"Excellent," said Zelda, who had been studying documents and barking orders at various subordinates through her desk telephone. She looked up at Link from the document she had been reading, and her stern expression softened somewhat.
"Link, I… I'm sorry that we can't spend much time catching up, but I really have a job I have to do. I'd like nothing more than to chat and adventure for days or weeks at a time like we used to do, but it's my country now and I have to keep it alive. I need you on this, and I need it now."
Link nodded somewhat sadly. "I understand. I've been too busy to even have my own parents buried, and I'm just a lowly lieutenant. I can't imagine how hard life must be for the Supreme Commander. Maybe… maybe when this whole thing is over, we could go out and have fun mountain climbing or jungle hiking. Like we used to."
Zelda nodded and smiled slightly. "I… would like that." Then her expression hardened back into that of the stern military leader desperately trying to keep Hyrule from going up in flames. "Regardless of my personal feelings, I need you to go, now. Take this," she handed Link a signed document, "it will get you into the armory and give you access to any weapons, vehicles, armor, or magic items you may want. Take anything you feel you may need and head for Fayru Jungle. What's left of the Temple of Eternity rests there. If the Master Sword is anywhere, it'll be there. Retrieve it and bring me the Triforce." Her eyes became intense, "Do not fail me. Now go!" she practically shouted.
Link practically ran out her office door.
…
Zelda sighed as the door closed behind Link. She felt somewhat guilty about being harsh to Link, as well as doing little more at their first reunion in years than snapping orders at him. Link had never been anything but loyal, and he had even been working so hard for her and Hyrule as to not even take the time off required to bury his parents over the past few days. That made her feel even more guilty. She had taken the time to bury her mother, even if she had done it quickly. Was Deneron right? Was that a foolish act of sentimental self-indulgence in a time of crisis? Was she a weak fool who should step down?
Zelda brushed away these thoughts. "That was then, and this is now," she thought. She could not afford to be afflicted by self-doubt in such a time of crisis. If she projected anything but the utmost confidence and authority, she would almost certainly fall. Her supporters would abandon her; afraid of being dragged down by someone who was apparently an indecisive, weak-hearted fool. Her enemies would be drawn to her doubt and weakness like sharks to blood. Ambitious generals and ministers would use the perceived weakness of her leadership to declare their own empires, likely backed by her own former supporters, desperate to avoid going down with her ship. Therefore, she must look, act, and be strong, decisive, and firmly in command if she was to hold to her grip on power. Otherwise, all was lost. She could afford to feel guilty for no one, not even Link.
Zelda summoned up her magic. She was no master sorceress, able to call down hurricanes and earthquakes on her enemies. She could not summon plagues or blessings upon the land she ruled (however tenuously). She was, all in all, a sorceress of some average talent. The military had a policy of scanning its members to find potential magic-wielders to be trained in the arts. As the president's daughter, Zelda had of course received such a scanning and her parents had been pleased to discover that, unlike themselves, their daughter could use magic. Zelda herself, however, had never been particularly interested in magic. The world of tactics, strategy, and logistics were more fascinating to her, and of course she also had to learn politics. Thus, she had never pushed her magical talents as far as her instructors believed they could go. Still, weaving a temporary magic aura that added an air of charisma and authority to anything she said was not beyond her, and would prove very useful at her next meeting.
"Alright Impa," Zelda called, "You can go and get them now."
A few minutes later around 2 dozen people crowded into her office, necessitating extra furniture. Many of the bankers, business owners, entrepreneurs, and other financially important people seemed uncomfortable with meeting in a military command center like this. Zelda had considered meeting with them in the same plush room her father once had, but on the whole had decided that it was necessary to establish her dominance over them before making them comfortable. Having them come to her, here, did an admirable job of impressing on them just who was in charge now.
These men and women before her were some of the most financially influential figures in Hyrule. They owned businesses and banks, ran corporations and factories, and generally controlled much (although by no means all) of Hyrule's private sector economy. What made them so important was the financial backing that they had provided for her father's regime and now for hers. One could hardly modernize and develop the economy if no one was willing to do business in your land. Hyrule's taxation policies had been engineered to encourage investment, and the government promised to keep law and order, to allow the economy to grow safely. The flip side was, of course, that these people were expected to stand behind the regime when push came to shove. Before this, they generally had Now, with Daphenes in a coma, it was Zelda's job to convince them to maintain their support from the regime in this time of crisis. No matter how brilliant your Treasury Minister, you would be able to do very little if all your financial backers refused to do business with you because they thought you couldn't keep the peace and/or were a doomed investment.
Zelda stood up. "Ladies and gentleman, I thank you for agreeing to meet me here today. I am here to reassure you that I will not be changing my father's policies vis-à-vis your businesses, nor will I make Hyrule into a country unfriendly to private businesses. On that, you have my word."
"Well, it's not you we're worried about, is it? It's the bloody mob!"
Zelda turned to the man who had just spoken, a Joseph Tydon, and glared daggers at him. He seemed to shrink, almost cowering before her. She made sure he was thoroughly intimidated by using a spark of magic to give her eyes an intimidating glare.
"Then let me reassure you, Mr. Tydon, that the government of Hyrule remains strong and committed to defending the lives and property of all its citizens, including yours. Perhaps you failed to notice, but we are cracking down on the mob even as we speak. The military and interior ministry of Hyrule are even now working together to bring these riots to heel. We will crush the rioters, we will defend your lives and property, and we will restore order to the nation."
"And how can you be so sure? Mere days ago your forces failed to foil an attack on the most important man in the country! How can you say you will defend us when you can't even defend yourselves?" said a woman in the back.
Zelda nodded. "An excellent and perfectly valid question, Ms. Goldena. As you are probably all aware, we have gone to full red alert and instituted marshal law. My father is where he is because we were negligent and complacent in the peace of Hyrule City. I assure you, this is not the case now, and it will not be so going forward. The need for tighter security has clearly been established, and my government will do all it can to that end. This country will be saved."
"And why do you think that? There must be millions of people up in arms across the nation! How can you be so confident in your ability to suppress this revolt?"
Zelda gave a confident smile. "Very simple, Mr. VanDanien. The Hylian Armed Forces are the strongest, most modern, most well-funded, largest army this world has ever seen. We have over 500,000 men under arms. We have tanks, artillery, and Gatling guns. We have trains to move huge amounts of troops in record times, and radio communications to command and coordinate military operations of unprecedented scale. What do these so-called 'rebels' have? Nothing but a handful of homemade firebombs and some rocks. They have no leader, no communications, no organization, and no coherent agenda. They have nothing but blind anger at Hyrule for one imagined offense or another. How can they win? History very plainly shows that no revolution without its own organization or coherent message has ever won. We have everything on our side: time, money, transportation, communications, weapons, supplies, and organization. Just think of this: when these rioters burn down their own neighborhoods, places of livelihood, and places of recreation, they are only harming themselves. Many will soon realize, if they haven't already, that what they do is futile and only causes them misery. Blind anger must soon give way to reason; I'm sure all of you know that. So that is why, Mr. VanDanien, I do not fear this mob."
"You are absolutely sure you can save this country from civil war, then?"
"I would bet my life and soul on it, Mrs. LeBie. We will win, be certain of that. Now then, will there be any further questions?"
Some of her audience looked around and whispered amongst themselves, but no further questions were raised.
"If that is all then, I must resume my other responsibilities as chief of state. You may go."
…
As the last of the businessmen closed the door behind him, Zelda released the spell she had been maintaining over herself and sat down. In truth, those who were skeptical of what she had said had every right to be. While she had spoken the truth about her lack of fear of the mob itself, it was what the mob might inspire that frightened her. If public perception could be turned against her by these riots, if enough senior officials determined to bet against her due to ambition or simply out of fear, she might be deposed far more easily than she had implied to the business owners. "Perception" her father had told her, "Is just as important in politics as is reality, if not more so." That was why around 250,000 people could be peaceful citizens of Hyrule City one day and vicious rioters the next: they perceived weakness in the government's control even though, factually, very little had actually changed, except in people's minds. She had to show the world that those who doubted her were very much mistaken.
…
Link, rather intimidated and confused by Zelda's uncharacteristic and unprovoked outburst, made good time on his way to the Republican Guard's armory.
"H-halt!" yelled one of the guards at the gate, raising his rifle.
"Everyone's twitchy now," thought Link as he slowed down and stuck his hands in the air.
"Authorized p-personnel only!" shouted the rather young-looking guard.
"I have authorization from the Supreme Commander herself? Does that count?"
"The S-Supreme Commander?" he motioned for Link to come closer. Link did so, very slowly, as the man and his partner kept their rifles aimed squarely at Link the whole time.
"S-show it to m-me."
Link offered the man his document. He cautiously took it, while his partner stayed several steps back, rifle raised.
After a minute or so, the man turned to his partner. "It's ok. He's legitimate." The other man slowly lowered his rifle.
"What's got you guys so nervous?" asked Link, "The riots are mostly miles from here."
The man Link had handed his document to spoke, looking glum, "About an hour ago I lost my l-last partner. A man came near us in a uniform. Said he was authorized. We let him near us, and he shot two men down before I shot him."
Link's eyes widened, "Why? What could he have hoped to achieve?"
"I don't know, but it's got me on the edge."
Link looked sadly, "I'd love to stay and help you guys out, but I've got a mission of my own. Can I go in?"
The other man nodded and the two opened the gate to let him pass through.
…
Inside the armory was an assorted collection of every kind of weapon or vehicle a highly-paid elite guardsman could want. Rifles, pistols, knives, gatlings, bazookas, mortars, tanks, trucks, jeeps, APCs and more by the hundred. Field rations enough for an army for months. Equipment and uniforms for every type of terrain imaginable. Various enchanted items for purposes ranging from breathing underwater to walking over lava and through fire. It was a military man's idea of heaven.
Link had been in the armory before, but never alone, and never authorized to take whatever the hell he wanted. He spent several minutes examining various types of rifles and pistols, trying their weight and feel, as well as their capacity, accuracy, and range. In the end he decided he liked his current guns the best. His field knife was somewhat worn, though, so he replaced it with a shiny new, viciously sharp one. Since he was going to a jungle, he chose jungle-colored camouflage. He grabbed various magical items that seemed potentially useful, including ones for underwater breathing and for a short interval of flight. He chose a rugged-looking jeep and packed it full of ammunition, supplies, and survival equipment. Once Link felt he had all he might need for a potentially extremely hazardous journey into an ancient ruin at the heart of a distant jungle, he drove out of the armory and hit the road.