Unforeseen Birthright - A Legend of Zelda Fanfiction

Chapter 17

This was not real. Is what he wanted to believe. Right before his eyes, Zelda had just been stabbed by someone Link thought was a friend. "Ace! How could you?!"

Ace harshly took the blade out of Zelda's chest. Blood dripped from the blade, echoing throughout the throne room. It was Zelda's sword. He somehow manage to get a hold of it. Zelda fell facedown on the ground, her eyes lifeless.

Link ran towards Zelda, gently lifting her up. "Zelda! Stay with me!"

Zelda coughed, trying to speak in a weakened state. "D-Don't worry... I'm fine..."

"No you're not! God! I wish I can stop the bleeding! If I don't, then..! Then you'll..!" Little pool of tears appeared around Link's eyes. He didn't want to lose the one he loves.

All because he couldn't protect her. All because... He was too naive and weak.

Seeing that Zelda had blacked out, Link looked straight towards Ace, his face full of rage. "Why the hell did you do this?!"

Ace chuckled menacingly. "Ignorant boy. Have you not figured it out yet?" His voice sounded much different. His happy-go-lucky voice turned deep and intimidating with a Scottish accent.

Dark magic surrounded Ace, completely surrounding his body. Once it vanished, Ace was no more. But instead... It was a tall man with long red hair and dark skin. His golden eyes were piercing through Link. He wore a black regal outfit fit for a king.

Link grunted at the sight. It was the first time seeing him, but he knew exactly who it was. "You're... King Ganondorf?" He didn't think the king would sound and even look like a Scottish ogre.

"Correct, your highness."

Link grunted once more, now realizing why Ace was so powerful. "That explains how Ace was able to defeat those enemies so easily..."

"I told them about my plan back at Thieves Den. It was supposed to be an act where I earn your trusts. But Zelda is keen as always, I see."

"I can't believe you were Ace all along... But... Why..?"

"What do you think, boy? I was luring you and Zelda here for my plan."

"What do you mean?"

"You see... I want to fully take over Hyrule. But... I cannot do it unless I take the heart of the last living royal family member."

Link put his hand on his chest. "My heart..?"

"I was able to do this much for having the late King and Queen's heart. I was able to make the sky dark under my command. But it wasn't enough."

"So... How did you manage to come to my world?"

Ganondorf chuckled. "Funny you should ask that." He dug in his pocket, revealing a familiar pocket watch with a triangle crest.

Link's eyes widen. He remembered Zelda having the same thing to have them transport in this world. "There's two of them?!"

"Only two in existence. Once I pinpointed your location, I planned to kidnap you on the spot. But she beat me to it. So I had to improvise."

Link gritted his teeth. "By kidnapping Aryll?!"

"Correct." Ganondorf snapped his fingers. In the background, there were two bokoblins hurrying towards a red curtain. One of them pulled it down, revealing what was on the other side of the curtain.

Link saw Aryll behind bars, tied up while lying on her side. Her eyes were partly closed. It looked like one little touch could turn her to dust. He felt his blood starting to boil. "How dare you use her! She has nothing to do with this! Same with Zelda! I'm the one you want, so leave them out of this!"

Ganondorf smirked. "Zelda does play a role in all this."

"What the hell are you saying now?!"

"I see. She hasn't told you, has she? You only knew her as the young bodyguard for the Hyrule royal family. But in reality, she was sent there as a spy."

Link grunted. "No... That's not true..."

"But it is. Her and I made an agreement. If she did her mission properly, she wouldn't have to use her magic that she despises using."

Now Link was really confused. "How did you know she can use magic?"

"I know everything about her that you don't. More than you can imagine."

"What is she to you?! A marionette that you can manipulate whenever you want?!"

Ganondorf frowned. "I would never use my own daughter like that."

Link's jaw dropped to the floor. He thought he heard wrong. "Zelda's... Your daughter?! But... She told me that you killed your family!"

Ganondorf closed his eyes. "I had to kill my own wife since she threatened to leave with Zelda while she was still a child. I can see why she said I killed my entire family. She always said I'm dead to her."

Link looked down towards Zelda whose eyes were closed. She told a lie, but he understood why. He knew she hid some kind of dark past, but didn't expect this.

Zelda is the princess of Lorule. She wanted to run away from that title.

Link closed his eyes. "I can see why she would say you're dead to her. You made her life a living hell."

"All I had her do was wipe memories of the villagers whose families I had to kill that disobeyed my orders."

"Are you serious?!" Link snapped. "You made a young girl go through that?! Making her deal with people whose lives were ruined thanks to you?! Seeing people in agony and suffering, and having to erase their painful memories while she has to remember hers forever?!"

"What are you talking about? She was able to help those people forget. It's a gift she was born with, so she should use it to her advantage."

"Not for that reason! You think you can kill anyone, and have her erase those family members' memories and move on?! How selfish can you be?!"

"Watch your mouth, boy. Remember that I'm here to kill you, not to consult you. Though... I don't particularly want to do the dirty work this time. That's why I had to weaken Zelda to be able to go through with this."

Link saw Ganondorf walking towards Zelda, his hand going towards her. "No! Whatever you're planning! You're not taking her!"

Ganondorf gritted his teeth. "Stay out of my way, weak prince!" He punched Link straight in the face, having him fly backwards.

Link hit his head hard on the ground, feeling blood drip from his mouth. Slowly sitting up, he saw Ganondorf holding Zelda by her arm.

Quickly standing up, Link took out his sword, showing no fear in his eyes. "Let her go."

Ganondorf chuckled. "I will soon enough. But..." The last sentence stunned Link. "She will be the one to kill you."

Gripping the sword tighter, Link felt steam coming out of his ears. "Zelda will never do that! She's been protecting me all this time! And now... It's my turn to protect her!" His feet started moving on their own, aiming his sword towards Ganondorf. "Don't worry, Zelda! I'll save you!"

Dangling a couple of feet off the ground, Zelda's eyes were no longer blue. But instead... Crimson red.

Link stopped where he stood, witnessing dark magic completely consuming Zelda.

Ganondorf dropped her at the same time the dark magic vanished. Zelda's beautiful golden hair was no more. Instead, it turned to a dark violet that could blend into the night.