-Zelda's throne room-

The throne room was in the throes of activity. On one side was Zelda's meager faction, and those that followed her that were available on short notice. On the other side was Chancellor Ryo's much larger faction. The two were on opposite sides of the room, and never was it more evident than now just how much more powerful Ryo was than her.

In the midst of them all was a map of Qin. On the map was depicted the region in which was involved. Zhao had invaded the region, and reports were beginning to come in an ever increasing rate of them sending out invading parties to the surrounding villages and cities to slaughter the inhabitants. Qin had sent out parties to get the villagers to flee, but often times they were either too late or the villagers were too stubborn. Zelda breathed a sigh of relief when she heard a village had fled, but thus far it had been because of the locals telling their neighbors to flee, and not because of anything she could or couldn't do from so far away.

The lesser fortress of Baou had fallen. The greater fortress city of Bayou was holding them, but it was only a matter of time.

All of the available commanders and generals of Qin were gathering today. Kei Ki the Beheader, Moubu, and Matsubi. Ganondorf was also present, as an ally of Qin. In addition to the one-hundred thousand being assembled at Genyuu Pass, Kei Ki provided five thousand. With Moubu was twenty-thousand from Ryo's personal reserves. With Matsubi was the one-thousand of Zelda's formerly Royal Guard. The Elder Fae donated five Fae, as a token force. With Ganondorf was nobody...

Ganondorf's lack of reinforcements was one of the major points of much talk. Ganondorf insisted he could provide men to the army, even a token amount, yet Zelda insisted he remain and his campaign of the western mountains be continued with his full focus. There was also a matter of speed. It would take time for him to bring anything from the mountains.

The reason Zelda gave was that she wanted the Majora to be a secret army, and a hidden blade. The Majora would be crucial in the future, but she wanted them to have as much impact as possible when they are finally released, as the shock and awe of a new nation allied with Qin would shake their enemy. She wanted the Majora to stay a secret and be hidden until Ganondorf could provide, at minimum, a full scale army of one-hundred thousand.

To Ganondorf it was a reasonable ploy, one he would normally be in favor of, but he knew the real reason she wanted him held back. She lacked faith in him. He understood she was a person who did not trust easily, and his desire to meet with Harken Dragmire could be easily seen as a betrayal if looked at from a certain point of view; so he understood her. He also understood she was wrong. He would not betray the alliance. Without the alliance, how could he ever leave the mountains?

This reasoning confused both Ryo and Impa, as even a token force of a thousand could be of assistance without revealing the scale of what the Majora are capable of. Not to mention the fact that Zelda accepted the token squad given by the Fae, despite their extremely low population.

This point was disputed greatly among the ministers so that some on all sides spoke well of Zelda's thoughts, while others tried to reason with her and argued with each other.

"Ho-ho, it has been a long time since I've seen a council meeting so heated!" A man said from the door.

The massive bulk of Ouki Mitagi stood in the door frame. Behind him was the Englishman. Zelda smiled to see he had come. Ouki's eye drifted around the entire room. The man never looked happier.

"Never have I seen so many ministers gathered together. How is everyone?" Ouki greeted them all in his normal informal way.

Moubu stood and blocked Ouki's path. Zelda blinked in surprise. Moubu was even taller than Ouki, so much so that the Great Pillar of Qin had to look up at him. Ouki merely smiled as he always did.

"You're late." Moubu grunted. "Piss off."

"No thanks, I have already relieved myself." Ouki replied.

"You know what I mean."

"I know what you mean, and you know what I mean about what you mean. So you know what I will say about what you mean, and you know how this will go once I say what I mean. Seeing as how I was summoned, why don't we return to our place on the floor and not waste everyone's time?"

"Who would dare summon you, retired old vulture?"

"It was a joint decision, between the princess, Impa, and myself." Ryo said from the steps of the throne. "So that he may accept the role of commander-in-chief for the defense of Qin."

The ministers gaped collectively. No one had been told this. Ouki was the senior of them, but he was retired. It was assumed Moubu would be the commander-in-chief of them

"You!" Moubu glared at his master. "What did you say?! I am your minister of war!"

"And you sorely lack in what we need most." Ryo returned. "No one can argue your offensive ability. In that regard, you may very well compare to Ouki Mitagi. Yet we are being invaded and we need a powerful defense. In this, Ouki is your superior. He is equally capable of the way of the sword as well as the way of the shield, of offense and defense."

"There is no such thing as offense and defense in battle. Only of crushing your enemy!"

"That's enough, Moubu. You embarrass yourself, and you embarrass me. The matter has already been discussed and has been agreed upon by all parties."

Zelda nodded her agreement, as well as Impa. Moubu looked between them and to the unwavering eyes of Ryo. Moubu felt his pride kicked. His pride took a blow, but he also knew that Ryo's pride also took a blow because of this decision. Ouki Mitagi did not belong to Ryo. This singular fact was a blemish to the Chancellor. Ouki had given his support to the princess.

For Ryo to openly desire Ouki, a general of a rival faction within Qin, to lead this defensive campaign, and in so doing bring Zelda prestige... It showed how great the situation was. Ryo truly was working with Zelda at the expense of himself for the betterment of Qin. There was no taking advantage of this situation. There was only survival.

Moubu huffed and forced his way past Ouki to leave the room. He whispered, "Your era is over, old man. I will surpass you."

Ouki chuckled. "Do as you wish. If you can..." Moubu left the room. Ouki Mitagi cleared his throat as if nothing happened and said loudly, "Now then, where were we? Have you all tried tea? No? Englishman, do the thing!"

"I am afraid I cannot make enough for everyone on short notice, sir." The Englishman replied.

"Well then, some people are going to have to be left out!"

-Later-

The council meeting lasted for the better part of the day. Every second was of the essence, so what was necessary to discuss and plan was planned. Only if it was absolutely necessary. Ouki Mitagi proved to have a legendary understanding of war, so there was not much time needed in planning. A supply route and temporary logistics was planned, to which Ryo sent out his fastest and best. Impa sent Sheikah behind enemy lines. And in the end all Zelda had to do was sit and marvel at the understanding and coordination between them.

Ouki, Ryo, and Impa had many long years of experience in war, and it showed. So that Ganondorf, standing by watching, felt to be a child in comparison. They planned and considered matters he had never thought of before, and he felt he had received an education in both war and humbleness just being there.

The council meeting was concluded. And there was one final matter to be done. Impa stealthily handed Zelda a speech she read and memorized quickly, before standing to speak.

"The invading army from Zhao has already conquered the city of Baou. All the earth has been salted and the citizens butchered or enslaved. Right now, the key to the region, the fortress city of Bayou, is under siege. Were Zhao's army to break through Bayou, this tragedy shall spread throughout all of Qin. Understand that the survival of our kingdom hinges on this battle. General Ouki Mitagi, the Pillar of Qin, the Great Bird of Qin, I hereby appoint you as our commander-in-chief! Take command of Qin's army of one-hundred thousand. Take Kei Ki! Take Moubu! Take Matsubi! You must save Bayou and exterminate the Zhao army which dares to encroach upon our lands!"

To this Ouki Mitagi had one response. He knelt onto one knee, bowed his head, put his fist into his open palm, and said, "Understood."

The ministers departed the room, Ouki stood and marched out of the room. Zelda let out a shaky breath. She whispered, "What does 'encroach' mean?"

Ryo made his way out of the palace and met Ouki as the man boarded his horse. "Ouki, a word."

"A quick one, I hope. The army awaits."

"Just... be your guard." Ryo said, unusually hesitant. "This Zhao army. This timing. This general. There is more to this than meets the eye."

"You feel it too?" Ouki sighed. "Do you have an inkling of an idea, Chancellor?"

"None. My greatest spies report nothing is out of place. The money flow is where it should be. The logistics, the movements, the gossip, the information. The facts are there as they should be, but I cannot shake this feeling that there is something more. Something passing beyond even my perception."

Ouki stared at the man briefly. In their own ways, they were both rivals and friends. One was master of war and refused to enter politics. The other was a master of politics and refused to enter war. As they could never truly fight each other in a proper way to overcome the other, they found themselves inevitably equal. In this way they danced around each other, regularly jabbing but never connecting for all the years they knew each other. They went back many years. Ouki knew just how perceptive Ryo was, and if Ryo sensed something... there must be something there. But for this mysterious object in which Ryo feared to pass beyond his sight, it must be something worthy of great caution.

"... I will be on my guard. Thank you, Chancellor."

Ryo nodded. As Ouki and his first-in-command rode off, Ryo said, "Return to Qin safely, General."

-Zelda-

Following the meeting with Ouki Mitagi, Zelda walked out to the outer palace walls. Far in the distance she could see Genyuu Pass, and beneath it was the barely foreseeable mass of men that would comprise the army Ouki was taking command of.

Zelda wished she could do something to help... but there was nothing she could do. What she could do, she had already done. It was now in Ouki's hands.

No. There was still one thing she could do. It was not only in Ouki's hands, it was in the hands of the divine. Zelda prayed.

It was a small prayer, a simple one really. But Zelda felt it necessary, and with the fate of the kingdom in the balance, it was important to not be held back by pride. Zelda did not claim to be a humble princess. She would admit to look at people with disdain and distrust. But the divine had laid down the foundation of the times, of her rule, of her rescue. So if there was any one she would humble herself to, it was the divine.

"Oh, don't mind me." The Elder Fae said as he stumbled upon her.

"No offenses given, Elder. I was finished. Are you here to watch them depart as well?"

"I am. May I join you?" The Elder walked up beside her.

"Please. Your company would be nice." In the distance she watched as Ouki's party left the capital to ride towards the army. "I needed some air. Ryo and Impa are smothering for... entirely different reasons."

"One is a powerful rival and the other is overbearing."

"Indeed. Ryo has put his machinations to a halt with recent events, which is a good break, but Impa..."

"She sees you as one would a daughter."

"... I wasn't going there. I wouldn't know." Zelda frowned. She sure hoped Impa did not see her that way. It did not sit well for her if so. She didn't want another mother. Mothers and fathers were problematic. Inevitably it would bring problems for her. Not the least of which is taking matters into her own hands, forgetting Zelda is her monarch... which is entirely possible for a former Shadowmaster to do. Sheikah are prone to secrets and plots.

"I am glad to see your mood improved in time for the meeting. I was wary your argument with Ganondorf Dragmire would sour it." Elder said with a pleased tone.

Zelda frowned. "You heard?"

"You were in my Grove. We all did."

Zelda sighed. That was just great. "I hope you are not going to insert yourself into it. The last thing that needs is to be brought back up at a volatile time as this."

"If I may, I will. But I take no sides."

"... I can accept that much." Zelda felt her relaxing moment outside was over. If he wanted to bring up a sour subject, then so be it. Her life was full of such discussions. Thinking of it made her miss Link. He was a simple boy, straight forward, and never complicated. He had a way of making simple things brighter and complicated things less so. She could use a bit more of that in her life.

Zelda looked to him. "So... our argument. What is your take on it?"

"You are both two sides of the same coin. Or two sides of the same triangle, rather. It is not about who is wrong or not. Not in this case. What is right for you is not right for him. In the same way, what is right for him is not right for you. You lack understanding of him, in the same way he lacks understanding of you."

"If you want to take this analogy so far, then of what Link?"

"I have found there is not much to understand with him."

Despite herself, Zelda laughed. The bluntness of his statement made it comical. The Elder snorted.

"Link is simple. He has an innocence and courage you both lack, yet will find yourself desperately clinging on to. But alas, let us return to where I was. my point was, you both lack understanding of the other. You believe in destiny, in fate. Ganon can understand this to an extent. He believes in reaping what you sow, and in the worth of one's self. You can understand this, yes?"

"I can."

"Yet while you both say you can understand it, you cannot. He cannot understand that his belief damns you. It was fate, destiny, divine will, whatever you wish to call it; ultimately it was power outside of your control that saved you, and to say 'what you have earned' is trumped by 'a power outside of your control' would mean your worth and value as a common street urchin has, in fact, only made you a borrower of something you have not earned. It would mean you are still a..."

"A rat."

"More or less." The Elder nodded. "You are where you are because the divines decided it to be so. It was power outside of your control. You rely entirely on faith. Yet, I have also seen you understand work enough to do your best in the position granted you. In this way, that is where your limited understanding of him comes from."

"Okay?" What he said made sense, but she felt he was leading to something.

"But you cannot understand him. You cannot understand that your belief in fate damns him."

"Because he is born of a rebellious demon-worshipping clan? Because he has their blood in their veins? Please... that is not so bad. I would rather not the Kei family in my veins, yet here I am."

"..." The Elder did not respond at first. He looked out and Zelda followed his gaze. She felt it in the triangle on her hand as much as she saw it. Ganon was riding out to follow Ouki.

"Damn him..." Zelda hissed. She had hoped he wouldn't do something so foolish. Could she truly depend on no one to do something foolish? Impa left her once, Link was just plain stupid when he wasn't being smart, and now Ganon was running off to join a war she specifically did not want him involved in!

"Don't." Elder snapped quietly. Zelda felt her face flush in embarrassment.

"My apologies." Zelda whispered. "But he infuriates me."

"Everything does. You are young and experiencing puberty. Your height has spiked in the last year, and you are going through changes in the body."

"..." Zelda didn't particularly know what to say to that, but her first compulsion was words that were unpleasant.

She said, "And you think his choice is not so selfish?"

"Oh, it is selfish. But then matters of the soul require a certain selfishness and as a Fae, a servant of Farore, I pray he will find what he seeks."

"I..." Zelda lost her words and sighed. What could she say to that? She had no answers to refute it.

"To answer your question before... It is far more than just a bloodline of demon-worshippers that damns him. If it was just that, Ganon would have been able to let it go already. No, it is merely a part of his puzzle that he has started to sense."

Seeing Zelda's curiosity, the Elder said, "The powers of Twilight predate the divine in this world. It was the Divine that banished the Twilight. The conflict between the two energies and forces create chaos, and from that springs demons."

"Yes, I know that."

The Elder nodded. "You know this. I know this. Ganon knows this. But did you know his mother's wield both Twilight and Din Fire. They do so separately. One uses Twilight. One uses Din Fire. If either of them were to try both, they would die. Yet Ganon uses both, and he does not die. Why is this? How can he wield conflicting forces and live?"

"It is because he is... destined?" Zelda considered. It was a good quandary he posed. She had seen him use both. Why then was Ganon alive?

"Perhaps." The Elder mused. "But for better or for worse? At first, he may have concluded it was a good form of destiny. That he was simply gifted. The triangle on his hand would certainly lead one to believe so. But then learning one's blood is that of demon worshippers provides an answer he cannot accept. That is why your belief in destiny damns him."

"What are you suggesting?"

"I am suggesting only what he thinks... that he draws his power from neither Twilight nor Din Fire. But something formed in between. That his power comes from a demon worshippers blood. He fears that despite his worship of Din... that he will never be good enough. That no amount of effort will ever save him if it is so because he is simply... doomed."

Zelda felt her breath hitch a bit. She had thought a little about it before, when she had heard the Dragmire clan had worshipped demons. Ganondorf had even alluded to this a bit in this thoughts, but was it truly so bad as the Elder made it out to be?

The Elder said nothing more. Nothing more needed to be said. Zelda felt guilt pile up in her stomach. She had fought Ganondorf adamantly for selfish reasons on her own part. She wanted to keep him a secret, neatly tucked away in the corner of Qin until she was ready to unleash him. But wasn't that the very thing Ganon had railed against, and that she had promised to help him from? For him to see the world and experience life outside the mountains?

She wanted to distrust him because he was a Dragmire who wanted to go to war with a Dragmire while forcing answers out of him. She had fallen into the trap of judging him for his bloodline, than his self. Ganondorf and Harken may be distantly related by clan, but their agendas were as opposite as they came.

Hopefully the worst she could expect from Ganondorf is a plea for mercy on Harken's behalf. Hopefully. Zelda tried not to think about him outright betraying her, but it was difficult. So many have.

"I should... apologize when he returns. I tried to control him. He is an ally, not a servant. He brought up a sensitive subject and my blood turned ice cold... Perhaps you are right. I am infuriated easily more and more. I should... try... to trust him more. I did accept him as an ally, after all. As I did you."

"At least try." The Elder agreed.