Sophitia watched as her father worked. Diligently scanning through yet another document, he dipped his quill in ink and added his signature before stamping it with his seal. The princess wondered what it was. It could be troop deployment orders, an update to the tax policy, a whole new law, or any number of things. He had the power to do so much, all from behind that desk.
I wonder how that feels…
"What was it you wanted to speak with me about?" the king asked after a moment, not looking up from his work.
Sophitia flinched, then sat up straight in her chair. "I wish to ask you something," she said. "The Grand Minister is down there speaking for you right now." As they spoke, Grand Minister Malkori was in the city square, delivering an address to the citizens of Hyrule.
"Good," the king replied. "That's his job."
The princess shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Yes. I know."
"Then what is your question?" King Tychon sifted through another stack of parchment, pulling out the one he was looking for.
"Why him, and not you?" Sophitia asked.
"You've already answered your own question," was her father's reply. "He is down there speaking to the citizenry so that I may be here, doing the real work."
Sophitia took a deep breath, trying her best to find the right words. "Perhaps if the king addressed his people personally more often, they would better understand how much he cares for them," she said. "If nothing else, it might make them like you a little more."
"They will never like me," King Tychon stated. He put down his quill and looked up at his daughter for what felt like the first time since she'd entered his office. "When you were a little girl, did you like me when I was the one making the rules? Or when I punished you for breaking them?" he asked. "That is what I am to them. They all wish to do whatever they want, and I am the one cursed with the burden of telling them 'no.' They will never like me for it, no matter how much it is necessary."
"I am older now, Father," the princess replied. "I have enough sense to recognize the necessity of law and order, and I'd wager many of them do as well," she said, gesturing to the window from which the town square could be seen in the distance.
The king regarded her for a moment. "What business is it of yours whether or not the people care for me?"
"I have already expressed to you my desire to be queen one day," the princess said, hoping she did not come across as entitled or arrogant.
"Yes. You said the same when you were a little girl, for a time," King Tychon replied, returning to his work.
Sophitia's cheeks turned red, remembering how she used to steal her elder sister's crown and walk around wearing it, despite it being too large for her head. "If I am to be queen-"
"If," her father emphasized.
The princess stopped talking for a moment, expecting him to say more. When he did not, she pressed on. "I would prefer to be a good queen. Wise, just, strong, benevolent. And if there is anyone who should be teaching me how to be a good ruler, it is you, Father."
King Tychon looked up from his work again, his eyes fixating on her with that intense, icy gaze of his. Sophitia shrank back into her chair, immediately losing all the confidence she'd had just a moment ago. "Do not presume to tell me what I should be doing," he said plainly. "If you so desire my wisdom, I do have some advice for you, Zelda. Stop caring so much about what they think of you. It is the duty of any ruler to do what is best for the people, whether they approve of it or not. Dismissed."
Sophitia stood up immediately upon being dismissed. "Thank you, Father," she said, trying not to let her voice quiver. She curtsied graciously, then turned to head for the door. However, she stopped before she opened it. "My siblings and I will all be departing very soon," she said. "Will you at least come down to see us off?"
King Tychon squinted at the parchment he was holding, then picked up his quill and crossed something out. Sophitia waited patiently for his response. "Yes," he said finally. "I shall."
Sophitia nodded, actually somewhat comforted by that. She did not know how long she would be away for, and she was hoping for a proper goodbye. "Thank you, Father," she said once again, bowing slightly. Turning back to the door, she opened it and stepped outside.
"How did it go?" Liliana was waiting for her in the hallway outside, her hand resting casually on the hilt of her sword.
The princess sighed. "I would say it met my expectations."
"That bad, huh?"
Sophitia chuckled bitterly, setting off down the hall. "All I was hoping to obtain was a small bit of advice. Something that might help me in my future, or in my immediate future. My success depends on me capturing the hearts of the Rito, yes? That would be rather difficult were I to enact my father's 'Stop caring what they think of you' policy."
"I'm not surprised to hear he has that attitude," Liliana said, following behind her charge. "It seems to work for him."
"How so?"
"Back when I lived in Ordona, the only thing I knew about the king was his name," Liliana explained.
"Well, that is to be expected. You were a little girl from the farthest corner of the kingdom, and you weren't highborn."
"But," her bodyguard went on. "After studying at the Hyrulean Royal Academy, I understood that King Tychon's education and trade policies had been doing wonders for my home province ever since he'd taken the throne."
Sophitia eyed her questioningly. "I do not understand."
"My point is, it doesn't matter what I think of him, or if I think of him at all. The kingdom runs smoothly due to his leadership."
"If it were running smoothly, we wouldn't be on the verge of three civil wars." The princess was shocked with herself, and stopped walking to look around nervously. What she had said was practically treasonous, and it would not do well for her political career if the wrong people had overheard her.
"Fair point," Liliana conceded. "Although the conflict in Akkala is more of a holy war."
"No, you are correct, Liliana. I know my father is a good king." Princess Sophitia had spent the last few years paying close attention to her father's governance. She did not understand or agree with everything he did, but she could not argue with the results the majority of the time. "I do not blame him for these conflicts. They have been building since before he was crowned, and they are only now threatening to boil over."
"Do you wish to be like him when you are queen?" Liliana asked.
The words made Sophitia smile.
When.
"Yes," the princess replied. She paused to reflect on that for a moment. "Although, I know at least one thing that I want to be different," she said, walking over to the nearest window overlooking the city. "I will not be content with running the kingdom while they all grudgingly accept my leadership. I want them to want me to be queen. If they are given the choice, I would want them to choose me over any of my siblings."
"Awfully vain for a descendant of Hylia."
Sophitia chuckled. "Perhaps. But it is not all for the sake of my ego. The people will be happier with someone they love on the throne. If nothing else, there will be fewer potential rebellions."
"True," her bodyguard agreed. "And it will be my honor to help you realize that dream, my princess."
Sophitia smiled and nodded gratefully. "I am happy to hear it."
An hour later, Sophitia and Liliana were riding atop their horses through the east side of the city, surrounded by the princess's usual guard detail. Having prepared for her journey, Sophitia had changed into more comfortable traveling clothes. However, she wore her crown for the time being. She planned to remove it once they left the city, but she felt it was fitting for her public appearances.
When they arrived at the eastern gate, there were soldiers and servants everywhere, loading up the wagons and horses for Prince Percival and General Alchon's journey to Akkala. Many of them wore purple or had grapevine sigils on their clothing or shields, showing their allegiance to Governor Vryciaro's House. Those who did not were either General Alchon's subordinates or people from the capital. Additionally, a large crowd of the city's citizenry had gathered to see them off. An unmoving line of guards kept them separated from everyone else.
However, both the crowd and the guards parted without question to allow Sophitia's party to pass. Once through, the princess spotted Lancel and her sisters off to the side. They stood together with their attendant knights behind them and a line of guards in front of them, watching the eastbound party preparing to depart. "Halt," Sophitia said to her guards, holding up a hand to signal them. She and Liliana climbed down from their horses. "Wait for us here," she said, leaving Captain Reede and her other guards behind to go join her siblings.
When her siblings' guards saw her approaching, they hastily stepped to the side to allow her entry. As if on alert, the movement of the guards attracted the attention of Sophitia's elder sister. She smiled warmly when she saw Sophitia. "Sister. You are just in time. Please, join us."
"Yay! Sophie's here," Seraphina bounded over to her once she was made aware of her presence, embracing her with a hug.
"Ah. Thank you, Sisters," Sophitia said, running her hand through Seraphina's hair. "My apologies for not joining you earlier."
"Not at all. Come and watch the madness unfold," Lancel said, gesturing to the preparations before them just as an unfortunate recruit fell to the ground while attempting to climb atop his horse.
Sophitia laughed, and her younger sister grabbed her by the hand to drag her over to the others. Liliana took her place behind her charge, standing next to Impa Ayako, although she did not look thrilled about it.
"Has Father arrived yet?" Sophitia asked, noticing he was nowhere in sight.
"I have not seen him," Victorique replied. "Uncle Alchon is just over there, and Percival is somewhere near the front."
"They've been barking orders all morning," Lancel said in amusement. "They're both in their element, I'd say. And on such a beautiful day for travel, as well."
"Indeed," Victorique agreed, although Sophitia doubted she meant to agree with everything Lancel had said. "I trust the two of you are prepared to depart as soon as we see Percival off?"
"All those in my party, aside from my personal guards, are already gathered at the west gate," Sophitia confirmed. "Including the Grand Artisan, Governor Koridai, and Lord Remoth."
"My people and the Grand Archivist are there, too," Lancel added. "It will be quite the party."
Victorique nodded. "Governor Vapith and the Sage of Light are waiting for us as well." Sophitia and Lancel's party were planning to depart alongside Victorique and Seraphina's. Their journey together was to be short lived, however, as they would part ways at the very first fork in the road, with Sophitia continuing west and her sisters heading south.
"Hey, hey," Seraphina said, tugging on Victorique's dress. "Can we go see Percy now?"
The eldest princess smiled down at her. "Of course, dear," she said, placing her hand on her younger sister's back. Turning to address the guards in front of them, she cleared her throat. "Guards. Stand aside, if you please." She spoke in a voice that was an odd mix of polite yet thoroughly authoritative. Sophitia felt another pang of envy as the line of guards wordlessly obeyed her command. The eldest princess then walked forward, taking the lead for her siblings and their bodyguards.
I fully expect her to have Gerudo sorted out the day she arrives in the province…
Ordinarily, navigating the crowd of busy soldiers and servants running about might have been difficult, but none wished to get in the way of the crown princess and three of her siblings. "Shall we speak with Uncle Alchon first?" Victorique suggested as they came across him before reaching Percival.
The general was standing with a group of knights clustered around him. There appeared to be an argument of some sort going on.
"If you have a reason, let's hear it," Sophitia heard her uncle say.
The attention seemed to be on a knight in a purple cloak; one of Governor Vryciaro's men. "My lord, I do not wish to speak ill of other knights."
"You're no good to me if you can't do as I ask of you, sir," General Alchon replied. "Either state your reason or retract your request and be done with it."
The knight shifted nervously, but the other soldiers on his side looked at him hopefully. "Then if I may speak my mind, that thing is not a little girl."
"I know this. The Kokiri do not age as we do."
"That is not what I mean, my lord." The knight shook his head. "She's a monster, plain and simple. I was there. I saw how she laughed. If we are setting out to bring peace in the name of the gods, we cannot in good conscience serve under someone like her."
"Enough," the general said. "I do not know why Governor Vryciaro has promoted her so much, but if you truly fear her so much, take it up with him. I command my troops, he commands his. As long as I keep seeing results, that is not likely to change any time soon."
"I have gone to the governor, my lord, but-"
"Then that should have been the end of it," Alchon interrupted. "Go. All of you."
The knight looked frustrated, but he clenched his fists. "Yes, my lord." He placed his helmet over his head, then he and his compatriots walked off in a huff. General Alchon just shook his head and proceeded to address the other knights beside him.
"Uncle Alchon," Victorique called out to him, seeming to think now was the right time to catch him.
Her uncle glanced at her. "Good morning," he said, taking notice of his nieces and nephew. "Here to see your brother off?"
"And you, too, Uncle Alchon," Seraphina said cheerily.
"We wanted to wish you luck before you go off to do battle with a god," Lancel said. "Can't say I'm not jealous, honestly."
General Alchon grunted. "We don't need to fight a god. Just the maniacs who serve that foolish would-be usurper."
"Nevertheless, it will be no small feat," Sophitia said. "We wish you good fortune."
"And may the Goddess smile upon you," Victorique added.
Their uncle nodded and turned back to his work, so the royal siblings moved along. "Bye, Uncle," Seraphina waved as they walked past him.
Near the front of the convoy, they found their last sibling conversing with Governor Vryciaro. Sir Onnick was there as well, standing behind the prince with his arms crossed menacingly. Even though the conversation did not seem argumentative, the governor kept stealing nervous glances at the giant knight.
"Percy!" Seraphina was the first to call out to him, rushing over to hug him the way she had with Sophitia earlier. Percival's response was to raise his index finger in their direction without looking away from his conversation, signalling that he'd be with them in a minute. Even once Seraphina was hugging him, he continued speaking to the governor as if she wasn't there, although Sophitia noticed he did place a hand upon her head.
"Princess, it's rude to interrupt," Dame Jeanne chided her charge as the rest of their party caught up to her.
"But do it anyway. He probably deserves it," Lancel chimed in.
"Prince Lancel…" Sir Anselm said, as if he were going to scold his charge as well.
"Fine, fine. We'll wait."
However, they did not need to wait long. "Very good," Percival said to the governor. "We'll discuss this further when we arrive at the citadel."
"As you say, Prince Percival," the governor agreed. With a curt bow, he dismissed himself, giving one last worried look in Sir Onnick's direction as he went.
Percival then turned to his siblings. "I see you are all here," he noted.
"Good eye, Brother," Lancel replied.
"This could be our last time seeing you for some time," Sophitia explained. "We wanted to give you a proper sendoff."
Her brother nodded. "I appreciate that."
Seraphina let go of him and took a few steps back. "Will you bring me back a present?" she asked, smiling up at him expectantly.
"I am not going on holiday," he said dismissively. However, the young girl's look of disappointment must have changed his mind. "...But I suppose I could try to find something."
"Yay!"
"I've got an idea," Lancel said, stepping up to Percival. "I wager I'll have Hebra under control before you put down the false sage in Akkala. We'll each put up one of the jewels from our crown. What do you say, Brother?" The elder prince held out his hand requesting a hand shake.
"Please," Percival said contemptuously, not meeting her brother's hand. "You must take this more seriously. Something of much greater value is already on the line."
"Alright. How about the entire crown, then?"
"Prince Lancel…" Sir Anselm spoke disapprovingly again.
"Percival is right, Lancel," Victorique said. "The safety and security of the kingdom is at stake, as is our pact with the Nine Patrons."
I am fairly certain Percival was referring to the throne that we are fighting over, but that works, too.
"Pay no mind to his jests," Victorique went on. "We all wish you good fortune, and we are grateful for the part you play in our efforts to improve the kingdom."
She was always good at finding the most magnanimous thing to say. Sophitia could tell she was unconcerned with whatever petty squabbles their brothers might be having.
Although I suppose it's easy for her. She must think it's a given that the throne will pass to her one day.
"Thank you, Sister," Percival said. "And thank you, siblings. I wish you all good fortune with your own endeavors."
"And may the best of us win," Lancel added.
Victorique nodded. "Farewell, Brother," she said, turning to leave.
"Bye, Percy!" Seraphina joined.
As Lancel turned to leave, Sophitia was about to say her goodbyes, but Percival spoke first. "Remember what I told you," he said, nodding his head to gesture at Lancel's back. "Do not trust him."
Sophitia glanced between her two brothers, unsure which one she should be trusting more. "I shall take it under consideration, Brother," she said. "Farewell." With a final bow, she joined her other siblings.
Sophitia walked beside Liliana on their way back to the viewing area. Her bodyguard had observed her final interaction with her brother, of course. "Do you truly believe what he says?" the round-eared girl asked.
"I am uncertain," Sophitia replied in a hushed voice. Lancel and his bodyguard were within earshot, as were her sisters. "We shall talk more later."
Liliana nodded understandingly, glancing over at the prince.
When they returned to where Sophitia had found her siblings, she was surprised to find her father there. Behind him were a dozen of the kingdom's most elite knights, dressed in gold and purple, all of them almost as awe-inspiring as Sir Anselm or Dame Jeanne. The king did not leave the castle often, so Sophitia did not witness such a gathering of the Royal Guard very frequently.
"Greetings, Father," Victorique said, standing at attention in front of the king. "Preparations are complete. Prince Percival and the eastbound party will be departing for Akkala momentarily." Sophitia noted the immediate change in her elder sister's demeanor. Seconds ago, she'd been serious, but still a gentle and caring sister who was worried about her younger brother's well-being. Now, her tone was cold and emotionless, as if she were merely the king's most loyal subordinate delivering a status report on the troops.
Their father nodded. "Very good." His gaze moved across his four children, eyeing them one by one. Sophitia could not tell what he was thinking, but there was less sentiment in his eyes than one might expect from a father saying goodbye to all his children. "You all have your roles to play," he spoke again. "Make me proud, and return in one piece."
"Of course, Father," Victorique said, bowing respectfully. Sophitia and Seraphina stood on either side of their sister and mimicked her actions.
"Fear not, O Wise King," Lancel said, dipping low into his own exaggerated bow. "When we return, all the world shall be at peace."
Sophitia glanced at her brother nervously. Given his plan to achieve world peace with the threat of a massive floating fortress, she knew he wasn't exaggerating when he said that.
"I will speak to Percival and my brother now," King Tychon said, ignoring Lancel outright. "Dismissed."
Sophitia and her siblings lifted their heads and stepped away, allowing their father and his guards to pass by. Seraphina was the first to speak. "Hey, I'm hungry," she said, turning to her retainer. "Jeanne, can we go by those stalls we saw on the way here?"
Victorique took her by the hand before the knight could reply. "Not now, dear," she told her younger sister. "We do not want to miss our brother departing. How would you like to get some sweets on the way to the western gate afterwards?"
"Okay!"
Sophitia once again noticed the total change in Victorique's demeanor. She was back to being their caring big sister, as if a completely different person had momentarily possessed her in the presence of their father.
Perhaps some time away from him will do her some good...
As it turned out, when their father had dismissed them, he was not merely dismissing them from his presence, but rather from the city. Sophitia and the others had watched the king and his escort head back to the castle without even waiting to see Percival and Uncle Alchon depart, and the princess had no expectation to see him again at the western gate. However, she tried not to let that bother her. She had traveled to other parts of the kingdom without her father before. The best thing to do would be to focus on the mission and come home with results that would impress him.
With that in mind, Sophitia made her way through the city on horseback along with her escort just as she'd done before. Victorique and Seraphina rode ahead of them in a carriage, with Lancel leading the way atop his own horse.
"You seem troubled," Liliana commented, riding close to the princess.
"I suppose I am," Sophitia replied. "I do not often venture outside of the castle with so many of my siblings like this. If some assassins were planning to take us out, now would be a good time to take out almost all of us at once."
"True," her bodyguard agreed. "But I suppose that is why I am here. As is Impa, Dame Jeanne, and Sir Anselm. And all of them." Liliana made a sweeping gesture with her hand, pointing out all the other guards surrounding them. "Besides, I've been observing the citizens we pass by. You've had more admirers than detractors."
Curiously, Sophitia glanced down at the crowds that were being kept back by the guards surrounding them. Quite a few people had come out to see Prince Percival depart, and now the same folks were watching them pass by. Some appeared as though they were looking upon the gods themselves, while others looked at her with envy or contempt. More still looked like they were only there for the novelty of seeing so many royals in one day.
I wonder how many are only here to see my sister and brother…
The crowds persisted until they reached the area near the western city gate that had been partitioned off by guards and some makeshift wooden walls. The royal siblings and their parties were allowed inside, and Sophitia dismounted to go look around. The plan was to leave as soon as possible, so once all the last-minute checks had been completed, they would be right back on their horses.
The princess and her retainer approached Victorique's carriage as the door opened. Impa Ayako and Dame Jeanne stepped out first, then held out their hands to help the other princesses down.
"Princess Zelda," came a voice from the side. All three princesses turned to look, even though Sophitia knew they must have been addressing the eldest sister by the royal name. Approaching them was a group of six or seven Hylians who appeared to be hired laborers, dressed in ordinary peasant attire and covered in dirt.
"Yes?" Victorique replied, sounding courteous even as Impa stepped between them, holding out her curved spear as a warning not to come any closer.
The group of peasants took heed of Impa's warning and stopped a couple yards away from them. At the front of the group was a woman in a hooded cloak who soon lowered her hood. However, while this revealed the top of her head, her face was still obscured by a strange mask. It was white and covered with red and yellow designs resembling an eye and a grinning mouth.
Sophitia sensed danger, as did Liliana and Dame Jeanne. The other two bodyguards stepped up next to Impa, with Jeanne tilting her halberd forward and Liliana drawing her sword.
"Stop right there. Identify yourselves!" Dame Jeanne demanded.
Something unexpected happened next. The masked woman raised her hand and spoke a few words that Sophitia did not understand. Perhaps it was because of the way the mask muffled her voice, but it sounded like a different language. Before anyone could say anything else, the appearance of the laborers began to change. It looked as if there had been a layer of smoke clinging to their bodies that was now being washed away by the wind. Black, brown, and blonde hair faded to snowy white, but for one head flecked with streaks of gray. Eyes of all colors became red. Even their plain peasant clothing changed into identical uniforms of black, blue, and white decorated with red Sheikah eye symbols.
Sophitia breathed a sigh of relief.
Of course. They must be watchers.
The woman reached up to her mask and twisted it until it rested on the side of her head, revealing her face. Beneath the mask was…
Impa Ayako?
Sophitia was confused at first. It appeared as if a second Ayako was standing before her elder sister's bodyguard. The shape of her face was exactly the same, and she even had the same single braid of white hair dangling from the right side of her head. But after a moment, the princess noticed the differences. This new Impa had a white tattoo around her eye rather than Ayako's red one, and it resembled more of a teardrop shape. Upon her forehead was a second tattoo that Impa Ayako did not have; this one in the shape of a stylized red Sheikah eye. She also appeared to be a bit older than Ayako, although it was difficult to tell.
"Greetings, Princess Zelda," the unmasked Sheikah woman said. She and all the other Sheikah behind her knelt down on one knee, bowing before the princess.
Impa Ayako sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose in annoyance. "What in Hylia's name are you doing here, Onee-sama?"
"You know these people?" Dame Jeanne asked.
"It's alright," Victorique told her, holding up her hand and stepping between the guards. "Lower your weapons. They are not here to harm us."
Liliana looked questioningly over her shoulder at Sophitia. The middle princess did not know these Sheikah, but she trusted Victorique's judgment, and nodded her approval to her bodyguard.
"If you say so, Princess…" Liliana did as asked, sheathing her sword and returning to her mistress's side.
"Rise," Victorique commanded the Sheikah, who obliged. "Ladies, this is Impa Shiho. She is Ayako's elder sister and the heiress of House Impa."
Seraphina gasped excitedly. "You have a sister too?" she asked, looking up at Ayako.
"...Yes," the younger Impa replied. Sophitia got the feeling she wanted to say 'unfortunately' as well.
Ah. That explains the resemblance.
Sophitia had never met Ayako's sister, but she had known of her existence just from being around her and Victroique often enough to hear her mentioned now and again. "It is an honor to make your acquaintance," the middle princess said, standing beside Victorique to greet their visitors.
Impa Shiho gave them all a deep bow, despite having knelt before them already. "And it is always an honor to be in the presence of Hylia's children." The Impa family had been the personal servants of the goddess Hylia in ancient times, back when she'd walked the Earth in material form. Their family had been serving Hylia's descendants ever since, so it came as no surprise that Impa Shiho was speaking as if this were some sort of religious experience for her.
"To what do we owe the pleasure?" Victorique asked.
"When my mother heard Hylia's children were all departing from the capital, she sent us to join you in order to keep you safe on your journeys," Shiho explained. "Princesses, please allow us to accompany you. My ninjas are loyal and well-trained. Any enemies you may encounter shall be felled before you even know of their existence."
"My princess," Ayako said, stepping in before any of the princesses could answer. "I must insist we do not accept this offer."
Sophitia tilted her head curiously at that.
Why not? A troop of personal assassins sounds rather useful. Does she simply not get along with her sister?
Sophitia considered that perhaps the younger Impa feared she would be overshadowed by her elder sister. That was a fear Sophitia knew all too well.
"Aya," Shiho said, pulling her mask from the side of her head back into place over her face. "I am merely trying to do my duty as an Impa, same as you." Ayako glared at her sister, then closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead.
"My apologies, Shiho," Victorique said. "I am certain you and your subordinates would be most helpful, but Aya is right. We are on a strictly diplomatic mission. Bringing assassins with us could achieve disastrous results if they were to be discovered."
When she explained it that way, Sophitia felt dumb for having thought it was a good idea a moment ago.
Of course. That much should have been obvious. Perhaps I am not the smart one after all.
"Princess Zelda, I assure you, we are masters of remaining undetected," Shiho argued, turning her masked face to the eldest princess. "We would blend in as Hylian members of your envoy. The enemy would not even know we were armed."
Victorique blinked, looking as if she were momentarily dazed, but she shook her head, recovering quickly. "That will not do. If we are to regain the trust of the Gerudo and the Rito, we must be honest and transparent with them as a show of good faith."
"Agreed," Sophitia said, deciding to join in on the conversation since her sister was beginning to speak for her. "Besides, one can never be certain an illusion spell will fool everyone. The Rito have famously good eyes, and the Gerudo know shadow magic of their own."
The elder Impa turned her gaze upon Sophitia next, looking down at her with that great red eye in the center of her mask. The middle princess nearly winced. Her head felt strangely fuzzy all of a sudden, causing her to shift her feet to maintain her balance properly.
Shiho said nothing for a moment, before eventually turning back to Victorique. "Very well, Princess Zelda," she said. "If you should ever require our aid, you need only to ask." Then, with a wave of her hand, Impa Shiho and her ninjas vanished in a puff of smoke.
"Whoaaaaa!" Seraphina was obviously impressed by their dramatic exit, and she began clapping her hands together as if it had been a stage performance.
"I thank you for heeding my advice, Princess," Ayako said to her charge, looking relaxed for the first time since before her sister had arrived.
"Of course, old friend," Victorique replied. "I would never doubt your judgment."
"Oi, Zeldas!" Once again, the three princesses all turned to meet a newcomer calling their name. However, this time, it was merely their brother and Sir Anselm who were approaching them.
"Brother, where have you been?" Sophitia asked. She knew he had been at the front of the convoy, so she'd been expecting him to join them earlier.
"Who, me? Why, I've been working, of course. Getting everything prepared to depart. And what have you been doing, sweet sisters? Standing around doing nothing?" The smirk on the prince's face and the playful tone of his voice made it clear he spoke only in jest. Sophitia suspected that was meant to be an impression of Percival.
"We met Impa's sister," Seraphina said cheerily.
"Is that right?" Lancel looked around, but there were no Sheikah in sight aside from Ayako.
"She's already gone," Ayako informed him, sounding relieved.
"Ah, a shame. She won't be joining us, then?"
"Would you truly intend to bring an assassin on a diplomatic mission?" Sophitia asked, adopting her elder sister's earlier concerns.
"Of course! Those are quite useful, you know," Lancel replied.
Sophitia furrowed her brow, surprised to hear he felt quite differently than Victorique on the subject.
Perhaps I truly am the smart one. Maybe.
"Brother," Victorique said, already sounding disapproving. "I do hope you are more tactful when you meet with the Rito's Council of Chieftains."
"As do I," Sir Anselm agreed.
"Yes, yes." Lancel made a gesture with his hand, mimicking a mouth opening and closing.
"Now then," Victorique went on. "We should be departing shortly. Everyone, complete your final preparations and let us be on our way."
"Yes, Sister," the three younger siblings replied in unison. Then they all went their separate ways, accompanied by their retainers.
"The elder Impa sister is quite the odd one," Liliana commented as soon as she and Sophitia were out of earshot. "What was with that mask?"
"I am unsure." The princess had not liked the mask. Having that great eye staring down at her had felt unpleasant for some reason. "It bore Sheikah symbols. Perhaps it is traditional in some way."
"The Sheikah have strange traditions," the round-eared girl replied.
"Hmm. Oh, hand me my ledger, please." The princess held out her hand, and her bodyguard placed the book in her palm. Sophitia leafed through it quickly. "I suppose we ought to make our rounds and speak to all the important players before we depart, yes?"
"By all means, Princess. Speaking is your job, not mine."
Sophitia had several individuals she wished to speak with before they left. The first one she saw was Grand Artisan Rodan. He was very hard to miss, as it was. She'd seen him from several yards away as they approached the gate. The giant Goron was accompanied by two smaller Gorons. The three of them were loading supplies for smithing and construction into the back of a large wagon hitched to a gigantic Kodongo. The beast was a red, horned, four-legged reptilian monster from the Gorons' homeland of Eldin. It was considered to be a more easily domesticable cousin of the dreaded Dodongo, and the Gorons sometimes employed them as beasts of burden.
"Greetings, Grand Artisan," the princess called out, approaching the giant from behind.
Rodan finished placing a crate larger than she was into the back of the wagon, then turned to face her and looked down. "Ah, Princess. Good to see you." He turned his giant head to observe Liliana next. "And you. How is that sword treating you?"
Liliana drew the sword from its sheath. "Quite well, as a matter of fact. Cut down one of my princess's would-be attackers just the other night, actually."
The old Goron laughed heartily. "Good, good. A weapon needs blood as much as you need food, you know. Best keep her well fed."
Liliana nodded and put her sword away.
"Are you and your craftsmen prepared?" Sophitia asked. "We will be dropping you off at the Wind Temple while we continue on to Medoh. You can begin construction on the sky lift as soon as we get to the temple."
"No problems there, Princess," the Grand Artisan confirmed. "Just remember our deal, aye?"
"Of course." Sophitia nodded. "You'll have the first pick of the treasures we find in Skyloft. You have my word." The hulking Goron appeared to be ready to leave, and he was still satisfied with their arrangement, so the princess decided to move on.
"You did inform the Sage of Wind of the giant we would be bringing with us, yeah?" Liliana asked the princess. "The Rito might be scared to let someone that big near their temple."
"It was all in the letter I sent," Sophitia confirmed. "I just hope he doesn't get hungry and start eating slabs of stone from the temple's walls."
The next person on Sophitia's list was Danton Koridai. She found him amongst the knights who had accompanied him from Hebra. Most of them wore gray cloaks, and their shields and banners all bore the snowcoat fox of House Koridai.
"Greetings, Governor," the princess said, walking past his knights. "I trust you are ready to return home?"
"Ah, hello, Princess," the older man said with a gentlemanly bow. "I am looking forward to our journey, indeed. But my home is in the mountains, and I daresay it appears I will be yet to return there for some time."
"Well, in that case, let us hope to resolve this matter with haste so that we might return home all the sooner," Sophitia said. The Koridai party appeared to be ready to leave, so the princess moved on, smiling as the gray cloaked knights saluted her.
Among her brother's party, the princess found Grand Archivist Botrick. Sophitia had not thought to invite the old man, but she could see why Lancel might have sought his counsel. None knew the history of Hyrule better than him, and he would surely provide some fascinating insight into the City in the Sky.
"Grand Archivist," the princess said, coming up to the elderly Hylian man while he was discussing something with some of his apprentices.
"Hmm?" Botrick turned around slowly, shuffling in his long robes. "What was that? Yes?"
"It was I," Sophitia said. "I merely wished to treat with you before we departed."
"Hmm? Oh, yes, yes. Prince Lancel was most kind to invite me." The old man was considerably hunched over as he stood. She worried that his health and mobility might not actually be well suited for the expedition they had planned. "I say, aside from the Hero of Twilight, no Hylian has been to Skyloft for, oh, a millennium, perhaps."
"Yes, it will be history in the making," the princess said with a smirk.
If I never become queen, at least I can still make it into the history books for something.
"Well, I should be going. Please let Lancel's servants know if you require anything." The princess left as the Grand Archivist was still shuffling in place to turn back around.
"Anyone else on your list?" Sophitia asked, walking beside the princess as she looked down at her ledger.
"Yes. I would like to find Mina and Lord Remoth," Sophitia replied. The princess hadn't had a chance to speak with him properly since her little outing with his daughter. With any luck, Mina had put in a good word for her by now.
They found Mina Remoth before they found her father. Her long red hair was hard to miss from across the way. Oddly, she seemed to be standing behind a prison wagon and peering inside of it through the bars.
"Hello, Mina," Sophitia greeted her, speaking slightly more casually than she was used to. "What are you doing?"
"Hm?" Mina grinned at her wickedly. "Hey, Sophie! Lili! Check it out!" she said, gesturing inside the prison wagon.
The princess furrowed her brow, and curiously stepped forward with her bodyguard. Peering through the bars, she saw two men sitting inside. Both had shackles on their wrists and ankles, and chains connected them to a bolt in the floor.
"Recognize them?" Mina asked. "It's two of the poor bastards who tried to jump us the other night."
Sophitia's eyes went wide, and she took a step back. "What? What are they doing here?" Despite the shackles and the bars between them, Liliana still stepped in front of her protectively, hand on the hilt of her sword.
Mina giggled. "Your dear brother was kind enough to hand two of them over to my father, remember? We're taking them back to Midoro for execution."
"I see…" Sophitia's experience with those men was one she would rather just forget. By her brother's orders, the other two they'd captured were likely to be hanged sometime that day after she had already left the city. She wouldn't mourn them, but the whole scenario was just too morbid to think about. Mina, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying the situation.
"Daddy said I could have them," Mina stated, speaking like a little girl whose father had agreed to let her keep a stray pet. "What do you think? A week on the rack, then impalement?" She locked eyes with the prisoners, baring her fangs with a fiendish smile. One of the men glared back angrily, while the other sheepishly retreated further into the wagon. "Or, given the nature of their attempted crimes, maybe something more...poetic?"
"My word," Sophitia said, appalled.
Mina laughed, her face returning to its normal, lighthearted and imputent state. "Relax, Princess," she said, clapping Sophitia on the back. "I'm only joking." Looking over her shoulder, she raised an eyebrow at the prisoners. "Or am I?"
Neither the prisoners nor the princess could tell. However, the prisoners soon covered their faces and shrunk back in terror as a massive shadow encompassed them all. Sophitia turned around and had to crane her neck upward to see who it was. As she'd expected, Lord Remoth had arrived.
"Greetings, Princess," the tall man said in his deep, collected voice. Sophitia took a step back as he drew his long, dark cloak to himself and bowed respectfully.
"Uh, ah, yes." Sophitia ran her hand through her hair, trying to compose herself. "Greetings, Lord Remoth."
"I see my daughter has shown you the condemned that we are taking with us," the Lord of Spikes commented, straightening back up to full height. "I trust their accommodations are suitable for the journey?"
The princess drew a blank, unable to find a response. Next to her, Liliana was similarly intimidated, keeping her hand on her sword as she looked up at the man worriedly.
Mina giggled, then practically skipped to her father's side. "No worries over here, Dad. The prisoners are chained up good and tight. The princess and I were just talking about how glad we'll be once their presence is removed from this realm."
"Good," Lord Remoth said, placing a hand on his daughter's shoulder. He actually smiled a little, which somehow seemed creepy. Sophitia also noticed that, much like his daughter, the man had rather pronounced canine teeth of his own.
I guess that's where she gets those from…
"I was most discomforted to hear about the dreadful encounter the two of you had with those men," the lord went on. "But my daughter tells me she enjoyed your company that night."
"O-Oh? That is most kind of her to say," Sophitia replied, glancing at Mina, who smirked playfully back at her.
"Indeed," Lord Remoth continued. "I consider it fortunate that she is finally socializing with others of her own high standing. She visits the capital so often, yet never seems interested in the nobles her age."
Sophitia thought back to that tavern and those commoners Mina had wanted to bed. The princess wondered if that was her father's way of saying he was aware of her activities and did not approve of them. "Well, I hope she will come to the castle and visit me more often, then," Sophitia said, smiling politely at both the Remoths. "I would be glad to welcome her into my home any time."
"D'aww, that's sweet of you to say, Princess," Mina replied teasingly.
Sophitia cleared her throat. "And, of course, you are always welcome in my court as well, Lord Remoth," she went on, trying to sound as confident and respectful as possible. "While I do not expect the situation with Hebra to escalate any further, I am told there is no better general in the west. If war does become inevitable, I would be honored if you would assist me in such a conflict."
"But of course, young princess," Lord Remoth replied, bowing his head slightly. "I am bound to your father's will. Any child of the king - and any friend of my daughter - is one I would be honored to serve."
Despite her nervousness, Sophitia felt her lips curl into a self-satisfied smile.
Looks like making friends with Mina was worth it after all. Even if she is… questionable.
"I am happy to hear it, my lord," the princess replied. "Now, shall we depart?"
Sophitia had planned on riding her horse for the whole journey, despite also bringing her own carriage along just in case. She figured it would give her more freedom and mobility with which to move about, proactively keeping in touch with different members of their party. However, just before departing form the city's western gate, Victorique had invited her and Lancel to join her and Seraphina in her carriage until they reached the crossroads where their two parties would part ways. Since it would only be a short portion of the journey, Sophitia had agreed, leaving Liliana to tow her horse along with her outside.
"It has been a long time since all five of us were separated like this," Victorique remarked.
"True, Sister," Sophitia agreed. "Although, none of us will be completely alone. Even Percival is joined by Uncle Alchon."
"Yes, I suppose it's better this way," Lancel remarked. "The kingdom would need to be suffering from not three, but five, potentially calamitous conflicts in order to truly separate all five of us simultaneously, no?"
"Hylia forbid," Victorique said. Perhaps out of reflex, she made a triangle sign with her hands as she said it, and Seraphina mimicked her actions.
"The rest of the provinces are not without issue, though," Sophitia stated. "Famine in Ordona, monsters in Faron and Necluda, and all sorts of tragedies seem to befall Lanayru and the Zora Dominion at the present time."
"These do appear to be rather dark times, don't they?" Lancel asked, although his playful smirk made it clear he was still making light of the situation. "Perhaps another demon has arisen to carry on the legacy of Demise."
Seraphina gasped. "Lance!" she whined. "You shouldn't joke like that."
"Fear not, little sister," Victorique comforted her, taking Seraphina's hand in hers. "He did not mean anything by it."
"And even if a demon were to arise," Sophitia continued for her. "Surely one of us would be granted the Triforce of Wisdom with which to stop it."
Seraphina smiled at that. More relaxed now, she soon began swinging her hand up and down, playfully dragging her elder sister's hand along with it. "I wonder if the next Hero is out there already," she mused. "You think it'll be a handsome farm boy? Or a pure-hearted maiden?"
"Perhaps it'll be a Goron," Lancel joked. "Or a Hylian retriever with a little Triforce of Courage imprinted on its left forepaw. Who knows?"
Seraphina giggled. "No, silly. The Hero's a Hylian. Like us."
Sophitia furrowed her brow. She had never thought much about this matter before. "Is the Hero always a Hylian?" she asked. "The last Hero was Ordonian, was he not?"
"He was a Hylian who was raised in Ordona," Victorique elaborated. "Although, I suppose there is no record of his parentage, so I suppose it is possible he was only part Hylian."
"Yes, but is there any reason it would have to be a Hylian?" Sophitia asked curiously. "Why not a Sheikah? Our paths diverged long ago, but they are people of Hylia as well, are they not? And what about a round-eared person? Or a non-human one?" Thinking her brother might know the answer, she directed her attention to Lancel.
The prince shrugged in an exaggerated manner. "Reincarnation is not exactly common," he replied. "It is quite difficult to study a phenomenon that might not occur for centuries at a time, so no one is quite certain of the rules. Of the dozens of recorded incarnations of the Hero over the past two millennia, there have been only a few qualities they tend to have in common. They have all been Hylian, and they are usually left-handed, just as Hylia's Chosen Hero was."
"I hear they're usually pretty short, too," Seraphina said, smiling as if she found that notion somewhat amusing.
"And often from lowborn backgrounds," Victorique added. "But not always. The very first reincarnation of Hylia's Chosen Hero was a knight of Skyloft, after all."
"Well then, I suppose we have nothing to fear from demons," Lancel said. "Surely the kingdom has an abundance of short, left-handed, Hylian peasants, no?"
"But you said every recorded reincarnation of the Hero has been Hylian," Sophitia pointed out. "Over the course of two millennia, surely there must have been more than a few dozen instances of the Hero's spirit returning to this realm. For all we know, there could be hundreds of Heroes who remain unaccounted for - perhaps because the realm did not require their services during their lifetimes, or because they performed their heroic deeds without witnesses."
"Ah, a fair point, Sister," Lancel agreed. "But the Hero's identity is presently irrelevant. After all, Hyrule needs only us." The prince spoke with confidence, and no shortage of smug self-satisfaction.
Sophitia let out a small chuckle. "I know, Brother. It was merely academic curiosity."
The carriage shook a bit as it slowed to a halt. "Hm? Vicky, why are we stopping?" Seraphina asked.
The door on the side opened and Impa Ayako poked her head inside. "Princess Zelda, we've arrived at the crossroads."
"Thank you, Aya," Victorique said. "Brother, Sisters, let us step outside for a proper farewell."
The four of them climbed down out of the carriage. Impa, Jeanne, Anselm, and Liliana were waiting outside for them. Victorique and Seraphina remained standing by the carriage, while Sophitia and Lancel stood across from them.
"Lancel, Sophitia," the eldest sibling began. "This is where we part ways, for now. I have the utmost confidence that you will succeed in your task, and I am very proud of both of you. May the gods grant you good fortune."
"Thank you, Sister," Sophitia replied. Victorique's words meant more to her than she would care to admit. It was at times like this when she could easily see their mother in her. "I, too, have no doubt that you will be successful. The kingdom is lucky to have you, as are we."
"Quite right," Lancel agreed. "Goodbye and good luck, sweet sisters. Knowing us, I'd wager we'll all be back home having completed our tasks in no time at all."
Seraphina skipped forward and hugged them both at once. "Bye, Sophie. Bye, Lance. Have fun in the sky!"
With their farewells completed, Victorique walked back towards her carriage, followed by her Sheikah bodyguard.
"My ladies," Dame Jeanne interrupted, stepping forward. "Might I have a moment to say farewell to my niece?" she requested.
"Of course," Victorique replied. "You may join us when you are ready. Seraphina," she went on, turning to her youngest sister. "Come with us, dear. We'll wait for Jeanne together."
"Okay." Seraphina took her elder sister's hand and followed her back into the carriage while Dame Jeanne bowed and excused herself.
Sir Anselm spoke to Lancel next. "Your carriage awaits you over here, my prince," he said, gesturing with his armorclad arm. The prince nodded, and the two of them left together.
Liliana had stepped away for a moment, but she soon returned, leading two horses by their bridles. "Shall we, Princess?"
"Yes. Thank you, Liliana." Her bodyguard helped lift her into the saddle of her pure white horse before mounting her own steed.
"I take it you wish to eavesdrop on Dame Jeanne and the Remoth girl?" Liliana asked without a hint of subtlety.
"Do not refer to it in that way," Sophitia replied in a hushed tone, embarrassed by how easily her bodyguard had read her face. "...But yes, let us follow her. I am curious to observe their interaction."
Keeping their distance, the princess and her bodyguard took their horses to rejoin the halted convoy. They watched as the red-haired knight marched over to her niece, who was waiting further up the road. Mina sat atop her horse beside her father, surrounded on all sides by black-cloaked knights of Midoro. Sophitia noted that Lord Remoth was riding a solid black Gerudo stallion, an extremely large breed of horse originating from Gerudo Valley. Being as tall as a Gerudo woman, he likely required such a horse, although Sophitia got the feeling he'd only chosen that particular mount because of how intimidating it looked.
"Mina," Dame Jeanne called up to the Remoth girl, standing outside the circle of riders surrounding her.
"Hm? Oi, Auntie!" she called back.
"Would you come down here please?"
"Sure, sure." Mina hopped down off her horse and trotted over to her aunt, ordering the black-cloaked knights to clear the way with a simple wave of her hand. "What d'ya need, Auntie?"
Dame Jeanne placed her gauntleted hands on her niece's shoulders. "Mina, I pray that Prince Lancel and Princess Sophitia manage to resolve things peacefully with the Rito, but I want you to promise me something. If war breaks out, I want you to leave Midoro and return to the capital. Will you do that for me?"
Mina looked at her aunt impudently, like a child might respond when her overprotective mother gives her an unreasonable curfew. "You worry too much, Aunt Jeanne," she said. "There's no way the fighting would spill over to this side of Tanagar Canyon."
"It is only a precaution, Mina," Jeanne said. "I am certain your mother would tell you the same if she were here."
The whinnying of a horse alerted them to the approach of Lord Remoth and his Gerudo stallion. As brave as Dame Jeanne may have been, even she had to take a step back as the imposing figure suddenly towered over her.
"My apologies, Dame," the lord said. "But if I am to leave Midoro to take part in a war, then my daughter's place is upon my throne, ruling in my absence. She will not be going to the capital." Jeanne stared up at him defiantly, looking as though she couldn't believe he was preventing her from keeping his own daughter safe.
"Should you step in, Princess?" Liliana asked her charge, the two of them still watching at a distance from atop their horses.
Sophitia thought about it. She respected Dame Jeanne greatly, and she would have been honored to help protect Jeanne's niece just as Jeanne had always protected Seraphina. However, Jeanne's needs were unfortunately at odds with Lord Remoth's.
"No," the princess said, pursing her lips. "I have only just gotten on Lord Remoth's good side. I cannot risk undermining his authority in front of everyone like this - not if I wish to keep him in my back pocket for later."
"As you say, Princess," Liliana replied. "Mina is a big girl, and I doubt the war will reach her in the swamp. She'll be fine."
Sophitia nodded, hoping she was right.
"...Very well, my lord," Dame Jeanne finally replied. Then she returned her attention to her niece, her expression softening again. "Just promise me you will stay safe, and give my best to your mother."
Mina smiled, flashing her impish fangs. "Of course. Gladly." The two of them hugged, then parted ways. Mina returned to her horse while Dame Jeanne headed back to Victorique's carriage.
Sophitia and Lancel's party watched as Victorique and Seraphina's began moving again, taking the road south. From up near the front of their convoy, Sophitia heard Sir Anselm shout the order to start moving again. And so, their cluster of horses, wagons, and one big Kodongo continued west. "Good luck, Sisters," Sophitia said aloud, watching their carriage disappear from her line of sight.
After leaving the crossroads, Sophitia and her party continued on past Mount Gustaf, a mountain named for one of her ancestors. It was past midday by the time they reached the Regencia River and prepared to cross Carok Bridge. While they would still be in Central Hyrule when they crossed, they would be leaving Hyrule Field and entering Hyrule Ridge, the domain of Lord Remoth. They were making decent time up until that point, but the Grand Artisan and his Kodongo each had to cross the bridge on their own for fear of the bridge collapsing under their weight, which slowed their progress as everyone else had to wait for them.
Just past the bridge, they came to a rather unusual looking canyon. Large, rocky protuberances jutted out from along the canyon walls, forming something like a shattered roof over their heads as they passed through. The rock formations looked decidedly unnatural, as if something there had split the Earth open long ago.
"Keep on high alert," Sophitia announced loudly to the guards and servants riding around her. "There will certainly be monsters about."
"Whatever you say, Sophie," Mina called back to her, looking over her shoulder from atop her horse.
Sophitia wondered if Mina had intentionally used her 'adventurer' name as a joke because of the mention of monsters, or perhaps she was simply repeating the name Seraphina often called her. Regardless, she smiled good-naturedly, still wanting to stay on Mina's good side, even if the Remoth girl still seemed off to her.
The next few minutes of the ride were peaceful enough, but soon, Sophitia found herself pressing her hand to her temple, closing her eyes and wincing.
"Princess?" Liliana asked, riding beside her. "What's wrong?"
"This is a dark place," Sophitia replied in a mumbled tone, feeling very light headed all of a sudden. "I did not expect to feel this presence, but it seems it still lingers here…"
"What are you talking about?" the round-eared girl asked.
"This is where it all began." Both the princess and her bodyguard flinched at the sound of Lord Remoth's voice. He and his daughter had both slowed their horses, allowing Sophitia and Liliana to catch up to them until they were nearly side by side. "This is the Breach of Demise."
"The what?" Liliana asked, monitoring her charge's condition with concern.
"What, they don't teach this at temple in Ordona?" Mina asked, smirking devilishly.
"More than three thousand years ago, long before the Kingdom of Hyrule was founded, this was where Demise, the First Demon King, crossed over into our realm from a great fissure in the Earth," Lord Remoth explained. "And with him, he brought an army of monsters from other realms he had conquered on his quest to hunt down and eliminate the Golden Goddesses."
"Blins, Goriyas, Mazura, Goomas, River Devils, Fokka, Wasu, Pols Voices, Mimics, Wizzrobes, Keese, Vire, Achemen," Mina recited, counting off on her fingers. "All the world's monsters came from right here!"
"Not all of them, Mina," her father corrected. "There are numerous monster species that are native to our realm, such as the Lizalfos and the Lynels."
Sophitia and Liliana both stared at them, surprised by how knowledgeable they seemed to be on the subject.
Well, Mina said her mother studies monsters. I suppose they've learned from an expert.
"But why is she ill?" Liliana asked, putting her hand on the princess's shoulder.
"I will be fine," Sophitia insisted, although her head was beginning to ache.
"The blood of Hylia runs through her veins," Lord Remoth replied. "I imagine the prince is experiencing a similar adverse reaction to this... accursed place."
Lancel.
"My brother," Sophitia said, suddenly worried. "We must check on him."
"Yes, Princess," Liliana replied diligently. "Come, let us ride up to the front and-"
"Monsters!" someone further up the convoy shouted in alarm.
"Up high!" another cried.
Soon dozens were shouting the same thing, echoing the calls of alarm throughout the canyon.
Sophitia looked up. Sure enough, along the top of the canyon and many of the rocky protuberances, she saw large, hunched figures staring down at them. Some were different sizes and shapes, but most had weapons, and none looked pleasant.
Lord Remoth kicked his horse and charged forward, shouting orders as he did. "Archers! Ready your bows! Prepare for battle!"
Mina and Liliana stayed with Sophitia. "Captain Reede!" Liliana shouted to Sophitia's guard commander who was riding in front of them. "Pull your men in and protect the princess!"
"Yes, Ma'am!" the captain shouted back. "Guards, form up!"
"Thank you, Liliana," Sophitia said weakly. She should have been the one to give commands to her guards, but at the moment, it was all she could do to focus on what was right in front of her. Her mind was still hazy, and her condition was not getting better.
Throughout the convoy, Hylian soldiers loosed arrows up at the monsters, mages conjured spells of fire and lightning, and the Grand Artisan and his gorons hurled large rocks. The monsters fought back, loosing arrows of their own or tossing rocks or spears, but many held back, stepping away from the canyon's edge.
Sophitia's gaze was drawn to a large Moblin standing atop the craggy cliffside. The monster was hunched over, its fists on the ground and its arms bulging with muscle. Heavy jowls hung from the sides of its face, and it had a large, circular nose ring. From its mouth protruded two long, upturned tusks, like those of a wild boar, although one of them appeared to have been broken in half. Wearing a bronze cuirass, shoulderguards, and bracers, it was more armored than the rest of the monsters, which gave Sophitia the impression that this one was their leader.
Standing up straight, the Moblin raised itself to its full, imposing height. It raised one arm into the sky, clutching a spear in its fist. That tusked mouth opened wide, and it let loose a roar that echoed throughout the canyon. The other monsters joined in, and the princess nearly passed out, feeling as if the dark presence in the Breach of Demise had suddenly doubled in strength. Then, all at once, the rest of the monsters joined in the fight.
Hordes of tiny, devilish Miniblins hopped down the cliffside, carrying forked spears. Bokoblins, too, began crawling down, with clubs and swords slung over their backs. A few larger Moblins began leaping down from rock to rock, wielding larger weapons that the smaller monsters likely couldn't even lift.
"Stay close, Princess," Liliana urged, her sword drawn and ready for battle. "We'll keep you safe."
"Yeah, don't worry about a thing," Mina added, holding daggers in her hands. "We'll show these lesser monsters who's in charge."
"We must not stop here," Sophitia insisted, leaning forward and wrapping her hands around her horse to keep herself from falling. "We can't let them surround us and kill our horses. Tell everyone to keep moving. Now." She felt too weak to shout her orders to her troops, but she still had enough awareness of the situation to convey her orders to her bodyguard.
"Yes, Princess," Liliana replied. Cupping her hands around her mouth, she shouted to the convoy. "Keep moving! In the name of your princess, keep moving!"
Captain Reede echoed her sentiment, setting off a chain reaction all the way to the front of the convoy. As ordered, they resumed their advance, picking up speed just as more and more monsters were reaching the ground.
Sophitia watched as smaller monsters were trampled by the horses in front of her. A few times, they had to weave around corpses of their friends and their enemies who had already fallen on the battlefield. A few arrows whizzed past their heads, either stray shots or ones that had been aiming for them.
"Hey, Princess, how about a little of that shield magic, eh?" Mina requested after a few too many close calls.
Sophitia nodded, then called upon the spell. A light blue prism of light flickered around them for a moment, just long enough to block the next hail of arrows, but the spell soon fizzled out. "I can't," Sophitia said, groaning in pain.
"Do not worry yourself, my princess," Liliana said. "We will protect you."
"Alright. Guess it's up to us." As Mina spoke, a Moblin appeared in the way of their frontline of riders. It swung its massive club down, crushing a guard and his horse beneath its weight. Sophitia, Liliana, and Mina yanked on the reins, changing course to avoid it. As they passed by the Moblin, it lifted its club again. Before it could swing it, Mina raised one of her daggers. It glowed with the same magnesis spell Sophitia knew her sister used, and the Remoth girl tossed the weapon at the monster. The dagger shot forward, propelled magnetically, and pierced the Moblin through the forehead. Mina then pulled her arm back, and the dagger flew back into her hand.
"Impressive," Liliana commented, looking over her shoulder to watch the Moblin collapse to the ground.
"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet!" Mina replied, smiling smugly.
A pair of Bokoblins managed to stumble past the guards riding on their right side. Liliana leaned into them, swinging with her sword arm. She managed to lop the head clean off of one of the Bokoblins, causing the other to stumble back in terror, only to be trampled by another horse.
"Whoa, damn!" Mina remarked. "Hey, look at us. We're like a real adventurer party after all." She laughed to herself, although Sophitia had no idea how she could be in such good spirits given the situation.
She travels between her city and the capital often. Does she always pass through here? Is this to be expected?
Before Sophitia had time to react, a stray arrow pierced the neck of one of the horses riding in front of them. It whinnied in pain and fell over, sending its rider flying. Unfortunately, both Sophitia's and Liliana's horses tripped over the fallen horse, and they soon found themselves crashing to the ground as well.
"Ow…" Sophitia ached all over as she picked herself up off the ground. Liliana managed to stand up first, and held out her hand to help her. Liliana's horse tried to stand back up, but it was impaled by a throwing spear before it could manage it. Sophitia's pure white horse still lived, but its leg looked like it might be broken.
"Protect the princess!" one of Sophitia's guards shouted. Several of her knights who had been riding behind her circled around them, forming a perimeter against the enemy.
"Princess, get on my horse," another offered, reaching down to her.
"Yes," Liliana agreed. "Princess, you must keep moving."
Sophitia nodded and approached the horse, but before she could climb onto it, a swarm of Miniblins descended upon them. Two or three of them hopped on top of each of the waiting horses and began fighting with the riders, stabbing at them with their devilish pitchforks.
"Get back!" Liliana grabbed the princess by the shoulders and yanked her away. A moment later, the rider who had offered her his horse fell to the ground, dead. His horse bucked and kicked wildly, then gave up on the struggle and fled. Amidst the ensuing chaos, all the other horses either ran away or were killed, dropping their knights to the ground.
This is bad.
Sophitia could not believe her misfortune. They'd only left the city earlier that day.
How could things have gone so wrong so quickly?
However, she had no time to dwell on that. Knowing she had to fight, she drew her rapier. Ordinarily, it shined with the brilliant, holy light it had been enchanted with, but as she held up the sword, she was disheartened to find it looking dull. It was as if the darkness in the air that was sapping her strength had snuffed out the light in her sword as well.
Half of the knights surrounding them had fallen. The Miniblins continued their assault with creepy, unflinching, tooth-filled grins, all the while emitting unsettlingly playful noises.
"Nyeh-na, Nyeh-na!"
"Deh, deh, deh!"
"Deh-nank, deh-nank!"
One of them hopped past the princess, then turned as it noticed her. On unsteady feet, Sophitia thrust her rapier forward, skewering the little devil as it leapt at her. The magic may have gone out of her sword, but that did not stop it from doing its job. The Miniblin's squeals of pain sounded disturbingly like laughter, and it never let its maniacal grin fade, even as the life left its eyes.
"Princess!" Liliana shouted, standing back to back with Sophitia. She swung her sword, fighting off two more of the Miniblins as she spoke. "Are you alright?"
"I am uninjured," Sophitia replied, shaking the blood off of her rapier. She most certainly did not feel alright, however. She felt like she had weights attached to her, and her head was still throbbing.
We need to get out of here.
The princess looked back at her horse, still lying on the ground, clearly in great pain. "I can heal her!" she shouted to Liliana over the noise.
"What?" her bodyguard asked. She saw Sophitia approaching the injured horse, then nodded. "Right. Hurry, Princess."
With Liliana and a few knights protecting her, Sophitia knelt beside her horse. She knew she was nowhere near as talented a healer as her younger sister, and she had never tried to heal anything other than minor injuries before. However, she knew light magic could theoretically heal anything that could heal on its own. She didn't know if that applied to the broken bones of a horse, but she had to try.
Closing her eyes, the princess tried to block out the noises surrounding her, focusing on her spellcraft. However, just as with her protection spell and her enchanted sword, she could not feel her magic answering her. "Ughh…" Sophitia groaned in pain, collapsing forward on top of her horse. "I'm sorry, girl," she whispered.
"Princess!" Liliana stepped forward and gripped her by the arm. "You! Help me!" she shouted to one of the knights. Together, Liliana and the knight lifted Sophitia. "Let's go!" she ordered.
The group of them began marching forward. Most of the Miniblins had dispersed or been dealt with by then, but there was still fighting all around them. Before they made it very far, they found their path blocked by a large Moblin with a spear and several Bokoblins with clubs. Looking behind them, Sophitia saw two more Moblins approaching them from the other side, joined by their own Bokoblin minions.
"Liliana…" the princess pleaded desperately.
"It's okay, Princess," Liliana said, trying to reassure her despite her own obvious fear. "We'll get you to safety. Just hang in there."
Sophitia shut her eyes and clenched her fists.
If light will not answer me here, then perhaps another element will.
Using all of her physical strength, the princess pulled herself free from the shoulders supporting her and stood on her own two feet.
"Princess?" Liliana asked in confusion.
"Din…" the princess spoke a single-word prayer before a red aura began emanating from her.
Just as Percival does it.
Moving quickly, Sophitia fell to one knee and slammed her fist against the ground, shouting a brief battlecry. The monsters took a step back as a bubble of fire appeared, forming a dome around the princess and her companions. The dome of fire expanded rapidly, engulfing the Bokoblins and Moblins around them in flame. Some of them caught fire, while others were not badly hurt but were forced to drop their burning weapons.
They have a chance now.
"Fight!" Sophitia shouted to Liliana and her knights. She remained kneeling, no longer having the strength to stand, but luckily, her knights saw the opportunity as well. With a valorous battlecry, they lashed out and began cutting down the monsters surrounding them.
From her position on the ground, Sophitia watched as Liliana faced down the Moblin in front of them. The monster was tall and muscular, with a face like a bulldog. It had dropped its weapon, but it seemed prepared to tear them apart with its bare hands. "You will not touch her!" Liliana shouted up at the Moblin. The monster roared and ran straight at her. The round-eared girl stabbed it through the center of its chest, but it did not fall yet. It grabbed her by the torso with one hand, lifted her up, and slammed her against the ground. She grunted in pain, but did not let go of her sword.
Fight, my friend. Please.
Liliana made eye contact with the princess. She looked terrified for a moment, but soon, her resolve returned to her. As the Moblin lifted her, preparing to slam her back down again, she thrust her sword into its wrist. The dog-faced monster roared in pain, releasing Liliana from its grasp. Quickly returning to her feet, the princess's bodyguard charged at the monster once again, stabbing it in the chest for a second time. The momentum of her slamming into it knocked the Moblin off balance, and it fell onto its back. Liliana gave it no chance to get back up. Stepping to the side of its head, she knelt to deliver the finishing blow, stabbing it through the neck.
Thank you, Liliana.
The princess wanted to express her gratitude out loud, but could not bring herself to speak.
The fighting continued all around them, but it was now clear that they were winning. The other two Moblins had been killed by Sophitia's remaining knights, and the Bokoblins were considerably less threatening without weapons.
Thank you, everyone.
The lesser monsters began backing away, clearly demoralized at the deaths of their larger cousins and sensing that the battle was lost. Then, there was a loud screeching sound from above them, and everyone looked up at the noise. Flying above them was a gigantic brown bat. However, before anyone had the chance to question it, the bat began to change shape. Its head and body stretched, taking on a more humanoid appearance. Its legs grew to become long and spindly, and its torso sprouted a pair of arms that were similarly proportioned. Its wings grew in size as well, now coming from the back of the humanoid bat monster.
A Vire? No, an Acheman?
Sophitia had heard of such monsters before, but she had never seen one. The Acheman screeched again, pointing with its gangly arm down the canyon in the direction they had come from. The sounds it made could have been some strange manner of speech, but Sophitia knew little of monster languages.
However, the Bokoblins seemed to get the message. Whether from the threat of the princess's knights or by the order of the flying bat monster, the remaining Bokoblins turned and fled, yelping in terror.
Liliana returned to Sophitia, kneeling beside her and placing a hand on her shoulder. The princess felt relief wash over her.
"It's alright, Princess. We're safe now. Look." Liliana pointed further down the canyon. Corpses of humans and monsters littered the ground, but a group of Hylian knights on horseback were coming their way. Riding at the front of them was Sir Anselm. His black armor and the axe he wielded were covered in blood, but the sight of him made Sophitia smile.
We are safe at last.
Her brother's bodyguard halted his horse once he got close. "Is she injured?" he asked, looking down at them.
"No, Sir," Liliana answered. "But she's very weak."
"I expected as much," the elderly knight said. He turned to the soldiers lined up behind him. "Get the princess and her subordinates on horseback immediately," he ordered. "We resume at once, and we do not stop riding until we've cleared the Breach."