Daily Debate: What If Ganondorf Had Raised Zelda as a Gerudo in Ocarina of Time?

Given what we now know about the Zelda mythos at large, Ocarina of Time has become the root of the series’ branching timelines. In fact, the Downfall Timeline itself is essentially one big what-if scenario. At this point, we might as well throw another branching path into the mix, right?

Right from the get-go, we are made aware of Ganondorf’s evil aims — to obtain the Triforce and gain unimaginable power. Clearly, he isn’t afraid to lie and scheme his way toward those ends, as evidenced by him swearing loyalty to the King of Hyrule. Despite his pledge to the Royal Family, he had secretly poisoned both the Great Deku Tree and Lord Jabu-Jabu, as well as filled a key portion of Death Mountain with Dodongos.

Assuming Ganondorf’s deep resentment toward Hyrule proper didn’t just sprout out of nowhere — that he had been planning this attack for years — then it wouldn’t be so surprising for the King of Thieves to take his treachery a step further and kidnap a baby Princess Zelda. One of his elite Gerudo warriors could have slipped into the castle during the dead of night — fully cloaked, so as not to give away the Gerudo — and brought the infant to their king.

Suspecting the Hyrulean Royal Family’s connection to the Goddess Hylia and the Triforce, Ganondorf would have thought he could use the princess for his own gain — as a weapon to help him obtain the sacred power. Throughout that first decade or so of Zelda’s life, Ganondorf would have raised the princess to be a ruthless warrior, all in service toward that fateful attack on Hyrule Castle.

From there, I would love know what you all think and/or would like to see happen next! How do you think this upbringing would have affected Zelda’s overall character and personality? Could you see her rebelling against her captor, given that he also served as her surrogate father? Would she still inherit the Triforce of Wisdom upon Ganondorf’s initially touching the Triforce? Would Link himself stand a chance against such a fearsome duo? Share whatever your thoughts may be in the comments below!

Featured image by @mellalyss