-Later-

The others did not spend much longer talking with Ganondorf before departing. They quickly met up with the Guardian who then resealed the platform over the prison. Nabooru and Geoffrey went on ahead to the exit, not needing a guide in the dark, while the Elder Fae and Link tarried a bit behind. Link studied everything in the torch light: the layered pedestal, the center sword, and most of all, the single green torch. It spoke to him in some way.

"This place reminds me of your grove," Link observed.

"How so?" The Fae Elder inquired.

"That house in your grove didn't collect dust either. It has a similar vibe to it." Link's head almost swiveled to look at everything. "This place resonates with something in me... I can feel it."

The Guardian turned enough to glance at Link but said nothing.

The Elder said, "You are correct in your assumption. There is a divine holiness here that is similar to our groves. It is a sacred site I have visited from time to time. As you bear the Mark of Farore, you would feel it."

"You bear the Mark of the Triple Goddess?" The Guardian asked.

"I-I do," Link stuttered. He blushed and covered his hand. He found it a bit nerve wracking to be put in the spotlight over something like this.

"Then you are the one I sensed using the Gift of Farore yesterday?"

"You felt that?"

"Of course I did," The Guardian answered. "I would recognize the sensation anywhere." He put an uncovered hand up, and Link gasped. A triangle glowed on it. But while Link's triangle was whole, the Guardian's triangle was only an outline.

-Zelda-

The Shadowmaster had taken Zelda to a side room in the prison and closed the door. He put his hand on the door and a faint black mist fell over it. It was Twilight magic.

"How to explain..." He swallowed and turned to face her. "How much do you know of the fall of Hyrule?"

Zelda knew the gist of the story for years. "The Wise Tyrant, Demon King, and Rebellious Hero made war. The Wise Tyrant was killed, the other two disappeared, and Hyrule collapsed into thousands of factions."

"That is right. The three fought, but did you know that all three were champions of their respective goddess? They bore the Mark you bear now." The Shadowmaster pointed at her hand. "That mark has birthed many names, and some would go to say it is passed down to champions chosen by the Goddess... But our records show this is not true. The Marks are not passed on to new guardians. Rather, the spirits of the guardians are reborn anew. You, as the champion of Nayru, are the same champion in spirit and soul as every past champion of Nayru. In like manner, the champion of Din and the champion of Farore are the same as they have always been. The person never truly changes. You three are reborn again and again in a never-ending cycle."

"For you see," He continued," The war between the Twilight and Divine was not just between the Goddesses, but between their creations. The minions of Twilight consume one another to become strong, and only the strongest five can be amongst their pantheon. To truly defeat the Twilight, you must destroy them from the highest to lowest power. In contrast, the Goddesses created three celestial spirits to lead their creations on their behalf. These spirits were named Wisdom, Courage, and Power. The Divine defeated the Twilight's greatest, but the rest of the Twilight would not fall without a fight. It eventually tainted the spirit of power, appealing to it with their mutual understanding of power. They instilled the Twilight's vengeance and hatred within the Spirit of Power, and this set everything out of motion.

"From then on, the cycle started," He concluded. "With every rebirth, the three are in conflict. And with each conflict, they are thrown further from the goddesses in a spiral of destruction. In the most recent cycle, the spirits waged war. The Spirit of Wisdom was reborn as who we know to be the Wise Tyrant. The Spirit of Courage was reborn as the Rebellious Hero. The Spirit of Power, of Hatred, was reborn as the Demon King."

Zelda nodded, listening intently. Bits and pieces of what the Shadowmaster described fitted with the sacred texts she had read. "But what does this have to do with him?"

"Because, your highness, for a spirit to be reborn, it must first lose its previous flesh. The Spirit of Wisdom died... but the other two did not. The Spirit of Power was only banished to another realm, and the Spirit of Courage... He refused to die. I don't know how, but he found a way to cheat death. He was punished by the Triple Goddesses for this, of course. He was stripped of his power and cursed to guard the relics he prized so dearly beneath a fortress created by his children: Mitagi and Kinoto. Those children would one day form the Mitagi and Ki family, the two families who would lay the foundation for Qin."

Zelda's eyes widened. "You mean... The Guardian, the Assassin, is also the Rebellious Hero? The Spirit of Courage and Champion of Farore?"

The Shadowmaster gave a solemn nod. "That is exactly what I mean, Princess."

-Link, Fae, Guardian-

Link stared at the armored man while feeling like ice had fallen over him. His nerves tingled, and the world spun. Link inevitably faltered and took a clumsy step to adjust himself.

"You're... You're like us?" Link held up his hand to advertise his triangle. "You're one of us? I thought there were only three."

"I used to be," The Guardian said.

"Used to be? So... you are no longer Marked?" Link looked to the Elder Fae. "And you don't seem surprised."

"I knew this already," Elder said. "I am as ancient as he is, but I hardly see how this turn is relevant. There are always cycles. You are not the first to bear the Mark of Farore, and nor will you be the last. Link, this man is the one you would know in history as the 'Rebellious Hero'."

"What?!" Link gasped. His head whipped between the two ancient people, struck with shock. "You-he! You're a legend! How can you be punished, and your Mark taken?!"

The Elder watched the Guardian, wondering if he would explain. In all the years Elder had known him, he had been closed off. He trusted no one and was always formal. He kept this thoughts far from his lips.

The newly revealed Rebellious Hero sighed. "Before I answer, let me ask you a question. This power you have been given, what will you use it for?"

"What purpose would there be in such a question?" The Elder snapped. He moved between the man and teenager. "You are no longer in a position of authority for such matters."

"Because I wish to understand the purpose and mind of whom my power has fallen to. Do you find my question to be an unreasonable one?" The Rebellious Hero coldly asked.

"No, perhaps not, now," Elder said. "Whether Link wishes to divulge his purpose is up to him. But what would you do if his answer should not satisfy you?" Elder looked down at the Hero. "You should remember your place."

"My place, as the one who came before him, would be of guidance."

"A position I already fill."

Link kept looking between them, albeit calmer than before. Standing before him were two beings equally ancient and powerful in their own rights. He sensed that despite an old friendship that might exist, there was a hint of animosity. Whatever the Hero's punishment was, Link felt it drove a wedge between them.

Link smiled and stepped around the wooden Fae. "It's alright. I don't mind."

Elder's expression soured, but he nodded. "If you are sure."

"I want to use my Goddess given power to help people," Link announced with certainty. "With all of this war, my place is on the front lines, defending the kingdom, and serving the Princess."

"The princess..." The Hero whispered. "You refer to the one who bears the Mark of Nayru?"

"She is the one," Elder answered.

"That's right!" Link said as well. "When I protect the princess, I protect the kingdom. When she bleeds, the kingdom bleeds, and people die. And I don't want that. I want people to feel secure and safe and be able to smile without armies marching down on them."

"You can't stop people from dying," The Hero said bluntly.

Link frowned. "Of course not, but-"

"And what would you do if you bleed?"

"I would... accept it? That's what happens in war. I have lost friends, but I press on." Link swallowed after his speech. Though he could not see the Hero's eyes, his tense posture spoke of great disagreement.

"You are a naïve fool leading countless lives to failure. Let me tell you something, Link: I was once like you. I gave myself to a king. I gave myself to my people. Like you, I was trusting... naïve. I thought nothing of my wounds, of bleeding. I accepted it as my part. After all, what soldier doesn't bleed?"

"But do you know what happens when the soldier returns home?" The Hero asked. "He is an outcast. I have seen so many soldiers on the streets. They give all of themselves and receive nothing in return. They go mad with nightmares all their lives, and all the people scoff at them. They sacrifice everything for their kingdom and are given nothing but a pathetic word of thanks in return."

Link wouldn't lose hope. "Then it is up to the system to protect them, as the soldiers protected the system."

"Good answer, but what system would that be?" The Hero started speaker faster, louder. "What system can there be to protect the lowly men who sacrifice their lives for the wealthy and noble? The noble can murder, rape, and steal without punishment, but Goddess forbid a commoner who holds his head high, lest he lose it."

"Zelda will make that system."

"And that is why you are a fool," The Hero growled. "I have not known her long, but the way Zelda treats her friends tells me much. She is filled with anger. If the one who holds the Mark of Wisdom is so angry, they will only bring pain. Wisdom does not mean 'good.' It merely means the ability to discern, reason, and learn. She will be a smart one, and that scares me."

The Hero glared at the ground. "The king in my time bore the Mark of Wisdom, and he was a tyrant. He betrayed me... casted me out because in his 'wisdom,' he feared me. I served him without question, and he feared me for it. His people served him, and he reduced them to slaves. He trusted no one. He saw ghosts and conspiracies all around him. He trusted no one. Eventually, the ghosts he saw were created by his own hand."

The Hero continued, "I have watched your 'princess' since her arrival, and I see a tyrant in the making just as much as he was! Even you, who would treat her with friendship yet obey without question, are repaid with harsh words, disregard, and punishment!"

Link also looked down. "It's true... Zelda can be cruel. She doesn't know love nor friendship, so she doesn't know how to express it. She has never known gentleness, and so she doesn't know how to give it. She is a tool to others as much as they are to her."

"And... you think this makes her a good candidate for a king?"

"Zelda is broken... but that is why I am there." Link smiled. "How can she learn forgiveness unless someone is there to forgive her? How can she learn to be gentle, or to trust, or to care unless someone does it for her first?"

"You cannot fix a broken king."

"I can try."

"You will try. You will push yourself. You will bleed. You will give yourself until there is NOTHING LEFT!" The Hero screamed. Link and Elder took a step back in surprise. "You will have nothing left to give, and still the kingdom, the system, and the princess you serve will demand more! You will be a broken shell of a man before anyone will finally say you gave enough! You will wish for the peace of death just to be free of the blood that cakes every inch of your skin! You will be chased by the dead into your dreams! And finally, finally, it will all come to completion as you are betrayed in what remains of your life!"

"That's enough," The Elder interrupted.

"If I have to give myself until there is nothing left, then I will at least go down satisfied knowing it is as far as I can go!" Link yelled.

The Hero stared at him, stunned speechless for a moment. "You... Mark my words, Link. She will betray you. We-You are better off without 'Wisdom'!"

"I said that is enough!" The Elder put a wooden arm out and shoved the Hero back.

Link glared at the hero, despite his initial admiration. He felt at once that the man was speaking from personal experience, so he pitied the Hero greatly. However, he wasn't going to let him speak poorly of Zelda.

"Let's go, Link," Elder said. "We have no more business here."

Link and the Elder walked back up the stairs, leaving the Hero fuming at the bottom. The Hero incoherently roared out his aggravation.

"Please, pardon his harsh words," Elder said. "The Hero means well and speaks from experience, but he lacks understanding that the past dies and generations change. He is a damaged soul..."

Link stopped walking and gazed at the exit in apprehension. "I get it... I understand his aggravation. Zelda is... difficult even at the best of times. If she is anything like the king he knew, then I can understand his fear. When I first met Zelda... she saw human lives as pawns to be used. I hated her."

"And now?"

"I still do," Link admitted. "Or perhaps it is better to say I hate that side of her. It is evil to control people, to tax them, and to have them die at your will... But it is also an evil designed to target the twisted, while sparing the innocent."

"That is justice."

"And I hate it. I hate how necessary it is... I hate how a girl as young as myself cannot be happy with a life as simple as meeting a good guy, having a couple pets, having neighbors, or even seeing the world. It's not because she doesn't want to, but because she is trapped to a seat. Did you know how Zelda completely changed when she left her palace? She looked almost normal for once, peaceful. She was smiling and... having fun... and looked hopeful."

Link clenched his fists. "I hate the throne. It is a cage without bars. I almost hate the princess and the whole royal family, but I find myself respecting her because it is a cage she accepts a living sacrifice. I care for Zelda just as much as I hate her."

"That is a contradiction," Elder noted.

"A what?"

The Elder chuckled. How would he explain that word to Link? He wondered. "I mean to say, you despise the princess, but you care about Zelda. The Princess is a position worthy of your respect, but you despise the position for what it must do. You care about Zelda as a person, but you find the person can be cruel. They are the same person, but different parts, almost like different identities."

"Exactly!" Link exclaimed. "So... what do I do? Do you think I am a fool as he said because I want to help her?"

"No. In fact, you are the opposite. You are saving her," The Elder replied. "The princess is as you say. She is a person of many sides in conflict with one another. We can do nothing about how she is a princess that is short of treachery. We can do nothing about how there must be a ruler. However, you can do something about her. You can do something about the cruelty planted in her heart. She may have the throne, young one, but you and her friends, you all have her heart. How the kingdom develops is on your actions as much as hers. A king who knows only betrayal will betray his people. A king who knows love..."

Link gulped. He hoped Elder was not suggesting he actually love-love Zelda. That would be creepy. It'd be like dating Midna or anyone else he saw as a sister. But if Zelda wanted to arrange him and Sarah, they could talk terms.

"Sounds difficult," Link mumbled.

If Elder heard Link's uncertainty, he did not voice it. "Love is patient. Love is kind. It is not jealous. It does not brag, nor is it proud. It is not rude nor easily angered. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always holds on in dour times. But the one thing love never claims to be... is easy."

Link was quiet for the rest of their ascent.