A/N: I own nothing except a copy of this great game. Second note: A single singer is demarked in italics "like this", while a crowd singing is demarked "like this."

"He's gotta say something soon."

"Has he even slept?"

"Fuck, has he even eaten anything?"

Impa passed by the small cadre of Ravagers and Hyrulians, and stopped as she heard their conspiratorial whisperings. She frowned, and darted her eyes over to them.

"What are you going on about?" She asked them suspiciously. They all turned to face her, wide-eyed like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar.

"Uh…nothing, Madame Impa." One of the Ravagers said. She was a baby-faced girl with a jeweled rock tied into the end of her long ponytail. She looked intimidating with her face paint, but she was clearly terrified of the Sheikah. "We was…we was just talkin' about the weather."

"The weather." Impa repeated, clearly unconvinced. One of the Hyrulian soldiers, who by his body language Impa could tell was clearly smitten with little miss face-paint, cleared his throat.

"Yes, ma'am. We were commenting on how the Goddesses have at least graced us with fine weather today." He said. A stocky-looking Ravager, who was still staring in the direction that they'd all been prior to Impa catching them, turned to him with confusion.

"We was?" He asked innocently. One of them kicked him discreetly. "Oh, uh, I mean-o'course we was!" He said with a little bit too much enthusiasm. Impa just narrowed her eyes.

"You know, in a time of universal deceit like the one that we live in right now, I could have the four of you executed for hiding things. Secrecy is overrated, especially when you are a part of a nation in exile." The Sheikah said with a scathingly cold voice. The four in front of her paled, and finally Miss Facepaint broke the silence.

"It's…it's Brother Ishaka, miss Impa." She said. "We was worryin' about him…" She said. "He ain't come to talk ta us, or anyone. And we don't know if he's even sleeping or eatin'. He just…stands out there." She gestured out to the edge of the refugee camp. They'd been moving for a few days now, crossing the River Hylia bit by bit as they could so that they could at least put a river in between them and the forces of darkness. Ishaka had been standing at the banks of the river, his ankles in the water, silently staring with his back to the rest of the world. Impa had been very busy with Zelda and holding things together, and as a result had not realized how bad things were. She narrowed her eyes in concentration.

"You need not worry about Ishaka. I will talk to him." She said. Miss Facepaint smiled.

"Oh, you will! Thank you, miss Impa! If anyone can help Brother Ishaka, I bet you can." She said. The four of them meandered off somewhere else, preferably out of earshot of the eavesdropping Sheikah. Impa watched them go, and then looked back at Ishaka off in the distance. She sighed. Even at this distance, he was radiating a cold distance, as if he was daring people to come near him. She shook her head. This was not going to be easy.

…

"Stop squirming, you big baby."

Maria Grantham threaded the heated needle through the cut, ignoring Link's pained whimpers. He bit into the towel even harder, closing his eyes. Right in front of him, sitting down with a sympathetic smirk, was the young Baron Grantham.

"Sorry about that, buddy." He said. "Mom is a good nurse. That doesn't mean that it isn't painful at times." Right next to him, Zelda looked to him in worry.

"Are you sure that that's okay, Matthew?" She asked the young man. "That's…a deep cut to be stitching."

"It's going to be infected if we don't get it closed up." Lady Grantham said, still working on sewing the skin together with her stitch. "You needn't worry, Zelda. I'be been a cross-stitcher for years, and a nurse for almost as long. This is child's play." She paused to look at Link. "How are you doing, honey?" She asked. Link opened one eye, and gave her a thumbs up. "Good. Now, hold still. I can't patch up your shoulder if you insist on squirming like this."

They were in the midst of watching her patch up the Hero when Impa joined the group.

"Hello, Impa." Zelda said. "How are you doing?"

"As good as I can be, considering the circumstances." Impa said. "How are things overall?"

"Likewise." Zelda replied. "Most of the people have been ferried over the river. The Ravagers…I thank the Goddesses that they're so tireless in taking care of us."

"We are in their territory now, technically." Baron Matthew Grantham said. "They're big on hospitality." He said. "You guys and Dad did a good thing signing them up."

"Yeah, we did." Zelda said. She turned to face the young Baron. "We're going to save your dad, Matthew." She said, resting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. The young man scoffed.

"Are you kidding? Dad's tougher than iron. If anything, we're gonna need to save the poor Bokoblin that e's beating up when we storm the castle."

"Be realistic, Matthew." Lady Grantham said.

"Be optimistic, mom." Baron Grantham fired back. "I don't know about you, but I don't plan on dying out here in the open desert." He said.

"I don't plan on you dying, period." Lady Grantham said with a hint of motherly scolding. "So don't talk like that."

"Yes mom…" Baron Grantham muttered, sufficiently cowed by his mother. Zelda and Link looked at each other, and though his mouth was currently stuffed with a towel, she could tell that he was smiling.

There was a shuffling noise, and they turned to see that someone had joined them. Lord Gawain had returned.

"Lee!" Zelda said. "You look…good." She managed to say.

The Hyrulian Lord of War smirked. The shrapnel had done a number on his face, leaving him with several nasty slashes across the face that would no doubt heal into prominent scars. He was also wearing a black cloth tied around his head to cover his now-ruined right eye. He smirked.

"Don't you cry for me, your highness." He said. "It's just an eye. That's why the Goddesses gave us two of them." He ran his hand over the cuts on his face. "And I am sure there are plenty of ladies in the court that wouldn't mind a man with some scars."

"Well, it's good to know that you haven't changed a bit." Lady Grantham said, raising an eyebrow.

"Hardly, ma'am." He said. "If anything, this is simply my punishment for stealing from the royal wine cellar all those years ago. I got off easy early on. It makes sense that the Goddesses would decide to collect. And besides…" he pointed to his good eye. "This was my better eye, anyway."

"Lee, if I knew that this was going to be your 'punishment' for taking a drink when you were thirsty, I swear I would have done anything to prevent it."

"Prevent what? It's not like you can stop artillery shells, your highness." Lee Gawain said. "War is hell, and these things happen. I'm just happy to be alive. And I think that this is a better indication of my roguish nature, don't you think?" He asked with a wink. He looked around. "Where's Ishaka? I'm sure he'll make a good joke or two at my expense."

"Erm…that's what I was here about." Impa said. "I'm…going to try to talk to him." She said. "He hasn't really interacted with anyone since we left the castle. I think…I think something happened to him. But he won't say what it is."

"Did he see someone close to him die? That can be very hard on a man, especially someone who clearly values loyalty as highly as he does." Lord Gawain said. "I…I need to apologize to him for my behavior at Lord de Gaulle's house." He said with a twinge of regret. "I acted unbecoming towards him. I think highly of Ishaka, and I don't want him to think that I'm an asshole."

"I'm sure he doesn't think that of you." Zelda said with a smile. She turned to Impa. "I don't know him nearly as well as you do, Impa, but if I can give you any advice I guess it would be…do what you think is right to do."

"That…isn't terribly helpful, princess." Impa noted with a hint of snark. Zelda sighed, and shrugged.

"I can't speak for you, Impa. But know that…I think you'll know what to do. If he's going to talk to anyone, it's you."

Link took that moment to spit the towel out of his mouth.

"You two are close, Impa. I think he'll listen to you." He said through gritted teeth. Proxi took that moment to float out of Link's head.

"Link, you dunce! Now you gotta have that thing in your mouth when it's covered in sand and mud!" She said. Link shrugged with his good shoulder.

"Eh, it's worth it for a friend." He said.

…

He stared at the two of them from his position on the battlements, gazing out into the west. They'd fled a few days ago now. As much fun as it was to simply sit there and enjoy the perks of being the king, he would be lying if he didn't feel like he hadn't finished the job. Thus, as long as they were all alive, it was not okay to rest on his laurels. He continued to gaze out into the distance as he spoke to them.

"They most likely fled to the Outlands. They will have crossed the River Hylia. You are to take the Bulblins, and a segment of my army." He said. "Use the Bulblins to push them towards the desert strongholds that we have built, and then you two may have the pleasure of slaughtering them in the trap." He turned to Ghirahim and Zant. "This is crucial. You two take care of them, and then the Gorons and the Zoras will capitulate without a fight." There was a pause. "You have your orders." He said. They started to walk away. But then he spoke again. "One more thing."

They turned to face their lord and master.

"Bring the boy and the princess to me. Preferably alive. I would like the satisfaction of choking the life out of them with my own hands. But…if you happen to discover they are dead, bring them to me anyway. I will set fire to their corpses and take pleasure in ridding myself of the two enemies I have had for eons."

"What of the Gerudo?" Zant asked. Ganondorf snarled.

"That boy is no true Gerudo. Do not even bother bringing him to me." He said. He smirked. "Drag him out into the desert, and take your time in bringing about his end. Break him emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Let him scream, knowing that there is no one to save him. Let him know that he is unworthy of the blood that some mistake in the flow of time and space gave him. Then…completely alone and without hope, you may kill him." He scratched his chin in thought. "Do you two know how we dealt with heretics in my old tribe?" He asked.

In unison, the two of them shook their heads. Ganondorf's smile was positively wolf-like.

"We nailed them to a pole by their palms and ankles, and let them hang in the heat until they would die of exposure. I think that would suffice, don't you?" He asked.

The smiles on the Twili and Demon Tribe leaders' faces gave him all the answer he was looking for.

…

It was well after twilight when she finally worked up the courage to go find him. The last vestiges of sunlight were going away over the land, and the majority of the people in the refugee camp were settling down to a restless night of sleep. Ravagers stood on guard, refusing to let the exhausted Hyrulian forces stand watch any more than they had to. Once again, Impa had to admire the restless nature of these men and women of the earth. They reflected well on the character of the man that was in charge of them.

She sighed as she got close enough to Ishaka to see that he was smoking. The light from his pipe was gently illuminating his face. There was a thick cloud surrounding his face, and for a moment she wondered how it was that thick in the first place. But as she got closer, that was because he was puffing so fast it looked like he was hyperventilating.

"Ishaka?" She managed to ask. No response. "Ishaka?"

Her eyes were adjusting to the dark now, and she could see that he looked like hell. The cuts on his face were caked with dried blood that he'd refused to get cleaned. Blood trails had run down his face, and his eyes were sunken deep into their sockets as a result of barely sleeping. It was the look, though, that haunted her. It was like she was staring at a walking corpse. She took a deep breath.

"Ishaka!"

Like waking from a dream, Ishaka jerked upright. He glanced over in her direction. He recognized who it was, and he stared at her in slowly dawning realization.

"Sheikah?" He managed to ask, in the voice of a man who hadn't spoken in days. It was a hoarse and ragged and rather pathetic sound. It was amazing how small he looked, despite being so big. She thought she was gazing into the eyes of a kicked and malnourished dog.

"Yeah…yeah, it's me." Impa said. He managed to smile a little bit. It was like he was afraid to.

"Tha's…tha's good. How…how you doin'?" He managed to ask. Impa took a deep breath.

"I'm okay, Ishaka. I'm a little sore, but I'm okay." She said. "How are you doing?" She managed to ask. Ishaka stared at her, and took out the pipe from his mouth. He smiled, but too widely. Impa was glad that the darkness was hiding her wince, because in the course of the battle in Castle Town he'd had his left canine and two molar teeth knocked out. There was a noticeable gap in his mouth.

"M'fine, Sheikah!" He said, in the voice of someone only barely keeping it together. "T-totally fine!" He said. "I'm fine. I-I'm fine." He started to shake slightly. "I-I-I-fuh-f-" Tears were starting to stream down his eyes, and he looked like he was going to fall over. Impa did the only thing that she could think of.

She rushed in and caught him in a tight bearhug, and fell with him down to their knees.

She listened to his muffled sobs against her chest, and she held his head in her hands. She looked around to see if anyone could hear him, and was glad that no one was running over like they had heard. Truthfully, she didn't care if people heard. But she figured that Ishaka wasn't about to show in front of his men and women in the Ravagers that he was bawling like a child. She didn't say anything, and instead rocked a little bit from side to side, letting him know that she was there. She was there and she was there for him. He cried like a lifetime of pent-up emotion was finally being released. Eventually, he stopped. The only sound was him breathing against her chest.

There was another sound. It was quiet, practically the sound of whisper. But then she realized that it was Ishaka saying something to her.

"Yes, Ishaka?" She asked.

"Am…Am I a bad pers'n?" Ishaka finally asked. Impa looked confused.

"What makes you say that, Ishaka?" She asked. He pulled away from her slightly, and stared up at her.

"I'm…I'm one o' him, Impa. I…I be a G'rudo." He said. Impa took a moment to blink once, not sure that she'd heard him right. Then, slowly, she took a deep breath.

"You mean…one of your parents was a Gerudo?" She asked. He shook his head so hard it looked like he was trying to break his neck from the whiplash.

"No…N-n-no, I'm jus' like 'im, Sheikah." He said. "I…Am I like Gan'dorf, Impa?"

"What?" Impa asked incredulously, in a harsh whisper. "Of course not! What in the name of the Goddesses would make you think that?" She asked. He sniffled.

"Cuz…'cuz e'ry time I fought…I liked it, Sheikah. I…I liked fightin' an' beatin' people, and…and now I gotta wond'r…is tha' how he sees it?" He asked. "Does…does 'e ev'r kill…'cuz he wants ta kill p'ple? Does…does tha' mean I like killin' people fer th' sake o' killin' em?" He asked, to no one in particular.

"Ishaka…" Impa began, but he cut her off.

"Cuz I've kill'd so many!" Ishaka wailed into her chest. "Bok'blins, Moblins, Bulblins, raiders, pirates…I…I've lost count!" He said. "All this time I tol' m'self tha' I was doin' it fer th' Ravagers, fer th' settl'rs tha' didn't have no way o' doin' it themselves…was tha' all a lie? Am I jus'…am I jus' a freak? A mad dog?" He looked up at her. "Am I no bett'r than 'im?" He asked.

Impa sighed, and stared up at the heavens. She didn't pray to the Goddesses nearly as often as she perhaps should have or even wanted to, so she hardly expected them to help her now. Yet as she looked at the man in front of her right now, she found herself talking about them.

"You ever pray much to the Goddesses, Ishaka?" She asked. "Or, rather, do you believe in them?"

"Sorta." Ishaka admitted. "I mean, I b'lieve an' all but…I'm kinda 'fraid of them."

"You would be surprised at how many share your opinion." Impa said, with a small smile. "That's the funny thing about faith. It doesn't really give you a bona fide reason to understand it…you just sort of…have it." But then she got serious. "But at the end of the day, there's one thing about them that I will never, ever forget, and I will believe from now until the day I die and even beyond that."

"Wha's that?" Ishaka asked. Impa shrugged.

"We might be their creations, but at the end of the day they gave us the right to our own destinies. We decide what we do with the life we lead. We decide the route that we take. It isn't predetermined for us." She said. "So you might share the blood of the Gerudo with Ganondorf. You might be a Gerudo like him. But do you really think that the two of you are identical? Do you think that Ganondorf understands the meaning of friendship, the way you do? The meaning of loyalty and kindness, the way you do? Let me ask you this: why did you form the Ravagers?"

"I want'd ta 'elp people tha' couldn' 'elp themselves." Ishaka said with confidence. Impa nodded.

"Precisely. And the very act of being the defender of those that can't defend themselves means that your hands might get dirty every now and then. And you might like it because you know that you're doing it for a higher purpose. Do you think Ganondorf ever considers the ramifications of what he does except for how they benefit him?" She paused, and shook her head. "Of course not. Because you're not Ganondorf. You have something that he doesn't have and never will ever understand the point of."

"Wha's that?" Ishaka asked. Impa laughed.

"A conscience, silly! You try your damnedest to make things better, and you do your best to know and act upon what's right and what's wrong. You believe in making the world a better place for the sake of doing so, not because you want the world to be a better place for you." She sighed, and took a seat next to him. "Don't think of yourself as something awful, like you're Ganondorf's shadow. If anything…he's yours. And as long as you know that…he will never be your superior." She said.

He stared at her, with the look of a man who had finally been given a drink after days stumbling through the desert.

"Thank you, Impa." He managed to choke out. The next thing he did, even she didn't expect.

He pulled her in to a big bear hug, and held her tight. She was more than happy to return the embrace.

"I'm so tired…" He whispered. Impa smirked.

"Then go to sleep, silly." She said. "We need you at your best and rested."

He nodded, and before she knew it he'd flopped backwards and landed on his back on the grass. It was within mere moments that she heard the soft and peaceful sound of him snoring. She chose to keep him company, resting against the tree beside him.

…

He watched the two of them, making no attempt to hide the contempt in his eyes. Ghirahim turned to face him.

"Remember, you are to drive those whelps to the north." The Demon Tribe leader lectured. "Sweep south and underneath them, and don't let any of them cross the river back to the west. Push them to the north, where we will wait in the ancient ruins. From there…we will win the final victory for Lord Ganondorf."

The Bulblin Lord High King growled.

"You have no right to speak to me in such a way." He said in a dangerous tone. "After they are finished, I might drag in your corpse to Ganondorf as well as theirs." He said. Ghirahim laughed haughtily.

"Oh, you are delightful!" He said. But then his expression darkened. "But just in case you think about trying anything…" he gestured to the truly monstrous Darknut that stood behind the Bulblin. "He will be here to…keep you in place." Ghirahim said with a threatening tone. He smiled at the glowering expression on the Bulblin's face. "Toodles!"

With that, he and Zant took the last boat across the river, leaving the Bulblin Lord High King and his forces to work with the monstrous Darknut and his small team of Darknuts. The leader of them turned to face the aging Bulblin.

"March." It ordered in a deep tone. It smacked the Lord High King in the shin with the flat edge of its broadsword. Snarling but saying nothing, the Bulblin Lord High King blew into his battle horn, and he began to lead the forces to the south to begin tightening the noose.

…

That morning, he felt himself awake for the first time in ages. He walked through the camp, greeting everyone that he could with a smile. The sight of him walking and talking seemed to light up the Ravagers around the camp, and soon the word began to move through like rapid-fire: Ishaka was back amongst them. He quietly and politely said hello to those around him, and continued making his way towards where the princess and her guard stood.

Uhaa was the first to notice him.

"Master Ishaka." He said. There was the faintest trace of a smile on his face. "You have returned."

"I never left, yeh moron." The Ravager leader said. He looked around. "Y'all seem like yeh seen a ghost!"

"You had disappeared on us." Link pointed out, rotating his sore shoulder. Zelda smiled.

"Don't listen to this doofus. We're glad to have you back with us." She said. "Are you alright, Ishaka?" She asked. Ishaka looked around. He looked at Link, and the Granthams. He looked at the battered face of the Lord of War, and exchanged the look that only those that have suffered in combat can share with Lord Gawain. He looked at the princess. And then he looked at Impa. She practically felt him staring into her very soul. And then he smiled.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay. I'm okay." He said. Zelda smiled.

"That's good to hear, Ishaka. Because now…" she sighed. "Now we have to start planning on what we need to do to stop the forces of darkness."

"Well, no offense, but that will be difficult." Lord Gawain said. "We are suffering from a big drop in morale, and soldiers, and definitely don't have that many leaders to work with."

At that moment, they became aware of a murmuring through the camp.

"Make way!" A shout went through the camp. "Make way for the Spymaster's force!"

"The Spymaster?" Zelda asked. "Renee is here?" She stood up from the bucket she'd been sitting on. "Well, we have to go meet her!" Without a word, the rest of them followed her to the center of the camp.

…

Zelda's disappointment was visible when she saw only horses come riding in. Still, she could tell that the five of them had been riding for quite some time, and she did not want to chide them. She cleared her throat, gazing up at the one in the front.

"Greeting, sire." She said, noticing the rank of Lieutenant was sewn into the shoulders of his uniform. "Is…is this all of you that is left?"

"Not entirely, ma'am." The man said. "The majority are most likely with the Gorons, hidden in the darkness of High King Petra's kingdom. I imagine that Lady Shiftlett is with them. We got separated from the rest of the pack when we were ordered on a separate mission."

"Wait, you are from the valley?" Impa asked with incredulity. "How in the name of the Goddesses did you find us?" She asked. The lieutenant smirked.

"With all due respect, Commander Impa…" He jerked his thumb up and behind his shoulder. "We weren't the ones tracking you." The five horses parted, revealing the sixth horse and the two that riding it.

Ishaka let out a whoop.

"ITAMI! YEH DAFT BASTARD, YER ALIVE!" He raced over to the horse, and shookhis lieutenant's hand vigorously. Itami smiled lightly.

"Hey, boss." He said. He raised an eyebrow. "No offense, but I'm gone for a few days and you look like complete shit."

"Ah, fuck off yeh daft bastard!" Ishaka said with a gregarious grin. He looked at the rider behind Itami, who had her arms wrapped around the Craol's waist. "Izzat-Miss Lana!" He said.

"Lana?" Zelda asked, shock and awe in her voice. From her perch on the horse, Lana smiled and waved with her free hand. They could see that the other one was in a splint.

"Hi, Zelda." She said. "Hi, everyone." Gently, Itami let her down and off of the horse.

Lana stared awkwardly at the rest of them. The last time that she'd seen them, she'd left with barely a goodbye. She wasn't sure how they were going to treat her. But in mere moments, that fear was put to rest. For Zelda ran forward, and wrapped her in a hug.

"You have no idea how happy I am that you are alive." The princess said. "Lana, it is so good to see you alive and well." Lana smiled.

"Well, you have to thank Itami back there for that. He was the man that saved me."

"Itami, did you really?" Impa asked, smirking with her eyebrow raised. "I didn't think you had it in you." Itami looked at her for a moment, and scowled.

"Maybe there's a lot about me that you don't know." He said. "Maybe I'm a little bit different than you think." At the sound of this, Lana turned around and giggled.

"Yeah, that's right! C'mon, Itami! Show them what you showed me!" She said with a radiant smile. Itami looked at her, his eyes widening in realization. He looked away. Ishaka stared at him, his jaw slackening in shock.

"Itami, are you…"

"….blushing?" Impa finished for him, equally as shocked. Itami looked at them, and shrugged.

"I missed you guys." He admitted.

And then he gave that smile.

The reactions were immediate.

"Who th' fuck are you, an' what 'ave you done wit' my boy Itami?" Ishaka asked, flabbergasted.

"By the Goddesses, I didn't realize he could do that." Impa remarked.

"Holy shit, you can smile?" Link asked. Zelda just smiled herself.

"It's a good look, Itami." She said. Lana giggled, and pinched the Craol's cheek.

"See? You need to keep doing that!" She said. "It's adorable!"

"…Great." Itami said. He put his hood on, even though it was quite bright and hot out. "Now I'm never gonna hear the end of this." He said.

"Do you regret smiling for me?" Lana asked, leaning in close and whispering in his ear.

"…..No." He replied, in a little voice that only the two of them (and a very perceptive and approving Zelda) could hear. Lana giggled, and did a little happy dance.

"Oh, this is wonderful! I'm so glad to see you all!" She said.

"Not to be the raincloud on this sunny day," Lord Gawain interrupted. "But even with the addition of the seven of you and the knowledge that the Gorons are hiding a chunk of our forces and they haven't been overrun yet, we still are woefully undermanned and underequipped. We don't have the manpower to leave this camp and investigate the Goron kingdom."

At that moment, a horn echoed through the air.

"What the hell?" Impa shouted, drawing her weapon like the rest of them. Itami stood defensively in front of Lana. "What were those?"

"War horns!" Link shouted. "Bulblins!" Zelda glanced over at Lord Gawain, who curiously had not drawn his weapon.

"Lee? What's wrong?" She asked. He turned to face them, with a puzzled expression on her face.

"Those weren't horns for battle…" He finally said. "Those were…horns for parley?"

…

FIFTEEN MINUTES PRIOR…

They'd been as discreet as he could have led them, and now they stood poised at the top of the hills overlooking the refugee camp. He stood there, staring at the sight before him. Even though they were so far away, he could sense the air there: one of desperation, but not hopelessness. People living on the edges of their faith and fortitude, and yet they weren't cracking under the pressure.

"What are you waiting for?" The Darknut commander snarled. "You have your orders, maggot. Attack the humans."

"They still believe in their cause." The Bulblin Lord High King said, an air of disbelief in his voice. "Even as they are pushed to the edge of existence…they endure."

"Forget sentimentality." The Darknut said. "Take advantage of that, and slaughter them!"

The Bulblin Lord High King turned to face the armored beast in front of him.

"Do you know what it is like to endure when all odds are against you?" He asked the Darknut. "It is a trying existence. Especially when the world seems determined to stamp you out of existence. But to endure…that is the greatest display of strength one can ever display." He turned to look at the Hyrulians and Ravagers below him. "Truly they are the strongest people I shall ever know."

"Then kill them!" The Darknut said. "Kill them, or I kill you!" It held its broadsword threateningly.

The Bulblin Lord High King was an old man. His gut was bloated with age and lack of proper exercise. His joints ached with arthritis and a slight case of gout. What little hair he had was greying, and the mighty horns atop his head were now a faded white. He stared at the Darknut before him, and raised an eyebrow.

"You are not terribly familiar with the customs of the Bulblin, are you?" He asked the creature in front of him.

Darknut armor is the hardest and sturdiest armor known to the world. They are near impenetrable, and those that have tried and failed are often dashed against the rocks.

But they are not invulnerable, and if a Darknut is not careful they expose a minute opening in the base of the neck…

…an opening that was taken advantage of by a Bulblin that had silently crept up behind the two of them, and with a silent leap embedded a rusted dagger into the back of the Darknut's neck, breaking the blade off in the creature's skin. The Darknut commander fell to the ground in a heap, gurgling in pain. It looked weakly up at the Bulblin Lord High King, who stared at it dismissively on the ground.

"It would appear that you and your little guard have forgotten the core tenet of the Bulblin people," Lord High King Bulblin said, gesturing to the other Darknuts that were being felled in similar manners. Those that were loyal to the Darknuts were swift to switch their allegiance to the Bulblins amongst them. "…we fight for the strongest side. And as the spirits are my witness, that is not you." As the Darknut bled out beside him, he waved over a hornsman. "Give a signal to the humans below so that they may know we are coming. I…wish to handle this personally."

…

The Hyruliand and the Ravagers stood at guard, their bows and arrows prepared and their pikes and shields laid down. A veritable wall was in front of the River Hylia, and those that were too weak or old or otherwise unable to fight were instructed to take the only horses out if the worst should come to pass. Zelda stood at the front of the line, refusing to abandon her soldiers to their fate. But as the horsemen rode closer and closer to their line, she found herself relaxing. A shout went through the Hyrulian and Ravager line.

"Reduce tension! They come waving blue flags! Blue flags!*"

It was a small and well-organized cadre of horsemen, but it was a small number. Barely fifteen of them. One of the Bulblins dismounted, and stood ramrod straight in a prideful manner.

"His excellence, the Lord High King Romulus!" The creature barked.

The horsemen parted, revealing a Bulblin walking forward towards the line. His back was crooked from age and scoliosis, and he walked while leaning heavily on a gnarled piece of wood that served as his cane. His skin was wrinkled, and he winced with each step, like every movement caused him an uncomfortable amount of pain. He stood in front of the Hyrulians and Ravagers, all aiming their weapons cautiously at him, and smiled slightly. Even for a creature like a Bulblin, it was clear that he was smiling.

"Be at peace. I have no wish to fight you all by my lonesome. Though I suppose I could give you a good workout if that were the case." He smiled tiredly at his little joke, and sighed at the lack of response. "Kids these days. Wound so tightly…" He muttered.

"State your business!" Someone shouted from the Hyrulian line. Romulus snorted.

"Do the Hyrulians no longer adhere to the War Convention of Holodrum?*" He said, with a hint of tired annoyance. "Or were my flags not adequately blue enough for you?" He said. "I suppose they are somewhat periwinkle, if I had a spear to my head and had to choose."

"You didn't answer the question!" The voice replied.

"Parley, you twit." Romulus said. "PARLEY! Need I spell it out for you?" He sighed, and rubbed his forehead. "If it isn't you that I need to talk to, then at least give me the dignity of having someone with some degree of authority talk to me."

"How about me?"

He looked up, and saw that she was standing before him. His tired and old eyes widened slightly, and he sighed.

"By the spirits." He said. "Your beauty really does precede you, your highness."

"I am more than looks." Zelda said. Romulus grinned.

"Oh, of that I have no doubt." He said. He stooped forward a little bit, and bowed. "You will forgive me for not making it more obvious. The years have taken their toll on me and my back. And my knees. And my ankles…and my shoulders…" He looked up, and seemed apologetic. "You understand, I imagine."

"I do." Zelda said. "Very well. You come before a nation requesting parley. What brings you to seek such terms?"

"Why, your majesty…" Romulus looked at her, clasping his walking stick with both hands. "Many things. Many things indeed. If you have the time, I hope you're willing."

Zelda thought about it long and hard. The silence was excruciating in its length. Finally, she spoke.

"I am listening."

A/N: Hmm…

HYRULIAN CODEX

Blue Flags – In Hyrule and in other nations that adhere to general rules of warfare, the white flag is synonymous with surrender. However, when parley is requested, the requester is to come forward to the opposing party waving flags that are clearly blue and visible for all to see.

War Convention of Holodrum – The famous meeting in the quiet land of Holodrum where many known nations agreed to hash out the rules of engagement and warfare for all future endeavors.