Trains, to most people, are convenient at best and boring at worst. To me though, trains were my everything. I found the different designs of trains to be cool, and always loved to be the one at the locomotive, or more commonly known as the front car. My passion for trains has helped me find happiness in my life, believe it or not, so obtaining my engineer certificate was a big deal to me.
However...
"Link, remember-"
"Yes, I know Alfonzo, use the horn to get animals off the train tracks."
"And also don't forget about-"
"I know how the lever works too! There is literally only four gears to a train lever, it's not that hard!"
Alfonzo goes silent for a few moments. "...But do you remember-"
"IF YOU KEEP TELLING ME TO NOT RAM INTO ANOTHER TRAIN EVERY TIME THAT I DRIVE THEN THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M GOING TO DO!"
My scream seems to get through to him, as Alfonzo shuts up for good. I sigh in relief as he finally stops talking. Most people would think that I'm overreacting. Well guess what, most people don't constantly get lectured every time you drive a train when you've studied of how to drive said train for your whole life! I'm not gonna lie, Alfonzo was a pretty nice guy. I like him well enough to tolerate his constant reminders of train-driving, but he was a total PAIN about it!
Still, the silence he gave allowed me to do a little routine to relax whenever I was on the railroads. I slow the train down to normal speeds and close my eyes, immersing myself to the cool breeze on my face with the warm rays of the sun. Y'know, even though the world sucks, it's times like these that make life worth living.
My mood dramatically increases my mood, and I give a little toot with the horn. At that moment, I forgot about all my worries and only felt happiness.
It was going to suck when my mood got ruined again though.
The journey from Aboda to Hyrule town was about three minutes. It wasn't the fastest time that I've made before, but it was still good nonetheless.
I've actually been to Hyrule quite often from errands that I had to run with Alfonzo, so it wasn't an unfamiliar sight. I had driven us here a lot actually. Alfonzo, on the other hand, thought that this was my very first drive ever. "Congratulations Link! You've passed the final test with flying colors!"
"Alfonzo, you know that I've driven us here before, right?"
"Anyways, you better hurry to Hyrule castle for your graduation ceremony!"
He either didn't hear me or was just ignoring me. "I know, I got letter containing the details like last week." From what I could tell, the postmaster had common courtesy, something extremely rare to me.
Alfonzo slaps me on the back with a grin on his face. "Hurry along now, or you'll miss it!"
I sigh, completely happy to get going. Once I get my engineer certificate, I can finally drive a train without getting lectured by Alfonzo every time! I can even use a canon, and take on transportation jobs! I'll be able to start living on my own soon! Imagining myself living alone quietly in the woods starts to make me excited. I run eagerly to the castle, arriving there in about ten seconds.
The guards in front of the castle entrance stop me, particularly the big burly one. "What is it kid? We're kinda busy protecting Hyrule castle right now. If you've got no business here, I'd suggest you scram!"
I deadpan. "...They didn't tell you who the person attending for the engineer graduation ceremony was? The one thing that they should've told you to avoid misunderstandings like this?"
"Huh? Ah, that's right! I completely forgot that today was the day!"
Wow. Some guard you are.
He looks at me closely, though I didn't know how he was doing that since his hat covered his eyes. "I didn't know they gave engineering certificates to little kids like you."
"Well, I don't see why not. Driving a train is like the easiest thing ever. The trains can't even go fast enough to go off-rails, so the only real danger is being stupid enough to drive into another train and the occasional beasts roaming around."
The guard merely shrugged his shoulders. "I guess times really are a-changing... Well, go on in." The two step aside, and I strut my way inside the castle. However, ANOTHER guard was standing in the way!
He was really skinny, similar to the other guard that just stood in silence at the front entrance. "Halt! The princesses's throne room is up these stairs. Only invited guests are allowed in, which means for YOU-"
"I am completely okay to walk right in." I pull out the letter about my graduation and show it to him.
He looks flabbergasted. "W-well, I…. I guess you are!" He steps aside, and I pass my final obstacle standing between me and my certificate.
I've looked forward to this day for years. My new life as a true engineer is about to start! Oooh, I can't wait for the ceremony to start!
The ceremony sucked.
Not only was the princess getting ready to appear for twenty seconds, because apparently EVERYBODY forget that today was my graduation, the chancellor made me kneel for over five minutes without being allowed to lift my head up! So when princess Zelda did finally show up, I was really irritated.
Although... My eyes perk up as I see princess Zelda walk in. She was a sight for sore eyes...
The chancellor suddenly screeched, "Raising your head without permission? You ill-mannered urchin!"
The familiar blood-vessel in my head was throbbing again. Before I could tackle him, though, Zelda shushed him with a wave of her hand. "Don't pay any attention to chancellor Cole."
"What do you think I've been doing?"
This comment earns me more remarks from him. "Princess, hurry up and give him his certificate so that he can leave this castle!"
Zelda sighs, but calls over an old man who brings her the certificate. She then holds it out to me and says, "I hereby recognize our newest royal engineer, Link! Work hard, for we all rely on you, Link!"
The princess puts the certificate into my hands, and I couldn't help but jump for joy. Finally! My engineering certificate! I was so happy that I didn't bother to correct Zelda that I was just a regular engineer since I wasn't of royal bloodline or specifically employed to her.
As I celebrate, however, Zelda pulls out a letter from her non-existing pocket She leans into me and says, "Shh, take this. No! Don't say a word right now! Read this later…. And beware the chancellor!" Zelda then walks back to her quarters, leaving me in the middle of the room with a letter she didn't want anybody else to see in my hand in front of the chancellor.
Thankfully, the chancellor was also an idiot, and he just walked along like nothing happened. Before disappearing through door on the right of the ridiculously tall throne, he says to me, "The ceremony's over. I suggest you move along, maybe polish your train or something. Not that it matters much." He suddenly grins devilishly. "The thing will be useless before long…." The chancellor than leaves me be.
….Did…. Did the chancellor just threaten me? He did, didn't he? And was what that about my train being useless before long? Is he planning to tamper with it? As I ponder over his words, I remember the news I heard about railroads disappearing. From the countless times that Niko had told me the story about this land's history, I already pieced together that the railroads were the shackles that held the demon-king at bay. Plus, it was in a picture, so everybody should know the importance of the railroads. Since they're disappearing, then that means the seal is starting to break! I bet that's what the chancellor meant when he said my train is going to be useless pretty soon! If that's the case, then he's probably a monster himself, breaking the seals that holds the demon king!
I start to panic a bit before realizing that Zelda had given me a letter. I rip the envelope open, wondering if that's what Zelda wanted to tell me about. Surely, the princess of all Hyrule is going to know about something as obvious as this?
The contents of the letter read out: 'I have a great favor that I must ask of you in person. Follow this secret path at the top of the castle. Tap the map icon to copy the location to your map. Please come to my quarters as soon as you can, and don't let anyone see you. -Zelda.'
"...What?"