Chapter 49 Evil Prevails

Sita took her friend Marcus to the fortress with her father's permission. She was excited that her father wanted to meet her friend and introduce him to the family. The Gerudo princess had many friends, but none of them were male or Hylian. She imagined becoming best friends with Marcus and traveling around Hyrule together. Sita was certain that her parents would like him and approve of them adventuring together.

Sita led Marcus through the many apartments until she found her family's division. Before drawing back the curtain, Sita turned around and faced her Hylian friend. "Now remember, this is our hideout. It's very possible my family won't warm up to you immediately," she said. "But if that happens, don't worry, they will eventually."

Marcus smiled and said, "I hope so."

Sita smiled back at him and drew back the curtain, revealing her family sitting on pillows. Sita's parents were relaxing before their next practice session. They scheduled enough time to briefly meet him before leaving. Nabooru and Ganondorf stood when they saw their daughter enter with her friend. "Cho-ma, Ba-ji, this is my friend, Marcus," she said, gesturing at the Hylian.

Nabooru brought her hands together and inclined her head. "Hello, Marcus. I am Sita's mother, Queen Nabooru. Nice to meet you," she greeted with a heavy accent.

Marcus responded by doing the same gesture and inclining his head.

Ganondorf approached Marcus and held out his hand, as was the Hylian custom of greetings.

Marcus took Ganondorf's forearm.

Ganondorf assumed Marcus knew about male Gerudos being gigantic in comparison to Hylians because the boy did not act surprised by his large stature. His chatterbox daughter must have told Marcus all about them. "I am Sita's father, King Ganondorf of the Gerudo tribe," he said, and then gestured at his other child. "And this is Munira, Sita's younger sister."

The four-year-old Munira looked up from her toy and scurried over to Marcus, studying his fair complexion and brown hair.

"Please excuse her," said Ganondorf, releasing Marcus's forearm, "she has never seen a Hylian before." Ganondorf walked back to his pillow and sat down. "Please sit. We have a few minutes to spare before we must leave."

Marcus sat down on the nearest pillow.

Still intrigued by Marcus's appearance, Munira scooted on her pillow next to him and stared at him more.

The Gerudo King could tell Marcus was reserved by his lack of liveliness. "Tell us about yourself," Ganondorf said, giving Marcus his undivided attention. He wanted to know what kind of person his daughter befriended.

Marcus grinned insincerely. "Well, first of all, I'm not Marcus." Without warning, his body burst into flames, igniting the pillow as well.

The whole family gasped and sprung from their seats except little Munira, who was too traumatized to move.

Sita was perplexed and overwhelmed. Her new friend burst into flames before her very eyes. "What's going on?" she asked frantically.

Munira screamed as she felt as though her heart was going to explode, and then her head developed the same type of pain. She held her chest with one hand and held her head with the other.

Ganondorf hurried to her side and knelt down to her level. "Come on, let's go to the healer," he said, taking her into his fatherly arms.

Munira chuckled deviously. "No, that won't be necessary," she replied, slapping her father's arms away.

Ganondorf stepped back and sensed a dark aura emitting from his child. "Who are you and what do you want with my child?"

Munira stood and faced him as if nothing was wrong with her chest and head. "I told you years ago you hadn't seen the last of me," she hissed.

His heart skipped a beat. "Dion?" he uttered in disbelief.

Dion made his host bow mockingly at the waist. "The one and only."

Ganondorf gritted his teeth. All this time he thought Dion was dead. "What do you want with her?" he barked.

"Do you remember years ago what you did to my child?" He scowled at Ganondorf with cold eyes.

What was he talking about? During the time Ganondorf knew him, Dion never had a child. "What child? You didn't have one—"

"I didn't thanks to you!" Dion screamed.

Ganondorf completely forgot about Isamar ever being pregnant. She was at one point. Then he remembered the day he protected Sabrina from Isamar's attack. "Your child died at the gallows with Isamar thanks to her foolish attack," retorted Ganondorf, now standing.

Dion shoved his host's fists down. "You killed my child when you kicked Isamar in the stomach!" he roared. "Creon intended for Isamar to give birth first before hanging her," he stated harshly. "But since you made her miscarry, she was hanged immediately!" The memory made the host tremble with anger. Dion wanted his unborn child almost as much as he wanted the Triforce. "You took that from me!" Dion's tears of anger and sadness formed in Munira's eyes.

Now that Ganondorf had children, he understood how Dion felt about losing his child, and regretted what he did ten years ago. Yes, he was protecting Sabrina, but he should have found another way to deter Isamar's attack. During the assassination attempt, the heat of the situation made Ganondorf forget about Isamar's pregnancy. The Gerudos trained to react immediately in dangerous situations. For the first time, Ganondorf felt remorse toward Dion. His face softened into a frown as his eyes drifted to the floor in shame. "Dion, I'm sorry," he murmured, knowing it was futile. "I have wronged you and for that I am truly sorry."

Dion closed his host's eyes and held up a hand. "Save your breath." Munira's eyes opened as her hand was lowered. "Your apology is as worthless as you are."

Ganondorf sighed in defeat. He knew Dion would react like that.

Dion made his host smirk. "Through your child, I shall have vengeance for my own."

Ganondorf narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Whatever you plan to do to her, you must first come through me!" he warned, charging up magic in his fists.

Dion laughed maniacally and then burst into flames.

"No!" cried Ganondorf, dispelling his magic. Ganondorf dropped to his knees and sobbed uncontrollably. The youngest Gerudo princess was no more than a pile of burning ashes. His mind would not accept the tragedy of Munira's death. It was as if Dion had ripped his heart from his chest. First his parents were executed and now his little one met the same fate, and it was all planned by the same person—the person he hated most.

Nabooru joined him on the floor and cried beside him. Words could not describe the agony she felt. Children are supposed to bury their parents, not the other way around.

Sita remained immobile as she cried on her pillow alone. Her little sister was gone. Why would someone kill her sweet, innocent sister?

Dion's face appeared in the flames. "Now you know how I felt," he growled with a hint of triumph in his voice.

Ganondorf did not respond. He was too shaken to speak. The strong Gerudo king could not handle any more premature deaths in his family. He would do absolutely anything to prevent another death.

Dion chuckled at Ganondorf's misery. "You know, I could do the same to your other brat."

Ganondorf tensed up and flashed him a livid glare. "You wouldn't dare!" he snarled.

"Oh, I would, but her body wouldn't be able to sustain me for very long, which is why I need a more powerful host instead."

Ganondorf looked at Dion apprehensively. "What are you trying to say?"

"I need a host," stated Dion, "and it's either going to be you or Sita. And do not forget what happened to your other brat—the one that's now a pile of burning ashes," he mocked, grinning. "That will become your firstborn's fate if I take over her body."

Ganondorf eyes darted back and forth from Sita to Dion. His poor daughter trembled with fear. He would never allow his child to be killed if he could prevent it. Ganondorf dropped his head and murmured, "You win... I cannot allow you to kill my other child." He miserably looked up at the flames. "Take me instead."

Nabooru gasped. "No, you can't!" she cried in her native language to Ganondorf, shaking his shoulder. "That's what he wants!"

Ganondorf reached over and held Nabooru's hand. "We don't have a choice. It's a risk we cannot afford to take."

"But through you, he'll destroy Hyrule!" she exclaimed. "Do you want that monster to plunge your beautiful world into darkness? Think of Hyrule's citizens! He will kill the innocent and empower evil. Is this the Hyrule you want?" Thanks to Ganondorf, Nabooru was fully aware of Dion's personality and the crimes he committed in the past.

Ganondorf understood what Nabooru meant, but his decision stood firm. "But if I don't surrender myself, he'll kill Sita, and he won't stop with her. I guarantee it," said Ganondorf. He needed to reason with Nabooru so she could understand his decision. "We already lost Munira..." Tears formed in his eyes again as the image of his daughter's death replayed in his mind. "He will find a way to rule Hyrule no matter what I choose," he explained. "At least this way she has a chance to live."

Nabooru was too overwhelmed to find more reasons to oppose his decision. He was right. There was no winning with Dion. All their options led to disaster. She embraced her husband and cried harder. "I... I don't want to lose you either. I love you."

He stroked her wet cheeks and gazed longingly into her eyes. "Whatever that monster says or does to you, know that it is not me." Ganondorf cupped Nabooru's face with his hands. "I love you, my sweet."

The King and Queen wrapped their arms around each other and kissed passionately, regardless of whom was watching. They savored the feel of each other's lips, realizing that it would be their last.

When her parents broke their kiss, Sita rushed over to Ganondorf and hugged him tighter than ever before. She too, was savoring the warmth and feel of his body. "I love you, Ba-ji," she sobbed into his chest.

"I love you, too, Sita," he said softly, caressing her back.

Dion sighed in annoyance. "Time's up!" he hollered. The flames became purple and burned brighter.

Ganondorf stood in front of his family, using his own body as a shield. "Get back!" he shouted to his family for their protection. He braced himself for the pain.

His small family complied and moved farther back, nearly to the other side of the room.

The purple fire launched at Ganondorf, making him step back from the force. The flames fused with him, burning every inch of his body until the enchanted flames settled. Ganondorf looked up at the ceiling and stood still for a moment. Slowly, he lost control of his body and felt trapped. He tried to move, but nothing happened.

"Instead of rendering you unconscious, I want you to witness everything I do with this body," said Dion to Ganondorf in their shared conscious.

"No..." Ganondorf whimpered. "There must be someone who can stop you," he hissed.

"No one can stop me. I am too glorious," boasted Dion. "With the Triforce, I will be a god!"

Ganondorf knew of his power. He was already the most powerful mortal in Hyrule. With the Triforce, he would be a god... a god of evil. "Whoever is brave enough to face this monster, please rise up and defeat him," he begged.

"He may rise, but he will not defeat me," Dion said darkly.

Sita and Nabooru held on to each other tighter and waited.

Ganondorf chuckled softly. He turned around, wearing a contented grin and stretched his arms out above his head. "Oh, it feels good to have a body again," he stated, dropping his arms to his sides. Ganondorf's body was much stronger than the artificial body Boris made for him. His new shell felt similar to his original god form in terms of muscle mass. He brought his attention to Nabooru and Sita and frowned. "I will keep you two alive as long as you obey me and don't interfere with my plans."

Sita angrily cried, "We will never obey you! You're not my—!"

Nabooru slapped her hand to Sita's mouth and kept it there. Nabooru bowed and brought Sita down with her. "Of course, my Lord. We will obey your every command," she lied.

Sita stared incredulously at her mother.

"Good," he said. "Two more things: first, you and everyone else in Hyrule will address me as Ganondorf, King of the Gerudo tribe. Second, you are no longer the queen. You will be known as my second-in-command. Is that understood?"

Nabooru did not want to question his motives. Her main priority at the moment was to stay alive. "Yes, Your Majesty," she affirmed.

"I have access to all of his knowledge, and he will witness everything I plan to do to this world. He is trapped inside his own body," Ganondorf laughed. He stopped laughing and added, "Now if you will excuse me, I have some 'liberating' to do." With a snap of his finger, Ganondorf vanished.

Sita pushed her mother away and shouted, "Why are you bowing down to him? He's not our king! That's an imposter!" Sita cried, pointing viciously at where Ganondorf once stood.

Nabooru grabbed Sita's shoulders. "I had to appease him to his face," she whispered so softly that it was nearly inaudible, "but you and I can work against him behind his back. We must do whatever we can to protect others from the terrible things he will do," explained Nabooru. "From this day forward, you are my second-in-command."

Sita didn't like the idea of obeying an evil man, even if her allegiance was false. But deep down she knew her mother was right. "All right," she agreed. "For Hyrule." Sita held out her fist to her mother.

Nabooru smiled, relieved that Sita agreed with her plan. The former Gerudo queen touched fists with Sita. "For Hyrule."