-Bayou, Link-

Having escaped Zhao, the Qin fled out of the canyon. Ouki's army regrouped with the stragglers between the forest and canyon and fled to the fortress city of Bayou. Most of the wounded encampment from before was already there, with those worse off still approaching. The city was well into their repairs, and every able man, woman, child, and senior was assisting or healing the wounded.

"Open the gates!" The Qin soldiers yelled as the torn flag of Qin waved before Ouki's army. The gate raised and the men entered. Immediately, the greatest doctors were called for, a clearing was set up, and Ouki was pulled from his steed to a make-shift tent.

The doctors who rushed in didn't bother putting a hand on him. Their grim faces were enough, and Ouki waved them away.

"There is... no need. You dream," Ouki stated grimly.

"Is it not man's right to dream?" The Englishman asked.

Link and the other commanders were allowed entry. Though the other leaders might wonder why Link was given special privilege, no one questioned it. No one wanted to tarnish this moment with an argument.

Ouki looked onto his second-in-command, the Englishman, and said, "Geoffrey of the Smith family..." There was a strength to his voice that didn't exist a little while ago.

"Sir!" Geoffrey saluted.

"You are to forbid every man from following me into death, including the officers and commanders. You have been by my side these many years... Your abilities were eclipsed by my glory. I leave everything, my entire army, my powers, my rights, my land titles, and all that I possess... I leave to you. The other commanders stand here as witnesses."

"Yes, sir!" Commander Matsubi saluted.

Kei Ki sighed and waved.

General Moubu nodded and said, "I witness it."

"I'm counting on you... Geoffrey," Ouki whispered.

"Yes, sir," Geoffrey said. His fist clenched in his palm so hard his fingers dug into his flesh and bled.

Ouki coughed and blood flew from his mouth. It took all the doctors' strength not to panic as he struggled to catch a breath.

"Ouki," Moubu stepped forward. "Forgive me. Everything was my fault. I have had you in my sights for so long... I know my weaknesses, but in desiring to defeat the man even you could not, in seeking to reach your level or even overcome you, I put in our vulnerable position... Do you have any final words for me? If you wish to curse me, I accept it."

"You messed up..." Ouki agreed. "But that is because... you tried being someone you are not. You did not consider how your strengths work with others. You did not consider the big picture. You are not me, Moubu. Don't try to be. Your strengths are your own. Your achievements are your own. I would say 'don't rush,' but we are no longer in that position... There is no doubt that from now on, you will become the pillar of Qin's military. I expect you to take your mistakes and grow. After all, this Zhao commander who has appeared is an enemy of unprecedented level. We... have well and truly... been beaten. I predict that, for a while, all of Hyrule will revolve around that man."

Ouki looked to Kei Ki, "I am sure I don't have to describe the animosity between me and the Ki family, but I appreciate the support all the same. You performed well. You are a cunning strategist. You wage war... not on the field... but on the mind. That is unprecedented. I foresee great things for you."

Kei Ki nodded and saluted him. Normally, he wouldn't care or would wave off everything people would say, but this was Ouki's final hour. He was the greatest legend in Qin. Kei Ki figured he would give a little respect.

"Commander Matsubi..." Ouki said. "You have a solid foundation of the basics, and when most generals try to move past them, they lose sight of it. You see war from the perspective of the regular soldier, a position most officers have never truly seen. Never forget the basics. The basics is the very foundation of war... and though you may never be as great as others... don't try to be. Rely on what is practiced and true, and you will be a strong part of our military."

Matsubi was flattered, "Th-thank you, my lord. I will."

"Link," Ouki said. He looked to Link, and he stepped forward. The others looked to each other questioningly.

"I'm sorry," Ouki said.

"Wha-what for?" Link asked.

"I'm just sorry. I'm sorry you were an orphan taken into slavery. I'm sorry... war took your parents. I have years of apologies to make... and no time for it."

Moubu raised an eyebrow and shared a questioning glance with Kei Ki. Matsubi and Geoffrey were equally confused. Geoffrey wondered if perhaps his master was losing his mind.

"It's fine," Link said. He tried to chuckle, to laugh, but it cracked and he struggled for tears not to come. Death continued to surround him. His friends were dead, his family was dead, and now his idol was dying as well.

"You were sent to me for training, but, as you can see, that's now impossible. Here is my advice: I want you to learn by running between the battlefields. Learn by delving into the world you have chosen. Live on the battlefield and master it. Find your own path through battle."

Ouki grasped his spear and, before anyone could react, dropped it in Link's arms. Link just about crumbled under its weight. The others gasped at the unspoken statement. Ouki was giving Link his weapon: The Spear of Nayru, an ancient relic of the Mitagi family once held by the Rebellious Hero.

"You have talent... Link. You have a strong bloodline... a strong body... and a strong heart. Your... mother would be proud."

Ouki said no more and his eyes dimmed. His body refused to fall even as his last breath left him. Everyone was stunned for a moment, then as the realization struck, they raised their voices to scream and weep. The word spread on the wind, and within minutes the entire city was screaming and weeping. Out of the entire city, the only two not completely broken were Moubu and Kei Ki.

Moubu despaired and fell to his knees, but he refused to cry. Ouki was his goal, his idol, and he now felt lost. But the ground wasn't completely swept from under his feet. He knew what he had to do, what he had to become, and he knew he had his strength to rely on.

Kei Ki was largely indifferent since he knew this moment was coming already. He was more annoyed and wondered why people seemed so shocked. It wasn't like the old man hadn't already been dying.

Word spread quickly throughout Qin and then across Hyrule. Within days, on the wings of the fastest horses, every soul knew of Ouki Mitagi's death. For a single day, or perhaps many days, there was a great noise. Every soul wept, whether for joy or despair.

This would naturally include Kanyou.

-Kanyou, Capital of Qin-

Chancellor Ryo stopped reading the message half-way through. His eyes widened, his voice cracked, and he couldn't breathe.

"Chancellor?" Zelda asked. They were in a meeting, and this demeaner of his was shocking to say the least. "What does it say?"

"It... I..." Ryo opened his mouth, but no sound came out. "I-I-I... I got to... I need to go." Ryo dropped the scroll and walked away.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Chancellor Ryo!" Zelda called, more shocked than angry. Ignoring her, Ryo briskly walked out of the room in front of everyone. His faction, Zelda's faction, and other ministers who were unclear on their loyalty silently stared at his bold move.

Zelda shared a shocked glance with Impa before they both looked at the scroll Ryo left behind. For a moment, it looked cursed. The rest of the room whispered in wondering about what it was that frightened him so much. Impa gulped, picked up the scroll carefully, and read it from beginning to end in silence.

"We have won," Impa said. "The Zhao are retreating across the border."

The men cheered.

Impa continued, "Riboku of Zhao and Harken Dragmire killed Commander-in-Chief Ouki Mitagi."

The men stopped. Zelda paled and felt her breath leave her. Impa cleared her throat, "There is a great deal more here... final words... but I believe those are to be read another day. Everyone. Go home. We will have work to do tomorrow."

No one moved. Zelda stood and walked out of the room without a word. She needed air. Impa followed. Technically, the meeting wasn't dismissed, as only Zelda had that authority, but no one questioned it.

Zelda ran out of the palace door and stopped at the railing balcony. She gasped for air. She clenched her teeth as emotions of every kind bombarded her. She didn't know whether to cry, scream, hit something, curl up in a ball, or run. It took all her focus just to breath.

"It's a funny thing... rivals," Chancellor Ryo said.

Zelda straightened and composed herself. She hadn't realized Ryo was standing right next to her. She unknowingly exposed herself. Ryo leaned against the railing with his hands clenched tightly. Zelda gasped because she saw he had tears flowing from his eyes as he gazed upon the capital city.

Ryo huffed, "There is no need to hide, princess. It's me, after all. I'm sure Ouki would feel honored if tears fell from your pretty face for him."

"Don't call me pretty," Zelda snapped

"Most girls appreciate it."

"Most girls aren't me."

"True enough... Most girls don't entertain Ouki. He is into men."

"It wasn't like that, but I did find his pension for games enjoyable. I will miss him."

"As will I... It's funny... I hated him," Ryo said. "I utterly despised Ouki. He was of the same generation as the incredibly violent era of our expansion. But more than that... I respected him. He was the one man I could never defeat. For the same reason, I was the one man he could never defeat. We spent our lives doing a dance around one another. We'd be working together and still be wary. Neither of us would truly make a strike at the another because we knew the first to strike would lose. In my childhood, the palace was my goal. I wanted riches, wealth, honor, power, prestige, and glory. Then when I had it, I had it all: the king... and the queen. There was nothing left out of my grasp, save Ouki. I wanted him so desperately... he infuriated me so easily... and somehow you got him with barely any effort. It's enough to make any man jealous."

"You loved him," Zelda realized.

"Not in the way he may wish, was he still here," Ryo smiled, "but yes... He consumed my thoughts for so long. I studied him so in-depth, and I chased after him... how can I not? He may have chosen you, but I held no betrayal against him. It was only natural that we oppose one another. He was, perhaps, the only man I ever exposed my true self to... he has that way about him."

"He does," Zelda agreed. She smiled in memory.

"And Zhao has taken him away from us..." Ryo clenched his fists tightly. He sniffed. He stood straight, turned, and looked Zelda in the eye. "I want a name."

"Pardon?"

Ryo looked in Zelda's eyes with a fierceness she had never seen. He was furious; more than that, he was focused and dangerous. The fire in his eyes that Zelda had seen before was now on full display. He was not joking. He was not playing games nor having fun. "I want a name on who killed him. Ouki died, and that is a loss far greater than what we gained from pushing Zhao back. The world will look at us as vulnerable now... That is something I cannot abide."

Ryo took a step towards Zelda, a long, dangerous step, but Zelda sensed his aggression wasn't focused on her. "I will show you what I can do, princess. For so long, I have forgotten and relaxed in retirement. No more. It's time I returned to the frontline of our war with the world... and I need your help."

Zelda gulped, afraid. Something was deeply changing in Ryo, and her only comfort was that she was not the target. "Is that a proposal I hear?" Zelda wondered.

"One day! I need one day from you. One day, not today nor tomorrow, but one day where I may have complete authority to act as I will, speak as I will, and have complete authority."

"You would take my authority away from me?!" Zelda hissed.

"No. No! That would take away the purpose of what I intend. What I want is a united front, you and me, where I may lead the war on my terms. I don't want a war as Ouki fought, but one as I would fight. Let me win where Ouki failed. I will show Zhao what I can do. No! I will show the world what I can do!"

"And all you ask is one day."

"And a name," Ryo added. "The name of the man who killed him. The one to plot this war. I admit I... did not finish reading the scroll. My eyes failed me when I read Ouki was killed. What I want from you is the name; I will do the rest."

Zelda gulped.

"Let me loose!" Ryo exclaimed. "Let me have this! I'm not asking for your court. I am asking for your court and my court to make a united front, standing side by side in silence, as I work my magic."

Zelda put a finger in his face. "How do I know you won't take advantage of me? How do I know you won't use this... compliance... against me? Simply put, how can I trust you?"

"Normally, I would say you can't, but this is a special occasion, Princess. Right now... I am so blinded with anger and fury I can only see one thing. That thing is not you, so trust my anger!"

Zelda studied Ryo's eyes and composure. He was right. He was blinded with anger and fury. He wouldn't be going after her, not yet. One day, they might return to their bitter rivalry over the throne, but they were still under a truce because of Zhao's invasion. And that truce still worked... for a little while longer. At least, it seemed so until Ryo got a chance to take his shot.

"Riboku," She said.

With the information he wanted and not a moment to lose, Ryo silently stormed away.

Now, finally alone, Zelda could turn her sights back to the capital city beyond the palace walls. Desperate for a way to calm herself down, she sang.

"The stars are very beautiful, above the palace walls,

they shine with equal splendor still above far humbler halls.

I watch them from my window, but their bright entrancing glow,

reminds me of the freedom I gave up so long ago.

The royal circlet of bright gold rests lightly on my brow,

I once thought only of the rights this circlet would endow.

But once I took the crown to which I had been schooled and bred,

I found it heavy on the heart, though light upon the head.

Although I am the head of state,

in truth I am the least.

The True King knows his people fed, before he sits to feast.

The Good King knows his people safe, before he takes his rest,

thinks twice, and thrice, and yet again, before he makes request.

For they are all my children, all that I swore to defend.

It is my duty to become both King and trusted friend.

And of my children, high and low, from beggar to above,

the dearest are my Heralds, who return my care with love.

The dearest are my Heralds, swift to spring to my command.

Who give me aid and fellowship, who always understand

that land and people first have needs that I may not deny,

so I must send my dearest friends to danger - and to die.

A friend,

a love,

a child,

it matters not, I know, indeed,

that I must sacrifice them all if there should be the need.

They know and they forgive me - doing more than I require,

with willing minds and loving hearts go straight to grasp the fire.

These tears that burn my eyes are all the tears the king can't shed,

the tears I weep in silence as I mourn my Heralds dead.

Oh gods that dwell beyond the stars, if you can hear my cry,

and if you have compassion,

let me send no more to die!

But If I must, if I must war, and if I must conquer,

then let it be known I accept the conquered,

as my children equal to all."

-Beneath Bayou, Fortress of Qin-

It was rather makeshift, but it would have to do. It was made on short notice.

Geoffrey walked down the steps and let his torch lead the way into the dungeon. Soldiers lined the walls with spears and shields on every step. He had instructed a hundred elites of those that remained with the strength to fight to barricade the outer door and ensure no one goes in or out. No one moved, and they did not bring themselves to doze. Security was so tight a sneeze would have set off alarms and sent the whole city into high alert of all the movement down here. They had been briefed well and good about the importance of their task, and they were anything if not zealot.

In fact, since the death of Ouki Mitagi, Geoffrey had to restrain them from not outright killing their prisoner.

Geoffrey entered the dungeon and stopped before its lone occupied cell. All other prisoners had been removed for security purposes. There was just this one. A man stood in the middle of the cell, both arms shackled with heavy chains on opposite sides of the room. A chain held his ankles, a chain attached to both the ceiling and back wall held his neck, and a pair of chains were looped around his torso and heavily nailed into the back wall.

Geoffrey's torch was the only illumination this far, but now it was no longer necessary. The Dragmire's red hair almost glowed in the darkness.

"High General Ouki Mitagi is dead," Geoffrey said.

Ganondorf said nothing. He gazed down emptily. His hair fell haphazardly down his shoulders, chest, back, arms, and face, thus concealing his expression.

"You, and the wounds you dealt him, are partially to blame. More than that, the deaths you caused in the forest and the demon worship you practiced to become... that... lead us to decide that you will be taken to the Mitagi house for judgement."

Dragmire's voice came out as barely a whisper. "I am king of Majora and an ally with your princess. You are causing an international incident."

"You're right. You are a king. That is the only reason why you were not burned alive last night. As for you being allied with High Princess Zelda... We shall see. Becoming a demon and attacking your own team isn't proper for an ally, wouldn't you agree? So you see, Dragmire, we are not causing an international incident. We are instead responding to the one you caused."