The horse's hooves pounded on the packed ground as it traversed the baked land, carrying two lone travelers on its back. As it approached the first Gerudo checkpoint, the front rider raised his hand in a salute to the guards, who responded in like kind.

As Link and Zelda rode up to the checkpoint, one of the two women hailed him. "What news?"

"We need to see the Council immediately," Zelda told her. "Ganondorf has returned."

"Indeed? That's not news." Before either of them could react, the second woman brought her halberd high over her head and smashed it down.

Link blocked it with his sword just in time, then turned it aside as the other one swept her weapon in an arc. Zelda struck the rump of the already-spooked horse and it reared up, kicking out with its front legs. Link pulled the reins hard to the left and the horse bolted off the way they had come.

"His influence has spread to the Gerudo already," Zelda yelled to Link in the screaming wind.

"He must have contacted his daughters somehow, faster than we could ride," he yelled back. "Do you think the Council has sided with him?"

"I doubt it. If we're lucky, they have left the Gerudo lands and are in hiding somewhere in Hyrule. If not…"

Link nodded. He knew what she wanted to say. Hoping Namu and the others were still alive, he called back, "Where should we start looking?"

"The last place you'd expect to find a Gerudo. Zora's Domain!"

"Yes, I did offer Namu and her people shelter here," the Zora King told them. "They are hidden in the dry caverns in the higher parts of our lands." He frowned, his forehead creasing deeply. "Namu says that Ganondorf has returned somehow. Is this true?"

Zelda nodded. "He has possessed the body of his son."

"His son?" the King's already bulging, fishlike eyes started even further out of his head. "But I thought the Gerudo only had one male born every hundred years."

"It's a long story," Link sighed, "and we don't have a lot of time. Could you tell us where we can find the Council, please?"

Two hours later, Namu welcomed them into the large cave in the mountains where the Council had taken refuge. Her face drawn, she offered the Hylian Princess the only chair. "I'm sorry. It seems I misjudged Ogadai's character."

Zelda shook her head. "Ganondorf is skilled at exploiting other peoples' weaknesses. You are not to blame, and Ogadai is not either…" her face darkened. "Though I'm not sure what role he will play in this, and his future is clouded in my vision."

Link fingered the hilt of his sword, not wanting to think of the possibility either, but knowing that they would likely need to make hard choices in the future. "Ganondorf took the body of an innocent person on purpose. He's counting on us to refuse to harm Ogadai…but in the end…"

No one spoke for several moments. Finally, Namu asked hopefully, "Have either of you heard from Chusai?"

Both Hylians shook their heads. "Last we heard, she had been cursed by Ganondorf," Zelda told her. "Though it is likely that the curse was lifted when Ganondorf shifted his attention to Ogadai. It is likely we will see her before this is over."

Nabooru spoke up. "We must intercept her, if we can. There is no doubt that Ganondorf will exploit his ties to the two of them for his own advantage."

Link nodded. "I will start patrolling the border, and try to find her."

"In the meantime," Zelda said, "We must think of a strategy to counter Ganondorf…and spare Ogadai if we can."

Once the door to the tower room had slammed shut, and Chusai was certain no one could hear her, she let the tears fall.

So much effort, so much suffering, for so many years…for nothing.

She thought she had brought Ogadai far enough away from Hyrule's influence for him to be safe. And yet, she had still locked the doors every night, not to keep out robbers or murderers; but as a subconscious attempt to keep the bond of blood from following her, creeping into the inn during the dead at night, trying to steal her child like the faceless vampires of Kando legend. Seventeen years of looking over her shoulder, attempting to think of every possible way to sever Ogadai's connections to his dark heritage…forbidding him to fight, giving him a new identity, hoping he would be content with the friends made in his small community.

It was like trying to hold back a crack in a huge dam with a tiny, worn bandage.

When she had awoken upon the breaking of the curse, she knew that her worst fear, her worst nightmare had come true. In a panic she had ridden back to her homeland, only to find she was too late. And now her own son, his mind poisoned by his father, had shut her away in the hated tower where the other person to whom she had dedicated her life had abandoned her.

But after that initial emotional outburst, Chusai had returned to her senses. She was older now, and wiser. The only reason she had missed the trap set for her was because her fear had gotten in the way.

Someone knocked at the door, and opened it. Chusai lifted her head to see the youngest of the Gerudo women enter with an armful of medicine and bandages. She smiled at Chusai, but Chusai did not return it. "So which one are you?"

"I am Naomai, daughter of Namu."

Chusai scowled. "Daughter of Namu and Ganondorf, you mean."

Naomai nodded, and set the medical supplies down on the floor. Bringing her face close to Chusai's, she said softly, "I am not allied with my father. My mother sent me with my sisters as a pair of eyes for her."

Chusai snorted and turned away. "Do you think I'm stupid enough not to see Ganondorf's manipulations by now?"

Smiling slightly, Naomai said, "Mother said you'd react that way. She trusted me with a piece of information only she and you would know." Leaning closer, she whispered, "Mother knows it was you who knocked her unconscious during the siege on the castle." Chusai's head jerked up. "She said nothing because she knew you did it to protect her, both from you and from the Hylian rebels."

Stunned, Chusai could say nothing for several moments. Finally she lowered her head. "Your mother is a wise woman…more so than I ever gave her credit for."

Naomai smiled. She picked up her supplies and began tending to Chusai's wounds. "My mother and the rest of the Council fled the Gerudo compound when Ganondorf called to me and my sisters. I will bring you to them at the first opportunity. I'll have to ask you to wait here until I do."

Chusai nodded. "Of course."

Naomai cut the last bandage, replaced her supplies in their box, and stood. "Hang on, Chusai. You are not alone this time."

It was past midnight when he arrived at her door, but Chusai was still awake.

She turned from the window to look at him, a scowl on her face. "Do you think that being a ghost allows you to float into peoples' rooms unbidden? Or is asking politely no longer a concern now that you have what you wanted?"

Ganondorf smiled slightly. "You haven't changed much, Chusai."

"Where is my son?"

"Somewhere safe from your influence." He stepped closer, phantom feet not making a sound on the hard stone floor. "I've come to ask what you think of my request. It's up to you, of course, if you wish to choose Zelda over your son. You should realize by now that nothing you do will change your fate."

Chusai regarded him with watchful, carefully expressionless eyes. It was one thing to recognize a trap; quite another to find a way out of it. But the years had granted her wisdom, and she knew if she examined her cage a little more closely, she might be able to find a weak spot. She had one final trick up her sleeve; a weapon of last resort Zelda had forbidden her from using when she served the Crown. She could only use it under very specific conditions.

"It is a critical decision to make, so if you came for an answer tonight, you'll be disappointed," she said steadily.

"Oh?" Ganondorf's semi-transparent face registered surprise. "Is it really that difficult to choose between a mistress who could not protect you, and your only son?"

Chusai lifted her chin. "I will always choose Ogadai," she said firmly. "It is his future that I must decide."

"Ogadai will not return to that dusty town of squatters. Do you not realize that? His heart and soul are bound to higher things."

"You are asking me to condemn him to one of two types of slavery. Either as host to a parasite, or puppet to a tyrant."

His eyes flashed with impatience. "I have already told you that Ogadai will inherit this land…I will not keep it from him. Though I can understand why you would not believe me."

Carefully, Chusai inched closer and closer to her objective. "What is this all about, then, if you don't plan to rule forever? Vengeance upon the boy who killed you? The country that rejected you? Or are you just a restless specter, determined to cause trouble to the living because your own life was cut off too short?" Her voice rose. "Just what is it that you want?"

He said nothing for a moment, and Chusai feared that she had pushed too far. Finally, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "The same thing every person wants, Chusai. To remake the world in their image. Only I actually have the power to do so…or I will, if you act as you should."

Chusai scoffed. "You mean, to become gods? No, I think it's only you who wants that."

"The two things are different." He regarded her calmly, seriously. "All people impose their will upon their surroundings, to better support their world and how they feel it should be. Parents raise their children to follow their customs, their values. Farmers rework the land, forcing it to bear the fruit they choose to harvest. Kings and queens control their kingdoms as they see fit, and their personalities are reflected in their countries' histories." He nodded once, looking into her eyes. "You, Chusai, have done this ever since we met. First you attempted to stop the changes destined for Hyrule. When that didn't work, you approached me late one night, asking to be included. But circumstances changed yet again, so you took your son far from Hyrule so you could impose you will on him there. When he veered away from the path you set for him, you came after him. And here you are."

Chusai shook her head. "That's not true."

"No?" Ganondorf sighed again, this time out of pity. "You are his mother, you raised him, and yet you did not see the changes in his heart as he grew up?"

"This isn't all Ogadai," Chusai snapped. "You've corrupted him, brainwashed him…"

He shook his head. "Your own personality is reflected in him as well. Are you the type of person to live your life happily in a refugee village? No. You were fighting every day that you lived there…fighting to keep Ogadai away from me." He gave her a knowing look. "The shadow of Hyrule still touched the both of you. One day he would return…and so would you."

Chusai folded her arms and shut her eyes. "So this is what you've been doing all this time? Building some kind of twisted utopia?"

"You have to admit there are elements of it that appeal to you as well, Chusai. That is why Ogadai came so easily. You, too, were angered by the treatment of the Gerudo by your people. You wanted to break the Blood Curse. You wanted to call them niece, and for them to call you aunt."

She opened her eyes, dark slits burning with fire. "Only after you killed my own people."

For the first time, a hint of regret passed across his face, a barely imperceptible shadow. "Yes, I admit, that was a mistake on my part. I underestimated you, thought you would be easy to break. Originally the role of Lieutenant was the only one I had planned for you." A strange expression of pride replaced it. "But you rose to every occasion beautifully. Even if Zelda had not departed, I would have chosen you to lift the Blood Curse."

Chusai didn't conceal the look of disgust on her face. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

He shrugged, his expression indiscernible once more. "I take what I want, Chusai. There's not really any grand motive or anything behind it. Truth be told, I would have been content with things as they were just before the Hero's arrival…King, Queen, and Prince, presiding over a united Hyrule."

"United by force."

"Sometimes, Chusai, that is the only way to do things. As bodyguard to the Ruler of Hyrule, you should know that." With a tired expression, he nodded to her and walked back the way he came. "I shall come back tomorrow night, and every night after that…until you give me your answer."

"Lovely," Chusai muttered as he disappeared. As she looked around the dark room, she hoped Naomai would be able to help her leave, just as Zelda, did from this place.

Ogadai lay on the bed, hands clasped behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. He had been instructed to stay behind as his father spoke with his mother. At first he had refused, stating that he wasn't a child and should have a say in whatever the two decided. But in the end, he wanted a moment to himself, to mull over things without his father looking over his shoulder.

The issue of his mother's family bothered him. He couldn't remember what Namu said, specifically – there had been just too much information for him to absorb at once – but his mother and father gave conflicting accounts of the event. Ganondorf made it sound as if his mother's family had simply been caught in the conflict, an all-too-familiar story in the Refugee Village. But Chusai's words made it sound as if Ganondorf had executed them himself…as Chusai looked on.

Ogadai was not naïve. But he was lacking in information, and evidence. And as much as he hated to admit it, he – like any child – did not like the idea that his parents despised each other. A small, innocent part of him wanted to believe that his mother was simply being stubborn, and his father would straighten everything out for the three of them, to finally live together as a family.

But his experiences pointed toward a very different conclusion, and Ogadai was not the type of person to hide from the truth.

He sat up, and ran his hand over the Triforce mark he bore. Ever since that first short explanation, Ganondorf had not revealed any more information about the sacred relic to Ogadai. The little else he knew came from his Hylian friends – the three goddesses, their names, and what they represented.

Tracing the pattern with his hand, he considered its source. The Triforce of Power had belonged to Din. If he commanded her power, shouldn't he be able to speak to her? He had scoffed at his friends for their prayers to the Goddesses, since they never seemed to listen, but he had a direct connection burned right on his hand.

Feeling foolish, Ogadai crossed his legs and folded his arms in front of him as he'd seen his friends do. To concentrate on the task at hand, he imagined Junsun speaking to him just before training. Focus, Ogadai…relax, and focus your mind…

Din, Goddess of Hyrule…creator of the Triforce of Power…please, hear my prayer…

To his surprise, he felt an odd sensation around him, as if the air were shifting to accommodate some great mass. He felt a strange pressure, and then his eyes flew open as a light, ethereal voice addressed him. "What do you wish, child?"

A young woman stood there, dressed in flowing robes of crimson, gold, and brown. She had literally flaming red hair, and her eyes burned with a fierce light that mirrored that of the stars. Ogadai's voice stuck in his throat.

The Goddess seemed amused. "Keeper of my Power, is there something you would ask of me?"

"W-well…" Ogadai sputtered, "My mother and father are fighting, you see, and…"

"Simple mortal matters are of no importance to me."

Ogadai frowned, but plucked up his courage again. "No, you don't understand. My father wants to be King of Hyrule…my mother doesn't want him to exist it all, it seems. And I don't know what to do…"

She cocked her head with a quizzical look. "Do? What is there to do? You are the Keeper of Power. Whatever you like, can be done."

"But I don't want to do just anything," Ogadai blurted. "How do I know what's right?"

"Right?" Din shook her head. "Power is not concerned over 'right' and 'wrong'. It is a tool that has no use for morals. Those must come from the wielder."

Ogadai scowled inside. Perhaps he should have called upon the Goddess of Wisdom instead…though he had the distinct impression that doing so would have insulted Din. "But…there's so much at stake here. The world you've created is so beautiful…I don't want to break it."

With a slightly amused smile, Din asked, "So then…what do you want?"

He thought for a while. "I want Hyrule to be united…for the Hylians and Gerudo to be treated equally among one another. But somehow I don't think my father really plans to do that." He waited for her to reply. When she didn't, he added, "Well? How can I do that?"

She raised her hand. "As I said before, Power alone will not help you decide that. It is merely the means to achieve it, combined with Courage and Wisdom."

"I know…I have to unite the Triforce to unite the country. But I don't think my father is going about that the right way, either. I don't think Link or Zelda should have to die…or anyone else, for that matter."

"No one can tell you what to do, not even us Goddesses," Din said gravely. "You are the master of your own destiny. It is up to you what your future will bring."

"But how do I know I'm choosing the right path?" Ogadai demanded. "What if I'm doing what I think is right, but I'm really screwing everything up?"

"Follow your heart, child. Your destiny is intertwined with your own feelings and actions. If your heart tells you that you are on the wrong path, you must turn around and set things right."

Ogadai sat still for a very long time. "I think I understand."

Din moved her head ever so slightly. "Someone approaches…"

Like a candle going out, she disappeared. Ogadai looked up to see Ganondorf's ghostly form. He gazed benevolently down at his son. "Your mother is still being stubborn," he said. "But she will come around in time."

Ogadai nodded uneasily. The ghost bowed. "May I return, my son?"

"Of course."

But when the ghost entered Ogadai's body again, it sensed a change. "There is a part of your mind that is closed to me, my son. Is something troubling you?"

"No, I…" Ogadai thought fast. "I was thinking about the future…you know, the person I would like to have by my side…and I'd like to keep those thoughts private, if you don't mind," he added defensively.

The ghost fell silent for a split second, then laughed uproariously. "Yes, of course. I'd forgotten about such things."

Ogadai sighed in relief, then decided to wait patiently for the next chance for him to have his mind to himself.