-Xianyang, Link-
Link passed through the halls of the Xianyang castle and barged his way into an office. Inside, Ouhon was already present and standing before the desk of a military officer. On top of the desk was the helmet of a former Lorule commander. The officer stood to berate Link for his rudeness, but Link beat him to it by slamming a Lorule helmet of his own next to Ouhon's.
"The commander of a one-hundred-man unit," Link declared. "Captured, tied up, and ready for whatever. Along with his advisors."
"Good job, Link," the officer commended him, "but as you can see, Ouhon was just presenting his own prize."
Link grinned. "I know." Ouhon's eye twitched, though he kept a straight face pointed ahead.
The officer looked between them. He sighed, "I swear, you two..."
Ever since Ouhon had arrived and Link showed him up, the fortress of Xianyang had been abuzz with their rivalry. Ouhon's unit was powerful, could shatter defenses, and was swift. Conversely, Link's unit relied on unusual tactics and, the rumor was, unusual powers of their elite. Every victory Link gained, Ouhon would gain one soon after. This was followed by Link gaining another one and so on. It hadn't been long into the rivalry, and they were still tied. It had reached such fervor that the other units stepped back and made bets. Most bet Ouhon would win, but there was a surprising number silently cheering Link on.
"I will send word for merit and portions to be provided for your prizes," The officer said robotically, as if having already said it a hundred times that day alone. Especially with these two, he thought. "I also believe it is time you two took a break."
"Pardon, sir?" Ouhon asked.
"You two have been hard pressed at it. I can see you both wish to rise through the ranks quickly, and it helps that you are both so effective. You are a true blessing, as stretched as our forces are. We are barely managing to hold the border without a proper general stationed here, and you two are a big part of that success."
"We have lost a lot of units..." Link said.
"And defeated just as many," The officer replied. "The Lorule are starting to feel it, and from what I see, they are slowing down. Our forces have defeated so many officers that they are having to train more."
"Why do I hear a 'but' coming, Sir?" Ouhon asked, ever polite.
"But you are carrying so much weight that our normal forces are starting to scatter to other battlefields or become reserves. We need the units we have here to stay and remain active. In addition, I don't even have to look at your men to know they are tired. You both are running your men ragged."
Link grimaced. "My men have been complaining more and more despite the victories."
Ouhon scoffed. "They lack discipline."
The officer looked to Ouhon. "Your men have been petitioning for a break too, Lord Mitagi."
"What!?" Ouhon gasped, his composure finally breaking. Link laughed mockingly, incurring the officer to glare at him. Ouhon cleared his throat. "I will take your recommendation to heart, Sir. Some time in the barracks and rest will do the men some good."
"We can stay in the barracks?" Link wondered.
"Yes... you can," Ouhon whispered.
The officer nodded. "Then with that understood, I will move other units to our active force. The kitchens and barracks are open for your use."
"We get a kitchen too!?" Link gasped.
"With chefs," The officer clarified.
Ouhon saluted, turned crisply, and marched out. Link was already out the door.
"I suggest you don't pick the same one!" The officer called after them. Seeing they were long gone, he sighed, wondering if he had just made a mistake.
Further down the hall, Link ran to the kitchens. Ouhon somehow kept up without running too. He marched, but anyone watching could see his pace was competitive.
"I can't believe we get a kitchen with hired cooks and everything!" Link exclaimed. "Or actual beds!"
"What have you been using all this time?" Ouhon asked.
"Tents, open air, dirt, or blankets. Don't look at me like that!" Link growled.
"No wonder your men are tired." Ouhon sighed.
"Well, what have your men lived on all this time?"
Ouhon didn't answer at first. It was technically the same things, except of higher quality, no doubt. His unit had brought rugs, high quality tents, and small comfortable cots. But they were so busy staying mobile and patrolling the border that they hadn't had the time to use any of them. Seeing he refused to answer, Link grinned.
They reached the door to the outside, which was wide enough for only one person.
"Move!" Link shoved Ouhon into the wall and ran through.
Ouhon crumbled down the wall to a knee. He sighed, slid a hand over his hair, stood, and marched through the door. He closed the door behind him.
"It would only take a moment..." He said unconvincingly to himself. "No one would know."
-Later-
Link and Ouhon's units were stationed in camps outside the fortress. Both petitioned for use of the barracks and were accepted. The fortress was built to hold ten-thousand men for long terms and was only at half capacity, so there was plenty of room for more.
"An actual bed!" Hei exclaimed as he ran into the massive bunk room. The rest of Link's men followed in equally excited. They scattered throughout the long warehouse for a spot.
"A place over our heads!" Some cried.
"No more cold nights!" Said others.
"No more rain! If I had any more water in my hair, it would drown the mites!" Another yelled.
Hei found a rather nice bed on the far end and dropped his belongings on it. He prepared to sit down, but his butt had barely touched fabric before Link leapt onto it, bouncing him onto the floor. Seconds later, they were wrestling across the floor, across beds, and across people that didn't get out of the way.
Solitare smiled as she picked a bed. "This is rather nice." She ran her hand over the material. "I have never felt anything like it!"
"Xianyang is the biggest fortress in this region," Kyo Gai said knowingly. "The noble caste uses it, so you better believe they're going to spend the extra rupees!"
"You sound like you have been here before."
He shrugged. "Once. The officer that trained me was in the lowest part of the noble caste, but was still a noble. We were well traveled."
He patted Solitare's bed. "Alright, then. How about we get you some extra bedding piled up? I think there is enough to-" His head snapped away. "DON'T SET A CAMPFIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUILDING, DUMBASS!" Kyo ran off and kicked some men who were piling up wood and trying to spark a flame.
Immediately after he left, a loud crunch drew Solitare's attention. Den Yuu sat on a crushed bed, his cheeks red. Several men around him laughed. Solitare bit her lip, struggling not to laugh as well.
"I didn't think I was that big..." Den muttered.
"You're not, Big Bro," Someone said comfortingly. "This crap is just fragile. You gotta be gentle with it and sit down nice and slow. Like a nice woman, you gotta sit them down nice and proper-like."
"Like you would know anything about that," Solitare snapped.
"Oooohhh!" The crowd yelled.
"I wonder if the food will be as good as these beds," Kou wondered. He was ecstatic about getting a bed like this; he had never in his life sat on anything so comfortable. It was like laying on a cloud, but his stomach demanded attention.
"Alright, boys! Time to do some scouting! Last one to the kitchen is a Link! That's an order!" Someone yelled on his way out the door.
"I didn't give you orders to do shit!" Link yelled while his face was pressed into the floor by Hei. It wasn't a stone floor for once: it was wooden and smooth. "Hey, this floor is kinda nice."
Meanwhile, outside, Ouhon and his men silently watched as nothing short of a stampede flooded out of a door and towards the courtyard.
"One wouldn't think they were exhausted in the slightest," Ouhon's second commented.
Ouhon grimaced and walked away.
Ouhon entered another portion of the barracks. There, his men were selecting their beds, placing belongings in the chests at the foot of each bed (which Link's unit didn't know what to do with), and generally relaxing.
"Despite that vulgar display, food does sound good," Ouhon heard someone say. He and several others agreed.
"I am hungry as well," Ouhon said. "But first, I feel the need to use the baths. This dirt is uncomfortable, and I am sore. Men, do as you will. Enjoy your rest."
Ouhon pulled out his robe for the bath and, after asking for directions, entered the public bathhouse. He stepped into the water, sat down so the water reached his neck, and sighed in contentment. A bath was a nice little bonus he allowed himself only on occasion.
The Mitagi baths were much nicer, but after being in the wilds for so long, he found the sheer relief of this bath out-measured the times he used ones from home. He prized his horse dearly, but after eating on it, fighting on it, yelling on it, and sleeping on it, it was nice to not have a rough hide and a bouncing seat under him.
The officer was right. They were running themselves ragged, himself included. He quickly scrubbed his skin down, cleaning up the dirt and dried blood that caked him. Once he was clean again, Ouhon closed his eyes to bask. He only opened his eyes long enough to move aside as a number of his men joined him.
Eventually, his hunger overcame his desire to relax. He rose and returned to the barracks. There, he dressed himself properly and found the crowded barracks' kitchen. He saw that most of the kitchen was lined with people sitting on benches to eat. A long window connected to where the food was actually made and could be taken. Ouhon went to that window, took his food, and searched for a place to sit. Before long, he begrudgingly realized every spot was taken.
Someone rose and left.
"Finally," Ouhon whispered. He sat down at the now vacant place and started to eat. A few bites in, he realized the person across from him was sleeping with his face in his arms, the one to his left was old enough to be a grandfather, and the one to his right was eating enough for several people without the common propriety to use utensils.
"Of course," Ouhon muttered.
Link looked back up at him, food in his mouth. "Whh yu shishinh hhhr?"
"Swallow first, moron."
Link followed the advice. "Why are you sitting here?!"
"I don't like it much either, but there is nowhere else. The entire room is occupied. So please, I suggest we ignore this happened so I may suffer in silence... For that matter shouldn't you be off with your unit?"
Link waved him off. "Meh. Some guard suggested I give them some space. Besides, he mentioned free food here!"
Ouhon raised an eyebrow. Some random guard told him that? He wanted to ask. While what they said was true, he wouldn't expect strangers to go around offering advise like that.
"Seems you got a fan," Ouhon said.
"Really?" Link wondered.
Ouhon noted that Link quite liked the idea of having fans, and he returned to eating. However, Link's eating display disgusted Ouhon so much that he looked for a solution. To his dismay, the only set of utensils on the table were used ones by the sleeping man.
Ouhon took the dirty utensils anyway and stabbed Link's food. "Use these." He also took a handkerchief from the sleeping man and slapped Link in the face with it. "And wipe your face."
The sleeping man giggled across the table. He yawned and leaned on his elbows. "You two are funny."
"Says the man with food on his face," Ouhon muttered.
"Oh?" The man blinked in surprise. He felt his face, pulled a piece of meat off his cheek, and ate it. "Not bad. All the same, it's time for a little nap." He fell back onto the table only to jump up a moment later. "Ow!"
"What!?" Link gasped.
"Nothing, just something stabbing me." The man reached into his robes, took an object, and moved it into his pouch. He laid down again with a sigh.
However, what he had moved out of his robes didn't go unnoticed. Link recognized it as a small bird statue. "You're a three-hundred-man commander?!"
"What?" Ouhon asked, completely deadpan.
"Yeah, I am," The man answered. "Why do you sound surprised?"
"Because I am too!" Link answered. "So is he! I thought we were the only ones here."
"Well, now there are three." The man smiled and extended his hand. "I'm new here. I am Mouki."
"I am Link." Link took his hand to shake it.
"I don't care," Ouhon muttered, returning to his meal.
"Don't mind him. He's a grouch... pretty much all the time," Link said.
"I don't mind." Mouki smiled warmly. He squeezed Link's hand firmly, but winced at the squeeze back. "Damn, you got a heck of a grip on you! You're stronger than you look."
"Dumber than he looks too," Ouhon added between bites, aggravated by Link being praised.
"I wasn't looking so dumb when I was sitting pretty on top of the commander's tent looking down on you, now was I?" Link shot back. "Sat there just to be the one looking down on you this time!"
"The phrase you are looking for is 'that time,' not 'this time.' Even then, it is poorly phrased."
Mouki looked between them, still smiling. "That really happened? I think I heard something about it. There are two groups here that are tied for victories and making the rest look bad?"
"That'd be us!" Link exclaimed happily.
"You two are mighty competitive then?"
"Wrong choice of words," Ouhon answered. "He is stubborn, obstinate, and someone needs to keep him in his place."
"The word you are looking for is 'yes,'" Link replied for Ouhon.
"How'd you do it?" Mouki asked, leaning in intently. "I've heard you are a crafty one, Link, with incredible powers!"
"Well, not to brag-"
"And yet you can't help it," Ouhon interrupted.
Link shot him a dirty look before continuing, "My unit and I hid amongst the dead. It was dirty and risky. Wolves bit at us, and the Lorule almost stopped to impale us on spears to be sure we were dead. But we managed to stay perfectly still for hours. Then, when they were distracted, we rose up and hit 'em!"
"Incredible..." Mouki sighed. "You're a genius!"
Ouhon choked on his food.
"I wouldn't go that far..." Link said nervously. "I've never been praised for being smart. I just think differently. I am willing to try things most aren't."
"Yet you do so much with just peasants!" Mouki insisted. "I am not doubting you try hard, but they aren't exactly trained. I'm just so amazed that you could overcome such obstacles in war! You must be a great leader."
"Most of the weight is carried by only a few of us. We fight in squads and focus on simple survival most of the time. We can't fight a full unit properly yet, but a few of us can easily reach the enemy officer while his forces are occupied. Or we can flank from directions they would not expect."
"I see, that certainly makes sense." Mouki looked to Ouhon. "And don't think I am ignoring you, my lord. I can see from your posture that you are some high class noble. I am honored to meet you. Just how are you keeping up with this cunning man?"
"Cunning. I like that," Link whispered to himself.
Ouhon did not answer. He merely glared. Just as Mouki had perceived Ouhon to be noble-born, which he wanted everyone to know on first glance, he started to perceive the man before him too. Mouki had multiple braids in his hair with cords of fine silk. Despite having slept in his food, most of his skin was clean and without blemish. His nails were even polished.
Mouki was also noble-born, Ouhon concluded. At first, Ouhon thought it meant nothing, but something in the back of his mind grew uncomfortable. Mouki's appearance was lazy, and his actions were no less aloof, but his words were different. Something about the way he directed the conversation so easily upset Ouhon.
Mouki matched Ouhon's stare for a second longer, during which Ouhon saw he was being matched. It was interesting to Ouhon: when he looked into Link's eyes, he saw defiance, but when he looked into Mouki's eyes, he saw a relaxed confidence.
Mouki drifted his attention back to Link. "I see what you mean by grouchy! No matter, I am also honored to meet you, Link! By what I hear from everyone and what you tell me... You are simply incredible!"
"I-uh, yeah!" Link chuckled nervously. "I j-just do my best!"
The old man on Ouhon's left sighed. "I wish he was as motivated as you."
"Don't wanna!" Mouki pouted. He laid back on the table. Link blinked in surprise. Mouki's attitude had taken a sudden and immature turn. "Competing with such guys in such a tiny place is just... Ergh! No thanks! I feel claustrophobic already. I wanna learn, but doing my best is exhausting!"
"Clause-what?" Link asked.
"But Mouki," the old man insisted, "now these men are your equals! You have something in common! You can compete like good healthy men and learn so much from them. Be nice and make friends!"
"I don't feel motivated with only three hundred men..." Mouki pouted.
Ouhon's eye twitched. Now he was getting irritated.
"Well, how many do you want?" The old man asked.
Mouki raised his hands up. "A thousand!"
Ouhon's eye twitched more. Link watched the conversation in bewilderment, suddenly feeling awkward to be witnessing it.
The old man sounded as if this had happened before. "Mouki, I won't allow it!"
"But Grandpa! You know how I did on the Termina border, that I should have a thousand! Uncle Ryo said so!"
Link looked up more attentively at Ryo's mention. This also drew Ouhon's attention. Ouhon narrowed his eyes.
"I won't have it!" Mouki's grandfather said. "You have years of experience to gain. Your father and I both agree that you should work your way through the ranks, meet your peers, and garner connections and experiences."
Mouki turned his head away, pouting. "Hmph! So strict! Woe is me..."
"Then why don't we do something fun? You don't start your patrol until tomorrow."
Mouki's eyes lit up. "Shopping!? Link, Ouhon, it was nice meeting you. I hope we meet again."
He smiled warmly to them. Link couldn't help but return the grin and give a goodbye handshake. Ouhon crossed his arms and refused to acknowledge him. Mouki shrugged in acceptance and stood up.
At the same moment when Mouki stood, every other person in the room stood. Link's eyes just about blew out of his skull. Ouhon glared increasingly hard at Mouki. Mouki grinned back at him, silently conveying a moment of smugness with the noble-born. Mouki left the kitchen gallery, and every other person in the room followed, leaving Link and Ouhon alone.
"What just happened?" Link asked, bewildered.
"We've been played..." Ouhon grit his teeth.
"Wha?"
"I am going to make a story, and I want to know if it is right. When you came here, there were no seats. Then mysteriously, one man rose and left, leaving you a place to sit. You sat down and found yourself sitting across from a sleeping man about your own age. Am I right?"
"Th-that's right!" Link exclaimed. "How'd you know?!"
"Because the same thing happened to me," Ouhon answered. "... We've been played. Every person in this place was his. He plotted for us to both be encouraged here. You were promised food. I was promised proper etiquette... he did his research about us enough to draw us here. Now that I look closely, there are no utensils around but right here. I was fooled completely."
"Why would he do that?"
"To meet us? To look us in the eye and measure us up? His way of saying 'hello?' To garner some information from us? There is no telling with people like him. He took your hand, egged you into squeezing, and he measured your strength. He pretended to be in pain long enough to expose the seal of his command, grabbing your attention. He drew on our competitive nature to observe us. He puffed you up into telling him your methods."
"I-I think you are overthinking it."
"He knew my name without me telling it nor you saying it!" Ouhon said with finality. "If he already knew who I was, then I promise he already knew who you were."
Link's eyes widened. He paled, realizing how Ouhon was right. Mouki had planned everything perfectly, set the trap, and drew them in. The information Mouki had pulled from Link would no doubt be to his advantage. Mouki had just learned a lot about Link.
Ouhon felt like a fool. He was almost drawn in as well. Despite himself, he knew he would have been drawn into revealing his methods purely by the so-called competitive nature between them. Except Ouhon had been able to sense there was something more happening, enough so to keep his mouth shut. Despite Mouki's seemingly immature and lazy nature, he was brilliant, unless it too was a facade.
Ouhon leaned across the table, put his hands together, and mused. "Link. Consider this a moment of uncharacteristic cooperation, but it is important you hear it. I serve Mitagi, and you serve the princess, so our interests are somewhat aligned. There is a man I have heard of... tutored in every facet at the feet of Shou Hei Kun, Rishi, Moubu, and Abhdan, but until now, I did not think him real."
"I've heard those names before..." Link whispered.
"You should have, as a friend to the heir. Those four are the pillar of Ryo's faction." Link's eyes widened. "Think about it. A man raised on the tactics of Shou Hei Kun, the law by Rishi, war by Moubu, politics by Abhdan... and economics by Ryo. Now I have a name and face to put to the rumors... Mouki, son of Moubu."
Link rose briskly. "What do we do!?"
"We? 'We' do nothing. This doesn't change anything between us. You still disgust me." Ouhon rose slowly. "However, I believe it right that this is done fairly. If he is going to work here as well, then the competition will only increase. This doesn't just have a chance to affect us, but those we represent. So before we part ways, take one piece of advice to heart: behave. For once in your life, behave. You represent the heir. You are a part of something greater than yourself." Ouhon turned and departed.
"Mouki..." Link whispered to the empty kitchen. "Great, now I have two rivals to deal with."
-Near the Gerudo border-
"Duke! A report." A soldier saluted and presented a scroll. Technically, the Duke was a general, but he liked the title 'Duke' more.
In a command room was General Geoffrey, several of his commanders, and the Duke. Each of them pored over a large map over the center table. The situation at hand was the current border guard against the Gerudo. The building of a wall was being discussed, but the details would take a great deal of planning and work. The Duke accepted the scroll and returned to his seat.
"Is it anything of interest, Duke?" Geoffrey asked.
The Duke laughed loudly and slapped the scroll down. "Oh, it is! I love the youth. So much energy. Nothing completes a man's soul quite like a good rival!"
Curious, Geoffrey took the scroll and read it. He sighed. "You didn't..." The Duke laughed even harder. "This is a fight just waiting to happen, you know."
"Or the seeds of something glorious." The Duke grinned, his razor-sharp teeth glistening. "The Mitagi's heir, Ryo's prodigy, and the princess's pet soldier fighting side by side. Mark my words, Dragon Knight, they will either grow stronger together, or tear each other apart. Which do you want to bet on winning!?" He slammed his gigantic hands on the table. "I bet the Mitagi heir will come out on top!"
Geoffrey grinned despite his apprehension. "I think you will find Link to be a surprise. Although if even half of the stories I have heard of Ryo's little prodigy are true... it is impossible to say."
-Approximately one year later-
The rest of the year since Ouki Mitagi's death passed with great tension. Qin lost territory, but thanks to the efforts of its army, the loss was well within expectations. Border villages were evacuated further in as the border inched its way further in, squeezing the country together. Link grew, both literally and figuratively. Change in Ganondorf remained to be seen, and Zelda continued her work in the palace, striving to learn, gain prestige, and overcome Ryo.
Link asked Kyo Gai to tutor him in reading and writing, and though his progress was slow, by a year's time, he was able to read basic messages. He also hired a local commander of another unit to tutor him in using the spear. The best in the region was Ouhon, and while Link considered swallowing his pride and asking him, he thought better of it.
Then, precisely a year to the day since Ouki Mitagi's death, Ryo walked out of his estate and returned to the palace. At the same time, Ousen Mitagi moved to the Zhao border. No one thought too much about it until the day a messenger from the capital reached Link. Among the messages was a word, a singular word, that sent Link scurrying onto the nearest horse. He left his unit behind with Kyo Gai in charge and raced to the palace. Sensing a serious problem, Solitare gave chase, but she struggled to keep up with him.
"Link!" Solitare called from a horse behind his. "What's wrong!? What did the man say!"
Link did not answer at first. His mind was abuzz with burning fury. It wasn't until a full day had passed and Genyuu Pass came into sight when he started to slow. They had pushed their horses hard all day and night. Finally, they stopped at early dawn, and Solitare gaped at what she saw. Before them, beside the gate at Genyuu, was a Zhao army. Opposite to it was a Qin army bearing the flag of Ousen Mitagi. However, it was the Zhao flag that drew their attention.
"Riboku!" Link hissed.
-Kanyou, Capital of Qin-
Impa hurried through the palace halls. Her pace was brisk, and her composure was aggravated.
"What does he think he is doing?!" Impa hissed to herself. "Not only did he not discuss this with anyone, but he didn't even bring it up with the princess?! Ryo has gone too far this time! He has completely lost his mind!" Impa found Zelda in her room dressing into a better set of clothing. "Princess, did my messenger tell you?!"
"Yes," Zelda replied. "Help me get dressed. Sarah is at the harem today. We do not have long."
Impa shut the door and helped Zelda into her clothing. If Riboku was making an appearance, then they needed to dress to impress and be imposing. Unfortunately, such clothing was hard to put on alone. Impa assisted her, but as aggravated as she was, Zelda felt her tugs and pulls be a bit forceful.
"Calm down, Impa. You're going to break it," Zelda reprimanded her gently.
"I'm sorry, my lady, but Ryo is not thinking!" Impa snapped.
"In fact, he's doing the opposite, I suspect. Although I would have hoped if he was going to do something outlandish like this, it wouldn't be on short notice."
"You knew he would do something like this?!" Impa gasped.
"Nothing... like this, no, but something," Zelda admitted. "A year ago, Ryo was so very angry when Ouki died. I know he wanted vengeance. So I told him the name of the man who killed Ouki: Riboku. It has been a pleasant year with Ryo otherwise occupied on his venture, but I cannot help wonder what his plan is."
"How did he accomplish this? Riboku was promoted to Chancellor of State in Zhao. That isn't the kind of man who goes into a rival, angry nation, especially one he wounded just for a cup of tea."
"Not unless he heard of the Englishman's tea." Zelda smiled jokingly. "Ooohh! I miss it. I know now why Lord Ouki kept him around all the time. His drink is as intoxicating as his exotic, round-eared charm. Sarah has a huge crush on him, did you know? I can understand why, but can't say I share it."
"Even then..." Impa took a step back, finished for the moment. Zelda turned and let Impa inspect her.
"Impa, again, calm yourself. It is sad when I am the one who has to tell you to brighten up."
"You're right... I am sorry." Impa took a moment to close her eyes before continuing. "I had the hawkery send a message to the Majora, as well as a messenger to the ambassador, but it will be too late for the Majora to arrive on short notice. Only the ambassador will have to do for now. But should this end horribly, they will all be prepared. The Fae Elder is still absent, and the royal guards are on the alert."
"We will make do," Zelda said. "I must speak with Ryo briefly. I have a feeling I know what he will want from me, but I need to hear it from his mouth. Gather the ministers into the throne room."
"As you wish, your highness." Impa bowed briefly before running down the hall. She yelled out for servants to attend to her.
Zelda asked where Ryo was, and after a short investigation, found he was standing outside on the inner-city walls. Ryo watched as the distant army of Zhao and the army of Qin inched closer.
"I must say that I am impressed, Chancellor," Zelda greeted. Ryo turned, and his eyes widened briefly. "What is it?"
"It is nothing," Ryo dismissed her. "It has merely been some time since I have seen you, and it surprises me how you have grown in such a short time. Would it be too untoward if I say you remind me of your mother when we first met?"
Zelda frowned. She was still uncomfortable with the subject of that woman, but the years had healed her some. "It is inappropriate. You know I do not think well of her; however, I accept the compliment for what it is."
Zelda stopped next to him and looked at what he had been gazing at. "When I had given you 'his' name, I knew you would do something, but this is a surprise. Riboku must be a fool to come here... or did you do something worthy of his presence? I presume it to be the latter."
Ryo chuckled. "That is quite a compliment, my lady. It is true, I caused this."
"And my promise to cooperate with you one day... is that today?"
"It is. Together, we will show Zhao that we are not to be trifled with. We will avenge Ouki in our own way."
Zelda nodded. "Then you have my... almost full cooperation."
"Only 'almost?'" Ryo raised an eyebrow and looked down at her. To his surprise, he didn't have to look as far down as before. She was the height of a full woman.
Zelda smiled knowingly. "You can't expect me to let all of my guard down around you, now can you?"
Ryo laughed. "Then I shall take what I can get. In truth, all I will need is your silent agreement in my plan."
"Just how did you arrange this anyway? I am dying to know!"
Ryo looked at her again. "Getting mighty comfortable around me, are we?"
"I am taking what I can get, like you." Zelda smiled. "It's a rare moment where I can see you in a positive light. So please, humor me. What did you do to bring this about?"
Ryo shook his head with a smile. "Very well. I shall humor you. We have a little time to. I knew what I wanted almost immediately, but getting it? That was the difficult part. I have no doubt you have spied on me-" Zelda smiled innocently. "-and found I have been sending out messages in a flourish. Whether you read them or not matters little to me. They were small things, but together... I used my connections. I used nearly every connection I have in Zhao to pull this off, and I orchestrated them to a plan. A plan to accomplish something no one has ever succeeded in doing in the history of Hyrule... and I suspect, the world."
Ryo opened his arms wide and declared proudly, "I kidnapped the entire harem of Zhao out from under the king's nose!"
Zelda staggered. "You... How many girls!?"
"The count given to me was about one-thousand and two-hundred concubines, with three of them being pregnant. Plus, I took the seven girls and ten boys living there!"
"Children and adults?"
"Yes. See, that is the best part. The king of Zhao has no wife. He is a man of lusts. Those boys and girls make up all of his children, and it shows he is a very virile man. By kidnapping every girl in his harem, including the ones pregnant and all of their children, I have taken not only the harem girls, but the heirs." Ryo grinned victoriously. "The fool murdered his extended family and brothers, leaving only him and his line. Now with all of his children as my hostages... the unborn and the born, I hold the entire royal line of Zhao in my hand. In one word, I can cut off the bloodline of the Zhao royal family, leaving only him!" Ryo clenched his fist. "I hold Zhao by the neck!"
Zelda could only listen in stunned amazement. She remembered the history of Hyrule at a glance, and while it happened that one or two girls were kidnapped every now and then, never had anyone in history kidnapped the entirety of the harem. Were it anyone else, she might consider them mad, a liar, or just lucky. But this was Ryo who did it. There was no man Zelda feared as much, so she knew that there was no one else who could possibly pull it off without a full invasion.
"I can see from your surprise that you like it," Ryo said with a smirk.
"I see why Riboku came, then," Zelda said, processing his plan. "I am guessing he came to negotiate?" Ryo nodded to her question. "Then the king is at least smart enough to realize no one else in his kingdom would have the skill or respect to negotiate such a thing. His kingdom, his lineage, is in question and vulnerable now." Zelda grinned darkly. "I like it. Zhao shouldn't think themselves so great as to think we aren't going to fight back when cornered."
"Yes. And now he is here. Now that the players are here... my war enters its next phase. Are you ready, Princess?"
"All I have to do is sit on the throne and look like I have your back, yes?"
"Yes."
"Shouldn't be too difficult." Zelda smirked. She turned and left.
"Snarky brat..." Ryo whispered in amusement. He wondered where she could have possibly gotten that from. For a moment longer, he stayed and watched her leave. "It wasn't that bad to be on the same side for a time. Pity. I think I'll miss it."
