I was at home, packing a few things I knew would come in handy on my journey to Hyrule.
It was weird, thinking of that place now, in my current situation. Just a couple of days ago, living there was all I remembered. But now that I remembered my old life, the adventures I had in Hyrule seemed like they were just a small vacation from my real life, my real home here in Equestria. And still, when Link said he wanted to go back to get the Master Sword, I immediately volunteered to come along.
When my oldest daughter entered the room, I nodded at her with a smile and kept packing. But apparently, there was something on her mind, as she cleared her throat and said: "Mom? Can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Sure, honey," I said. "What's the matter?"
"Well, y'know how I told ya to take care of yerself when you decided to go with Link? I still mean it, but… I've been wondering. How come you're always so quick to jump when it's about him? I know he's your friend and everything, but… you've been traveling with him for such a long time and you've just now come back home… what I mean is, why don't you stay in Equestria for a while?"
I understood right away what bothered her. It wasn't the fact that Link was my friend or that I was worried about him. She was worried that I would go away and never come back, like I did before. I put down my bags for a moment and put my foreleg around my daughter's shoulder. "Listen, honey… I promised myself I would never, ever leave my home and my family ever again. This is my home, and I've decided to stay here. However… just like Ponyville, Hyrule is a special place for me. And Link is my best friend. I don't know how to explain it to you, but I know I can trust him more than anyone else."
"I know that," Applejack sighed. "I'd go and help my friends whenever possible, too. I did it when Rarity was gone and I'll do it now that Fluttershy is gone. It's just… that other world… if you like it that much, how do I know you don't like it better than your old home? What if you decide to stay there after all?" She tried to hide her anxiety, but I could feel her body shiver underneath my touch. "I don't wanna lose you again… I've lived so many years without you, I dunno if I can stand another day with you gone…"
I gave her a hug. "It's okay, Applejack. I'm not going anywhere. I'm just helping a friend and I'll be back before you know it. And you're a strong pony. I know you can manage, my daughter. My strong and honest daughter…"
She fought back a few tears, failed miserably and clung to me like a desperate filly. "All right then," she finally muttered. "I can do it… I'll be strong. Go… help yer friend. And I'll wait for your return."
I smiled. "Good girl. And in the meantime, you help your friend too. Hyrule may need its hero, but Equestria needs its heroes as well."
I took my bags and went outside. Link was already waiting for me in front of the barn, turned back into his Hylian self. "Ready to ride back into action, partner?" he smirked.
I shook my head. "No."
That took him by surprise. "What, getting cold feet all of a sudden? Or would that be cold hooves?"
"That's not it," I said. "I still wanna come with you, but… not like this. Remember when you warned everyone from Ganondorf's plans? After he was stopped, everyone kept talking about the courageous forest boy and his fairy friend. I was just the horse… your sword was more important than me."
"You and me both know this isn't correct," Link said. "You are an important part of this team and my good friend. That's what you were even before I knew that you're an earth pony from Equestria. And the people will realize that as soon as they see you in your new form… in your old form, I mean."
"Are you sure?" I asked skeptically. "I think they will just see another horse, except that it's now smaller and can talk. I want to be seen as your true partner, as someone who really contributed something to Hyrule's cause."
Link scratched his head. "What exactly are you trying to tell me here?"
"You'll see," I said. "Come on, I need to talk to Twilight before we leave."
A couple of minutes later, at the Ponyville Library…
"You want me to do what?" Twilight asked in surprise as she stared at me.
"You heard me," I said. "I want you to turn me into a Hylian… at least for the time I'm in Hyrule."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Zelda asked. "You've never been in a humanoid body before. And you've never used a weapon. How do you plan in helping Link like that?"
"I'm still strong," I said. "And Link had to get used to walking on four legs as well. If he adapted, so can I."
"But what if you get stuck like this?" Applejack objected. "I don't want my mom to look like a skinny ape for the rest of her life… no offense," she quickly said to Link and Zelda.
"None taken," Link said. "But I have to agree. When I use the masks, I know I can always change back. But do you know what it's like to be stuck in an unfamiliar form? When I was first turned into a Deku, I was terrified. I was afraid I would be stuck in that strange body."
"That's different," I countered. "You were forced into the shape of a Deku, while this is my own choice. And Twilight is an alicorn, right? Her magic has to be powerful enough to do this." I turned to face the princess. "You CAN do it, right?" I was almost convinced she could do it. Before all of this, I always saw alicorns as the gods of Equestria, capable of doing anything. And even though the recent events shook my believes, I told myself that a simple transformation spell should be nothing for somepony as powerful as Twilight.
"Well, it is possible," Twilight finally said. "I can make a soul scan of Link's Hylian matrix, create a template and copy it onto Epona's earth pony matrix. It's what I used to turn us all into Breezies that one time."
Everyone standing around the princess looked at her in confusion.
"You got that in clean, understandable Equestrian?" Rainbow Dash asked. Twilight groaned.
Spike sighed. "She means that she can use a spell to turn Epona into a Hylian by using Link as a template."
We all nodded in understanding. "Oooooooh…"
"Wait a minute… did she just say she turned you into a Breezie?" I gaped at my daughter.
"Trust me, it's not the weirdest thing that happened to us," Rainbow said.
"Okay… anyways, you heard it, guys. Twilight said it can be done. And she can turn me back anytime… right?"
"Theoretically… yes," she nodded.
"Good enough. Do it!" I said.
Applejack and Link exchanged glances full of doubt, but didn't object anymore. Link positioned himself next to me, Twilight took a deep breath… and then she fired a beam of magic at the two of us. For a millisecond I was afraid she was going to blast me into smithereens, but I quickly relaxed when the only thing I felt was a tingle.
"Whoa," Link gasped. "That was weird."
I was about to ask him what he meant, when I felt SOMETHING entering me. It felt like an intruder to my whole self, but at the same time, I felt how my body changed to accommodate this foreign presence. As a Hylian, I needed to be able to walk on two legs, so my forelegs turned into arms and my hooves into hands. At the same time, my whole body straightened. My ears grew thinner and more pointy, while my snout shrank back into my face. The weirdest sensation of them all was when my tail disappeared. I didn't even try to think about the two weights that appeared on my chest. Suddenly, I was worried that things might get very uncomfortable if Link took a look at my new self with no clothes… but as soon as my fur vanished, I felt how something else appeared on my body. I took a look down and saw Hylian clothing made out of sturdy, brown leather. A vest, some pants, a pair of boots and a belt that somewhat resembled my tail.
I blinked and, for the first time, raised my fingers up to my face to touch it. My fingers. That thought alone was weird. They were so thin, so wiggly and sensitive. My face felt completely different, too. When I turned to face Link, he looked like his eyes were ready to pop out of his skull. "What's the matter with you?" I frowned.
"You, um… I mean…" He coughed. "You look… good."
"Can't say I share yer sentiment," Applejack frowned. "Yer lookin' mighty weird, Mom."
"Can anyone give me a mirror?" I asked.
Spike quickly ran and brought a mirror. I looked inside and saw a middle-aged, Hylian woman looking back. She was tall, muscular and had tanned skin and shoulder-length, white hair. And her face… well, for Hylian standards, I guess it could be called 'cute'.
"I think you look great, Epona," Navi said.
"You really think so?" I frowned.
She nodded. "Yes. And no one would mistake you for anything but a Hylian."
"She's right," Zelda agreed. "You look like any other Hylian."
"That's all I need to know," I said. "And if you've finished staring, Link, I'd say we're ready to leave. Navi! Open that portal!" And I turned around to dramatically point at the sky…
…only to fall flat on my nose. "OW!" I yelled. "Celestia dammit, that hurts!"
"Oh goodness," Zelda gasped. "Are you all right?"
"I've been better," I grumbled. "And Link, stop your gloating!"
"I didn't do anything," he lied.
"Oh please, I don't have to look at you to see how much you're enjoying this. As far as I remember, you had the same trouble when you first tried walking on four legs."
"I swear I'm not gloating," he said. "If anything, I'm jealous. Every time I transform, it hurts like hell."
Zelda helped me get back on my feet. Standing on those spindly things certainly isn't as easy as it looks. I had a hard time not falling down with every step I took.
"You'll get used to it faster than you think," Twilight said. "Walking on two legs isn't that difficult once you get the hang of it."
"How do you know anything about walking on two legs?" I asked.
"Believe me," Twilight chuckled. "I know."
Soon after that, Navi lead us back to Hyrule. She, Zelda and I were the only ones accompanying Link, since we all somehow knew that the biggest battle would be fought in Equestria this time around, so the sages still in Equestria remained there to help the ponies in their preparations and planning. On our way back through the fairy realm, I realized quickly that Twilight had been right. Getting used to these legs was a lot easier than I expected. Especially considering that I had Link to lean against.
And no, I didn't have any dirty thoughts about him! Shut up!
"Is it really worth it?" Link asked me as he caught me when I stumbled over some branches for the third time. "We're just going to Hyrule to get the Master Sword and then we'll return. I doubt you'll get a lot of chances of even being seen in public as a Hylian."
"I've thought this through," I said. "And I doubt it's going to be that easy. If there's one thing I've learned from traveling with you, it's that trouble can wait behind every corner. Also, Twinrova escaped to Hyrule, and I doubt they only went back for sightseeing."
"In that case, wouldn't it have been better for you to come along in a body you are used to, if you're expecting trouble? I've seen you fight as a pony, and you've handled yourself quite well in battle."
"I told you I want to do this," I said. "You didn't get a lot of time to get used to your pony form when you were kidnapped out of the blue."
He kept quiet after that, thankfully. His objections were getting irritating.
"There we are," Navi said as we arrived at the other end of the fairy realm. "Where shall I open the portal this time? In the castle again?"
"Let's not waste any time and go right into the Temple of Time," Zelda said. "I don't want to have to explain everything to my father first and waste valuable time. Who knows what Ghirahim does to the ponies of Equestria while we're gone?"
"Good idea," Link said. "That should also decrease our chances of running into trouble, right? Unless it's waiting for us right in the temple." He chuckled.
He just had to say it.
Navi opened the portal, and for the first time in her life, I saw the Temple of Time from the inside, as well as the pedestal with the Master Sword. But I also saw a pair of Gerudos standing in front of a mirror, chanting words in a strange language I could not understand. I didn't recognize them at first, but then I realized they were twins and only one word came to mind: Twinrova!
I heard Zelda gasp next to me. "They are breaking the seal on the mirror," she shouted. "Link, stop them!"
That confused me for a bit. Mirror? Seal? What was she talking about? But while I was standing around in confusion like an idiot, Link acted. He took his trusted bow and shot an arrow at the two women… but it was blocked by a barrier of ice. That proved it to me, those two were Twinrova, and they were up to no good.
"Blast it!" Link shouted as he dropped the bow and instead, drew his sword. And as he started running towards them, I was at his side. It took all of my effort not to trip again.
But no matter how fast we ran, it was not fast enough. All of a sudden, a blinding light came forth from the mirror. I stopped dead in my tracks and raised my new hands in front of my face to shield myself from the brightness. However, the brightness was short-lived. Instead, tendrils of darkness started crawling out of the mirror, followed by a figure I recognized all to easily… Ganondorf!
In the corner of my eyes, I saw how Link's face turned as white as a sheet. "NO!" he shouted and raised his blade. I wanted to warn him that this common blade would probably do nothing against the King of Evil, but it was too late… Ganondorf caught the sword with his hand and sneered down at him. "I don't think you quite understand, boy. This is not the sword you defeated me with."
I cringed when he punched Link without a warning. I gulped a bit when I witnessed his strength… that punch was powerful enough to bring down an entire apple tree.
Ganondorf then took the sword and cracked it like a piñata on Nightmare Night. As for me, I quickly ran over to my friend. "Link! Are you all right?"
"I've felt better, Epona…" he muttered. I helped him back to his feet, then turned to face Ganondorf, fists raised. This might not be the body I'm most comfortable with, but I'd be damned if I let Link face this opponent all by himself.
Laughing, Ganondorf raised his hand. I admit I was getting just a tad nervous when I saw the glowing symbol of the Triforce on it. "How come we always seem to meet in important places like this?" he asked. His gaze wandered from Link to Princess Zelda. "The three of us, always destined to meet… except that this time, I shall have my revenge!"
"We'll just see about that, bison-breath!" I shouted. I probably sounded much more confident than I felt. My enthusiasm dropped even further when Ganondorf looked at me with those eerie, yellow eyes of his. He seemed unimpressed.
"Whoever you are, woman… this does not concern you! Stay out of this fight between your future king and these rebels."
"I… I'm not afraid of you!" I shouted, clenching my fists. "And you're not my king… I only listen to Princess Celestia!"
"Princess who?" He lifted a brow. "Doesn't matter. You're not worth my time… begone!" He raised his palm, and a stream of dark energy streamed over my body. I screamed in pain as I was thrown backwards, against the wall. I felt nothing but pain, humiliation and helplessness. I've always considered myself to be a powerful earth pony, unwilling to let anyone bully me around. I was steadfast and strong, in body as well as in spirit. But this power… this was something out of my league.
"Stop it!" Link shouted. "Your quarrel is with me, not with her."
Ganondorf lowered his hand and the pain stopped. I was left as a quivering mess on the temple floor and he didn't even pay me anymore attention.
"So be it, Hero of Time," he said. "Between you and me, you say? Well then, I guess that battle is already won. You have nothing that could hurt me in your hands…" he shortly glanced over his shoulder at the Master Sword that was still stuck in the pedestal behind him. "While I have POWER!" Once again, he showed off the Triforce of Power. Usually, I would have made fun of him for being obsessed with that thing, but after having felt what he was capable of, I really didn't feel like laughing.
Link gritted his teeth. We really were in a bad situation here… I don't think I would have been able to stand up against Ganondorf even in my pony form.
"Nothing that can hurt you, you say?" Zelda suddenly said. I almost forgot that she was still here, too. So did Ganondorf and Link apparently, as they both looked at her in surprise.
Zelda had picked up the bow Link had dropped and was aiming an arrow at Ganondorf… and not just any arrow. It was a brightly shining Light Arrow!
"Surrender now and return to beyond the seal that kept you," Zelda said sternly. I felt sudden admiration for her ability to stay calm and collected while being confronted with one of the most powerful beings in Hyrule. "Light will always triumph over darkness. You have power, you say? We will face it with wisdom and courage." And as if they wanted to respond to the glow of Ganondorf's own Triforce part, Link's and Zelda's Triforce parts of Courage and Wisdom started shining.
Ganondorf chuckled. "Wisdom… how did wisdom help you? How can wisdom protect against a mighty blade, being swung by a powerful arm? And courage? How can courage prevail when faced with the powers of darkness?" He glared at Link and raised his fist. "I know of the fate you took from me, boy. The future that should have been mine… I would have been king! Hyrule would have been mine! But you took it from me… I will quench out every last bit of courage you have left, and power will prevail."
His words made me so mad. I was still weak and afraid, but the infamous apple stubbornness came back forth. I pushed myself back up and said: "You are wrong, Ganondorf… courage and wisdom will always prevail over power. And do you know why? Because they are united… in FRIENDSHIP!"
"A ridiculous sentiment," Ganondorf scoffed. "Friendships are easily broken. I single-handedly created a wedge within my own tribe, didn't I? Those who are loyal to me and those who still seek to rebel. Also, friendships can be easily abused. Remember how I managed to gain the king's trust? I pretended to be his friends. And it would have worked, if it wasn't for this meddling boy and his little fairy!"
'And his horse, too!' I wanted to shout, but I stopped myself.
"You can say whatever you want, Ganondorf," Zelda said, still aiming the Light Arrow at him. "You are not leaving this place."
"Do you really think you have it in you, princess?" Ganondorf laughed. "You can fire that arrow at me, sure. And it will probably hurt. But it won't be enough. You said it yourself, courage and wisdom must be united to stand up against power. But the way I see it, courage isn't exactly a threat right now." He turned his smug, grinning face to Link. "No weapon to fight me with, even your bow is now held by the princess you always have to protect and save. Tell me, boy, what will you do to stop me? Fight with your bare hands? Throw a boomerang at me? Take out a fishing pole?" He laughed. "Face it, you are nothing without the Master Sword."
He turned his back to Link and Zelda. It was very unsettling for all of us that he wasn't worried in the slightest about the arrow pointed at his backside. He slowly walked up to the pedestal. "This is the so-called 'blade of evil's bane'. I admit, it has been a thorn in my side in the past. I know I can't even touch it… but I truly wish I could claim this power for my own." He raised his hand towards the blade. "Just imagine… a corrupted Master Sword in my own hands, pulsing with the powers of darkness… yes, I like that idea. I even feel something deep within the blade… as if something in there is calling out for me… something that belongs to me…"
"No!" another voice suddenly spoke up. "You shall never take this sword into your hands! And you shall never claim what is sealed within!"
"What is this?" Ganondorf gasped as the Master Sword began to glow in its own light. It was pulsing in the same rhythm as the glow coming from Link's Triforce of Courage. The sword rose out of the stone, all on its own, and for a split second, I could have sworn I saw a transparent spirit behind the sword, a floating female figure with long sleeves and blue skin.
Link raised his hand and the Master Sword landed safely in his grip. "Guide me with your hands, master," the voice spoke. "And make sure that the great evil will never reform itself."
Link took the hilt of the sword with both hands and glared at Ganondorf with new-found resolve. "Looks like I have a weapon against you after all, Ganondorf," he said. "What will you do now?"
Ganondorf grunted angrily as he looked back and forth between Link with the Master Sword and Zelda with the Light Arrow. I could see he was desperate to fight them, to have his revenge… but he still held himself back.
"Not this time around, heroes," Ganondorf grumbled. "I shall not be sent back beyond the seal by you… and I will not be defeated by those weapons of light you carry. I will reclaim my destiny… once I have in my hands a weapon of my own, a blade of darkness that shall shatter your light, along with your hopes."
He picked up one of the bigger shards of ice that remained from Twinrova's wall and hurled it at one of the big, stained glass windows, which shattered under the impact. He then levitated himself up into the air, using his dark magic and glared down at us one last time, before he turned around to fly away.
"You shall not escape!" Zelda shouted as she fired her arrow… but she missed and hit the wall. To my left, I saw how the Gerudo witches tried to flee as well.
"Not so fast!" I shouted as I ran towards them… only to trip and fell flat on my nose… again. Frustration welled up inside me as I saw them leaping out of the broken window.
In retrospect, taking on the form of a Hylian wasn't one of my brighter ideas.
Even though their king did not speak a single word to them ever since they freed him his banishment, Aloe and Lotus still followed him without questioning where he was going and what he was planning. In Lotus' eyes, he was their king and he alone could make their decisions. And in Aloe's eyes, she could only follow her sister, since she had no other person left in her life.
After following his cloaked shadow as it flew across the Hylian plains, they approached the borderland of Gerudo Valley. It was there that Ganondorf decided to land. Aloe and Lotus quickly caught up with him and knelt down in front of him.
Ganondorf turned around and looked down at them for a while, contemplating. Then he spoke: "Twinrova… you have changed."
"A lot has happened ever since you left us, my lord," Lotus said, her head still bowed. "We were reincarnated in another land, far away from Hyrule. But we've never faltered in our loyalty."
"My lord," Aloe dared to speak up. "Is it wise for us to be here? Most Gerudo have turned from you and are now loyal to Nabooru and…"
"That will be no problem," Ganondorf said, interrupting her. "First, tell me everything that has happened… everything!"
And Lotus started explaining. She told Ganondorf about Equestria, how she and Aloe were reincarnated there as ponies, how Ghirahim found them and how they met again with the Hero of Time. They also told him about the princesses, the shadow horse, Ghirahim's plans and everything that happened after Link first appeared in their spa. Ganondorf did not interrupt her once. He listened carefully to every word she said and only made a gesture every now and then to make her keep talking. After she was finished, he was rubbing his chin.
"Interesting," he said. "Another world, you say? Normally, I would have no interest in such a place… from the sounds of it, it and its inhabitants are weak and cling to sentimental ideals, even more than Princess Zelda. But that shadow horse you told me about intrigues me… it claims to be my dark steed, a demon who aims to usurp my position? And this demon servant of his… you state he is in fact a demonic blade, given human form?"
"Well, it's an Equestrian form at the moment," Lotus said. "But you're basically right, my lord."
"Now that would be a weapon after my taste," Ganondorf grinned. "I shall have to pay that world of equines a visit after all, if not only to prove to this shadow and its servants that there shall be only one Demon King! But first things first… I need to reclaim my position here in Hyrule. The charade of acting as the king's subordinate has run its course, he and his people now know what to expect of me. But if anything, I need to bring my own people back at my side."
"How are you planning on doing this, my lord?" Aloe asked. "Almost all of them are siding with Nabooru, who is now a sage and ally of the royal family of Hyrule."
"My loyal little witch," Ganondorf smirked. "Don't tell me you've lost your cunning while you were reincarnated. Don't you see why they are siding with Nabooru? They see no other path in front of them. With me taken away from them, they don't see any other solution to survive than to side with the enemy. But believe me, as soon as they see that I have returned to them, they will be willing to serve me once again, either out of loyalty, respect or fear. And those few who still seek to rebel, including the traitor Nabooru… well, they will find out just what it means to fraternize with the enemy…"
Aloe's eyes went wide. "You don't mean…"
He clenched his fist in front of his face and surrounded it with darkness. "Everyone who dares to oppose me… shall die! Including any traitorous Gerudo. Including any ally from the royal family. Including the shadow horse and his minions, and even including those ridiculous ponies from Equestria, should they be foolish enough to stand against me."
For Aloe, that was the last straw. She wanted nothing more than a peaceful life at her sister's side. She was willing to follow her to Equestria. She was willing to live as a Gerudo once more. She was even willing to free Ganondorf… but killing her own kind, ponies and Gerudo alike? She couldn't do that. This was not who she was. And for the first time, she truly realized who she was.
In a past life, her soul might have inhabited the body of the Gerudo witch Koume, and she may have inherited her memories… but she was not Koume. She was not part of Twinrova and she was not a Gerudo. She was Aloe Blossom, an earth pony born and raised in the town of Ponyville, in Equestria.
She turned away, making Ganondorf furrow his brow. "I'm sorry… but I shall not take any part in this."
"Aloe!" Lotus hissed. "What are you doing?"
"Be quiet!" Ganondorf said to Lotus, and she quickly obeyed. Before Aloe had any chance of leaving, he walked up to her and put his hand on her shoulder. She froze and shivered.
"You would turn away from me?" he asked. "You would throw away siding with your king and helping him reclaim his kingdom? You would prefer life as a weak, frail, four-legged creature to a life filled with glory and power? You would betray me?"
Aloe had never been this scared before, in neither of her lives. But she couldn't be part of this anymore. Never again!
"I don't betray you," she said. "Because I've never been your servant." She looked up at him, scared but resolute. "I am Aloe, an earth pony… and I'm not Koume, fire witch of the Gerudo."
"I see," Ganondorf said calmly. "I am sorry you see it this way."
Lotus didn't dare budge an inch, but she looked at her sister with disbelief. How could she throw this away, this chance for a new beginning, this chance to follow her destiny?
"But I admire your bravery," Ganondorf said. "I just told you what I would do to traitors, to those who would turn away from me, and yet you still did it. While I respect power more than courage, it tells me you have a strong character, no matter if you decide to inhabit the weak body of an equine instead of being a proud Gerudo. Also, while you claim you are not the same person as before, I cannot forget that it was you and your sister who helped me grow strong after my birth. You turned me into what I am today. For that reason alone, I shall let you live."
"You… you're letting me go?" Aloe muttered in confusion.
"I am," Ganondorf nodded. "But before you go… there is still the matter of collecting my debts." He strengthened the grip on Aloe's shoulder, and she cried out as she felt his powers seeping deep into her body and soul… And then, she felt how something from deep within her was sucked out of her.
Ganondorf's eyes and hand began to glow as he continued to drain every last bit of Hyrule magic from Aloe's body. Her body transformed back into a quadruped shape, and she fell to the ground, once again an earth pony. But Ganondorf kept his grip on her until the only magic left within her was her innate earth pony magic that connected her to the earth of Equestria.
Finally, Ganondorf ripped her headband with the red jewel from her skull. "You renounced your birthright as a Gerudo," he said. "So everything that made you one shall be taken from you. You now are what you wanted to be: A pathetic pony with no reason to exist on this world Hyrule! Now go… leave this place and never come back!" He glared at her. "If I ever see you again in front of me, opposing me… your life will be forfeit!"
And with another clench of his fist, he cracked the red jewel, absorbing all of its magic into his own body, using the Triforce of Power.
He then turned to the other sister. "Come along now, loyal servant. Your sister has died. You are now the only remaining member of Twinrova, Kotake the ice witch. Serve me, follow me and leave this wretched creature alone in the dust."
Having heard her master's orders, Kotake averted her eyes from the earth pony Aloe and rose to her feet. "Yes, Lord Ganondorf! I obey."
Together, they approached Gerudo Valley, leaving Aloe behind as she could do nothing but cry to herself.