Following the battle, Ganondorf Dragmire, Kuroko Dragmire, and Link departed to meet up with the Dragmire exodites. As Ganon expected, the group was halted by the Fae forces on their border. A wall of vines and trees rose to meet them and a number of wooden shells stood before them. The Fae to have escorted the exodites and the Fae to halt them were conversing in their silent way when the three found them.

One Fae stepped forward and bowed to them in greeting, "Son of Din, it is a pleasure to see you again."

Ganondorf returned the greeting, "It is good to see our brothers have found us, but which Fae am I speaking to?"

"You know me as the patriarch and elder. We fought together in Kanyou of Qin and Mitagi of Qin." Elder looked down at his shell. His wooden shell was covered in vines and leaves and looked ancient, most unlike the smooth and polished wooden form he used among the Qin. "Though I understand why you may not recognize me. This shell is different from the one you know. Yet be assured I am the one you already know."

Seeing him again, Link burst out in smiles and loudly exclaimed, "Elder! What happened to you, you look so old!"

Elder chuckled, "It is good to see you too, Son of Farore. I assure you, I do not age as you think. What you see is merely the empty husk I am using as a vessel of wooden flesh for my purposes here."

Kuroko merely stared in wide-eyed, slack-jawed awe. Elder turned his attention to her, "I see you have brought yet another of Din's lost." The wooden giant bent its legs forward and leaned down towards her. She fled back several steps and hid behind Ganon, but no further as Elder made no forward actions but to briefly bow. "I taste great pain in your shell and your cracked soul screams. If you desire it, you may stay for a time and let it heal."

Ganon looked back at the frightened woman and smirked in amusement. "She may wish it later, as she was victim to a Majora's Exile mask; but for now there are more immediate concerns. Rebellion has risen among the Majora concerning my blood and kin."

"Yes, your escorts have told me. I understand what has arisen against you and your purposes here." Elder briefly cast his gaze across the Dragmire people before him. "My soul says to accept you here, yet I also have reservations."

Ganon narrowed his eyes at his old friend. Would they not be accepted here? "Reservations?"

"Those we welcome are under our protection, but also become seperate from the world. Part of this seperation demands that there is no return to the world, at least while the generations they knew yet live. Yet you wish to be welcomed, and under our protection, but also to return to the world quickly. This is not in our ways. We yearn to aid you, but you seek conditions that are impossible. Even if I were to try and bend the rules, the ways of the forest and the powers would keep you here against your will."

"But-" Link stepped in, "You accepted Zelda and I for a few days and then let us go!"

"That was in a specially chosen location that is neutral ground," Elder answered. "And there is no such neutral ground that can hold all of you. You must stay out."

Ganon continued to glare at the Elder silently. Elder saw his trepidation and said, "I know it is distasteful, but it is for your own protection."

Link looked between the two of them and stepped back. Ganon eyes and hair looked particurally red and fiery.

Ganon whispered harshly, "The Majora told me to take my kin and leave for our protection. We come to you to flee our pursuers, and you tell us to stay out for our protection. Shall we go to Qin next to be rejected as well 'for our protection'? Elder, your words ring hollow when I remember being among an escort of children who entered your forest to seek a masking trial into the depths of your domain and returned safely."

Elder stayed silent and provided no answer. Ganon scoffed, "I will forgive this slight for old times sake and long time friendships, but do not expect me to forget this easily. So you mean to say none of us may enter?"

"That is correct."

"Wait," Kuroko stepped out from hiding. "What of my daughter? What of Malon?!"

"Malon? She means your ward?" Elder asked Ganon.

Ganon answered, "Yes. Malon was taken by a monster named Ghiradrim who fled into your domain with a pack of Twilight. This is my second purpose here, to hunt him and save her."

His words made the Fae stir and they spoke to one another in a hurry with silent words. Finally, Elder looked back to Ganon, alarmed. "This Ghiradrim. He has a shell as white as snow from his hair to his feet without any blemish?"

"Yes, but his blood is black as night for some reason."

"Oooohhh." The Elder said deeply. His tone was one of knowledge, of despair, of understanding the power of what he knew, and ultimately fearing it. It was not a tone of surprise or ignorance, but as if one who feared what one already suspected may come to pass.

"You know him?" Ganon questioned.

The Elder nodded. "Ghiradrim... it is one name among many the monster has had. I do not know its true name, but it is far older than even I. It knew you, in your many cycles, son of Din. It always served you in one way or another, yet always stayed hidden and protected by your power. It is an enigma in history, but the last I had heard of it, it had chosen to associate itself briefly with Harken Dragmire... when you were born and the Dragmire rebellion occured."

Ganon's eyes widened. Link gasped, though he did not understand it as fully as Ganondorf did.

Ghiradrim was involved in his birth? Ghiradrim was involved in the Dragmire's curse? Ghiradrim and Ganon had known each other in past lives? Ganon clenched his fists tightly and struggled to contain rising fury that shot through his veins.

It didn't matter to Ganon that he had known the monster before. It didn't matter that Ghiradrim wanted him back. Ghiradrim was playing a game that had seemingly gone on for generations, that was toying with nations and peoples, and for all of it the monster seemingly did it on Ganon's behalf. Yet none of this was what Ganon ever wanted. He had never wished for it. The monster claimed to be a wish-maker, but he was a deceiver.

The source of Ganon's fury, the source of his curse, the source of his peoples torment, was this one man, if one were to call it a man. Because the monster had played with powers and brought about a demonic soul and a fury deep in Ganon's soul that he constantly struggled with keeping from consuming him.

"Ghiradrim," The Elder continued, "Is a Twilight beyond any of you. If you have encountered him and lived, then consider yourself blessed and know he will only learn from it and there will be no second time. It is good that you have warned me. We have spent these seasons searching for the source of the Twilight within Qin, but if Ghiradrim is here, then I have no doubt he is to be the source. If he has chosen to come here, then we will make our war with him and drive him out."

"And what of us?!" Kuroko snapped. Her sudden outburst made Ganon jump in surprise. "Are we to just turn away and leave Malon to her death?!"

"We will do what we can to save her as well."

"What assurances can you offer of her safety?!" Kuroko demanded. She stepped up to the giant. "You don't even know where they are! You don't know they will just kill her the moment Ganon doesn't show himself, as she was a hostage against him!"

"Again, we will do what we can." Elder answered. He looked between them all. "I am sorry for the plight you have suffered, but please understand the powers behind me will be your undoing. There are things at work in our land that is beyond your understanding. Protections will be offered around our border so you may go where you wish under our leaves, and we can make you shorts and shields of the hardest wood to borrow, but that is the best I can offer."

Without waiting for further response, Elder gave a longing look to Ganon and Link before stepping back into the forest. His wooden shell melted into the tree-wall and he disappeared. More of his Fae followed him until only a few were left. Kuroko ran up to the vines and kicked it. True to the Elder's words, parts of the trees morphed and melted and spun and formed weapons of various makes that clattered to the ground. The Dragmire were hesitant to take them, but Kuroko picked up a short sword and yelled at them to stop being cowards. At the Dragmire elder's bidding, the people went forward and took what they could and gave them out as needed.

Ganon sighed. This had proven disappointing. Behind him he heard his people whispering. They wondered what they would do, where they would go, and what hope there was. It seemed to them that their last hope had rejected them and left them to the wolves. He wished he could give them an answer, but he had none even for himself. He had thought he would receive some guidance from Din, as his sole objective had been in his spirit for so long, until he didn't know where his home was anymore. Scant few accepted him anywhere and the rest feared him.

"Go," Kuroko whispered.

Ganon looked to her, curious.

Kuroko looked at Ganon angrily. Her hair flared and her eyes red. She clenched her fists and she spoke quietly. "F*** them! If they won't help us, then we will help ourselves. You know where he is taking Malon. So go, bring her back."

The elders of the Dragmire stepped forward, "We agree with the woman. If our enemy has taken one of us, then we will not be whole until she is restored to us. Do not fear, Lord Ganon. We can fend for ourselves until you return. We will head north around this forest barrier and rest overnight. We will wait for you."

"And if our enemy comes for us?" Ganon wondered.

"The hospitality of the Fae seems to have its limits, but they are still offering some." One said.

"We should be safe if we stay near." Another added.

The Majora to escort them also stepped forward, "We will watch over your people still, Lord Dragmire. Though our orders were to bring you this far, it would not do well to us if we did not see this through until you are safe."

"Go!" Kuroko exclaimed.

Ganon looked between them and nodded. If they could do well without him, then he would do what we could. Ganon adjusted the belt holding his swords to his back and turned to find Link standing behind him expectantly, hopping back and forth on his feet. Solitare stood next to him smiling knowingly. Ganon felt an eye twitch.

"Link-"

"Thought you'd never ask!" Link spun around and ran back where they had come.

Ganon watched him disappear out of sight before turning back to Solitare. "Would you aid me? While Link and I can keep Ghiradrim occupied, I find your talents will be useful in retrieving my daughter. I do think Link and I have powers that will protect us from the forest, but I do not know if our proximity will protect you too."

Solitare nodded. "I will be honored."

"Good... at least someone has manners." Ganon sighed. Solitare chuckled.

The two raced after Link to catch up with him, then they raced to the site of the old battle, and then raced down the trail left behind by the Twilight in their flight.

Immediately as they set foot onto the path, the world around them changed. The brightness of the forest fell into darkness. The trees grew gnarly and twisted. The laughter and birdsong of the distant forest fell into silence and moaning and creaking. Judgement bared its beady eyes on them and silently demanded they leave, but they did not listen or stop to see who was watching them. A thick smog mellowed in the trees, the branches reached out for them, and the roots leaped at their feet. At moments the trees seemed to move and grow larger and tighter until they could not see a gap between them, and the trees grew to be dozens of feet wide. But despite all of this the path stayed clear and nothing alive dared step foot on it. It was as if something large had rubbed its belly across the ground and paved away all life with its touch. The path wound and turned.

At one point they stopped and marveled as the path took them through what looked like a village of sorts molded seamlessly into the largest tree's hollows. A small group had built their home in the tree. The tree bark was covered in scratches and a make-shift door was beaten in. They saw no body but the unmistakable sight of blood from outside the door told the story.

Link walked up to the door and peered in. Ganon had a thought to mock him in saying the people here would have been tiny, seeing as how Link was just the right height for its door, but the oppressive atmosphere held his tongue. Link stepped in and gulped. "There are stairs leading up. The entire tree from base to top seems to have been carved out to be used as a home for them."

Ganon crawled in through the hole that made up the door and stepped in. He had to bow his head. He could have broken the door wide open and shattered the ceiling to allow for his size, but he would not offer disrespect to the dead. The base of the tree had the largest room around which were many smaller ones that each had a bedding and furniture of various sizes and purposes. It gave him of the impression it was a spiral-shaped hotel leading ever upwards.

"Link..." Solitare whispered mournfully. Her breathing hitched and she turned aside from what she had found. Link went up first and Ganon followed as best he could. What they found was a drawing on the side of the wall. It showed four larger creatures and a lot of small ones, easily dozens.

This was a massive family.

Ganon shared a glance with Link. Link looked down and shook his head before walking back down. Ganon set a hand aflame and gently brushed his hand over the drawing, burning it out. When he was done he stepped down to find Link sitting on the ground with his back to the wall and his spear leaning against his shoulder. Link's gaze was focus and purposeful and unmerciful. In the room next to Link was gentle crying.

Ganon said, "We should rest for a few hours. We have been running well into the night, we will no longer be able to see the path without proper light, and will need to be in fighting shape when we catch up."

"I will take watch for the time, you rest." Link immediately replied. "You sleep. I didn't fight as hard as you and your strength will be important."

"Link, you need it to."

"I can go several days without sleep and on the move..." Ganon continued to stare at Link, because they both knew Ganon to be a warrior too. If anything, Ganon bet he could go even longer without sleep and still fight harder than him. Link gulped, "And besides... I don't think I will be able to."

"Fine," Ganon allowed. He was too large to fit into the rooms, so he laid himself down in the lobby while Link sat by the door.

Sleep did not come well to any of them. When the first light rose, Link stood and woke them. Ganon had slept the hardest between them as he was worn from his battle, but his sleep was filled with nightmares.

In his nightmares he saw himself in many mirrors and open door ways and windows. Each were different with a difference face and wearing different clothes, but each were him. In all of them he embraced his strength and forced his will onto the world, whether anyone wanted him or not. In every mirror he was mighty and strong. In some of them he found himself fighting others who had glowing marks on their hands like him. Sometimes he killed them, sometimes he was killed by them.

At first it was just an oddity, but it slowly grew on him that there was a pattern. He had followers of various types and sizes, but in all of them, one after another, and without exception, he saw that one follower was a man of extremely white complexion. While he sat on a throne, the albino was at his right hand. While he conquered, the albino was behind him. While he schemed and claimed his victories, the white-man stood in the shadows smiling and watching.

The images and scenes to play out from one opening to another grew older and older. He saw himself fighting at the helms of a great army equipped with steel at first, but by the end of the passage he saw himself wearing nothing more than a loincloth and filthy beating to death an equally semi-naked and dirty man with a rock. The man he beat to death had a glowing mark like himself. The killer with a rock looked up into Ganon's eyes, and in them was a deep redness and anger.

The environment filled with fire and smoke. All of the images and openings did, and in all of them, as Ganon looked between them, was glowing red eyes leering at him. The air filled with mocking laughter. Ganon shut his eyes against it all. When he opened them again, he found himself standing amidst the smoking ruins of a castle. He was tall and powerful, and two men were before him. The first wore armor Ganon recognized as being similar to what the Guardian of Mitagi wore, and the other was a man in white robes. The robed man held his bloody arm and eyed both the armored one and Ganon with equal distrust. The armored man had dented armor and kept a shield up facing both the robed man and Ganon. A golden crown lay broken between them. Ganon felt fire pump through his veins from his heart, and he roared. At his roar, the two scattered and he brought a great blade of fire on them. The robed man raised his hand and an etheral knight appeared briefly bearing a great shield. The shield stopped his sword, but the spirit knight disappeared immediately after. The armored man appeared in a flash beneath Ganon and brought a blade up into his chest. The blade penetrated the fire around his skin and into his flesh. It burned with a foreign and dangerous flame to him, and Ganon stepped back, roaring his pain. Chains appeared all over, grabbing him and wrapping him, and a well of water appeared in the air as if by magics. The robed man pointed at Ganon, and before Ganon's eyes a great etheral knight appeared. The spiritual knight bore a bow, pulled it back, and shot an arrow as bright as the morning into Ganon's face.

Ganon jolted awake.