"Our forces are weakening around Kakariko village, my Lord. We must withdraw all troops from that region and concentrate on finding Princess Zelda in the forests of the Kokiri."

The creature known as Ghedrin pleas. He has yet to confront his king with any advice for he fears his life upon such a discussion. Ganondorf sighs in disgust. He knows of what the creature speaks to be the truth, but has doubts about searching the dangerous forest. Yet, just as Ganondorf opens his mouth to speak another of his drones enters the thrown room.

"My Lord,"

The creature bows his head and begins to speak.

"…we have word that the Hero of Time is still alive. Sheik and a creature of the Goron race helped him to a fairy atop Death Mountain."

Now angered, Ganondorf steps down from his thrown as the room itself begins to rumble with his voice:

"Your intelligence informed me that there were NO fairies atop Death Mountain did they not, general?!"

"Sir I assure you—"

"DO NOT assure me of anything. I think this is a grounds for a visit to the gap between dimensions!"

Ganondorf's hands and eyes begin to glow as a he lifts the creature in the air by its throat and opens a small portal whence to dispose of it.

"Please…My Lord…there is more…"

"Then speak it, shall it save you."

"The...Hero…is allied with Sheik…"

"I do not see how this helps my cause, general."

"…my Lord…he and Sheik are no longer allied…he gave up the sword…"

The portal disappears. The creature falls to the ground. He coughs to catch his breath as Ganondorf turns his back; thinking.

"My Lord the Hero is angry. He has given up his birthright. Now cough is our time to strike to rid this cause of the Hero of Time once and for all."

A sly smile snickers its way across Ganondorf's face.

"And what of the sword, general?"

The creature begins to smirk as well.

"It sits abreast a rock atop Death Mountain. No one else can remove it, but the Hero himself, my Lord. We must dispose of it."

Ghedrin interrupts:

"Lord Ganondorf, if we kill the unarmed Hero now the sword will be of no use to anyone; its new resting spot is protected by the fires of Death Mountain. Who would dare ascend the mountain to attain it?"

Ganondorf sits atop his throne once again. His green face lit up with glee, he hands out orders to his most trusted leaders and advisors.

"Ghedrin, take what men you have left to Kakariko Village. There, you will keep this pathetic child busy long enough for the general's forces to ascend Death Mountain and dispose of the sword in its hellfire. And general, do not fail me this time or what parts of you that are still living will be sent to the gap between dimensions. No questions asked."

Back at Kakariko Village, Link and Malon investigate the graveyard.

"So Fairy Boy, what exactly are we looking for?"

Link walks from one grave to the next pulling back the weeds surrounding them and reading the headstones.

"It's Link. And we're looking for the grave of a princess that died seven years ago."

Malon looks around. Why would a princess' gravestone be here in Kakariko? She does not think to actually ask him from fear he might get angry and throw something at her. Malon notices a larger headstone hidden behind a larger set of weeds further into the graveyard.

"Well then Link, if she were buried here wouldn't her gravestone be up there?"

Malon exclaims pointing to the hilltop in the back of the graveyard.

"She'd actually be hiding the fact that she's a princess and probably buried as one of the common folk."

Link smiled as he corrected Malon. I'll show him. Malon thought as she ran to the back of the graveyard and pulled back the weeds in front of the headstone.

"Link you might want to look at this."

Malon shouted as Link darted to her side.

"Malon how did you…?"

"The Sheikah protect the royal family. If she was running they could at least bury her with honor."

Link reads the headstone and suddenly leans back and seats himself on the ground silently.

"Link what is it?"

Malon asks with concern in her voice. Link looks up at her with tears in his eyes. Malon reaches down to give him a hug.

"You didn't think she'd be dancing happily here did you?"

"She isn't dead. I have to find Sheik and—"

Link pulls Malon down closer to him with lightning speed. They're now both buried in the weeds. Link looks up to find an arrow stuck in the headstone. Malon peeks her head up to find a handful of sword and bow armed lizard creatures gathering at the entrance to the graveyard.

"Ganondorf's forces. Why're they here?"

Link looks Malon directly in her eyes.

"They know I'm unarmed…Malon, they came to kill the Hero of Time."