Hello readers, chapter 137 is here! This week, Link, Nabooru and their friends have finally arrived at Hyrule Castle Town!
"Hey I see it! Hyrule Castle's dead ahead!" Aviel called out from up in the air.
"Finally, this has been a long time coming." Nabooru smirked, "Prepare yourselves everywhere, we're almost there!"
"It's been three years since I was last at Hyrule Town." Link said, he pulled out a small leaf-shaped key and stared at it for a moment, before looking up into the sky, "...I can't wait to see everyone again!"
After leaving Lon Lon Ranch, Link, Nabooru and their friends had all set out for Hyrule Castle Town to meet with the royal family. They had brought a few more friends along the way, like Malon, her daughter Meli and Nabooru's new horse Thunder. Even Epona joined them, now in the form of a human thanks to some enchanted 'Chateau Lon Lon' milk she drank.
"It's been a long time since you took me out here Master Link!" Epona said, happily trotting on her two new human legs, "Are we going to get to meet that pretty girl from when we were little as well?"
"Most likely." Link nodded, "Though it might not be a good idea to be so open about who you really are with her right away. That guy who tried to take you from the ranch lives at the castle too."
"Yeah, so you better keep a low profile, y'hear?" Malon told her.
"Alright! Race you guys the rest of the way!" Epona cheered, taking off like a rocket across the plains.
"Hey wait up!" Link shouted out to the horse-turned-woman, but he could only see the trail of dust she left behind. A few seconds later Epona came zooming right back to the group and came to a sudden stop in front of her master.
"The gate guards wouldn't let me in without something called 'identification'..." Epona pouted.
"Huh? That's weird, since when does Hyrule Castle Town require that?" Link asked, patting Epona on her head to comfort her, "People used to be able to just go in and out no problem."
"I hear they had to tighten security cause of some incidents going on in the town." Malon said, "I don't know anythin' about it though. This is my first time comin' out here since I was pregnant with Meli."
"Incidents? I wonder what could be happening?" Halei asked, concerned about her father the postman...
"Hey, here they come now!" called out a Hylian knight standing guard over the wall.
"Then I'll let the people know." another royal knight at the drawbridge gate said. He turned and cleared his throat, ""Ladies and gentlemen of Hyrule Town, thank you all for coming here today!"
Some musicians started banging drums and blared out trumpets for the introduction of the royal family's guests. There as a path going through Hyrule Market Town leading all the way up to Hyrule Castle itself in the far distance. On both sides of the path was a loud crowd of the town's citizens. Some cheering out, while others were murmuring quietly to each other.
The knight motioned to his men, who pulled levers that sent the gate to come slowly down. The crowd all watched silently for the Gerudo to show themselves...
"For the first time in ten years, we present to all of you the Gerudo and their new ruler, King Link!" the knight shouted. A few seconds past and he realized they weren't walking in just yet. The crowd started talking more vocally to each other about what was going on as the music died down a little.
"Uh..." the knight paused, and looked confusingly out to see the Gerudo King and his people outside, but one Gerudo in white silk garments was arguing with the guards on the other side of the drawbridge.
"...for the twentieth time; I know she doesn't have identification, but I can assure you she's one of us! She just got a little excited running up to the gate!" Nabooru said standing next to a pouty Epona, "We've here with permission from the king, if you don't let us through I swear I'll kick your sorry-"
"Uh, Nabooru?" Link spoke up, pointing to the now open gate.
"Eh?" Nabooru tuned to see for herself, before she suddenly waved out and smiled innocently, grabbing the guard wiyth one arm and pulling him close to her, "Oh hello there, nice to meet you all! Just having a friendly chat with the guards!"
"Great first impression Lady Nabooru..." Nemisa sighed.
Link took a deep breath as he; along with, Nabooru, Aviel, Nemisa, Saria, Halei, Togau, Dr. Sarami, Reirousa, Keusta, Korume, Malon and Meli, Epona and the soldiers all came through the gate. The music started back up as they all slowly walked down the path. There was plenty of cheering and comments from a good amount of the crowd...
"Oooh! It's the Gerudo!"
"Oh my, they're just as beautiful as I've heard!"
"Yeah, and so cool and strong!"
"Mommy, their ears are round!"
"And check out that king! The newsletters were right, he really is a Hylian!"
"Woah, he's a total hunk too!"
"Well things seem to be going well so far." Link whispered to Nabooru, waving to some women who were squealing out at him.
But as they continued down the path, they couldn't help but notice the other half of the crowd staring at them with skeptic or even scowling faces, speaking among each other as well.
"I can't believe the king let them in after all."
"Damn desert rats think they can just come in like they own the place..."
"Bet you twenty rupees the Widowmaker will go after that king of theirs."
"Nice man's tiara, I bet his mom bought him that!"
"Some of these people seem pretty upset..." Saria said, huddling close to Sarami.
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised there's still a,lot of resentment towards our people from the war." Nabooru spoke, "...at least I hope that's all it is. Just keep smiling and waving everyone."
As Link was waving out at the crowd though, a rock came flying through the air and hit him upside the head, "Ack!"
"Hey, who threw that at the king?!" Nemisa stepped up and shouted out to them.
"Wait Nemisa, don't go punching people already!" Aviel warned her, pulling on her arm.
As the crowd all looked to each other to figure out who would have the gall to throw a stone at the Gerudo King like that, a small voice shouted out from the front.
"Out of here with ya!"
They all looked down to see a small child holding another rock. The child looked to be about ten years of age. They had a large Breton-style cap worn over short blonde hair. They had large cat-like eyes with dark blue pupils, they wore a torn blue vest, purple shirt and white shorts. They also had a red bandanna around their neck. Link couldn't figure out if it was a boy or girl based on their appearance.
"We don't want you lot here! G' the 'ell out!" the kid said in a scruffy voice, throwing another rock at Link, but it was caught in Nemisa's palm.
"Keep throwing these things and we're going to have a problem, you little brat." Nemisa scowled down at the kid, crushing the rock in her hand into dust.
"L-Like you scare me! You Gerudo are nothin' but bullies!" the kid said folding their arms and scowling up at Nemisa, without the slightest bit of fear in their eyes, "A pox on all of ya!"
Link said nothing, but just stared own curiously at the child, until they were pulled back by a citizen.
"H-Hey come on kid, don't make the Gerudo King angry!" the panicked citizen said.
"Let's just keep going." Nabooru patted Nemisa's shoulder to calm her, as they all continued down the path.
Link meanwhile looked back once more to see the kid disappearing into the crowd, before he went off.
The group left the town and started up the hill that lead to Hyrule Castle, but were stopped at a large steel gate. In front of it were some knights standing at a table. Link recalled back as a kid he had to climb up some vines to sneak into the castle his first time, but now he'd need to use the gate.
"Greetings, you must be the Gerudo royals." spoke a knight bowing his head.
"What's going on here?" Nemisa asked, "We were already cleared by the town guards to pass."
"This is the final checkpoint. We have to do one final inspection of you all before you can be permitted to see the king." explained one guard, "We need to check your weapons and magic abilities to ensure the safety of the members of the castle during your stay here."
"Hey, we're supposed to be royal diplomats!" Kesuta protested, "Don't we get some immunity to this?"
"Relax Kesuta, I already read up on this. It's just a formality, and they won't be taking everything." Nabooru said, "Okay girls, show them your things so we can get a move on."
"Put all your weapons here." the inspector said gesturing down to the large table before him.
The Gerudo all looked to each other for a moment, shrugged, and put down a large number of swords spears, and clubs on the table, surprising the inspector.
"Come on girls..." Nabooru said tapping her foot.
The Gerudo women all sighed out as they put down swords, spears, axes, warhammers, bows, iron maces, spiked flails, steel claws and shields, until the stack towered over a good twenty feet high, surprising the guards.
Then one Gerudo soldier tossed a single dagger on top of the pile, causing the table to break under the weight and send the weapons crashing down into a large pile.
"Uh, thanks." the inspector said sweatdropping as his men started sorting through everything.
Meanwhile, some other Gerudo soldiers were being scanned by mage knights using strange glowing crystals. They seemed to glow bright or duller depending on where they were aimed, and make strange monotone beeping noises.
"Not getting anything from this one." the knight said, "Next."
"What is this you're doing anyway?" a soldier asked as she was also scanned.
"It's a new portable version of magic detection seals, produced by Minister Odleh and her mystics." spoke the mage knight, "It helps us determine how much magic energy is in someone or some things."
"Isn't that the same woman who Mr. Ingo said had an interest in the fairies at Lon Lon Ranch?" Kesuta whispered to Korume.
"Indeed, I wonder what she could be planning...?" Korume muttered.
"Okay you two, over here now." the guard said to the twins.
"Hmph, pushy!" Kesuta said sticking her nose up. "I bet those things doesn't even work properly!" but as soon as the knight waved the crystal over her, it started beeping fast and loudly, "Oh."
"Sure we should let these two in, Sir?" a knight asked, "They carry a great amount of magic in them!"
"It's because we're the Gerudo Town mystics." Korume explained as she was getting the same signal from being scanned, "I specialize in ice, and the frog mouth over there is a fire master."
Kesuta nodded, "Yeah that's right, I'm a true a master of- HEY!"
Epona spoke out, "You're a master of hay? You never told me Sister Kesuta!"
"I'm terribly sorry, but for the time you'll be staying here, you're going to have to wear magic sealing bracelets." the mage knight said, as two guards clamped them down over the wrists of the two girls.
"Eww,, these things are so tacky." Kesuta said sticking her tongue out.
"Hmph, and yet the magic users of this castle probably don't have to wear them..." Korume muttered.
"What about you lady? Those sleeves of yours are giving off magical energy." said a knight running his crystal over Aviel's feathered arm garments.
"Oh, these are the Roc's Wing, they let me fly as free as a birdie!" Aviel said, unfurling her wings and taking on her bird form to demonstrate, "Grandpa told me I'm the only one that can use them though."
"Huh. Never seen anything like that." spoke the knight, "Unfortunately we're going to have to confiscate them for now. We'll return them to you once we're convinced they aren't a threat."
"What? No way! These are real important to me!" Aviel protested.
"Sorry Aviel, but you'll need to hand them over. Don't worry, I'll see to it they're protected until then." Nabooru assured her.
"Okay fine." Aviel pouted, removing her sleeves and giving them to the knight, "But don't lose them!"
"Sir, I'm getting some really weird magical readings from this woman!" said a knight scanning Epona.
"Haaaw-hahaha, that tickles!" laughed out Epona, "It's nothing! I don't have any powers, honest!"
"Well put her in the bracelets either way." said a knight. The guards went ahead and attached them to Epona's wrists, and she looked down at them in disgust.
"Aw, these things suck." Epona spluttered as if she was still a horse.
"Uh oh. If Epona has to change back those things will blow her cover!" Saria whispered to Link.
"Yeah, we're going to have to make sure she has plenty of Chateau Lon Lon on hand." Link nodded.
"O-Okay Gerudo King, you're up next." said an incredibly nervous guard.
"Alright, then." Link nodded.
As the guard prepared the crystal, Link realized something and broke out in a cold seat. He still had the power of the Fierce Deity deep within him. Was that power considered a form of magic? What would the guards say if the crystal detected the incredible power he used to strike down Majora inside him...?
"Uh, wait a minute-" Link spoke, but the mage knight had already begun, and a very faint beeping was coming from it.
"Huh... doesn't look like it's anything too much..." said the knight, "What kind of magic do you use, Gerudo King?"
Link was just as confused about this. He looked over to Togau who was being scanned, but it didn't seem to be going off at all, despite her having her Lynel form. Then he realized why it was beeping so faintly,
"Oh right, that's probably just my power to shoot elemental arrows." he explained with some relief.
"That sounds about right given the energy readings." nodded the mage knight, "Alright, you're clear."
After the knights confiscated whatever they deemed too dangerous to have, the group continued on through the gate, albeit less equipped than before and the magic users having their power sealed.
"Awww, they took my favorite battleaxe..." a solider complained.
"It's okay, we're here to make peace, not war." Nabooru explained, "They left us just enough to protect ourselves with."
"I still don't like that me and sister are so defenseless..." Korume said looking down at the bracelets.
"They took the staff the Great Deku Tree gave to me too..." Saria sighed.
"And I feel naked without my wings..." Aviel pouted.
"if they try anything funny with my Four Bracelet they'll be facing the bottom of my foot." Nemisa spoke with an annoyed stare.
"One thing that's got me confused." Togau said, "Why didn't those things detect my Lynel form?"
"That's a good question..." Link pondered, thinking about the Fierce Deity himself, "I think once we settle in, we may have to speak to a certain someone I know in town..."
Soon Link, Nabooru and the group finally arrived at the entrance to Hyrule Castle. There was almost no one there but the royal knights, all holding spears and standing at the ready. The group got a similar vibe from them as the civilians; some seemed to be fine and even happy to see them, while others ranged from cautious to hostile.
"Woooow... the castle is so big!" Aviel said with wide eyes, leaning backwards to try and get more a good view of everything until she almost stumbled over from behind.
"No kiddin', can't believe we're actually gonna to stay here!" Malon gasped, "You seein' this Meli? It's like something right out of the story I've been reading you!"
"Guu?" Meli spoke peeking up from behind Malon's shoulder, looking up at the palace for herself.
As Link looked around, he noticed Captain Andreas standing at the top of the stairs by the front door to the palace. He was glaring down at them with a bloodshot stare from underneath his galea helmet.
By his side though was a sight Link had missed; the Hylian lady knight and his future bride Ashe. He hadn't seen her since the incident with the Fierce Deity and him telling everyone the story of his past. He wanted anxiously to greet her, but forced himself to hold back so as not to make a scene.
Just then the doors opened, and the group waited in anticipation as out emerged three individuals,
First was a lean woman that the group quickly recognized. It was Impa, the princess' caretaker, and formally the last of the Sheikah. She looked down to the group and smiled lightly at the sight of Link, but went back to her serious demeanor and stepped aside to allow the other two to come out.
"Thank you Gerudo King and his people for coming here." Impa spoke out, "Having received your request for an audience, the King of Hyrule had obliged to meet you."
"Introducing his royal highness, King Reinald Ingelramnus Hyrule!"
The first one to step up was a tall man in a long blue robe with a ruffled collar. He had a white mustache and beard, and wore a magnificent crown on his head. He held his head high with a stern expression, giving off a sense of authority. He held a golden specter in his right hand with a mark of the Triforce on it.
Link gulped, he recalled seeing King Reinald before in his youth as a very strict and intimidating man. He knew based on that and Nabooru's teachings that he had to put on his best behavior with him...
"And introducing his daughter, Princess Zelda Harkinian Hyrule!"
Then up a came very lovely woman clad in a royal pink and white dress. The front had a pink apron that was decorated with gold stitching of the Triforce. On her forehead was a gold tiara with a pink jewel in the center. She had gold shoulder pads that connected a matching gold brooch together. Her hair was long an golden, and her eyes a bright sapphire blue, and complimented with a lovely and lively smile with pink lipstick.
Link stood in awe at the sight of Princess Zelda. Remembering how she was like in the dark future, she had changed greatly during the seven years that Ganondorf had ruled over the land. In that time her eyes were dulled and devoid of the energy and happiness he had known from their childhood days, then replaced with a bitter and hardened demeanor...
But now she stood as a much different person; bright and joyful, and gave off a pleasant air just from her presence. In many ways, she reminded him of the sweet girl had became fast friends with ten years ago, only much more beautiful than he ever could have thought.
Nabooru whispered to the others, "Psst, get down on your knee and pay your respects!"
The king and princess walked down the stairs that led to Link and his friends, and they all promptly got on one knee and bowed their heads down to them both. Reirousa looked around frantically, before setting down the luggage she was carrying with a loud thud and bowed down herself.
King Reinald cleared his throat, and just about to speak up, but just then a shadowy being emerged out of hiding behind a pillar. He sprinted forward and lunged right at the king with a sharp dagger.
"Gyaaahaahahaha! I am the Wdowmaker, prepare for your death, King of Hyrule!" he shouted.
"Woah, look out!" Aviel exclaimed, about to pull out her crossbow.
But before the man could even come close, the lady knight Ashe suddenly shot out and delivered a single swing of her sword at the man, slashing him across the chest and cutting his dagger in half. The man shouted out in pain as he fell to the ground, where he was quickly detained by the other guards.
"Thank you solider. That was fine work." King Reinald nodded to Ashe.
"Of course my liege." Ashe bowed, walking over to rejoin her place by Andreas, who smirked at her performance.
'Wow, way to go Ashe!' Link thought to himself, impressed at how far she had come that she could have a chance to protect the king himself.
"You get a load of Ashe's moves? Looks like Link's not the only one being attacked by assassins too." Kesuta whispered to Korume.
"Indeed, I wonder what's going on...?" Korume whispered back, "And who's this... 'Widowmaker'?
"Now then, shall we see to our guests?" King Reinald spoke, not even seeming to be phased by what had just happened. He walked right up to Link and Nabooru, "So you two must be the leaders of the Gerudo."
"Indeed your majesty. I am Lady Nabooru, founder of Gerudo Town. It's an honor to meet you." she spoke, she nudged Link slightly to make him snap out of his vacant trance.
"Um, y-yes. I am Link, the new King of The Gerudo. It is an honor to meet both you and the princess your excellently... your excellency!" the young king stammered in nervousness.
"...thank you for the greetings." the king stared down at Link silently, "Please rise and stand, both of you."
Link and Nabooru both nodded and stood up straight while the others continued bowing. Link was trying to focus his gaze at the king himself and not at Zelda.
"Thank you for making this time to speak with us." Link said, "I want nothing more than to establish a peace treaty between the Hylians and the Gerudo, so they can be free to live peacefully."
"By that do you mean the Hylians or the Gerudo?" the king pointed out with a raised eye.
"Um..." Link realized the way he phrased his statement, "I-I mean so the Gerudo can live peacefully!"
"So you don't wish for the Hylians to live peacefully?" the king remarked with a scowl.
"N-No! What I meant us so we could- I could-!" Link stammered in a panic.
'What the hell're you doing Link?' Nabooru thought frantically.
"Oh goddess Aifet no." Nemisa muttered slapping her forehead as she bowed.
"Heh..." King Reinald gave a strange chuckle, before he brought his head back and laughed out heartily, "Ha-haa-hahahaha!"
"Huh?" Link asked sweatdropping, the others looking just as confused.
"Father, come on..." Zelda sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Hahaha, sorry. I couldn't help it!" King Reinald laughed, wiping a tear from his eye, "Not to worry Gerudo King, I only jest!" he said with an earnest smile, "I could tell you were tense, and nothing like a little bit of humor to liven things up, eh?"
Link and Nabooru both let out a sigh of relief as the others faulted over.
"Ah-ha-ha, I guess that's true." Link sported a naturally goofy grin as he rubbed the back of his head.
"You're quite an interesting desert king, aren't you? You can skip the formalities my boy, it would please me more for you to address me naturally." King Reinald nodded.
"I..." Link was rather shocked by this, especially with how he recalled the Hylian king used to be in the past, "Thanks your highness, it's great to be here. I hope we can come to an understanding, for the sake of the Gerudo, and Hyrule... as a whole!"
"Very good." the king nodded with a smile. Zelda herself couldn't help but giggle a little at her father.
Suddenly a loud thud could be heard, as everyone tuned to see the stack of luggage Reirousa had been carrying fell over backwards.
"Uh, oops." Reirosua said sweatdropping, "Sorry!"
"Smooth move musclehead." Kesuta said.
"Perhaps we should discuss further matters later." Zelda spoke with an amused smile, "Let's get you and your people settled into the palace for now."
"That sounds divine, Princess." Nabooru nodded, "Please show us the way."
"Woah." Aviel spoke wit her jaw dropped at the room she and Nemsia had been escorted to.
As the royal bodyguards to Link, they were placed in the room right net to where Link and Nabooru would be sleeping. It was a highly lavish room with two large beds and various furniture like dressers and couches. There was also a gift basket of fruit beside the entrance.
"T-This seems a bit extravagant for us." Nemisa said, she spoke to the maid who escorted them, "The two of us are technically not King Link's brides and queens yet, we're merely his bodyguards for now!"
"It's no trouble, the princess was insistent that all of the Gerudo King's fiances are receive the best accommodations!" the maid said bowing, "Please, enjoy your stay here!"
"Yaaay! I call this bed!" Aviel cheered out, running over to the left bed, and she immediately starting bouncing on it, "Nemisa, you gotta try yours, these're even more comfy than the ones back home!"
"V-Very well..." Nemisa spoke, not quite used to this kind of treatment, as she always refused to be pampered by the servants at Gerudo Palace. She laid back on her bed, and after a moment, found herself sighing out blissfully, "Ooooh this is actually really nice..."
"Told ya!" snickered Aviel, "I bet the others are enjoying everything too!"
"Dang, this is some nice livin's!" Togau whistled at the sight of the bedroom that she, Imra, Malon, Meli and Epona were given.
"We hope everything is to your liking." the maid bowing, "Please call us if there's anything you'd like during your stay."
"Now that you say that, can we get that whole facial treatment thing where we get to wear cucumbers over our eyes?" Togau asked.
"Cluck-cluck!" Imra nodded, licking the rim of her beak hungerly
"Uh, we'll see what we can do." the maid said sweatdropping at the cucco on Togau's head.
"Well there is a bit of a little problem, there's three of us and only two beds." Malon pointed out, "Plus I got this little bundle of joy on my back..." she gestured to Meli, who waved her pinwheel at the maid
"Oh, I apologize! We got the number of guests we'd have mixed up! We'll have that taken care of soon." the maid said, "As for your baby, I'll go see if the royal nursery has an extra crib available!"
After the maid took off, Epona looked around, then ran over to one of the beds and fell back against it.
"Oooooh, this feels real nice and soft!" Epona said, she quickly crawled under the sheets and moved around under them for a while, before she poked her head out of the end, "And it's so warm! This beats standing in a horse stable any day!"
"Na ha ha, I know that feelin' from back when I was stuck as a Lynel!" Togau laughed, "Nice to see Epona enjoyin' being a human, huh Mally?"
"Yer tellin' me, I always knew there was somethin' special about Epona when she was growing up." Malon said, "At times I would think she could be more human than horse..."
"Brawkaaa..." Imra ruffled her feathers from atop Togau's head.
"It's okay Imra, yer just fine as you are!" Togau assured Imra, patting the cucco on her side.
"So... until they get the third bed, what should we do about the sleeping arrangements?" Malon asked, looking back and forth between the beds.
"How bout we let Epona have that bed to herself, and you and I share a bed?" Togau offered, taking Malon's hands, "It'll be just like when we were little!"
Malon gasped out at her aunt's earnest smile, and found herself smiling back, "You know, that'd be real swell Togau!"
"Great! Just gotta warn ya, Link tells me I kick a lot in my sleep nowadays!" Togau said with a goofy smile, before she started to unpack her things.
"... ...any chance you got that bed ready yet?" Malon called out to the maids sweatdropping.
"Is there something the matter, your majesty?" spoke the maid who escorted Link and Nabooru to their room after they had dropped Thunder off at the royal horse stable.
They had been expecting a two bed room, but instead it was just a single double king sized bed.
"I think there may have been a slight misunderstanding." Nabooru said looking a little flustered.
"But you two are husband and wife, correct? Princess Zelda insisted on ensuring your room was fit for the king and queen of the Gerudo." the maid said.
"That's... well..." Nabooru muttered under her breath.
"It's just fine for us." Link assured the maid with a bright smile, "Thanks for doing this for us!"
"O-Oh, you're welcome... th-then I'll leave you both to it! Call us if you need anything!" the maid bowed with a slightly flushed face as she left the room.
"Ugh. Well, I did tell them that you and I were the leaders of our clan... I guess they just assumed we were married." Nabooru sighed.
"What's the big deal? We've shared a bed together plenty of times, right?" Link said.
"Well yeah," Nabooru clutched at her arm and cast her gaze aside, "But... wouldn't you prefer to be with one of your actual fiances, like Sarami or Nemisa...?"
"Nah. They're always nice to be around, but I think for now I want to stay with you Nabooru." Link said grinning, "You and I haven't gotten to spend much time together with everything going on lately."
"I guess..." Nabooru stared down at him for a moment, "... ...alright you made your point." she shrugged, "I suppose it'd be better for our image here if we were considered king and queen anyway." she gave him a playful slap upside the head with an amused grin, "Good thing the king turned out to have a good sense of humor though, you really need to watch how you speak before the royals!"
"Sorry, I didn't think he'd tease me like that!" Link said, "He could be an intimidating sight in the past!"
"You sure it wasn't just the Princess Zelda that was distracting you?" Nabooru gave him a wink, seeing an opportunity to tease him, "I saw the way you were trying to avert your gaze from her! She is quite a looker after all!"
"Hey, don't start with that. She's already married to the Fargent prince!" Link pointed out, after a moment he coughed and commented, "...that said, she's is really beautiful. I'm amazed at how well she's grown up over the years... She's way different than I remember her in the dark future."
"She does seem rather fascinating." Nabooru nodded, "I hope we get along with her well during our time here."
"Yeah..." Link spoke, finding himself gripping at the leaf-shaped key in his pocket.
Later Link went walking down the hallway of the palace, he was going off to check on Epona over at Togau and Malon's room and make sure she didn't show any signs of changing back to human soon..
While he had spent plenty of time in the courtyard as a child with Zelda and Impa, this was his first time actually inside the palace. It was even more grand inside than outside, and there was numerous portraits of past kings, queens and princesses lining the walls. He also saw portraits of what appeared to be two men in red and green with mustaches, a bubbly-looking princess in all pink, and some kind of green reptile with a saddle on his back, but he didn't recognize them.
He came to a stop at one portrait of a gorgeous blonde woman with a baby in her arms. Link noted how much it resembled Zelda, but not quite. He looked down at the inscription to see it was Zelda's mother.
'Wow, her mother was really beautiful.' Link thought, looking back up at the portrait, making him wonder if Zelda would grow the same way...
"Excuse me, your highness?" spoke up a sweet voice.
The young king's eyes widened, as he turned to see Princess Zelda standing before him.
"Z- Princess!" Link exclaimed, he bowed down on one knee to her, "Your majesty, you uh, humble me with your present- I mean, presence!"
"Ah hee hee. Please, at ease Gerudo King," Zelda giggled, it was a light bouncy giggle that reminded him from when they were children, "Father told you not to worry about being so formal, remember?"
"Oh, s-sure." Link said standing himself up, "Was there something you wanted Princess?"
But Zelda just tilted her head as she stared at him, she seemed to be giving him a close look-over. She sported a small smile as she leaned forward, looking from his shoes to up toward his facial features. To say Link was unnerved about what she was doing was an understatement.
"Do... I got something on my face?" Link asked scratching his cheek.
"No, no." Zelda shook her head, "I just wanted to get a good look at you."
"Uh, I don't know if we should be alone like this... what would your dad think?" Link asked sheepishly.
"Father doesn't need to worry, and besides, Impa is always watching me." Zelda said.
Link paused for a moment, then looked upwards, seeing Impa was indeed standing on the ceiling with her ninja arts. She gave Link a little smirk and a wave.
"Ah, I see." Link said, "What about your husband, the Fargent prince? Where is he right now? I've been interested in meeting him."
"Oh he's out on a mission on behalf of my father." Zelda said, "He'll be back in a couple days. Though I must warn you in advance though, he can be rather... unique."
"Unique like how?" Link asked.
"You'll find out soon enough." Zelda giggled. Link couldn't stop being surprised at how Zelda was now, she had grown up so sweet and full of life.
"Soooo... your father seems like he's really changed." Link commented, "He's got a lot better sense of humor than I remember."
"Honestly, it's more like he's gone back to the way he used to be." Zelda said glancing away, "A lot of his stubbornness came right after my mother... well..." she lead off in a pause, "You know."
Link took another look up at the portrait and nodded, "It's okay, I understand."
"Well then, I have things to see to. Enjoy your time here, Gerudo King Link!" Zelda said with a polite curtsy. With that, she turned and went off on her way.
Link let out a sigh and turned back around to go check in on Epona. But then he was stopped by the princess' voice speaking out.
"...I have to say, I'm glad you're okay after all that you went through." Zelda spoke.
"Huh?" Link asked turning around, "What do you mean by-"
But Princess Zelda had already walked off on her way. He looked up to see Impa had also disappeared. Link rubbed the back of his neck and went off on his way, wondering what exactly she meant...
Meanwhile in a semi-dark hallway, Captain Andreas was walking with General Ashe by his side.
"You did commendable work out there today stopping from that assassin, General.." Andreas spoke to her, "The king has already suggested to me that I promote you to Lieutenant. You've certainly eared it."
"I merely defended our king, as expected from a royal knight." said Ashe, "It's not the only time he's been attacked these past months."
"Hrm, indeed. " Andreas nodded, "You know, before I misjudged your strength and skill based on you being a woman, but despite your failure to assassinate the Gerudo King you managed to stepped up and became one of my finest soldiers."
"..." Ashe paused, reflecting on the fact that he had been the one who ordered her to kill the man she had come to fall in love with, and who ironically helped her reach the level she was now at, "Thank you Captain. I vow to do whatever it takes to protect Hyrule from those who may bring harm to it."
"I'm glad to hear that." Andreas nodded. They came to a stop at one door and the captain put his hand on the door handle, "I have some matters to attend to here, you are dismissed for now."
Ashe nodded and went off on her way.
"There you are, took you long enough Andreas." spoke a refined man cleaning out a water glass.
"Forgive me, I was busy having an audience with the king. A lunatic tried to kill him, but my subordinate stopped them." Andreas spoke coming into the secondary royal meeting hall, where five of the seven members of the Hylian Parliament all sat around the table, "Not that any of you would had known since you were all down here like blind moles."
"Tsk, another assassin? That's the fifth one in the last few months, There seems to be plenty of unrest among the people." spoke Marquess Haralden of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, he took a moment to look in the water glass, "Still too many spots in this one." he tossed it away and it shattered to the ground, making a knight hastily clean it up, "Have a seat Captain, we have much to discuss."
"But of course." Andreas said sitting down. He glanced over at Duke Geronim of Wealth and Finances, the round man whistling innocently as sweat ran down his head, "If I may start Grand Duke, perhaps you can tell everyone here how you managed to bungle the procurement of Lon Lon Ranch?"
"Grrr.. you're just angry that you didn't get your precious horsey." Geronim scowled, "According to the report from Ernoldus, the ranch managed to meet their milk production quota, though given the previous reports I can't figure out how!"
"Hrm, I wonder." Minister Odleh of Supernatural and Religious Affairs paused, thinking about the secret mission she sent her mage knight on while they were there...
Andreas then noticed one seat was empty, "So where is our leader Governor Balterius at the moment?"
"Looking into the historical parchments again." said Judge Isambard, head of Hyrulian Law and Order, he tapped his gavel against his palm, "I admire his studious attitude, but he's been isolating himself more and more with his research."
"And now the desert king has arrived," Odleh spoke with a sigh, "I still can't believe he invited Gerudo King Link here. He used to be far more strict and rational-minded before and would had never allowed this meeting."
"But doing so will be good for relations with the people and neighboring countries, if he's able to swallow his pride and allow them to visit us." Countess Roesia of Public Relations spoke, as she spun her finger along the rim of her martini glass with a faint smile, "I admit it's quite cute, I've never seen that old man's spirits so high."
"Yeah, I bet you're more focused on how 'good-looking' the Gerudo king is." grumbled Geronim.
"Well as 'cute' as you think it is Countess, the king has been thinking more independently from our advice as a result." Marquess Haralden tapped his index fingers, "It's troublesome to say the least."
"Indeed. This matter must be addressed soon." spoke a strong, authoritative voice. Everyone turned to see it was the head of the Hylian Parliament, Governor Balterius himself. He calmly walked over and sat at his seat,
"Governor, what's going on?" Judge Isambard asked.
Balterius cleared his throat and spoke out to the group, "I apologize for my absence, but I've uncovered a certain bit of information about our new 'guests'... and their connection to our most dangerous prison, the demon king Ganondorf."
Minister Odleh scowled, clenching her wrinkled hands at her robe, as she looked to the group's leader,
"Really now? Do tell..."
At that same moment, in the far east area of Hyrule known as Eldin Province, some royal knights were fighting against monsters that were causing trouble for travelers crossing over the appropriately-named 'Bridge of Eldin', a popular route for trade caravans to pass through.
A knight slashed down a Moblin with his sword to protect a caravan that had been ambushed by the monsters, but was knocked backwards by another one. He tumbled over and gasped out, looking up at the Moblin about to deal another blow to him.
"Grk, t-this could be it...!"
But then a figure jumped out of nowhere and, wielding a powerful blade, cut the monster down the middle and destroying it. It was a tall man with wild orange hair and wearing silver and blue armor.
"Are you okay, brave knight?" the man spoke wielding a sword and shield.
"I am!" the knight spoke in awe of his rescuer, "Thank you so much, Prince of Fargent!"
"Don't thank me yet, plenty more of them are on their way!" the prince spoke. He and the knight both readied their blades and went back into battle.
It wasn't long after that all the monsters were finally dealt with. Due to the prince and the knight's effort, the caravan owners were unharmed.
"Thank you so much, kind prince!" the caravan owners said.
"Of course! In the name of justice, we'll see to it you all can barter safely and happily!" the prince said.
"Your highness, we should get back and report our success here to the king!" said a knight saluting.
"Good thinking! I really need to get back to Zelda!" the prince nodded, sheathing his sword, "Plus, I believe it's right about time for the new king of the Gerudo to have arrived at the castle..."
The prince smirked a little, "And after all I've heard of him, I've been anxious to finally meet this man."
And that ends this week's chapter. Next time, we finally get to meet Princess Zelda's new husband, the prince of Fargent!
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