The Sheikah Shadowmaster later met up with the group to lead them to Ganondorf, who was somewhere in the basement. On behalf of both the Mitagi and Majora clans, as well as the royal family, it was finally time for everyone to see to the health of Ganondorf Dragmire.

"Here is the entrance to the deepest secret of the Mitagi," The Shadowmaster said.

He pointed to a slab of stone resting on the floor. The stone slab had the emblem of the Bird of Mitagi on it, or rather, a similar symbol to it. It actually looked more reminiscent of the ancient crest of Hyrule the Mitagi clan had based their emblem off of.

The Shadowmaster produced a circular glass and planted it on a nearby stand. The light from a cellar torch entered the glass and shined throughout it before continuing onto the slab. Moments passed as he aimed the light toward an unknown, but particular spot on the stone.

"Oooh, is it magical?" Sarah asked with wide eyes. "Is it going to make the stone disappear or open up? Is it ancient technology magic?!"

As if to answer her question, the stone slab shuddered and slowly parted like a double-door. Sarah squealed in surprise and delight. Under the stone was a man in heavy armor; beneath him was a set of stairs. Sarah squealed in further delight and Zelda squirmed in her uncomfortably tight grip.

"Hardly," the Shadowmaster smiled. "There is a tiny hole through which the Guardian can be made aware that there are visitors. He opened the door."

The Guardian stepped out of the stairwell and took a moment to look between his new guests. His gaze lingered on the Fae.

"I take it you are the Guardian of the Mitagi?" Geoffrey asked. He stepped forward to the armored soldier and saluted him. The Guardian silently returned the salute. "I have only heard whispers of you even amongst the highest ranks of the Mitagi."

"For a reason," The Shadowmaster said. "He guards treasures of the hoard since the Fall of Hyrule. He protects relics of power no man should wield without great care. While the Sheikah guard secrets of information, the Mitagi guard secrets of power of a more... physical sort."

"Is the treasure trove complete?" Link asked.

"Hardly," The Guardian whispered. His voice was dry, deep, and hoarse. It sounded like he had not used it in a very long time.

"The other nations most likely managed to get their hands on a number of ancient relics as well, but it is hard to say," Geoffrey mused. "They are wise enough to not use them openly. If they did, the other nations would all act in a similar fashion, and then whomever has the most relics would have a sizeable edge..."

Link did not understand. "And the problem with that is?"

"Can you say for certain Qin holds the most or the best?" Geoffrey asked Link. "No nation knows how many relics any other holds. It is like playing cards against six opponents when you know neither the number of cards in their hands, nor how strong each card is. It is better to not play all of your cards, lest you put yourself at risk. Therefore, we have only shown one or two. The Spear of Nayru is one of them. Thankfully, Ouki's reputation was not founded by his using it."

"A wise decision," Nabooru nodded.

"Why are you here?" The Guardian interrupted impatiently.

Geoffrey bowed slightly. "Pardon us, sir. We have become side-tracked. We are here to see your prisoner, Ganondorf Dragmire."

"All of you?"

"I understand if you are reluctant..."

"I am reluctant. My charge is to guard the chambers below, so intruders are unwelcome. I already accept the servants who bring the prisoner food and water, but I wish to accept no more than is necessary. I will accept no more than three at a time for this, so that I may watch over you all."

"Three only?! Pardon me, but you stand in the presence of generals, kings, and-"

"And my orders come from the Goddesses themselves," the Guardian interrupted. "Unless you supersede them, your attempt at bargaining or placing authority over me amounts to nothing."

Geoffrey looked back at the group, uncertain. There seemed to be no argument with the guardian's decision. He sighed in defeat. "Very well."

"Good. Sheikah, unless you intend to come as well, I would ask you to close the door behind us as each group descends with me."

-Sarah, Zelda, Malon-

They later discovered the Guardian's wishes also extended to pets. Despite the Majora's trickery in getting one of the witches in as well, the Guardian had none of it. After the door shut from above, the Guardian lead the two girls and fox into the depths of his domain. With only the Guardian's meager torch to light their path, down they walked into deep darkness.

The stairs ended onto a long and wide floor. This underground area looked like a building onto itself, like how a giant ball room could feel. On either side were large windows, long since broken and filled with stone. The center floor was flat, smooth, and shined, as if dust had not touched it a day since its construction. On the sides were also pedestal torches lit by some unseen force, as there was no wood for its fuel.

"Beautiful..." Sarah murmured.

The Guardian led them to the opposite end where an opened door, similar to the one that led to this place, stood. Within the second chamber was another large room, this one in the shape of an octagon, and Sarah froze at what laid inside.

In the center of the octagonal room was a series of layered stages towards a center. On the outermost stage were stands holding weapons, eight in total with two being empty. On the second stand, inside of the first, were three torches burning in three different colors: red, green, and gold. In the central and third stage was a rectangular stone with a sword planted firm inside of it.

The Guardian stepped before the pedestals and looked at the sword. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" He turned to his visitors. "Welcome to the innermost sanction. This spot is the cornerstone at the very center of Mitagi, the spot on which everything is built. Be careful not to touch anything. This is my charge and my home."

"You live here?" Sarah asked.

"As I said, this is my charge. Now come, the dungeon is near. It is just below."

Sarah and Malon stepped onto the stand beside the Guardian. He took hold of the sword, and a great fire burst out of it into his hands. The fire raced up his arm and consumed his shoulders.

"My lord!" Sarah cried.

"Do not interfere! This is my curse... my charge..."

With terrible effort, he twisted the sword. The whole pedestal shifted under his grip, and he released it at once. The stand shook and collapsed into a hollow place within the second stand. The second stand then sank inside the third. The three stages now one, the center pedestal went deeper still and staggered downwards to reveal circular stairs.

"This way," The Guardian said.

"But your burns!" Sarah insisted. She stepped in front of him. "You must go and-"

The Guardian put a hand on her head. Sarah cringed at the weight of it. He must have been a strong man. He then patted her.

"Your concern is touching, young one, but misplaced. This place... I am a prisoner as much as the prisoner's guard. I am as much a relic as the treasures I protect. I am old, forgotten, and deserve to disappear."

"No one deserves that..." Sarah argued.

"You are a good person. Move on and forget about me. I do not deserve your gentleness."

The Guardian gently moved her to the side and stepped down the stairs. The next floor was only a single flight away. Sarah looked in all directions and saw prison bars. Among them were a few men that she did not recognize, as well as bones of former prisoners. These were dangerous men the Mitagi went so far to imprison that they were placed outside of the normal prison. The Mitagi wanted to ensure they would be forgotten.

Among the prison cells was one where a giant of a man was chained. His red hair illuminated the space around him, glowing the same way Malon's did.

"Ganondorf Dragmire, you have visitors," The Guardian greeted him.

Malon's eyes widened and she rushed forward, but Sarah put out a hand to stop her. Sarah's eyes were also wide, but for a different reason. Beneath the glow of the man's hair, his red eyes rested on them. Sarah felt her gut twist in terror at the horrid look in them. Ganondorf had changed since she last saw him. He was always scary, but to her now, he felt unnatural.

He had one arm chained to the wall within a metal gauntlet, and the other was free to rest in his lap. The shattered remains of the other gauntlet lay around his prison and his food sat uneaten. His cell door was wide open. If he wanted to, he could just walk out, but there he sat, unmoving.

"Leave me," Ganondorf muttered. His voice was weak, barely a whisper.

The Guardian sighed and looked to the girls. "Be careful. He may be compliant now, but he is a powerful Dragmire. The restraints do no good."

"The door is open," Sarah noted.

"As I said, the restraints do no good. If you wish to speak with him, check his health, then go ahead. I will be here, waiting." The Guardian backed up to the stairs. He did not walk up them, but he gave them space.

Sarah looked at Ganondorf and gulped. Zelda no longer squirmed in her arms. Malon hesitated, unsure what to do. On one hand, the man was all she had for family. On the other, he was deeply imprisoned and looked dangerous.

While Malon hesitated, Sarah did not. She swallowed and stepped forward. She let Zelda down and continued. She entered the prison bars, close enough so that Ganondorf could see her clearly.

"You..." Ganondorf's eyes widened at the sight of her, but just as quickly as his surprise rose, anger replaced it. His eyes narrowed. "Leave me," He hissed.

"No," Sarah replied firmly.

"No?" Ganondorf asked. With a grunt, he lifted himself to his full height. He had a bit of difficulty working his knees, but he stood strong all the same.

Sarah gulped again as two things struck her. He was still powerful and tall, but he was also looking sickly. How long had he been here? She wondered. His strong jawline was thinned, sharper. His dark skin looked flaky and dry. His red eyes were bloodshot and crazed.

He towered over her. Sarah backed up and found herself against the wall. She shook in fear but wouldn't leave. They needed Ganondorf's help, after all. As much as she wanted to flee, there was purpose to their visit.

"You know not the demons you stir, little girl," Ganondorf hissed. He studied her. He saw her fear, her hesitation, but he also saw her submission to embrace that fear. It was a curious thing to him. She was a normal girl, a nobody. She was no warrior, no soldier, and no one who would live around fear or fight it. Ganondorf could not help but wonder why she did not flee.

Ganondorf closed his eyes. He felt his consciousness dim for a fleeting moment. In this moment were visions of fire, blood, and screams of death. He opened his eyes and returned to the present. The girl was still there, standing before him. A dark thought drove him to put his hand around her throat, and the girl flinched in response. But he did not squeeze.

"Aren't you scared?" Ganondorf pressed. "You should be. You don't know... how hard it is to ignore this voice in my head." His eyes took a feral gleam, and his grip tightened ever so slightly. "It tells me... I must kill you. You have no idea how long I have tried to fight it... to ignore it." Again, his grip tightened a smidgen, enough for Sarah to grunt. "Always I thought it was me... My own failing. Did I lack in control? Why was my first true memory of coming out of the water? But now... I understand. This voice was never my own... Or perhaps it is more accurate to say this voice is my true self."

"No..." Sarah croaked within his grasp. "You are Ganon... dorf Dragmire..."

"And what is a Dragmire but a demon?"

"Is that... truly... what you think? Look there," Sarah pointed.

Ganondorf looked, and he paused. Malon had come closer, close enough for him to notice her hair.

"M-Malon?" His voice changed, softened, and grew confused. His grip loosened and Sarah coughed. The wild look in his eyes faded.

Ganondorf Dragmire and Malon Dragmire stared at each other. A million thoughts passed through them, not the smallest of which would be how Ganondorf had changed. Before, he was a pillar of strength, of stability. He was strong in mind, in spirit, in body, and in will. Now, they thought, now he was the broken shell of a man. He was confused, barely held together by flesh that was becoming as sick as his mind. His will and spirit were barely a trickle compared to before.

"I'm sure... you have questions," Ganondorf gulped. "I wish I could answer them, but I am still catching up myself."

Malon walked up to him as he talked. While being young, she was still tall enough to reach his chest. And though her arms were barely long enough to reach, she jumped up and slapped his face. Ganondorf put his free hand to his jaw in surprise. Afterwards, Malon embraced him.

Ganondorf gaped. He was shaken and surprised. Of all the things to be said or done, the choice to smack and then hug him was as incredible as it was alien to him. Shakily, he put his free hand on her back. His eyes watered, and for a moment, they sharpened. Before Sarah's eyes, he changed ever so slightly towards the man she knew.

"I'm sorry I left you behind," Ganondorf whispered. "This was something I needed to see for myself."

"I'm not angry because you left to fight," Malon whispered back.

Sarah gasped. Ganondorf's face couldn't get more surprised. How long had it been since Malon spoke? They thought. It was at least a year, which for a girl her age, was an exceedingly long time.

"I'm angry because you lost yourself there," Malon finished. Her voice croaked and she covered her face in his side.

A moment passed, and Ganondorf looked up. He blinked at Sarah, as if only now seeing her. "My apologies for the... threats. It is difficult to know my own thoughts anymore. What is your business here? Surely you have not come all this way just to say hello."

"We have not, no," Sarah confirmed. "We came for her sake-" Sarah motioned to Malon. "-As well as to see your well-being and health before the meetings, and... to gain your help with Princess Zelda."

"Zelda... she is in trouble, then?" Ganondorf inquired. He sighed. "I am sorry, but though I wish to honor the alliance, I am in no position to be of assistance to anyone. I am not chained well, nor is the gate closed, but I am trapped tightly within myself, as you have plainly seen. It is best I do not meet with her. I sense she is near, but it is better for both of us if she stays away. There is no knowing what I may do. My mind drifts between extremes at sudden moments."

"Zelda is already here," Sarah smiled knowingly.

"She is?"

Sarah bent down and scooped Zelda into her arms again. Ganondorf looked between them, confused. Then his eyes fell on Zelda's paw, and he gasped. The mark of Nayru was plainly visible to him.

"What is this?" Ganondorf murmured. He continued to flick between the girls and Zelda in confusion. "How can this be Zelda?"