-Kanyou, Capital of Qin-

For most, it was a day like any other. The sun shined, clouds painted the sky white, birds sought insects, and the kids played. Even for Ryo, it was a normal day. Ryo saw nothing different about it from any other.

And that was his problem.

Ryo walked the streets of Qin's castle-town by himself. He had forgone his guards to wander the streets he grew up on in solitude. He had been in his manor for many days after the name 'Riboku' was given to him. Feeling like he needed a breath of fresh air, Ryo took to the streets. He saw that nothing changed. Ouki had died. People mourned, but then they stopped and continued with their lives instead.

'Did they truly mourn?' Ryo wondered. 'Can they not see how shaken Qin's military is? How vulnerable they are without him?'

'Of course they don't,' He thought. They are short-sighted and never looking beyond themselves, their neighborhood, their families, and their friends. But then, that isn't a fault of their own. It's an unfortunate part of societal structure. Men like Ryo would be given the responsibility of seeing beyond their sight.

Ryo felt alone. Without Ouki, who was he to chase? Who was he to fight, to dance with, and to test himself against? Zelda was skilled, but she was still young and full of mistakes. It took great effort on Ryo's part to not capitalize on them. She was almost begging to fail. It took patience to wait... to decide.

You have lost sight of your ambition.

Ryo gnashed his teeth angrily, and he abruptly turned into an alley. He needed some perspective. He knew these streets like the back of his hand and knew where to go. His feet led to him old districts, forgotten by the nobility and rich, then to an old abandoned orphanage used as a graveyard. Its walls were nearly consumed with vines. Its fence and playing area had collapsed from abuse and a lack of care. Few, if any, traveled here besides a need to mourn because the area where children once played and ran became tombstones, listing those that laid beneath.

It was almost symbolic of the times.

Ryo chose his spot carefully. If his memory was right, there should be a marker... there. He cleared away some branches and leaves hiding an old stump. It was eaten by insects, but it was still there. Ryo stood by it and looked up.

The palace, in all of its splendor, stood before him. From this angle, a child, a man, a visionary could see between the houses and through the alleyways to the crown jewel of Qin itself. It stood perfectly between the houses in his sight, with the space between creating an arrow pointing towards it, daring Ryo to give chase. It looked just within reach.

Men desire to fly because the birds that taunt them are barely out of reach.

Men reach their hands to the moon because it looks so close.

Ryo felt his heart pound in his chest, and he unconsciously reached a hand out to the palace. It had lost none of its beauty over the years, and it was his. It was where he worked, played, and lived. Who cared if there was some fifteen-year-old girl on a big chair? The world knew who really held all the power.

Ryo scoffed, "Fool. I have lost none of my sight. It is you who can't see my vision! It is you who cannot see through my machinations! This dynasty is mine... My bloodline will rule... not just Qin, but all of Hyrule! That foolish man is so short-sighted... Why destroy Zelda? She is still useful and makes Qin stronger. He is a brash man who cannot think outside of war. Not all dynasties are made with bloodshed... some are made with... a much more elegant touch."

-Mitagi, Zelda/Link-

Geoffrey scattered the remaining conscripts to return to their homes, but he excluded the elites who lived with him. As it was, officers would house their own soldiers. Link, being an independent officer, was expected to house his men too, so his unit departed for Jouto to establish their new home. Kyo Gai and Den Yuu both had families to move, so it would take a little time. Kyo had his mother, and Den had a wife and daughter. Link didn't know how he would be able to house them, but with the wealth they had gained in the war, they wouldn't need to worry about jobs for a while. He could simply leave the families to find work on the plantation or the surrounding villages while he and his men continued to fight on the battlefield. Despite his misgivings about it, Link realized war was profitable. Between picking loot off the corpses and being paid portions by the palace, they would manage well if Link managed food right and kept proper care of their supplies. Men who survived skirmishes and whole campaigns could easily afford early retirement. Of course, Link wasn't in it for the money, but it certainly didn't take away from the experience, either. If he could help make his village wealthy and pay the mayor back for raising him, he would.

Despite the much smaller army that returned to the Mitagi fortress, it was an uneventful, relaxed journey. They saw much of the countryside and stopped by a number of villages along the way. It was believed that the Majora would not reach the fortress for at least a week. So while Zelda's party did not spend a full day at each village, Zelda did insist they make brief stops so she could meet the various governors, mayors, and lords. She put their names and faces to memory and made brief inquiries to their needs and life in the area. These were men and women whom Zelda had never met, being lesser nobles, and their work was indirectly running the land holdings outside of the palace walls.

Malon and Sarah ran through the fields and played under their superiors' amused gazes. Were it not for keeping appearances in front of soldiers, Link may have run with them. Andim loved the freedom and country air away from the capital and spent her time flying, catching mice, and demanding attention from anyone who would notice. Link didn't feel particularly different about the trip since most of his life was spent outside anyway, but he did take notice of the great impact it had on Zelda.

Zelda was actually smiling. Link was left stunned and concerned for the rest of the day, wondering if she had gone mental.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

The moment they passed through Genyuu Pass, Zelda was a completely different person. Link wasn't sure why. She wasn't necessarily a secretive person, but at the same time, she didn't let others help with her burdens much. If anything, that could be the reason. Her burdens were temporarily lifted, and the cage of the palace walls was gone. There was only lush grass, forest, simple people, and wonders before them.

Zelda didn't know she was acting different, but she felt it. She realized what a difference a few years made. Those years ago, she was weak going through Genyuu Pass, but she was a stronger person passing through again. It was reflective and enlightening at once. Certainly the chance to take a break from the palace did a great deal to ease her, but it was more the sense of growth and a small dose of fulfillment that helped. She was not king yet, by no means. She had many years to go, and her battles with Ryo would only truly begin when her years reached their climax and he sensed she was a real threat. But she still felt tremendous growth. To some, just the knowledge that they are improving day by day, becoming stronger, wiser, and more courageous, is all they need to feel at ease; to know they are on track.

She looked forward to arriving with hope. She wanted to help Ganondorf. She felt stronger with him. He had an assuredness, a confidence. It was a confidence similar, yet different, to Link's. Ganon was confident because he was strong. Link was confident in absence of strength. She relied on both of them.

Days continued to pass, and eventually fortress could be seen on the horizon. It was then when reality returned to Zelda. Ganon was here. Though she wanted to help him, she was the princess of Qin first and foremost. Her official capacity came before any sense of friendship and trust. If he truly did and was what witnesses said... then her personal feelings meant nothing. She would have to place them on the sacrificial altar of leadership.

Zelda sighed.

"What's wrong?" Link wondered, noticing the sudden change in her mood. In a single breath, the old Zelda was back.

"I'm just worried," she said. "I need Lord Dragmire. I need the Majora not only for the army they might provide and security across our western border, but for the sake of my vision to prove that peace is possible and old hatreds can be overcome. If Ouki's report is true, and there is no reason to doubt his word, especially in his passing, then it will prove... difficult."

Link looked down, worried as well. He reached across and touched her shoulder. The gesture surprised her. "Whatever you do..." He said. "Whatever you decide, I know you will do what you think is right."

"You think too highly of me," Zelda remarked. She brushed his hand away. His gesture made her gut feel like a knife was twisting in it.

"You haven't given me reason to think any less, though," Link said.

Zelda had nothing to say. The trust in his voice made her uncomfortable.

The small army entered the fortress of Mitagi. Immediately, there was fanfare and cheers as if they were a parade of sorts, and soldiers lined up along the main road. It was identical to what Link had seen at the palace, but this time it was soldiers rather than civilians.

Mitagi fortress was the primary training ground for all non-conscripted soldiers in the south-east region of Qin. It also acted as the single barrier holding the Gerudo border back, was the eastern officer and strategy academy, and a city with so much wealth, size, and so many tall walls, it didn't just match Kanyou, it made Zelda's city look insignificant. The fortress walls were not only tall, the inner city had layers upon layers of walls, interlocking into regions and sectors. An invading army would have to penetrate no less than twenty layers of walls before reaching the innermost mansion, which was a full castle on its own.

This one fortress city kept back all of Gerudo, which was a country half the size of Hyrule ever since it conquered a foreign nation to the south.

Sarah and Malon gaped.

"Impressive," Zelda commented as the carriage entered.

"Surely you have more to say than that," Link egged her on.

"Hm," She hummed. "More concern, than anything else."

"What concern can you have here? It's the safest place in all of Qin!"

"True. The walls are tall and thick, the city is wealthy, the army is the largest, and the castle is... a bit much. But the thing is, it is bigger than mine. Everything here outclasses me."

"Is that jealousy I hear?" Link smirked.

Zelda popped him on the forehead with a finger. "Know your place, monkey. No, it's not jealousy. Ever since I first met Ousen Mitagi, I felt his eyes reminding me of Ryo. The same ambition and desire existed. He may not play a part in politics, but what does it say about him when he establishes an impregnable fortress with a glory greater than his liege?"

Link scrunched his brow and considered it.

"Come now, you should be able to figure this out. You have been around me long enough," Zelda pressed.

"You think Ousen Mitagi may turn on you?" Link whispered.

Zelda nodded, "It's a thought. One I dearly hope does not bear fruit, but what other thought can I have when I see him trying to out-class me? What other thought can I have when his eyes fall on the throne like a drug-addict being handed the next fix? This is a man addicted to power, to greatness, to success."

"Surely you don-" Link froze. His triangle flashed, and instantly he was above them, throwing the girls to the ground between the carriage seats. "Get down!"

A spear impaled the side of the carriage where Malon and Zelda were sitting.

Soldiers didn't take long to notice the spear, and yelling erupted outside of the carriage.

Link yelled, "Stay here!" He kicked open the door and ran out. He grabbed the spear of Nayru from the mounted soldier at the door, and his eyes scanned the crowd.

All over, soldiers were armed to the teeth and were trying to figure out who had thrown it. Link briefly tapped into his Gift to go back a few seconds, and he saw a soldier slinking away into an alley. Link rushed out after him. Geoffrey, at the head of the group, heard what happened and rushed over. He climbed into the carriage, assured himself the Princess was well, and ushered the driver on to the castle at the fastest speed he could muster.

Link chased the assassin through the crowd. The man in question was a soldier wearing a blue cape and a red, fluffy thing on his helmet like a damned rooster. The rooster impression didn't help Link hate his guts any less. The man turned a corner to an alleyway, and Link tapped into his Gift for a single moment to grab-

An elderly woman.

"Oh, my! Unhand me!" The woman cried.

Link let go of her and looked ahead. There was no one else in the alley. There was no armor and helmet lying about, and this woman was two centuries too old to be a soldier capable of throwing a spear into the royal caravan's side.

"Did you see anyone run by!" Link demanded. "I'm in the service of the Princess, so if you have seen anyone go by, you must tell me!"

"I-I- no! I saw no one! I was just on my way home from the shop!"

"So no one wearing a blue cape in silver-ish armor ran by here?"

"No!" The elderly woman panicked. "What-you, my sight may not be the best, but I'm not blind. The only one to come here has been you!"

Link ignored her to look again. There was nothing blocking his view the man could have hidden in that the woman would not have seen. Link cursed and kicked a toy rabbit mask that had fallen on the ground. "Damnit, are you sure?! I mean, really sure!?"

"Hey! Be easy with that, I just bought it for me grandson. I am. I'm sorry."

Link sighed, "Damnit! Okay, I'm sorry for bothering you ma'am. Just be careful. Someone tried to kill the princess."

Link turned and made his way back. He looked back and forth at the path he had taken. He had been fooled. He knew of only one group who could disappear into thin air, and the thought did not bode well for him. It was a group hidden deep inside the fortress.