-1 year later-

-Temple of Trinity-

Impa entered into the temple. She saw Zelda at the far end in prayer. Impa shut the door quietly and dropped to her knees.

"You called for me, Princess?"

Zelda continued her prayer in silence. Impa did not say anything further, content that her presence was recognized and that Zelda would talk when she was ready, even if it took all night.

Thankfully it did not. Zelda rose and walked to her. "Impa, it is just us. There is no need to be so formal."

"You know I insist upon it, though."

Zelda sighed but still smiled in mirth. She found the formality with the woman distasteful, but it was necessary as a monarch. "I have received a vision from the Goddesses," Zelda started. "In it, I saw the land of Hyrule. The Goddesses rose and laid their robes from the west to the east. Standing at the top of the nation were the Goddesses, and before them were three people. The Goddesses each touched one of the people and said 'you are my champion'. The first champion I recognized as myself. The other two, I did not recognize. I have my thoughts on this dream, but do you have any insight?"

"I think it is beyond me to comment on the will of the goddesses."

"Hm," Zelda hummed. "And what of my half-brother and chancellor Ketsu?"

"Prince Kyou has not yet returned from his trip. Chancellor Ketsu is quiet, but several of his rivals... and your supporters are disappearing. Two were found dead in their homes last night and another five are missing."

"That makes ten now. Ketsu is becoming bold."

Chancellor Ryo was her supporter in court while Chancellor Ketsu supported Prince Kyou. It may look even, but Ryo was a far stronger faction holder than Ketsu, and Kyou was no longer the legitimate heir. A kind of truce rose twelve months ago, but Ryo left one month ago to personally take charge of a long term project. Ryo's absence left Zelda exposed.

Zelda continued, "We best prepare for the worst... without Ryo, what protections can I rely on?"

"At present... there are no armies or generals near the capital I believe would side with you. General Ouki is near, but he is not the type to take sides. The nearest general who would offer you protection is to the west."

Zelda sighed. That did not bode well. Most armies would be stationed near the border. The palace army was the royal guard, but a thousand elites wouldn't be enough against a real army.

"How long before we can expect Ketsu or Kyou to move against me?" Zelda wondered.

"Depends on how long before the council gets wind of the disappearances. Once your supporters learn they are being killed, they will flee from you. Because the fact is..." Impa hesitated. "You cannot protect them."

"I have the power."

"May I speak openly, Princess?"

"Always. It is just us."

"You do not have the power. The power of a monarch is in her assets, and you have no one you can truly call your own."

"Except you."

"Except me." Impa agreed. "The fact is that despite how all of Qin swears allegiance to you, this is a weak allegiance. In a civil war, the people will side with Ryo or Ketsu or Kyou, not you. You have been High Princess only a year, a very short time, and you have been safely kept behind closed doors with teachers. Your presence and achievements are... non-existent thus far. A monarch is only as strong as those who will follow against all others."

Zelda sighed. Impa was right. Zelda had no assets here. She had no power here. And were she honest with herself, she didn't dare to stand on her own two feet. She had only been immersed in the world of politics for a year.

She was afraid.

"I am sure in your wisdom, you will-"

"Wisdom." Zelda chuckled darkly. "If I were so wise, we would already have prepared for this eventuality. You saw how my half-brother looked at me when we first met. I should have predicted from the beginning he would retaliate."

"Being wise doesn't mean you are all-knowing or that you don't make mistakes..." Impa whispered gently. "It means you learn from them."

It was a comforting thought but left her with nothing to work from. They stood in silence for a time as Zelda considered what to do. "I can't stay and endanger the capital to a siege. Nor can I leave and make me out to be a coward. It would only validate him."

"But is it worth your life? If your intentions truly are to avoid civil war at the capital, then allow your court to assure that the image is made. It doesn't matter what your half-brother wants to make you out to be. So long as you win, we can turn the people to your side. No matter how you do it."

Zelda looked at her confused. Impa explained, "It is something you will learn, but the saying is 'the victor is justice, and the winner makes history'."

Zelda mouthed the phrase and put it in the back of her mind to consider later. She saw the potential in it.

"Very well." Zelda conceded. "But I will not leave until I have to. If the threat is false, then it will all have been for nothing. I want you to go west and find a place where I can hide. Anything will do."

-Village of Jouto, Western Qin-

-Midna-

Link threw his pack on the cart. He stopped and leaned against the side of it, panting for breath. Sweat poured down his back. His legs wobbled. His arms ached. His vision phased in and out. His hair fell in curtains around his face. He was filthy, bruised, and covered in cuts.

"That. Sucked." He croaked out.

His companion, Midna rolled her eyes from her perch on the cart. "You're the one who insisted on running uphill through the woods. Don't cry to us about it now."

Their other companions, a pair of teenage brothers and two older men, also agreed. "Are you an idiot or something?"

"The training will pay off. Just you wait." Link flashed them a confident smile. Or at least half of one. He was too tired after running all day carrying a hundred-pound load to be expressive.

"Training? For what?" One of the older men asked. The group of youngsters was assisting merchants from a neighboring city.

The brothers sighed. The younger one explained, "Shorty thinks he's going to be a great general one day."

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING 'SHORTY'?" Link barked.

"You are short, dumbass!"

"Yeah, well, you're a bucktooth, dumbass!"

The argument devolved into blows and them rolling in the dirt. It left everyone wondering just where the realms Link got his inexhaustible energy from. It didn't end until Midna stepped in and knocked them both out. She grumbled under her breath as she picked up both and dumped them on the carriage. The men collectively took one giant step away.

"Great general?" The oldest man wondered. "But... he's a slave. Slaves can't be generals. They can't even join the army to get the chance." He looked to Midna. "Doesn't he realize this?"

"He does. He's just determined." She looked at him sympathetically. "He'll find a way."

The older brother grunted. "More like wasting his life away... his lot in life is set. He should find a nice girl who can accept a slave, or be given one by your master, and find his happiness in the simple life. We can eat two good meals a day, and all we have to fear are pigeons. It's a good life. If he keeps chasing an impossible dream he may wake up to find the life he has gone."

The men stared at him a moment. Midna smiled. His cheeks went a bit red at the smile. "Mighty deep thoughts. I never would have taken you for a philosopher."

The older brother chuckled nervously. The men collectively said, "You're just showing off for the lady aren't you?"

"SHUT UP!" The embarrassed brother yelled. Midna laughed.

The four teens lived at a plantation and regularly traded with the surrounding villages. They were happy. Not every mayor accepts orphans into his home as slaves and treats his slaves as well as his sons.

Link tended to break tools so he was left doing more muscle work. Midna loved helping with the farm animals. She had a calming influence on them. Link... did not. Between being swarmed by chickens, chased by goats, kicked by horses, clawed by cats, slapped by pond fish, and given the evil eye by cows when he tried milking them, it was decided he was simply not an animal person.

It was a difficult life on a farm. Dusk to dawn was work every day, but Midna was happy. She saw her future as being just what the older brother said was good: Being married off to a guy and having an uncomplicated life. Simple. She wanted to always have Link by her side and to see him live his dream; or for him to give up on it and have an easier dream. but damn if he wasn't determined!

Every break involved him practicing with makeshift swords. He'd fight and wrestle everyone who picked on him and push himself with ridicules challenges. One time the challenge was to wrestle a tree down. Midna could only facepalm at the time. With no shortage of peers playing jokes on him, there was never a fight not to be had and being his closest friend, she would naturally get dragged into it.

They returned to the plantation. The money was soon exchanged out as the merchants bought the next week's shipment beforehand. With nothing left to do that day, everyone returned home.

"Midna! Think fast!"

Midna barely turned in time to see a makeshift wooden sword fly for her face. She almost ducked in time. Almost. She fell on her back with an angry bruise on her scalp and curses on her lips.

Link had the dignity to look apologetic as she glared daggers at him.

-Impa-

Unbeknownst to the preteens, Impa was passing down the road leading to their plantation. When she heard the sound of battle, she looked out the curtain to see them fighting. Her breath caught at what she saw.

"Stop the carriage!" Immediately the driver pulled back on the reins.

Impa stepped out. Like she was in a dream drawn to a spectacle she descended the hill towards the youngsters. They continued with their battle without noticing her, and for a moment Impa could not help but wonder if they were truly trying to kill each other. They fought without restraint and with such speed, dexterity, and strength that they could kill a soldier twice their age.

As she neared, Midna caught sight of her and stopped the fight. Impa stopped. Her eyes were drawn to Midna's and for a very long moment, Impa could not believe what she was seeing. Then, as if blessed by the Goddess, she saw a plan form in her mind.

The moment was interrupted with all the grace of a cat in a china shop by Link. As he got in her face demanding what her problem was.

Midna jumped him and choked him in a headlock. "You idiot! Look at her clothes! She's rich and probably from an esteemed house! She can have you killed!"

Impa raised an eyebrow as the girl choked the boy into submission. He struggled, far longer than necessary, but it was a losing battle. It just didn't seem to click with him until he was blue in the face.

"Okay! I'll be good! Uncle! Aunt! Uncle's Aunt! Let go!" Link pleaded. Midna dropped him face down in the dirt.

'That voice...' Impa thought. She asked, "What is your name?"

"I am-"

"Not you."

Link pouted. The young lady said, "My name is Midna. We are slaves at the local plantation."

Midna followed this up with a bow. She slammed her fist on Link's head to get him to bow his head, but he refused. He wasn't bowing his head to anybody!

"I see," Impa said mysteriously. She watched the youngsters a bit longer, letting her plan take form. Yes, it just might work. Her decision made, Impa walked back up the hill and entered her carriage. The driver set the horses back on a trot.

-Midna-

After the lady was gone, Midna grabbed Link by the shoulders and shook him like a ragdoll. "Do you have no sense of self-preservation?!"

"I don't want some outsider stalking you. And she hasn't earned my respect. Why would I bow to some woman born with a silver spoon in her mouth?"

"Nice as it is for you to want to protect me, I already have everyone wanting to just be a seamstress because it is lady-like. I don't need this from you too."

He huffed in annoyance. But Midna's icy glare made him relent. "Fine, fine. I may have overstepped myself."

Midna sighed and looked on him more gently. "It's fine, I can't stay mad at you. Let's head home."

"Yeah." Link picked up their belongings and trotted behind her. "I still won, by the way." Midna rolled her eyes.

They returned to the village and threw their belongings in the small hut reserved for them. Midna stopped in the yard, as the carriage and horses drew her attention.

"Hm?" Link wondered. "Hey, don't those horses belong to the rich old lady?"

"I think so." Midna had a bad feeling about this.

"Oh, Farore," Link cursed. "She came here because of me!"

Midna felt for him. Despite his manners, he was a really good guy. He needed to learn to behave, but was punishment necessary? "Link, I'm sure it will be-"

"She saw how awesome I was and wants me!" Link decided.

Midna could only stare. For a long moment. "Okay, you know what? Forget comforting you. I hope she does come to complain."

"Huh? Why would she do that?"

"Gee! I wonder why!"

(Edited - 2/29/2020)