​ Gerudo Legend speaks of a single male born once every hundred years. Gerudo Law decrees that by birthright, this child is destined to rule the Gerudo Tribe as their king. Despite this unequivocal decree, many do not believe in the law’s validity. While some members willingly follow the words of their ancestors, a majority believe that one must prove themselves worthy to rule. These conflicting beliefs would eventually lead to a new law. If the legends are true, and a young male Gerudo is born, the child will retain his birthright; however, he must first prove his merit. If the future king fails the Trial of Sands, he is to be exiled or slain, with no option of recourse.

 

 From the beginning, Ganondorf’s life was embroiled in turmoil. Born an outcast, Ganondorf was not used to the harsh realities of desert life—at least, not until his destiny drove his mother to return. Traversing the unforgiving lands proved difficult for even the most seasoned travelers. For a woman far removed from her ancestral home, this would prove as a death sentence.

 

 Years away from the Gerudo Desert had distorted his mother’s sense of direction. Losing one’s way in the desert proved fatal to all, his mother was no different. Seven scorching days and six frigid nights had pushed her body beyond its limit. What provisions she’d brought had been used to keep her son in good health.

 

 When the moon crested over the valley cliffs, his mother was no more…

 

 Any child left alone was in grave danger, but a child in the desert wouldn’t survive a day—much less a night. Though the reality was cruel, it was the unspoken law of the sands. The boy would have been dead by dawn, had a lone figure not happened upon the scene of him crying over his mother’s corpse.

 

 A towering figure would appear behind the boy, her golden eyes alight with awe. Reaching out a gentle hand, the woman would place it upon the tearful child’s back. She would watch the boy flinch in fear, before turning tearful golden eyes to meet her own. For a moment the two shared equally wide-eyed stares, one brought on by fear, the other brought on by wonder.

 

 The silence was broken when the mysterious woman finally spoke, “Welcome home, young king.” A kind smile would be offered to the shaken youth, as the woman stared into the eyes of her people’s future.

 

 Ganondorf’s initial fear would ebb to confusion, before a glimmer of hope would be reflected in his glassy eyes. Could this woman help his mother? Her appearance could leave anyone mystified. Dark green skin adorned by fine silks, which were embroidered in gold. Long twin tails, with one half appearing as though it were on fire and the other seeming to be encased in ice. Everything about this unknown woman left the child filled with hope and wonder.

 

 The woman’s gentle gaze somehow grew softer as she looked past the boy and toward his fallen mother. The desert had laid claim to its victim hours ago, and even if she worked tirelessly through the night, nothing could’ve been done to save her. To witness another of her sisters in such a state was disheartening—but unfortunately not uncommon. 

 

 “I am sorry young one, but there is nothing to be done. Once the desert stakes her claim, all we can do is bear the pain.” The boy would find himself hugging the unknown woman’s legs, his tears staining her silken clothing. For a moment the woman would comfortingly stroke the boy’s hair, while gazing at his mother a final time. Though she knew not of her past, the sorceress would be forever grateful for her sacrifice.

 

 “Come little one, we must take our leave.”

 

 The mysterious woman whisked the boy from his mother’s lifeless form, and to the hidden settlement of Gerudo Fortress. Standing atop a distant dune overlooking the small town, the towering woman would kneel to the child’s eye-level and point toward the iron-clad gates. “Here is where I must take my leave, but do not be afraid, little one.” She calmly assured, while turning the boy toward his ancestral home. “You are one of us. They will accept you, they must.” With that, the woman stood at her full height and quickly walked away, disappearing just as mysteriously as she arrived.

 

Gerudo Fortress, a reclusive settlement hidden from prying eyes. The unforgiving location forced its inhabitants to adapt; creating a civilization of survivalists. Weakness was not a luxury the desert people could afford. If one could not pull their weight, it would only be a matter of time before the sands consumed them.

 

 Standing at the fortress gates were a pair of guards. Their golden eyes set in matching glares. As the young boy made his cautious approach, the two would draw their weapons and easily shift into a combative stance. All who reached the fortress were enemies until proven otherwise. It is this philosophy that has kept them alive. Though upon noticing the boy’s crimson hair, darker skin, and golden eyes, the guards found their stances slackening and their eyes growing wide. What stood before them was not an interloper, but a gift thought to be a myth.

 

 The two guards exchanged hushed whispers as the boy looked at them warily. Occasionally the two would share a glance with the nervous child, before continuing their secretive discussion. After a few more hushed words, the two would nod to each other before opening the gates and seizing the boy by each arm. “Come.” Their tones were urgent as they pulled the boy along, completely ignoring the shocked stares they received from the midnight passersby.

 

 Halting to a stop in front of a building, the two guards would gaze down at the boy with fearsome eyes. “Speak not. The Chief's decision is final. Whether she accepts or rejects, you are to be silent.” Their harsh tones were a great contrast to the mysterious woman’s, however, the boy dared not say a word.

 

 Upon entering, the boy found himself pushed in front of a fierce-looking woman. Her golden eyes appeared to burn brighter than the two guards combined, and scars could be seen anywhere her bronze skin was exposed. The glare she bore was fearsome, and it caused the child to wither beneath its intensity.

 

 For what felt like hours, the guards and Chief discussed what to do with the boy. Night had long since faded away, giving rise to the light of day. Though exhausted, Ganondorf could not bring himself to sleep as the three women spoke amongst themselves. What would they do? Had the mysterious woman lied? Would they hurt him?

 

 When all fell silent, the boy found himself gazing into the eyes of the Chief. The woman’s fierce stare had lessened slightly, as she regarded the child. “You are to live on the outskirts of this fortress, under the care of elders Koume and Kotake. You will be taught the ways of our people, taught how to survive our ancestral home. When they believe you are ready to accept your right of passage, you will have two choices. You are to either accept the Trial of Sands, or be banished from ever walking these lands.”

 

A silence passed between the Chief and the child. And though no words were exchanged, the Chief offered a subtle smile. The moment was fleeting, however, as her expression quickly grew stern. “Take him to the Outskirts.”

 

And with that simple command, the boy was quickly grabbed by the guards and taken from the Chief’s Home.

 

 The guards brought the boy to a small house, resting at the very edge of Gerudo Fortress. Unlatching their iron-clad grip, the two would swiftly turn on their heels and walk away, not so much as uttering a word to the shaken child. Awkwardly Ganondorf would stand in front of the door, unsure if he should knock or simply wait.

 

 “The legends speak true. Wouldn’t you agree, Koume?” A voice uttered, however, their owner remained hidden to Ganondorf.

 

 “Yes, Kotake. We are witnessing a legend before our eyes.” Another voice whispered, though, like the first, their physical form remained a mystery.

 

 Suddenly two women, much shorter and older than the ones in the main settlement, appeared before the child. Though mostly identical, the twins had two distinctive differences. One bore a glittering sapphire gem and wore a headpiece encased in ice, while the other bore a ruby gem and wore a headpiece engulfed in flames. “Welcome home, young king.” The two stated in unison, their words echoing the exact statement of the mysterious Desert Woman.

 

 “I am Kotake,” The one with the sapphire gem introduced.

 

“And I, Koume,” The one with the ruby gem declared.

 

“Together, we will teach you the ways of our people.” They began, large smiles present on their decrepit faces, “And with our combined knowledge, you will ascend the throne as their king!” Clamorous cackles resounded soon after, startling the king-to-be and causing him to take a step back.

 

 “Do not be afraid, little one.” Kotake coaxed, waving her hand and turning toward the house.

 

“You are home, there is nothing to fear.” Koume added, grabbing the child’s hand and ushering him inside.

 

 Over the course of ten years, Ganondorf would be taught everything involving the Gerudo way of life. From being taught their rich history and culture, to learning how to wield traditional melee weapons, and ancient magic. Ganondorf quickly grasped the importance of these lessons and would weave them throughout his day-to-day life. On the day of his seventeenth birthday, Koume and Kotake would give word to the Gerudo Chief that the young child was a boy no longer, and that his time to decide was upon them.

 

 It had been many years since Ganondorf had walked into the heart of Gerudo Fortress. Despite living on the outskirts for ten years, the boy, now a young man, walked with pride befitting a king. Slowly he would step before the village Chief, kneeling before her and gazing into her sharp golden eyes. Even after ten years, she appeared the same. Eyes set in a sharp glower, face as stoic as stone.

 

“What is your decision?” The question sounded like a command, as she continued to glare at Ganondorf with narrowed eyes.

 

 There was a heavy silence between the pair as they intensely stared at each other. Finally, Ganondorf would break the silence, his words resolute, “The sands are cruel, and the sun is unkind. Despite the harsh realities, this is where we are born. All trials lain before me, I accept—even at the cost of my life.”

 

 The woman would gaze at their potential king a moment longer, before the faintest of smiles would grace her stern features. “So be it. The Trial of Sands begins at dawn. You are to either return to us a king, or be forever lost to the sands.”

 

 The following morning, Ganondorf set out into the unforgiving element with three targets and a single goal. He was to retrieve the core of a Frost Talus, the eyes of a Molduga, and the horns of a Golden Lynel. Once he had retrieved these specific parts, from the most dangerous beasts of Gerudo Desert, he would be permitted to ascend the throne as king.

 

 For three years Ganondorf roamed the desert wastes. His successes varied greatly on most days, and there were a few times where he was near the brink of death; though, despite this, he would not quit. His mother had not lost her life in vain, he would make sure of it. Through every scorching day and freezing night, Ganondorf would search the deserts for his targets until he’d eliminated all but one. The core of a Frost Talus and the horns of a Golden Lynel were secured; however, the Molduga he’d intentionally saved for last…

 

 Returning without the three treasures wouldn’t bode well for him; however, Ganondorf had no intentions of being short. Standing on a dune overlooking the fortress, Ganondorf would carefully watch the sands from the western gate. No one ever left through those gates, for fear of the great monster lurking beneath the sands. Today, his people would have one less concern. Gliding down the slope with a grace befitting royalty, Ganondorf would make his way toward the western gates, his motives clear and his goals within his grasp.

 

 Within moments of his trek, the sands began to shift. From the distance, the future king would see the guards standing at the ready for impending danger. Danger that would become nothing more than a memory, scrawled on the walls of history. Seconds later a great beast burst from the sands, its maw gaping open and its eyes revealing a hunger for flesh. Despite the great threat revealing itself in all of its glory, Ganondorf didn’t so much as flinch from its display of power. How could he? When he’d discovered a power that far surpassed any beasts.

 

 As the Molduga surged forward, Ganondorf clenched his right hand, allowing for dark energy to engulf his fist. When the beast had the audacity to draw near, when the guards had sounded the alarms that the terror had grown too close, Ganondorf turned quickly and unleashed a dark-imbued punch that could very well split a great rock in two. The beast would shriek in terror, as the man made quick work of its form, beating it to the point where all that was left were its mangled remains. Slowly, Ganondorf would make his way to where he assumed its skull should be, and with ease, he’d tear the creature’s eyes straight from their sockets, allowing the beast’s blood to flow down his hands and stain the sands.

 

 When Ganondorf turned to the gates, he’d witness multiple guards and the Chief herself standing at the entrance. With a low chuckle, he’d approach them. Reaching into his satchel, he’d pull forth the Frost Talus’ Core and the Golden Lynel’s Horns. Handing both gifts to the Chief, alongside the freshly claimed Eyes of Molduga, Ganondorf would kneel before her.

 

 The Chief would allow a smile to overtake her usual sternness, as she too kneeled. “Welcome home, our King.”