I have a pitch for a new LoZ story. I'd say AU but you know fuck it the Zelda Timeline makes no goddamn sense anyway it just fits somewhere in there

OK so the usual starting point is teen or young adult Zelda and Link opposing grown-ass and/or monstrous Ganon(dorf) right

We're gonna say something went wonky this cycle and instead we end up with skinny teen Ganondorf somehow ending up in the care of middle-aged Zelda and Link

I think this is probably a fostering/political hostage situation, given that the Gerudo Desert is often portrayed as conquered territory or a client state to Hylia

So like, I can definitely see the Hylian royal family finding out there's a Gerudo prince in play and immediately being like

Oh hey you should let us educate him we'll take good care of him why are we amassing troops at the edge of the desert? oh no reason seriously though send us the kid we'll send him back when he's 25 and loyal to us

yep

classic Hylia behavior

classic colonialism behavior

I think Zelda is an early-game antagonist who has to be evaded or outwitted rather than overpowered, but not the actual villain. There's something else cosmic and Bad going on that Ganondorf twigs to first as the protagonist and she isn't willing to listen because Gerudo Hostage Taking Initiative Is Scawwy

because Badness comes from the Gerudo

Link is... I feel like he's a mentor figure who gets less kneejerk Gerudo Aren't Allowed To Make Sudden Moves than Zelda does but also isn't willing to openly defy her so like. Tutorial section at the start of the game and then maybe he helps Ganondorf sneak out of Castle Town or something but can't provide any further support.

Admittedly I'm not sure what the plot is from there except like, LoZ formula of wander around do a bunch of dungeons collect mcguffins save the world

Maybe achieve Gerudo independence somewhere in there though