From Yesterday

See earlier chapters for disclaimer!


The black stead moved across the sands with incredible ease. He was the fastest the land had ever known, and if his rider had his way, that would stay as such. The chains and jewels on his saddled jingled and rang out with each gallop and as the reins pulled up, he found himself hesitant to heed his master. They ended their ride atop a hill overlooking the interior of a canyon.


The rider dismounted and scratched the horse’s muzzle, displaying more affection in that moment than he had in ages. Their quarry was only meters away. The rider bid his stead away before beginning down the steep hill on foot. He cared little for the sounds he cast and was indifferent to the idea of prospective booby traps. Even the best of the Sheik could not undo the great and unyielding Ganondorf.


He moved through the foliage with ease, stopping on the dirt path in and out of the Sheik tribe. The early morning sun had yet to crest the hill and the path was still dark, lit solely by the few stars still lingering in the sky. No one would know he had come or gone until the straw huts were engulfed in flame and the village was little more than soot. He felt the rumble of laughter in his chest and restrained the urge to announce his impending triumph. Instead he licked his lips and began towards the village every muscle in his body tense with anticipation.


His only concern had been whether or not the quarry would sense him. Surely one of such power like her would be able to pick up his aura in the wind. But the witches had promised him otherwise, had fed him their ungodly potions and assured him not even the goddesses would suspect his presence. And in the event that he was caught the warriors now falling into position around the village would offer the necessary insurance for him to make a speedy escape with his prize.


The men who were loyal to him, and those who had benefited from his being on the throne had sworn to follow him, had agreed to take down anyone who even dare challenge him. They had followed him at a distance. Had snuck into the tribal grounds and had killed the occupants in the huts surrounding the one that rested in the center. The chieftain’s hut, where he was certain Zelda would be.


He entered the village as the sun peaked above the hills. There was no sound, no early riser to greet him all having been silenced by the new lethal occupants of the village. He stopped before the center hut, letting his men enter before him. He wanted to call out to her, taunt her, and show her the carnage he had caused just for her. But as dawn crept forward and the huts were flushed out she was nowhere to be found. Gannon felt his anger rise to a dangerous level and screamed in frustration and disappointment.


“Where is she?!” He roared taking hold of one the first individual to come within reach.


“We can’t find her milord. But we found someone who may know where she is.” The small man fell to the ground and scrambled to his feet.


“Matzo…” Gannon said a grin slowly forming on his thin lips. “Well bring him forth.”


The small man nodded, bowed and scampered off to one of the huts. Gannon withdrew his sword and stepped forward as the large leader of the Sheik was deposited at his feet. “Well then,” Gannon said kneeling next to the bloodied and bruised Matzo, “The great leader of the Sheikah. I don’t think you and I have ever been properly introduced. I am Ganondorf, King of Hyrule.”


Matzo knocked the two men who had been pinning him to the ground back and stood to face his opponent, “You are no king of mine.”


Gannon arched a thick eyebrow at the remark; “Oh? That’s such a pity because; as it stands you and your people are on my land. Now, a wise man which you are proving to be anything but, would have fallen to his knees and begged for forgiveness. Called me king and plead with me not to burn his village to the ground.”


Matzo snarled and lunged forward. Gannon sidestepped the man with ease and spun in time to catch the chief in his temple sending him stumbling. “You have killed my people. I would no sooner drop to my knees and worship you than I would worship a Re-dead.” He spat fighting to regain his footing.


The dark king grinned. “So proud and yet, so stupid as well.” Gannon pressed his blade beneath Matzo’s chin forcing the man to meet the king’s gaze. “Now tell me, my foolish new friend; where is she?”


“Who?”


Gannon kicked Matzo in the ribs. The large man grunted before curling into a ball; “Don’t toy with me old man!” he roared, “You know damn well who I am looking for!”


The old Sheikah teetered and rose to his feet again, “She isn’t here. She left before the sun rose.” Ganon’s eyes went wide with rage which made his opponent smile. “You won’t win you know-“


Ganon drove his blade through the older man’s chest. “I will win,” he sneered, his face pressing against the dying man. “I always win,” He pulled the sword free, Matzo staggered backwards before falling into a heap, clutching at the wound spurting blood freely. Ganon watched for a moment before motioning for one of the men who had followed him into the village.


“Burn it. Everything. I want the history books to be rewritten as well. I want them to say how the powerful king of Hyrule vanquished the Sheikah. And I want people to know how they were traitors to the crown.”


Blood gurgled out of Matzo’s mouth and he choked trying to speak, trying to grapple once more with the younger man. “Thirty years ago…”he muttered his voice trailing off.


Ganon laughed, “But not now eh? Not when it counts.”


Flames started in a hut in the distance and erupted with the sounds of screams of the few villagers and livestock still with breath being burned alive. Ganon watched, his eyes narrowed and his mood foul. She was not there, once again another dead end. But he was closer for certain. The horses they rode in on cried in the distance and he turned his face to the sky. “Where are you my princess, why must you make me wait for you so?” He licked his lips and turned to leave when a man who had been tending to his steed called for him.


“Sir!” he shouted from atop the canyon. “There are two people making their way down the side”.


Ganon’s heart stopped and excitement and anticipation coursed through his veins “Finish the job here,” he called to the men who had followed him into the canyon. He tore up the mountain to his horse as quickly as his feet would carry him. It was her, this time he was certain of it. He mounted the beast and looked out in the direction his layman pointed. Sure enough it was her, the princess Zelda, his quarry. He whipped the beast and they moved down the canyon the way they came leaving the burning Sheikah village in their wake.


He was on her before she had time to react. He would remember the expression in her face for years to come. He rounded her path and cut her off, the large black steed crying out at the sudden stop. “Hello my dear.” He said, slowly dismounting the animal, “I have missed you terribly.”


Zelda’s jaw hung ajar, she was trembling. They had been so close. Ganon approached slowly savoring the fear that emanated from the young girl. But he felt anger rush him when the young blonde man stepped between him and his prey. “You can’t be him,” Ganon growled. “I killed you once already. Don’t think I will hesitate to do it again.”


The young man pulled free the short sword at his belt and fell back into a fighting stance. He turned to Zelda and smiled. “Run princess, it’s your only chance.”


But Zelda could not move from where she stood her eyes wide with fear. Ganon did not wait for her to run. He
struck the blonde boy knocking him aside but he recovered quickly and unleashed an array of short jabs and stabs. The dark king batted at him but missed. He wasn’t the boy from three years ago, no this boy was a Sheikah descendant.


“I know who you are now,” Ganon said pulling free his long blade in time to miss the next blow. “You were Matzo’s boy.”


“I am, my name is Sheik, I am the princess’s guardian and I will not let you do her harm.”


Ganon laughed. “So noble, yet so stupid, just like your father.” He raised his blade above his head and brought it down at Sheik but the boy moved a moment before. Ganon was growing tired of the back and forth. But perhaps a moment longer he thought, enough to plant false hope, make the young princess believe her knight was strong enough to defeat the great king Ganondorf.


Ganon smiled and moved again just missing the smaller boy. “You know I killed your father,” He said aloud,
stopping the Sheikah boy dead in his tracks. “Oh you didn’t know? Yes just a moment ago. He tried valiantly to protect his village, even dropping to his knees and begging his king for mercy.”


Ganon watched with amusement at the anger that rose in the young boy’s face. “My father would never beg for mercy from the likes of you.” Sheik snarled launching himself at the larger man.


“Sheik, no!” Zelda cried out.


The anger on the boy’s face changed quickly to surprise when his enemy turned and brought his sword across,
impaling him through the belly. Sheik coughed as he slid off of the blade, his expression blank, stunned, disbelieving he could so easily be undone. For a moment a silence passed through the three individuals, and then Zelda screamed. She clawed at the ground and pulled herself over to the boy. Ganon watched for a moment in amusement, replacing his sword in its sheath, his brain savoring the feeling that came with the sound of metal passing through flesh.


Zelda cradled Sheik’s head in her lap, blood trickling down the corner of his mouth. Another individual she loved…he had killed another one. In the distance the fire burned away the last remaining remnants of the Sheikah village and the warm morning sun beat down into them. But Zelda felt cold, hollow.


“I’m sorry. I was supposed to protect you.” Sheik muttered, his face twisting in pain. “You have to run now, run far from this place. Keep yourself safe.”


“She won’t be running anywhere,” Ganon’s voice boomed, sending a chill down Zelda’s spine bringing her back to reality. The men who had followed Ganon rejoined them but Zelda did not see them.
Zelda kissed Sheik’s lips and the young man smiled weakly, his eyes losing their color, his skin growing cold. “I love you,” he said. The winds brushed around the men and Zelda and the last bit of his life was carried away with it.


Zelda’s breaths came quickly and the feeling of fear that only ever greeted her in her dreams wrapped around her then. She shuddered and tears blurred her vision, the scent of burning flesh carried by the wind making her stomach churn. She choked and turned and he had her. Ganondorf, the dark king of the desert had won.


She screamed and fought as he pulled her on the horse against his body, kicking and clawing but he did little more than laugh at her, one large hand enough to hold her steady and insure she did not fall from the horse. The powerful steed started off in the direction of Hyrule castle and Zelda dared not guess what ill fate awaited her there.


………………………………………………………………………………………………



West of the Sheikah village rested a decaying temple, long since forgotten and abandoned by the people of the land save for one. An older man stood outside and looked towards the sky at the dark smoke cloud that rose into the sky. He twitched his mustache and folded his arms, hidden by the long sleeves of his robe. The dark had been craftier than he had first anticipated.


He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and walked deep into the deserted temple. Darkness swallowed him for a moment before light enveloped him and he disappeared, leaving nothing in his wake save for a golden orb. Though he had been charged with the very specific task of watching over the Hero, there would be no need for such a man without the seventh seal.


The orb grumbled something inaudible before floating out of the abandoned temple high into the blue sky. Though he had hoped for otherwise, it appeared victory of the dark king would not be obtainable with out a bit of help from a goddess or two.


A/N: Sorry for how long it took to update. Unfortunately real life got into the way there for a while and a few other projects took precedence. Thank you for those who R&R more to come hopefully sooner than last time!