-Mitagi Fortress-

Smoke and fire rose from the Mitagi fortress. The castle's spires had impaled a dragon high in the sky where it still hung, ominously framed against the backlight of the moon. Without their 'mother' and the Rebellious Hero, the Twilight monsters were easily routed by the Mitagi, who were forced to invade their own fortress and sweep through the ruined streets. Hidden survivors were found and brought to the outside camp. Nearby cities opened their gates to the refugees, along with the Majora ambassadors and Mitagi nobles.

Under the leadership of Geoffrey, the military's efforts to protect and rescue the scattered pockets of survivors went smoothly. Districts were taken back in an orderly fashion, fires were quelled, and by the end of the night, the fortress had returned into his hand. The Fae were found in a broken home protecting the high heir and two of her companions. They were all quickly escorted to the general's camp.

By morning, all that remained was the quelling the last few fires, separately burning the bodies of every monster and civilian, and sorting the survivors out to decide what to do next. The fortress would need to be repaired, homes would need to be rebuilt, and while the Mitagi could afford the costs economically, other damages were done. Many lives were lost, and the reputation of Mitagi and Qin was damaged. The Mitagi fortress, the pillar of Qin that had so long held back armies of the Gerudo, had fallen for the first time since its creation. No matter how brief the collapse, it had fallen. Word of this would spread through Qin within days, and within weeks, all of the nations of Hyrule would hear. Qin would soon face the attention of all their enemies at once.

Geoffrey understood this and the pressure it would bring. Qin would look vulnerable. They had lost two of their pillars, Ouki Mitagi and the Mitagi house's invincible reputation, in short succession. The princess had said before that Qin was bleeding. Whether she considered it merely a speech to put their heads into the game, or if she truly believed it, she was right. Qin was bleeding. Qin was spread thin and crumbling at the seams. Unless something was done fast, Qin would fall and collapse under the weight of its own size. Enemy nations would see its vulnerability and press harder to claim territory. Piece by piece, and city by city, Qin would fall into enemy hands. Finally, someone would pierce all the way through to the capital, and then Qin would disappear.

Geoffrey turned from the meeting with his commanders and found the tent of the princess. He approached it when a guard announced him, and the princess said from within, "Let him in."

Geoffrey lowered his head around the flaps and entered the tent. It was his own tent before, so it was already prepared with a few short-term furnishings. It was still uncomely for a princess, though. Zelda's clothes were torn apart and laid out on a side table. Zelda herself rested on a cot under several blankets. She turned her head to better see her guest, and Geoffrey suddenly felt blood rush to his face. He dearly hoped she was not nude under the blankets. So far as he knew, there were no clothes prepared for one such as her.

He looked away and nodded to the Fae elder's construction near the side.

"He is not present, Lord Geoffrey," Zelda said in a tired voice.

"How do you figure that?" Geoffrey replied.

"Fae may always be still as statues, but there is no glowing presence inside currently. The Elder is resting."

"Ah, then it makes me wonder if he has done this before and tricked me into thinking he was listening when he was not," Geoffrey mused jovially. "But how are you, Princess? Is there anything you require of me?" He still kept his attention to the side.

"It is kind of you to worry. Water would be good, as well as to have my mind at ease."

"Then I shall have a man bring you more water. But what is it that worries you?"

"The state of affairs. Where is my servant girl, and where is the Dragmire child? How is Link and Lord Dragmire fairing? How do the Mitagi fair? My mind is plagued with concerns."

Geoffrey breathed in deeply. "I do not know where your servant or friend is. However, my firm belief is that they would be among the refugees sent to a nearby city. I shall send a messenger to look for them among those we've sent." Zelda nodded in understanding. "Link and Lord Dragmire are faring well. The former slept as soon as he was brought in, and the latter was found asleep. The doctors have told me that they are in good health." Zelda nodded again. "As for us, your highness... Be at peace. The Mitagi are strong, and our reclamation is well under way. We are winning by a great slaughter. By tomorrow, there will have been no corner of the fortress left where the monsters may hide."

"It appeases me that victory is well in sight, but it still concerns me how great the losses are. I want to know: how great is the damage to Mitagi's reputation?"

Geoffrey gulped. He looked down. "I... do not know. The people are hardy, so our losses are well below expectations, but I do share your fear. I suspect our enemies will not stand by and do nothing. That is why it is imperative we recover quickly-" He glanced towards her briefly. "-And why you must rest. Allow us the peace of mind of knowing you are of good health. We shall do our jobs well."

Zelda nodded. "Thank you, Lord Geoffrey. If my servant is found, please send her in to me."

Geoffrey saluted and left. He assigned a change of guard for her with a jug of water. There was no telling when or where the Rebellious Hero would appear again. Without the princess' usual servant around, the soldiers would need to accommodate the princess' needs themselves. He had barely finished before a messenger came running with a message from the Mitagi nobility. He groaned. There was just no pleasing some people.

-Ganondorf Dragmire-

Ganondorf considered himself a little lucky that he rarely dreamed, or at least, rarely remembered them. The few he knew inflamed his heart and set his mood on edge. This morning, as he rose, he had the sense he dreamed one of them. It was mostly a blur, but he had the faint impression he was wrestling all night with an unknown enemy. He was covered in sweat, his heart pounding furiously in his chest. Every breath came out as a gasp, and his blood boiled. All this together made him both hot and furious as he tried to remember. The dream foe couldn't have been the Rebellious Hero. He still had a clear recollection of that conflict from the night before, excluding the moments he was possessed.

Ganondorf rose, found a bowl of water nearby, and washed his face. It was warm, but against his hot skin, it felt refreshingly cool. He took a moment to breath and calm down. With each breath, he felt the fire in his heart rise. His old, comfortable anger settled in his stomach. He pushed it down to a controlled degree.

As ready as he could get himself, Ganondorf departed his tent and looked around. He was in the midst of a great encampment in the early morning. In the distance stood the fortress of Mitagi. He saw no fire over its walls, but there was enough smoke to block the sun. The dragon he had fought laid impaled upon the castle towers like an ominous reminder of who was here. There was little activity happening. Only camp guards, commanders, and servants moved around him. Most of the activity looked to be in the city and around its gates.

General Geoffrey approached. His entire personage showed aggravation, though it seemed to lift slightly upon seeing Ganondorf. It felt awkward.

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"Lord Dragmire," Geoffrey commented. "It is good to see you are well."

"I am uninjured," Ganondorf answered," but it will be a time before I am well again. My spirit has been poor, and so my body has become sick for it." He eyed his visitor a bit. "But I do question who is asking."

Geoffrey had the sense to at least look aghast. "It is myself, of course."

Ganondorf scoffed. "Our interaction has been far less than favorable. I hold nothing against you, but I will not be fooled into thinking that you also hold nothing against me."

Geoffrey was silent. His eyes fell, and some of his guard seemed to crumble into sadness. "It is true; I will not deny it. Whether by fault of your own or another, you fought my lord... and my lord is now dead. I will be in mourning forever. I do apologize for my treatment of you before. I make no apology for taking you prisoner, but I apologize that I was overtaken by my zeal. The princess has spoken, judgement has been made, and I accept the authority made on it..."

Ganondorf felt there was more he had on his mind. "However?"

"However, the heart is a wild thing. Despite my better judgement, despite the wisdom portrayed by the princess, my heart still beats with anger. Her mercy does not fully douse the fury in my heart. You are right. I cannot accept you as an ally as long as I mourn."

Ganondorf nodded. "Your master died not that long ago. It is for the best that we keep our space."

"That would be best for everyone," Geoffrey agreed. He sighed and whispered to himself, "It is of sin I feel so..." There was another awkward silence.

Recovering, Geoffrey said, "For that matter, it would be for the best if we kept you under guard for now. There is no telling when or where the Rebellious Hero will appear again."

Ganondorf smiled darkly. "Oh, I do not think we have anything to worry about from him."

"How can you be so sure?"

Ganondorf held up his fist. On it was his triangle, fully lit and whole, along with a hollow one. "Because I ripped his power away from him."

"You-" Geoffrey stared at the mark in amazement, but his shock soon gave way to joy and levity. He laughed, clapped Ganondorf on the shoulder, and said, "He is defeated, fully and utterly! We must tell the princess! She frets still."

Ganondorf hesitated. "I... think it is better if I do not come. The last time I saw her I was..." Ganondorf let the sentence finish unspoken. It was clear to them both what he referred to.

Geoffrey paused, showing he understood the weight of the statement. However, he waved the concern aside and said, "Nonsense! One of the first things she worried about was you and Link!"

"What?" Ganondorf asked dumbly.

"Come, come!" Geoffrey ushered him along, and the larger man relented to it.

The princess was dressed in her tattered dress when they entered. The Elder Fae had returned to his wooden shell as well. Geoffrey explained what he just learned, and Zelda's sudden and bright smile did odd things to Ganondorf's stomach. She was entirely too happy to see him uninjured. And while he could understand the relief to know the Rebellious Hero would not be coming after her life again, the amount of open joy she had in their victory was uncomfortable. The level of Geoffrey's excited animations actually made Ganondorf take a step away.

These people should be scared of Ganondorf and what he was, not laughing for him like old friends.

Despite himself, Ganondorf shook the thoughts away. He roped his arms together, and watched the celebration. He allowing everyone's relief and joy without a word. He did not know it, but the constant threat of the Hero had left a heavy weight on them all. To have it finally lifted meant the world.

Link eventually heard the noise, and being the nosy pup he was, he had to know what was happening. Sadly, he gushed even more than those already present. Being on the receiving end of yet another's appreciation only made it more awkward for Ganondorf.

Watching their chatter, Ganondorf recalled the recent events. He thought upon not only the mercy he had just been given, but also the words the Rebellious Hero had said the night before.

Ganondorf inserted himself abruptly. "If you would all give us a moment, I wish to speak with the high heir and Link alone."

Geoffrey looked to Zelda. Zelda was surprised by the request, but gave her consent. Elder, Geoffrey, and their guards left.

"What is it you wished to speak with me about?" Zelda asked. Some of her guard came back up, and her composure returned to being royal. Ganondorf could see she was still mostly relaxed, though.

"Yeah, what's up?" Link looked up curiously from where he sat on the ground.

"The first thing is this," Ganondorf said. He lowered himself to one knee and bowed his head. "Thank you for the mercy you have extended to me and my house."

"You are welcome, Lord Dragmire..." Zelda gulped. She had never imagined a gesture like this from him. It was uncomfortable. "P-please raise your head. Even though you will not be a king for a time, I do consider you an equal."

Ganondorf stood. He never imagined he would someday bow before anyone, nor thank them for anything. He couldn't find any other gesture appropriate to what she had done for him.

"Be that as it may, there is no other way of showing my thanks. You have given me hope, Princess. You cannot begin to grasp how much it means to me."

They stood in silence. Zelda didn't know how to respond or take his gratitude, and Ganondorf didn't plan to elaborate further. Link simply watched them with wide eyes.

Ganondorf cleared his throat and moved on to another topic. "In my conflict with the Rebellious Hero, there were some words he shared that I find myself reflecting upon. Words worth sharing." He paused. "He said three spirits have been in conflict for an endless cycle, born again and again to fight. He said the spirits want to return to the Goddesses again, because, as if to explain it, that which is separate only wants to be made whole again. And none will accept death until they have."

"Whoa," Link mumbled.

"This... troubles me. He talked as if I was among these spirits... and as if you two were as well. I know we may be blessed as champions of the Triple Goddesses, but what more he spoke of I know little of."

Zelda's face darkened. "What he said makes sense with what I know. I have been told some in regards to this, so I will share it."

Zelda explained what the Shadowmaster had told her beneath the Mitagi Fortress. She shared how the three spirits were reincarnated repeatedly, how the Spirit of Power became corrupted, and how the Elder Fae believed that a sign of Hyrule's fall would come when the unity of all three champions fell.

"And yet here we are..." Link whispered. "Almost like it was..."

"Fate," Zelda finished.

Ganondorf scoffed. "It is hardly fate that we should stand here. You think it fate that your little brother took the throne from you to bring you to us? This cycle of fate means we should be fighting, not helping one another. If we have been reunited over and over for thousands of years, and only been able to hate each other, then I hardly see how our camaraderie is fated."

"We very nearly did despise one another. We were united, and the first thing that happened was conflict, as always. I was to be no-doubt killed, and Link... Ganondorf's sword came very close to beheading you." Link paled, remembering how close the blade had come. Zelda looked to Ganondorf. "But you chose to accept my plea."

"The Fae got in my way."

"Yes, they did. They asked you to listen. The Elder asked for you to listen only once, and he said he would not stand in your way again. Listen you did, and then you accepted his deal. Lord Dragmire, I do think it was fate that brought us together. I will say you are right to believe that it was not all fate, though. Our choices determined how our conflict would resolve. Over and over, fate has brought us together, and it was perhaps our choices each time that demanded there be a reason to try again."

"Try again... towards what?" Link asked.

"Towards... something. Something we were doing wrong. Something we needed to fix and do right. Perhaps even something as simple as not killing each other."

"That will be difficult," Ganondorf said. "It is certainly my first instinct whenever the pup speaks."

"Hey!" Link barked.

"But I think the Rebellious Hero, for how twisted he became, was right in at least this much. We are three parts of a whole." Zelda revealed her mark for emphasis. The other two marks glowed dimly beside it. "We are bonded in some way. Equals. Like... cousins or siblings."

"Cousins," Ganondorf said harshly. He eyed Link. "Distant ones. Or even further, like being a comparable species. Man meet monkey."

"Hey now, you're the mountain monkey!" Link snapped.

"Pup."

"There may be truth to that," Zelda considered, smiling at how they bickered. "No one else can claim to be like us. Perhaps our bond is as simple as being the only three alike, but isn't that enough?"

"My skin crawls at the prospect of being 'alike' to that." Ganondorf pointed at Link like he was something repulsive.

Link finally had enough taunting and tackled him, but Ganondorf held him back with one arm. However, having not eaten, rested, or exercised in so long, Ganondorf found his strength leave him, and before he knew it, they were wrestling on the ground. Link had also grown taller and stronger over the last year, further surprising the man.

Zelda rolled her eyes, stepped over them, and left the tent. Link succeeded in prying himself free and raced out as well, but Ganondorf grabbed his feet and pulled him back in.

"Princess! HE'S GONNA EAT ME!" Link cried.

Zelda chuckled. "You started it. You challenged him. You know he's going to want to finish it." She waved. "Have fun."

"NOOOOOOooooooooo!" Link left marks in the dirt as he was dragged back into the tent.