This chapter, and the next couple, will be longer than usual as a lot happens.

-Link-

Link's eyes snapped open.

Every inch of his body ached and was weary. He was fairly sure something in his torso was broken. So far as evenings went, this was not one he wanted. If anything he wanted to go back to sleeping. He nearly did, but a fragment of memory drifted into his thoughts. Remembering the importance of it, he snatched onto it with all of his will.

Zelda was in danger!

Link growled to himself in frustration. What kind of a general would he be if scratches, bruises, and a broken bone or two stopped him when he knew what he needed to do? Okay, so perhaps the broken bone was a bit more of a big deal, but Link was anything if not stubborn.

Link put his hands on the stone wall and stumbled to his feet. Blood stained his hair and face, but for some reason he no longer felt he was going to throw up from a concussion. No... Perhaps there was a reason.

Link looked down at his hand. The triangle was warm against his flesh.

"Thanks, Farore." Link whispered.

Link didn't know for certain of Farore had stepped in, but perhaps it didn't matter. He had faith. He could stand. He could hold a sword. That was all he needed.

Link picked up the sword left behind by Kei Ki, and scavenged around the area for Midna's sword. To his great joy, it was still there in the back room among the bodies. Much of the jewelry and gold was missing from the room, the bandits must have stolen from the church, but mysteriously they missed his sword.

Link grasped Midna's sword and instantly felt better. It was like being reunited with an old friend. The sword brought him comfort and focus. He hardened his gaze on it. "Watch over me, Midna. Sorry, but I'm going to get you a bit dirty."

Link raced out of the church and took a left towards the palace. The night was peaceful and calm. A few guards marched the streets, while peasants lingered for the nightlife. One would think there was no attack on the palace in the works. If Link had not heard first-hand the intentions of the assassin he would have thought he had dreamed it all up.

The gates came into view. The guards were not at their posts at the gates to the inner capital. If there was no one to stop him, then he would do what he tried to do last time when he was caught.

He found a stall with flour, stole a handful, covered his hands, and used it to climb. It was an old trick Midna had taught him. Flour absorbed the moister of his body to become incredibly sticky. It was not enough to hold his body up on its own, but it made tight grips and hand holds much easier. One would think he was defying gravity and had the abilities of a spider.

Upon reaching the top of the wall it was immediately evident why there were no guards at the post. They were dead. The guards outside of the palace sector wouldn't know as they could not enter the gates without the gate-lever being operated, and the people would not know there were assassins. At most they might believe the palace was being quiet.

Link patted his hands off quickly to get the white powder off, adjusted his grip on Midna's sword, and did what any logical boy would do in a situation requiring great stealth.

He drew his sword and ran in screaming.

-Ganondorf Dragmire-

The attack on the palace was without warning. One minute Ganon was sitting in his room reading historical records, generously provided by a miffed princess. The next moment he was being locked in because it was for his own safety due to an attack.

Ganon walked to the door and looked down at the handle. "Safe for who? Them or me?" He wondered out loud. He raised his voice, "Who is attacking?"

The guards outside his room said, "Don't know."

"Then why don't you find out?"

"I cannot do that, my lord. As you are our guest it is my responsibility to guard you." The guard replied.

Ganon rolled his eyes. It seemed information was not flowing well in this battle, or perhaps it was just too early for word to spread well. Either way, he didn't like it. He didn't like being kept in the dark. He didn't like being kept in a locked room. And he most certainly didn't like being left out. He picked his two broadswords up off the stand, unwrapped them from their cloth, and brandished them. With a predatory smile, he kicked the door, lock and all.

The guards jumped back in confusion, shock, and fear as the door's locked shattered and the double door swung open. Standing in the door step was a large black man with two large broadswords, one in each hand, fire-like hair flowing down his back, and red eyes that promised demonic fury. His breath was slow, controlled, and almost seemed to steam as if he could breathe fire.

"Guard me? Very well. Then try to keep up." Ganondorf told them.

The men tried to argue and were very vocal about their desire to keep him in his room, but Ganon had none of it. He turned his ear to the distant sound of metal and screams, and walked towards it. He didn't run, he didn't feel the need to rush. He didn't know where the invaders had come from, how far they had come, or who they were. So rather than run full out towards battle, he kept his attention everywhere, not wanting to be caught off guard.

Servants fled past him away from the sounds just as much as soldiers ran towards it. Even a swarm of Fae flew by to join in.

'Zelda's plan to strengthen the palace with the Fae Grove seems to be bearing fruit,' He thought.

Ganondorf passed a window looking down towards the front-courtyard. The view below showed a battle. The Royal Guard and Fae golems on one side, and what looked to be nothing more than mercenaries on the other. There were many mercenaries, but they were losing numbers quickly. Ganon listened intently and heard sounds of battle elsewhere as well. Since the battle in the court yard was so one-sided, his presence wasn't needed. He turned his feet towards the other sounds.

The new sounds lead him toward the lower levels. It was the servant passage leading out of the palace. Large enough for goods and supplies to be provided to the palace through a side entrance without dirtying the palace's image at the courtyard of the main entrance leading directly up to the throne room.

Here the battle was less one-sided. Still one-sided, but less so. There were less Royal Guard, only one Fae golem present, and lots of mercenary. Ganondorf smirked.

Perfect.

Ganon never used a Majora mask because he didn't need one. He could enter into the mindset at will and leave it whenever he wished; and though a good chief must have a level head, there was something so satisfying about being a berserker. For one moment he wouldn't think about whether that mindset was so easy for him because he was a Dragmire, or if it flowed through his veins as if some kind of demonic-worshipping taint. For one moment he wouldn't think at all.

Releasing a bloodthirsty war cry, Ganondorf threw himself into the fray. He shouldered aside the line of guards to reach the first invader he could sink his teeth into. From there it was as simple as lift and swing, lift and swing. He lifted his heavy blade and he brought it down on some weakling. Blood flew around him, flesh collected at his feet, and nothing could stop his heavy blade combined with his divine-infused strength. The mercenaries brought few shields between them, and mostly used make-shift weapons or lower quality iron or sub-standard steel. Everything was crushed under him, flesh and metal and bone and wood. Very quickly his black blades were red, his black skin was red, his clothes were red... really was there anything left of him that wasn't red, one might wonder?

Amidst the screams of men grunting and dying, there was a yelling he heard that touched something in the back of his mind. Something tickled in the back of his head. He shook the thought away and continued tearing away at everyone in front of him.

A boy looked up at him, sword raised like he was about to swing, but stopped himself. He was visibly disappointed. "Well, I was going to get those two but that works."

Ganon looked down. He briefly felt confused, as he had to force himself to remember. Ganon blinked a few times. Oh, right, his name was Link. Link's eyes widened. "What are you doing here?!"

"Followed the sound of death." Ganon looked back at the men he had just been fighting. "We were having a bit of a disagreement. They wanted to live and well... I didn't."

"Why do you want to die?"

"Wha-... no, I-I mean- I meant I wanted THEM to die-"

"Is it cause you're weird?"

"...What?" Ganon asked, dumbfounded.

Link stared noting off things like he was reading from a grocers list. "Well I mean you have those red eyes, that ridicules hair-"

Growling, Ganon cut down the first invader to notice them. At this point, Ganon and Link found themselves in the fray again as the Royal Guard pushed forward.

"-, your ears aren't pointed, you growl a lot, and to top it all off... you're kind of a jerk."

Ganon sighed. "And apparently now this is happening." He grabbed a man's head and shoved him into the stone ground. Blood splattered everywhere as he split the man's skull. "Look. I've had enough arguments pissing me off today to meddle with you. I am being kind by not stabbing you. Unless you would like me to retract that kindness... but then whose the villain...?"

"...You."

Ganondorf stuttered in confused surprise, "N-no! That was a rhetorical question."

"And I gave you a rhetorical answer." Link replied calmly as he ducked and stabbed.

Ganon stopped to stare at the boy. Never in all his life had he met people who could get baffle him so much.

These men really weren't all that tough. They were as poorly trained, not armed well, and their coordination was non-existent. Especially as Ganon didn't see a leader among them. Without order and coordination they were little more than individuals amidst chaos unable to know where to turn, what to do, or whether to go forward or flee back. Many were dropping everything and fleeing in fear without anyone to keep moral up and keep them focused.

"Where is their leader?" Ganon wondered. He cut down another invader.

"Think he's one I got." Link replied.

One man Ganon had not killed was slightly better armored than the rest was dead next to Link as well as two others. Ganon nodded. That was about as much acknowledgement or respect as the boy would get out of him. While neither of them knew it, Link had grown much stronger since the last time he fought. He had trained daily all of his life, but he had never had real combat experience and his first real combat experience was against Royal Guard in Zelda's campaign to retake the palace. Compared to his training partner, Midna, and compared to the Royal Guard he had fought... these invaders were like children waving swords around.

Before long the invaders fled. Without their leader to keep their moral and resolve strong, and without coordination, they swiftly turned from a single mass with a single purpose into dozens of individuals in confusion aimed in many directions. Many fled, others tried to keep fighting, some surrendered. Almost all at once they turned into a confused mass.

No longer seeing any purpose in this, Ganon stopped and lowered his swords. "We did it." Link breathed.

Suddenly remembering something, Link exclaimed, "The princess!" He made a mad dash into the mass of men. Ganon, however, reached in, grabbed him, lifted him up (with his legs still going), and dropped him safely out of the way. Growling in frustration, Link tried to run in again, but once more Ganon stopped him. Link barked angrily, "What is that for?!"

"If you run in, dressed as you are, the guard will see you as just another mercenary. At least stay by me and I can vouch for you."

"Oh... Thanks."

"Now, what is this about the princ-?" Ganon asked.

"Holy Naryu, did you bath in blood?" Link gasped. He covered his nose and took a step back. Ganon closed his eyes, and with a prayer to Din for patience lest he murder the kid, he repeated the question. "Oh, right! Long story! No time! Everyone at first gate: dead. Everyone at second gate: dead. Invasion a distraction! Mercenaries and bandits attacking multiple areas! Princess in danger! Assassins are in the palace!"

"How do you know this?" Ganon asked. How could this... simpleton claim to know so much of what happening when the royal guard were left in the dark?

Unless it wasn't so much that they were in the dark, so much as them seeing something simple where it was complex.

Ganon looked down at the invaders. The invaders were weak. They couldn't have possibly killed everyone at the other gates... They had no chance of doing anything substantial, but they did succeed in drawing the Royal Guard to key locations...

Ganon's head snapped up as it fit into place just as the boy claimed. "Assassins are in the palace!" He yelled. "Spread out and find them! Secure the key points of travel within the palace, not without! Inspect the servant passages and the roof tops and gardens and every passage way leading in and out of the palace! And you!" He shoved a finger at Link. "Do you know where the princess's quarters are?"

-Zelda-

Zelda was not happy.

The fact that the palace was being attacked was no small thing, but the timing of it all struck her as more than coincidental. The Fae had caught an intruder in her library not long ago that mysteriously disappeared. There was Impa's warning of Zant, as well as Lady Reida's warning. Then there was the fact that she was the only thing standing in Chancellor Ryo's way to the throne. Or that she had executed Chancellor Ketsu. Or dethroned and 'disappeared' her brother, Prince Kyou. All of this had been done in a remarkably short time, and an attack on her could easily be a backlash of any of those events. Ketsu's or Kyou's former followers could be rioting, Ryo could have launched something, the Sheikah civil dispute might be reaching its climax, or for all she knew Lady Reida could have changed her slightly positive and respectful disposition of Zelda and decided the princess was not a worthy heir to the throne because Zelda had brought down her fiancé.

Zelda was at a loss for the source of the attack, but this thought paled in comparison to the worry of what it would do to her position.

Because in the span of a single year she had dethroned her brother.

She had lost her throne in a palace invasion, costing the lives of many nobles and ministers.

She fled, something that undoubtedly lost her much respect in this honor-based world.

While she was gone rallying a return, the palace went up in flames a second time, one of the most powerful and secretive houses of Qin fell into civil war, and the rest of Qin started following into civil war.

Then she attacked the palace to retake the throne.

Now the palace is being attacked a third time.

Just what would this do to the stability of Qin? How would they feel about her as a monarch? Was she doomed to curse everything and everyone she touched?

"You are a curse! You cursed Zhao, and if you flee to Qin, you will only curse them!"

"Even now your curse is at work. Look at yourself! You can't even feel pain! A man just died for you... would you allow them all to die?"

Zelda shuddered in memory. She had hoped to escape, or even destroy, that demon that haunted her. But it seemed its echo would not leave her. Zelda had declared fervently that she was a queen, and from that moment she had decided she would carry the burden of the dead and the living on her shoulders.

She had just hoped it would have shown some sign of progress, instead of her existence continuing to torment everything around her. Time after time the palace was filled with bloodshed and fire. Time after time she was showing what kind a leader she was. A cursed one.

"Your highness!" Sarah squealed.

Zelda looked up at Sarah's fearful face, and followed her gaze. Zelda was holding herself tightly and her finger nails had dug into her skin. She didn't even feel the pain.

She was numb.

Zelda slowly unclenched her hands and placed them on her lap. She stared at her hands. The bleeding was not bad, but there was undoubtedly blood on the tips of her finger nails now. Sarah rushed over and attended to her. Zelda allowed the girl to touch her mutely.

Zelda felt Sarah's worried stare. She did her best to ignore it. She didn't know what to do with concern.

"Your highness..." Sarah gulped, "I know it is not my place... but if there is anything you wish to confide in me..."

"Nothing." Zelda whispered. She looked to Sarah. "It's my curse. Unless you can transcend time and change my birth and bloodline, then talking would do no good."

"There is nothing I can do... but talking does help with burdens."

"You would carry the weight of a kingdom?" Zelda raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Millions of souls? Four hundred cities and fortresses?"

"I-"

A knock on the door interrupted them. Sarah's worried eyes widened with fear and she crawled away to hide behind the bed. Zelda grabbed her sword, and unsheathed it. She opened the door to find guards standing outside.

"Yes?" Zelda asked.

The guards bowed down onto one knee. "Princess," the captain said. "The situation is worse than expected. The bandits and mercenaries are attacking from the Sheikah pathways. We have reason to believe there are former Sheikah as well. We have to move you to a more secure location."

Zelda narrowed her eyes in thought. "Zant... So he is the one leading this."

Zelda had heard of the Sheikah pathways in and out of the palace. It was a system constructed into the foundation of the palace when the blueprints were first written. She had hoped to find them all and secure them, but they were hidden well for a reason. If only she had Sheikah on her side...

Didn't Impa mention an ally would be provided? Just where was she?

"Princess, we must hurry!" The captain insisted.

"Right." Zelda nodded. She glanced at the concubine cowering behind her. "Sarah, let's go."

"Y-yes!"

The captain placed Zelda and Sarah in their center to secure them and lead them away from the king's room. Zelda knew the palace well, and knew where she was being taken. Before long she found herself in what was probably the most secure part of the palace. Under the palace was a hidden room. This room was of stone, had no windows, and two doors. The first door lead into the room and was typical wood. The second door was solid metal and secured tightly. It was meant to contain only the worst prisoners, but it would also do in a pinch as a safe place.

"I appreciate your thought, captain, but I will not be placed in a cage to protect me." Zelda said. She stopped and would not take a step further towards the metal door.

"But Princess, I insist."

"This room will suffice. There is no hidden passage with which they may enter, nor a hole through which they can make a hidden strike. If the rogue Sheikah will strike at me, it will be after entering that door for all to see. Better to trap them here than hide me away."

The captain looked at the other guards worriedly, and they seemed to exchange a silent conversation. Zelda sighed. She appreciated their work, but there was a limit to how far she was willing to go. Besides, she already had something hidden behind that door. Something she did not want revealed.

The guard captain walked up to Zelda and said strongly, "Princess, I insist."

Zelda growled. "How dare-" Her eyes widened. She did not know the voice of every Royal Guard, but she did know the voice of every captain. "Y-you're not of my Royal Guard, are you!"

Zelda took a step back and pointed her blade at the captain. Sarah squealed in terror and stepped behind Zelda.

The captain sighed, and removed his helmet. "I had hoped you would comply quietly... but it seems she was right. You are a willful Princess. The name is Kei Ki the Beheader. Murderer. Mafia boss. And on occasion: informant and executioner for the Sheikah... or Royal Family. Up till today it was all the same really."

Zelda tightened the grip on her blade. "So you are an ally?"

Kei Ki shrugged casually. "It varies from day to day. What better to bring to a Sheikah civil war than a third-party? Impa said the crazy bastard might be extending his hand out to gather allies, and I took him up on his offer. Killed a few priests to prove myself, not really sorry about that, but you might want to find some less-corrupt men of the cloth next time."

"Enough!" Zelda barked. He had killed the priests of the temple?! Could she really trust this guy? "Impa would never engage with the likes as you!"

Kei Ki looked on her with a look she detested almost more than any other: pity. "Little girl, you have no idea the kind of people the Royal Family is in bed with... but as I can see, you don't trust my words. That is fair. Then let me remind you of something. Family has to stick together. Our bloodline binds us."

"Hardly." Zelda scoffed.

"Ouki's original name was Ou, also of the Ki family before he changed his family name to Mitagi, and made his personal name Ouki. Ouki is a second uncle."

"What's your point!"

"And my sister is one you are very familiar with. She had been bought by Chancellor Ryo and given to the king as a concubine: Bi Ki. That makes me your uncle. Speaking of whom. I really should catch up with her... Been so long since she was bought." Kei said as an afterthought.

Zelda's eyes widened in stark terror at the name. She shook. A chill ran over her. It sapped at her strength and pierced her to the bone. Her sword fell from her numb fingers.

-Impa-

Impa eyed the gate. The guards shifted nervously beside her. "I'm sure it will not be long now..."

Impa sighed. She rubbed her brow and shot an aggravated glare at the guards standing outside the palace gates. Sensing her aggravation, they called up once more to have the gate opened. The gate could not be opened from the outside, only from the inside.

The seconds passed, and still there was no response. Impa furrowed her brows in concern. The Royal Guard were the most decorated soldiers in Qin. They were a mix of veterans and trained sons of nobles, and they were professional. They had a boring job, but they were not lazy. There should always be a shift at the gate to open it for daily supplies.

All around Impa were the said supplies waiting to be allowed into the palace for the night.

Even as Impa watched, the crowd grew with greater and greater anxiety. Impa's presence, and her personal Sheikah escort, only added to the nerves until the crowd was pressing in on the guards demanding answers. The city guard banged on the gate and yelled for the Royal Guard to open the gates, but still there was silence. They turned back to the crowd that pressed on them, and Impa stood stock still. She allowed the crowd to flow around her. Without making a move, she disappeared.

Impa left the crowd and stepped to the side. Her Sheikah escort flanked her. They were not dressed in uniform, but wore peasant clothes to hide. Despite legends depicting them as wearing all white or black, proper Sheikah (and ninja) wore normal clothing and looked like nobody. Precisely as they wanted.

"Something is wrong..." Impa whispered. She watched the tops of the walls and gate. "I see no movement. The lights are lit... but I fear no one is home. Investigate quickly."

Her escort nodded and disappeared into the street. Minutes later they returned saying, "The Royal Guard are dead, my lady!"

Impa clenched her teeth, her fists, and her resolve. She dropped her coat on a nearby table and set her blades on her back hip. "Arm yourselves! Follow me in! I do not know what awaits, but we must ensure the heir is safe!"

They followed suit in drawing their weapons.

Before anyone could blink, the group had disappeared into the crowd again and would not reappear in plain sight again they stepped out of the shadows on the gate barracks. Impa leaned down over a body of a Royal Guard. She placed a finger on him. "He is dead." She murmured. Her escort confirmed it was the case with the others. She checked them all as well. "No blood. His eyes are bloodshot. Lips pale. Most likely poisoned..." She patted her hands off. There was a dead snake nearby.

"Zant..."