Link decided that he was fond of the "octo position". He and Zelda stayed in the bathtub long past the time when the water lost its warmth. When they finally got out and put some clothes on, it was mid-afternoon.
"I think I'm ready for our mission" said Link.
"You mean going after the Triforce of Power?" asked Zelda.
Link nodded. "I enjoy our time together but we can't truly be content while we still have this burden hanging over us. I want to go to the Sacred Realm, complete our mission, and then live our lives in peace."
"I can't disagree with you there" said Zelda. "I will alert Commander Ruto of the Royal Guard and then we can pack some supplies to take with us. We can leave tonight."
"You want to travel at night?"
"We aren't traveling through Hyrule" replied Zelda. The portal to the Sacred Realm can be opened in the throne room. You know, the location of the inner node I was telling you about. I will explain more when we get there. Let's go."
After all the preparations were completed, Link and Zelda entered the throne room. The Royal Guard was anxious about the Queen entering a room that wasn't finished yet but they grudgingly stayed outside on her orders.
"Right here is the spot" said Zelda. A large golden triangle of light began to emanate from the floor while Zelda stood in the center. Her fist was clenched and the Triforce of Wisdom was radiating an intense glow from her hand. Link walked over to her to join her, and then his Triforce of Courage began to radiate too.
"Do you feel that?" asked Zelda.
"Yes, I think so" replied Link. "I can feel the air around us being distorted. It almost seems like air is being stretched in some places and compressed in other places. I feel a tear!"
Link lunged forward. The Master Sword was already in his hand. He slashed through the invisible tear he felt rippling in the air. He immediately had to shield his eyes from the explosion of light that erupted from the now visible tear. He couldn't tell whether he and Zelda were pulled into the tear, or whether it engulfed them. Either way, the light vanished and they were swallowed by darkness.
"Link!?" cried Zelda.
"I'm right here!" said Link as he found his way to her in the dark and grabbed her hand. Suddenly, the mysterious place they were in reverberated with the sound of menacing laughter. It was a laugh that Link would recognize anywhere.
"Ganondorf!" he said.
"Right you are" replied Ganondorf. A large spherical flame ignited before Link's eyes. It was a yellow-green flame that resembled Ganondorf's disembodied face. "You thought you would enter the Sacred Realm without going through me?"
"I will go through you if I must!" shouted Link. "I've killed you once and I will do it again!"
"Oh no you won't, you pathetic mortal. I am already dead. I reside in the Spirit Realm now. When I saw that you were trying to pass into the Sacred Realm, I just had to come and greet you. You're currently in the Spirit Realm. Unfortunately, you aren't dead yet so you won't be able to stay for long, but I am here to act as a gatekeeper of sorts, and I will release you into the Sacred Realm momentarily."
"And why would you do that?" asked Zelda. "Surely you don't think you are going to be coming with us?"
"No, not me" replied Ganondorf. "Just someone who has the power to resurrect me. Trapped within the Master Sword is a very powerful soul who will be released from his prison once you cross over into the Sacred Realm."
"So I should be prepared to fight whatever monstrosity you released as soon as we arrive" said Link.
Ganondorf laughed. "Oh that would be fun to witness, but it will have to wait. You will arrive in the part of the Sacred Realm that is mirrored by Hyrule Castle. If I could alter your destination, I would send you into the lava pit of an active volcano. I can alter the destination of this freed soul though. I will be sending him directly to the Triforce of Power."
"What?!" exclaimed Zelda. "Why would you do that?"
"Dont you see?" asked Ganondorf. "The two of you possess the other two parts of the Triforce. In order for him to obtain the complete Triforce, he will come looking for you. That will be a confrontation I will enjoy watching."
"It's OK, Zelda" said Link. "We both knew this wouldn't be easy. We will just have to make the best of it."
"No, we don't!" said Zelda. "Ganondorf, if you go through with this plan of yours, I will extract my vengeance on you, dead or not."
"It's already been done" said Ganondorf. "As a spirit, my chosen ally is able to travel through the Spirit Realm much more quickly. He has already reached the Sacred Realm."
"Then as Queen of Hyrule, I condemn you" said Zelda. "I banish you to the deepest, darkest, most desolate pit in this Spirit Realm. May your soul be deprived of all power and may you wither in your prison."
Zelda held up the palm of her hand towards Ganondorf. The Triforce of Wisdom was shining brightly on the back of her hand. Light erupted from her palm and engulfed Ganondorf. The soft light suddenly turned harsh and grew darker. Ganondorf's laughter turned into an agonized scream as his fiery image was snuffed out.
The darkness around Zelda and Link began to recede. When they were finally able to see again, it was obvious that they were no longer in Hyrule.
"We have arrived" said Zelda. "Welcome to the Sacred Realm."