly, but his steps were swift, to get in the other direction.

The sheikah looked up at Ganondorf, and gestured to the open archway, that held a stairwell. Their options were both up and down. With no further direction, it seemed Ganondorf was being given a choice.

The blond hair was off, but the eyes and the outfit, well. He knew a Sheikah when he saw one. It only made sense that a Sheikah would be within Hyrule castle. Frankly, it was almost a surprise that he'd not run into one yet.

A bold one too, by the looks of it, doing away with an entire armed guard in favor of escorting Hyrule's most horrifying monster all by himself. Brave.

Stupid.

But at the moment at least, there was nothing for the boy to have any worries about. Ganondorf was dedicated to this act. Blood would not be shed today, if he had any say in it. And he did.

Off the terrified pack went, the King quietly enjoying the hurried sound of fading steps behind him. A bit too quick there, soldier.

He looked to the offered stairs, up or down? Despite it all, even a man with the best of faith in his allies wouldn't choose those steps winding downwards, in the direction most dungeons would be. Not with the greeting he'd gotten.

And he had no faith in anyone here. The princess wasn't stupid, after all. He was sure the holder of the Triforce of Wisdom could be just as sly as he was. With a glance towards the Sheikah, he headed towards the stairs that ascended upwards.

And the Sheikah moved beside him. This seemed to be an indication of perhaps a correct choice.

Unlike the previous set of guards, the new one was perfectly calm. He kept pace with the larger Gerudo, without any difficulty, his stride a soundless, easy glide. There was no tension, only a sense of constant readiness.

It was easier to feel in control, as Sheik. The persona was like a shield, keeping the expectations of who she was at bay, as well as freeing her to be more direct. Her doubts lingered, about Ganondorf, but as Sheik, she could focus. And she could lie. Perhaps it would give her a better insight, to her unwanted guest.

The ascent was brief, and the trip ended before a simple door. Sheik opened it, revealing nothing more than a guest room, that had survived. She gestured for Ganondorf to enter.

"You will remain here, until the princess sends for you."

He watched well this new player, attempting to suss out just what the intention was, behind ordering away the other guards in favor of escorting him alone. No questioning happened, no attack. No other Sheikah waiting for him in the rafters nor in this room. It would have, in all honesty, been the perfect time for an assassination. Certainly something he would have planned.

Nothing. They'd arrived without incident, and he wasn't sure if he should be reassured by this fact or concerned. ... Very interesting.

"Of course." That poker face wasn't budging, his tone polite, but short, if not faintly distant. He'd a lot of things to think about, after all.

"I know she will make a fair decision, no matter what it might be."

There was no indication, that Ganondorf knew who was his new escort. Not even a flicker of recognition. It was rather maddening, how the evidence kept piling up in his favor. A Ganondorf from another universe. What had she caused?

"Even if it's your execution?"

Tone mild, even, as though this were merely a bit of small talk, and nothing more. A poker face, for a poker face.

Amber eyes remained locked on the floor for a moment, burning a hole into the stone.

Then, he raised his head, his expression grim. "If I cannot go home restored... Then I shall not return at all. The blades of her soldiers would be all that a failed king deserves."

"They are what a Demon King deserves."

Again, conversational and unmoved. An certainly there was no sense that the Sheikah believed his story. Or even that he did not. Sheik had no opinion, one way or the other, only a duty. A cleaner, clearer one than the person hiding within that persona.

Once more, the gesture for Ganondorf to move ahead. They hadn't come all this way to stand about in the hall.

"I am no demon." Still there, that hint of hurt, as he stepped into the room, head held high.

He did half expect something in there. An attack of some sort, an interrogation. It'd all been without any violence so far, and frankly, he was getting a little irate with that. Only slightly, buried deeply under this act. No matter how this ended, he'd get the chance to draw his sword once again.

Of this he was sure.

"If you say so."

Once Ganondorf had passed the threshold, Sheik produced a small stone. He raised it, touching it to the door frame. Yellow light shimmered around the frame. It was an obvious spell, to contain him. Nothing a Sheikah would be able to accomplish, but obviously the spell was housed within the stone. A lock and key, all in itself.