"Go ahead," Liliana said from behind.

"Go ahead and do what, might I ask?" Sophitia spoke without looking up from the letter she was writing.

"Explain your master plan, my princess." Liliana spoke as plainly as ever. "I know you're dying to."

Sophitia smirked. It was true that she enjoyed showing off, even if that kind of vanity would be looked down upon by her divine ancestor. "I am still putting the pieces together, I confess. But it is as I've said. I plan to take Hebra from my brother."

"But why Hebra?" Liliana asked. "Why not try to impress your father by solving the crisis plaguing one of the other provinces?"

"The crises in the provinces my siblings have laid claim to are the only ones that my father will spare half a thought," the princess explained. "I have no knowledge of war, so my father will never consent to letting me handle Akkala in place of my brother and uncle, nor do I have any hope of taking Gerudo from his golden child. Thus, Hebra is the logical choice."

"I see," Liliana said. Sophitia could hear her fidgeting with her armor. "May I take this off now?" she asked. "It's rather heavy. And I truly despise this cape."

Sophitia laughed haughtily as she continued moving her quill across the page. "Yes, yes, by all means. Make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you, Princess." Liliana quickly shrugged off her cape and began removing her heavy armor. "Why do you think Hebra will be so interesting to the king?" she asked curiously.

"It's not Hebra that's interesting," Sophitia said. "It's the City in the Sky. I do not believe my brother wishes to reclaim it simply as a way to build relations with the Rito. There must be something else of significance about the city. I just don't know what it is yet."

"It's where your people came from," Liliana stated, letting her breastplate drop to the floor with a clang. "Surely he wants it for the sake of preserving Hylian history and culture."

"Perhaps." Sophitia placed her quill in the inkwell. "I doubt it is that simple, though. My brother loves his games. There's more to his strategy. I can feel it." She waited a bit for the ink to dry before folding her letter, dripping some wax on it, and stamping it with her seal. By then, her bodyguard had finished shedding her platemail and was back to the more mobile light armor of her royal guard's uniform. "Shall we go?" the princess said, climbing out of her desk chair.

"Are you sending that letter by Rito?" Liliana asked as they exited Sophitia's room.

"Indeed. But I do not wish to send it from here. I intend to take it to the head office of the Hyrulean Postal Service, out in the city."

"Will that be faster?"

"Not likely. But if I am to build up some goodwill with the Rito, doing so with the Rito here in the capital would be a fine place to start."

After finishing their preparations for the day, Sophitia and her attendant made their way down the spiraling steps of the princess's tower. As they were walking out onto the castle ramparts, Sophitia stopped. "Hmm. Actually, before we head out into the city, I suppose we might as well stop by the forge. I have business with the Grand Artisan as well, and it would be helpful if he could confirm something before I send my letter."

"As you wish, Princess." There were a few different ways to enter the armory, the forge, and the mines beneath the castle where the Grand Artisan might be found. Sophitia decided to head for the main entrance of the armory since it was located closer to the main gate. "You still have not divulged to me this plan of yours," Liliana reminded her as they walked.

Sophitia thought for a moment. She had not been lying earlier when she said she was still working it out. "My father respects results more than anything else," she said. "If I want him to entrust me with Hebra, I need to prove that I can handle it. So, I plan to draw up a detailed proposal and bring it to him personally. What I have in mind requires a lot of support, so I need to make certain that the Grand Artisan and several others are ready, willing, and able to lend me their aid. And for every Grand Council member I have backing me, it increases the odds of my father listening to what I have to say."

"Do you think your brother has a plan as well?" Liliana asked.

"Most definitely," Sophitia said, knowing her brother had likely been thinking ten moves ahead by the time he'd requested to handle Hebra. "However, I doubt he means to share his plans with Father. Not entirely, anyway. That is why I believe I have a chance."

The entrance to the armory was a massive set of double doors, built large enough to allow easy access to Gorons like Grand Artisan Rodan. Many parts of the castle had doors like that, but most building sections had a human-sized door as well. Liliana had to throw her whole weight against the Goron-sized door to get it open.

"Many thanks, my mighty protector," Sophitia said with a teasing grin as she walked past her.

"Anything for you, O Princess of Affluence."

Inside, the great armory's walls were lined with uncountably many weapons of all types. Swords, spears, axes, maces, bows. Some were of Hylian design, others Sheikah, others Goron. Sophitia looked over her shoulder and saw her bodyguard running her hands over them admiringly as she walked down the hallway. "If you're interested in a new weapon, go ahead and pick one out," the princess offered. "I'm certain the smiths would be more than willing to oblige a request from me."

Liliana pulled her hand away from an oversized Goron sword that looked more like a club than a blade. "Most of these are too large for me," she pointed out. "I'll stick with what I've got for now."

"If that pleases you." Sophitia nodded. When they turned the corner, there was a man dressed in a smith's garb shuffling papers around behind a desk. He looked up at them as they approached.

"Good day, Princess Sophitia. How may I be of service?" the man asked.

"I wish to speak with Grand Artisan Rodan," Sophitia answered. "Is he busy at the moment?"

The man laughed. "Rodan's always busy. But by all means, I'm certain he will make time for you." As he spoke, the man gestured down another hallway, indicating where she might find the Grand Artisan.

"You have my gratitude." Sophitia did a brief curtsy before exiting the room with Liliana following behind her. The hallway led to a large, finely crafted wooden lift hanging above a vertical mine shaft. The princess and her bodyguard stepped aboard the lift and pulled the lever on the side of the platform. After a brief rumble, the lift began its descent.

Sophitia noticed the slight smile on Liliana's face. "Enjoying yourself?" she asked.

"I like coming to the forge," she stated. "It's one of the few places in the castle that isn't filled with stuffy nobles."

The princess smiled good-naturedly. "I dare say, you've been fitting in with us 'stuffy nobles' more and more each day since you arrived here."

"Have I?" Liliana asked teasingly. "Curses. You must be rubbing off on me. Next thing you know, my ears will start growing pointy."

"You know, they say we Hylians have pointed ears to help us hear the gods."

"In Ordona, we say it's because you like to hear yourselves talk."

Sophitia laughed haughtily at that. "Well, that much is true, I suppose."

When the lift reached the bottom of the elevator shaft, it rumbled to a stop. The gates opened before them and they stepped out together. Sophitia was always surprised to find that the underground sections of the castle weren't completely dark. The walls were lined with bright, glowing torches, making it relatively easy to see. From somewhere further down the tunnel, they could hear the sounds of metal clanging against metal and the guttural shouts of the Goron and Hylian men at work.

Down the tunnel, they rounded the corner to arrive in a massive chamber. All along the walls, there were anvils, forges, and smithing tools, with every workstation filled by a busy Goron or Hylian working on their craft. The chamber was connected to many other tunnels, some of them with minecart tracks that led further into the mines from which stone, metal, and precious gems were excavated. As the princess and her retainer surveyed the room, a pair of muscular, shirtless Hylian men walked past them, carrying a gigantic wooden beam.

"Do try not to stare, darling," Sophitia said to her bodyguard, who seemed transfixed by the men's work-hardened abs.

"You're not the boss of me," Liliana said, not looking away until the men disappeared down a tunnel.

"...Well, I am, actually."

"Touché." Liliana looked her charge up and down. "Your dress is going to get filthy down in these tunnels," she pointed out.

"Hmm? Oh, blast. I suppose you're right. Well, let's make this quick then." She turned her gaze to Grand Artisan Rodan on the other side of the chamber. He was not difficult to spot. The Grand Artisan was twice the size of every other Goron in the room, and his rocky hunchback gave him a very distinct shape. Despite his deformity, he was hammering away at an anvil the same as any of his workers, no doubt creating something of better quality than any of them could ever hope to make.

Many heads turned to watch her and Liliana as they walked by. Sophitia gave a polite bow to them, smiling to herself as she did. Liliana often teased her about the way she acted when she was 'gracing others with her presence,' but the princess did not mind.

I may not be my sister, but a princess is a princess, no?

"Grand Artisan," Sophitia said from behind the great hulking Goron. "May I have a moment of your time?"

Rodan finished a few more swings of the hammer before placing it off to the side. Shambling to turn in place, using his arms for support like a gorilla, he turned to face the young women. "Princess Sophitia," he said, his voice deep and booming, but also elderly and irritable. "What brings you here? Break that sword I made for you?"

Sophitia laughed good-naturedly. "No, nothing like that. Your creations are as strong as ever. I am hesitant to believe they could ever break."

"Hmm. You're damn right." The old Goron still sounded bothered, but Sophitia could hear the pride in his voice. She smiled subtly to herself, knowing her flattery was working already. "But don't you go taking my metal for granted. Strong or no, it'll fail you if you don't respect it."

"Understood," Sophitia said with a nod.

Rodan turned to Liliana. "You lookin' to get that replaced?" he said, tilting his head to gesture at the sword on her belt.

Liliana drew the sword from its scabbard. "It's fine," she stated.

"Bah." The old Goron reached out and plucked the sword from her hands, his giant fingers pinching it like a tiny twig. Then, to her shock, he opened his jaws and tossed the sword into his mouth.

"Hey!" Liliana shouted angrily, stepping forward into a fighting stance, but she had no weapon to threaten him with.

Rodan chewed the sword for a few seconds, then spit it out as a bent and mangled scrap of metal. "By Din, that pathetic thing wasn't even good for a snack." Shuffling in place again, he grabbed a freshly forged sword off of a rack by his workstation. To demonstrate, he held it in his mouth and bit down on it several times, then held it in front of Liliana. There wasn't even a dent on it. "Take this. It'll serve you better than that piece of trash."

Liliana took the sword by the hilt and tested its balance. She swung it a few times to get a feel for it. "I see," she said, sounding mildly impressed.

"Thank you for your generosity," Princess Sophitia said, bowing to Rodan.

Liliana got the hint. "Yes. Thank you," she said, bowing as well.

"Hmm," Rodan grunted. "Now, what did you come here for?"

"Ah, yes. Of course." Sophitia stood up straight and smoothed out her dress as she prepared to speak. "Grand Artisan Rodan, I would like to make a request of you. Not for armor or weapons, but for something that will help my people reclaim a lost part of our heritage, as well as foster peace within the Kingdom of Hyrule."

"Ehh?" The old Goron bent over slightly, leaning in closer. "And what might I create that can accomplish all that?"

"I require a lift capable of raising my expedition team up to the Lost City of Skyloft," the princess said. She figured it would sound ridiculous without the complete context, but she hoped Rodan would hear her out.

"Ah, I see." Rodan picked his teeth with a shard of metal. "This is for your brother's thing, eh?"

"No. This is for me." Sophitia stifled a grin as she spoke those words. "I would like you to accompany me to Hebra, construct this 'skylift,' and perhaps join us as we reclaim the City in the Sky. What do you say?"

"I say I can build it easily enough," the Grand Artisan said. "But I can't make something like that move. Wind magic is beyond my skill set."

"Ah, but what if you combined your strength with the most powerful wind mage in all of Hyrule?" Sophitia reached into her bag and pulled out the letter she'd written earlier. "I hold in my hand a royal request for the Sage of Wind herself. You supply the lift, she supplies the power to raise it into the sky. Together, we make history."

The old Goron ran his fingers through his great white beard. "So you want me to travel with you to Hebra, you say? And leave my forge behind? Seems you've forgotten something, little princess. War is upon us. Your father, your uncle, your sister - hell, even your damn brother are gonna be wanting weapons, armor, and siege machines by the wagonful."

"You let me handle my father," Sophitia said, trying to sound more confident than she felt. She knew a team of the Grand Artisan's workers would likely have been sufficient for her needs, but she would garner so much more clout if she could gain the support of the Grand Artisan himself. She needed something to sweeten the deal. "And, if you join me on my expedition, I will grant you exclusive access to any and all ancient artifacts and technological devices we salvage, if you so desire them." The lost city had been home to both an ancient civilization as well as the technologically advanced Oocca. Sophitia was certain the Grand Artisan couldn't pass up the opportunity to tinker with whatever exoctic baubles and innovative weaponry they came across.

Sure enough, the giant's eyes opened wide with curiosity at her offer. "Yer tellin' me, anything we find up there that was built by hand or tool, if I want it, it's mine?"

"It's yours," the princess confirmed.

The old Goron's crooked mouth spread into a wide grin. He threw his head back and let out a hearty laugh that shook the cavern. "Princess, you got yerself a deal."

Success!

"Splendid," Sophitia said, trying to downplay her excitement. "Please draw up the plans for the skylift and make a list of all the supplies and personnel you'll require for the expedition. We shall be leaving within a week. Good day to you, Grand Artisan." The princess turned to leave.

"And thanks for the sword," Liliana said, sheathing her new weapon before following after her charge.


Some time later, Sophitia and Liliana were riding through the city streets in the back of a horse-drawn carriage. The vehicle was surrounded by mounted soldiers of Sophitia's usual guard detail led by Captain Reede, as was her preferred method of traveling safely outside the castle.

"You have been to the Hyrulean Post before, have you not?" Sophitia asked Liliana, hands cupped in her lap as she relaxed against the cushioned seat.

"Of course. I go there every month," the bodyguard replied. She sat leaning forward, her hands gripping the hilt of her new sword, still sheathed in its scabbard with the tip pressed against the floor.

"Ah, I'd forgotten." Sophitia glanced out the window of the carriage to check if they were close to their destination. "Still sending most of your rupees back home to your family, then?"

Liliana nodded. "They need it more than I do. Plus, you do pay me an absurd amount, so I can afford it."

"Really? I don't recall paying you all that well," Sophitia joked. "Perhaps I should speak to the Grand Treasurer about reducing your salary to something more modest."

"Fine. So long as you give me a few nights off a week and the name of a brothel that's looking for Ordonians. I'm not giving up my rupees that easily," Liliana replied, entirely deadpan.

"My word!" Sophitia held a hand in front of her mouth and stifled a laugh, shocked by what she hoped was a rather scandalous joke. It would have been embarrassing if any of the men outside had heard it.

The carriage jostled her back and forth a little as they rode over some poorly maintained streets. Liliana slid over in her seat and glanced out the window. "We'll be there momentarily, Princess."

"Splendid." Sophitia reached into her carrying bag and fished out her letter. "This will be a short visit, most likely. The sooner I contact the Sage of Wind, the better, after all."

"Have you met this sage?" Liliana asked.

Sophitia shook her head. "I have not. She inherited the power of the winds rather recently. However, I have met the sages of light, shadow, water, and time. I've been in the presence of two of their Patrons as well."

"Really? That's surprising. I would've expected all the gods to want to meet the great Princess Zelda Sophitia Hyrule," Liliana said.

Sophitia chuckled at her bodyguard's flattery. Before she could continue the conversation, the carriage slowed to a halt. "Ah, we must be here." She placed her letter back in her carrying bag and took a moment to smooth out her dress. One of her guards opened the door of the carriage. Captain Reede was standing outside, and he bowed as he gestured for the princess to come out.

"Thank you, Captain," the princess said. Liliana climbed out ahead of her, then stood to the side and offered her hand. Sophitia took it, holding it daintily as she climbed down the two small steps jutting out from beneath the door opening.

The post office building was not as grand as the courthouse, but it had its own unique architectural charms. The lower section of the building looked entirely Hylian, and would not have stood out from the many other rectangular stone buildings in the area. However, the upper section of the building was distinctly Rito, having the appearance of a wooden tower with several colorful bird symbols painted all around it. On the roof of the building stood a totem pole consisting of a red phoenix on the bottom, a blue owl in the middle, and a green eagle with its wings spread majestically at the top. Sophitia knew these were the animals that the Rito used to represent Din, Nayru, and Farore, respectively.

"Shall we go inside, Princess?" Liliana asked.

Sophitia nodded. "Captain Reede, wait here for us, if you please. We will not be long." She turned to Liliana. "Lead the way."

Inside the post office, they found a large room that was split in half by a long wooden counter from wall to wall. There were only a few other visitors in their half of the room, but the other half was crowded and chaotic. Several dozen Hylian and Rito postmen hurried past one another, carrying stacks of papers and heavy packages, entering the room from one of the many doors and leaving through another. One of the tellers manning the counter noticed them as they approached.

"Ah, Liliana! Welcome back. How can I help you today?" the man asked. His eyes opened wide when he noticed Sophitia was with her. "Oh! Begging your pardon, I did not realize you were here with the princess." He then turned to address Sophitia. "How might I be of service, your highness?"

In the back of the room, many of the postal workers stopped what they were doing when they heard the word 'princess.' Some of the Hylians looked on in awe, while others wore huge smiles and came forward for a closer look. However, Sophitia noticed that the Rito did not seem as excited by her presence. Many of them paused only briefly, then resumed their work. Two or three of them actually dropped their papers, spread their wings, and flew upwards instead, exiting the room through one of several holes that had been cut into the wooden ceiling above them.

...Curious.

The princess was a little disheartened, but she chose to ignore it for now. "Good day to you, sir. I have a letter I would like to send. However, might I be able to have a word with the Postmaster first? I hope that would not be too much trouble."

"It would be no trouble at all, Princess. One moment, please," the teller said. He stepped back from the counter and gestured for one of his colleagues to come closer, then whispered into the other man's ear. The postman nodded and left the room. The teller waited for a moment, then approached the counter again. "Please head through that door over there," he said, pointing to a door to Sophitia's right. "One of my colleagues will escort you to the Postmaster's office."

"Splendid. You have my gratitude, kind sir." Sophitia let Liliana lead the way. On the other side of the door, another postman took them down a short hallway and through another door that led to the Postmaster's office.

Like the rest of the first floor, the Postmaster's office was completely Hylian. The desk, chairs, and bookcases would not have looked out of place in Hyrule Castle. The Postmaster himself was a Hylian as well. He appeared to be a middle aged man with dark hair that covered little of his large, pointed ears. As Sophitia and Liliana entered the room, he was putting some papers into his desk drawer.

"Princess! Please, come in, take a seat," he said, beckoning them forward.

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Postmaster Falmark," Sophitia said as she sat down in the chair across from him. Liliana remained standing at her side, stone faced with her arms crossed behind her back and her sheathed sword plainly visible. Beforehand, Sophitia had instructed her to look intimidating when they met with the Postmaster. Although the man was not a Sheikah, he no doubt reported directly to the Grand Watcher. Sophitia would be as kind and polite as a princess should be, but she knew better than to trust an informant of the kingdom's spymaster, even if he was supposed to be on her side.

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well, your highness," Falmark said, glancing briefly at Liliana. "Now, how may I be of service to the crown? Is there an urgent message you wish to send?"

"Indeed. However, there is another matter I wish to discuss with you first."

"And what might that be?"

Sophitia looked the Postmaster in the eye. "Tell me, once you retire, is there someone else lined up to take your place as Postmaster?"

Falmark looked confused and slightly nervous. "Once I retire? What is this about?"

"Be at ease, Postmaster. You've done nothing to warrant removal from your position." Sophitia chuckled reassuringly. "All I would like to know is, who do you plan to give your post to? It matters not how far in the future this might be. Do you have a replacement lined up? Someone you've been grooming for the job?"

The man on the other side of the desk scratched his head. "Well, truth be told, this is not a matter I have given much thought to. I expect to be running the Post for a good many years to come. Why do you ask, your highness?"

"I will be traveling to Hebra very soon on a goodwill mission," Sophitia explained. "Many among the Rito feel as though we treat them unfairly. When asked why, the Hyrulean Post is often cited as an example. The Zora have the courts, the Gorons have the forges, the Deku have the treasury, but what of the Rito? What do they have? As our flying messengers, they are the lifeblood of this institution. It could not function at anywhere near its current capacity without them. And yet, we act as if we do not trust them to lead themselves, and instead put a Hylian in charge."

Postmaster Falmark looked much more nervous now. Sophitia could see sweat forming on his forehead, and he kept adjusting his collar. "Your highness, I assure you, the Rito are treated quite fairly here. We pay them well, we do not require outrageous shifts, we even allow them to stay and recuperate for a few days when they make deliveries to distant areas of the kingdom." Falmark glanced at Liliana again, his eyes drawn to her sword. "I have been running this place for years now, and I have never had a major complaint from the king."

"And I thank you for your tireless service to the kingdom," Sophitia said magnanimously. "As I have said, I am not here to remove you from your position. But, as a gesture of goodwill to the Rito, I feel we must make an effort to show that we trust them. Thus, I would like you to choose a willing and capable Rito under your employment and make them your second-in-command. Teach them everything they'll need to know in order to take your place one day." Although she did not know much about the Postmaster, it was clear to Sophitia that this was a man who cared more about his own position than anything else. She was hoping she would be able to convince him to agree to her terms by making it clear that his job would remain perfectly safe as long as he complied.

Postmaster Falmark put his hand to his chin, considering her words. "May I ask, is this by order of the king?"

"These are my words, not his," Sophitia stated plainly. "But my father has placed me in charge of protecting our alliance with the Rito. He will back whatever decision I make if it will achieve that end." Liliana glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. What Sophitia had said was not true, but she'd said it with confidence. As far as the princess was concerned, her father simply hadn't placed her in charge yet. He would by the end of the day, and then it wouldn't be a lie anymore. It was a risk, to be sure, but one she was willing to take.

I know what I'm doing. Maybe. I hope.

"Very well, Princess," Falmark said after another moment of consideration. "I will choose a suitable candidate and mentor them to the best of my abilities."

Sophitia smiled, feeling like her gambit had paid off. "Splendid." Sophitia stood up, placing a hand on her carrying bag where she kept her letter. "Now, would you kindly introduce me to your fastest messenger Rito? I would like to hand my letter to them personally."

"Of course, Princess."

The Postmaster led her and Liliana out of his office and down a hallway to a spiraling wooden staircase. It was a long climb, but compared to Sophitia's tower, it was nothing. However, she did feel somewhat envious of the Rito.

Having wings would make this so much easier.

The upper level of the post office was an open room filled mostly with Rito. There were desks, cabinets, hammocks, and all sorts of wooden items of Rito design. Sophitia was less familiar with their people than she was with the Zora, so much of it looked quite foreign to her.

The Rito themselves reacted in several different ways to the sudden appearance of the Postmaster and the princess. Some shied away from them, some flinched in surprise, and others dropped down through the nearest hole in the floor as if to flee. However, others came forward and dutifully stood at attention.

"Mind your step," Postmaster Falmark instructed, warning Sophitia of the holes in the floor. He walked right up to one of the postmen, a serious-looking Rito with brown and white feathers and the appearance of a falcon.

"Gesane," the Postmaster said.

"Yes, Postmaster?" the Rito man answered.

"Visiting us today is Princess Zelda Sophitia Hyrule," Falmark said, indicating Sophitia as he introduced her. "Princess, this is Gesane. He is my fastest flyer and a loyal citizen of the kingdom."

Gesane draped one of his wings across the front of his body like he was drawing a cloak around himself, then bowed respectfully. "My princess."

"Greetings, Gesane," Sophitia said, smiling pleasantly. "It is an honor to meet one so dedicated to the kingdom." Reaching into her carrying bag, she produced her letter. "I have an urgent message I wish to send immediately. It is intended for Balla, the Sage of Wind. Might I entrust you to deliver it for me, and then return with the sage's response?"

"It would be my honor, Princess." Gesane reached forth and took the letter in his wing-hand.

"Splendid. You have my gratitude, postman." Sophitia said, bowing her head slightly. "Is this also the Rito you shall train to be the next Postmaster?" she asked Falmark, purposely speaking up so that her voice would carry across the room.

"He is most certainly a candidate, Princess," the Postmaster replied. "However, I would like to weigh my options for a short while before making my decision."

Sophitia nodded. "That is quite prudent of you," she said before turning her attention back to Gesane. "I shall take my leave now. Good luck on your journey. May Farore's wind be at your back."

Postmaster Falmark led Sophitia and Liliana back to his office. But, with their business already concluded, the princess and her bodyguard soon excused themselves and exited the post office back through the main entrance.

"That went rather well, I'd say," Sophitia said, holding her dress as she walked down the short flight of steps.

"Indeed. Mentioning your plan to install a Rito Postmaster in front of all those Rito postmen was a nice touch," Liliana said.

Sophitia smiled. "Yes, I believe that was simple, but effective. The news will spread amongst the entire post office, and thus, the entire kingdom, including Hebra. That, combined with my plans to work together with the Wind Sage, will solidify me as a friend of the Rito in no time." The princess nodded to Captain Reede as he opened the door to her carriage.

"You are as kind hearted as you are devious, my princess," Liliana said, her words sounding to be an odd mix of sarcasm and genuine admiration. After helping Sophitia into the carriage, the retainer climbed inside with her. Captain Reede closed the door behind them, and soon the carriage was moving again. "Of course, there are plenty of Rito who will see this as an empty gesture."

"Of that, I have no doubt," Sophitia replied. "I am not naive enough to expect a one hundred percent approval rating from anyone. Not even every Hylian loves the kingdom. But, if I can shift the balance from 'uncertain' to 'favorable,' I think I will have done enough to prevent a rebellion."

"Hmm." Liliana nodded. "There's also the possibility that you've stepped on some toes here today," she said. "Falmark may have given his second-in-command position to someone else had you not intervened, perhaps to a Hylian or a Sheikah. They won't appreciate being passed over simply because the princess ordered their boss to choose a Rito instead."

"I'd considered that," Sophitia said. "But the Postmaster said he had no replacement in mind, so it's doubtful that anyone should have that concern. Besides, I can afford to make a few enemies at this low of a level."

Liliana smiled wryly. "To someone with your startling intellect, I'm sure most of these people look low level to you."

"Just as most people look weak while you're the one holding the sword," Sophitia countered, grinning smugly.

Liliana pulled her sword out of its scabbard and examined it once more. "I do look forward to trying this thing out."

"Yes, I should think so. But let's save it for the training yard, shall we?"

"Yes, Princess." Liliana sheathed the sword again. "So, what's next in this master plan of yours?"

"Hmm. Let's see…" Sophitia ran her hand through her hair as she thought. "There are a few others I would like to speak with, but I believe I have all the major pieces in place now. I think it would be best to write up my formal proposal and present it to my father before the day is through. The longer we wait, the more difficult it will be to alter his decision. So, let us return to my tower."


"Shall we say hello to your brothers?" Liliana asked.

She and Sophitia were walking through the castle grounds when they spotted the princes atop one of the walls. When she looked at Lancel, Sophitia felt a sudden pang of guilt. If everything went as planned, soon she would steal his glory right out from under him, and he wouldn't even see it coming. Perhaps if she'd chosen a more direct tactic, she wouldn't have felt quite as dirty. But then again, perhaps this was unavoidable. The three of them had decided to compete for the throne, after all. They would have to combat one another sooner or later.

"Yes, I suppose," Sophitia said uncertainly, turning to head for the stairs.

I can at least have the decency to look him in the eye.

Atop the wall, Prince Lancel and Prince Percival were standing with Sir Anselm and Sir Onnick. The four of them were peering over the edge on the other side of the wall, observing something Sophitia could not see yet from her position. Lancel was dressed in a fine doublet and was wearing his spectacles. He was grinning from ear to ear, evidently with great amusement. Sir Anselm wore his black armor, looking distinguished as ever as he stood with his arms crossed behind his back. He looked on with a neutral expression, never being one to let on too much. Percival still wore his gaudy armor with a cape. He seemed to be viewing the spectacle with great interest. Beside him, Sir Onnick appeared to be watching as well, but with his face obscured by his great horned helmet, Sophitia could not see his reaction.

"Good day to you, my brothers," the princess greeted them as she approached.

Prince Percival and Sir Onnick did not look up, but Prince Lancel and Sir Anselm turned to face them. "Ah, sweet sister!" Lancel said, stepping towards her. "How was your trip to the post office?"

Sophitia flinched.

Does he know something?

She was quick to recover, putting on a pleasant smile. "It was quite enjoyable. I shared a nice carriage ride with my retainer, and I met some very interesting Rito."

Stay calm. He probably heard where I'd gone from one of the gate guards or something.

"Ah, the Rito. Marvelous birds they are, truly." Lancel held out his hand, gesturing over the wall. "Come, Sister, have a look. I think you'll find this quite entertaining."

Sophitia and Liliana stood beside Sir Anselm. Down in one of the training pits, a battalion of soldiers stood at attention, lined up in a formation made up of several rows. Making her way down the line in front of them was Dame Mila, the little Kokiri knight who'd been accompanying the governor of Akkala at the summit.

"You, soldier!" the girl shouted, her voice forceful and commanding despite its obvious immaturity.

"Yes, dame!" the soldier shouted back.

"You look scared half to death, soldier. Do you see a Moblin behind me?"

"No, dame!"

"No? Then perhaps you've seen a mirror. Easy mistake to make." Dame Mila waited until the soldier's face revealed his understanding that she was calling him ugly, then she moved on to the next soldier in line.

Lancel let loose a hearty laugh, evidently enjoying the Kokiri's joke.

"Soldier!" Dame Mila shouted at the woman who was next in line.

"Yes, dame!"

"Are you hoping the soldier behind you will braid your hair for you?"

"No, dame!"

"No? Then is it too long to fit in your helmet?" The Kokiri knight reached behind herself and unsheathed the sword on her back. "Would you like me to give you a haircut?"

"No, dame!"

"Then get your hair in the damn helmet, soldier!"

"Yes, dame!" The woman jumped in fear, scrambling to stuff her long blonde hair into the common soldier's helm she wore.

"That is quite a sword," Prince Percival noted. Dame Mila's sword was gilded, perhaps covered in a thin layer of gold leaf. The hilt was of a very unique design as well. It was a far more elegant weapon than Sophitia had been expecting. She also noted that the Kokiri girl appeared to have some difficulty wielding the sword. A taller woman would've been able to use it easily with one hand, but the Kokiri knight held it like a two-handed greatsword, resting it on her shoulder.

From somewhere in one of the back rows, one of the soldiers began snickering. Dame Mila turned her head in the direction of the noise. With a quick motion of her free hand, the soldier was suddenly propelled forward as if he'd been shoved from behind. He knocked aside a few other soldiers in his path before landing on the ground at Dame Mila's feet. As he tilted his head to look up, Dame Mila lifted her foot and stepped on his face. "Something funny, soldier?" she asked, grinding her boot down.

Sophitia was surprised. "Was that aeromancy just now?" she asked. "Is the Kokiri knight also a sorceress?"

"She was being brought up as a druid of the wind before she left Kokiri Forest," Sir Anselm explained.

"Must've been a lesser wind spirit before the Great Deku Tree gave her mortal form," Prince Lancel commented.

Sophitia found that odd. Whenever she thought of spirits that had crossed over into the mortal realm, she pictured them as wise and powerful beings like the Patrons. Laemora, the Patron of Light, took the form of a giant golden bird who preached the virtues of truth and justice. Jabu-Jabu, the Patron of Water, was a colossal whale who shared his wisdom with those who visited him. Sophitia had never seen the Great Deku Tree before, but she'd heard it was now even taller than the original one had been. A scary little girl ordering soldiers around didn't exactly scream 'spirit' to her.

As she was contemplating this, the Kokiri's fairy emerged from within her clothing. It chimed and shook in the air, as if taunting the soldier on the ground.

But then again, the fairies are spirits as well, and they're usually quite diminutive.

The soldier Dame Mila was stepping on suddenly rolled over, attempting to get away from her. She took a step to the side and lowered her sword, holding it down at his throat before he could do anything else. "Who gave you permission to get up, soldier?" the girl-knight shouted. Many of the surrounding soldiers had left their place in the formation, stepping away nervously.

"I like her," Prince Percival stated.

"Yes, of course you do," Prince Lancel replied dryly.

"Things seem to be getting out of hand," Princess Sophitia said worriedly. "Sir Anselm, would you please put a stop to this before she hurts that man?"

"Yes, I suppose that would be prudent," the old knight said. He cleared his throat. "Soldiers! At attention!" All at once, the soldiers down on the ground turned in his direction and stepped into place with quick, audible steps. Even Dame Mila obeyed the senior knight. The only one who was slow to react was the soldier on the ground. He had to force himself up to his feet before falling in line with the other soldiers.

"Oh, you two are no fun," Lancel said with mock disappointment.

"Shall I dismiss them, Princess?" Sir Anselm asked Sophitia.

"No," Percival answered for her. "They shall continue."

Sir Anselm looked to his charge. Prince Lancel shrugged, holding out his hands. The old knight sighed. "You may resume, Dame Mila," he called down to the Kokiri girl.

"Thank you, Sir Anselm," Mila called back, bowing as she spoke. She then marched back to where she'd left off and began terrorizing the next unfortunate soldier.

Prince Lancel spotted something in the distance. "Ah, and there's our other little sister," he said. Sophitia followed his eyes. Sure enough, Seraphina was walking down a distant path with Dame Jeanne. Also with them was the governor of Necluda, their own Aunt Celessa. Sophitia had been looking for an opportunity to speak with her. It wasn't for anything related to her plan; it had simply been quite a while since she'd last seen her aunt.

Perhaps I'll find them later.

"I must say, it was quite a surprise to hear Victorique plans to bring her along to Gerudo, eh?" Lancel remarked.

"It seems ill-advised, given the circumstances," Sir Anselm replied. "But I'm sure the Crown Princess has her reasons."

"True, but it is still much too unsafe, is it not?" Sophitia said. "From the sound of it, Gerudo is likely to become a warzone sometime soon. It is no place for one as young as Seraphina."

"I don't see why," Percival objected. "Father had me attend an execution when I was younger than she is."

"Yeah, and look how you turned out," Lancel quipped.

Percival narrowed his eyes, unamused. Then he sighed. "No matter. The Gerudo Province may yet remain at peace, assuming our elder sister does her job."

"Yes, that is so," Sophitia said, hoping to help ease the tension. "Let us pray for her success."

"Her mission is merely diplomacy, after all," Percival continued. "Whereas Father has entrusted me with the truly difficult mission."

"And how's that?" Liliana asked from beside her charge, unable to contain her snark.

Prince Percival regarded her coldly for a second before addressing his siblings. "Akkala is at war, of course. It requires serious correction."

Prince Lancel laughed. "Oh, little brother. That is precisely why yours is the easiest mission."

Percival glared at him. "Do elaborate, Brother."

"Hebra and Gerudo are powder kegs," Lancel explained. "The slightest misstep will set them off. They require delicate handling, shrewd negotiating, and careful planning. Akkala, on the other hand? What is a small, overzealous cult against the full might of the greatest kingdom in the world? And beyond that, we have Uncle Alchon to handle any and all military strategy that may be required. I dare say, little brother, Father has entrusted you with the easiest mission." A cocky grin spread across the elder prince's face, clearly attempting to goad his brother.

Prince Percival said nothing for a moment. The look in his eyes was part horrible realization, part fervent denial, and part cold fury. Sir Onnick took a step forward, advancing on the older prince. Lancel, despite his carefree smile, took a cautious step back, and Sir Anselm appeared in front of him. The old knight's glare was intense, practically threatening to burn a hole through the larger knight's helmet. Sir Onnick did not move forward any further, but retained his menacing presence.

Prince Percival raised a hand, as if he had been the one to order Sir Onnick to stop. "We shall see," he said. Without another word, the prince turned and walked away, flipping his cape unnecessarily as he did. Sir Onnick lingered for a moment longer, the slits in his horned helmet staring down at the elder prince and his bodyguard. Then he turned to leave as well, his heavy armor clanking as he walked.

Prince Lancel laughed. "Did you see the look on his face?"

"Priceless," Liliana agreed.

"Brother, are you sure it's wise to antagonize Percival like that?" Sophitia asked nervously.

"Oh, come now. It's simple strategy, sweet sister," Lancel said. "He's angry now, and he has doubts about himself. He won't be at his best. I say, this will be the easiest game I've ever played!" He locked eyes with Sophitia. "You haven't forgotten, have you? You'd best not fall too far behind if you wish to beat us."

Sophitia smiled knowingly, her earlier reservations about going behind her brother's back all but forgotten at the moment. "Yes, I suppose I should keep that in mind."

You'll see, Brother.

"Prince Lancel," Sir Anselm said. "You and your brother are both endeavoring to protect the realm. Please take this duty more seriously."

"See what I have to put up with?" Lancel said to his sister, pointing his thumb at his retainer. "No fun at all, this one." The prince pulled his ledger out of a pouch on his waist and flipped through the pages. "Well, I suppose I should be going. Will I see you at dinner, little sister?"

"You shall," Sophitia replied. "Good day to you, Brother."

Lancel smiled, nodding to her and Liliana. Then he hopped up onto the battlement, stepped over the edge of the wall, and allowed himself to fall. Liliana took a panicked step forward, but Sophitia raised a hand to stop her. Looking over the edge, they watched Prince Lancel plummet downwards, but just before he hit the ground, a shimmering blue crystal of light appeared around him. The magic barrier shattered like glass and dissipated as it hit the ground, but Lancel emerged unscathed, casually walking away.

"I hate it when he does that," Sir Anselm said, unamused. "Good day to you, Princess, young lady," he said before heading for the ramp that led down from the wall.

"It seems as though your brother does not suspect you," Liliana said once both Lancel and Sir Anselm were out of ear shot.

"It appears that way, yes," Sophitia agreed.

"Do you think he'll take it poorly? If you succeed, that is?"

"Perhaps. But it's his game, is it not? He set the rules when he antagonized Percival. I don't think he plans to afford me the luxury of fair play."

"You and him make this sound like so much fun."

Sophitia chuckled. "Well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't enjoying it somewhat." She turned to look towards her tower off in the distance. "Let us continue. I have much to write before meeting with my father."


The room was uncomfortably quiet, with the only sound being the occasional shuffling of papers as King Tychon turned to the next page. Sophitia sat in her chair patiently, keeping her head down and trying to remain calm. Her father had been carefully reading through her proposal for some time now, but he was yet to say a word, and his facial expression remained unchanging, not yielding even the slightest hint as to how he felt about it. The seeds of doubt were beginning to take root in Sophitia's mind.

Have I forgotten something? What did I overlook? Who did I not include in my plans? Has Lancel submitted a proposal after all? Was his better than mine? Would Father even care enough to change his plans if mine was better?

The princess felt like a little kid again. As a child, before she was old enough to attend the Royal Academy of Hyrule, sometimes she would neglect her studies. When her tutor informed her father of this, her father told her she was to bring every assignment she completed to him so he could look it over personally. Sophitia would sit and wait, much like she was doing now, as he silently poured through her papers. When he was done, he would tell her everything she had done incorrectly. He never insulted her, but he somehow never failed to make her feel as though every mistake she made was a colossal, disappointing failure. This happened regularly until her tutor was satisfied with her work. From that point on, she'd never neglected her studies.

Sophitia glanced up at her father again. He was on the final page now. Soon she would know his reaction. She was braced for disappointment if he rejected her proposal. But, if he accepted it, she would have to try hard to contain her excitement. Her father did not respect emotional outbursts, even positive ones. Her hands gripped the side of the chair as her father stacked the papers together again, straightening them against the desk.

This is it.

"Good," King Tychon said.

Sophitia lifted her head, looking at her father in astonishment.

Good?!

"Have you shared these plans with your brother?" he asked.

The princess shook her head. "No, Father."

"Do so," the king told her.

Sophitia blinked. She was not entirely sure where her father stood on her involvement with Hebra beyond showing her plans to her brother. "Will Lancel still have command over the Hebra objective?"

"Of course," her father said. "That is what I consented to, as did Governor Koridai and the Grand Council."

...Oh.

Sophitia tried not to let her disappointment show. Perhaps it had been childish optimism to expect her father to simply revoke Lancel's command. Such an act would be rather unfair and rather dishonorable, she realized.

Does this mean I can do nothing? Am I to give Lancel the plan I worked so hard to devise, and just let him take the credit for it?

It was too soul-crushing to imagine that. She couldn't accept it. She had to do something, even if she risked overstepping her bounds. "Father," she began, nearly choking as she struggled to get the words out. "I ask that you send me in his place."

King Tychon met her gaze. "Why?" he asked simply.

"Because…" Sophitia struggled to think. She had always been quick with words, but for some reason, she was having a hard time finding the right way to explain herself. "Because I have a plan, and Lancel does not."

"Why do you say that?" the king asked, unmoved.

Sophitia paused.

Would Father have asked that question if I was correct?

"So he does have a plan," she reasoned.

"Yes. He presented it to me before the summit."

This came as a surprise to the princess. Her father had already agreed beforehand, and Lancel had only asked him in front of everyone as a formality.

He was two steps ahead of me this whole time.

"If… If I may ask, Father, whose plan would you deem more likely to be effective?" Sophitia asked, partially to see how she stacked up, and partially to stall for time as she figured out her next move.

"They are quite similar, in many regards," the king stated. "But while you have already done more of the necessary legwork, your brother is thinking more long term."

Sophitia furrowed her brow, puzzled.

Long term?

"Father, I-"

"Why do you wish to go to Hebra?" King Tychon asked. "To prove your worth? That I might make you my heir instead of your sister?"

Sophitia hesitated. "I… Yes," she said, speaking honestly. "That is what we agreed to, is it not? You, me, and my brothers, when we spoke before the summit. My siblings are getting their chance. I want mine." As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them.

Was that too honest? Too blunt? Too vain? Too demanding? Oh Hylia, what do I do?!

Her father stared at her. She held his gaze, but her resolve soon wavered. "Apologies, Father," she said, lowering her head.

"I do not mislike your ambition," King Tychon said.

Sophitia raised her head again in surprise.

Was that a compliment?

Her father stood up. "Come," he said. Sophitia stood as well and followed him across his office to the balcony, stepping outside. From where they stood, Sophitia could see practically the entire city outside the castle walls. "There," the king said, pointing at the city square in the distance. "Who is that a statue of?"

Sophitia knew of the statue in the city square. It was one of the grandest in the city. "It is King Nohansen the Uniter," she answered.

"Yes," King Tychon said. "One of our great ancestors. Where does his honorific come from? What did he unite?"

"The entire Inner Continent," Princess Sophitia said. "Except for Hebra."

"Indeed. Nohansen the Uniter only succeeded in bringing together eight of the nine provinces. Hyrule was not truly united until my grandfather finally brought Hebra into the fold."

Gazing at the statue in the distance, Sophitia tried to reason why her father was telling her this. "We must handle the Hebra Province with the utmost delicacy," she guessed. "They are a recent addition to the kingdom. That is why the Rito are having difficulty adjusting to our way of life."

"True, but irrelevant," her father stated.

Dammit.

"The last two hundred years since the end of the Unification War have been marked by relative peace, with the only major exception being the Twilight War," the king explained. "But before Nohansen the Uniter brought that peace, this land spent nearly two thousand years in constant turmoil. Hylians, Gerudo, Gorons, Zora - everyone fought with everyone. They fought for land, rupees, gods, kings. Countless wars were fought for control of the Triforce alone. But it was us who put a stop to all that - all those centuries of war. Our family."

Sophitia watched her father, standing on his balcony overlooking his kingdom, giving his speech. It filled her with a sense of awe. She did not often see him acting like the kind of king she heard about in all the old stories about heroes and monsters.

"That is why we must rule," King Tychon went on. "It is our duty. These people need us - to save them from themselves." He turned to face his daughter. "Your elder sister understands this. Lancel does, too - gods know he hides it well. If you truly wish to be queen someday, I must know that you understand our family's duty."

Sophitia was unprepared. She did not come into this meeting expecting big questions like this. Throughout her life, people had given her many different reasons for why it was her family that ruled the kingdom. Many believed it was a mandate by the gods themselves. Others said it was the blood of their divine ancestor that imbued them with their great magic potential, making them the strongest and thus the most worthy to rule. This was not the first time she had heard it described as a matter of family honor and duty, and she had always liked that explanation the best.

"I do understand, Father," the princess proclaimed. "At the summit, when others were pushing for war, it was always I who pushed for peace. Yes, I wish to be queen. But it is not simply for my own sake. I love our kingdom. I would rule it well if given the chance, I know I would."

Her father stared down at her, as if he were trying to decide then and there if she would ever be worthy. She did not know what he would say next, but she knew it would in some way decide her fate.

This is it.

"You will go with your brother to Hebra," the king decreed. "The two of you will do as you must to maintain peace within the province, in the name of your king."


"I was not given what I wanted, but at the same time I was, in a way. I was still put in charge of handling Hebra, but I am to share that duty with my brother. But am I truly sharing responsibility? Am I to be a mere subordinate? What if Lancel gets all the credit? Perhaps my father agreeing to my proposal means he trusts me, but if he did, would he have told me to go with my brother? Would he not have sent me on my own? But he could not have revoked Lancel's command after giving it to him so publicly. And Lancel already has a plan. Will mine even be useful? Will this simply show Lancel's capability without giving me any chance to show mine? And now I need to tell him about this. What if he takes offense? What if he tries even harder to defeat me? What if he tries to sabotage me like he attempted to do to Percival? And what if…"

Sophitia paced back and forth in her bedroom, ranting through every stray thought that entered her head. Her meeting with her father had not gone as she had hoped, but it had not been a complete failure either. Now she was left to sort out the consequences of her actions and figure out her next steps, but that was easier said than done.

"Princess."

"And there is still so much to do! I have not yet spoken with the Grand Treasurer, the Grand Archivist, or Lord Remoth. I need to requisition soldiers, servants, horses, rations…"

"Princess."

"What if the Sage of Wind declines my request? What if Lancel's plan is superior to mine? I still do not know his designs for Skyloft. How am I to-" Sophitia was stopped in her tracks as she suddenly found herself with Liliana standing in front of her, grabbing her by both shoulders.

"Princess," the Ordonian girl said insistently. "Calm yourself."

"...Yes. Of course. Calm. I must be calm," Sophitia said. "What would Father say if he saw me like this?"

"Don't think about your father," Liliana told her. "Here. Come. Lie down." She pulled Sophitia over to the side of her bed. The princess allowed herself to be guided, holding Liliana's hand as she sat down before turning herself to lie on her back.

Sophitia breathed for a moment. "Thank you, Liliana," she said to her retainer.

"You're welcome." Liliana crossed her arms and leaned her back against one of the poles supporting the bed's canopy. "I must say, I'm surprised to see you like this. You really had yourself together when you were dealing with the Grand Artisan and the Postmaster."

"Yes, I suppose I did," Sophitia said, closing her eyes for a moment. "But Father is a whole different beast. And I still have Lancel to deal with…"

"Don't think too much," Liliana told her. "Just relax for now."

Sophitia smiled. "Thinking too much is what I do." She did her best to clear her mind, hoping a moment of rest would do her some good.

However, a few moments later, there was a knock at the door. Liliana spun around, hand on the hilt of her sword. "Who goes there?" she called out.

"I have a message for the princess," replied a voice.

Liliana turned to her charge.

"Go see who it is," Sophitia told her.

Nodding, the bodyguard cautiously approached the door and opened it a crack. "What is the message?" she asked.

"Prince Lancel requests the princess's presence in his quarters."

The messenger handed Liliana a note. She glanced at it, then nodded. "Thank you. I will see that she gets it," she said, closing the door.

"What does it say?" Sophitia asked, seeing the letter in her retainer's hand.

"Just what he said," Liliana replied, walking back towards the bed. "Will you answer your brother's summons?"

Sophitia sighed and lifted herself out of bed. "I suppose I must do so sooner or later," she said. "No doubt he has received word of my actions by now. I'll have to find the words to explain myself along the way." In some ways, the fact that she would be going to Hebra with Lancel was preferable. It would have been much more awkward to explain her actions to him if she had successfully stolen responsibility of the province away from him.

Liliana nodded, then stepped over to Sophitia's desk and retrieved the stack of papers that contained the princess's proposal. "Will you be needing these, Princess?"

"Yes, thank you," Sophitia said, taking the papers as her retainer handed them to her. She placed them carefully into her carrying bag. "If I am to work with him, we will have to compare notes. I am interested to hear what his plan is."

Together, Sophitia and Liliana left the room and descended the steps to the bottom of her tower. They passed several guards and servants as they walked along the ramparts on the way to her brother's quarters. Although she was still somewhat freaking out while trying to decide what to say to Lancel, Sophitia managed to keep up a facade of being calm and composed on the outside. It was a skill she had picked up from years of being a princess.

"Have you ever been in there?" Liliana asked curiously, pointing at something while walking beside Sophitia.

The princess saw she was pointing to the Windowless Tower, the headquarters of the Grand Watcher. "No," Sophitia confessed. "They say there's no real entrance. One must use a type of Sheikah shadow magic to get inside."

"And you can't do that?" Liliana asked.

Sophitia raised an eyebrow. Sometimes she forgot how ignorant Ordonians were of magic. Round-eared humans very rarely had any sort of magical affinity themselves, so Liliana must not have seen much of it while she was growing up in the Ordona Province. "I have tried to study shadow magic in the past, but it does not come easily to most Hylians. Even Lancel has never been able to perform it very well."

"Ah," Liliana said. "So not all the gods smile upon the Hylians."

"Our one true goddess was Hylia," Sophitia commented. "A new goddess of light watches over us now. The goddess of shadow, on the other hand, is tied to the Sheikah. Impa's grandmother serves as her sage, you know."

"Hmm," Liliana grunted in acknowledgement.

Soon, they arrived at Lancel's tower. Sir Anselm was standing outside at its base, waiting there to meet them. "Princess Sophitia," he spoke, bowing. "Your prompt acceptance of Prince Lancel's summons is greatly appreciated. Please go inside. The prince is waiting for you."

"Thank you, sir knight," Sophitia said. She and Liliana went to walk past Sir Anselm, but he stopped them.

"Miss Liliana, please wait out here," the old knight said.

Sophitia and Liliana shared a look. While she would have preferred to have her friend and retainer present, Sophitia knew it was only right for her brother to wish to speak in private. So, she nodded to Liliana, letting her know it was okay. Liliana nodded in return and took up standing guard at the entrance alongside the prince's bodyguard. On her own, Sophitia entered the tower.

She found her brother in his solar. He sat in one of the chairs arranged beside the fireplace, sipping a cup of tea. "Ah, Sister!" he said warmly when she entered, climbing to his feet. "Come in, come in. Would you like some tea?"

Sophitia was not sure how this encounter was going to turn out. Perhaps her brother was angry with her, but was choosing to hide it for now. However, as long as he was cordial, she had to be, too. "Thank you, Brother. That would be wonderful." She sat down across from Lancel's chair while he poured her drink. He placed it on the table in front of her, then sat back down. "Thank you," she said again as she took the tea cup. "Now, might I ask why you have summoned me, Brother?"

Lancel smirked. "Oh? Does a man need a reason to enjoy some tea with his darling sister?"

"Not if he has time to spare," Sophitia answered, returning his smile. "But I would hazard a guess that you have precious little of that as of late."

Lancel laughed. "True, true. If only the Sage of Time would lend me her power. But alas, I confess I did indeed call you here on more urgent matters." The prince produced a piece of paper, its seal freshly broken. "I received a very interesting message from Father just a moment ago," he explained. "But I suppose you already know what it was about, no?"

Sophitia was torn between attempting to appear confident and attempting to appear apologetic. She settled on keeping her expression neutral, wearing a pleasant smile. "Yes," she said, nodding. "I only just met with him a short while ago."

"As I thought." Lancel leaned forward. There was a chessboard on the end of the table between him and her. He reached out and pushed it closer to the center. "I must say, I was impressed. I did not expect such a bold move from you so early in the game." As he spoke, he began moving pieces around the board, as if to illustrate his point. "When the summit came to a close and you had not yet come forward to claim a province, I figured your plan was to remain inconspicuous. With me, Vicky, and Percy off in distant lands, you would be free to remain here, unchallenged, where Father would take notice of your work, up close and personal."

Sophitia blinked. She had not even considered that. Thinking of it now, it was possibly the simplest option, and it could also have been the most effective, at least in the short run. "It was a possibility, yes," she said, pretending as if she had already thought of it and ruled it out on her own.

"Indeed. But no, I suppose you would be too smart for that," Lancel continued. "Yes, you would be Father's favorite for a time, but what would happen when the rest of us came home, having brought peace and stability to entire provinces? Why, whatever you might have accomplished here in the capital would surely look insignificant by comparison." He picked up one of his rooks and used it to kick over a few of Sophitia's pawns.

"Oh, yes. I have the utmost faith that all of you shall be quite successful with your endeavors in the other provinces," Sophitia said magnanimously, taking a nonchalant sip of tea. "All of you are quite talented, and it is our duty as members of the Royal Family to keep the peace in Hyrule."

"Quite so, quite so!" Lancel said. "However, rather than attempting to prove your worth to Father by solving the crises in Faron or Ordona or one of the other provinces, you decided to double up on mine. I found that most surprising." The prince leaned forward, reaching over to the other side of the chessboard and picking up Sophitia's queen. He brought it back and placed it beside his king. "We are to work together to restore order to Hebra. But, we both know there are a million and one ways this can be done so as to ensure only one of us gets the credit. Just as we are about to fix everything, perhaps you find a way to swoop in at the last second…" Abruptly, he used Sophitia's queen to knock over his king, having her steal his square. "And ensure all of Hebra sings your praises - yours and yours alone."

Sophitia tensed, then breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment there, it had sounded as though he suspected her of planning to murder him.

"Why, what would happen then?" Lancel continued his monologue. "Vicky and Percy come home having completed their mission. You return home as well, not only as successful as the two of them, but also having succeeded where I have failed, making your accomplishments seem all the more impressive." The prince smiled deviously. "Quite clever, sweet sister. Quite clever indeed."

The princess was stunned. "...You give me too much credit," she said truthfully. The plan he believed she'd concocted sounded much more complicated than what she'd actually come up with. All she had hoped to do was get sent to Hebra instead of him.

"Ah, so modest," her brother said, not entirely sarcastically. "However, I can promise you, I do not intend to lose so easily." He picked his king back up and placed it on top of Sophitia's queen. "I do not know what information network you were setting up on your little trip to the post office today," he said. "But I am not so in the dark myself. I assure you, all of Hyrule will know of my accomplishments when all of this is over - Father most of all. If you intend to play this game, know that I intend to win it."

Sophitia took a moment to process this. The way things were going now, she and Lancel would be enemies in Hebra, constantly trying to outdo - or possibly even sabotage - one another. If they were to act this way, they would practically be giving the throne to Victorique or Percival.

There's got to be another way.

"You have me mostly figured out, Brother," Sophitia said, setting her teacup down. "However, you have one key part of it quite wrong."

"Do I?" Lancel said, leaning back into his armchair. "And what might that be?"

"I do not intend to compete with you. Not at this stage in the game, anyway," the princess replied, keeping in line with Lancel's 'game' metaphor.

"Oh?" The prince raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

"I intend to join forces." Sophitia sat up straight, trying to appear as confident and prepared as her elder brother clearly was. "Alone, either of us might beat Percival, or he might beat us. Alone, Victorique will almost certainly beat us both. But, together, we can accomplish something so great that Father will forget all about our other siblings." She smiled proudly to herself, happy with what she had come up with.

"Hmm..." Prince Lancel put his hand to his chin, thinking it over. "Such a move would put the two of us in an early lead, leaving us with only one other player to compete with rather than three."

"Indeed," Sophitia nodded. "It would be a mutually beneficial arrangement for us."

"And why, may I ask, have you chosen to team up with me?" Lancel asked. "Logically, the smart play would be to team up with your weakest competition so that they might be more easily crushed once only you and them remain. You undoubtedly consider Vicky to be your toughest competitor. Surely you at least consider me more of a threat than Percy, yes?"

"That is true," Sophitia agreed. "But I dare say I have neither the stomach nor the mind for warfare. On the other hand, I believe myself to be quite capable at diplomacy." She could have ended her explanation there, but she remembered another important factor to this equation. "Furthermore, the City in the Sky is of great interest to me, as I am sure it is to you."

Lancel smiled. "Oh, sweet sister, you are clever."

Sophitia smiled at the compliment. "You are too kind, Brother. But please, do tell. I am quite curious to know - you made such a spectacle when you brought it up before the council and the governors. What precisely are your designs for the lost city?"

Her brother took a moment to consider the question. "Well, since we are to be partners, I suppose I'll share with you." He snapped his fingers. The pieces on the chessboard glowed for a moment, then quickly moved back to their starting positions, resetting the board. "Tell me, why did it take Hyrule so long to conquer Hebra?"

"Tanagar Canyon divides us from them," Sophitia answered. "And most of the province is uninhabitable snowy mountains and icy tundras, giving it little strategic value."

"But that did not stop Nohansen the Uniter from trying, did it? He even had Snowpeak Palace constructed within the mountains as a forward base. He wanted to unite Hebra along with the rest of the Inner Continent. Why did he fail?"

Sophitia furrowed her brow, thinking, but she could not think of a better answer than the one she'd already given.

"I'll give you a hint," her brother said, raising a finger like a teacher. "Why are dragons so dangerous?"

Sophitia was confused. "Because they're giant monsters?"

"Because they can fly," Lancel corrected. He snapped his fingers again, and the chess pieces on his side of the board rose a few inches into the air, hovering above the table. "Ever since we lost our Loftwings, we Hylians have been bound to the earth, as are most other Children of Nayru. And most have never fought anyone who isn't, like the Rito. That is why we underestimate the value of aerial forces in warfare. Despite being an expert military strategist, King Nohansen underestimated it, too." Lancel began flicking his finger through the air, commanding the floating chess pieces to shoot down at Sophitia's pieces, knocking them over one by one.

The princess tilted her head to the side, curious. "So, you mean to use the City in the Sky as a tool of war? How? It likely has fortifications, but what good is that if we can't control its movements or easily transport troops to and from the ground?"

"We can control it," Lancel corrected. "It may be drifting like an uncrewed ship at sea at the moment, but once we claim it, we will have the ability to steer it. And it has more than fortifications. Our ancestors, the Skyloftians, had a number of ancient weapons to protect themselves. The Demon King Vaati used these weapons to wreak havoc on the world below, and he would have destroyed the whole kingdom were it not for the Hero of the Minish. Additionally, the Oocca improved the city's arsenal with weapons and technology of their own advanced design. Now, a veritable treasure trove of ancient and advanced weaponry sits floating in the sky, unclaimed. Whoever controls the city controls the sky, and whoever controls the sky controls the world. Hyrule, the Outer Continent, even Holodrum and Labrynna would be within our grasp." The prince leaned back in his seat, looking rather satisfied with himself. "Tell me, does that not sound like something that would catch Father's attention?"

Sophitia's eyes opened wide. Her brother was right. This was exactly what their father would be looking for. Not only could they protect the kingdom - they could expand it. The king was sure to be interested. She was, too, if she were being honest. The thought of being queen of not only Hyrule, but the entire world, certainly had its appeal. However, as she thought about it more and really processed what her brother was saying... it began to frighten her. Protecting their kingdom was one thing, but even if the people of Holodrum and Labrynna would be better off under their rule, conquering them with a weaponized floating fortress sounded downright villainous.

It's like what Demon King Vaati tried to do.

"Brother…" Sophitia began cautiously. "If you were to obtain such power, what would you do with it?" She herself was unsure now.

Prince Lancel chuckled. "Fear not, sweet sister. I am no megalomaniac. I do not wish to wage war with the rest of the world. Quite the opposite, in fact. I simply want what our family has always strived for - peace."

Sophitia narrowed her eyes skeptically.

With another snap of his fingers, the prince caused the chess board to reset itself once more. "I play against Sir Anselm quite often, you know," he said, moving the pieces manually this time. "He is a worthy opponent, to be sure. But even so, playing chess the normal way gets boring after a while. Recently, I've been trying a new game. I try to see if I can reach checkmate while taking and sacrificing as few pieces as possible, even when another strategy more certain to achieve victory presents itself."

"Still treating all this as a game, I see," Sophitia said.

"It has always been a game!" the prince declared with a smile. "With the City in the Sky under our control, no one would think to oppose us anymore. It would be a permanent checkmate, and no pieces would need to be sacrificed anymore. No more fighting, no more war. I couldn't imagine a more perfect victory."

So that has been his plan all along.

Like her, Lancel wanted peace. He had been honest about wanting to achieve it without violence and bloodshed. However, his plan was to force peace through the threat of violence and bloodshed. The princess was not naive; she knew her kingdom maintained order with such threats fairly regularly, as it had for centuries. However, she had been hoping her brother had some clever method of diplomacy in mind, not simply a newer, more effective form of deterrence. His plan certainly had his own brand of cleverness to it, but at its core, it seemed no different than what Percival would do in his place.

Well, I suppose he is trying to impress Father, after all...

However, Sophitia found herself with a golden opportunity. She was to accompany Lancel to Hebra, and she knew his plans now. All she had to do was come up with her own plan to subvert his; find another way to improve relations with the Rito before her brother had full control of the City in the Sky. She could achieve peace, protect the kingdom from her brother, and impress her father with her superior diplomatic skills, all in one fell swoop. She smiled to herself as it all came together in her mind.

"Well, Brother, I am certainly impressed," she said. "In the name of the Goddess, let us bring peace to Hyrule - together."