The first thing that stood out to me in the letter was that Zelda didn't use my name. She said my name clearly in the ceremony. Twice. How hard is it for her to say 'Link?' Secondly, what the heck does 'map icon' mean? And how does she even know that I have a map with me? Most people who are attending a graduation ceremony aren't usually going to be carrying that.

I groan as I throw crumple the letter and throw it into the moat next to the stairs. I could already tell that this situation was going to be nothing but trouble. Still, it sounded too important for me to ignore, so I follow the instructions she gave me.

The task of getting to Zelda's quarters was really easy, which made me a little concerned about public security. If being able to walk inside the castle with guards walking around was the maximum security for this castle, then a person could easily assassinate Zelda. But I knew that wouldn't happen. After all, that would be the logical thing to do.

Soon enough, I was in Zelda's chambers. Zelda herself was playing a flute, unbeknownst to my presence. Again, if I was an assassin, killing her wouldn't be all that hard.

She notices me, and immediately turns around. "Link! I'm so glad you made it! Did the guards see you?"

"No, they didn't. But I'm not sure if that's a good thing-"

"That's great!" Zelda goes and puts her flute on a dresser before continuing, "I was hoping you could help me. As you know, the Tower of Spirits has protected our kingdom for ages. The tower connects at the spirit tracks that criss-cross this land."

"Yeah, I know all that. It's common sense for most people."

She didn't look amused with my comment. "...ANYWAYS, for some reason they seem to be vanishing everywhere. Something must have happened at the tower. I must go there to investigate!"

"Whoa whoa whoa, wait. How is that a good idea?"

Zelda looks at me with confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Well, if something's happening to the Tower of Spirits, then it's most likely a monster. It would also have to be really powerful if it can make the spirit tracks dissapear, sooooo…. What are you exactly going to do? Fight this monster?"

Her face goes pale for a few seconds before she shakes it away with her head. "T-there are rumors of there being a sage who watches over the tower, so maybe she would have advice of what to do about the disappearing tracks."

"You heard about this from rumors? Wait, hasn't anyone ever actually been in the Tower of Spirits before? I mean, the door to it is always opened. Can't you just send some messengers to ride there and back to see if the sage actually exists?"

"I…. I guess I could…. But the thing is, chancellor Cole would surely know about it as well, and would probably stop them from leaving. He forbids me from visiting the Tower of Spirits due to 'safety concerns.'"

"Oh yeah, about that…." I scratch my temple awkwardly, wondering how Zelda was going to take the news that I was about to give her. "I think Chancellor Cole might be a monster in disguise."

Zelda frowns. "I mean, chancellor Cole is harsh sometimes, sure. But I think it's a bit much to be calling him a monster…."

"N-no, I mean an ACTUAL monster disguising as a human."

She gasps. "Chancellor Cole? A demon?! Now that's just preposterous!"

"How? I mean, you yourself told me to beware of him. He even said after the ceremony that my train was going to be useless soon!"

"He did?" She crosses her arms and takes a moment to think. "Well, I apologize for his rude behavior, but I'm sure he didn't actually mean it. He just likes to get a rise out of people."

I sputter at her oblivious nature. "You don't find it weird that he's keeping you from going to the Tower of Spirits?"

Zelda pouts at me. "I'm not an idiot! Of course I know he's hiding something!"

"Yet you don't think he's evil?"

She shakes her head. "That's ridiculous. He has earned the trust of each and every soldier here! I don't believe he could possibly be evil."

"..." I was an inch away from slamming my head against the wall from hearing her 'logic.' Still, despite her obliviousness to her chancellor's true intentions, I had to agree that something was most likely wrong at the Tower of Spirits. Plus, if the spirit tracks disappeared for good, not only would a crisis occur throughout all the land, but I wouldn't be able to drive a train ever again. I sigh and tell Zelda, "All right, I'll accompany you to the tower."

Zelda smiles brightly, almost making me forget about my frustration. Almost. "All right! Just sneak me out of here and we'll be on our way!"

"...Wait, you want me to DRIVE you to the tower?"

"Why yes. How else are we going to get there?"

"I mean, true, it's the fastest way to get there. But don't you think it's a bit obvious? The spirit tracks are disappearing from an evil force. What's to stop them from making the tracks disappear while we're on the way there?"

She thinks about my point for a few moments. "I guess it IS a bit risky…. But if we walk there, then we'll be even more exposed!"

"Well, is there another way there? Like a secret passage or something like that?"

"A secret passage…." She folds her arms and looks to her side. "Now that you mention it, there are rumors that there was a passage behind the castle that lead to the Tower of Spirits. But all the guards say that they didn't see an entrance."

"Well, have you ever taken a day to send in a group of miners to dig out the entrance?" Zelda doesn't respond to my question, so I take it as a no. "Wait here. I'll go grab Alfonzo real quick, and then we'll come back to start looking for the passageway."

"W-wait, how are you going to do that? The guards will just throw you out!"

"Simple. Just write me a letter saying that me and Alfonzo have free roam to the castle today. They'll buy it."

She frowns. "I'm not sure about it. I had a much safer idea for you to get around the castle actually."

"Really?" I haven't met many people who had bright ideas, so hearing her say that made me a bit excited. "Well what's your plan?"

"I grabbed a recruit uniform for you to wear. You should be able to fool the guards with this."

My eyes go wide at her statement. "...Are you serious?"

"Y-yeah, I am. Why?"

If anyone can wear a recruit uniform, then what's to stop someone from dressing up as a recruit and robbing the royal treasury?! Or even worse, kill someone?! I start to consider changing my career to a politician to actually make sure Hyrule is safe from harm. "I think it'll just be easier to write the letter. Plus, there's no rooms for me to change in."

"Oh, you can just change right here."

…...

…...

…...

"Zelda?"

"Yes Link?"

"Please write the letter before I lose my mind."

She pouts. "Arrrrrgh, do I have to? I've already had to write two dozens paper today-"

"WRITE THE FRIGGIN LETTER!"

Thankfully for my sanity, Zelda wrote the letter. It worked like a charm. None of the guards questioned the letter, and I was able to take Alfonzo into the castle. To my surprise, Alfonzo understood the situation quite well when Zelda talked to him, and he was ready to escort her.

To be honest, this wasn't anything new to me. Alfonzo may not be too bright when it comes to things like common sense, but when somebody's in danger or needs help, he's always the first one at the scene. It was one of the reasons why I wanted him to be my mentor when I started learning about engineering.

When the three of us went to go to the back of the castle, there was a little problem. Well, to Zelda anyways. There was a guard standing in front of the door, and she flipped out. "Oh no! How are we going to get past that guard?"

"Simple," I say to her, "You go talk to him."

"Whaaaaat?!" She shrieked so loudly that I was surprised the guard didn't hear her. "But the guards are ordered to take me to my room on sight!"

"Wait, if the guards take you to your room, then how was the passage you showed me a secret- *Sigh* Nevermind. Here, tell him this…." I whisper into her ear a script for the guard.

She looked a bit doubtful about my plan. "Do you think that'll work?"

I reassure her, "Don't worry. If there's anything I've learned from being at the castle, it's that your guards are loyal to you to a fault. He'll definitely listen to you." That, and the guards are also extremely guillible.

Zelda's mouth goes agape for a moment before turning into a smile. "Thank you Link. I'll trust you." She then walks confidently to the guard. As she said, he started to tell her that she shouldn't be walking around the castle and that he was going to escort her back to her room when she starts to recite my words. "I have an important message for you. You have the rest of today off."

The guard instantly becomes speechless from the sentence. "R-really?! But why?"

Zelda giggles, an excellent tactic to soften the guard up. I was going to have to be careful of that myself. "You've worked so hard every day, yet you never complain about your duties. I decided that you deserved some time off, at the very least."

"P-princess…." The guard suddenly starts bawling. "Thank you for your kindness! I promise that I'll work harder for you then ever!" He then starts walking to the staircase. Me and Alfonzo quickly run up the stairs and get behind a corner, barely making it in time to avoid detection.

When we meet up with Zelda at the bottom of the stairs she smiles at me. "That was much easier than I thought it would be. I'm going to have to use that line when the guards spot me sneaking out of the castle from now on!"

I realize that I had unintentionally made a terrible mistake helping her dupe the guard. "Er, maybe you shouldn't. The castle needs at least SOME guards here."

"Oh…. I didn't think about that. I guess you're right." She then turns to the door, not seeing me wipe my brow in relief. "Anyways, let's start looking for that entrance!"

Me and Alfonzo nod firmly to her. I tell princess Zelda, "We're right behind you," as we begin our adventure to restore the Spirit Tracks.