A/N: Here we go again.

A Shadowed Shatter

"You will be on your best behavior, right Vincent?" Zelda asked from behind her dressing screen. The silhouette of her semi naked body was easily noticeable, but that wouldn't matter to someone who had seen her naked body before.

And so Vincent stood in the middle of Zelda's room. His hands were in his jacket's pockets. He stared in Zelda's general direction but his mind was only half in his head. Her last statement reached him though. "Of course Zelda," he said in an indifferent tone. "I'll be good for your father. I know how important first impressions are." He sighed and took the seat from her vanity mirror and sat down in it.

Zelda stepped from the screen in a very dark crimson dress. More than anything it was inspired by Vincent's preference in the color. "Like dress I bought the other day?" she asked. She span around in place for Vincent to look at each side to her. "Usually I don't buy dresses like these but I figured you would like it."

Vincent did admit that she looked really good in the dress. She somehow got the deep scarlet to work for her. And Zelda also didn't mention that, aside from the color, the style of the dress was unusual for her to buy. Especially with the way the dress cut so it revealed some of her cleavage. And the lace that poked from the inside made it more enticing. Zelda looked good in it. And Vincent said that with his fake smile.

Zelda returned his smile with one of hers, although it had more emotion behind it than his. She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She lifted her head up and laid her lips on his. She stepped away for a minute, "Okay, so can you go down and wait while I fetch my father. I have to soften him up before he meets you."

Vincent nodded and Zelda let him go. He strode passed her and walked out of the open door. For someone who was going to meet their lover's father, he was unnervingly calm. He walked down the cold halls of the castle. Deep down, Vincent didn't care for meeting Zelda's father, king or not. And he honestly did like Zelda but he couldn't bring himself to love another person. And he figured Zelda should know that.

He soon found himself alone in the dark room Zelda told him to go. It seemed very reminiscent to the library back at his family's manor. There was the fireplace and the chairs in front of it. It was a small, dark room that worked more like an old man's one place to call his own after the day is done. Vincent's mind wondered if the king sometimes came in there with a smoking jacket and a pipe to unwind after a long day of ruling. A faint touch of tobacco did hang in the air and Vincent knew that scent. His uncle used to export it as much as he liked to smoke it.

Vincent took a seat in one of the chairs. He sunk into the dark leather, giving Vincent a comfortable seat. His free left hand rubbed his eyes and then combed through his hair. He felt tired. Vincent stared down at the fireplace, watching the fire burn through the logs. Absent mindedly, Vincent's right hand fiddled with the item he held in his jacket's pocket. Soft and velvety, the small box comforted his fingers as they danced on its surface. He pulled out the box from the depths of his jacket and stared at its closed form. He flipped it open, the lid making a soft creak, and in the soft light the golden ring glistened.

Silvia walked into the chamber and saw the redhead. The top of his head was just poking through from the back of the chair. Quietly she walked up to Vincent and peeked to see what he was doing. She doubted it he would be thinking of anything wholesome to do with the princess. She had caught them far too many times together in her room in the early morning to think otherwise. She didn't expect Vincent to be sitting alone by himself, his arm propped up to support his head staring down at a symbol of rejection.

Drakeus, who had been simply floating above Silvia's head, left her side and drifted over to Vincent. He landed on the redhead's lap and looked up at him with his soft eyes.

"Silvia, why not try less sneaking in?" Vincent asked. He knew she was there now, thanks to little Drakeus. "You may sneak into something you might not want to see one day. And the only person you would have to blame is yourself.

Vincent, while a little less cold, acted like a jerk only to protect himself from any more heartache. He didn't need another person getting close to his heart and then taking the megaton hammer and slamming it down hard on it… again. So if he could discourage people from getting close, than there would be no way for someone to hurt him again. And that was all he wanted… that and a drink.

Silvia made her physical self known to Vincent. She stood in front of him and watched as single tear fell from the corner of his falcon-like eyes and descend his face. She saw him put away the ring and the he wiped away the tear. Silvia needed to get one question out. "Vincent, why are you with Zelda?"

For the first time she had ever seen, he was lost for words. He looked down to the floor, "Zelda… I… we… I don't know. I lost Malon and Zelda was there to scoop me up and tell me that she was there for me. Then one thing lead to another and here we are, waiting for the king to give his evaluation of me. She supposed to love me but…"

"You don't love her," Silvia said, like she was reading his mind. She slightly nodded in understanding and sat down on the other chair's arm. She wanted to make sure she could keep her eyes on Vincent. Not because she thought he was going to do anything, but because she wanted to make sure he wasn't going to do anything stupid. "You know she believes she's head over heels for you."

"I doubt it," Vincent said. He began to gently stroke the small dragon that was in his lap. He gave his version of a smile and curled up to the gentle touch of Vincent's digits. "If she really thinks she's in love with me than she's more naïve than she makes her self out to be. She does carry the Triforce of Wisdom after all."

"How do you-"

"So she should know better than to believe that I love her," Vincent said callously and without falter. "And should know better than to fall in love with me." He took a deep breath and began to fiddle with the box in his jacket. "But I'll admit that I do like being with her. If I hadn't met Malon or fallen in love with her, I think I could see myself happy with Zelda. But not anymore. I should move on but I can't."

"So you're just going to live this charade?" Silvia asked. She was getting a bit irritated at Vincent. Sure, at first he pulled a sappy story but now it was just pitiful. She looked down at Vincent, "How about you stop feeling sorry for yourself? You have Zelda who so willingly gave herself to you. It may be a little hard but you can find someone else. If anything, you already did! Why cant you just be happy?"

Vincent stood up from his chair. That gave Drakeus a rude awakening. The little dragon quickly recovered and hovered away back to Silvia. His eyes were a very narrow seriousness. They were very vicious if one were to peer into them. "Forgive me for giving my heart to one woman who then in turn shattered it one swift move. And then forgive me for trying to find solace in someone else." He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, "I need a drink."

"You've been at the bottom of the bottle a lot lately," Silvia commented. She had to admit, she had seen him drink far more than she ever could and still say his ABC's backwards perfectly. Whether that was good or not would vary from person to person. And Silvia could hold her own, apparently due in part to her Sheikah training. "Ever think of moving on to something more better for you? Like, I don't know, apple cider?"

"I could…" Vincent said. He gave his arrogant smirk, "But I don't plan on doing so."

Silvia gave an annoyed grunt. "Your impossible sometimes, I don't know how Zelda puts up with you."

"Oh, Silvia, you came too," Zelda's voice said from the entrance.

Both Vincent and Silvia turned their heads to the entrance to see Zelda with her father. She was beaming happily as she lead her father inside his old resting place. The King himself never had stepped foot in the room again since his late wife had passed. He refused to leave his daughter with no one. So quitting smoking, and by an extent, stop returning to that room was his first priority. He wasn't too far passed his prime and looked well enough to keep leading his kingdom for quite a few more years. Hopefully anyways, who knows if another evil lurks not too far away, biding his time…

"Of course I'm here, my princess," Silvia said. She rolled her eyes; sometimes her princess could be such a blonde. It was more that Zelda had little common sense. Sure she was bright and wise… supposedly. But there were times when that all escaped her. It must be that she's so nervous that her father was going to meet the man who had deflowered her and been with her for a while now. But she wasn't going to say that. "Drakeus got better anyways, so I can focus on my duty. Remember princess that I have to protect you."

"Right," Zelda said. She looked over to her father, "There he is daddy, Vincent."

That was the cue for Vincent to step forward and offer his hand to the king. The sovereign of Hyrule took Vincent's hand and shook it, all the while giving Vincent a hearty smile that was noticeable through his golden, think beard. "Never thought I'd see the day when I'd be able to be on really good terms with an Aegis," the King said. He let go of Vincent's hand. He then turned his head to his daughter, "But if one makes my little muffin happy, then there isn't anything bad I can say about your family. Or, anything against this one anyways."

Vincent shot one of his great smiles. He should really consider acting, because Vincent could lie through his teeth to almost about anyone. "Yes, well, my father and I are quite different when we're compared side by side. He's far stricter and rule abiding than I could ever be. I'm sure he won't like me being with the princess either but we're… happy… and that's what matter more, right?"

Zelda smiled a bit and softly blushed. It was a bit hard to tell too, she did wear some blush after all. Bottom line: her cheeks became a bit redder. The King on the other hand still had his big smile on. "Of course that's what matters more. And you two seem to be happy with one another. And you have to be special if Zelda sneaks you into the castle so I wont know."

Vincent softly chuckled a bit but Zelda instantly glared at Silvia. But before anything more was said, the King added more. Which is really good timing. Who knows what Zelda would've said to Silvia right then? "Impa has noticed Vincent around, and kindly reported it to me whenever she saw him. I must say Vincent, you sure do like coming in early for breakfast."

That shut Zelda up. In a bit of repentance for what she may have done, she looked away from Silvia's eyes. On the other side of the room, Vincent and Silvia remained in their quiet and attentive state. But because the King did say something about Vincent, the redhead had little choice but to say something about it. "The cooking reminds me of home," he simply said. "And other than my brother and sister, mother, and to an extent my dad… that's all I really miss."

"You remind me a lot of him, Vincent," the King commented.

Vincent physically twitched. "I am not like him…"

Then it soaked into Silvia at last. She looked up to the King, "Wait, my aunt Impa has been here and I didn't know?" Yes, Impa was that good. Silvia crossed her arms a bit and Drakeus did the same. "How could she have come back and not have told me? Sometimes she's too secretive."

"Sheikah's pout?" Vincent asked as he looked over to her.

"Actually," the King said. "She was wondering when you were going to notice her. Says something about it being part of your training. How could she expect anyone to notice her when she's been doing that for years is beyond me. I'm sure it'll be easier for you now that you know she's around. Impa mentions you quite a bit when we're having dinner together, Silvia. And I think she has a good opinion on Vincent as well. Sometimes getting on her good side is a bit difficult."

Zelda, Vincent, and Silvia all raised their eyebrows a bit when they heard the thing about the King and Impa eating dinner together. That's news. "It was nice meeting you, Vincent," the King added once again. He sure does know how to drive a conversation. "But I have to get going. Even if Zelda's getting the crown soon, I still have my own regal duties to do."

The King gave Zelda a kiss on the forehead and left them in the room. Zelda took a deep breath and looked over to Vincent, "You did pretty good, Vincent. My daddy likes you."

"Of course, who wouldn't like me?" Vincent asked. He gave his arrogant smirk that Zelda seemed to love. She smiled at him and went up to him and kissed him. A bit to passionately for Silvia's stomach. Before she and Drakeus blew chunks, they left the room and waited outside for princess Zelda. And the princess didn't take much time coming out of the room either. Which came to Silvia as a surprise, she figured Zelda would've been in there for at least a quick moment.

"Princess, don't you have some studies?" Silvia asked. Silvia had to make sure that the princess did her lessons. Hyrule was in her hands. And the last thing Hyrule needed was a sex-crazed princess. A little too late but there was always a chance to change her into the wise leader Hyrule needs.

Zelda sighed, "I guess your right." She looked over to Vincent and gently kissed him. "I'll see you at dinner, right honey?"

"You got it," Vincent answered robotically. He smiled at Zelda and then Silvia before he went down the hall. He most likely had gone out through the gate and was going to some local tavern at the market.

Silvia followed Zelda to her study room and watched as the princess sat down and began her lesson for the day. Sometimes Silvia wondered if Zelda just sat there and just doodled but a quick check from Silvia while Zelda was being spoken to her by her tutor said otherwise. And Zelda sure did her work all the way through, never missing a sign or forgetting to carry a one.

So the young Sheikah sat on a chair, listening to the drone of Zelda's tutor and the pen on parchment scratching. She busied herself with having fun with Drakeus, making him stretch his wings and scratching between his horns. Sitting around waiting for Zelda got boring quick. And apparently this caught Zelda's attention. Excusing herself for a moment, Zelda turned to Silvia. "Silvia, you don't have to wait for me. I have to be here for another two or three hours. Why don't you go down and have fun for a while? Or at least take a breather. You seem bored."

See, Zelda isn't too bad.

Silvia thought about it for a moment. She knew her aunt was around somewhere, so Zelda would be safe enough without her around. Usually there was more to do but Impa hadn't shown herself to Silvia yet so all she had was to protect Zelda. So Silvia decided to take Zelda's offer. She stood up and bowed to her princess, "If you believe that is best, princess." Silvia took Drakeus with her and left Zelda to herself as she studied.

Taking a deep breath, finally free to do what she wanted, Silvia walked down the halls. She kept her eyes and ears open as she did, wanting to find her aunt as soon as possible. After a few trips around the castle and with nothing new, Silvia decided to go down to the market for some lunch. With the hot, triple digit reaching sun high in the sky, she trotted down to the marketplace. Maybe she could find Vincent and they could talk some more. He needed someone to help him and that someone had to be someone else than Zelda.

But amidst the sea of blonds and light browns, she didn't find that speck of red known as Vincent. That is until she heard his voice against the voice she longed for. Turning around, she saw Vincent outside of the tavern. No big surprise there. But right there with him was Link. His blond locks seemed a little too disheveled and sweat beaded his forehead. They weren't at yelling at each other yet but they were right on crossing that line soon.

"So, Vincent, tell me, how do you stand being used as nothing more than a simple play toy?" Link asked. He was goading the redhead, no doubt about it. And the scary thing was that Link's left hand was twitching, almost ready to spring to the sword on his back.

And unlike Link, Vincent was being a little bit more civil about it. At least he wasn't ready to draw his swords yet. "You say that like its such a bad thing," Vincent muttered to Link. "That's more than you could hope to be, though. How long have you loved her?" Oh, he just threw being civil out the window. That was a low blow and he knew that. But Vincent was an arrogant ass, and he'd take any opportunity to shove away people. So the pompous dirt bag used that on Link, and he should know better.

Link slugged him, just enough for Vincent to feel it but not fall over. They weren't at yells but right there at fistfights. Men can be such idiots when it comes down to their pride. And emotions. Silvia rushed over and before Vincent could retaliate, she stood in the middle of the two. "Stop it you two! You can't do that. Now, what's wrong?"

Vincent rubbed his cheek quickly with a pass of the back of his right hand, "Link stopped me from walking into the tavern here. Told me I've been visiting too often. And then I ask why does he even know that and he got on the defensive. And then he wanted to take some cheap shots, and look at we have now, a hero who cant take one."

"Vincent, stop that," Silvia intervened. "He was trying to help you out like how I was." She then turned to Link, "And how do you know he's been here lately?"

"So now you're on my case too?" Link asked. "I thought you were a better friend then that, Silvia."

Silvia liked Link, but she wasn't going to stand by and let Link say that. "Link, you're trying to help Vincent, that's good. It's just weird that you know where he's been at for these few weeks. I'm still a friend, Link and to you too Vincent."

Vincent crossed his arms and looked down at Silvia and Link, "That's so good to hear." Sarcastic undertones were as loud as a cucco when the sun rises. "Look, I'm hungry and pretty thirsty. So, if you would excuse me-"

"Vincent!" Silvia said. She looked up at him, "Can't you get it through your thick head that we're just trying to help you? Now if Link had caught you going in there enough to cause for worry, then that's bad and we should worry. You should stop drinking, I mean what about your liver?" Liver? Silvia was running out of things to make Vincent stop.

"Look, I'm still hungry," Vincent said with a sigh. "Oh, and nice hair Link. Where did that adorable hat of yours go?"

Link glared at him. "Just let him go, Silvia," Link said. "You can try to help people but sometimes it's not worth it. Sometimes you can do it and never get a thanks, try but they wont let you, or help them and they wouldn't ever care." He gave a dastardly chuckle and began to walk away. Away from Vincent who took the woman he loved, away from Silvia who seemed to mean so much more to him than anything else right then, and away from the bar because the smell was becoming too much for him.

"Link!" Silvia called out. She turned to Vincent, "All we're trying to do is help you out. You know, because Zelda isn't for you. She isn't good for you at all. You don't need to keep pushing us away. We're your friends Vincent." She gave him an empathetic look and took off for Link.

Vincent breathed in deep. He had heard them after all. It would be up to him to do what needed to be done. He kicked up some dirt, effectively scuffing up his heeled boots and put his hands in his pockets. And he realized what was in them. For so long he absent-mindedly looked at the ring. Stared at it. Cried in front of it. But he never realized he kept it and knew what it meant to him. He curled his fingers around the box and started to walk away from the tavern. No apple wine for him that day.

Silvia watched Link go into his house. She quickly made it to the door and turned the doorknob. To her surprise, it was locked. A bit irritated, Silvia looked down to the lock and pulled out her tools to help her get in. Quickly and quietly she picked the lock and opened the door to Link's house. With Drakeus right above her head, she moved inside the dark house. She would've figured Link would keep the windows open to let in some light. And it was a good thing he had shown up anyways, although walking away wasn't part of the plan. She had to give him back his hat.

But she did notice a burnt out candle on the table, where a detailed map of Hyrule lay. She walked up to it and noticed how the castle part of the map even had raised ridges for the walls. And there were carved figures situated at the castle. There was a Zelda, a King, and even Impa. How did Link even know Impa was there? Silvia couldn't stand that everyone knew her aunt was home except her. But she went back to the map and she even saw a Vincent figure… with a sword through it.

Silvia noticed some red x's on it and was going to study it some more before…

"Silvia, how'd you get in here?" Link said from behind her.

Silvia turned around to see Link standing there. His arms were crossed and his eyes were on hers, his hair down and messy. If she weren't Sheikah she would've melted. "I'm Sheikah, Link, I can pick open a lock like nothing. And I needed to talk to you." She walked up to him and pulled the hat from her sleeve. She held it out for him, as close as they were… "You left this. At my house… what's with the 'I'm Sorry' Link?"

Link stared at her. "I took advantage of you. I'm no worse than Zelda."

"What do you mean?" Silvia asked. She stared into his eyes. She knew what happened, or at least had a clue what happened. She just wanted the truth from him. "What do you mean you took advantage of me?"

Link shuffled his feet a bit and then sort of turned away. "I… slept with you in bed." That sounded so much worse than it was. But it wasn't because they both knew what happened. "I crawled in next to you and fell asleep. And I'm sorry for that." He curled her hand around his hat, "But… I figured you would want my hat. It looks really good on you. I remember that from when the time you stole it."

"Oh Link," Silvia said. She was about to hug him before in her mind… Zelda called out. Letting out an irritated grunt. "Thank you, Link. I'll keep it safe. But… my princess is calling."

Link looked at her a bit, "Right, your duty." He turned away from her. "You should go and see what that woman needs… wouldn't want her getting mad at you."

Silvia looked at him a minute. She then smiled at him and walked over to the door and got out of his house. She sighed on his door and put on his hat. It was a little big for her but it fit nonetheless. With Drakeus right above her, like he moved anyways, she disappeared and ended up at the castle. She made her way up the stairs and down the hall to Zelda's study room. But as she rounded the corner for it, she spotted Vincent there with Zelda. He was in a hush tone but she seemed to be angry and … a little sad as she spoke.

Silvia listened in, not knowing that someone else was there watching her.

"But why Vincent?" Zelda said, her voice too loud for her own good.

"Because… its time for me to move on Zelda," Vincent said. "There's nothing there between us Zelda, and you know it. I'm going to just leave. Be good…" He turned and left Zelda. A simple break up, easily. He did it at the princess' place so he was free to leave. Nothing to tie him there anymore.

"You should see how she is…" Impa muttered in Silvia's ear.

"Aunt Impa!" Silvia said in a hushed yell. She looked at her aunt for a moment and calmed down her heart. "Don't sneak… well, I was about to find you soon enough."

Impa smirked a bit and began to walk away, "Remember your duty and oath Silvia. You have to protect the princess from harm. Now, matters of the heart could be up for debate but I think its best to be safe and see how she's going to take her breakup. I'm going to … report this to her father."

Silvia sighed. Zelda had disappeared and most likely had run into her room. She wondered if the princess really did love Vincent. She doubted it but she couldn't be sure the way Zelda took it. She looked up to Drakeus, "Come on… let's see Zelda." Drakeus gave a little nod and they walked to Zelda's room… Vincent had left her, like how Silvia wanted. That was done, Vincent was saved but Zelda would have to be comforted. But that should be easy. Everything in Hyrule was finally getting a little bit normal. Soon all that would be needed would be for Silvia and Link to hook up and all should be well… enough.