-Xianyang, Link-

Link passed through the halls of the Xianyang castle and barged his way into an office. Inside, Ouhon was already present and standing before the desk of a military officer. On top of the desk was the helmet of a former Lorule commander. The officer stood to berate Link for his rudeness, but Link beat him to it by slamming a Lorule helmet of his own next to Ouhon's.

"The commander of a one-hundred-man unit," Link declared. "Captured, tied up, and ready for whatever. Along with his advisors."

"Good job, Link," the officer commended him, "but as you can see, Ouhon was just presenting his own prize."

Link grinned. "I know." Ouhon's eye twitched, though he kept a straight face pointed ahead.

The officer looked between them. He sighed, "I swear, you two..."

Ever since Ouhon had arrived and Link showed him up, the fortress of Xianyang had been abuzz with their rivalry. Ouhon's unit was powerful, could shatter defenses, and was swift. Conversely, Link's unit relied on unusual tactics and, the rumor was, unusual powers of their elite. Every victory Link gained, Ouhon would gain one soon after. This was followed by Link gaining another one and so on. It hadn't been long into the rivalry, and they were still tied. It had reached such fervor that the other units stepped back and made bets. Most bet Ouhon would win, but there was a surprising number silently cheering Link on.

"I will send word for merit and portions to be provided for your prizes," The officer said robotically, as if having already said it a hundred times that day alone. Especially with these two, he thought. "I also believe it is time you two took a break."

"Pardon, sir?" Ouhon asked.

"You two have been hard pressed at it. I can see you both wish to rise through the ranks quickly, and it helps that you are both so effective. You are a true blessing, as stretched as our forces are. We are barely managing to hold the border without a proper general stationed here, and you two are a big part of that success."

"We have lost a lot of units..." Link said.

"And defeated just as many," The officer replied. "The Lorule are starting to feel it, and from what I see, they are slowing down. Our forces have defeated so many officers that they are having to train more."

"Why do I hear a 'but' coming, Sir?" Ouhon asked, ever polite.

"But you are carrying so much weight that our normal forces are starting to scatter to other battlefields or become reserves. We need the units we have here to stay and remain active. In addition, I don't even have to look at your men to know they are tired. You both are running your men ragged."

Link grimaced. "My men have been complaining more and more despite the victories."

Ouhon scoffed. "They lack discipline."

The officer looked to Ouhon. "Your men have been petitioning for a break too, Lord Mitagi."

"What!?" Ouhon gasped, his composure finally breaking. Link laughed mockingly, incurring the officer to glare at him. Ouhon cleared his throat. "I will take your recommendation to heart, Sir. Some time in the barracks and rest will do the men some good."

"We can stay in the barracks?" Link wondered.

"Yes... you can," Ouhon whispered.

The officer nodded. "Then with that understood, I will move other units to our active force. The kitchens and barracks are open for your use."

"We get a kitchen too!?" Link gasped.

"With chefs," The officer clarified.

Ouhon saluted, turned crisply, and marched out. Link was already out the door.

"I suggest you don't pick the same one!" The officer called after them. Seeing they were long gone, he sighed, wondering if he had just made a mistake.

Further down the hall, Link ran to the kitchens. Ouhon somehow kept up without running too. He marched, but anyone watching could see his pace was competitive.

"I can't believe we get a kitchen with hired cooks and everything!" Link exclaimed. "Or actual beds!"

"What have you been using all this time?" Ouhon asked.

"Tents, open air, dirt, or blankets. Don't look at me like that!" Link growled.

"No wonder your men are tired." Ouhon sighed.

"Well, what have your men lived on all this time?"

Ouhon didn't answer at first. It was technically the same things, except of higher quality, no doubt. His unit had brought rugs, high quality tents, and small comfortable cots. But they were so busy staying mobile and patrolling the border that they hadn't had the time to use any of them. Seeing he refused to answer, Link grinned.

They reached the door to the outside, which was wide enough for only one person.

"Move!" Link shoved Ouhon into the wall and ran through.

Ouhon crumbled down the wall to a knee. He sighed, slid a hand over his hair, stood, and marched through the door. He closed the door behind him.

"It would only take a moment..." He said unconvincingly to himself. "No one would know."

-Later-

Link and Ouhon's units were stationed in camps outside the fortress. Both petitioned for use of the barracks and were accepted. The fortress was built to hold ten-thousand men for long terms and was only at half capacity, so there was plenty of room for more.

"An actual bed!" Hei exclaimed as he ran into the massive bunk room. The rest of Link's men followed in equally excited. They scattered throughout the long warehouse for a spot.

"A place over our heads!" Some cried.

"No more cold nights!" Said others.

"No more rain! If I had any more water in my hair, it would drown the mites!" Another yelled.

Hei found a rather nice bed on the far end and dropped his belongings on it. He prepared to sit down, but his butt had barely touched fabric before Link leapt onto it, bouncing him onto the floor. Seconds later, they were wrestling across the floor, across beds, and across people that didn't get out of the way.

Solitare smiled as she picked a bed. "This is rather nice." She ran her hand over the material. "I have never felt anything like it!"

"Xianyang is the biggest fortress in this region," Kyo Gai said knowingly. "The noble caste uses it, so you better believe they're going to spend the extra rupees!"

"You sound like you have been here before."

He shrugged. "Once. The officer that trained me was in the lowest part of the noble caste, but was still a noble. We were well traveled."

He patted Solitare's bed. "Alright, then. How about we get you some extra bedding piled up? I think there is enough to-" His head snapped away. "DON'T SET A CAMPFIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUILDING, DUMBASS!" Kyo ran off and kicked some men who were piling up wood and trying to spark a flame.

Immediately after he left, a loud crunch drew Solitare's attention. Den Yuu sat on a crushed bed, his cheeks red. Several men around him laughed. Solitare bit her lip, struggling not to laugh as well.

"I didn't think I was that big..." Den muttered.

"You're not, Big Bro," Someone said comfortingly. "This crap is just fragile. You gotta be gentle with it and sit down nice and slow. Like a nice woman, you gotta sit them down nice and proper-like."

"Like you would know anything about that," Solitare snapped.

"Oooohhh!" The crowd yelled.

"I wonder if the food will be as good as these beds," Kou wondered. He was ecstatic about getting a bed like this; he had never in his life sat on anything so comfortable. It was like laying on a cloud, but his stomach demanded attention.

"Alright, boys! Time to do some scouting! Last one to the kitchen is a Link! That's an order!" Someone yelled on his way out the door.

"I didn't give you orders to do shit!" Link yelled while his face was pressed into the floor by Hei. It wasn't a stone floor for once: it was wooden and smooth. "Hey, this floor is kinda nice."

Meanwhile, outside, Ouhon and his men silently watched as nothing short of a stampede flooded out of a door and towards the courtyard.

"One wouldn't think they were exhausted in the slightest," Ouhon's second commented.

Ouhon grimaced and walked away.

Ouhon entered another portion of the barracks. There, his men were selecting their beds, placing belongings in the chests at the foot of each bed (which Link's unit didn't know what to do with), and generally relaxing.

"Despite that vulgar display, food does sound good," Ouhon heard someone say. He and several others agreed.

"I am hungry as well," Ouhon said. "But first, I feel the need to use the baths. This dirt is uncomfortable, and I am sore. Men, do as you will. Enjoy your rest."

Ouhon pulled out his robe for the bath and, after asking for directions, entered the public bathhouse. He stepped into the water, sat down so the water reached his neck, and sighed in contentment. A bath was a nice little bonus he allowed himself only on occasion.

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The Mitagi baths were much nicer, but after being in the wilds for so long, he found the sheer relief of this bath out-measured the times he used ones from home. He prized his horse dearly, but after eating on it, fighting on it, yelling on it, and sleeping on it, it was nice to not have a rough hide and a bouncing seat under him.

The officer was right. They were running themselves ragged, himself included. He quickly scrubbed his skin down, cleaning up the dirt and dried blood that caked him. Once he was clean again, Ouhon closed his eyes to bask. He only opened his eyes long enough to move aside as a number of his men joined him.

Eventually, his hunger overcame his desire to relax. He rose and returned to the barracks. There, he dressed himself properly and found the crowded barracks' kitchen. He saw that most of the kitchen was lined with people sitting on benches to eat. A long window connected to where the food was actually made and could be taken. Ouhon went to that window, took his food, and searched for a place to sit. Before long, he begrudgingly realized every spot was taken.

Someone rose and left.

"Finally," Ouhon whispered. He sat down at the now vacant place and started to eat. A few bites in, he realized the person across from him was sleeping with his face in his arms, the one to his left was old enough to be a grandfather, and the one to his right was eating enough for several people without the common propriety to use utensils.

"Of course," Ouhon muttered.

Link looked back up at him, food in his mouth. "Whh yu shishinh hhhr?"

"Swallow first, moron."

Link followed the advice. "Why are you sitting here?!"

"I don't like it much either, but there is nowhere else. The entire room is occupied. So please, I suggest we ignore this happened so I may suffer in silence... For that matter shouldn't you be off with your unit?"

Link waved him off. "Meh. Some guard suggested I give them some space. Besides, he mentioned free food here!"

Ouhon raised an eyebrow. Some random guard told him that? He wanted to ask. While what they said was true, he wouldn't expect strangers to go around offering advise like that.

"Seems you got a fan," Ouhon said.

"Really?" Link wondered.

Ouhon noted that Link quite liked the idea of having fans, and he returned to eating. However, Link's eating display disgusted Ouhon so much that he looked for a solution. To his dismay, the only set of utensils on the table were used ones by the sleeping man.

Ouhon took the dirty utensils anyway and stabbed Link's food. "Use these." He also took a handkerchief from the sleeping man and slapped Link in the face with it. "And wipe your face."

The sleeping man giggled across the table. He yawned and leaned on his elbows. "You two are funny."

"Says the man with food on his face," Ouhon muttered.

"Oh?" The man blinked in surprise. He felt his face, pulled a piece of meat off his cheek, and ate it. "Not bad. All the same, it's time for a little nap." He fell back onto the table only to jump up a moment later. "Ow!"

"What!?" Link gasped.

"Nothing, just something stabbing me." The man reached into his robes, took an object, and moved it into his pouch. He laid down again with a sigh.

However, what he had moved out of his robes didn't go unnoticed. Link recognized it as a small bird statue. "You're a three-hundred-man commander?!"

"What?" Ouhon asked, completely deadpan.

"Yeah, I am," The man answered. "Why do you sound surprised?"

"Because I am too!" Link answered. "So is he! I thought we were the only ones here."

"Well, now there are three." The man smiled and extended his hand. "I'm new here. I am Mouki."

"I am Link." Link took his hand to shake it.

"I don't care," Ouhon muttered, returning to his meal.

"Don't mind him. He's a grouch... pretty much all the time," Link said.

"I don't mind." Mouki smiled warmly. He squeezed Link's hand firmly, but winced at the squeeze back. "Damn, you got a heck of a grip on you! You're stronger than you look."

"Dumber than he looks too," Ouhon added between bites, aggravated by Link being praised.

"I wasn't looking so dumb when I was sitting pretty on top of the commander's tent looking down on you, now was I?" Link shot back. "Sat there just to be the one looking down on you this time!"

"The phrase you are looking for is 'that time,' not 'this time.' Even then, it is poorly phrased."

Mouki looked between them, still smiling. "That really happened? I think I heard something about it. There are two groups here that are tied for victories and making the rest look bad?"

"That'd be us!" Link exclaimed happily.

"You two are mighty competitive then?"

"Wrong choice of words," Ouhon answered. "He is stubborn, obstinate, and someone needs to keep him in his place."

"The word you are looking for is 'yes,'" Link replied for Ouhon.

"How'd you do it?" Mouki asked, leaning in intently. "I've heard you are a crafty one, Link, with incredible powers!"

"Well, not to brag-"

"And yet you can't help it," Ouhon interrupted.

Link shot him a dirty look before continuing, "My unit and I hid amongst the dead. It was dirty and risky. Wolves bit at us, and the Lorule almost stopped to impale us on spears to be sure we were dead. But we managed to stay perfectly still for hours. Then, when they were distracted, we rose up and hit 'em!"

"Incredible..." Mouki sighed. "You're a genius!"

Ouhon choked on his food.

"I wouldn't go that far..." Link said nervously. "I've never been praised for being smart. I just think differently. I am willing to try things most aren't."

"Yet you do so much with just peasants!" Mouki insisted. "I am not doubting you try hard, but they aren't exactly trained. I'm just so amazed that you could overcome such obstacles in war! You must be a great leader."

"Most of the weight is carried by only a few of us. We fight in squads and focus on simple survival most of the time. We can't fight a full unit properly yet, but a few of us can easily reach the enemy officer while his forces are occupied. Or we can flank from directions they would not expect."

"I see, that certainly makes sense." Mouki looked to Ouhon. "And don't think I am ignoring you, my lord. I can see from your posture that you are some high class noble. I am honored to meet you. Just how are you keeping up with this cunning man?"

"Cunning. I like that," Link whispered to himself.

Ouhon did not answer. He merely glared. Just as Mouki had perceived Ouhon to be noble-born, which he wanted everyone to know on first glance, he started to perceive the man before him too. Mouki had multiple braids in his hair with cords of fine silk. Despite having slept in his food, most of his skin was clean and without blemish. His nails were even polished.

Mouki was also noble-born, Ouhon concluded. At first, Ouhon thought it meant nothing, but something in the back of his mind grew uncomfortable. Mouki's appearance was lazy, and his actions were no less aloof, but his words were different. Something about the way he directed the conversation so easily upset Ouhon.

Mouki matched Ouhon's stare for a second longer, during which Ouhon saw he was being matched. It was interesting to Ouhon: when he looked into Link's eyes, he saw defiance, but when he looked into Mouki's eyes, he saw a relaxed confidence.

Mouki drifted his attention back to Link. "I see what you mean by grouchy! No matter, I am also honored to meet you, Link! By what I hear from everyone and what you tell me... You are simply incredible!"

"I-uh, yeah!" Link chuckled nervously. "I j-just do my best!"

The old man on Ouhon's left sighed. "I wish he was as motivated as you."

"Don't wanna!" Mouki pouted. He laid back on the table. Link blinked in surprise. Mouki's attitude had taken a sudden and immature turn. "Competing with such guys in such a tiny place is just... Ergh! No thanks! I feel claustrophobic already. I wanna learn, but doing my best is exhausting!"

"Clause-what?" Link asked.

"But Mouki," the old man insisted, "now these men are your equals! You have something in common! You can compete like good healthy men and learn so much from them. Be nice and make friends!"

"I don't feel motivated with only three hundred men..." Mouki pouted.

Ouhon's eye twitched. Now he was getting irritated.

"Well, how many do you want?" The old man asked.

Mouki raised his hands up. "A thousand!"

Ouhon's eye twitched more. Link watched the conversation in bewilderment, suddenly feeling awkward to be witnessing it.

The old man sounded as if this had happened before. "Mouki, I won't allow it!"

"But Grandpa! You know how I did on the Termina border, that I should have a thousand! Uncle Ryo said so!"

"I won't have it!" Mouki's grandfather said. "You have years of experience to gain. Your father and I both agree that you should work your way through the ranks, meet your peers, and garner connections and experiences."

Mouki turned his head away, pouting. "Hmph! So strict! Woe is me..."

"Then why don't we do something fun? You don't start your patrol until tomorrow."

Mouki's eyes lit up. "Shopping!? Link, Ouhon, it was nice meeting you. I hope we meet again."

He smiled warmly to them. Link couldn't help but return the grin and give a goodbye handshake. Ouhon crossed his arms and refused to acknowledge him. Mouki shrugged in acceptance and stood up.

At the same moment when Mouki stood, every other person in the room stood. Link's eyes just about blew out of his skull. Ouhon glared increasingly hard at Mouki. Mouki grinned back at him, silently conveying a moment of smugness with the noble-born. Mouki left the kitchen gallery, and every other person in the room followed, leaving Link and Ouhon alone.

"What just happened?" Link asked, bewildered.

"We've been played..." Ouhon grit his teeth.

"Wha?"

"I am going to make a story, and I want to know if it is right. When you came here, there were no seats. Then mysteriously, one man rose and left, leaving you a place to sit. You sat down and found yourself sitting across from a sleeping man about your own age. Am I right?"

"Th-that's right!" Link exclaimed. "How'd you know?!"

"Because the same thing happened to me," Ouhon answered. "... We've been played. Every person in this place was his. He plotted for us to both be encouraged here. You were promised food. I was promised proper etiquette... he did his research about us enough to draw us here. Now that I look closely, there are no utensils around but right here. I was fooled completely."

"Why would he do that?"

"To meet us? To look us in the eye and measure us up? His way of saying 'hello?' To garner some information from us? There is no telling with people like him. He took your hand, egged you into squeezing, and he measured your strength. He pretended to be in pain long enough to expose the seal of his command, grabbing your attention. He drew on our competitive nature to observe us. He puffed you up into telling him your methods."

"I-I think you are overthinking it."

"He knew my name without me telling it nor you saying it!" Ouhon said with finality. "If he already knew who I was, then I promise he already knew who you were."

Link's eyes widened. He paled, realizing how Ouhon was right. Mouki had planned everything perfectly, set the trap, and drew them in. The information Mouki had pulled from Link would no doubt be to his advantage. Mouki had just learned a lot about Link.

Ouhon felt like a fool. He was almost drawn in as well. Despite himself, he knew he would have been drawn into revealing his methods purely by the so-called competitive nature between them. Except Ouhon had been able to sense there was something more happening, enough so to keep his mouth shut. Despite Mouki's seemingly immature and lazy nature, he was brilliant, unless it too was a facade.

Ouhon leaned across the table, put his hands together, and mused. "Link. Consider this a moment of uncharacteristic cooperation, but it is important you hear it. I serve Mitagi, and you serve the princess, so our interests are somewhat aligned. There is a man I have heard of... tutored in every facet at the feet of Shou Hei Kun, Rishi, Moubu, and Abhdan, but until now, I did not think him real."

"I've heard those names before..." Link whispered.

"You should have, as a friend to the heir. Those four are the pillar of Ryo's faction." Link's eyes widened. "Think about it. A man raised on the tactics of Shou Hei Kun, the law by Rishi, war by Moubu, politics by Abhdan... and economics by Ryo. Now I have a name and face to put to the rumors... Mouki, son of Moubu."

Link rose briskly. "What do we do!?"

"We? 'We' do nothing. This doesn't change anything between us. You still disgust me." Ouhon rose slowly. "However, I believe it right that this is done fairly. If he is going to work here as well, then the competition will only increase. This doesn't just have a chance to affect us, but those we represent. So before we part ways, take one piece of advice to heart: behave. For once in your life, behave. You represent the heir. You are a part of something greater than yourself." Ouhon turned and departed.

"Mouki..." Link whispered to the empty kitchen. "Great, now I have two rivals to deal with."

-Near the Gerudo border-

"Duke! A report." A soldier saluted and presented a scroll. Technically, the Duke was a general, but he liked the title 'Duke' more.

In a command room was General Geoffrey, several of his commanders, and the Duke. Each of them pored over a large map over the center table. The situation at hand was the current border guard against the Gerudo. The building of a wall was being discussed, but the details would take a great deal of planning and work. The Duke accepted the scroll and returned to his seat.

"Is it anything of interest, Duke?" Geoffrey asked.

The Duke laughed loudly and slapped the scroll down. "Oh, it is! I love the youth. So much energy. Nothing completes a man's soul quite like a good rival!"

Curious, Geoffrey took the scroll and read it. He sighed. "You didn't..." The Duke laughed even harder. "This is a fight just waiting to happen, you know."

"Or the seeds of something glorious." The Duke grinned, his razor-sharp teeth glistening. "The Mitagi's heir, Ryo's prodigy, and the princess's pet soldier fighting side by side. Mark my words, Dragon Knight, they will either grow stronger together, or tear each other apart. Which do you want to bet on winning!?" He slammed his gigantic hands on the table. "I bet the Mitagi heir will come out on top!"

Geoffrey grinned despite his apprehension. "I think you will find Link to be a surprise. Although if even half of the stories I have heard of Ryo's little prodigy are true... it is impossible to say."