The unbroken silence lingers. Is it real? Is it true? Has Count Caedis truly perished? Has his tyranny evaporated into the mystical multicoloured void?

The question hangs on Laurel's furrowed brow before he rushes to tend to his fallen comrade.

"Ningan, wake up!" he shakes the ninja in his arms. "It's over! We did it! We finished Count Caedis at last!"

Despite his best efforts, Ningan does not stir. Laurel places his ear to the ninja's chest and listens for breath.

He's alive. a mysterious voice hisses.

Laurel jumps with fright and scans the darkened room. A pair of beady yellow eyes stare back at him.

You didn't forget about me, did you? The serpent emerges from the shadows flicking its forked tongue. I've been here the whole time, watching the performance unfold.

The knight rises to his feet. "Just when I thought he'd finally scrapped you for a new pet…"

Temero growls. Is that what you thought I was? A slave to His Countship? I am far much more than that, dear soldier. I am far older and wiser than you and your impish companions. I was the one who planted the seed of revolution in Caedis's mind many years ago. I was the one who orchestrated this entire design.

"I'm sorry it didn't quite go to plan." Laurel retorts, reaching for the hilt of his sword.

Oh, but it did… The serpent's scaly smirk startles him. The gateway to the Sacred Realm was opened successfully, just as I intended. I gathered that I needed to revive myself. I got exactly what I wanted.

Laurel lunges towards his beady-eyed opponent. The serpent whips its tail with a hiss, driving its assailant back.

Do not test me, boy. Temero's eyes flash red with fury.

The snake hurls itself towards Laurel open-mouthed; its fangs injecting into his exposed neck. Laurel cries out in agony and shuts his eyes from the pain. When he looks up, he discovers that his venomous nemesis has mutated into a towering man: fiery red hair, tanned skin, and a wicked grin. His resemblance to the illustrations of the history books is uncanny, all the way down to the jewel in his crown. The Gerudo King chuckles with malice.

"Your foolish courage reminds me a little of the legendary Hero. Just like him, you are nothing. Nothing but vermin that plagues this wretched kingdom. Although, unlike him, you will not live to see your name written on the pages on any book. You will perish just like your friends."

Ganondorf whips his cloak behind him and disappears into the retreating darkness. The light of dawn breaks over the horizon, shedding its light over the planetarium. The gold knight winces in agony: every muscle twinges as the poison scorches through his veins. He crawls towards his unconscious companion, flinching with every movement. He cradles the ninja in his arms and buries his hand deep in his pocket. A single brown feather is their last hope of escape; their ticket home.

Laurel uses his last breath to blow a feeble gust of wind through his dried lips. The feather dissipates over the both of them. He shuts his eyes as Zelda's hurricane arrives to whisk them far away from the cursed ruins of the mansion; the scent of doom that plagues the air; and the fatal memories of loved ones lost. The knight and the ninja succumb to the wind that carries them home.