-Zelda-

Zelda stood in her study while facing the map of Hyrule. It included the nations, the hundreds and hundreds of cities, the roads, the rivers, and the mountains. All of it laid bare before her. She didn't know what it was she was searching for, but something had been bothering her ever since the alliance was made.

"You really should be at the feast," Impa said.

Zelda turned to see Impa with a concerned expression.

"No need to fret, dear Impa," Abhdan chuckled from the doorframe. "I told you she would be here." The old man staggered his way inside and collapsed in a chair. "It is not as though royalty is required to attend. Zelda goes where she wills. More often than not, kings and princes will pass on feasts."

"Be that as it may," Impa insisted. "I advise you to show some face, Your Highness. Let the noble families see you. Say a word with Zhao's Chancellor."

Zelda sighed. "I will, I promise... I just... something bothers me."

"What?"

"The alliance. Something doesn't feel right about it."

Abhdan chuckled. "Oh-ho! So the princess has sensed it too."

"So I'm right," Zelda noted.

"Of course, it is always best to trust one's feelings of trepidation in dealing with men worthy of caution. Riboku is proving to be amongst the best I have seen. In this case, it is a very real 'thing' you sense is wrong. Ryo was able to feel there was a plot at play a year ago, but was unable to do more than feel it because he didn't know there was another player in the game. Now we know Riboku is to be contended with. Riboku has yet again put a plot at play that, while I do not know what it is, I can feel on instinct. Tell me, what does not feel right? Give me the benefits and problems."

"Abhdan..." Impa murmured. "She is tired."

"Shush, don't mother her. This is a teaching moment."

Impa narrowed her eyes at the old man before facing Zelda.

Zelda nodded and said, "It is alright, dear Impa. I will come out when I am done."

"Very well... But I'm staying." Impa pulled up a chair as well.

Zelda answered Abhdan, "It is too equal, the benefits. Zhao receives a clear border between us to focus on Gorondis, and we receive a clear border to focus on Lorule and Termina. Possible benefits... Termina is weakened, we are strengthened with Lorule land, and if we play our cards right in the same manner as King Shorlin, we gain their armies as well by treating them well. We assimilate their strength into our own; we gain narrow borders with Gorondis and Zora. It is a favorable prospect."

Zelda groaned, "Now for the problems. There would be increased borders with Gerudo, albeit small. We would need to rebuild our relationship with Termina or face anger and hate as deep as our rivalry with Zhao. Um... Although if we conquered them next, following Lorule, we would need to seek a permanent relationship with their people... one started with a setback. The alliance would damage our relationship with Gorondis and Zora because we have always had a positive relationship with Gorondis and by doing this publicly, we will have allowed an attack on them without repercussion. We would... come across as greedy. I would come across as untrustworthy before ever being crowned king; I would be seen as greedy, selfish, and aggressive. A warmonger."

"A warmonger even in the time of war... an interesting thought," Abhdan mused. "You are right in all of what you say. We will have gains and problems."

"These are the things I understand and know... but I still feel there is more. Something I am missing!"

"Your problem, my dear, is you are thinking too big. This isn't about all of Hyrule. This is about Zhao and Qin. Direct all of your attention to that."

Zelda turned her back and looked once more at the map. The seconds passed, and they slowly turned into minutes. Zelda hissed, nibbled her fingernails, and groaned.

"I can't see it! I feel it is there, but I just can't see it. Why can't I see it!?" Zelda exclaimed.

"Then with that, I think it is time we went to the feast. We can return to this later," Impa pressed.

"Shush," Abhdan repeated. "She usually gets frustrated."

"I'm standing right here..." Zelda whispered.

"And you are close," he advised. "Do not be so frustrated. You were only returned home five years ago, and you have made staggering progress in that time."

"But I'd bet rupees Ryo saw it instantly."

"Princess..." Abhdan leaned forward and rubbed his knee. He was not jolly. He was unusually serious. "Ryo has been in this game longer than you have been alive. His schemes at times go back years, decades even, and the key to them is patience. You cannot compare yourself to him. It will do you no good. The very fact that you were watching a rapid exchange of deals between two of the greatest strategists of our time and sensed what was wrong is worthy of credit. It may take time, but you will see what Ryo and I saw amidst that exchange. Take your time. This alliance is about Zhao, Qin, Lorule, and Termina. Only think about them."

Zelda breathed and returned her attention to the area her teacher advised her to focus on. Impa impatiently tapped her fingers. Abhdan consolingly rubbed her knee, and she smacked him away. He went back to his own knee while chuckling.

Zelda bit her lip. Her eyes were unblinking and glued to the small corner of relevant land. She tilted her head to the side.

Zelda said, "It... Let me see the alliance agreement." She moved from the map to her desk where a copy of the agreement was written. "This wording... Zhao will not enter Termina or Lorule to fight against us in aiding them. In turn, we will not enter Zhao while Zhao leaves the border unguarded..." She looked up at the map again, something of shock passing by her face. "But at no point does the agreement say Zhao will not enter Qin directly!"

Abhdan clapped. "Very good!"

Impa blinked, "What?!" She jumped and looked down at the copy herself. "Oh Nayru..."

"Zhao can still attack us on our soil!" Zelda exclaimed. "Dindamnit! We agreed to leave the border alone, but Zhao is only implying that they will! We can't actively defend our own border as we have been lest we seem provocative, which is grounds to claim we are breaking the agreement! But if Zhao turns their forces around to attack us, it will hurt their reputation not nearly as bad. In fact, they may even look like the saviors of Lorule and Termina! This..." Zelda's eyes widened. "This is why Ryo said it wasn't good enough and demanded the fortress of Kankou. Kankou would have been the staging ground for their invasion to trap us in Termina!"

"Precisely." Abhdan nodded. "Thankfully, Ryo was able to see through Riboku's scheme and gave us what we needed to keep what you dread from happening. Now with Kankou in our possession, we can keep a respectable force on the border under the guise of 'manning the fort' or even inspecting our recent acquisition without it being provocative."

"Will it be enough?" Zelda wondered.

"One can only hope, but if I were to tell you what I really think... No. Zhao will attack us again. Not as soon as they would have before, but they will. Zhao will find a way around the problem of Kankou. Riboku is as brilliant as he is predictable. He will not attack Kankou. He will find another way or accept losing this round. If he accepts underestimating us, then it is all the better for us. If he tries to fight us again, then Kankou will merely buy us time as he schemes a way around it."

"We could take this time to strengthen our infrastructure rather than attack Termina," Impa said. "That would throw him off."

Abhdan nodded. "It would. If we don't attack Termina, Zhao will think twice about proceeding with Gorondis. We can walk away from this having obtained a valuable fortress."

"No," Zelda declared.

"Pardon?" Abhdan asked.

"We will proceed. If we do not go through with it, Riboku will know we saw through it... My decision is this: Kankou will be given to the Mitagi house to be prepared. It is a show of strength that is partially subtle and will give me favor with the Mitagi once more. If Riboku will think twice about attacking with Kankou on his border, he will think five times over if the Mitagi have entrenched it."

Impa nodded. "A solid recommendation. May I suggest the Duke to lead the campaign?"

"Why the Duke? The Mitagi will already be near. Ousen Mitagi has a perfect track record. He can easily do it."

"Yes, but his talents are very different from the Duke. The Duke's specialty is in shattering armies and high morale. He has a purely offensive leading style, similar to Moubu, but with far more experience. He also has a purely uncanny instinct for frontline strategy. If one were to say Moubu is the Great Dog of Qin, then the Duke is the Great Avalanche. In terms of pure offensive power, the Duke is the greatest we have."

Abhdan nodded in agreement. "Even Ouki admitted to me a time or two that the Duke was superior in that area. Lord Ouki was the greatest we ever had. He was a master of offense and defense who could easily switch between, but there are still those who were superior to him in singular fashions. The Duke is one of them."

"That's quite some praise you have for him," Zelda commented.

"The Duke is a man with no family, no house, and no clan, yet even the Mitagi's greatest honor him as an equal. He was also a good drinking buddy of Ouki's."

Zelda recalled the Duke and, more specifically, tried to remember his allegiance. While Geoffrey had formally given himself to her faction, and Moubu to Ryo's, the Duke had not done so for either side. Ousen Mitagi hadn't either, but she sensed he was loyal to himself, the throne, and the Mitagi in that order. If Zelda could gain the Duke's loyalty, it would be a great boon for her. If he really was a good drinking buddy with Ouki, she could use that for her favor. But from what she had seen, he also was a drinking buddy with Moubu and Kei Ki.

"If you two think the Duke would be best for this, then I accept your recommendation," Zelda decided. "Pass it along to Shou and allow our tacticians to work out the details. How long before you believe we can initiate the invasion?"

-Link-

Link couldn't really recall at when he woke up. Impa threw a nasty punch for a woman her age. All he knew was the moment his eyes opened, he was having a bowl shoved in his hand and dared to drink with all the other men around him. Link was too groggy to resist. He looked around and realized he had been thrown with the drunks at the party. They were already holding another drinking contest despite just recovering from their last one. Link wasn't surprised and joined them. So far as alcohol goes, he wasn't as big of a wimp as he was when he first started, but he still couldn't compete with what these men drank. The Duke could drink like Ganondorf, and even looked like him with his fiery red hair.

After a second bowl of piss-like alcohol, Link stumbled away to find Solitare. If Zelda wasn't going to give him some company, he drunkenly thought, he at least had a Sheikah to keep him company. He found his favorite little Sheikah at a table almost empty. Most of the guests had left to sleep off the booze and food, or were passed out where they sat. Link collapsed next to her and called for some food and more drink.

"Y-yuu sund drunk," Solitare slurred.

"Empaty stumuch," Link explained.

An empty stomach digests alcohol very quickly. In hindsight, when Link was capable of hindsight, he might think it wasn't the best idea to join a drinking contest with massive generals and commanders renown for being heavyweights. He shook his head and tried to clear up some of the cobwebs around his brain. His disheveled hair went everywhere and made him a little dizzy, but he managed to regain some level of focus. Something wet on his face showed him that blood had come from his nose at some point.

"Blasted woman broke my nose," he absently said. Then Link blinked, realizing that Riboku was not across from him anymore. "Wherez he? Wherez- Oh! There he is." Link pointed to where he could vaguely see Riboku sitting with Ryo. "Ba-bastard."

"Yeah! Ba-bastherd!" Solitare parroted. Link chuckled. Soli mumbled, "Shaddup. I'm sleepy." She collapsed onto his shoulder, no longer able to keep herself up.

Link's food was brought before him along with more alcohol. The flow never seemed to end. Link moved the bowl away from Solitare when she reached for it and ate for himself. He suddenly tried not to yell out. Whatever this was, it was the best food he had ever eaten! And with something finally in his stomach, he felt the world become a little clearer. The sun was apparently going down.

"Did you have fun?" Link asked.

In response, he got a half-snore. Solitare fell off his shoulder and woke only enough to curl up on her chair's pillow, reminding Link of an animal. He chuckled. He didn't care about all the burn scars; she was rather cute like this. She wasn't quite as cute as Sarah, but it was close.

Now that he thought about it, Link waved over one of the Fae aimlessly watching from the rafters. They recognized him and happily approached, not fearing he would touch them. He whispered something, and while they thought it odd, they agreed. The Fae flew away through the ceiling only to return while carrying a water sack.

"Soli." Link nudged her gently, but she didn't stir. "Soli. Wakey wakey. We should find rooms before they're all taken. As it is, we might end up in the barracks." Still, she didn't stir.

He sighed. She had drunk a fair bit, seemingly. Link rose, flung her onto his back, and with respectful nods to everyone he passed, left the feasting hall.

Soli mumbled into his ear as they walked down the hall. With both hands full, Link tried kicking open a number of doors only to find they were locked or didn't appreciate him being noisy. Finding a room proved to be more difficult than expected. He wasn't a noble and therefore didn't warrant a noble's room. It wasn't a bad walk, though. Soli was light, and having a girl's butt in his hands wasn't half bad for his budding male ego. The night air was peaceful and soothing. Torches illuminated the halls, as well as servants carrying candle-staffs who lead others around as needed. Link requested one, and after some further inquiry, found Matsubi.

"Hey, Link!" Matsubi greeted. "It is good to see you! Did you enjoy yourself at the feast?"

"Yep! It was the best food I've ever eaten!" Link happily answered.

"I would hope so. The palace doesn't hold back on its feasts. By the way, you really made quite a stir back there too." Link grimaced. "Don't worry about it. I think it was a great ice-breaker for the occasion. If it helps, we all agree with you. Just no one had the gall to say it out loud. We all want to defeat Riboku properly. It's the only way to honor Ouki. Anyways, I was actually looking for you. I wanted you to know I had your back and-" Matsubi noticed Solitare slumped over Link. He grinned widely. "Oooh, you sneaky devil."

"Wha?"

"This gives a whole new meaning to picking up girls."

"It-it's not like that!" Link stammered. His long ears grew red in embarrassment.

Matsubi winked. "Of course not."

"No, really! We're just looking for a place to rest."

"A 'place to rest,' I get it brother. I won't say a word." Matsubi winked again.

Solitare mumbled something which, for some reason, made Matsubi grin wider. Link sighed. He wasn't going to win this.

Link said, "All the rooms are taken, though. We might have to stay in the barracks."

Matsubi's eyebrows rose. "You didn't warrant a room of your own?" Link shook his head. "Okay, look, if you really need a place... you can take my room."

"Wha- are you sure?!"

Matsubi shrugged. "Yeah, I'm not using it."

"Oh, thanks, bro!"

"Sure thing." Matsubi turned and lead the way. "Just don't do anything I wouldn't do," he teased. Link sighed, prompting another laugh from him. "In all seriousness, though... are you not into girls? Because I'm not gonna judge if you aren't. Ouki wasn't."

"No, I am!" Link defended. "I-it's just..."

"Just what? If you get past the scars, she's cute."

"I don't know... I am a guy. I like girls. I dream of 'em at times..." Matsubi looked at him expectantly. "... In various degrees of dress."

"I knew it," The older man whispered victoriously.

"I'm just not gonna take advantage of a drunk one, okay?"

"Fine, fine." Matsubi nodded. He sensed Link was starting to get aggravated. "I'll drop it. That is very honorable of you. I respect that."

"Thank you..." Link grumbled.

Matsubi unlocked his door for them, dropped the key onto a side table, and helped light a candle while Link gently dropped Solitare onto the bed. It was actually a very nice, comfortable bed.

"You better appreciate me later. I'm giving up that bed for you," Link said to his unconscious friend.

They didn't have a change of clothes; they had left in too much of a rush. As a result, Link was extra appreciative of the curtain and tub to bathe in.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Matsubi teased one last time before closing the door behind him.

Link rolled his eyes. Now that his friend was gone, Link went about his plan. It would have been too difficult to explain with Matsubi there, and explaining it with just Solitare would be difficult enough. It was a good thing she was asleep. She was curled up, mumbled something about a mission, and simply trusted Link to guard her. If he were less of an honorable man, he might take advantage of that trust. He still was, admittingly, but not in the way most would expect. Link requested a servant to bring water for a bath, and a couple trips later, he had a tub full of warm water. Lastly, he took the Fae's water sack and poured it in.

"Soli, you awake?" Link whispered. There was no response. "Alrighty, then." He picked her up and put her in the tub, clothes and all. The water was already up to the lip, so with her addition, it was pouring out over the floor.

"Shit!" He yelled.

Link didn't know what to do about the water. He didn't know if there were any drains, if the flooring would soak it up, or if it would slip through the cracks and drip on other people. Either way, there was little to be done. What they wouldn't know wouldn't hurt them, he reasoned. Even if someone complained, this was Matsubi's room. Link wasn't so honorable as to not enjoy a good bit of payback for the teasing earlier. Zelda and Ganondorf had rubbed off on him in the worst of ways.

Link sat on the floor, taking care that Solitare wouldn't accidentally drown. She seemed to have a habit of curling in a ball, as if she was used to confined spaces.

"Shit..." Link realized. "I didn't think this all the way through..." He didn't want to strip her before putting her in the tub to save her decency, but he also couldn't just leave her in soaking wet clothes. And putting her on the bed would soak it through. "Ah, well. That's why they have servants!"

He left, grabbed a female servant, and got her to take care of Solitare while he sat outside the door for a bit.

After about fifteen minutes, the servant opened the door. "It is done," she said with a bow. "My lady is comfortable in bed, and the clothes are hanging by the fire."

Link smiled. "Great! Thanks." The servant stared at him a moment, unused to receiving thanks. "How do the scars look?"

The slave blinked in confusion. "What scars?"

Link smiled wider.

-Later-

There was a knock on Zelda's door, and she looked up from the scrolls she was reading at her desk. It cracked open, and a guard said, "Your highness, a young man is here to see you. Named Link. Claims you know him."

"It is late, but allow him in," Zelda answered. She put down her quill and rose. The concubine of these days looked up curiously from where she sat on a side pillow.

"Princess," Link greeted with a wide smile. The door closed behind him. He glanced to the concubine. "New girl? Where's Sarah?"

"Sarah cannot stay with me at all times. She is back at the haram attending to her chores and education." Zelda sighed but smiled. "It is good to see you, Monkey. I am glad you were able to attend the meeting, but I am also surprised you made it. I had sent a hawk as soon as I heard of Riboku's attendance, but it would still have been too late. Were you already in the region? Last I heard, you were at the border."

"That is right, I was at the border. I received a notice from a messenger sent by Shou Hei Kun."

"Shou?" Zelda asked, mildly surprised. "Why would he call for you?"

"As Ouki's glaive was passed on to me, he believed it would be upon me to kill Riboku at his command during the meeting." Zelda's eyebrows went up. "I declined."

"I am glad you did." Zelda put a hand to her forehead. "Ryo would not have ever agreed to that... He has his own plans."

Link watched Zelda in concern as she thought about it. He could read her easily. "You make it sound like that is a good thing, for Ryo to be the one in control rather than Shou."

"We are benefitting far more from what Ryo did than if Shou had Riboku killed. It is alarming to think of the rogue elements willing to go through with such things like murdering an ambassador without my knowledge. It is not worth taking up with Shou, though, as there is no proof but your word since he did not go through with it... But I can only imagine the repercussions. It seems Ryo's faction is not as united in thought as I once believed..." Zelda became lost in thought for a moment. Remembering herself, she looked to him again. "Thank you, Link. You are more honorable than many in my own court."

He waved her off. "Awww, you're only saying that."

"But surely you have not come to visit merely to hear me ramble about my problems. Although this news about Shou's request was certainly important."

Link nodded. "I wanted to see you... Also, I am concerned."

"About?"

"Why weren't you at the feast? Your presence would have benefited you."

Zelda smiled softly. "I did attend for a short time. I met Riboku, and we exchanged pleasantries and formality. I just ate in private while you were unconscious. I hear my favorite Chancellor defeated you easily."

Link's eye twitched, making Zelda laugh. "So it was true!"

"It wasn't that easily. I just... didn't resist," He grumbled.

"Right, right. Of course."

"But Zelda, why weren't you at the feast more? Why didn't you say a word during the whole meeting?" He gulped. "Is our side truly that weak?"

Zelda paused, then sighed. "We are weak, so very weak since Ouki died, but we are holding. It has been slow, but I am gaining more of the ministers' approval. With the Fae's help, we have recovered a great deal of farm land that was once salted wasteland. Rivers are flowing clearer. The grasslands are spreading for the shepherds and herds again. It doesn't benefit our most stressing matters, so it hasn't given me as much as I would like, but the heralds are not blind to our prosperity. It has been enough for me to make due with the backlash from sparing the Dragmire. I have plans in motion to win back the approval of the Mitagi too. We are still fighting, Link. And I didn't say anything at that entire meeting because I agreed to let Ryo take the reins."

"Even though he will benefit so much from this by doing it in front of practically everyone?!"

"Yes, even though that! This isn't just about me and Ryo, Link. It's about all of Qin. Besides, do you really think I would have been able to keep up with Riboku?"

"Yes."

Zelda smiled. "You flatter me, but you lie."

"Okay, so you wouldn't have been able to do as well as Ryo, but you still would have been able to hold your own," Link argued. "You handled the Majora-Mitagi crap-fest just fine. Even if we wouldn't have gained nearly as much, I think the experience for you would have been its own reward. I can't tell you how many times I've had my ass kicked while training to use a spear. The way I see it, you would have accepted the deal without Kankou being thrown in and come out looking like the incredible heir to do something with Zhao no one has done."

"Problem with that, Link. As much as I am honored by your praise... The problem is that Kankou was key to everything. Ryo saw the flaws in Riboku's plan instantly and made counter-measures, whereas I only saw the signs of a problem. Without Kankou, we would be open to counter-invasion."

"What?!"

"The details aren't important, but the alliance still gives Zhao room to hit us directly." Link's legs shook and he held onto something to steady himself. Zelda continued, "And without Ouki to hold back Zhao... Do you see now why I say this is about Qin? My war in court is a delicate one. I must at times work with Ryo as much as against him."

"Nayru, Farore, and Din..." Link whispered.

"You give me courage, Link. Knowing you are out there doing your best every day spurs me on to do the same. But I can't just win my battles by beating a sword on something. My every decision must be tempered. I have survived five years now, and I have another five to go before I am crowned king. All things considered, I believe I am doing well. I am surviving."

"Even so... Something is missing. Surviving isn't enough. We are still so weak."

"We do need strength."

"Power."

They shared a knowing look and chuckled.

"I miss him," Link admitted.

"I'm sure he doesn't," Zelda teased. Link put on a sour face, prompting more chuckles. "I miss him as well. By all reason, I shouldn't. He is a barbarian, always aggravated or aggravating, always gruff, and we never agree on anything, but I feel most comfortable in the company of the two of you. I trust you two more than men and woman I see every day... Hmm... I wonder where he is."