-Road to Genyuu Pass-

The air was much lighter on the day following the festivities. Zelda felt what animosity there was between Ganondorf Dragmire and Geoffrey Mitagi had been bridged for the most part. Their past actions may never truly go away, as it was not the nature of man to forget nor forgive, but Zelda hoped they would not surface again. Both men had taken a step in the right direction, and in it she sensed there was a hint to the answer of a question she had long been struggling with. A question Ganondorf forced to her attention:

'You think it enough to erase all borders?' He had said early in their relationship. 'You think it enough to unite the kingdoms? Even if you do so, what is there to unite people whose cultures and way of thinking are inherently different?'

For some, Zelda deduced, perhaps it was to act as children do. She did not mean their traits of immaturity and insolence, but rather their willingness to embrace others, naive to their own safety and security. Unfortunately, this was impractical. Few adults lived this way because they developed Man's nature to not forgive and understand each other. That nature then led to a callous willingness to harm others to increase their own prosperity. Attacking others also created a higher need for self-preservation that only strengthened the walls between them.

Heightened acceptance leads to a lack of security, while heightened security leads to a lack of acceptance. If one considered outsiders a threat, security would naturally be one's inclination, and the same would be said in reverse. Unfortunately, Zelda knew, in this era of endless war, nobody perceived anyone as anything but a threat.

Zelda sighed and forced herself away from her dismal thoughts. They would be things she would ponder for many years before her reunification war could even begin. She first needed to survive to that point and with a kingdom capable of defeating six others, none of which easy if Qin continued to bleed.

Before long, the Great Wall of Genyuu Pass towered before Zelda's carriages, and she and her party entered its gates. Along with her on her return to the capital was the Majoran ambassadors, Ganondorf, Link, her royal guard, and additional guards from Mitagi. Geoffrey had stayed behind to continue the repair work on the fortress, and he planned a march to the border in a show of strength afterwards.

"It really had been a nice ride through the country up 'til now," Zelda commented sourly.

Beside her carriage, Ganondorf rode on a horse leisurely. "This land is bigger than I would have imagined. I considered Qin incredible just seeing it from the mountains to this wall, but to see it go on as far as the eye can see... It is like an ocean of grass. Makes me wish to run and see if I could ever reach the ends of it."

Zelda smiled. From his soft tone, she gathered that he enjoyed the ride. "Just imagine: for thousands of years, the three of us have fought on it over and over in an endless cycle, and if we do not fix it, we may end up cycling through until the end of time. We may cycle until this same land is covered in ocean and fire... and we sink together in the depths of our own madness to become nothing more than an endless dance."

Ganondorf showed nothing in response. After their brief talk, the trip carried on leisurely. Malon rode with Nabooru and sang a riding song with the Majora. Link snored atop a carriage, having finally passed out after days of little rest.

"Neat," Ganondorf finally said.

Zelda chuckled. She had been contemplative and retrospective about their fate, and the only conclusion was that it was 'neat.'

"With how Link antagonizes you, I bet you two bickered the most in our past lives," Zelda added.

"That is one way of putting it," Ganondorf replied. "He is... unusually attached. It is as if he enjoys having his face beaten in."

"Doesn't surprise me. He lost his best friend at the same time he met us and was a simpleton. Yet even for a simpleton, he does not bear the weight of nations on his shoulders, allowing an innocence I wish I could have. I think he felt the connection to us by instinct."

Ganondorf groaned. "Typical of a pup!" His eyes briefly turned sad. They saw Zelda's pet hawk flying overhead. "I miss him... Kagami."

"Your wolf?"

Ganondorf nodded. "The last I saw him was before turning into a demon. I have not seen him since. He would not have left my side, so I can only conclude I killed him."

"Kagami may have fled and is now in the wilds."

"A comforting option, but I will never know unless he finds his way home."

"How long did you have him?"

"Not long by Majoran standards. Any attempts to bond me with an animal too early ended with it dead. It was not until after my awakening when I didn't kill them." Ganondorf looked at the horizon nostalgically. "Even among the animals, I had garnered great fear. Kagami was the first to test my wrath, much against the wishes of his pack. He was always an outsider like that, trying things and testing boundaries."

Zelda smiled. A part of her was surprised: this was the first time Ganondorf had opened up about any part of his life. Of course, she knew much more than he thought from his mothers and the Fae, but she never had him be the one to relate anything.

"Kagami sounds an awful lot like Link," Zelda said. Ganondorf's expression soured, leading her to chuckle. If his face was anything to go by, he didn't like the comparison. "I admit I am rather jealous. I never had a bond with an animal until Andim, and even then, the bond of a hawk and master isn't as close as what I see between one and their dog. Andim is proud, likes to have her chest feathers ruffled and the flesh around her beak scratched, but the sheer amount of emotion in a hound is something else entirely."

Ganondorf did not say anything, so Zelda continued. "I am sorry you miss him, but I hope Kagami is well and running freely through your ocean of grass."

Ganondorf smiled at the thought. He then shook his head. "I am well, Princess. Perhaps he is better off there. I wouldn't want him anywhere else."

Before long, they came to the capital walls, and the road split. The Majora started down the road leading west, and stopped to rest and garner supplies from the city. There was a long ride ahead for them.

"What do you plan to do?" Zelda asked. "Now that you are no longer king, it is not the same as before, but I hope I can still rely on you. Yet from what I understand, you wish to do something about your bloodline's curse."

"It is true," Ganondorf said. "I hope to purify myself in some way. It was dipping in the waters of the Fae Grove that awakened me, and I hope another will destroy the Twilight's taint on me entirely."

"There is a Grove in my palace."

"And I am thankful you would offer it. It is near, but doing so will destroy the grove. Fae live in their Groves, and though I hope the western grove in the Valley of the Dragon has healed itself, I would not wish to destroy entire villages of our allies just for a bath."

The Fae Elder approached as a centaur. "And I will accompany him."

"You are not returning to my ministry?" Zelda frowned. She quite liked the Fae. They were among the few comforts she had in the palace with Ryo present.

"I will, but not right now. Ganondorf's need of me is far more urgent. There is also the matter of the Twilight monster's origin. I suspect, even fear, there is a connection between the Twilight and the Fae. I believe the monsters were originally Fae and have been transformed. I must convene with my people and look into this matter."

Zelda's expression turned serious. "Is this a threat to Qin?"

"I dearly hope not," Elder answered. "I will see to it that it is not and inform you of what I find."

She nodded. "I pray it goes well. You as well, Lord Dragmire. You can expect the Dragmire to be freed and escorted to Majoran hands over the coming time."

Ganondorf bowed his head in thanks. "Until another day, Heir Apparent." He turned his horse and trotted towards the Majoran group. Elder saluted before following after him.

Zelda turned back to her carriage to see Link struggle off the top and fall flat on his face. He quickly rose from the ground and shook himself.

She chuckled. "Are you awake now?"

"If I wasn't before, I am now!" Link groaned. He took his spear from the side of the carriage where it was held. "This is where we part ways for a while, Princess. I need to head home and prepare to return to the front lines."

"So you are returning to the fight?"

Link's expression turned serious, even dangerous, as he strapped the Spear of Nayru to his back. "I think you are right. Qin is bleeding. Our enemies will notice, and while I may not be able to fight an actual army, as a one-hundred-man captain, I can at least pick off the small guys from raiding our villages."

"Three-hundred man," Zelda corrected.

"No, no, Ouki made me a one-hundred-man," Link argued.

"And I..." Zelda smiled, "made you three-hundred." Link stared at her, slowly processing what she said. "It was approved by Geoffrey before we left."

"How much is three-hundred compared to one hundred?"

"Uh..." Zelda briefly thought about a way to explain it. She put up one finger. "This is one." She raised two more fingers. "This is three."

The surprise and joy on Link's face was positively radiant, and Zelda felt a little warm in thinking she had given the best reward he could have asked for.

Link turned toward the Majoran camp and hollered, "HEY, DICK! GUESS WHAT!?"

"WHAT!?" Ganondorf barked back.

"I GREW THREE SIZES!"

Zelda and Sarah blushed furiously. Nabooru burst out laughing. Malon sighed, and Ganondorf stared at Link, dumbfounded. Surrounding soldiers either chuckled madly or were stunned someone would yell something like that in front of the princess.

"Good to know..." Ganondorf replied, emotionless.

Zelda pinched the bridge of her nose with one hand and smacked Link with the other. "Do you even hear yourself?!"

"Yeah!" Link replied. "You made me grow bi-"

"Don't even finish that!" Zelda hissed. She turned, marched back into the carriage, and slammed the door. "Just go!"

Link watched Zelda's carriage leave. He rubbed his shoulder. "What's her deal?" He wondered to himself.

-Two months later, Link, Qin-Lorule Border-

"The problem was context," Solitare explained. "They didn't know what you were talking about and assumed it was sexual. You offered no context before blurting it out."

"But the context wasn't sexual. Why would they instantly assume that? It could have been my height," Link argued.

Hei snorted, prompting Link to glare at his friend.

"When you say things like that without context, people tend to instantly assume so," Solitare added.

"Sounds like people just have filthy minds..."

Two months had passed since Link had last seen Zelda and Ganondorf. He had returned home to ready his old friends and new troops as a newly made three-hundred-man officer. Currently, Link, Hei, and Solitare sat in the trees and acted as lookouts near a road on the border of Qin and Lorule. Scouts under Duke Hyou's command had found a small army was on its way to attack a village, and the Duke commissioned Link to stop the raiding party. The Duke was busy positioning himself and his soldiers so a much larger army wouldn't try to cross.

After a few minutes of quiet talking and observation, Solitare suddenly put her hands over both boys' mouths. Her expression turned serious, and she gestured for quiet. Link listened closely. The sound of marching was distant, but nearing.

"That's your signal," Link whispered to Hei.

"I do not agree with this plan!" Hei hissed quietly.

"Don't care! Go!"

"I can't do it!"

"Well, figure it out!" Link literally kicked Hei off his branch. His larger friend crashed into the bushes below.

With the raiding army approaching, Hei quickly moved out of the bushes and into the road. He pulled out the contents of a sack on his back and started to work with them.

Hei juggled. Or rather, he tried. He was quite clumsy at it, causing Link to smile.

"I don't think this was wise," Solitare whispered.

"Why?" Link asked. "He isn't armored, nor does he have a sword! He looks like a random performer."

"The idea of juggling at a time like this is foolish."

"Pfft. He'll be fine. That's why we're here."

Solitare gave Link an uncertain glance. She sighed. "Where did you get an idea like this?"

"From a man who knows much more about warfare than either of us."

Solitare raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Link shut his mouth tight. The soldiers of Lorule came into view. He saw Hei visibly tense, but continued trying to juggle. However, he was so nervous that the balls dropped at his feet. He tried again desperately, but he kept dropping them. Out of the corner of Link's eyes, Solitare tensed and crouched, almost disappearing from his sight. Were he not used to her tricks, she would be gone. He heard her shaky breath.

The soldiers of Lorule halted in front of Hei, and a few laughed. Link smiled. His plan was working.

"You see him?" Link whispered as quietly as he could. Solitare tapped his knee twice, their code for confirmation.

The soldiers pointed their swords and spears at Hei. They considered the possibility of skewering him for their amusement.

Link froze. His plan wasn't working anymore. He whispered, "Go."

Solitare disappeared from sight. Link breathed in and out for what he was about to do. He activated his Gift, climbed down the tree, ran into the road, picked up a nearly-frozen Hei, and ran away. When he felt he had given the army enough space, Link released the power and everything shifted back into its normal pace.

"What the-" Hei hollered. He suddenly found himself on Link's back and not the road. Link dropped him onto his feet. At the same time, Link heard a great deal of yelling and confusion behind them.

"We are NOT doing that again! I am telling you, I can't juggle! That was humiliating!" Hei exclaimed. Solitare darted past them through the trees, a man's severed head dangling from her fingers.

"No time! Run!" Link pushed Hei forwards.

The two ran down the road with enemy soldiers running after them. A few on horseback forced their way through the ranks and galloped ever closer to the Qin.

Link and Hei ran across a line drawn in the sand. Immediately after, arrows flew out of the neighboring trees and into the ranks of Lorule. The Lorule fell into confusion long enough for another volley to be released. Den Yuu stepped openly into the road, a wooden door strapped to one hand and a mace in the other, as he shielded the backs of Link and Hei.

Following his initiative, the Qin force swarmed on the Lorule, pinning them in on every side. Barely a minute had passed before the Lorule realized there was no one giving orders and every man fled for themselves.

"That's enough!" Link yelled. He stepped into the ranks of his men. The Qin stopped and stepped back. Link saw several Lorule men had died, several had fled, and several more had been thrust into the midst of the Qin ranks without an opening to escape.

Link moved for a closer look at his prisoners. "Take their weapons and armor. Soli, bring it to me."

Solitare stepped forward and handed Link the head of the commanding Lorule officer. Link held the head up for all to see before throwing it on the ground. "Go back and tell everyone that this is what happens to those who would raid our homes!"

"You're sparing us?" A prisoner asked, surprised.

"We're sparing them?" Solitare asked as well. "Are you sure? Lorule would pay for soldiers at ransom."

"Yeah, I am," Link answered. "Let them go back."

His unit opened a space for the soldiers to walk through. The Lorule soldiers were hesitant, expecting a spear in the back, and walked slowly. But after ten or so steps, they realized Link's word was true and fled.

Link looked at Solitare. "Make sure they cross the border." She nodded and ran into the forest. "The rest of you, loot the bodies and burn them afterwards. Take the horses."

A brief account showed that two of their number had died, and another five were wounded. The first death was Shau, son of a priest. The second was Carou Ki, son of a farmer.

Among the spoils were three horses unharmed, two more with minor wounds, fifty sets of weapons, fifty sets of armor ranging from scraps to hard leather, and several thousand rupees.

Link's unit returned to their camp on the border of Duke Hyou's camp, distributed the wealth, and generally celebrated another victory. It was a moment Link smiled on as he watched from a nearby hill, but did not join in.

He was in charge of three hundred men now. They were provided from the local reserves and garrisons and were more than happy to follow after him. It surprised Link to hear he had a small reputation as the bearer of the Spear of Nayru. The soldiers who had witnessed him fight Harkin Dragmire, not just once, but several times, spoke of him to their comrades. They knew Link bore the weight of Ouki on his shoulders as they fled on horseback. Link had been in several battles at the palace, and once at Mitagi, where a small group knew of him and created a stir big enough for all the corners of Qin to have at least heard of him.

His men made up the most basic infantry one could ask for. They were mostly men of prior occupations who joined the reserves for various reasons. Some were so poor it was the best option available, some wanted to protect their homes, and some simply wanted the adventure and honor. More than a few of the youngest soldiers had joined for the glory. All of their armor was nothing more than cloth when they started a month ago, and they used rusted, blunt weapons. For all extensive purposes, Link was handed a peasant army that was mixed with a few soldiers.

Link soon left his perch and entered the largest tent in camp. Within it, Solitare sat at a table and looked up as he entered. Before her were two scrolls.

"How are the letters coming?" Link asked.

"I am finished if you wish me to read them to you," Solitare replied.

Link pulled out a chair and sat down to listen. Solitare painfully sucked in her breath and began reading aloud. The scrolls were letters to Shau's father and Carou's father. Both included stamped approval for them to garner some money portions from their local garrisons for their losses.

Link sighed. "It doesn't feel like enough. Even if I were to give them the horses and rupees we gathered, it wouldn't be enough."

"It isn't," Solitare agreed. "Nothing can truly compensate them for their loss, but it is more than they would receive otherwise. I know you dislike Ryo, but his economic reforms are providing for them." Link grunted. "You are giving them a moment of your time and respect. You honor them and their sacrifice. For many, that is enough."

Link frowned and said nothing. He didn't know what to say. He agreed, but only on the surface. Every loss in his unit was a person. With each loss, he felt the heavy weight return, that weight so similar to the loss of his one-hundred in the Harken Dragmire war.

His attention shifted as Solitare rose. She hissed in pain, stiffened, but quickly gathered the scrolls for release to the inner country.

"Still in pain?" Link asked.

"Yeah," She admitted. She handed the scrolls to a soldier outside, gave the orders of their delivery, and returned to sit.

Link felt more burdened than ever. He felt for Solitare and Ganondorf. It was something they hadn't talked about, but he had no doubts she knew it was Ganondorf who had burned her. It was Ganondorf who was a friend to Link. It was Ganondorf who Link had gone to Mitagi to help free.

She still kept a hood over most of her face like always, so the new scars weren't very noticeable. But he knew what now laid underneath. The burn had taken part of her hair, disfigured a portion of her face near the ear, and horribly disfigured her back and side. She was only willing to remove the hood in small circles of people.

"I'm sorry," Link said. "If there is anything I can do..."

"I am well, Link." Solitare smiled comfortingly, but soon grimaced all the same. "The ointments help the worst of it."

This did not alleviate Link's worry, though. He knew she would carry this burn for the rest of her life, and it was partially his fault. If only he had stopped Harken.

A guard from outside entered the tent. "Sir, there is a scroll from Duke Hyou here for you."

Link nodded in understanding. The soldier handed him the message, saluted, and left. Link passed it to Solitare to read.

Solitare looked over the scroll and said, "The Duke is moving south to a walled city. The Gerudo are pushing in, and the Duke hopes his presence will slow them down enough for the Mitagi to regroup. He fears that his absence will cause the raiding parties to increase." Along with the scroll was a map. A part of it was circled. "We are to patrol this region. We can rely on the fortress of Xianyang as our base."

"Well, there are our orders," Link said to himself. "Better get to it."

"Don't you think it's a better idea to rest first?" Solitare asked. There was no answer. She looked up from the map to find Link was already gone. She frowned and wished he would take it easy now and then. Most saw Link as an inexhaustible ball of energy, but the few who were around him enough knew otherwise.