The Imprisoned

The Imprisoned is a black beast featured in Skyward Sword. It is the soulless shell of Demise, having been sealed away in the ancient past, first by Hylia and then by Link (at the conclusion of the game). This monster is imprisoned in the Sealed Grounds, and haunts Link's dreams in the opening of the game.

It is the boss of the aforementioned location, and is fought three times throughout the game. The first time it appears, it only has two legs. The second time it gains arms and tries to climb up to the Sealed Temple. During the third battle, it has a tail and can fly. In each instance, Link must topple The Imprisoned over and drive the sealing spike back into its forehead, and finally deliver a Skyward Strike to the spike to reset the seal.

Interestingly, the seal upon The Imprisoned - which Link is forced to renew three times - appears to be the result of Link defeating Demise at the end of the game (this also explains why a Skyward Strike is needed to reset the seal). In this sense, the 'final' destruction of Demise does not take place at the conclusion of the game, but shortly before it, when the Triforce is used to vanquish The Imprisoned in the present era. The final battle with Demise himself has, technically, already occurred the very first time Link faces the Imprisoned and must renew the seal.