Kyou's War – Part 5
-Sheikah Clan, Kanyou-
The Sheikah, Zant, looked into the door window. Within he could make out the prisoner sitting on her bed by the moonlight. She had a scroll in her hands, reading by flickering candlelight. The girl's eyes flickered up just long enough to notice him, before returning to her reading.
'Zelda is dead.'
Zant asked, "Anything?"
"No change. She eats, drinks, takes to the pot at regular intervals, and doesn't talk to visitors." The Sheikah guard adjusted in his seat. He had been there since morning. Zant left the man to his tedium.
'Zelda is dead.'
Zant passed by several rooms. Not all were occupied but all had a purpose. Meditation, fasting, interrogation, brainwashing, martial arts, storage for ancient artifacts of great power, libraries upon libraries of knowledge hidden from the world, passages to places all around the capital, and more. The underground was massive, including entire caverns where they were trained to be at home in darkness.
Zant ascended from the cavern through a panel to the Sheikah estate. The mansion was extensive, and the land given to the Sheikah made up an entire district of the capital city, larger than most noble families but still dwarfed by the holdings of the royal family, royal harem, and chancellors.
'Zelda is dead.'
Zant nodded to the other Sheikah as he passed, before stopping before a set of guards at a specially marked door. "I am expected," Zant said. He was expected, but the guards still made the Shadowmaster aware of his presence.
"You may enter." They said.
Zant entered silently. Ahead of him was a desk with a large window behind it, and on both sides of the room were bookcases filled with scrolls. A few attendants had small desks of their own and worked next to the bookcases doing documentation work. In the center of the room was the young Sheikah, 'Solitare', if Zant remembered correctly. It was not the person's real name. This was to be expected. 'Zant' wasn't his real name either.
Zant didn't know his name. He was brainwashed near the beginning and given a new name and identity. It was this way with all Sheikah. The process was not permanent, as pieces would fall back into place over the years, but it was most notable among the younger members. The Shadowmaster was among the eldest of the order and in time had regained a good portion of her memories. The Shadowmaster would no doubt retire one day soon since it was considered a Sheikah 'death' to remember too much. To be Sheikah was to be devoid of self-identity.
The day a Sheikah remembered their birth name, they ceased to be Sheikah.
At the main desk sat the Shadowmaster, Lady Impa.
"Zant," Impa greeted. "How did the mission go?" Zant gave a glance to Solitare. As if reading his thoughts, Shadowmaster said, "Solitare can stay. Go ahead with your report."
Zant gave a brief bow before speaking. "Chancellor Ryo Fui has given Prince Kyou reasonable excuses to stay out of the capital. On the surface, he is examining the economic impact of his project, which is a worthy report in its own right, but beneath notice, he has sent his main vessels around Qin gathering rebels against Prince Kyou. My initial estimates lead the rebel army may reach up to a hundred thousand."
Impa nodded. Zant stood in silence as Impa considered the brief report. "One-hundred thousand isn't enough to conquer the capital. Ryo will use his loyalists to boost it at least two-fold. Then he might be able to manage provided Kyou doesn't gain enough support in time. Solitare was just finishing her report: Prince Kyou is trying to stabilize the foundation of his rule with Princess Zelda's death. Since he has committed the crime of king slaying, the lords and noble houses will move in fear either to his side or to his opponent."
"King slaying?" Solitare asked. "Aren't the kings at war?"
"The seven kingdoms are at war, but there is still a code of honor to be upheld," Impa explained. "It is easily understood to fight to defend your home, and if you have a reason, it can be explained why you would invade someone. But to outright kill or assassinate a fellow king makes the other king's worry about what you would do to them. Kingslayers cannot be trusted. For a kingslayer there is no truce, there is no temporary alliance, and there is no peace. Entire alliances are born in history just to destroy kingslayers."
"Ooooh!" Solitare breathed.
Impa continued, "Thankfully, Kyou's focus has been split by the message that his betrothed was captured and is held hostage to the east."
Zant frowned at this.
"You have something you wish to say, Zant?"
"Isn't our responsibility to the royal family at the expense of all else?"
"Yes?"
"Even our identity, our honor?"
"Yes," Impa replied. "Your point?"
"Zelda is dead," Zant said. "That is my point."
"And you think we should be siding with Prince Kyou?"
Zant hesitated briefly and bowed. "Please do not take my confusion for disrespect. He IS a royal family, Shadowmaster. As shadows, we have no place to set our own identity or policy on the world. We are but tools. Yet... I cannot but shake the feeling we are becoming needlessly involved in politics. It is against everything that makes us what we are, is it not?"
Solitare looked nervously between Zant and Impa. She knew what Zant was saying. It fit well within the mindset of a Sheikah, and his question was valid. But how would Impa react to being questioned?
Impa looked back not appearing insulted or disrespected. She smiled. "It is an honest question, Zant. I respect it. Do not think you insult me. You are right: We are tools. We have been servants to the royal family at the expense of all others, including ourselves. That part I agree with. However, you must come to understand that we are involved in politics. I am the Sheikah representative in the palace, among other things, so there is no avoiding it."
"I understand," Zant said after a moment of thought. "But then why are we fighting Prince Kyou? Whether he is right or wrong is not up to us. We have no guilt in serving him, as shadows have no guilt. Let the nations judge him. It is not our place."
"A question that is harder to answer..." Impa replied vaguely. "In truth, there are two answers to the question. The first answer is this: For us to support him as tools are to make a political statement he is right. So to say 'it is not up to us' doesn't work in court. I am not saying you are wrong, but it is not so easily black and white. The second answer: is hidden. My second answer validates us, but it is one I cannot give today."
"But-"
"It is part of being Sheikah that we hold secrets. That includes each other." Impa cut him off. "I am sorry, Zant. You are a high ranking member of the clan, but the second reason why we are resisting Prince Kyou is an answer I cannot give. Not yet."
"Then how am I supposed to validate my actions within myself?" Zant hissed in aggravation. His fists clenched. "How can I bear the inner mask and cast my guilt to it, when I find myself fighting the mask?"
"With patience," Impa replied. "If all goes well, you will come to understand. For now, be patient."
The answer did not satisfy him, but he sensed it would be all he would get. Impa motioned for him to leave, and told him to rest from his travels. Stiffly he bowed, turned, and left.
Solitare let out the breath he had been holding. "Is he well?"
"He will be. He is just... zealous." Impa replied. "It is a good thing to have. I would rather have a zealous man than a lazy one, but his energy needs to be tempered at times."
-Mountains west of Qin-
"Everyone hold!" A soldier whispered.
Zelda halted in her steps. Elder trotted over in the form of a wooden centaur. Link stopped with one foot still in the air and wobbled all over trying to keep his balance. Matsubi shoved him over. Link fell into a tumble of leaves.
Zelda approached the soldier who had yelled out and gazed where the man pointed. Her eyes briefly widened at the sight. She had seen many things in her life, but this... it was new but at the same time, not a surprise. She was already familiar with how far people will go to hurt each other and hate.
Putting heads on wooden spears planted into the ground was new to her.
Link gasped at the sight, as well as a few of the soldiers. The rest took the sight in respectful silence.
"Wh-what happened?" Link whispered.
"These men died and had their heads placed to inspire fear," Zelda replied.
Zelda looked coolly into the empty eye sockets of the dead. Were they men who would have sided with her or were they with Kyou? Were they neutral in this conflict? What kind of lives did they lead? Were they cruel or kind? Did they sign up to defend their homes and family, or to reap fortune and glory? She wished to know, but the dead could not explain. They were little more than empty husks now, utterly devoid of life, hope, and individuality. Soon they would be as the dust she walked on.
Zelda scanned the land beyond the stakes and saw nothing striking of it. The land beyond climbed higher and higher up the mountain until eventually, it would be all but impossible to travel without a proper path. She assumed so because she couldn't see far and the path had been getting steadily steeper. She did not know the lay of the land, while clearly, the occupants of this mountain did. If she wanted proof of Majora's existence, she found it. At this point, every step she took was into the jaws of death. Death, mutilation, evisceration, incineration, and all manners of death awaited her. Being a woman she could also expect to be raped, either to the point of death or as a slave lower than cattle.
The prospect didn't scare her as much as she felt it should.
"Before we continue... I feel I must explain everything." Zelda called for the soldiers to gather. "A year ago I became the heir apparent. Before that day no one had heard of me, so as one can imagine my appearance was a surprise... and was met with hostility. Kyou and I had a brief clash in which he stepped back quietly, and I started my reign. I was the heir apparent, however, I had nothing. I was a student for the last year in politics amidst a world of daggers and alpha wolves. Compared to them I was a fangless pup. My only protection was Chancellor Ryo, while a clear opposite was Prince Kyou with Chancellor Ketsu. Ryo's strength kept the two in check... but as of late Chancellor Ryo has been away working on a project. In his absence rumors of rebellion arose, and believing it to be Kyou rising against me, my loyal ministers and I planned for my escape. We found a girl who looked and sounded exactly like me, and so we made a switch. The plan was to hide and wait for the Sheikah to meet with me at the Fae's home should Kyou make his move."
Zelda stopped and let what she had said soak in. Elder took it in calm silence. The soldiers were shocked, and after a moment, ashamed as it reminded them of the rebellion they had been pulled into.
Matsubi whispered, "Amazing... I had no idea it was like that at the capital. I had heard the princess was some old lady known as the Ice Witch who had taken the throne from the prince through witchcraft."
Zelda scoffed, "Of course that's the rumor... What happened was I was hidden away since I was young, and Chancellor Ryo had me rescued. My ascendancy was directed by the king just before his death so it was not witchcraft, though it does not surprise me Kyou claims it was."
Link took it all in silence, oddly enough. Zelda expected him to be loud and with some kind of emotional mood swing. He was emotionally unstable in his mourning, swinging wildly from playing with children and laughing to punching her in the face in a fit of rage just after stabbing himself. She understood it but had no patience for it when now was the time for rational thought. So ultimately his thoughtful silence was appreciated.
Rather than speak, his thoughts were conveyed in his changing expressions and stance. At first, he was indifferent to what she said, but as Zelda explained, he went from agitated, to shocked, to some form of understanding. Whether it was understanding about the kind of world Zelda lived in, or where Midna had entered; she could not tell.
Zelda felt it was more important they understand and be firmly on her side than rushing into unknown territory with them unaware of the larger picture.
"When you say a world of daggers and alpha wolves..." Link whispered. "What do you mean?"
Zelda hummed to herself in thought. "A court is akin to a man throwing meat to the dogs. Some dogs will wag their tails and follow faithfully. Others will bite and tear their kin to get to the meat. Some will see that the man holds the man and will kill him to get the meat in his hand. The worst..." Zelda's composure darkened. "Will see no difference between the meat thrown, his kin, and the man. It is all meat to him."
As Link heard this, he realized he had assumed a lot about the girl and saw Zelda from a slightly new light. He was right in that she was cold and distrustful and treated him like dirt, that hadn't changed, but he came to realize there was a reason for it. She probably had no allies or friends in this world... and if her brother started a civil war to kill her... what kind of family did she have?
'I had no idea...' Link thought. 'If someone can't learn to trust their own family, who can they trust?'
Then another thought struck Link. Of everyone, only the Fae, princess, and himself were not tired by the endless hiking for days. The princess was keeping up with him easily. Also now that he thought about it, she had lifted him off the ground with one hand before, and she had beheaded the mercenary with one motion of her sword.
There was more to her than what she was saying. Her time in politics sounded like hell to him, but politics, a warzone of minds, wouldn't give her strength and endurance or the scars.
Seeing them all collectively gulp, Zelda continued, "Now... as you all noticed, everything has gone as we predicted. Kyou made a grab for the throne, killed dozens of ministers and officials, hundreds of regular folk, and came after my body double. I do not know particulars, but Midna fled to her old home where I was... most likely leading Kyou's army straight there. With Kyou having made his move, I made my way to the Fae village the Sheikah had told me of."
"In your tongue, they are called 'groves.' But continue." Elder inserted politely.
"Fae grove. My apologies. I ran into all of you, and you know most of the rest." Zelda explained further. "My allies, the Sheikah, did not show themselves. Chancellor Ryo will have heard very soon after that Kyou had taken the throne, and he WILL siege the capital to take it for himself. Kyou, or at least Ketsu, will rally support to entrench themselves in the capital before Ryo arrives. At this moment those two are the only pieces on the board. It will take some adapting, but I want to take advantage of it. As I said before, my predecessor, King Shorlin, befriended the Sheikah, the Fae, and the Majora. The Sheikah have stayed loyal to me, although their usefulness right now is beyond me, and the Fae have chosen to follow me in return for protection and security... one should easily be able to see where this is going."
"You are hoping to claim the Majora's allegiance." Matsuda guessed. Zelda nodded.
"If one considers the Sheikah to be Qin's worst kept secret, and the Fae are nothing more than a myth, then the Majora are even more hidden than both... Even I have no idea what we will encounter. Are they civilized? Difficult to believe when their form of welcoming strangers is heads on pikes. Are they alive? Either they are, or a new group has moved in because these heads are fresh."
"I don't like how you can tell how fresh a head is..." Link covered his mouth, trying not to throw up. Zelda ignored him.
"I tell you all this because there is a very real chance that we will die just by being here, but this is the only hand left to me. You have spared my life from before, so I will spare yours. Leave and I will forget you ever participated in the rebellion. However, if you choose to follow me from this point on, and we come out alive: I will make sure you are rewarded."
Zelda sighed. She had spoken for a great deal of time and was short of breath. She was not used to monologues. Now she would sit and wait. Whether they followed or left was up to them. She was honest in her statements, partially because she expected she wouldn't live through this day. It was perhaps her last day on earth... and it was odd how little she felt about it. To her, everything was simply rational logic necessary for a future queen. It may clash with the fact that she was scared before, but now it was different. She would die having done her best. Something was satisfying about that. If she died, then that's that.
Whether anyone followed her or not, Zelda would continue to either her death or her victory.
Two soldiers left, but the others stayed.
Matsubi said, "My princess, I will stay with you as your loyal servant."
"What is the nature of that loyalty? Is this loyalty recompense for past sins?" Zelda inquired.
"Despite what you may think, I had not committed any actions while in the rebellion. I was assigned to patrol the outer edges and watch for so-called rebels."
"I see." Zelda believed him. He had a kindness and honor about him that told her he might have refused had the situation come. "Then what is it you ask of me as a reward should you live through this?"
"Merely the chance to prove myself, and my family."
Zelda shut her eyes and chuckled. "You will have that chance, Matsubi." She looked to Link. "I see you are still here, so your quest continues. What would you have as a reward?"
"I want to be a general." Link said. "Can you make me one or something?"
"Hey! There is only so much impudence I can take!" Matsubi barked. "You think you can ask such a thing from the princess!? You can't just be a general by asking! You have to earn your way up, and even then it's pointless! Slaves are not allowed in the army, and you aren't a member of any house!"
"I get it! I get it! Get off!" Link defended himself. "So I can work my way up to being a general if you free me and give me a house or something?"
"Yes," Zelda replied.
"There you go." Link smiled. "Freedom, house, riches, all that. That's it."
Zelda raised an eyebrow at his impudence, but she saw he wasn't trying to be flippant, merely simple. He was right in that he would need those things to join the army. Everyone in the country who was a productive member of society was a member of some household. It was through those households that soldiers were recruited. Matsubi wanted to strangle the boy, but Zelda waved him off.
"Help me finish this, and I will see it done," Zelda answered.
"Great!" Link smiled. He extended his hand for her to shake. Zelda stared at it.
"Uh... you shake it. Seals deals." Link explained.
"I know that!" Zelda snapped. She huffed. "A slave of all things thinks it can shake hands with a princess?"
"Well... yeah?" Link answered. He looked at her curiously. He gulped as he saw her icy gaze on him. Link lowered his hand. "Right... no touchy."
Zelda turned her back on him and focused on everyone else. One by one she learned what they wanted and put it to memory. For a few, it was money or a bit of land, but for most, it was remarkably simple. They just wanted to be with their family. She didn't expect it and was amazed for a moment. Their simple desires to be home at peace were so innocent it was hard to believe.
"I will see what I can do." Was all Zelda could promise in the end. "But thank you, all of you. It is a minor comfort that if I die, others will die with me." Zelda started up the path Elder directed, but everyone was still a moment. A collective chill went down their spines.
"That's not comforting at all." Link whimpered. The others nodded in agreement.
"She most likely meant 'I won't die alone...'," Matsubi whispered. "I hope."
-Later-
"We are being watched," Elder whispered to Zelda.
Elder continued beside her as a four-legged man leading the way. Zelda briefly scanned the trees without turning her head. She didn't see anybody, but there were eyes of beasts in the distance. She didn't feel threatened with the Fae beside her and nearly a dozen soldiers at her back. She continued without breaking a step.
"They're just animals," Zelda replied.
"Do not be fooled. Everything here is Majora."
The path became steeper and rockier as they went until Zelda found the only one keeping up was Link and Elder. She stopped and looked back. The soldiers were hiking diligently, but their stamina was shot. They were leaning over, holding onto the rocks, trees, or their spears, just to keep stepping forward and climbing the path. Sweat poured from their faces.
"Jeez..." Link grumbled. "If you keep dragging your feet then the Chancellor bastard's gonna end up as king! We're not out for a walk! Get a move on!"
"What was that, bastard?! Try saying that one more time!" A soldier yelled back.
"If you keep dragging your feet then the Chancellor bastard's gonna end up as king! We're not out for a walk! Get a move on!"
"Do you even know how fatigued we are!? We have been hiking up a cliff for days!"
"Yeah!" A little voice squeaked. Zelda looked down to find a Fae had possessed her robes and lifted the sleeve to point at Link. Zelda forced the robe back down saying 'Don't do that.'
"I don't care! If you're slow, you're slow!"
"Enough." Zelda stepped down towards them. She was exhausted but felt she could make it. The problem was the soldiers were weighed down by armor. "Elder, if the Majora ambush us, what are the chances we will win?"
"None."
Zelda sighed. This wouldn't do. She didn't want to continue without them. Odds are one of the two groups would be killed without the Fae present to intervene. She felt the only reason they had not been ambushed yet was the Fae. She also did not want to dally.
"Elder would you be able to alert them and request a meeting with the Majora's leader?"
"No need. They are aware of us."
"Dogs don't count."
"I am not referring to dogs."
Elder gazed up the mountain and pointed. Zelda followed his finger. There were a few men on the mountain high above them. The men wore furs and painted marks on their dark skin. Their weapons in their hands were miniature scythes, short swords, clubs, spears, and other things. They had no armor or shields or helmets, but there was a mask dangling from their hips. At the same time, the beasts in the woods crept closer, just enough to be in view. They were wolves.
"The Majora?" Zelda guessed.
"Indeed."
This was it. "I know nothing of their ways. What do you suggest? We must avoid conflict."
"Gather together. Do not draw a weapon even if they threaten you."
"Do as he says!" Zelda yelled. "Sheath your blades, lower your shields!"
The men hesitated but obeyed. Matsubi went first, sheathing the blade he had just drawn at the sight of Majora. He even went so far as to unclasp the belt holding the blade to his hip, and let it fall to the ground. Link grumbled but followed suit. Zelda handed her bow to Elder.
They waited.
At first, no one did anything. Zelda kept her attention on the Majora above them, and they, in turn, watched her. The wolves inched their way closer and closer, inch by inch, until they were but a scant couple feet away. The wolves growled loudly. The Qin soldier's itched to raise their weapons but did not. The wolves growled louder as one soldier snapped and grabbed the hilt of his sword, but Matsubi grabbed his wrist in a death grip.
"Let it go." He ordered. The men shook in fear but obeyed.
Finally, Zelda heard footsteps and turned to see men and women approach from behind. Zelda narrowed her eyes at the woman in particular. The woman wasn't naked, but the amount of skin revealed under the fur was nothing short of scandalous. At the same time, the Majora from the mountain dropped down to their level with a grace that spoke of a lifetime on the mountain.
The Majora stepped closer, weapons drawn. The wolves crouched. Still, Zelda did not move. She didn't flinch as one Majora made a threatening swipe at her. It hit nothing but air. She matched their gaze with her own. Zelda felt her clothes whimper in fear.
The woman among the Majora said something in a language Zelda did not understand. To her surprise, Elder spoke the same language back. Zelda breathed in and out deeply, forcing her nerves to calm a bit. She had yet to experience 'fear', but her body had grown tense.
The two talked for some time before the dark-skinned woman nodded. She stepped back, roped her arms together, and said in the language of Qin, "This is our world."
'So, she can understand Qin?' Zelda considered. The speech was scratchy and with an accent that spoke of a lack of use. The woman did not speak the language of Qin often, but she knew it.
"When the flatland people enter on their own, we gouge out both (of their) eyes and drop (them) from a waterfall. But you have all come to meet our king. We will decide what to do depending on your reason for doing so. Our king is waiting (to meet) the young king of Qin. We will take you to the king's castle." The Majora woman said.
Despite the broken speech, Zelda understood and nodded. She breathed out a hidden sigh of relief. It was going well so far.
"Great! Let's go!" Link cheered. He walked past Zelda and started up the path behind the Majora woman, seemingly without fear of being close to them.
The woman, with one arm, grabbed Link by the collar and threw him into the air. He was caught by two of the soldiers. They fell back on their butts from the impact of catching him.
"Do not misunderstand." The woman said. She roped her arms together again. "We will bring the king alone. The rest of you will stay here."
"Wha-!" Matsubi yelled. "Why should we?! We are her guard!"
Link struggled to his feet and rubbed the bruise he was developing. He glared at the woman. "What if we say no?!"
"Then we will kill you all." The woman replied.
"That's ridicules!" Matsubi exclaimed. "We can't just leave the heir here on her own!"
"If we intended to kill her (we) would have already." The woman started to get impatient. "The king knows the king of Qin has come into Majora mountain. The king wants to meet the king of Qin."
A wolf stepped forward, snarling and lowering itself. The woman reached out and placed her palm on its head. It calmed, but only slightly. "Hurry and make (your) decision. The Majora smells blood."
Zelda glanced around. True to the woman's word, the wolves and men were ready to pounce at a moment's notice. They did not understand the language of Qin, so they were left without an understanding of where the meeting was going. Link being thrown back into the Qin group, and the yelling, would have triggered their hostile instincts further.
Elder said nothing, nor moved. He watched Zelda only, watching to see what she would do in this situation.
"Everyone," Zelda said. "I thank you for following my selfish request this far. But if this is what it takes, I will do it."
"What!" Matsubi and Link yelled.
The woman cocked her head to the side. "You will comply?"
"Yes." Zelda stepped forward.
"You can't be serious!" Link yelled.
"..." Zelda said nothing. Inwardly she thought that keeping them with her into a land death waited was little more than a selfish comfort.
"You're just a slave," Zelda said. "What can you know of a burden? What can you know about every breath being measured as life and death? Your strength is in your muscles and work. Mine is merely being. Being a figurehead, a martyr to bear the responsibility for the actions of millions. My very life is my strength. Perhaps that is the power of putting your life on the line... If Midna's life was the power of a slave... how much more is the power of a queen's life?"
"I said that to get you to move your ass and do something!" Link yelled.
Zelda did not respond this time. She said what she wanted. She walked up to the female Majora and looked up. The Majora nodded. "Then let us go."
The Majora woman motioned for Zelda to follow. Zelda entered the path. The Majora surrounded her, leaving the Qin behind.
Elder put his arm out to block anyone from following. Link looked back up at Zelda's retreating form and grumbled. He felt the pulse in his hand pick up, and he rubbed it gently. "This sucks."
From the other's grumbling, they agreed.
"I know this bodes ill with you, but we must be patient. This is all happening for a reason." Elder looked down at Link's hand as he rubbed the back of it. It was glowing gently under his glove. "One could almost say this day was destined..." Elder whispered to himself.
Without warning, Elder lashed out at Link. One of his wooden hands slashed out at him like a whip. Link was caught off guard and thrown back. He had barely managed to get his sheathed sword up to block it. Link fell hard and gasped as Elder was still on him. Elder was massive to the young man. Link drew Midna's blade and evaded the first hit while lashing back. Elder blocked the attack and knocked it aside with his other hand.
For a moment they exchanged blows, and the soldiers rushed in to restrain them, but Elder stopped just as quick as he had started it and stepped back.
Elder considered what had just occurred. 'I don't think the mortal realizes he had tapped into divine power.' Elder thought. 'My attacks were too fast for him, but he had managed to block them... and one attack had been in his blind spot, but he evaded when it should have been impossible to know. Interesting... the princess wishes to keep others away, physically and emotionally, and so forms the power as arrows. This young man is a born fighter, and so forms it as a sixth sense.'
"Go." Elder said.
"Wha?" Link muttered. He blinked in surprise.
"I apologize for the deception, but I was testing you. You have passed my test. Now go."
Link lowered his sword, now realizing the attack wasn't a full betrayal. "What-what about the Majora? I mean... I'll be the first to say I want to chase after that girl and give her a piece of my mind, but-"
"If this meeting is the will of the Goddesses, then no mortal can stop it. If this meeting is not their will, then it will fail regardless. Go."
"I agree," Matsubi said. "If anyone can do it, it's you. You're the only one with the strength left to make it."
"Alright." Link said, still a bit confused. The change of decisions was confusing.
"But first, allow me to accompany you." After a moment, a Fae left the wooden construct and entered Link's shirt. The wooden centaur still stood strong, though, by the way, it stood in its stance, Link got the impression 'it' was a different person now.
"Let us go." Link's shirt said.
Despite the gravity of the situation, the soldiers couldn't help laughing at the sight of his old slave shirt's cleavage moving like a mouth. Link clicked his tongue and avoided their gaze.
"You know, it's disturbing when my clothes are talking to me."
(edited 2/29/2020)
