-Castle Mitagi-

"The Sheikah," Zelda repeated. Doubt dripped from her tone.

Link nodded, "The man disappeared into thin air as soon as he was out of my sight. I was only a second behind him. There was even an elderly woman there, and he disappeared before she saw him."

"Well, clearly the woman is in league with him. Men don't just disappear."

"I disagree. Princess, I'm telling you, there was nowhere the man could have hidden. It was a straight path. The walls had no holes he could crouch into."

"I, actually, must agree with you both," Geoffrey interrupted. "At the very least, we know the Sheikah are capable of what Link described, but it also isn't instant. The woman would have seen him before he disappeared, unless she was distracted... as the elderly are prone to be."

"Impa would never do this. She would rather die," Zelda growled.

"Chancellor Impa is no longer Shadowmaster."

"The Sheikah also don't resort to spears and wearing heavy armor."

"By what rules? Assassins operate by blending in and using those same preconceived ideas against us."

Link looked to Zelda, knowing her thoughts. "You think it was Ousen Mitagi?"

Zelda nodded.

Geoffrey looked between them, stunned. "You- You would accuse Lord Mitagi?!"

"For negligence, at the very least, " Zelda replied. "This occurred under his watch. And where is he? Shouldn't he be here, apologizing and accepting responsibility for his lack of security? This is a tarnish on his name, and he doesn't seem to care. I don't know if he called for the attempt on my life, but at least this doesn't look well for him."

The three stood in silence. Suddenly, it felt chilly in the fortress. Link felt he was being watched, and he looked around, expecting eyes.

"It's not safe here..." Geoffrey whispered. "Regardless of who is responsible, I will have security increased around you, ten-fold."

"That is the responsibility of Lord Mitagi, not you. I appreciate it, but you don't rule over his house or his guards," Zelda said.

"Until he tries to stop me, I will. I bear Ouki's will, and you are the only liege he has acknowledged in generations. I will not allow a drop of your blood to be shed on my watch." He bowed.

Zelda nodded. She smiled and returned his bow. "You have my thanks, general Geoffrey. I will accept whatever recommendations you make, but I do need to attend to the matter of Lord Dragmire as scheduled. I would also like Link as my personal bodyguard while here."

"Hey, don't I get a say in this?" Link grumbled.

"You can accept, monkey. That's what you can say."

"Okay, I accept."

If Geoffrey found their back-and-forth odd, he didn't show it. "I understand you and he go back a while, so I will trust your judgement. I will see to it that the necessary precautions are made. For now, I need all of you at the guest quarters. I will take the room across from you two."

"Uh..." Zelda muttered, uncertain. "You mean you want Link... in the room with me?"

"Wait, what in with who?!" Link gasped.

"For now, as a precaution," Geoffrey said. "It is acceptable for him to sleep on the floor. It is common for bodyguards to sleep at the feet of their master, but I understand if you find it... indecent. I can find a woman to guard you, if you wish."

"It is, but my life can take an ounce of indecency, so long as the monkey knows his place," Zelda said.

"So does that make me a monkey or a dog in this picture?" Link wondered.

"Both."

"Hey! Don't make me short-sheet your bed."

"Is that a threat?" Zelda asked. "That's a threat, right? You really shouldn't be threatening the princess, especially in the presence of Lord Geoffrey." Link paled.

Geoffrey sighed. "Please, take this seriously," He asked.

"This is how we take it seriously," Link smiled.

Malon and Sarah were brought from the next room while the three of them talked. When they were ready, everyone was escorted to a tower wing where they were shown a guest room. It was a cold room, unused for many years, but kept tidy and ready by local servants.

Malon was still in a state of shock from how close the spear had come to her: it had penetrated where she sat beside Zelda. Sarah was so concerned with Malon's wellbeing, she didn't take notice of the arrangements until later.

"S-so we are sleeping wit-with him?" Sarah pointed at Link.

"I'm standing right here," Link muttered.

"Not 'with' him, just with him in the same room. He gets the floor," Zelda answered.

"Are you serious? It's cold, solid stone!" Link exclaimed. "I thought it was a joke!"

"B-but he's a-a man," Sarah squeaked.

"Well spotted," Zelda replied. "He's also armed and ready to defend our lives at the cost of his own."

"You didn't have to add that last part..." Link muttered, still ignored.

Zelda continued, "Sarah, you trust him, yes?"

Sarah nodded, "He was there when the assassin was in the palace."

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Right, and he's a simpleton. His brain doesn't go much further than scratching himself, sniffing, and stabbing. So feel at ease, I certainly do."

"I know but... I'm just uncomfortable with the idea of sleeping with men around. I've had brothers in another room, certainly, but-"

"Sarah," Zelda pressed gently. "What do we do that he cannot see or hear?"

Link perked up instantly.

"Nothing," Sarah answered.

"We will also have Malon with us," Zelda added.

"You're really not helping my imagination right now," Link whispered, getting a little annoyed.

"It's just sleep, dog-boy. Stop wagging your tail and put it down," Zelda said a little louder and with more bite.

"Okay," Sarah hesitantly said.

She seemed better, so Zelda patted her on the head. Sarah started unpacking their chest, and Link approached Zelda.

"You're really pushing me," Link whispered. "Are you annoyed or something?"

"You screwed up catching the man who tried to kill me when you were on him. 'Annoyed' is one way of putting it," Zelda answered. She glared at him briefly, and he lowered his head, knowing she was right. Zelda sighed, "I know you did your best. Your loyalty and ability is not in question, but you did bring news I dislike. In truth, I am more annoyed at the situation."

"Anyone who's life is threatened would be much more than just annoyed. You're taking it well."

"Not if I take my annoyance out on those closest to me. But without a proper foe to point my aggression at, you will unfortunately be at the end of my wrath for a while."

Link's expression soured. This would be a long trip. He deserved her annoyance. He failed her. He just hoped they could find the attacker soon. Link looked at his hand. Zelda's heartbeat was faster than normal. He could feel her stress. In addition, he saw Ganondorf's triangle lit, and its beat was steady and strong. Ganondorf was here. They were both here, and they needed Link. He wouldn't let them down.

-Ganondorf-

The triangles on his hand lit up, and Ganondorf lurched forwards. Consciousness returned to him, albeit dimly. He groaned. While this Mitagi dungeon was not the same as the one from Bayou, it was no less a pain. He could sit as needed, but his arms were encased within metal gloves chained to opposing walls.

How long had Ganondorf been imprisoned? He could not tell. He had no reference for time. There was no sun nor moon, there was only the regular coming and going of nurses to feed him by their hands. Under normal circumstances, it might be humiliating. Now, however, he was uncaring. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered. He was doomed. He didn't know why he accepted the rations. He should just reject food and let his body waste away. What hope was there for the body when the soul was sick? What was the point of salvation for a demon?

Ganondorf saw the light pulsing from within the metallic glove on his right hand and sighed. "Of course they came..."

The light also stirred something within the room. There was movement. It was faint, but enough for him to realize someone was there.

"Who's there?" Ganondorf said. "Show yourself. Are you a guard, a servant?"

A large soldier, encased entirely in armor, stepped forward. He held a longsword.

"I am not a soldier," The man answered. "I am the guardian of this place."

"So you are the prison warden?"

"No. I am the Guardian," The Guardian corrected. "You are down much deeper than the Mitagi's prison. A most unusual thing: I've never had so many coming and going from my sanctum. I first considered you a powerful man they wished to have erased and forgotten from the world... but that..." The Guardian pointed at Ganon's illuminated hand within the glove. "That is something truly special."

"I am, or rather, I was. You may be at ease, Guardian. Your presence is unnecessary. Even these chains are unnecessary."

"You are not the one to decide that."

"I observe, sir, that you are given a special responsibility, and you are old and isolated. I can understand then that you know not who I am. My name is Ganondorf Dragmire, king of the Majora, bearer of the Gift of Din."

"A Dragmire..." The Guardian murmured. He hissed and thrust his blade out. It reached up to Ganondorf's neck, but it did not touch him. "Tell me, Demon, why are you here? I could obtain no straight answer from those above. Are you here for me to execute?"

Ganondorf was not affected by the proximity of the blade to his neck. He observed that despite the Guardian's old age, he held the blade strong and true. The Guardian's voice was raspy as an old man, and he sounded like he had been down here for a long time. At least he certainly recognized what a Dragmire was and had an accurate idea of what this Dragmire became.

"I don't know if you are my executioner or my jailor," Ganondorf said. "I cannot say what purpose the Mitagi brought me into your sanctum for, but I would guess it is to be imprisoned. I am a powerful man, and you must be powerful as well if they trust me to your keeping. Tell me, Guardian, do you have a name?"

"... I once did, but no longer do. I gave it up long ago," The Guardian said. "I am simply the Guardian. You have only half-answered my question. If I am to be your keeper, then why are you in my care?"

Ganondorf sighed, "Because... the elders of my clan gave our blood and souls to demons. The Dragmire turned to demonic worship. I do not know if I was a baby when they infused me with shadow and demonic possession, or if I am merely a demon summoned into this world. Either way, I am the living embodiment of what the Dragmire turned to. My soul and my blood is that of a demon. I bear on one hand the mark of the Triple Goddesses, and on the other hand I bear the mark of the Twilight Pantheon. I joined Qin, our mutual ally, into war to confront one of those very elders. I fought him, and I demanded answers of him. His answer was to awaken the power trapped deep in my soul... I became a great and powerful demon who tried to wreak havoc. It took a powerful warrior to stop me. I have since been imprisoned."

The Guardian stood still for a long time, silently observing him. His blade never wavered from Ganondorf's throat. He was so still Ganondorf could not even hear him breath.

Finally, the Guardian spoke, "You say you are either a possessed infant or a summoned demon in the shape of a child. Why would you say this? Are you without memory?"

"Surely no man can remember so far back, but I do remember my youth in a haze. I grew up as a child would, physically, but I was different. I was angry. I loathed. Fury and wrath and violence and disdain were in my blood. My mind was my own, but I was heated in hatred so deeply that at the same time it wasn't. My mind was given over to that burning hate fully and utterly, seeking only release. I was one both possessed and not, for the hatred was my own and yet unnatural."

Ganondorf continued, "When I was younger... I entered an event designed to remove the limitations holding back a Majora's power, and were I to guess now, I would say it unleashed my demon blood. Coming out of my rampage, I found myself encased in holy water, drowning. I heard the words of Din telling me to fight, to struggle, to overcome. It was the first moment of my life I can remember outside of a haze, where I did not feel trapped with thoughts that were not my own. The event was covered up, so my clan and I would not know of my demonic blood, but I have always felt something was wrong. I have always felt dogged, chained, caged by whatever force that held my mind and body at sway since my youth. I thought, at first, it was the mountains. I thought, at first, it was my parentage. In leaving the mountains, I sought answers. I thought later, perhaps the cage and hate I felt was towards the past, as my clan was mostly destroyed. Maybe the cage was the barriers between nations keeping me from running from one side to the next of this world... But I never received my answer. It is this quest for answers that led me to confronting the elder of my shattered clan. There I received my answer. The cage holding me is my own soul, my own blood."

The Guardian lowered his blade and stepped back. "I see. Were it up to me, I would bear this sword through you right now. You are held by the chains of the Mitagi, or rather, you are held by your own chains. You are right. My presence is, perhaps, unnecessary. Even these chains binding you are of no use. You have the power to break out of here... and you choose not to. It is not I, nor the Mitagi that chain you. It is you. Even if the doors were opened and the chains loosened... would you leave?"

Ganondorf bowed his head. He looked at the floor and closed his eyes. What was the point? He would take his cage with him wherever he went. He was cursed. Ganondorf didn't even feel imprisoned by the Mitagi. He felt more imprisoned by his own flesh.

Taking the silence as confirmation, the Guardian spoke up, "And that is why I will not run you through. Living is worse for you than death. Your death will come in its own time, and then you will see what demons see. For now, I am content with this."

The Guardian walked away, and Ganondorf wished to sleep soon. He did not like being awake. He just wished it would all go away.