After everyone returned from their assigned task, they departed. Link had an idea about Ganondorf's whereabouts. "they couldn't have gotten far. It's only been about two hours and they'll have to slow down with baby."

The soldier with a patch over his eye asked, "Where do you think the bastards could've gone?"

"Most likely the desert. Ganondorf's very familiar with it." after a while Link realized that he did not know the soldiers names so he told them. "I forget to get your names. What are they?"

The patched soldier pointed towards the bearded one he was a little older than the other two, "He's Vlad, I'm Tepes," he pointed towards the soldier with the gash on his face, "And he's Dracul. Vlad is very intelligent. He often uses logic over his muscles. he can talk his way out of a fight any day, but he can fight like a demon. Dracul is quiet but dangerous. He's the best fighter out of the three of us."

"and what about you?" Link asked, curious that the man had not given information about himself

"Those lad's call me the cruel one. They say I have no heart but I say they're a couple of sissies." both men smiled at the joke.

"I'll keep that in mind." Link said. By now, they had reached the forests. The fresh snow made it look beautiful in the low afternoon sun. The warriors had been following the fresh tracks from Ganondorf and Shitsuya's horses but the lightly falling snow was making it difficult. "Vlad, could you ride ahead and direct us to where the tracks lead? I want us to at least have a head start when the snow stops." the other troops took their cue to start finding shelter. Vlad left and returned moments later gasping for breath,

"Your majesty, I've found them! Their tracks lead to a cave just north of here." Vlad said, trying to catch his breath.

"What!? Take me to them. They will pay for what they've done." the young leader said.

They mounted their horses and rode off toward Vlad's previous location. When they arrived, they found two horses near the entrance to the cave. They dismounted and quietly crept towards the entrance. They could hear the faint sound of voices coming from inside. They slowly stepped closer and listened to the conversation. They could see their faces and lying between them was a small bundle wrapped in blankets .

"My troops should be pass this forest by now. They are very fast and will not have to set up camp because of the snow. They've been trained to endure it. " Shitsuya said. He had a thick mustache and very defined muscles. His voice was calm and strong.

"I'm glad that they won't need to rest. But the trip from Termina must have tired them a great deal. When do you think they will reach Hyrule City?" Ganondorf asked.

"It's a very large force and it will take a few hours now that they've probably destroyed most of this forest. " The ground began to rumble slightly and it woke the baby. "No one will survive this attack. Those Hylian's won't stand a chance."

"Remember our deal. I helped you conquer Termina, now you must help me conquer Hyrule." she opened her mouth and began to softly cry. Ganondorf continued. "and with that stupid hero out searching for us, he'll never know what happened to his home." her crying intensified. "You did send out sentries right? I want anyone they finds head on a pike."

"Yes, thirty heavily armed sentries are scouring this forest as we speak."

"How did you ever get 100,000 troops in one week?"

"I have my ways, " the giant said. "but 80,000 of them are my own." by now, the baby's crying was becoming unbearable so Shitsuya picked her up. "Why did we steal this child any way?"

"I have plans for her to make me proud and her father ashamed." Ganondorf produced a bottle from one of his pockets. "Give this to the little brat." he held up a bottle of milk and received a suspicious look from Shitsuya. "when we made a stop at the ranch, a friend of mine gave it to me." Shitsuya fed her from the bottle. "Lets go, I have Hylians to enslave." Ganondorf walked over to his pack.

Vlad took Link out of the cave. "I have to get in there! I won't let her stay with those beasts!" Link said.

"Are you deaf? Did you not feel the ground tremble? 100,000 soliders are coming towards the city and we have no defense set up!"

"General Meiffert can handle that! My daughters life is on the line! I won't let her stay with them any longer!." Link told him.

"True. General Meiffert is talented but an attack on this scale would be difficult for the best general. Hyrule needs you. Think of how many will die if you stay here." he could see that the young man was considering his words so he continued. "Think of your wife. Would she really want you to save one person instead of thousands? Even if it's your daughter?" he could see the guilt and shame in Link's face.

"She's my daughter." Link said, his voice was cracking.

"It's one life."

Link looked back into the cave. Ganondorf was collecting his pack. "Let's go," Link said . A lump was building up in his throat. They mounted their horses and rode back towards the others.

When they entered the camp, they found a grisly site. the heads of their comrades were on pikes. Both men were disgusted at what they found. Beside their severed bodies were the bodies of 16 other men. 5 of them were badly mutilated. They had no time to bury the men and they rode on to Hyrule castle. "One Life," Link thought to himself." One Life,"