Heartless Courage Book One: Kingdom Hearts meets Legend of Zelda

Chapter XVIII: Mistrust

▼Gannondorf's PoV▲

Bah...what a stupid mistake. I had misjudged the cast time of my teleport.. dammit. Several holes pierced through my torso and I bled like a stuck pig. No matter, the pain itself was enough to revitalize me; a bit of an ironic boon.

That foolish King should have his hands quite full at the moment. No doubt the dark hero will dispose of him easily enough. I wonder what he has planned...

My thoughts were interrupted by my most loyal captain returning to me bearing fruits.
"My lord.." she began, glancing at my many wounds.
"Do not worry about me. These will heal quickly enough." I winced as I stood from the small wooden chair. I had arrived in the Gerudo village, and unfortunately dead center.

My loyal warriors had all begun panicking upon sight of my impaled body and had insisted I room with Nabooru immediately. She tended to the more serious of wounds, though she had never seen me with so many. The Gerudo women normally could Never so much as tag me with a spear. She wore her usual baggy light-pink pants, with only a thin silk bra covering her breasts. They were almost perfectly defined, damn near visible...

"What is happening, Lord Gannondorf? The others are concerned that you may be moving rather hastily..." She asked concerned. I sighed. If it had been anyone else, I would have dismissed them immediately. But Nabooru was more than just another Gerudo warrior. She was the one I wanted to bare my children. She was the perfect mother, strong and cunning, and our daughters would lead the clan well after I was dead and gone.

"They have every reason to be concerned. We will soon be taking over all of Hyrule...there will be much change. Life for us, for all of us will be improved immensely. Though if I make a mistake...if this creature Twinrova has summoned does not perform as expected..." I said nothing more. I didn't need to. She saw my uneasiness. Twinrova had told me that I would betray the Gerudo, once I had obtained the triforce. It appears that I could not handle the power.

Looking at Naburoo now, I could not imagine a more heinous crime such as betraying her trust.

"Regardless, I am more than ready to carry out the rest of the plan. With Nihl testing his powers as a siege on Hyrule, the extent of Twinrova's vision will come to pass. From here on out, you must trust in my leadership, and mine alone." She smiled and mouthed "My King".

I left her there, not wishing to waste another moment entranced by her beauty...which I could be until the end of time.

The travel back to the temple was rather arduous. The sand creatures refuse to obey my command at times, so I have to occasionally eliminate a few families of weevers. Blood and sand flew past my long black cape, and sweat evaporated from the matte plate mail protecting me.

The spirit temple lay before me, just waiting for me to place all the wonderful traps I had to offer. All I needed was time. I activated the shrine just beyond the front entrance. The great Gerudo mother beamed a ray of magic onto the floor in front of me, and I stepped into it. I was spirited away to the top of the temple, where my throne lie. I would not admit it, but I needed a moment to catch my breath. A lot has just occurred within the time span of a couple days. I needed to think it all through again.

Let's see.. Twinrova had told me of my impending failure, and of the escape of Nihl. I still had misgivings about putting our faith into such an unstable, incomplete creature. Nevertheless, it had to be done. Twinrova has never lied to me before, and as unimaginable as it is for me to believe, I had somehow fallen to this 'Link.'

Twinrova had ambushed Link and extracted her pet, yet for whatever reason allowed the boy to live. I had berated her for that, however she assured me he would die in due time. The damned boy was connected to her creation, and if he was to die too early Nihl may die as well. Fucking fantastic.

My frustration was not at all quenched when the man in question appeared before me.

"What did I say about that? I could very well remove your head if you were capable of surprising me."

"I'll accept the risk. I have something here you may find useful." In his hands was a still girl.

"Hmm..you've captured.. Zelda?! I thought you were merely testing your power?"

"The test succeeded. I captured this girl and nearly killed that King that's been giving you trouble before the boy's interference. "

I stood up and a vein nearly surfaced to my temple.

"Nearly?! You had him in your grasp and you couldn't finish the deed?!" He stared at me coolly. It was unnerving having an underling look at me with such a fierce and unwavering stare.

"I was about to snap his neck before I was struck by a light arrow. I did manage to run my blade through his chest...however I'm afraid not even that was enough to kill the old man."

I shook my head in anger. Damn it to all the hells, how could one be so close and yet so far...

"Very well. It seems we will have to continue as originally planned. It would have been so much quicker had you disposed of the King properly...but this will have to do. He will come for her, after sending his elite to die first, presumably the boy himself. We will have no use for her after that. I will storm the Temple of Time and take the triforce once the King and his armies have fallen to our heartless, and this world will be unconditionally under my command..." I said, more as a review for myself more than for Nihl.

"Yes, I am aware of your flawed plan. You do realize that allowing the boy who has killed you over and over again into your very headquarters will only bring about your downfall...again?"

I could not bare his tone any longer.

"Quiet you insolent little whelp! I am the King of the Gerudo. You are merely a creation of my follower...mind you, an inco-"

"Incomplete creation. You needn't bother with such details, my lord. He is as faithful as any of your most loyal of minions." I was interrupted by Twinrova who had finally arrived.

She defused back into her two forms Kotake and Koume. Koume's burning hair lit the rather dark throne room, while Kotake's odd ice/flame hair cast haunting shadows around wherever she drifted too. The two now much older looking witches sat on their brooms. They both gave wide knowing grins, despite my obvious frustration.

"Why are you both so happy? Nihl failed...all he has to show for his little siege is the girl! He also clearly follows no one person but himself...where were you when he had the King within his grasp? You could have assured his victory!" I accused both her and her failed experiment now.

"Oh Gannon sweety, Nihl is very much under your control! Yes, he is incomplete. He just isn't a total brainless heartless as a result!" Koume exclaimed cheerfully.

"So..I'm incomplete? This is news to me." Nihl said, still staring directly at me even as I had turned to talk to the witches.

"Yes, fool. You are flawed, as is your creator. If you want to remain in this land, you will obey my every command from here on out. We have a lot of work to do now.." I trailed off as I cast Zelda into a crystalline prison.

She was already unconscious thankfully. I had no wish to hear the pleas of some annoying child.

"Koume! Kotake! Return to your fused form, Twinrova. Go ready the Gerudo forces, and tell Nabooru to be especially watchful. The boy and his guests may arrive within a matter of days, and we will be ready. Nihl! You will go out and find anything that may give us an edge over them!" I barked.

"You need even more of an edge over the children?" He asked sardonically. I narrowed my eyes threateningly.
"Watch your fucking tone, shade. I will destroy you myself if you talk back again." He smiled as I said this, enraging me to no end. Did he want to die?!

"As you wish, my lord." He replied, tonelessly. He vanished in yet another puff of smoke. If he did not return with something useful, I swear I may tear him apart. I also just wanted him out of my sight...something about that thing put me on edge. It wasn't natural...these heartless are an odd breed.