Chapter 1

Grumbling, Link plodded along one of Hyrule Castle's thickly carpeted halls. He'd managed to escape Kili, Misha, and Hanna by mere seconds; the STAR Game groupies had hounded him halfway through Castle Town. Reclaiming his freedom, Link had leapt into Agitha's shrubbery the instant their attention was diverted by a stray puppy. He was so tempted to satisfy his annoyance and give them a fright in his wolf form, he'd reached for his shadow...

Focused on light-hearted revenge, Link puzzled for a moment when his fingers brushed nothing but leaves upon the ground. Realizing why this happened smacked him like a solid crack from a Bulblin's club. Midna had... departed. Months ago, even. His shadow yielded no impish shade prepared to drop a cursed crystal into his outstretched hand, mischievous comment close to follow...

Assuming the role of Twilight Princess, Midna had withdrawn to her own realm. The memory of that day tormented him still, like a poe reaching with its incorporeal claws to grasp at his beating heart. Save, perhaps, rescuing Princess Zelda, Link didn't think anything else from that day was worth remembering. Ganondorf and his doomed utterances were of little consequence compared to Midna's last farewell.

"I wonder how Jovani handled his gloom," Link muttered, halfheartedly glaring at the tapestries covering the dead end he'd reached. The man who sold his soul to Poes seemed quite upbeat these days, despite having been effectively dead for years. Link sighed, downcast eyes focused on the blue carpet. Blue carpet... Blue? I've gotten lost AGAIN?!

Link was supposed to be attending a meeting - in the red wing of the building. "Why must this castle be so confusing! I've got as much chance of finding the right way as finding a cucco's forgiveness..." he grumbled. Greeting the guard stationed there, Link passed through the doorway between the blue wing and the grand gallery. At least the guards don't challlenge my wanderings, he added to himself, grateful they avoided mocking him - at least in his presence. Though, if I keep talking to myself, that might change quickly, he mused, traversing one of the many balcony-connecting halls paralleling the gargantuan room.

Link longed for Midna's presence. Beyond her sly taunts and unsettling - yet playful - grin, he craved the sense of guidance she gave. Despite her domineering nature, Midna had an excellent eye for pathfinding. She was there to guide him as he fought and puzzled his way through the castle when it served Ganondorf as his dungeon. Slipping from his shadow, she materialized to point out the way, saving him from forcing endless doors and clashing with the King of Thieves' entire monster garrison. Of course, she'd had her fun taunting Link, watching him try every locked door lining the grand gallery in ill-behaved glee before calling his attention to the clawshot-fastenable chandeliers.

Finally finding himself on the proper balcony, Link was turning to open one of the red wing's double doors when, in his eternal awareness, he caught a flash of color on the stairs behind him. Automatically clicking into focus, Link conferred with his senses. Experienced with using his nose, he caught a surprising, though familiar, olfactory cue. Stalfos? No... Darknut?! The creeping horror of his conclusion transformed into thoughtless determination. Incredibly unsettled, but ready for an extreme fight, Link resolutely leapt, kicking off in a spin. Allowing the rotational momentum to face him about, he landed low in the grappling stance Mayor Bo had tought him so long ago.

Prepared to confront one of Hyrule's most dangerous foes, Link was horrified to find his eyes resting on a plump, rather sweaty man laboriously hoisting himself up the stairs. Finely waistcoated and coated in finery from the waist up, seeming to strain harder to take each measured step than his measurements strained his inseams, his choice of dress tinted green like a rupee and rupees of every tint but green in his dress-pockets, Chancellor Dyobi approached. "Ah, Mr. Link, an auspicious meeting!" the bombastic chancellor bellowed. "Quite the happy chance that we should meet! I'm headed to this blasted meeting too, eh?"

The 'blasted' meeting was under Dyobi's mandate as the incumbent Chancellor of the realm. Princess Zelda had established the post to lead the newly ordained Royal Charter. Assembling the leaders and thinkers of Hyrule, the charter worked to restore the land to its former unblemished grandeur. However, its effectiveness was strained: shadow beasts had murdered the entire order of the Knights of Hyrule, and much of the royal guard remained unskilled, inexperienced, and leaderless - new recruits filling the ranks of a decimated force. Royal authority was hanging by a thin thread.

Not that the people chafed under Princess Zelda's rule – most loved her. Nonwithstanding her popular support, administration was difficult - if not impossible - because the royal guard and bureaucracy were severely understaffed. Those residing within Hyrule Castle's walls had been transformed into shadow beasts during Zant's takeover - or killed during Ganondorf's occupation. There was a defecit of trained individuals able to take over from the dead and the gone.

Hylians and humans alike were quite literate, and most could work their way through numbers, but balancing a ledger while writing in royal calligraphy was an ability few had, and fewer could effectively teach. Opening positions to those who wished to help, but had no study in history, or philosophy, or calligraphy, or numbers, or even to those with limited writing, hadn't proven very effective. Everybody already had their own problems to deal with.

Among the slew of issues facing a decapitated nation, the charter was currently trying to decide how to feed Hyrule. During the invasion, Ganondorf's monsters flooded Hyrule Field and the surrounding farmlands in droves, driving the survivors to the safety of Castle Town's walls. The harvest had been lost, and there was a struggle to feed the people even now. In the near future, the challenge would turn deadly unless extreme action was taken – winter was only a few weeks away, and it was set to be ferocious.

Link tore himself from his worries. "I suppose," he replied noncommittally, loosening his taut stance. He was so out of breath, he didn't notice me jump. At least I have luck on my side... Link allowed a faint smile to infiltrate his countenance. If only this good fortune could carry over until I actually need it...

"There's no reason to be so downhearted, my accomplished acquaintence! Pop that unsightly grimace off your face! That's it, eh?" Dyobi shouted, gesturing to Link's face as he waddled past him. Link's moment of humor faded. Grimace? I can do that, he griped, assuming a flourishing scowl towards the back of the chancellor's head.

"Come, come, we mustn't be late to our own meeting!" Dyobi barked without looking back, bowling through the solid wood double doors into the red wing.

Link sighed, quirked a modest smile, and followed. It's absurd how he can be gasping for breath one moment, and blaring louder than a bullbo the next. His energy is boundless... Even if I can't do anything about a famine, Link considered, maybe he can. Being around Dyobi was strenuous, but it lifted some of the burden from one's heart.

Stepping through the open doorway, Link noticed the guard on the other side crushed against the wall by one of the heavy hickory doors. Link shared a sympathetic look with him as he passed down the hall. Being around the Chancellor was difficult sometimes. His energy strained attention, and not everyone wanted the burdens lifted from their hearts.