The Legend of Sunset Shimmer: Ocarina of Time

by Ganondorf8

Bonus Chapter 2: Aftermath of the Future

The Legend of Sunset Shimmer: Ocarina of Time.
By Ganondorf8
May 31, 2015
Bonus Chapter 2: Aftermath of the Future.

Despite the unusual circumstances that happened during the sleepover where we all sent into a video game world, it turned out to be a great success, but I decided to stay at Pinkie Pie's place to continue reading the book Rainbow Dash allowed me to borrow. Granted, I could have just returned to the school library where I've been sleeping every night, but Pinkie's place was much more comfortable, and I was still recovering from an injury which I have no clue as to how it could have happened.
Yes, I've pretty much adopted Twilight's mannerisms, and it suits me considering we've become close friends. The Hyrule Historia contained different chapters that reveal what happened throughout Hyrule's history from when the Great Goddesses first created it, to an event where the Triforce of Courage was found after it had gone missing for a few centuries. While I could read any of these stories, the ones that appeal to me relate to my experiences when I was travelling around there when Ganondorf sent us into his world.
The book says that I experienced Hyrule during a time after something called the Imprisoning War, and due to the actions of the Hero of Time, the timeline was divided into three distinct paths where different events transpired. Because I portrayed that same hero during my adventure, does that mean I was responsible for creating three realities without even knowing it? Of these timelines, two of them are positive as the Evil King was defeated, but the other one is different because he killed the Hero of Time, and obtained the True Force.
While he was banished to the Sacred Realm in this timeline, it brought about disaster to Hyrule as without the Triforce, it fell into ruin and would remain in this downward spiral for centuries.
I've already read about what happened when the Hero of Time returned to his childhood, which was followed with the story of the Happy Mask Salesman who Sonata Dusk portrayed, and how Majora's Mask became intertwined in the hero's life after she went through quite an ordeal to claim it. So, I want to read about the other timeline which takes place in the future where the Evil King was banished while only having the Triforce of Power.
I'm curious about what everyone experienced when peace returned after seven years living in darkness, but first I need to remind myself of how it all came to be. Seven years prior, Ganondorf gained access to the Sacred Realm where he claimed the Triforce of Power, and used it to become the King of Evil where he ruled unopposed until the Hero of Time returned where he fulfilled his destiny. The different regions and those who lived in them each experienced something different when Ganondorf assumed control.
Hyrule Castle Town was completely destroyed when he conquered Hyrule, yet while many were able to flee, there were others who weren't as fortunate. The town became a wasteland where undead monsters roamed the market, and the only person who lived there was a man obsessed with ghosts, for it was a hobby of his. Hyrule Castle was replaced with Ganon's Castle, an evil fortress presiding over a barren wasteland where the stench of darkness and decay knew no bounds, but how did the rest of the land fare?
The Kokiri Forest became plagued with monsters due to the death of the Great Deku Tree, who protected the forest as the guardian spirit for many generations. Death Mountain became active again after being dormant for so long, and the Gorons were to be fed to an ancient dragon which used to eat them until it was destroyed by a legendary hero among their people.
Ganondorf punished them in this fashion as a warning that this would happen to the other tribes should they oppose his rule, and this also affected Kakariko Village, yet it would be plagued with its own problems later when the village was set on fire because of a shadow beast that was sealed away there by the leader of the village, Impa, who also served as Princess Zelda's protector.
Zora's Domain was frozen over, and the Zoras were trapped under the ice while Lake Hylia was drained of water where it became a pale shadow of its former self. Both of these incidents were connected together because water in Hyrule begins at Zora's Fountain, and flows all the way down to Lake Hylia.The only place that remained unchanged was the Gerudo's Fortress as his people prospered, yet under the surface, they were being manipulated by his surrogate mothers who controlled the desert beyond.
Upon his defeat and subsequent banishment, Ganondorf left behind a horrific legacy which would take quite some time to restore things back to the way they were before, and this is where this story begins. Days after the final battle which saw the Hero of Time prevail, and sent back to his childhood, Zelda, protrayed by Princess Twilight Sparkle, met with the new leader of the Gerudo, known as Spitfire, who was previously second-in-command.
" I am certain you know why this meeting had to take place?" asked Twilight.
" Yes although I wish it didn't have to be," replied Spitfire.
" The people have been demanding that I take action regarding the situation with your people, but I do know that the Gerudo are not to blame for what has transpired across Hyrule for these past seven years. Of course, by refusing to not address this, it would have caused riots which is must be avoided because we are still recovering from what your former king inflicted upon us," said Twilight.
" Given the current circumstances your highness, you must do what's right for your people even if you don't like the idea. My people aren't in favour of this as we feel that we are being punished because of Ganondorf's actions, but we're not in a position to argue over popular opinion," said Spitfire. It seemed the vast majority of Hyrule wishes for justice to be dealt onto the Gerudo, and Twilight would rather solve the problem in a different manner.
However, the people demand action because they were living in constant fear, so they want someone to be blamed. Given that she spent seven years under the guise of a Sheikah, Twilight wasn't in any position to refuse such demands because the people could just turn on her without a second thought due to her abandoning her people.
Even though one of the Six Sages was a Gerudo herself, this didn't mean a thing when it came down to the grand scheme. " My people will accept any kind of punishment you choose to inflict upon us because of his actions, yet I would be careful not to go overboard otherwise we will be forced to riot."
" If that were to occur, then the other tribes will act in the same manner, thus the path to peace shall be broken before it can even begin being restored. To be honest, I am not sure what I should do with this situation," said Twilight.
" You are the ruler of Hyrule now, so that means you must come up with something," said Spitfire.
" I was not expecting to succeed my father for years, yet I have been forced to assume the throne due to his murder. I have been trying to get things started with the restoration of Hyrule Castle as we need a rallying point, but with this situation regarding your people, my efforts have been sidetracked because the people demand justice be done," said Twilight.
" Then I suggest you get over your hesitation, and do something about it," suggested Spitfire.
" Ah," said Twilight.
" Sorry if my words made you speechless, but you can't afford to show weakness. Hyrule has only recently become free of the darkness of Ganondorf, and much work needs to be done. If you continue showing hesitation then your people will deem you unworthy to rule over them. They will demand someone else assume the throne who is more than capable of getting things done, so you need to grow a spine right now, and do what you must.
Again, I am sorry for my words, but this is for your own good. The Gerudo will accept our punishment as long as it's within reason because we're part of the kingdom as well despite there not being an actual alliance made at the time," said Spitfire.
" Yes, I must act accordingly," said Twilight.
" Then tell me of my people's punishment because that is why you came here isn't it? Or, is there another reason?" asked Spitfire.
" No," replied Twilight.
" You're quite the liar," said Spitfire. According to what this story says, the princess wanted to forge a true alliance with the Gerudo as she didn't like them being isolated which had been the case for generations, and prompted Ganondorf to conquer Hyrule. However, her people would protest such a decision, so she needs to be cautious so as to not cause an irreversible rift among the populace.
Despite having committed some horrible acts in the past due to being manipulated by Ganondorf's surrogate mothers, Spitfire had proven herself to be an effective leader of her people, and despite some rough patches because of what she did to Nabooru, she has the support of the Gerudo. She was aware that Twilight wasn't being honest, and people do this to hide what they wish to say.
" I wish to form an alliance," said Twilight.
" That's not a problem on our part, but the other tribes may not be as willing," said Spitfire.
" If this land is to live in peace once again then we must complete what my father started a long time ago," said Twilight.
" Again, the other tribes will protest," said Spitfire.
" Then that is something I must deal with when the time comes, for the unification must be completed. There is much work that needs to be done, and your people must be included in this effort otherwise I could never forgive myself for ignoring your plight. If not for the bigotry from the other tribes, we would all be living in peace, and Ganondorf would have followed a different path. No, I shall not allow their words to affect what I am about to do," said Twilight.
" Better take care of the alliance first," suggested Spitfire.
" If we were to do that followed with the punishment, your people will assume that they were being tricked," said Twilight.
" You'll make quite a queen you know," said Spitfire. Princess Zelda would get the alliance she wanted with the Gerudo because she felt they needed to become part of the unification that her father had always envisioned, but at the same time she had to punish them for the actions of Ganondorf. The punishment was divided into two fronts which involved the annexation of the Spirit Temple, and they were okay with it given how only Nabooru and Twinrova ever managed to make it there to begin with.
However, it was more difficult to get the other condition enforced as it involved allowing the other tribes to enter their territory at all times no matter what, and they felt they were being punished harshly. Luckily, Zelda was wise beyond her years, and stated their fortress was off-limits unless the Gerudo granted outsiders permission to enter. This punishment would only last for a few decades because of an incident that occurred, so now I'll skip ahead to about three months after Ganondorf's defeat.
The Six Sages used their magic to seal the lava pool that existed below the Evil King's fortress as it needed to be dealt with before any work could truly begin. Once this was covered up, and the land started regaining its former glory, people from Kakariko Village came along, and aided in the construction of Hyrule Castle while at the same time working on restoring Hyrule Castle Town.
The other tribes sent envoys to help with the construction aside from the Kokiri as they still had issues when it came to leaving the sanctity of the forest, but the Gorons, Zoras, and Gerudo provided assistants which Zelda appreciated. All of this happened during the three months after her meeting with Spitfire, yet her attendant Impa, who Applejack portrayed, had some dire news to report.
" Are you sure of this Impa?" asked Twilight.
" I am afraid my words are the truth your highness. A small faction of people from the Gorons, Zoras, and Hylians have started their own colony in Hyrule Field where they plan on separating from the kingdom," replied Applejack.
" Why would they be so insistent on such an action? We are still recovering, yet this group insists on dividing our kingdom in half all because they feel that justice was not delivered onto the Gerudo? Most people have accepted the conditions revolving around their punishment as have the Gerudo themselves despite some objections, yet it is most shameful that not everyone agreed," said Twilight.
" I travelled to this area in the hopes of getting them to rethink their desires, but they would not listen to my words claiming that I have been blinded by the false promises of the royal family. They even went as far as saying that you are unfit to rule Hyrule, but the majority of the people know that it was a difficult decision for you to make. Right now, they have been constructing their own castle as a means of letting everyone that they intend on carrying out this farce," said Applejack.
It seems not everyone was willing to accept the Gerudo's punishment that Zelda gave them, for a small faction has decided to rebel against her. People may dislike certain ideas and decisions, but to go and separate from your homeland is just asking for trouble. Luckily, this was still in the early stages, so the chances of bringing this to a peaceful resolution without it spiraling into a civil war were pretty high, but those who were rebelling were young and ignorant.
Applejack made sure that Twilight was aware in case she believed older citizens were doing this. " I will admit that seeing the construction of a castle out in Hyrule Field is nothing short of horrific your highness, yet those who have chosen to act like this are mostly young individuals who have no idea as to what it has been like for the Gerudo for generations."
" Such is the way of ignorance," sighed Twilight.
" They have only just started building themselves a castle, so we have time to resolve this before blood can be shed," said Applejack.
" I do not want to send in any kind of army in order to stop this group, for there has been more than enough violence in the kingdom to last us an eternity, but something must be done before the situation gets too far out of hand," said Twilight.
" This would be an ideal task for the Sheikah, but I am the only survivor after they were all killed during the Imprisoning War, and you disguised yourself as one of my people under my suggestion to avoid Ganondorf's pursuit. The new royal guard would also be a good suggestion, yet their numbers are relatively small, and Shining Armour can no longer lead them because of the injuries he sustained when your father was killed.
While this does go against my better judgment, I believe that you must go to this group in person your highness, and convince them that their actions will serve to bring our kingdom to ruin," said Applejack. Much of the time whenever this kind of situation happens, many monarchs choose to rely on an army to crush a rebellion, yet Twilight was much more compassionate than that. She knew there was no other choice but to confront this group, and tell them the truth of the matter.
" I wish that I did not have to do this Impa, but I must otherwise peace will never happen," said Twilight.
" Will you be needing my assistance?" asked Applejack.
" If they see me coming with any kind of retinue, then they may take it the wrong way, and things will escalate badly," replied Twilight.
" Very well, but I shall insist on having someone escort you, for going by yourself could be dangerous. I shall recommend you ask one of the Six Sages to accompany you to this area," suggested Applejack.
" I intend on going alone," said Twilight.
" While this may be your preference, I cannot allow you to do so especially when this group could be dangerous," said Applejack.
" After what I have been through when Ganondorf captured me, I will be fine Impa," said Twilight. You have to give the princess credit for putting on such a brave face when it comes to dealing with a problem like this, but I'm hoping that the book doesn't decide to skip the most important detail which is of course the resolution. Turning the page over expecting there to be no records, I was happy to see more information regarding this rather brief rebellion, so it was recorded for future generations.
Originally, Zelda was going to bring along Darunia given how he was her Sworn Brother just like how he was with her father, but he insisted on bringing along Nabooru given how the group was furious over the weak punishment towards the Gerudo. Rainbow Dash portrayed Nabooru during my adventure, yet I can't imagine seeing her being diplomatic because of having boundless energy, and not being all that agreeable if things don't go her way.
Why choose the Sage of Spirit? She was once second-in-command of the Gerudo which meant she knew much about his mannerisms, but Spitfire would have worked. This rebellion quickly gained favour with people given how the Gerudo were being treated fairly by Zelda despite their punishment, so after being informed, she moved forward to stifle it, and eventually shut it down by the root by meeting with those who served as leaders. They weren't happy seeing Nabooru accompanying her, so from the start they were quite vocal.
" You must stop with this notion of wanting to break away from the kingdom in order to form your own," said Twilight.
" Why did you bring the likes of her here?"
" Nabooru? She has every right to be by my side as the Sage of Spirit," replied Twilight.
" The Gerudo have been nothing but trouble for years as they use arcane magic which is forbidden in Hyrule, and their former king made all of our lives miserable with no remorse. The people hoped you would punish them for their crimes, yet you merely slapped them on the wrist, and even forged an alliance with them! Why would you do something so reckless like that?"
" It is what my father wanted before he was murdered," replied Twilight.
" Murdered by a Gerudo no less! If anything, you should be infuriated still over how the old King's life was taken away from him long before his time, yet you chose to forego that conclusion, and instead cater to them through a feeble punishment."
" You do not realize that your actions have been affecting the restoration efforts," said Twilight.
" We appreciate you bringing Hyrule back from almost being destroyed, but we won't accept the light punishment you gave to those desert mongrels. Taking over that temple in the desert was pointless given how they don't even use it, and giving everyone access to their fortress, but needing permission to enter is nothing short of an insult to our suffering. You should have had their fortress reduced to rubble, and exiled them to the desert for what they have done against us Hyruleans!
You have proven that you care more for those savages than your true people." Rainbow Dash had been keeping silent during this entire tirade, but it got to the point where she could no longer tolerate what was being said. If I were in her shoes right now, I'd do the same thing she is about to do, and that is turn their own words against them. Twilight on the other hand didn't want any blood to be spilled, for she wanted to resolve things without relying on fighting.
" Princess Zelda," began Rainbow Dash.
" You wish to speak on behalf of your people?" asked Twilight.
" I've been holding back hoping they would listen to you, but now I'm inclined to say what's on my mind," replied Rainbow Dash.
" What could a desert mongrel like you say?"
" You're one to talk you bloated gas bag! I've been listening to her highness doing everything she can to make things right, and all I've heard coming from your mouths is nothing short of complaining because you didn't get your way. My people suffered just as much as you did when Ganondorf took over, for his surrogate mothers had complete control over us and anyone who resisted were exiled to the desert and died. While the Spirit Temple isn't all that important to us, I still have to watch over it as the Sage of Spirit," replied Rainbow Dash.
" You? Watching over such a sacred place? You mean you'd most likely steal from there first."
" Actually, that part is true although my aim was to steal back what Ganondorf had stolen, but the point is that the temple doesn't mean much to my people. Giving you outsiders the right to enter our territory whenever you desire is something we Gerudo couldn't accept because it infringed on our society, yet we changed our minds because we knew that to be a part of Hyrule meant allowing the other tribes access to our domain," said Rainbow Dash.
" Your fortress should have been a part of the conditions."
" Her highness knew it was too much, so she chose not to go that far," said Rainbow Dash.
" Which is why we're forming our own kingdom because of such a reckless decision." According to the book, it says Nabooru completely snapped when she heard that particular statement, and would have gladly killed those who sought to rebel against the kingdom, but she knew that wasn't the right way to go about it.
Lashing out in such a manner would only make things worse. Rainbow Dash is so much like the Sage of Spirit where she gets frustrated when people insult others for no reason, and it vexes her to no end because she would think people are much better than that.
" I wouldn't know of how you all suffered during Ganondorf's reign," said Rainbow Dash.
" And why is that?"
" Because during those seven years, I was brainwashed by his surrogate mothers, and became a slave in the form of an Iron Knuckle; a monster created to serve his every command without question. I've no memories of what happened during that time, yet I wish that I could've witnessed what you and everyone else was experiencing.
I always knew he was going too far which is why I chose to act out against his edicts, but my decisions cost me my freedom until I was freed from their magic by someone who was pretty brave despite having hesitation in her heart," replied Rainbow Dash. This was something they weren't expecting a Gerudo to say, but it was enough to finally make them understand that Ganondorf was even merciless to his own tribe because they were pawns to him.
It's said that Nabooru would provide additional examples that reiterated her stance about why the punishment given unto her people was justified. " We should have acted much sooner against him, but in reality we were blinded by our own tribal laws. Princess Zelda's decision to punish the Gerudo is just, but at the same time she knew that we were nothing more than expendable servants in his eyes." It is said that her words would change their minds, but they needed additional convincing before they would abandon their plan.
Zelda would continue these talks with Nabooru with the faction in the hopes of bringing about a resolution. It would take several months for them to come to an agreement, yet they wanted to make sure that the punishment against the Gerudo would be applied and not taken back until a certain period of time had passed. With this problem now behind her, the princess now had other problems at hand which would test her in ways she wasn't prepared for.
Other factions over time would rebel against the royal family not because of the Gerudo, but for the most trivial of matters. One faction rebelled as they didn't like being taxed too much, another lashed out over a land dispute which involved both Gorons and Zoras, and a third would rise up because they felt Hyrule was plunging into dark times because one piece of the Triforce was missing, and planned on usurping the throne.
It was this latter faction who perhaps made a valid point as the Triforce of Power was stuck in the Sacred Realm. A second piece, the Triforce of Courage, was also missing thus Hyrule only had one piece to rely on during times of darkness. The Hero of Time who had defeated the Evil King returned home in order to live out his childhood, and took his part with him which exposed Ganondorf's intention thus preventing disaster from happening.
Not only did Zelda have to deal with these factions, she also had to deal with the other areas which were recovering. While Hyrule Castle Town and the castle itself needed to be restored due to Ganondorf decimating them, the regions didn't require as much restoration....varying from location to location as some fared worse than others.
The first place Princess Zelda went to according to the book was the Kokiri Forest, and it suffered because the guardian spirit, the Great Deku Tree had passed away seven years prior. While the Kokiri did acknowledge that an alliance existed between them and the royal family, it was never enforced given how they kept isolated within the safety of the forest, and no dignitaries ever came by for a visit.
When Zelda visited, the Kokiri didn't know what to make of her as non-Kokiri were a rarity for them, but luckily they had an ideal negotiator through Saria, the Sage of Forest who I could never forget as Fluttershy assumed her role when I was there.
" The forest children seem afraid to be near me," said Twilight.
" You can't really blame them given how we rarely have non-Kokiri enter these woods because of wanting to remain isolated, and not drawn into conflicts which have been happening for years among the other tribes. In fact, the last time someone from another tribe came here was a Hylian mother along with her baby as she wanted to escape from the bloodshed happening outside.
Sadly, she passed away and her child was raised as one of us until she learned the truth about her own identity. You're the first royal who has come to our here ever since the kingdom first became established after all that fighting was finished, yet it's a good thing I'm one of the Six Sages, for I can easily explain the situation without you feeling confused," said Fluttershy.
" Things would have been much more complicated without you," said Twilight.
" Our guardian, the Great Deku Tree, was killed seven years ago when Ganondorf sapped his strength, and placed the death curse upon him. After his passing, our forest became plagued with monsters, yet no one assisted us until she came along," said Fluttershy.
" With the forest known for its curse, people feared coming," said Twilight. According to legend, if non-Kokiri enter the forest, they would be transformed into monsters, or to be more specific, they become Stalfos where they are forced to protect the ancient temple that rests at the far end of the Lost Woods.
If a forest child were to do the same thing, they would become Skull Kids, and could never return as they were seen as abominations among the Kokiri. The thought of being cursed was too much for people to bear, so they chose to leave the forest to its fate.
" That curse has always been a problem," said Fluttershy.
" Yet, I refuse to allow it to prevent me from aiding you and the forest children," said Twilight.
" What can you do?" asked Fluttershy.
" I have been told that a successor to the Great Deku Tree was born when the Forest Temple was cleansed of the evil that had corrupted it, so I am here to make sure that the sapling remains protected in case evil threatens this haven again," replied Twilight.
" That would be nice," said Fluttershy. The Deku Tree Sprout came into existence because the evil of the Forest Temple was destroyed by the Hero of Time, and despite how young it was, the sapling was determined to carry on the legacy its predecessor began. As it was young though, it needed to be kept safe otherwise if anything were to happen, it could cause the forest to become consumed with darkness that has been lurking about the Lost Woods for generations.
I remember how cute the sprout was although I would have chosen a more practical location rather than being stuck in front of what came before you. As long as the Deku Tree Sprout remains safe, it will eventually grow up and become the true new guardian of the forest, yet that was going to take a very long time.
" Then I shall make arrangements to have the new spirit protected," suggested Twilight.
" We would prefer protecting him on our own, but I know that's wishful thinking given how dangerous things can get. Perhaps you could go with some kind of protection magic which can keep the sprout safe for the first few hundred years, and from there he should be able to take care of himself," said Fluttershy.
" There is no current magic in existence which can last for that length of time," said Twilight. This is actually true as magic can only last for a definite period of time unless it were renewed every few decades to keep it from extinguishing. Fluttershy should have known that given how she's one of the Six Sages, but perhaps in her heart, she believed otherwise, and couldn't accept anything else as being true.
" I suppose the Triforce would have worked, yet two pieces have become lost after the Evil King was banished to the Sacred Realm. I will need to consult some ancient texts which survived when Hyrule Castle originally fell, and hopefully an answer can be found."
" I guess my request was a little much given how you still need to restore the rest of the kingdom, so maybe I should look through those books myself to see if there is a spell which will protect the Deku Tree Sprout for centuries until he is ready. You need not worry about us Kokiri dying upon leaving the forest as we have proven that story was a myth designed to keep us from venturing beyond these trees. In fact, I'll pay you a visit in the future Princess Zelda to see if I can borrow a few of the more ancient texts you have," said Fluttershy.
Oh yeah! This was something not even I knew about. The Kokiri never left the forest because they were told that doing so would mean they would die, but it was merely a ruse concocted by the Great Deku Tree as he wanted to keep them safe. He was certainly right considering what had happened when Ganondorf was in power, yet keeping them locked up like that wasn't what I would call a good idea.
Anyway, about a week after visiting the forest, Princess Zelda paid a visit to Goron City which didn't sustain any damage when Death Mountain erupted after the Fire Temple had been freed from the darkness, yet Darunia, who Pinkie Pie played with so much energy considering she swung around a hammer like it was nothing, was concerned about aftershocks as well as a specific neighbour.
" While my brothers can easily protect our home in case the mountain erupted again, the people of Kakariko don't have any kind of protection. Now I know that they are located at the base of the mountain, yet lava is very unpredictable," said Pinkie Pie.
" You are most fortunate that your people possess ideal strength to keep your city from sustaining damage. Originally, that was my biggest fear as I believed that we would need to send up supplies, but seeing the condition first hand, I am relieved things did not get worse than what was first established. I still feel guilty over not protecting the Gorons from Ganondorf's fury because of defying him, yet you handled it in a manner the other tribes did not want to be a part of," said Twilight.
" When my people are in danger, I won't hesitate to act on their behalf even if I have to give up my very life! Now don't worry about my well being your highness as I've been more than capable of protecting my own hide given how I'm a warrior at heart, yet you had your reasons for hiding from the Evil King for so many years.
If you didn't have a good enough excuse, I'd be insulted because my Sworn Brother, the King, chose not to aid us in our time of need, yet he is no longer alive, and that means his title which was given unto him by me has become yours," said Pinkie Pie. In Goron society, they use the term Sworn Brother to indicate a strong bond of trust has been formed between two individuals that cannot be broken.
Both the King and the Hero of Time were Darunia's brothers, and now it was Zelda's turn to receive the same treatment. " You being here to look over Death Mountain is a sign that you and I will get along just fine."
" Is it possible to prevent the mountain from erupting in the future?" asked Twilight.
" We could seal up potential hazard points, but then that might prevent us from accessing the Fire Temple. The only reason the volcano erupted for the first time in centuries was because of that blasted dragon Ganondorf revived! If not for that then we wouldn't be having this problem to begin with! Right now, my people have been using vast resources to protect our city in case future eruptions occur, yet there is more material than we need, so perhaps we can go down to Kakariko, and get them properly fortified?
I know it won't be easy because I doubt they would believe that a problem could happen in the future, but are you willing to take such a risk knowing lives may be lost?" asked Pinkie Pie.
" Hyrule has suffered too much as it is," replied Twilight.
" Then I can easily ask some of my brothers to go with me to the village, and help fortify key places. The village did have a problem with some kind of phantom shadow a while ago didn't it? If anything, this fortification can keep them protected from anything that tries to leave that graveyard of theirs," suggested Pinkie Pie.
" I had been meaning to visit Kakariko Village in the hopes of helping them recover from the fire which almost gutted everything in flames, but perhaps Darunia you and your people can help protect the village from future fires," suggested Twilight. " Fire means nothing to us Gorons as we can literally bathe in even the hottest of magma for hours on end, so we can definitely do something like that.
Of course, we do need permission from whoever is in charge, for they might not need our assistance, and going there without being needed would cause my brothers to seethe in anger. I suppose a good idea would be for me to go down to the village on my own to assess the situation, and if they have need of our strength then we can deliver it within a matter of hours," said Pinkie Pie.
" Then I am most fortunate that you are willing to help the villagers," smiled Twilight.
" In a way, I'm still indebted to them because of my actions years ago when I went on a rampage all because I wasn't able to feed my people. A lack of hunger can make even the most powerful of warriors lose their sanity," said Pinkie Pie. I remember witnessing that for myself when I first went to Kakariko, and seeing Pinkie swinging around a giant hammer while being in a foul mood is a scary thought.
While she is usually fun and full of life, if she were to become miserable, then I fear for people's lives as she can be rather sadistic even if she doesn't intend for that. According to the book, Darunia was known to have a weakness that revolved around dancing, and I remember when that happened, yet judging from his actual picture instead of Pinkie Pie, I'm amazed he could bust a move.
" There is another matter which needs to be discussed," began Twilight.
" I suspect it has to do with those of my people who joined the rebellious factions?" asked Pinkie Pie.
" Yes," replied Twilight.
" Those who acted in such a manner have been kicked out of the city, and are no longer welcome here. I know the Gerudo didn't cause problems as it was a combination of Ganondorf, and our own bigotry which caused him to want to conquer Hyrule. While we Gorons are known to argue from time to time with the other tribes especially when it comes to our way of life, we don't tolerate the complete and utter isolation of anyone given how difficult things have been," said Pinkie Pie.
" Why do they not realize that we all desire peace?" asked Twilight.
" Not everyone has a clear understanding of what happened when the Evil King was ruling over us. Those who chose to rebel against your authority are young punks who believe the world belongs to them, and don't have a clue as to how to be real men and women! That, and they view you as being weak and unwilling to deal punishment to the Gerudo all due to how they've suffered.
If anyone has suffered, it's the Gerudo themselves for generations, so for those punks to really understand living in such deplorable conditions, have them spend some time out in the desert! That should straighten them out," replied Pinkie Pie.
" That is not a bad idea," said Twilight.
" If they want to continue with this pointless rebellion, then have them exiled to the desert," suggested Pinkie Pie. It may have sounded harsh, but sometimes a dose of reality is all anyone needs if they are to understand true pain. The book says Death Mountain would never erupt again, for the evil which had been lying dormant for generations had been snuffed out, but it wasn't a total loss for both the Gorons and the Hylians who lived in the region.
Kakariko Village was strengthened so as to prevent any fires from happening again, and at the same time the bond between the two tribes grew closer than ever before. This is what the King had long desired to see....everyone in Hyrule united together in order to live in peace. Sadly, he would never live to see this for himself as Ganondorf killed him because of being weak.
Before heading towards Zora's Domain about nearly a month after her visit to Death Mountain, Princess Zelda would finally get the chance to give her father a proper burial along with the members of the Royal Guard whose lives were taken away from them sooner than expected. It may have been seven years too late, and the bodies long since reduced to ashes as Ganondorf obliterated them when he conquered the castle after acquiring the Triforce of Power, but it was an act of honour remembering those who had fallen.
The funeral was a private affair meaning only the Hylians were permitted to witness it given how none of the other tribes lost anyone in such a manner, yet after finishing the eulogy which indicated that they could finally rest in peace, a private moment occurred once again between Zelda and Impa because the latter knew what it was like to lose comrades.
" It was very difficult for you to perform this ceremony, but you did so which would have made your father proud," said Applejack.
" The eyes of those family members who lost loved ones as a result of his massacre," said Twilight.
" Ganondorf was consumed with blood lust, and he wanted the Royal Guard to serve as victims so that he could find satisfaction with his actions. I will not deny that he should have been noticed much sooner than expected, for that would have prevented any loss of life, but things just did not get carried out as intended," said Applejack.
" You still blame my father?" asked Twilight. The old King wanted to unify all of the tribes together that he became ignorant, or oblivious to what was happening around him. He believed Ganondorf planned on forming an alliance, but in truth he manipulated him until he had the perfect opportunity to strike, and end his life.
While the old King was loved, his actions at times were questionable especially when it came to dealing with Ganondorf which had lead people to criticize the effectiveness of his reign. Had he just listened to the right individuals who knew the truth, he would still be alive, and the kingdom would never have plunged into darkness for so many years.
" It is hard to deny that his actions played a role," replied Applejack.
" As always, your words speak the truth," said Twilight.
" Your father became obsessed with fulfilling the dream of unifying all of the tribes together, and Ganondorf took advantage of this knowing that he would remain undetected as the King refused to listen to any kind of accusation thrown at him. In that sense, your father's actions would doom Hyrule as he allowed his dream to be his undoing.
While it is painful considering you tried in vain to get him to change his mind, know that this was the only weakness he had. The dedication he had to protecting the people was unwavering, and his kind heart earned their love and respect," said Applejack.
" And yet I must continue his legacy," said Twilight. Given the old King's lack of attention when it came to dealing with the Evil King, many blamed him for what happened to Hyrule, and because Zelda was his daughter, she was viewed by some as following in his footsteps despite not having his same mentality. To truly distance herself from him, she needed to instill her own policies which is why dealing with the Gerudo needed to be done straight away.
" I am not my father nor do I plan on following his example, for I must rule this land in my own manner." This wasn't going to be easy given how she was following after Ganondorf's reign, and people may not be willing to accept a new monarch, yet Zelda knew it would be a hard journey for everyone.
" Your father was deceived by the King of the Gerudo which cannot be denied, but you must admit your highness that he should have accepted the truth, and not try to deny it having ever existed. Had he been more willing to deal with the situation, he would still be alive. I know my words are harsh, and for that I apologize, but you must take his experience to heart by ensuring that you do not succumb to the same fate," said Applejack.
" At least the families who lost loved ones have forgiven my father's actions," said Twilight.
" They were dedicated to serving him no matter what decisions he made, for that is their sworn duty as Knights of Hyrule. The families are aware that they died trying to protect him even though it was sadly in vain as their power was no match against the Evil King, yet they continue to honour their legacy by choosing to carry on.
Perhaps the one individual who did not show up was Shining Armour himself," said Applejack. I was told by Twilight that in Equestria, Shining Armour was her brother who had become a prince by marrying Princess Cadance, and together they rule over the Crystal Empire, but in Hyrule he served as Captain of the Hylian Royal guard which was ironic as he did that as the captain of the Canterlot Guard before marriage back in Equestria.
Anyway, the captain was believed to have died by Ganondorf's hand, yet he survived and went into hiding in Kakariko Village where he wished to be left alone with his thoughts. He blamed himself for the deaths of his men, and for seven years he would maintain his ideology even though he wasn't at fault.
" He may have opened his heart again, but the injury he sustained will forever keep him from his duty," said Applejack.
" If only Ganondorf had not sent Shining Armour through that window, he would still be able to serve as captain," said Twilight.
" You must face reality your highness in that he is not ready to move on from his past despite opening up thanks to Sunset Shimmer talking with him. He will make a decision when he feels he is ready," said Applejack.
" I wonder how Sunset Shimmer is doing now that she has returned to the days of her youth to live out her life?" asked Twilight.
" She must have already forgotten about this dark future," replied Applejack.
" And perhaps warned the past," said Twilight.
" So you wished for her to prevent this future by having her warn your father in the past of Ganondorf's treachery. While that was a noble gesture, doing that has effectively created two different timelines which stem from the Evil King's defeat," said Applejack. Little did anyone know that the different timelines would cause confusion to a fandom who constantly argues over which is better, but in truth having different timelines meant certain events didn't occur while others did.
I've already read about what happened in the past, so seeing what happens in the future is something of great interest, but the remaining path of time is one that I fear to read as it's the one where Ganondorf ultimately succeeds. It still baffles me how there are three different timelines that extend from one event, yet I guess what I experienced was the catalyst which created everything else.
Mere days after the funeral, she travelled to Zora's Domain where she hoped things had gotten back to normal considering it was one of the more damaged regions. The domain had been subjected to wintery conditions transforming it into a frozen wasteland, and the Zoras themselves were trapped underneath for years. Even though there was still some remnants of ice, the home of the Zora's had returned to normal although much still needed to be done.
Lake Hylia, which is where water from Zora's Fountain ends up reaching was also connected to the plight of the domain, for the water of the lake had drained away by the curse of the Water Temple, and it became a giant puddle. When Zelda approached Princess Ruto, who was portrayed by Rarity which made so much sense given how both she and the Zora princess were quite alike, the former learned of something which she wasn't expecting.
" The Zoras have left?" asked Twilight.
" When it started to snow, our patron deity Lord Jabu-Jabu decided to swim to a much warmer climate, and many of my people travelled with him as they felt the cold was a sign our destruction was at hand. Those who remained here would end up trapped below the ice sheet for seven years with the exception of my father who got frozen on his royal throne.
Even though much of the ice has been melting away since the water returned to Lake Hylia, those among us who left will never return as they have started families down there in the southern seas," replied Rarity.
" How many of you remain?" asked Twilight.
" Roughly a dozen," replied Rarity.
" It is fortunate then that they chose to migrate to a warmer climate," said Twilight. Zoras apparently dislike cold temperatures, and strive to go to a warmer place should things become unbearable which makes me think of them as birds given those migrate south of the human world. Zoras though can only take hot conditions so much until they can no longer tolerate such conditions.
It seems they need a balance otherwise it could cause them problems, and it makes me think of Rarity in that sense as she is known for complaining if things aren't just right. No wonder she portrayed Princess Ruto, but it also must have had to do with diva complex.
" I do have one concern which must be addressed," began Rarity.
" What is it?" asked Twilight.
" One of my people was attacked by a pair of Hylians who claimed they were hunting fish," replied Rarity.
" When did this happen?" asked Twilight.
" About a fortnight ago which was most shocking to my father as he expects the alliance he made with your late father to still stand even though you now serve as the current regent of the kingdom. Why would hunters do such a horrible thing? This Zora was not killed, and for that I am relieved, yet this is something that cannot stand otherwise it could cause some of us to attacking back in revenge. My father hopes for a peaceful resolution, for the thought of his subjects using violence against the Hylians would break his heart," replied Rarity.
" Does this Zora know what they look like? If so then I will be able to deal with them accordingly," said Twilight.
" I am afraid that is unacceptable," began Rarity.
" What do you mean?" asked Twilight.
" This situation happened in our territory, therefore these two hunters must be brought before my father, and punished by him. While you may be the ruler of Hyrule, we still have our rights to administer justice without your approval. I believe this was part of the agreement our respective fathers agreed to when they formed an alliance, and it is the same with regards to the Gorons. I am not sure as to whether or not it applies to the Kokiri, but I definitely know the Gerudo do not have anything like this," replied Rarity.
You've got to love how politics can dictate how peoples behave, and in this case it was especially interesting for all of the tribes demanded their tribal rights be respected by the royal family. I guess Princess Zelda assumed the tribes would follow Hyrulian law, which is what it's referred to regarding the entire kingdom but it turns out they prefer to follow their own, and leave the truly serious crimes up to her to pass judgment upon criminals.
If this is true then wouldn't Ganondorf in the past have been punished by Gerudo law rather than Hyrulean law as he was stripped of his authority as King of the Gerudo? Then again, treason is a serious issue, so being sentenced by the King would overrule any kind of authority his own people have.
" I am aware that you have the right to try them before King Zora, but must it be done this way?" asked Twilight.
" If the hunters had killed my countryman then you would have the right to punish them as it would have been a serious crime, but because he was merely injured, my father has authority to administer justice instead. I know that this is not what you want Zelda, yet for the sake of the alliance between our tribes, it must be this way otherwise it could cause tensions.
Remember what happened between your people and the Gerudo resulting in Ganondorf's rise to power? Granted, all tribes are guilty of contributing to the problem," replied Rarity. History states here that it was always an argument between the Hylians and the Gerudo given how the former ruled over all as decreed in the king's unification, but I'm guessing Zelda didn't want the other tribes to be dragged down as it were to perhaps maintain some kind of status quo.
" Very well. I shall have them escorted to Zora's River where your people can take them from there," suggested Twilight.
" That is still not acceptable," said Rarity.
" Why not?" asked Twilight.
" There is no way of knowing if the soldiers who will escort the guilty party will show sympathy, and free them before my people take over, or perhaps give them weapons with which to use to perhaps kill any of my people. I know such thinking sounds rather barbaric of me, but these are the kinds of risks we must avoid," replied Rarity.
" Yes, I understand your concern, and so I shall provide a slight alternative to my proposal. The two hunters will still be escorted to the river as I originally suggested, but now I shall have my attendant Impa accompany them to ensure nothing goes wrong. Surely you can accept this given you are both fellow Sages," suggested Twilight.
" That is something my father can accept without question, for he has dealt with her on many occasions in the past. I am sorry for having to be so abrupt like this Zelda, but the integrity of the Zoras must be maintained. I am sure the Gorons and Gerudo feel this way as well although the latter are deemed questionable given what their king committed, yet the Kokiri remain an enigma.
Yes, I am aware some of my people joined in those rebellious groups, and they shall be dealt with by my father, yet I believe he will allow you to take over given how their acts violate kingdom laws," said Rarity. I've got to give Princess Zelda a lot of credit here for having so many problems to deal with all while doing everything she can to restore Hyrule.
If I were in her position, I'd have cracked within the first day or two as I'm not the sort of person who can be an effective leader, and it makes me think of how Twilight has to deal with similar problems back in Equestria as she is a princess. It takes a strong will to maintain one's sanity despite being bombarded with all these problems that continue showing up from the shadows, yet some issues happen which you have no control over, and this is evident when it comes to the Gerudo.
I originally believed their problem in the past was restricted to just there, but it seems it exists in the future as well. Unlike the other tribes, the Gerudo lack the means of producing more offspring to counter-balance having small numbers, and if this kept on going for a few more generations, they would be wiped out.
While they were accepting of the punishments handed down to them, the Gerudo struggled to rebuild their lives even though their territory sustained the least damage. No, it was emotional damage they were suffering from rather than physical, and the problem was getting worse with every passing moment. According to one of the Gossip Stones which I can somehow remember, it said that the Gerudo sometimes went to Hyrule Castle Town to look for boyfriends, and I don't need an explanation regarding why.
It says here that the Hylian men got fed up with them doing this that they requested the King barred them from coming for that exact purpose, but I guess it was all an act of desperation on their part. By the time Princess Zelda visited the Gerudo's Fortress, she witnessed first-hand what was happening because of their dwindling numbers.
Spitfire wasn't around at this point, for she was trying to find means of allowing her people to survive, but it wasn't easy given there was still some animosity existing from the other tribes, but Nabooru was one of the fortunate ones as she had found herself an ideal companion who was treating her well and vice versa.
" How many of your people remain?" asked Twilight.
" Unlike the Zoras who have small numbers because half of them left before their domain froze over, the Gerudo have been dwindling in numbers after Ganondorf was banished to the Sacred Realm. In fact, our numbers equal less than 20 now," replied Rainbow Dash.
" Such a severe decline, and during a time where Hyrule is under restoration," said Twilight.
" I'm not surprised that this is happening, for we've always struggled when it came to our population. The desert is a harsh mistress where the hot conditions during the day are unbearable to most, and the cold conditions of the night can kill those who are too weak to continue on. Combined with the lack of any grass, crops, irrigation, and just about anything else along those lines, living out here is like asking to perish every single day," said Rainbow Dash.
" If only my father had known sooner, then we could have prevented any loss of life," said Twilight.
" You can thank our stubbornness," said Rainbow Dash. Zelda's father tried many times to bring the Gerudo into Hyrule through an alliance, yet they always refused under the notion of not wanting their secrets compromised. The only thing they ever established when it came to dealing with the Hylians was acknowledging their existence.
" Still, we can't change what happened in the past, so all we can do is look towards the future. The other tribes are probably laughing away right now because they've been wanting us gone for generations. I know you don't want to hear such things, but you can't pretend that what happened long ago didn't occur."
" Which is why I want to ensure that you all survive," said Twilight.
" That's a nice gesture and all, but it's something the Gerudo just can't accept your highness. While we've accepted the punishments, and agreed to form an alliance thus completing your father's unification plan, we just can't accept aid from any other tribe no matter how kind of a gesture it is. If we do something like that, we'd be betraying ourselves for we've always resolved issues on our own, or allowed them to take their toll on us," said Rainbow Dash.
" I guess there is no choice but to allow you to continue going, but should the situation reach a point where it means your very existence is at stake, then I will have no alternative. The Gerudo are just as important to Hyrule's survival as everyone else, and losing you would be devastating," said Twilight.
Such bold words I've had the pleasure of reading, but sadly what she said was in vain given how many across the kingdom have already declared the Gerudo should be destroyed out of fear that one day a second Ganondorf could come along. It was essentially a no-win situation which is something Zelda wished wasn't the case, but the fact remains that the Gerudo were slowly succumbing. " How have your people felt about losing the Spirit Temple?"
" We never paid much attention to it, and Ganondorf was using it to store treasures he had stolen over the years. Even though I originally used it as a hideout as a means of going somewhere and think about things, his surrogate mothers eventually kicked me out, and took control shortly afterwards.
It doesn't bother me as I was never really attached, but that doesn't hold weight now given how I'm the Sage of Spirit. One day, we'll reclaim the temple, but for now it can remain under your jurisdiction until further notice," replied Rainbow Dash.
" And the other condition?" asked Twilight.
" At first we were upset over the notion of suddenly being plagued with all kinds of outsiders, but once the first non-Gerudo came here to see our living conditions, they never came back, and subsequently we've had next to no other people showing up. I guess they just can't handle being in a desert given the natural climate that exists in the rest of the kingdom, yet it does give us much needed privacy. Of course, you should still maintain the punishment as it will make them happy," replied Rainbow Dash.
" I really wish to help you," said Twilight.
" While the sentiment is very convincing your highness, we just can't accept your goodwill. Ganondorf may have been a monster, but he made sure we followed our tribal laws right down to the last detail. That was perhaps the only thing about him which I liked although I wish that he chosen a different path in life instead of the one which resulted in his current position. If he had been a better man, I would have reciprocated the love he had for me," said Rainbow Dash.
What!?!? I always thought Nabooru made that up, yet it turns out she really had romantic feelings for Ganondorf. The book does say that she did love him originally, and planned on accepting his offer to become his wife and eventually queen, but his actions were ones she couldn't accept. I wonder what would have happened had she decided to accept him regardless of his current actions.
Would that have meant banishing her to the Sacred Realm? It scares me to even think about it. " But, I found a man who has made me very happy, so at least I was lucky compared to the other women around here."
" The lack of men is very eerie," said Twilight.
" To be honest, we see them as being utterly useless, but there are exceptions to the rule," said Rainbow Dash.
" Maybe that attitude needs to be changed," suggested Twilight.
" I suppose it could, but then remember that we Gerudo consist of only women, and this is especially true given how we won't be having another king for another several decades or so, but this has been our way of thinking since the start," said Rainbow Dash.
" Is that why your people tolerated Ganondorf for as long as you did?" asked Twilight.
" He was our king, and according to our laws, we must obey all of his edicts no matter what. In my eyes, he abused this authority when he planned on claiming the Triforce, and using it to conquer the world. Spitfire has proven herself to be a very capable leader even though she was once one of his closest followers, yet this was due to being brainwashed by those witches just like I was. I have faith in her abilities because she deserved the chance to be second-in-command, and now the actual leader," replied Rainbow Dash.
It says here that one man is born into the tribe every 100 years, and that lone male must become king. I actually thought that was pretty much impossible given how societies can have males and females, yet I guess this isn't always the case. It's also a shame how the words of Nabooru ended up being false because the dwindling numbers continued to worsen as the years went by.
Spitfire did everything she could to prevent the problem from getting worse, but sadly her efforts failed, and within a few generations they were on the verge of being wiped out entirely. There was one course of action which could be taken, and that was to have the remaining Gerudo assimilate into Hylian society....which is exactly what happened in the past timeline. No matter what, the Gerudo are doomed which is just so sad as they don't deserve it.
From what I could gather from this chapter on the future, things were difficult all over the place given how Hyrule had been plunged into darkness for so long, yet in time they would persevere and overcome such disaster. It took a number of years before peace had truly returned, and by that time the kingdom had become prosperous again. There were no problems to be found anywhere as Princess Zelda lead her people to an age of prosperity, yet there was one thing which often gave her nightmares.
At first she didn't allow it to become a problem for she was fixated on ruling, but over time the same haunting visage continued to torment her, and no one could do anything about it as it was happening strictly in her mind. He would not allow her to rest as the threat he made before being banished would linger on forever.
" Why do you continue tormenting me in my sleep?" asked Twilight.
" You may think that Hyrule can become peaceful once again, but you are merely deluding yourself to the obvious truth. This land shall never know peace so long as I hold the Triforce of Power in my hand. While you and those accursed Sages have banished me, know that it's merely a temporary solution," replied Tirek.
" And what makes you believe this?" asked Twilight.
" I guess you've proven how poorly-educated you really are Zelda if you of all people aren't aware of the Sage's Seal, and how it really functions. While the seal will keep me locked up, it can only last for so long. The seal shall grow weaker as time passes, and when it has weakened just enough, I shall escape and return to my domain where I shall wreck havoc upon your descendants! They shall suffer my fury, and you'll be the one they curse for eternity! I can never be forgotten no matter how hard you try," replied Tirek.
" By revealing this information to me, I can easily prevent it from happening," said Twilight.
" The wheels of fate have already begun to turn Zelda, and nothing you can do can prevent the inevitable. You need not have to worry for I shall not be returning for many centuries, and even if you have a plan in place, it doesn't change anything. I have foreseen what shall happen, yet to further cause you misery my dear princess, I'll keep this information to myself thus leaving you to guess," said Tirek.
" Someone will stop you," said Twilight.
" Do you intend to mean the Sage who chose to remain here in this realm? If so then you have false hopes for someone like him, for he shall soon die by my hands should he no longer amuses me. Remember Zelda that all these future events will be on your hands! The future of Hyrule shall be written in blood!" said Tirek.
Just reading that last bit has me worried because Ganondorf said something similar regarding me, and the fate which will soon become a reality where I'll be going to another world on the verge of destruction. No, I need to remain calm about this. I can't allow my emotions to get the better of me even though it won't result in a transformation.
Well, this chapter is now officially over, but I wonder what the next one will be about. I'll just turn the page over like so....oh no....the next chapter is about the fate of the Evil King across all three timelines. I'd rather not know, yet I'm compelled into continuing on.

To Be Continued.