"I'm going to give it to you all straight: This will be the most dangerous thing I have ever led." General Auru looked towards the narrow pass between his position and the looming Spectacle Rock, where the Imperials based themselves. The place 30 years ago, where by the luck of the goddesses, he (a squire then) found the young Link and the rescued Princess Zelda together after their victory over Ganon. He remembered Link's beaten body, held up by the Princess as he and his fellow knights, Rusl being one, rushed over to help. 30 years later, Auru had returned, this time sending brave men and women to a probable death, including the man he rescued all those years ago.

He hasn't even added the Hero and Princess of this generation, nor his two favored warriors held captive. Those four, in Auru's mind, were not expendable in any way, shape, or form.

Bagu stepped to Auru's side, smoothing the hairs in his beard. "I don't know, sir. We had missions that can be compared to this."

"Really?"

"Remember Old Kasuto?"

Auru did remember the mission to the Ghost Town of Old Kasuto, having to clear the town of monsters and the ghosts they've summoned. Auru sighed as he put his helm under his shoulder, patting his old friend on the shoulder. "We'll see." He leaped on his horse, hiding his worry behind stoic, commanding face.

Unfortunately, Bagu knew his general well. "You're worried for Midna and Gan, aren't you? Ha, I never thought you'll warm up to the boy."

Auru sighed. "He gets results and protects Midna. That's all I need from him."

"That's a load of crap, General. You know, he does remind you of Nabooru, and in a sense, he's like you as well. Midna is also the daughter you never had, so of course you are very protective of her. But Gan...he'll go to the ends of the world to do just the same. I never understood why you didn't like him. He's Malladus' son."

And the descendant of a monster. Auru kept that opinion to himself, and turned his horse to face his battalion. "I haven't gone soft on the kid. If anything, I am treating him as his father would. Now go to your regiment." Bagu sighed, and he dragged himself away to the left side of Auru. The general lifted his in his hand, silently ordering the attention of his troops. They silenced themselves as the general began to speak. "Sons of Farore and Daughters of Nayru, you may know me as your general, and the general of your parent's military, but you am one of you, no? Ladies and gentlemen, I am, to my friends, High General Aura Snowpeak of Hyrule, but to you, if you heard my stories, I am Auru the Lion's Roar. I can tell from some of your faces that you think I, along with General Bagu and General Error can solo that army over there, but, sadly, we cannot. This war cannot be won by me, but by new heroes," Auru downcasted his gaze and turned to the narrow pass, where in the distance, Shade and his proteges were awaiting their signal to move, "whether they wear the hero's tunic and wield his sword, wear the princess' tiara and fire her holy arrows, bear the trident of Din's abilities, or if they stand before me, weapon in hand, ready to fight for Hyrule's glory. You come to fight as heroes, and heroes you are. But heroes don't run, nor do they hide. They fight for freedom, live for liberty, and die with dignity. You could go home, believe the Imperials will indeed spare you, and, if they do, when all of you are pissing and shitting yourselves on your deathbeds, think back on this day, when you saw Link of Calatia, our Hero of Hyrule, for the first time in your lives or in 18 years, and ask yourself, 'Could I have built a better future for my children, my grandchildren, and my granchildren's children?' Auru looked down, to the pouch in his hand, and opened it. "I know that, for the rest of my life, I will regret not saving His Majesty and Her Highness. Whether...King Vatis would have a worthy king for this country, despite my opposition to him bearing that title. I'll live with that regret forever. But you, don't suffer what I suffer. Over this mountain, we have husbands, wives, and children, just as we have husbands, wives, and children here and at home, counting on us. So, Sons of Farore and Daughters of Nayru," Auru lowered his helmet, feeling its cold metal warmed as it brushed against his skin. Drawing his blade, he looked at the steel blade, and yelled, "Will you give up one chance, just one chance, to tell those sons of bitches over there and at North Castle that they can take our cities, our land, our king, and our queen, but our courage, our wisdom, our power, and Hyrule is forever ours?"

Cheers erupted from the troops, and Auru raised the sword skyward, chanting, "For His Majesty, for Her Highness, and for Hyrule!" The chant flowed throughout the force, and Auru looked up on the mountain, waving his sword in a triangular pattern.

"Nice speech that was." Ralph looked down from his high point on the mountain, and turned to his people. "Mount up, Labrynnians." As Ralph mounted his bear, he looked to Princess Hilda, who was about to board a Loftwing with Ravio. "Your Highness, you should be with me. Together, we'll lay waste to these distasteful fiends...royally."

Hilda smirked, and leaped up behind Ravio. "I'm sorry, Ralph, but I'll just slow you down. You're so damn good, that my heart and mind are swooned. However, Ravio needs an archer, and I need a pilot. And I will never leave my chosen knight, my savior, my protector, and my dear friend behind." Hilda wrapped her arms around Ravio's waist, and the bunny boy winked at Prince Ralph and patted her hands.

The prince, however, was undeterred. "Such loyalty is heartening. Hopefully it gets you through the day, for you fly with the mightiest force in the world." Ralph looked down to the assembled infantry, seeing Auru give the signal he was waiting for. "Okay men and women, remember our mission! We are to disrupt the Imperials so that our infiltration team can get in without major resistance from those beast. Once they're in, we will search for the cause of the eruption, and if it is possible, take it out. I do not want heroes. I want victory. Troops, here's where we show those double-chin, pig-head, sons of Demise that they could not have picked a worse enemy than the Labrynnian - and by extension, the Lorulian race. We are going to blow the hell out of those dumb bugs until we don't have anything left to shoot 'em with! And then, our guys down there are going to strangle them with their own living guts! Am I right, Labrynnians?"

"Sir yes sir!"

"Let's fly, Moosh. Labrynnians and Lorulians, let's make the sky our loft!" Moosh roared, flapping his little wings as he took the Prince of Labrynna up to the sky. The others followed closely behind, flying over the hopeful infantry, and down into the narrow pass. Ralph went in first, followed by Ravio and Hilda, and then the other Labrynnians. Ralph turned back just to see Ravio handling the Loftwing with ease, like he had trained all his life. While his face hid it, the fact left a bitter attitude towards the admittedly impressive Knight of Lorule's record. But Ralph was better, much better. "You fly well, Ravio. Impressive."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Quite honestly, I haven't done this in combat, just recreational. I had a pet named Sheerow. This was Hilda's favorite pastime, riding that bird...and he was how we managed to escape Lorule." Ravio looked away, keeping his eyes on the pass. "Your Majesty, I know we have our differences, but we have a bigger similarity. I wish for us, fo at least this moment, to be allies, and to give the Imperials the beatdown they deserve to save our friends."

Ralph looked away for a second, then gazed at the inattentive Princess of Lorule. Pushing aside his distaste for the knight for the affection of the princess, he nodded. "Protect her at all cost. Don't be a hero, Sir Ravio."

Ravio chuckled. "Never have to worry about that."

Ralph turned back around, noticing that the pass was coming to an end and Spectacle Rock was in sight. Looking up to the sun, Ralph tugged up on the reins of Moosh. "Let's darken the sky, and get our allies into the Lair."

Shade, Link, and Zelda had barely made it to the Imperial encampment before they got the news that the Labrynnian Air Force began their flight. They knelt behind some rocks and waited for the aerial attack that would happen any moment now.

While the teens were probably nervous due to facing the entire Imperial might in one place, Shade had his mind on another thing. 30 years ago, this was not only his final dive into a southern Hyrule dungeon, but the battleground between him and Ganon. For years until his second adventure, Shade thought the beast was dead, but when he heard that his death was the key to bringing Ganon back and Agahnim also tried the same thing, Shade was skeptical. That was until the last time he was here.

"Hey, Shade, what's up?" The old hero looked to the small being floating in front of him, and then back to the close yet so far entrance to the Lair within the right of the duo rock.

"Just remembering the last time I was here."

"When you socked it to Ganon?"

He scoffed. "I didn't beat Ganon. He whipped my ass. Zelda defeated him...well, we did. Had I not slipped the Triforce of Wisdom to her, I might not have made it out, and Ganon would be your worry today, not someone else. But no, I'm thinking about a later date."

Spryte became interested, and looked to Shade's successor and daughter. They were in conversation of their own, not paying attention to the older man and fairy. Looking back at Shade, she floated inquisitively. "When?"

"Remember when I told my story, and said I left the castle? This is where I came."

"And?"

Shade gulped. "Well… The story of how Ganon needs my blood to resurrect is one of many solutions. His body was vaporized, but his being, his soul...intact. He's in there, waiting."

"What?" Link and Zelda had tuned in now, and Shade turned to them. If they were nervous then, they were quaking in their skin. Sighing, he turned back to Spectacle Rock.

"Ganon survived, but like it has been stated, he cannot return. He needs a host body, one willing and strong, or the blood of one of the chosen two to come back. My blood would have been enough, or Her Majesty's, which is why I'm somewhat comforted that our 'king' isn't an agent of the Dark Lord. I doubt he will bother us anyway. Just focus on our objective, saving Midna and Gan. Leave the real fighting to the Resistance. And speaking of them…"

From the pass, Loftwings (and Prince Ralph's bear) flew skyward, blanketing the sky. As shadows casted over Spectacle Rock, a bugle echoed, and the Imperials rushed to pick up arms. Shade could feel his companions' nervousness, and turned to them with a smile. "For Hyrule." Unsheathing the Master Sword, Shade rushed forward, surprising some of the nearby Bokoblins and Moblins and taking them out with a beam attack. As more monsters turned their attention to the Hero of Hyrule, his proteges stepped forward. Link rolled forward, swinging his blade in concert with the older hero, felling monster after monster in a coordinated concert. Behind them, Zelda fired arrow after arrow, hitting the targets Link and Shade ignored. Thankfully, Shade chose a spot close to the entrance of Spectacle Rock, leaving the majority of the base unknown to their existence. So while the fighters in the sky did their job, Shade, Link, Spryte, and Zelda were able to slip into the Lair.

"Sir, we're searching all over the dungeon for him."

Zant looked at the huge hole in the wall of the Gerudo prince's former prison. His calculations about the boy's power were not wrong, despite the evidence. Gan had tried to escape earlier, to no avail. That means...either the boy had external help, or he had a hidden power. Or...could it be both? It is no secret to him nor the other Imperial leaders that the power of the Demon King still has residue here, although they ignored it for the most part. The revival of Ganon is not a goal of the king, for the scourge of Hyrule could mean trouble for the Imperials.

But the boy is the descendant of the vile being, and very strong as well, typical of Gerudo males and females of Ganon's lineage. But to have direct access to his tainted powers… Zant fumed under his mask, not looking at the monster beside him. "He's just beginning to test his powers. The longer it takes to find him, the more he gets used to it, and the more dangerous he becomes. Guard the girl as well. He's headed for her, and there's a chance he will find her."

"Zant!" The masked Imperial turned to his white-haired superior, who looked as if he was having a terrible day. Ghirahim gazed coolly at his inferior, and then to the hole. "Ah great, another problem with the scum."

"What do you mean?"

"The Resistance is here!"

Zant sighed. Always the drama queen Ghirahim is. Turning away from the hole, he walked past the Demon Lord. "Well, let's burn them alive. Prepare to fire Vah Rudania once more."

Ghirahim caught Zant's arm. "The Pendant of Power-"

"-Is needed here. I'm sure His Majesty will understand. How about you go and deliver him the news? He likes to be kept up to date."

Midna was quite sure she had quit crying out tears long ago. Matter of fact, she was sure she had stopped crying an hour ago. As for why she was sitting down with her head between her legs as if she was crying, her eyes still on the wet spots on her pants, she didn't know.

Outside of herself, she knew something else. Her guards have triple in number, for reasons only describable as this: someone of the Resistance must have entered the base. That comforted Midna just a bit, but her mind wandered to Gan's situation. Did his guard grow as well? Whatever the case was, Midna was sure her rescue was imminent, or her brother-no, just Zant-would keep her away.

Of course, it could be that her guard was just increased just in case she tried to escape. Midna rather not disappoint herself.

Shivering a bit in the chilly darkness, Midna brought her cloak closer to her, immediately wishing she was in Gan's arms now. Zant's cruelty to making Gan listen as the devil touched and toyed with her breasts and her nether region with his hands was, in her mind, a much better result than to what he could have done. What Zant promised he will do. That infuriated Midna more, that she allowed this as a naive child and as a knowing adult. She could have beaten her brother, but in a moment of weakness, trying to protect the Pendant of Wisdom, she sacrificed herself and the Pendant of Power. Her presence has made tortured Gan, just as him being in here tortured her before, but she didn't see or hear his suffering. He heard every twisted word, every calling scream, and though Gan tried to get Zant to stop, he was powerless again. She was powerless for the third time. Powerless to save Gan. Powerless to protect the pendant. Powerless to save herself.

The only thing that kept her warm was the fact her friends could be out there trying to save her and the hot object touching her arm...Hot object? Midna fished in her cloak, and pulled out said object. It wasn't just any hot object: it was her glowing Gossip Stone. Zant hadn't searched all of her person at all. As disgusting as that sounds, she was quite pleased at the moment. Standing up, Midna quietly and frantically spoke into it. "Hello? Can anyone hear me? It is me, Midna." No one picked up on the other side, so she tried again. "This is Midna Twilight, can anyone hear me?"

"Midna? Midna? Is that you?"

Hilda. Her best friend Princess Hilda. Midna laughed, then remembered her guards. "Yes, it is me."

"I'll be damned. Are you okay? Is Gan with you? Where are you in this rock? We're here, kicking ass, but we got an infiltration team currently inside to find you and Gan. Describe your surroundings."

"How will that help?"

"Hero of Hyrule, remember?"

"Oh, right." Midna looked around, seeing as to what could be a difference between this room and possible others. From experience, dungeons can be hard to describe on a room by room basis. "Uh… there's two torches, unlit, and...there's writing on the wall. 'Go to the next room.'"

"Room with two torches and words that say 'Go to the next room?' I know where she is." Shade looked down on the decomposing Wizzrobe behind him, and to the trio behind. Their infiltration of Spectacle Rock was successful, but the incognito part of it was a massive failure. The Imperials had suspected some of the Resistance would enter the base, and they were aptly prepared on such short notice. Still, they didn't expect the old Hero of Hyrule to lead that charge.

"Did we find them?"

"Yes, Link, they did. They're also not to far away from us. Through that door to the right." Shade eyed it with some contempt. "I hope that Padra isn't there." Using Shade's raft to cross the moat of lava, the three Hylians and the fairy crossed into the next room. It was well-lit for a dungeon room, just with enough light so that Link, Zelda, Spryte, and Shade could see the adversary between them and the locked door to the north.

Who else but the one called Horsehead.

He sniffed as the trio held their blades forward, and sneered as he walked forward. "It seems we are destined to cross paths all the time, Princess and Hero-es. I expected you'll come for here."

"Step out the way, Horsehead. You have no reason to hold the children prisoner."

"You're right, Hero of Hyrule, I don't." Horsehead looked to the locked door, brandishing the key. "I have the mind to release her, but only with one condition: you leave your kids to battle me while you take off with the girl."

Shade scoffed, "As if."

"Link, your time as Farore's champion is over. That was decades ago. Live in the present. Let the youths chosen by the goddesses fight." Before Shade could respond, Link threw his hand on Shade's shoulder, looking at him with telling eyes. Shade looked to Zelda, who bore those same eyes. Those eyes held courage and wisdom in them, and while the old hero didn't want to do so, Horsehead was right. He had to pass the torch, now.

"Give me the girl." Horsehead nodded and unlocked the door, swinging it open. Moments later, a young, light-blue-skinned girl dressed in black with fiery orange hair stepped out, looking at Horsehead with confusion as she stepped over to the trio. Looking at Shade and the others, she sauntered over.

"I heard everything."

Shade nodded. "Good, let's go." Ushering Midna out the room, Shade turned to Link and Zelda once more, Shade offered one final piece of advice. "Link, Zelda...kill him, but not in the name of vengeance, but for righteousness."

Zelda nodded. "We'll make sure of it...father."

Shade could have teared up right there, but he had a mission to finish. Shade and Midna finally left the room, and it sealed tight behind them. Sighing, Shade turned to Midna, who seemed distressed. "Let's get you out of here."

She denied him. "Not without Gan."

Shade had forgotten about the boy. "Where is he?"

"I could try to find him. Give me a minute."

The Wizzrobes responsible for the earlier eruption of Death Mountain assembled once more. The room was quite heated, with only small pockets of flooring to walk on around the room. It was at the farthest left end of the dungeon, just below a room that continues the path to the main chamber, the one Ganon resided...resides in.

"I...think I got him. Yes, yes I do."

The door was wide open, allowing a lone figure to slip inside. His footsteps clacked against the cold stone floor, but the Wizzrobes did not show their hooded bird faces. The figure counted seven of them, six in blue robes with a single one in red. Obviously, the latter was the leader, and had his back turned to the intruder. The red-robed one rose his head, not turning it. "Lord Ghirahim, we are almost prepared to unleash the mountain's power. However, there is the high chance that there will be Imperial casualties. Is it fine we take such a risk?"

The figure chuckled. "Certainly...starting with you."

"I can feel him...but there's something else...Something not right."

The lead Wizzrobes turned and jumped as he gazed at the hulking figure. All he could see besides dark clothing was glowing yellow eyes under a hood. Then the sounds of a low chuckle and the thunder of the two doors in the room closing with the wave of the man's hands. The Wizzrobe stepped back while the others looked up looked up, drawing their wands. Drawing its wand, the lead Wizzrobes challenged the intruder. "Who are you?"

"What do you mean by 'something isn't right?'"

"All I can sense is...is darkness and power. Something I haven't sensed before in him."

"...Get me to him now."

The figure smiled as he drew his blade, imbuing it with magic. "You can call me...Ganondorf." He instantly vanished before the Wizzrobes' eyes, confusing and intimidating the seven bird-wizards. It was all quiet until one of the wizards cried out, a sword sticking out its chest. It collapsed as the sword was removed, but the others did not hesitate to attack the killer. As he deflected their blasts, Ganondorf smiled, and flipped to the central platform in the room, ducking and weaving as he cut the three Wizzrobes there. A fifth Wizzrobe floated into the air, hoping to use higher ground against the warrior, but Ganondorf was in fainted. A fireball was thrown his way, but instead of blocking it, he caught it with the tip of his sword and threw it towards a stunned sixth Wizzrobe, causing it to fall. For the one in flight, Ganondorf leaped into the air, vanished, and reappeared behind the Wizzrobe, crushing its neck under his feet after bringing it back to the ground.

All that was left was the red-robed Wizzrobe. It shuddered in fear as Ganondorf turned its way, yellow eyes glowing with bloodlust. The warrior slowly began to walk towards the Wizzrobe as it tried to escape.

"Help! Help! Open the door! No... No… Nooooooooo!" It didn't feel Ganondorf's sword finish it, but it's body began to hover. The Wizzrobe looked to Ganondorf, whose smile was far from reassuring as the warrior held the wizard above the pool of lava.

"For Calatia. Rauru. Nabooru." With one swift jerk of the hand, Gan eviscerated the Wizzrobe leader.

"No… I'll handle Gan myself."