-Link-

It did not take long for Ouhon to prepare, much to Link's annoyance. Even his timing was prompt and convenient.

"Are you sure you're done? Sure you don't want to take an hour?" Link asked. He glowered with his arms crossed.

"I am sure. I do not want to keep you waiting." Ouhon answered.

His thoughtfulness only made Link roll his eyes and begin thinking insults. Ouhon's armor was shiny, clean, and styled in red. 'Oh, and of course he looked damn good in it!' Behind his back were no less than four spears. 'It's like he couldn't decide which one to take, so he decided to become a walking armory!' Each spear was of various thickness and size. The shortest had both ends sharpened. 'Because why shouldn't you risk hurting yourself if it looks cool!?'

"If I may," Ouhon cleared his throat. "You look a little awkward with your glaive. Have you much experience with them? I can provide you a sword, if you are more suited to it. The spear-"

"You want it for yourself, I take it," Link glared.

"I was going to say the spear could be placed in General Geoffrey's care or with High Princess Zelda, while you use what you find more comfortable. As I understand it, you have only recently acquired it. You would likely not have the experience to use it comfortably."

"And you would?"

"Yes."

"Sure, of course you would," Link whispered. Wasn't there anything this bastard couldn't do? But he kept that thought to himself. "I'm good with keeping it. It is true, I don't know how to use it well, but I will. It was entrusted to me by General Ouki's own hand, and I will honor that. Now shall we get started?"

"When you are ready, sir," Ouhon nodded. He bowed deeply and motioned out. "Lead on."

Link bristled. He despised being called 'sir' by someone like him. Yet it was more than the fact that the man was perfect. There was something wrong deeper in. Link wouldn't feel his instincts rising just because a man was beautiful, polite, convenient, shiny, badass, or tall.

They left the castle and entered the city. Link took Ouhon to where the carriage was attacked, and from there, they took to side-streets and then the deeper alleys. It did not take long to come to the corner where Link lost sight of him.

"This is where the assassin disappeared." Link stopped at the street corner. He looked in all directions. "As you can see, there is nowhere for him to hide."

Ouhon inspected the street. He tapped the blunt of a spear on the floor and walls. He looked up for footholds. The walls were solid, and the floor had no plates from where one might have descended into some hidden place. However, above them had a number of places where the assassin could have leapt onto if he was capable of jumping great heights.

"You are right to say that, but he could have leapt high. Some men are capable of leaping great heights."

"While wearing a full suit of armor and cape?" Link raised an eyebrow.

Ouhon glanced back, rocked his head and forth while humming in thought, and finally nodded. "You have a valid point, sir. Which direction was the woman coming from?" Link pointed. "And which direction did she leave in?" Link shrugged. "Sir, you don't know?"

"I put her out of my mind after I left. I was more concerned with Princess Zelda." The man narrowed his eyes at Link for a moment. Link leaned against the wall and tried to recall anything else. "No, sorry, I don't remember. I put my back to her and left... But-" Link snapped his fingers. He grinned in remembering something. "She did mention she had just bought a mask for her grandson."

"A mask." Ouhon scrunched his brow in thought. "Can you describe the mask, sir?"

"Er- yellowish with ears like a fox. Why?"

"Sounds like one of the new popular ones. There have always been mask salesman, especially around holidays, but lately a certain mask salesman has become very popular. This does not help us. Road-side sellers would not document their customers well enough," Ouhon sighed lightly. He put a hand to his face and tapped his chin. "We are still near the edge of town, and if she was walking in this direction, there are a limited number of places she could be. It's worth asking nearby houses. It would not be suitable to turn up empty handed without putting in valid effort, sir."

Link grimaced. It sounded to him like they would have a long day. A long day where he had to put up with Mr. Perfect and his perfect rationality of everything else.

A part of Link wanted to return to Zelda's side, but he immediately squashed the rebellious thought. He didn't like this guy, but that didn't mean he should betray Zelda's trust. He was in hot-water with her as it was, due to his screw up. The least he could do was make up for it, even if she was being extra cold lately.

If Link were to really think about it, he was given aggravation from Zelda that he was taking out on this guy. Link was being a dick for a less-than-good reason. He got the impression that Ouhon, being the son of Ousen, was a noble. Most nobles feel self-entitled, but this guy still didn't come across as arrogant, just unbearably polite.

"I still think we should check out the market she came from. Markets tend to have regular customers and they may know her." Link argued.

"If you insist, sir."

Link grimaced again.

-Zelda-

Zelda sat at the large, center table. At another table were Sarah and Malon. Sarah smiled brightly and jumped up and down in excitement at the food being served. Normally, Sarah was the one doing the serving, so she took pleasure in being the one receiving the honor this time. Zelda was happy for her, even though her fake accented attempts at sounding noble made the servers think they were being mocked. At least she was having fun.

"How much time do you think Link will take before he notices Ouhon is mocking him?" Zelda smirked.

Geoffrey dug into his own food beside Zelda. While his table etiquette was a sight better than some, like Link or Ganondorf, it lacked in comparison to most nobles. Zelda did not let it bother her though, Geoffrey was polite and proficient in every other aspect of his life. Eating was, no doubt to him, about being practical, getting it out of the way, and moving on. At least he still swallowed before talking.

"You know him better than I," Geoffrey answered after a pause to eat. "Ouhon is a prodigy in both skill and practice. His father would not expect anything short of absolute perfection in every aspect, so it is a very subtle thing where the true self ends and the mocking begins. Unlike his father, though, he has a bit of a proud streak to him."

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"You say Ousen is not proud? I find that difficult to believe." Zelda sipped at her drink.

"Ouhon is proud but keeps it mostly within himself. I consider Ousen to be more... disconnected from others, than haughty about it. He is too much of a loner to show off."

"This castle and grandeur of his city, notwithstanding."

Geoffrey smirked, "Fair point, your highness. I concede to your argument. Ousen is proud, too. Perhaps it is more accurate to say he is more grandiose and subtler about it. I do not know how long it will take Link to notice Ouhon is mocking him, if at all. Link is a good man and loyal to a fault. Of all the soldiers to stand by Ouki's side, Link was the first to arrive when Harken struck the final blows. Link was the one to retaliate and strike at Harken, despite knowing he was but an insect to be squashed. For that, Link holds a place of great honor in my heart." Geoffrey looked sad at the memory, but also proud. He momentarily stopped eating as the emotion of the memory weighed heavily on him, for both good and bad.

Zelda gave an icy smile. The feeling of being stabbed returned. She sighed heavily, "You are right."

"However, after knowing him a short time, he doesn't strike me as... the most scholarly type."

Zelda laughed. They shared a knowing glance, and Geoffrey chuckled as well.

"So a part of me wonders if he will ever notice," Geoffrey wondered. "I do hope, for both their sakes, he does not. The death of Ouki has shaken the Mitagi, and it seems to have shaken Ouhon most of all. He has a hidden anger I did not see the last time I saw him. I worry he will do something... rash. He is always strung tight."

"Whatever happens, I hope they keep it civil," Zelda hoped. She didn't want to think about it too deeply. She knew nothing of the young man, and speculating wouldn't do any more than worry her.

A bit after their breakfast conversation, the Mitagi elders and a man veiled in Sheikah garb presenting himself as the Shadowmaster arrived. There were two elders present, so the three leaders sat across from Zelda and Geoffrey. Zelda frowned. There were supposed to be three elders, plus Ousen.

An elder spoke, "Your highness, it is a true pleasure for-"

"Where is the third elder?" Zelda snapped. It was horribly impolite to interrupt someone like him. He bristled, but wisely did not retaliate. "Because I take great offense that I call for the elders and the head of the Mitagi house and only two of them show up. I can understand Ousen Mitagi, with his work on the front lines, but then what of your fellow elder? Does he not consider me great enough to spend some of his time? An attempt was made on my life, and he doesn't consider it worth it to meet with me." Zelda tapped on the table. She looked down at them, despite physically looking up. "I have half a mind to have his lands and privilege revoked and replaced with someone off the street, just to make a point."

"You-your highness!" The first elder's eyes widened. "Surely you wouldn-"

Zelda whipped her attention to him. "I was attacked by a soldier as soon as I entered your city. Either your security is lax... or someone orchestrated it. At this moment, I can't tell which, and the mysterious absence of your peer is not helping my concern."

Her statement left them breathless, mute, and gaping. They turned their attention to Geoffrey, who simply smiled.

"Your highness..." The Shadowmaster said. "The elder you speak of... is gone."

"Pardon?" Zelda asked. Her aggravation halted and was replaced with confusion and concern. Geoffrey's eyes widened and he leaned forward.

"It occurred a few days ago during the festival," The first elder explained. "The elder held a ball in his estate. There were many guests, and during the dancing, he took time to retire and rest. It was while he rested that... he disappeared."

"How did he die?" Zelda dared to ask.

The Shadowmaster spoke up, "That is just it: he did not die. He disappeared. It is a matter we have looked into, and there is little evidence among the victims."

"Victims... you mean there are more?"

The Shadowmaster looked down sadly. "There are multiple disappearances, yes. Some leave us blood stains in the vicinity, others simply vanish. The victims include the leadership, commoners, and even my fellow Sheikah."

"And you have no idea what is causing it?" Geoffrey questioned.

Zelda frowned. Something was happening in the city, that was for certain. The city was a legendary fortress with top security from both a clan of Sheikah and the line of the greatest generals in Qin's history.

And then all that security suddenly had holes poked into it.

Zelda had no doubt that this was an orchestrated effort to dishevel the city, but to what aim?

"It appears we have much to discuss. There is an enemy in the city," Geoffrey said. "And we must figure out how to root it out."

-Ganondorf-

He heard scraping...

Ganondorf sighed. Why couldn't life just let him sleep? He ignored the sound and returned to the emptiness that is-

More scraping eked out from multiple directions. A door slammed.

Ganondorf opened his eyes, thoroughly annoyed. "Whoever you are, leave. I have no patience for you. Leave. Leave me to my sleep."

The scraping came closer, and Ganondorf heard scratching join in... then steps. A voice came out of the darkness, one that sent chills down his spine.

"No."

It was a voice unlike any man he had ever heard. Yet it was more than that. Something about it felt... inhuman. It sounded like no human mouth could have spoken with such a voice. Human's don't growl.

Ganondorf gulped. He raised his head and gazed out of his cell, searching for whoever, or whatever, that spoke. It did not sound like the Guardian. Ganondorf received his answer as bright glowing orbs appeared in the distant darkness. Dozens of lights of various sizes put themselves together as if on a frame, a hulking, lumbering frame. They moved as a now clear silhouette moved. A mouth opened with fangs and a long tongue peeking out. The inside of its mouth glowed with the same light as the orbs across its back. The creature stepped forth from the darkness to just within where Ganondorf's glowing hair could shed light on it. Ganondorf's eyes widened.

The creature was an abominable combination of fur and scales. It had a long snout, antlers, and double-jointed legs that ended in clawed hooves. Its spine was jagged with long, spear-like protrusions. There were a dozen eyes on its face alone. Its tail was dual-pronged at the end, and its posture was very low to the ground. If it raised itself to its full height, it might be as large as a horse, but it crawled with its stomach to the ground like a massive iguana.

"Y-you cannot enter this place!" Ganondorf breathed out. He managed to keep his fear back despite not knowing what this creature was. He tried to take a step back, but the restraints on his arms held firmly in place. "The Mitagi guard this place. Where are my guards?"

The creature snarled under its breath, annoyed by the question. "The Mitagi are not here. This is an ancient treasure trove of ancient powers that have long lost their purpose, guarded by a man just as ancient and just as... fossilized. Once, these powers may have kept us at bay, but now it is nothing more than an empty box."

Ganondorf turned his head and saw other creatures with a similar glow on them, but of much smaller stature. These lizard and giant spider sized menaces crawled on the walls around him. Ganondorf wasn't afraid to die, he was almost ready to die a peaceful death now, but he would be damned if he went down by being feasted on by some beasts! He clenched his fist as best he could within the metal gauntlet and ignited a flame. At first, the gauntlet was able to restrain the force of his power, but it did not take much for it to explode into shrapnel and pulverize a number of creatures.

Ganondorf lifted his hand and showed it to them. The smaller creatures stepped back in fear and trembled at the flame in his hand, but the largest did not stir. It did not fear.

"Din... is with me," Ganondorf assured it.

"Your Goddess's 'love' is not unconditional," The creature retorted. "She does not love us, nor does she love you. Just whose power do you think that is in your hand? Your existence makes her puke. You call on her name and carry her mark, but you also bear the mark of her enemy and use power she reviles."

One of the creatures came close enough to Ganondorf to annoy the largest creature. It sprang forward with a speed that shocked Ganondorf, but the largest beast bit down on the aggressor before it struck. It squealed in pain and tried to free itself, but the predator tore it apart and swallowed it. The lights on its body flared brightly, and then Ganondorf watched another orb appear on its body like an eye opening. Unless Ganondorf's eyes were deceiving him, he could have sworn the creature also just grew larger. It seemed to bear slightly more teeth and more thorns on its back than before.

The great predator was very close to Ganondorf now, but Ganondorf did not strike at it. For all of its viciousness, Ganondorf did not sense it would attack him. It had a calmness, rather than hostility, in meeting him.

"But we love you," It said.

Ganondorf balked, "Wh-what?"

"We love you."

The great predator raised itself on its hind legs until it stood at the same height as Ganondorf, and then passed it. It inched closer, slowly, almost cautiously, as if not wanting to spook him. It was then that Ganondorf saw its ribs were horribly protruding out of its body, thus revealing its internal organs. He thought it was no wonder why it would choose to crawl so close to the ground.

"You... are like us." It reached out with its massive clawed hooves and encircled Ganondorf's head almost lovingly. "You... made us. You... called out for us. So we... have come... Father."