Of course, the feeling couldn't last.

Every time Zelda came close to a breakthrough in her research, the same feeling of impatient excitement would flow through her, fueling her endeavor.

Then her father would remind of her failures, and any sense of thrill or pride would quickly vanish.

On the one hand, my research isn't important, but on the other hand, it IS.

She had poured almost every ounce of energy she had to offer into what seemed like a fruitless venture. But if she was able to finally put more effort toward her research, she might actually be able to make a difference!

She sighed. Fantasizing was useless. Her father would never see it her way. And now, there was the matter of the stranger to deal with.

Zelda leaned over the parapet, gazing down to the square below.

The stranger had been quite brazen in her claims, insisting that the King would never find anyone more accomplished with a blade than her, no matter how long or hard he searched.

And he had searched long and hard; there was no doubt about that. Having despaired of finding the kingdom's Chosen Hero or even a worthy swordsman, he had started contemplating choosing a protector for his daughter from among their own knights. Zelda had reminded him many a time that she needed no such thing, but as usual, her insistence fell on deaf ears.

Her eyes swept the square, coming to rest on the stranger. Faron, she said her name was. She'd had a sharp look in her eye, reminiscent of the way Urbosa looked whenever she sensed danger. Now she stood below, waving away the heavy armor offered to her in preference of her lighter gear.

She's going to regret that tonight after all the bruises she'll be nursing.

Zelda shifted her attention to the handful of knights standing opposite to Faron and arming themselves with training weapons.

"If you defeat my choice knights," the King had said, "I may grant your request."

There were just shy of a dozen paladins, the most accomplished knights among the King's army. Zelda watched as Faron was handed a shield and training sword.

It's an unfair challenge, she thought glumly, She'll be knocked flat in no time and forced to carry that disgrace for the rest of her life.

Her focus shifted once again, this time coming to rest on the four Champions watching from the sidelines: Urbosa, Daruk, Revali, and Mipha. No doubt, they realized just as she did that the match was inequitably skewed.

Mipha's gentle soul could hardly bear it. It seemed cruel to organize such an impossible trial for one lone person.

Perhaps I shall offer my services after the battle is decided...

The one called Faron would be hurting from head to toe once things were over.

Clearly, her fellow Champions were thinking the same, since Revali scoffed, "She should've taken the armor. At least this way, the fight will be even shorter."

"We've yet to see exactly what this young woman is capable of," Urbosa pointed out.

Daruk scratched his head uncertainly, "I dunno. She is quite a little thing. And all those knights—"

"Isn't it obvious?" Revali cut in, "It's a wonder the King called us here at all. We all know how things are going to go down here."

"Perhaps. What do you think, Mipha?" Urbosa queried.

"Oh. Well, I—"

"Remember the rules!" the King's voice boomed suddenly. Mipha turned to see him standing next to Zelda overlooking the square. "If you're grounded, that counts as a killing blow and you'll be excluded from the fight. Now, let the challenge commence!"

He'd hardly finished speaking when Faron charged forward. The knights reacted instinctively, forming a wall with their shields. But at the last second, Faron dropped, sliding in and ramming the center paladin from beneath. Her sword caught him under the chin, sending him reeling back and breaking the line. The knights flanking her first victim fell upon her immediately, but she had her shield at the ready. She held it as close to her body as possible, fending off the first few attacks before striking at the shins of one. Wedging her sword in between his legs, she wrenched him off balance, causing him to crash onto the stones underfoot.

Two down. Nine left to go.

"She has some talent," Urbosa remarked.

"Please," Revali scorned, "The fight's only just begun. She can't last."

Mipha clasped her hands together, silently wishing the swordswoman victory.

Faron rolled toward an opening, leaping to her feet and taking off at a run, her opponents in hot pursuit.

"See?" Revali said self-satisfactorily, "Even she knows she's as good as lost this fight. The coward is running!"

"No, she's not," Urbosa said knowingly.

Faron ran straight at one of the courtyard walls, using the momentum to launch herself up and off it, somersaulting backward into her unsuspecting prey, delivering a shattering blow to the helmet of one knight, sending him toppling over with his ears no doubt ringing painfully. Then she came crashing down onto the paladin directly to his right, her shield connecting with his and twisting his upper body unnaturally. He slammed down onto the stones and stayed down.

Four down. Seven left to go.

"Hey, she may just win this after all!" Daruk proclaimed excitedly, breaking into encouraging cheers.

Revali simply rolled his eyes.

The real swordplay had begun. Faron moved with surprising speed, keeping in constant motion in order to fend off attacks from all sides as her enemy hemmed her in. A jarring blow to her back sent her crashing onto one knee. Mipha gasped, but Faron was far from finished. She slammed the edge of her shield into one paladin's leg, putting him temporarily off balance, but it was enough to give her an opening. She took it, racing forward to finish him off, but another knight sideswiped her with his shield. She stumbled away before being pushed back by another foe and receiving a nasty jab to the ribs. Mipha could almost feel her pain. With a sickening feeling, she watched as Faron dropped, rolling away from the flurry of blows. This time, the knights crouched lower, tightening their circle.

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"And here comes the grand finale. Well...not so grand," Revali commentated.

With rapidly limiting space, Faron rolled right up onto the armored boots of one paladin, turning her body so as to hook one leg around both of his. The others closed in quickly, and as a seemingly desperate attempt, Faron slammed her shield backward into that of the knight approaching from behind before allowing it to ricochet forward again and connect with the matching shield of the enemy she had ensnared. By this point, her leg had already recieved multiple jarring attacks but none of them seemed to deter her. Again, she rebounded her shield off one against the other.

"What is she doing?" Revali asked, sounding highly disapproving.

"Building momentum," Urbosa replied readily.

Sure enough, the Champion's expert eye proved right. With enough drive behind it, Faron's shield slammed forward just as she tightened her grip around the soldier's legs, yanking him off balance. Then she rolled over him, reclaiming her freedom. Though there was a noticeable limp plaguing her as she found her footing again and delivered the final blow.

How will she win the fight with such an ailment? Mipha wondered, rapt.

Still, Faron seemed to have no interest in backing down. She charged, feinting right and then whipping left to strike at a knight's weak point. It took a second blow to bring him down, and then Faron was forced to pivot to defense. She was losing ground quickly, backed toward a wall. The four remaining paladins pressed forward, crushing her against it. All she could do was hold her shield in front of her, warding off attacks. She couldn't break free.

"Now it's over," Revali insisted.

"Don't be so sure," Urbosa countered.

Faron thrust her sword out, jamming it between the enemy's raised shields and the wall behind her. Then she gathered her legs under her, placing her weight onto her weapon and using it to launch herself over the knights. A quick grab while in midair gained her one of the soldier's helmets, which she used to slam against his skull once she'd landed. Unconscious, he crumpled to the ground.

Three knights left. And Faron was unarmed.

"Surely she's out of tricks by now."

Revali was starting to sound unsure.

"You never know!" Daruk said, "This one time, I ran into—"

"Maybe later, Daruk," Revali said sourly.

"Oh, yeah, good thinking. Don't wanna miss the fight! This is probably that grand conclusion you were talking about."

"Grand finale," Revali corrected.

Faron spun around her closest enemy, ducking to avoid a powered stab from another before bringing her shield up quickly and knocking the weapon from his hand. Turning, she blocked an incoming blow from her left. Then, to everyone's surprise, she tossed her shield aside, latching onto the one in the hands of the man she'd just disarmed and kicking off the soldier nearest to him. Her legs went up, pivoting her body sideways and wrenching the shield off the arm of its bearer. A quick slam to the jaw rendered him down for the count, and then Faron was grabbing up his weapon and turning to face her final two opponents. They hammered at her from both sides, but she managed to hold them off.

"She's losing ground again," Urbosa pointed out, almost sounding disappointed.

"She's expended too much energy," Revali added, unable to hide his investment.

"Perhaps she'll find a second wind," Mipha said, at last finding her voice.

"I sure hope so. She's come too far to lose now!" Daruk insisted.

The remaining paladins swung their weapons simultaneously, but instead of taking the blow head on, Faron ducked under it, aiming a kick behind the knee of one soldier. His leg buckled but Faron was unable to deliver a finishing strike since she had to fend off an attack from his companion. Yet as her attacker pulled back for another swing, her legs shot up, locking around his arm and twisting his sword free. A swift kick rendered it beyond the knight's reach and Faron used the opportunity to regain her footing. The first paladin was just beginning to do the same, moving slowly from evident pain. Mipha expected Faron to attack with renewed vigor, but she didn't. Instead, she turned and ran the near full length of the square, stopping and pivoting sharply a few feet from the end.

"What on earth is she playing at now?" Revali demanded incredulously.

"You'll see," Urbosa said.

Mipha merely held her breath.

The two remaining soldiers watched their opponent warily, waiting.

Then Faron took off like an arrow loosed from a bow, catapulting forward in a final summoning of all her strength. The knights charged also, uttering fierce war cries. Faron arced toward them, refusing a straight path.

"Uhh, what do you think she's doing, Urbosa?" Daruk asked, puzzled.

"Wait," was all the reply he got.

Before the three contenders could collide, Faron leapt, using her angular momentum to propel her body into a full three hundred and sixty degrees. The first paladin received the edge of her shield directly to his face and was downed instantly. The second raised his own shield in anticipation of Faron's attack. However, as she spun, she released her grip on her shield, placing both hands on the hilt of her sword and swinging with all her might. And as the blow fell, she uttered an almost animalistic yell, sounding somehow guttural and high-pitched in one. Sword met shield, shattering on impact. Wood splinters flew outward and the soldier fell back. Then Faron's feet reconnected with stone and it was over. She stood there panting, the knight staring up at her, the King looking on with an unreadable expression.

"It appears we have a victor," he announced, his tone proving just as indecipherable as his face.

"Well..." Revali said.

"Well," Urbosa echoed, "That was impressive."

"Yeah! I knew she'd pull through!" Daruk cheered, "That kid's got some spunk!"

Mipha ventured forward wordlessly so as to attend to the wounded. She started with those who'd been among the first injured in the fight, slowly working her way through their numbers. And as she worked, she overheard the whispers of the soldiers.

"Did you see her eyes?"

"Yeah...she's got the eyes of the devil."

"The King can't possibly be considering putting the Princess' safety in her hands!"

Mipha frowned, looking about for the subject of their conversation. She found Faron leaning against the stone walls, sitting apart from the others. Mipha finished with her current patient, then made her way over.

Faron didn't look up as the Zora approached, causing Mipha to stand there awkwardly for a moment, unsure of what to say.

"May I tend your wounds?" she asked when at last she had found her voice.

There was a brief stretch of silence. Faron still did not look up.

"I'm fine," she answered shortly.

Mipha was taken aback.

"I don't believe so," she protested, "I witnessed the fight. You sustained several injuries."

Faron said nothing. Mipha clasped her hands tightly in agitation.

"Please let me help," she pleaded, "My healing abilities—"

Faron's gaze lifted suddenly, settling on Mipha and causing her to fall silent.

Shock coursed through the Zora as she realized Faron's eyes were not that of the devil, but of someone haunted.

And alongside her surprise swelled another emotion, one she hadn't expected.

Curiosity.

"This," Faron said, "Is nothing."

Zelda approached with her father, having caught the tail end of the conversation.

"You have not had your wounds tended yet," the King remarked, prompting Faron to push herself to her feet.

Zelda couldn't help but notice the swordswoman leaning upon the wall in an attempt to favor her right leg.

Why won't she simply let Mipha treat her wounds? the Princess puzzled silently.

"I completed your test," Faron pointed out, "Now what is your answer?"

Zelda's father was silent for several moments. The Princess glanced from him to Faron and then back again, unsure of how to feel about the King's quietude.

"Allow Mipha to treat you," Rhoam said at last, "Then I will grant you one final test, after which, if you succeed, you may assume the role of my daughter's protector."

Zelda gazed at her father in shock. Surely he couldn't be thinking what she feared?

Judging by how Faron performed today, she will NOT back down from the challenge when it proves too much. It'll be a death sentence!

Faron nodded, sinking back into her seated position and allowing Mipha to look her over. Rhoam turned and began striding off, Zelda scurrying to catch him.

"Father, you don't mean to—"

"I do."

"But she'll—"

"There is always the option to withdraw if she does not feel up to the task."

Zelda couldn't suppress her glare, "Father, she won't—"

"Then that is her choice," Rhoam answered sternly, looking his daughter straight in the eye without missing step.

Zelda stopped dead, letting him take the lead. She simply couldn't believe it.

Surely he can't mean that...

Though, much as she wished to deny it, there were times when she hardly knew just what her father was capable of.