PART 2 - Seven years later...

The early morning fog hung around Hyrule Castle, creating a looming shadow over the town. Within the Castle, however, every room was filled with warm light and outwards chill was banished from within the palace. Inside the council room, a gentle flame danced within the fireplace, illuminating the lone pair sitting at the table.

"Our relationship with the Goron people is difficult to maintain." The young lady began, slightly pinching her chin. "Hyrule benefits from the allegiance, for multiple reasons. We gain many raw materials, metals and the means to create bombs, for example. Geographically, they protect Hyrule from any possible eruptions by Death Mountain by carving out an eastward path which would direct the majority of eruption towards the ocean, and they also prevent build up of magma in the volcano."

"Very good." The man nodded. "What does Hyrule offer them in return?"

She paused. "The gorons don't require much, which makes it difficult offer anything they would require." She pursed her lips slightly. "Do do provide specific minerals and other raw materials for their survival. Hyrule also offers protection against threats to their civilisation." She frowned, turning to the man. "Our alliance was first formed due to protecting the Gorons from dragons, correct?"

"Precisely." He nodded. "Now that dragon's are less common in Hyrule, our alliance stands on much shakier ground." He tilted his head. "And Hyrule's arrangements with the Zora?"

The lady smiled. "Oh, that is far simpler. We give them absolute domain over Hyrule's waterways, provide them with the resources for their military, and provide grains, meats and plant foods that they cannot produce."

"Indeed." He scratched his chin. "And, most importantly, what do they provide Hyrule?"

"Protection." She responded. "With their control of the over Hyrule's waterways, they have access to any water supply a theoretical enemy may use. They could weaken the enemy by cutting off their water supply or ambush the enemy from the water. They also ensure our water supply is clean, and are the main provider of fish for the nation, as they have best access to the ocean. Again, through the waterways."

"Excellent. Spectacular." The man beamed. "You have grasped these concepts at an incredible pace. I could be prouder."

Zelda bowed her head. "Thank you, father."

At the age of eighteen, Zelda had grown into her title as princess of Hyrule. While she had traded her reckless youth for calmed grace, her cheerful demeanour remained, though she was far more reserved than she was seven years prior. Her sun kissed hair fell down to her waist, meticulously maintained through her daily routine, though she often required Impa's aid. That day she was more casual than usual, wearing a long sleeved white dress with a sleeveless purple shirt over it, and the only symbol of her status being the golden bracelets she wore on each wrist, and the tiara that rested on the table.

The king rose from his seat and offered a hand to his daughter. "I'm afraid that is all for this morning. I several obligations I must prepare for."

"Of course." She took his hand and rose slowly, making a deliberate effort to matin elegance, something she believed she was naturally lacking. "When will you complete these tasks?"

The king chuckled. "I'm afraid they will take all day. The earliest I may be relieved is likely to be nightfall." He moved to the door and opened it, standing aside for Zelda to pass through. "You first." She went through and found Impa standing by the doorway, flanked by Nelo and the King's attendant.

Impa bowed. "Your majesty." After the king nodded in acknowledgement, the Sheikah straightened, ever the loyal servant.

Zelda smiled at her attendant. "I think I may go for a stroll, Impa." She turned and gave a small curtsy. "May Hylia bless you, father." The king bowed his head in response.

"May Hylia bless you too, Zelda." He responded.

As she began down the corridor, Zelda felt Impa's hand fall on her shoulder. "Princess, are you not forgetting something?" Impa asked.

Zelda flicked her eyes around the room, hoping to find an answer to the question. "No?" She answered slowly. Impa sighed and tapped the princess's forehead. Zelda forced a smile. "My… head?"

The king chuckled. "You're tiara, dear."

"Oh!" Zelda blushed. "Right. Of course." She ran back into the chamber and snatched the tiara off the table, haphazardly fitting it onto her head before returning. "There." She beamed. "All better." She once again attempted to walk down the corridor, only for Impa to stop her, readjusting and centring the skewed ornament, giving a satisfied nod.

"Now it's all better." The sheikah declared.

Zelda shrugged sheepishly. "You could have just said."

"You should remember your tiara without prompting. What is you forgot the crown?"

"Have a little faith, Impa!" She pouted.

The king smirked. Despite how much she had grown, she was still the same little princess that needed Impa to make sure she remembered to screw her head on tight. "Gwonam, Nelo, we must be leaving." He turned on his heel and departed, the sheikah following him like shadows.

"Begin."

Oulson lunged forwards instantly, slashing downwards with deadly speed. Eshie dodged to his lefthand retaliated with stab of her own, and he raised his shield to deflect it. Seeing an opportunity, he twisted his wrist and swung at Eshie's side. Eshie brought her shield close, taking the full force of the attack, forcing her back. Oulson took another swing at her, but she was ready, and moved under the swing, his blade scraping against her shield and lunging forwards, but she was too close to take full advantage of her position, and her sword glanced off Oulson's armour. Fortunately, this startled him, making him stumble back. Spying a change, Eshie moved her shield arm and gripped the edge of her blade, pushing herself forwards and onto Oulson, making him trip, and she fell on top of him, pressing the flat of her sword against his neck and forcing the edge against his jaw. They froze. Eshie was panting. Oulson's jaw trembled, and he tried not to swallow out of fear of slicing his throat open.

"That's enough." Captain Graves called out.

Eshie let her shoulders relax and removed her sword from Oulson's neck, using it to stand up. As she sheathed the weapon, Oulson propped himself up on his elbow, rubbing his hand against his throat. Eshie offered him a hand up, which he gladly took. When they were up, they shook hands and dusted themselves off, gulping in breaths of frosty air.

"I thought you were going to kill me." Oulson said, licking his lips nervously.

Eshie scoffed. "My hands aren't that unsteady. If you keep mocking me like that, I might not be so merciful next time."

"Hey, hey." Graves shook his head. "You don't threaten you fellow knights."

Oulson rolled his eyes. "She's joking, captain."

"I don't care." He responded. "I won't have my anyone I train consider death to be a point of comedy."

"That was wordy." Diddy snarked.

Graves sighed. "Five laps around the yard, Diddy."

"Got it, captain." He saluted as he jogged away.

Graves turned back to the two trainees. "Now then, Oulson. You were good at controlling the interaction, taking the first initiative and capitalising on Eshie's actions and forcing her back. However, you were too jumpy, doubted your abilities. If you hadn't recoiled from Eshie's attack, she would not have been able to attack again, and would have to go on the defensive. She was in a compromised position, yet you gave her the advantage."

Oulson nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Eshie, while you made multiple mistakes, you were able to counter your weaknesses effectively. But you cannot be overly reactionary. From now on, you will focus on taking the initiative in future interactions."

Eshie pursed her lips. "Understood."

Graves tilted his head. "Understood…?"

She blinked, then shook her head. "Right. Understood sir."

"Very good." Graves loosened up. "Now, you two get a drink and some rest, got that?" He turned around. "Now, Diddy, when your finished, I want you to pick up your sword and-" He cut himself off, frowning. He spun on his foot, searching the courtyard. "Where the hell is Link?"

"Alright girl." Link patted Epona's side, grinning. "One last try. Four arrows, four targets." He looked into Epona's eyes. "Think we'll manage it?" She snorted, and he smiled. "You're right, you're right. Do you think I'll manage it?" A shudder went through the mare. "Well, we'll never know until we try." He straightened up and knocked his bow. Link took a deep breath, then smiled. "Ready when you are, girl." Without prompting, Epona began trotting forwards, rapidly picking up speed, bringing the first target into range. Link drew back his arrow, took a breath, aimed his bow and, once he was ready, he released. The arrow flew through the air and buried itself in the target, but Link didn't look to see if he had succeeded, already knocking the next arrow. As he came up to the second target, Link shifted himself to get a clearer shot, releasing and grabbing at the third arrow. The next target was closer than the first two, forcing Link to move quickly, and he barely thought, simply shot the arrow and prepared for the final target, obscured behind a bundle of hay.

"Ready Epona?" He asked as he climbed on top of his saddle, crouching with bow in hand. "Make this count!"

Link felt Epona tense up beneath him, and he took a deep breath. Then, with incredible force, Epona leapt into the high enough to clear the hay bundle, but they were too far away, and that was never the goal. When Epona reached the peak of her jump, Link pushed off her saddle and flew through the air, bow drawn. The target was instantly in his sights, and he aimed the tip of his arrow, breathed out, and released. As he came down, he braced his body, hit the ground and rolled onto his feet, bow in hand and heart pumping. Link stood up and let out an exhilarated shout.

"Yes!" He ran over to Epona, who was trotting around happily. "That was great! We did it!" He ruffled Epona's mane. "You were perfect out there, girl! I didn't need to tell you to do a damn thing!" In response, the horse playfully nipped at his hair.

In the seven years since the attack on Hyrule, Link had dedicated himself to ensuring that he would be ready for the next attack. Years of swordplay, archery, and a variety of other activities had made him more than fighting fit, and he was able use everything he had learnt with deadly skill.

Link had become quite the young man, having grown into his looks. He was the tallest of all the trainees, a full head taller than Diddy, though Princess Zelda and Malon wasn't quiet so short. His featured had become much more defined, with a strong cheekbones that complimented his sharp nose, and his body had become toned, a result of his diligent training. His golden hair was longer and messier, parting over his face at the front having to be pulled into a small and pitiful ponytail at the back, too short to reasonably be tied back but too long not to be. Combined together, he had become a rather dashing young man.

"Come on." He said, patting Epona's side. "Let's see how I did."

He hopped onto Epona and rode over to the first target, the arrow buried perfectly at it's centre, and Link allowed himself a satisfied smirk. The second target told the same story, a near perfect shot. The third, however, was a couple of inches from the centre, but still an impressive shot. Link bit his lip in anticipation as he returned to the final target, only to sigh in disappointment. It was still an impressive shot, but it far from close to the centre, and while it would still hit a human target, it would likely be a wasted arrow. "Look's like I still need some practice, huh?"

"Link!"

He turned to the voice, and found Captain Graves marching right at him. "Captain Graves?" His eye's widened, and he quickly attached his bow to Epona's saddle and slid off her, standing to attention just as Graves got close. "Good morning, or noon, sir."

Grave shook his head, irritated. "Where the hell have you been, Link?"

"Right here. All morning." Link replied.

"I told you that you would be sparring today."

"Really?" Link shrugged. "Must have missed it."

Graves raised an eyebrow. "I told you all at yesterdays dinner."

"I mustn't have been paying attention."

"You told Aram to pay attention."

Link rolled his eyes. "Then I must have forgotten, ok?" He walked over to the closest target, placing his left hand flat against the target just above the arrow and his right hand on the arrow shaft. "Besides, I'm learning more here than over there."

Graves narrowed his eyes. "Excuse me, Link? Care to clarify?"

Link pursed his lips, twisting the arrow. "What don't you get?" With a grunt, he pulled out the arrow and expected the arrowhead, which remained in perfect condition, and moved to the next target. "I won't learn anything. I'm making better use of my time training with my bow."

"You don't get to decide if you do or don't learn anything." Graves retorted.

"All due respect sir, but I've been training with them for the past seven years. I know every tactic or form that those guys will or can use against me. I won't learn anything sparring against them."

"You're growing lazy, Link. You haven't lost for a while, and it shows."

"I know how to use a sword." Link placed his hand over the next arrow and glanced over his shoulder. "If you want me to learn, don't have me spar against the same people, over and over."

"Alright." Graves crossed his arms. "Then do it for everyone else. Help them get better, if that's really what's got you all irritated."

Link paused, then removed the arrow. "It's not just swordplay. I can beat someone with a sword easily. I just need to make sure I don't get rusty." He sighed. "Not rusty. Complacent. If I keep going against Oulson and his offensive tactics, or Diddy's slow observation style, then that's all I'm prepared to fight." He began to the third target. "I'd rather be training with Epona than getting into a fighting rhythm."

"That's good." Graves conceded. "But at the end of the day, you need to respect my commands. It's not long before you become fully fledged knights." He watched as Link prepared to remove the next arrow. "If you can't do as you're told, you'll be stuck training forever."

Link tore the arrow from the target, snapping the shaft, and he cursed under his breath, tossing it to the ground. He looked back at Captain Graves. "Alright. I'll go a round, but if I win easily, I come back here for Epona."

Graves smirked. "Thank you, but you can't negotiate in regards to orders. You will do as you're told."

"Ha!" He pointed at Captain Graves. "Fine then. But I hope they've've got some tricks to keep me on my toes." He began to head to the final arrow, when Graves stopped him.

"No, you need to get to the courtyard. You've kept Diddy waiting long enough."

Link went to reply, but decided against it, and simply nodded. "Yes sir." He grabbed Epona's reigns and guided her back to the stables. As he passed the entrance, he heard a whistle.

"That was quiet the show, Fairy Boy!"

Link smirked and turned around. "Were you watching me, Farm Girl?"

Malon crossed her arms and learnt against the doorway. "Of course. I've got to make sure you treat my horse right!"

"What, not worried about her kicking me in the head?"

She shrugged. "You can take care of yourself." She winked. "Besides, if she decides you need a hoof shaped bruise, I'd say you deserve it."

Link snorted. "Gee, thanks."

Malon laughed and jogged over. "You're welcome." She said cheerfully."What was Graves talking to you about?"

He shrugged. "He told me I've got to go spar with the others. I tried to get out of it here but, well, he told me to get over there anyway."

"Sparring, huh?" Malon grinned. "Mind if I come and watch you?"

"If you want, though I doubt it'd be much fun to watch."

"Oh, I don't know. I think I'd find some entertainment." She replied.

"Yeah, sure." He tilted his head. "Hey, do you think you could get Epona into the stable? I've got to get to the training yard as soon as I can, or Graves will kill me."

"Mmm." She "I don't see why not. Just try and make sure you haven't started without me, ok?"

"No promises." He handed her the reigns. "Oh, and could you give her an apple for me?"

Malon scoffed. "You spoil her. She's going to pack it on if you keep pampering her like that."

"I'll spoil my horse if I want to."

"My horse." She retorted, slamming her thumb against her chest. "I just let you borrow her."

"Yeah, for eight years." Malon went to take a swing and his shoulder, but Epona pulled on her reigns, forcing Malon back and allowing Link to darted out of her reach, wagging his finger mockingly. "I don't think so, Farm Girl!"

She laughed. "You've turned my horse against me!"

"See you Malon!" He said as he ran down the road, grinning.

"Go to hell!" If he replied, he was too far away for Malon to hear. She sighed, guiding Epona into her stall. As she locked the stall, she glanced over her shoulder and grabbed an apple, offering it to Epona. "Don't tell Fairy Boy, ok?" Epona whinnied happily as she ate from Malon's hand, and the young lady sighed. "Link really is an idiot, isn't he? I'd say you've really carried him these past few years." She patted Epona. "You're the real hero here, aren't you girl?" Having finished the apple, Epona nipped at Malon's hair. "Hey, hey!" She swatted the mare's nose. "Troublemaker! You're almost as bad as he is." He made sure the gate was locked up, then gave a satisfied nod. "There. Now you stay there, got that?" She paused, as if waiting for a response from the horse, who only flicked her tail. Malon shrugged, then turned and chased after Link. It was always fun to watch him spar, to see how he used a swords, and it was also nice for other reasons. She grinned, and picked up her pace. Hopefully he'd keep it going long enough for her to really watch him. She forged on as quickly as her legs could take her.

I'm back in the game. Took me long enough, hey?

So much has happened since I last posted a chapter. Devil May Cry 5 came out, I played it, I loved all of it (except subhuman which is garbage), and played it again. I turned 18, with all that entails. I feel older, like I've left something behind. I created a tumblr so I could do stuff there, like post art of the Swordsman and the like (just search up arcanemadman on tumblr cause posting links on this website is a bitch). Joker came out for smash, and he's fun. There have also been complications with friends of the family, but thats not for me to talk about, least of all here.

But that's in the past. I'm here to get right back into the game. I've started out slow and placed this chapter 7 years after the events of Part 1, with the characters having grown into what they will be more like as the story progresses. I hope you guy's enjoy this part, I'm going to do my best on it. As I said, my school comes first, so working on this will likely be sporadic. Who knows.

As always, I would love it if you left any form of critique for my story, anything that is said helps me get better as a writer. Even if you have nothing to complain about, feel free to say whatever. Have a good day, and here we go!