-Mitagi Fortress, Great Hall-

Ganondorf raised his head as the door to the main hall opened. Behind it, the Majora stood on one side, and the Mitagi stood on the other. Both groups pointedly avoided looking at each other. There was a deep rift set between them, a rift created by a history of kings, demons, and betrayals. It was a rift that manifested itself in Ganondorf's being both literally and figuratively, in so far as how well he knew of his birth. Were the Great Bird of Qin there, he may have been able to keep the peace between them, but as it was, there was no other among the Mitagi who was ever respected by the Majora. And as if by the ironic hand of fate, it was because of his death that set them on this divided path, and it would have been his life that kept them appeased. Now, the only one among the Qin, the Majora, and Fae respected was the High Heir Apparent Zelda.

Ganondorf felt for the Zelda. She was a young one who had to determine who she would alienate. It was a pity, he thought. She was ambitious and with potential. He would have liked to see what she would become, but now he wondered if he would live to see the next day. And even if he did, he wondered if he would accept it. He didn't know. Living as a broken example of an adoptive father for Malon didn't appeal to him. Being a dishonored exile left him with no hope, and being a leader to a clan sat worse and worse in him. Leading a clan would only bring them down with him.

Through the door behind him entered the Heir Apparent of Qin. Her escort included a number of Mitagi guards plus Link. The doors closed, and out of the corner of Ganondorf's eye, he saw the Guardian Assassin watching from against a wall.

Zelda settled herself at the table in front of Ganondorf. She shared a brief whisper with Lord Geoffrey, and he nodded. She passed along a paper, and upon reading it, his eyebrows lifted in surprise. He looked back at Zelda, and she nodded.

Following this silent exchange, Zelda rose to her feet and said, "I thank the Mitagi for their hospitality, and the Majora for trusting in me. You have both given me much to think about, and so I have deeply pondered the nature of justice and mercy this night. Justice requires not equal payment for a crime, but increased payment to set an example for others. This can even mean a punishment many times greater than the crime. In this way, fear of the law is created so the people may not trespass. In reverse, mercy is the same. It will spare all debt from a crime, even in an extreme case, so as to show understanding, gentleness, and offer hope or a second chance. I have also considered the ones to whom punishment truly belongs. I have considered how some are punished for no fault while those who should be are ignored."

Zelda took a deep breath while the scrolls were handed out to the people. "For the heresy of creating a demon, the punishment from the divine is not one I can ignore. The punishment can only be death."

Ganondorf closed his eyes. So this was it for him, he thought. Death. He couldn't argue. She was right. Monsters were hunted by the Majora, and he was now chief among them.

"So my decision is of multiple things. First, the Dragmire clan shall not be faulted for the actions of their elders any longer. Death, humiliation, and slavery has been their punishment for these past twenty years. I would say that not only have they suffered enough for a crime only a few conspired to, but there are now those who are being born into this punishment... including Lord Ganondorf Dragmire.

"I say that all Dragmire slaves across Qin shall be gathered to the Majora and freed. Naturally, if a Dragmire committed a crime outside of the summoning of a demon, they will still be held accountable. But I judge all Dragmire, save for the elders, innocent."

Ganondorf slowly opened his eyes and lifted his head towards Zelda. He could barely express his shock. All around him, the Mitagi and Majora also grew amazed, but with wide eyes and gaping jaws.

She was sparing the Dragmire? Ganondorf wanted to ask. For twenty years they were scorned as demon worshippers, slaves, and the most sinful of people. Ganondorf was utterly speechless. Never had he expected Zelda to come to such a decision. Never in his life had he considered a source of salvation to come from the enemies he was raised to remember and despise.

However, Zelda was not done stating her decision. "Ganondorf Dragmire's intentions were for Qin, but he was transformed against his will. In the same way, he was born with a power that was not his nor his decision to bear. We do not allow demons into this world, and so someone must die."

All were silent as she uttered these words. Some Majora hung their heads. Ganondorf realized this was it now. His people would be offered hope, but he would die.

"The ones to conduct the demonic ritual, the elders of Dragmire, Harken Dragmire, and the twin-witches of Majora, shall be executed," Zelda concluded.

"What?!" Ganondorf barked. His eyes snapped to his twin mothers. The Majora and Mitagi looked equally surprised, but unlike him, they did not immediately react. "You can't!"

"Enough out of you, boy!" The twins exclaimed. "If you are ever going to listen to us for a single time in your life, make it now!"

Ganondorf growled at them. "You think I'm just going to accept this?"

"You can," The first twin said.

"And you will," The second concluded.

"Mitagi," Zelda said, "will you accept their execution as recompense?"

The Mitagi spent a minute whispering among themselves. The high priest glared at Ganondorf Dragmire, but he held his tongue. Finally, the Mitagi representative said, "We accept the lives of the Majora witches as the conclusion to this trial, but the freedom of the Dragmire slaves is-"

"Not up for debate," Zelda declared coolly. "This is the decision I have come to. You can either accept it or not, but know I am not done yet. My third decision is that to help keep this alliance intact, Lord Ganondorf Dragmire will step down as king of the Majora until he overcomes the demon within."

"You cannot be serious!" The Majora representative demanded. "Who shall we have as king? And what shall he do?"

Zelda narrowed her eyes and spoke softly, "I am serious. Much as I trust Lord Dragmire's intentions, there is still the problem of control. Would you trust a drunkard or addict to lead you? Both may be good people, but they lack control. This would then go for the people under him as well. Select who you wish as his replacement and discuss with Lord Dragmire what his responsibilities will be going forward. And remember: this is only temporary. I will accept Lord Dragmire as an equal again when he can control himself even at his lowest state."

Zelda took a breath. "Of course, as I have no true authority over you, this is not so much an order as it is an agreement. I will not demand compliance, but I need you to understand that if Lord Dragmire continues to lead you in his questionable state, I will have to take that into consideration in our future dealings."

Several Majora stood up to argue, but Nabooru put her hand out to calm them. She looked heavily onto Ganondorf, who was still stunned silent from Zelda's decision. Nabooru stood and said, "The Majora accept your terms. We will continue to accept Lord Ganondorf Dragmire into our community, but not as our king. Is that acceptable to all?"

The Mitagi grumbled. They clearly looked displeased by this turn. They could present an argument if they wanted to, but with the Majora giving them some alleviation and the executions of the witches, they felt continuing to push would not gain them anything.

"We accept as well," The Mitagi representative decided.

Ganondorf was speechless. Once more, he felt his whole world crash around him because all his expectations just proved themselves false. Just like when he met Malon and her mother, and just like how he was dropped from the height of power into desperation, he was witnessing another event he never would have expected in this age. This was an age of war, of death, and he kept seeing mercy.

Link leaned forward and whispered to Zelda, "Well done." Geoffrey shushed him.

Ganondorf found his voice and stared dazedly at Zelda. "Why?"

"Because," Zelda answered, "Lord Dragmire, you spared and helped me when I was before you. You defied the cycle of hatred our forefathers set in motion so many years ago. I think it right to continue to seek to reverse that cycle. Perhaps it is foolishness, but if I fail for my foolishness, I would rather fail while hoping and acting than while doubting."

As she spoke, she glanced at Link, considering her thoughts toward him as well. Link curiously met her gaze, but Zelda hastily returned her attention forward.

Upon hearing Zelda's reply, Ganondorf fell to his knees and put his hands on the stone floor. He tried to respond, but only vague sounds escaped him. Hope was a new and scary concept for a man who only knew hate and despair. His house who was facing extinction, the family he had grown to hate as much as himself, the Dragmire, was being offered freedom from persecution. It was a dream he never thought possible in their world. Ganondorf wanted to say something, but the sound of him struggling to speak was suddenly interrupted by clapping.

Everyone's head swiveled to the corner of the room where the Rebellious Hero was clapping. He said, "Well done. Well... done. You have done what I never would have imagined possible. You have fooled both sides and brought the demon low with words alone. Well done."

"Know your place, Guardian," A Mitagi elder snarled. Others added their agreement and stood, balking at his disrespectful tone.

"This is not justice," The Guardian argued. "You say it is just that the ones who summoned the demon shall die, but what of the demon itself? If it is evil to give birth to evil, is not which is born evil as well? Just as a midwife cries for joy as a good and innocent child is born, so must a parent cast a child to the rocks if it is monstrous and deformed. You have a talent for twisting words, Princess. Something I would expect from 'Wisdom.'"

The Guardian stepped forward, but as he did so, a portal opened behind him and translucent green chains lashed around him. The chains tightly bound his arms, chest, and waist. They pulled him away, and his boots skidded along the floor before he resisted enough to halt them. He lifted his hand, and in a bright flash, the oval egg from the Twilight appeared in it.

The Fae Elder gasped and looked in horror at the creature within the egg.

In another flash, the egg was gone. The Guardian had used his Gift to send it into the dungeon that was his domain, aiming for it to land atop one of the three colored torches. The egg landed on the green torch, and it exploded, allowing its contents to spill over the flame. The creature within curled up and cried aloud as the embers burned it alive. The wine-colored fluid seeped into the embers, but instead of dousing them, the fire continued to burn. It slowly brought the red liquid to a boil.

The chains holding the Guardian shattered, their portal disappeared, and the Guardian stumbled forward.

"You are not my king," The Guardian declared. "You, who make your bed with the devil, are not fit to rule in the Goddesses' stead."

He extended his hand and chains shot out from hundreds of places from the ground. They latched onto everyone in the great hall and forced them down. Chains grabbed Ganondorf by the hands and legs, forcing him to lean on all fours. A single, gigantic chain looped around Zelda so she was pinned to where she sat.

"What is the meaning of this!?" The Elder exclaimed. The chains covered him so thoroughly that there was no room to escape from his wooden construct.

"This was supposed to be an execution; a moment of hope. A moment in which evil is given its due. However, my fears have been realized. She is no better than her predecessor." The Guardian faced Elder. "And you, old friend, have become complacent in this. It appears I am the only one with the courage to do what must be done."

The Guardian snapped his fingers, and many more shapes flashed into the room. Ganondorf's eyes widened as much as anyone else, but he recognized what just appeared. Creatures of Twilight were now everywhere. More continued to crawl their way in from the windows, and they could hear a clash erupting in the halls of the castle.

A number of the larger Twilight creatures tackled Ganondorf, pressing him down further than the chains did. They did not bite him, but rather shielded him from the people.

"You will not take him from us! He is ours... OURS!" They screamed in guttural tongues.

Zelda struggled against her giant chain. She barked at the Guardian, "So you would chastise me while making your bed with these monsters?! Hypocrite!"

"Perhaps, perhaps not." The Guardian stepped forward, walking past Ganondorf. In his hand, a short sword flashed into existence. Ganondorf roared and struggled to his feet, but the combined weight of monsters and chains kept him firmly down.

The Guardian said, "We have a similar agenda, the Twilight and me. We both wish to be free. They will free me of the chains your predecessor placed on me. In return, these creatures will be given a place in the world they were cast out from. Besides, we both want the Dragmire gone. They merely... benefit more from it."

"Oh no..." The Elder whispered.

Seeing Zelda's confusion, the Guardian explained, "Oh, didn't you know? Twilight eat their parents to gain their strength, just as they feast on everything else."

All around, men and women desperately struggled to break free, but the chains held tight. Ganondorf managed to plant his feet under him again, but his hands were still held down. Link stayed pinned against the wall. Link's gift flared in an attempt to act. The Guardian stepped forward and pointed his sword at Zelda's chest.

"Zelda! Arrow!" Link barked.

"What?! I have no bow and-" Zelda exclaimed.

"Do you have any better ideas?!"

Zelda frowned, but did her best. Her hands were held down against the chair, but she could at least clench her fist and fling a weak light arrow from her hand.

The Guardian side-stepped the attack. He looked past her to Link. "Nice try, but I have seen the nature of her Gift befo-" Solid stone shattered into his side and slammed him against a wall.

Ganondorf stood with one hand free and the other chained. His free hand still had the chain on it, but the stone it connected to was broken free from the floor. Fire erupted from his fist and traveled along the chain and stone. He spun the new weapon around and crashed it against the Elder's chains. There was a brief explosion as the ignited stone shattered the Elder's chains. Elder threw the shards off and allowed the floor's stone to climb up his body and become armor.

The twin-witches used their magic to break through the chains and jumped onto the table with dexterity beyond their age. The rest of the Majora could not break free, but they could move enough to don their masks. Once a mask was on their faces, the chains groaned against the newfound resistance.

"Don the mask, Majora!" Ganondorf roared. "Show them your fury!"

Finally, the chains snapped, and the Majora besieged the Twilight around Ganondorf with as much ferocity as their opponents.

The Guardian shook his head and stood to his feet. Fae, Majora, and Twilight fought all around the room, and it was not made any better by Ganondorf. Having freed one hand, he was in the process of freeing the other while setting any adversary who approached on fire.

The Elder pushed past the Twilight horde and freed Link, Zelda, and Geoffrey. He stood before them protectively. More and more Twilight crawled through the windows, and several with wings began flying in too.

"How long before your big brother arrives?" The Guardian Assassin inquired to a Twilight nearby.

"Within the hour," It hissed.

"Not good enough," The Guardian said. In a flash, he disappeared.

A moment later, a gigantic, dragon-like monster appeared at the top of the room and dropped into the fight. Under this new weight, the tables crumbled, people were flattened, and stone shattered. This new foe had claws like spears, legs like tree trunks, black scales like armor, a spiked tail like a whip, and wings that filled the room. A long neck ended in a broad head from which steam and blue fire sizzled out. In traditional Twilight style, it bore an open rib cage that exposed its organs.

The Guardian stood confidently at the base of its neck. Chains shot out from his hands and moved all around the creature, binding around its legs, head, and wings. The Guardian then brought the chains together in his hand to effectively act as a rein. Steering the great beast, he turned it to Elder, who was defending Zelda.

Ganondorf fell under its body and coughed as the wind was knocked out of him. Noticing him, the beast put a foot down on his torso. It was not pressed so hard it would crush and kill the man, but it successfully trapped him beneath its claws.

Elder shuddered, Zelda stepped back, and Geoffrey's jaw dropped as the creature disinterestedly gazed at them.

Lord Geoffrey exclaimed, "A dragon?!"

"One of Twilight, it would appear," The Elder said. He saw a Twilight die under the dragon's footfall, and in seeing its death, he understood. The truth horrified him more than the dragon. "They... they were once Fae."

Zelda gasped. "They were once WHAT!?"

The dragon reared its head back and took a deep breath. Once ready, it lunged its head forwards and vomited blue fire.

Geoffrey lowered himself and raised his shield. Elder stepped forward and shifted his construct's shape to cover Zelda and Link.

The fire abated quickly enough. When it did, Elder cried, "Lord Mitagi, protect her!" His construct crumbled to the ground, unable to defend against another wave of flames. Elder fled the construct's remains and disappeared into the castle's walls.

Other Fae fled their wooden constructs at seeing the fire and formed their own smaller, stone constructs.

The dragon vomited fire again. This time, the fire had substance to it, like lava. The lava-like fire hit the wall behind them, and Link pulled Zelda away from it. Lava fell down the wall to where Zelda stood a moment earlier. By stepping forward, though, they had stepped within reach of the dragon. It raised a claw and brought it down on them.

Geoffrey dashed forward and shielded Zelda with his body. The dragon's claw slammed across his back. It should have crushed him, broken every bone in his body, and spilled his blood across the floor, but he felt barely anything.

Geoffrey blinked in surprise at the lack of pain. Confused, and slightly aggravated, the dragon brought its claw down on him again and again and again. But each time, Geoffrey felt barely anything. If anything, he felt a slowly growing vibration on his back. The shield! Geoffrey realized. He had already forgotten about the invincible shield on his back! It had absorbed every impact!

The Guardian looked down and sighed. "Of course. My mistake. Move on, you're not going to do anything about that."

The dragon growled, but it consented. It looked down at Ganondorf struggling under its other foot, forced itself to cough, and let black liquid drizzle out onto Ganondorf's face. Were it a normal occasion, Ganondorf might be horrified by how disgusting it was. But as things were, he had a far greater problem. His Twilight mark flared and forced itself into his blood, and the Triangle mark did the same. He roared in pain. The transformation had started.

The Guardian saw movement out of the corner of his eye and stepped back enough to avoid a blast of fire. He snarled. The twin witches giggled and hovered around the room.

"Annoying," He muttered. His Gift flared, and chains shot out of the walls. Like snakes, they twisted through the air and reached for the witches, but the twins avoided every attempt to catch them.

At the same time, Elder finished forming a new construct, one much larger than the other Faes'. He fell from the ceiling and collided with the dragon's head as a giant boulder. The attack's force had the beast crumple onto its belly. Its collapse destroyed several Twilight underneath it and narrowly avoided flattening Ganondorf. Luckily, Geoffrey took Zelda in his arms and rolled away before it fell.

Link wasn't so lucky.

"Link!" Zelda screamed.

The dragon growled from its place on the floor. Elder rose as a giant rock warrior and punched it in the face. All the blow did was bring another deep growl from the dragon, but then it suddenly squealed in pain and partially picked itself up. Zelda looked to where Link had been to see he was lodged under the creature's exposed gut, having stabbed Nayru's spear into one of the exposed organs. Blood loosened Link's grip, and he fell on his back. Geoffrey rushed forward, grabbed Link's feet, and pulled him out so he wouldn't be crushed again.

Zelda worried over him. "Are you okay?!"

"Bah!" Link cried. He wiped black blood from his face and looked down at himself. He was completely covered in the dragon's blood and juices. "That was disgusting! The bastard has no ribs or nothing!"

"Boy, you never cease to amaze," Geoffrey laughed, despite the situation. He patted the teenager on the shoulder. "You have the devil's luck. How were you not crushed?"

"I nearly was! Got squeezed between its stomach and guts! Gah!" Link continued to wipe his face with blood covered hands and spit. "I think I'm going to be sick."

Fire erupted through the room, reminding them of the still very alive and very upset dragon. Geoffrey instinctively encircled Zelda in his arms to protect her, but the fire never reached them. He let her go and turned around.

The flames weren't from the dragon. Ganondorf's transformation was complete. He was still under the dragon's foot, but his size had grown by several feet. The dragon roared in pain and stepped back, having burned itself on the new source of fire. Now free, Ganon stood to his feet.

Seeing Ganon as he was in the light of day, Link paled in horror. Zelda wasn't much better. Amongst the survivors thus far, perhaps only Geoffrey and the witches were not terrified.

"I-i-i-is that..." Link whispered.

Geoffrey adjusted his shield and his grip on his sword. "That is what he became after Harken Dragmire was through with him. That is what Lord Ouki defeated. Though... it has no swords. And it is much smaller."

"Smaller?!"

"About half."

"Oh, Nayru," Zelda whispered.

The room seemed to freeze. No one moved after Ganon rose. Elder's giant construct, Ganondorf's half-sized demon form, and the dragon all looked between each other.

The dragon almost seemed to smile. "At last..."

"Link," Geoffrey gulped. He had a very bad feeling about what was going to occur. He moved his attention away from the three giant monsters to the man on the dragon's back. The Guardian was searching through the smoke and fire for them. "Take her and run."

"But-" Zelda started to argue.

Link tightened his grip on Nayru's spear in one hand and grabbed Zelda in the other. "On it!" His Gift flashed, and he and Zelda disappeared in a blur.

After they left, the door leading out of the room burst open into the night, and Geoffrey spun around in time to see a fleeting blur. It appeared the Guardian had disappeared as well.