A few days had past and it had been nonstop for Princess Zelda.

Her father constantly telling her she needs to unlock her powers and the duties of a Princess are more than enough to make a woman's hair grey. Vah Ruta had been in mint condition after her examination of the beast, and a long enough wait while Mipha healed Link and caught up with him.

Four champions down, four divine beasts down and four trips down so far. Only three more destinations to go. The constant pressure of the bump she cannot get over within unlocking her powers, are enough to make her go deluded. The champions had been expected to be at the Castle either today or tomorrow, depending on who showed up when. Today was the day the champions get their champion cloth and title, where they would be coronated to be champions of Hyrule and their races.

She had a feeling of annoyance still thinking of when Princess Mipha had dragged Link away after the dinner, whilst they were in the midst of beginning to head to their inns. She watched the red Zora drag the hero to the divine beast before they had disappeared from her sight. Everett had seemingly brushed it off as nothing, and had went to converse with some of the for the time being, and they seemed interested in his fighting prowess and strength. Leaving her alone to her thoughts.

Link had later returned that night in the domain, after her and Everett had already been in the process of calling it a night at the inn, that the innkeeper insist on them sleeping there for free, but Link had insisted on paying.

The recent close calls with death had her on edge lately. The Yiga situation, along with the hinox. Her father had been right, she did need Link and Everett at her side and not some Hylian soldiers who can barely take on bokoblins. She was hopeless.

"You left without your protection?" The King boomed, anger seeping in his deep voice. His voice echoed the sanctum walls, deeply startling Zelda. She's never seen her this angry.

She had opened her mouth slightly to retaliate. To give him an excuse. To find a way to alleviate the trouble she was in. But nothing came from it. She didn't have the energy to defend herself any long or prolong her failure. She expected to hear another roar of spiteful words but nothing came.

"I'm disappointed daughter," was all the King said and it hurt more than she let on. "I thought carelessly trying to throw your life away to get away from the people trying to protect you would be beneath you. Clearly I was wrong. I do not know what I would've done if they brought your lifeless body back to this sanctum."

She felt a lone tear drop from her eyes.

"You are to head straight to your quarters," Rhoam said, with a hint of disappointment and anger in his voice. "But make no mistake; this is far from over."

She had gotten the lecture of her life, spanning only about fourty-five minutes and a order to stay in her room for the entire day. Luckily she was able to sleep most of it away before she was pulled out of her room, for duties.

She had barely seen Link around the castle, and it had gave her a bit of a withdrawal. She was used to that nagging presence of his behind her, or in front of her door. But he wasn't neither, and she'd only get glimpses and glances of him. He'd give her slight nods before he continued his duties around the castle, leaving her side. She had grown quite accustomed to his presence next to hers.

She hasn't seen Everett either, the entire few days after their visit to Zora's Domain, which was odd. Althought, he wasn't permitted to stay by her sides at all times. He wasn't sworn or swore an oath to protect her. He had been practically nonexistent around the castle the entire few days she had spent studying her prayers, secretly hanging around Purah and Robbie when they were in the castle.

"Yiga activity has been picking up since your attempted assassination," Impa's voice had came back into her head, snapping her out of the trance she was in. Zelda had nodded slightly, understanding the implication. "We must take more precautions."

"Will I ever be able to live a normal life?" Zelda quietly asked. She had stopped walking, Impa hadn't noticed until she was a few feet in front of the Princess.

"Pardon me?" Impa asked.

Zelda sighed. "All I want is just a normal life. A life where I'm not on constant lookout for someone trying to kidnap me or murder me."

Impa had took a couple steps to face Zelda, who had her focus on her fingers that had anxiously been latched onto the other set of fingers on her other hand. Impa let her thumb raise, raising the Princess's face with her thumb.

"Sometimes Princess, we must live in a rainbow full of chaos." Was all the shiekah advisor said, letting the words sink into Zelda. "Now come on, Purah and Robbie are waiting for us down in the lab."

Zelda's eyes widened. "I'm not suppose to be touching sheikah technology. Father forbade it."

Impa smirked. "Well, your father is not here right now. Also, no one is going to know. Plus, Purah has been wanting to see you."

Zelda couldn't help but feel a tad bit excited. But what also came with that excitement was guilt, guilt of not doing what she was suppose to be doing. Studying and practicing her prayers to unlock this power. Something's got to give.

The two finally descended into the sheikah lab, which had been filled with scientists. A model guardian had sat in the middle of the lab, multiple researchers observing it.

Purah had been observing parts of the guardian on a nearby counter, with a blueprint already laid out across the table along with the thousands of papers and documents stacked on top of each other. Robbie no where in sight.

It seemed none of the scientists had noticed the Princess, as she freely walked past most of them. For the most part, the lot of them had their faces stuck in papers or books.

Purah had glanced over his shoulder, her eyes widened in glee at the sight of Zelda and she spun 360 on the spot.

"Princess! Check it!" She struck the pose, before getting back into a normal stance. Zelda had smiled at her, giggling at her antics. Purah had almost leaped into her arms for one of her famous hugs.

"Purah. How is everything?" Zelda asked, wrapping her arms around the shiekah scientist. Purah had released Zelda from her vice grip, before showing her the counter where papers of research were laid out.

"Just checking the guardian that went rogue a few weeks back on us and almost made you cooked salmon." She said fiddling with one of it's parts from the machine. "Everything seems in check, nothing out of place."

"Do we know why they tried to kill everyone in the yard before Everett and Link stopped it?" Impa questioned with a look of suspicion. Her thin eyebrow had raised off of her eye slightly, taking in the parts of the guardian laid out across the countertop.

"Would there be a way, to shut it off instead of needing to completely destroy it?" Zelda had questioned. She could remember the fear of the guardian putting it's sights on her, and beginning to take aim.

Everett and Link had luckily been in the vicinity, being able to distract it from destroying her completely. She could remember herself losing her temper on the warriors, and Everett not backing down to her at all.

Keep your projects from trying to murder people.

"The sheikah slate can command it, but we have been installing and trying to create a device where voice commands work." Purah stated, before she took her glasses off and turned back to Impa and Zelda. "But, there's an issuer if someone can mimics voices. And with reading a bit of Hyrule history, that's the least far fetched thing that's happened over history. As for your questions, that remains to be answered."

"So basically," Impa started. "You don't know."

"Well, if you don't want a scientific explanation; then yes. I have no idea." Purah muttered shamefully, as if she beat herself over not knowing something. Impa had sighed restless, she had leaned over at the table.

"This isn't my strong suit." Impa had sighed once again, fiddling with the equipment before Purah had swatted her hand away. "Zelda, what do you th-"

The lab door had busted open, startling all scientists and researchers in the room. In the door, had been a random soldier who had looked frantic, and sweaty as if he been running. His sword had been as if it were dragged through the mud, and his armor was coated in dirt.

"Where is the Princess?" He said brushing past every scientists. He must've been a new solider because Zelda didn't recognize him at all.

"Sir Vash?" Impa questioned suspiciously, as the solider got closer to them. He had finally made it in front of the three before he painted and huffed, out of breath. He put a finger up, before he had finally stood up straight and began to talk.

"Lady Impa, you must help! The Castle is currently being infiltrated by Yiga-" without a sudden warning, a karambit had been lodged into his throat by one of the scientists, sputtering blood onto Purah's face, who had been in shock. Her scream had echoed around the room, and Impa had disarmed the scientist now turned Yiga who had been smiling devilishly. Impa had unsheathed her knife swiftly, before embedding it into the head of the Yiga member. Zelda had almost squealed at the body, falling into her and making her hit the ground with the dead Yiga member ontop of her.

Impa had throw the carcass off of the Princess, who was now caked in blood from the wound that had been pouring out furiously from the impact from Impa.

"Everyone!" Impa called out. "Get armed, we will bring the fight to the Yiga!" Impa had roughly latched onto the Princess's wrist with a grip not even the Calamity could pry off. "You will stay near me until we find Link! Your life is in my hands as of now. Purah! Follow me."

Zelda had been in such a state of shock she didn't exactly register the words from Impa, but had been being dragged through halls with Impa and a bunch of shiekah soldiers. Two pairs of Yiga had suddenly popped out of thin air in front of them, and Impa had pushed Zelda back before heading straight on. Purah had been roughly wiping the blood that had been spattered onto her face off, squealing at the sudden sensation of seeing someone killed in front of her.

She skillfully dodged all the blows from the Yiga, only letting their carvers scrap her. She had stabbed her blade into one of the members foot, before taking it out and stabbing them in the throat. Watching the member drop lifelessly to the ground. Impa had swiftly turned, and let the blade cut the other members throat too, stopping his motion in catching her off guard. The two assassins plopped to the ground.

"Move!" Her sudden command made Zelda startle, before Impa had grabbed her worst again and practically dragged her down the hall with her. Impa had been too fast for Zelda to keep up, and she could feel herself constantly tripping over her own feet.

"Impa slow down!" She had pleaded, but to no avail. The two had been stopped when a Yiga member had been thrown into sight, Link had been busy easily defending himself from two Yiga's in the narrow hall. Link had skillfully backed up, before he hit the wall and let the Yiga members swing away at him, before he easily cut them down.

"Link!" Impa had shouted desperately, getting his attention. He had ran down the hall, before he had stopped before them.

"Is the Princess alright?" He frantically asked, he earned a nod from Zelda in which he returned before he put his attention back on Impa.

"What in Din's name is going on!?" Impa questioned.

"It's a planned attack. The Yiga must've infiltrated the castle! We recently found a mass grave of soldiers the Yiga have killed about a mile from the castle." Link informed, breathing heavily. The master sword had been caked in dirt and blood, he must've fought a lot to get here. "Just as I heard the news, I came to find the Princess."

"Where's Everett?" Impa growled.

"The King had given him a couple days off after we returned from Zora's Domain." Link said. He was talking much more than he did, and he was being more in touch with emotion. "He sent out a carriage for him to be escorted back to the castle."

Impa's eyes widened. "If they infiltrated the castle and knew exactly where the Princes was, they'll know that carriage is meant for Everett!"

"We'll never get to Outskirt Stable in time," Zelda had breathed out, worried about what would happens to him if the Yiga did intercept the carriage.

"He's on his own." Impa coldly said, despite shaking her head full of disbelief and disappointment. "If he truly is the warrior people say he is, he'll be smart enough to realize it's a set up. But right now, we need to get the Princess and Purah to safety."

"Understood." Link replied stoically. He had urged the three of them to follow him, maneuvering their way through carcasses and Yiga members.

"What of Castle Town?" Zelda asked.

"It's being attacked by the Yiga currently. They've tried to infest with monsters, but we've got them under control. It's mainly the Yiga causing havoc."

Suddenly a Yiga had swiped their carver from out behind a corner, Link being fast enough to dodge it. He had skillfully disarmed the assassin and plunged the master sword in his gut, before he had ripped it out and let the member fall to the ground now lifeless.

Link had roughly grabbed Zelda's hand, making sure she was behind him as Impa had fought off a couple Yiga. She had been struggling for a bit, but had managed to fend them off and kill them. She's never seen so much death before.

"Where are we going?" Purah asked fearfully, smudges of blood still stained her face.

"I don't know, Purah. We just need to get you two somewhere safe." Impa had hastily answered. They made it past the courtyard and headed into the way of the sanctum to the king. Zelda had wanted to ask if her father was ok, but the adrenaline and fear pumping in her body had rendered her speechless.

The four of them had made it to the sanctum in little time, realizing the doors had been heavily guarded. Guards had been on high alert, but they had recognized the small party and opened the doors. The King had been pacing on his throne, not noticing they were there. He lifted his head up, and had almost bolted towards the Princess.

"Daughter," he had breathed out, as if he held in a breath until he saw her. He had quickly pulled her into a hug, and she embraced it. He had soothingly run his fingers through her gold hair. "Are you hurt? Did they get to you?"

"No...no. Link and Impa have kept me safe." She informed him, as he frantically checked her for wounds and bruises. She had a slight purplish bruise from Impa gripping her arm tightly as the two escaped the lab wing of the castle.

"Has Sir Everett arrive yet?" Rhoam asked, finally taking his attention off of Zelda.

Impa shook her head. "No. We're assuming the escort was intercepted by Yiga." Rhoam sighed into his hand, sliding it down his face.

"If he is a formidable warrior, then he will be able to handle himself." Rhoam explained. "I had offered him a few days off due to the great service he has provided for the kingdom. I seem to have start to regret sending him off castle grounds."

"Everett can handle himself," Zelda assured them all. "He'll realize it's a set up to try and kill him."

...

A bump in the the carriage had shaken Everett from his drunken trance. An team of soldiers with a horse and closed carriage had been designated to grab and escort him to the castle for the ceremony that would be happening soon.

He'd wish he remembered that before getting piss drunk with Olas and Boto.

He couldn't remember the last time he had a good drink. The three of them had knocked back multiple shots of Goron alcohol. Another bump had made him hiccup, and he could smell the alcohol in his breath. Four bland soldiers had been sitting around him, stoically.

Everett raised an eyebrow, before he grabbed the soldiers shoulder next to him and gave him a tug. "Damn, a-are you guys having a shitty day too?"

There wasn't an answer between the four soliders who kept their sights on him, with not even a tiny peep from their mouths. Everett had drunkenly swayed in his seat, before he giggled.

"That bad of a...a day huh?" He had hiccuped once more, still no answer from the soldiers. "Hey, what's ya'll problem? Do I smell to much like alcohol? I can change if y'all want..."

"That won't be necessary, Sir Everett." He looked up to where the solider was sitting, diagonally across from the drunken warrior. "We're nearing our destination."

That doesn't seem right. We've only been in this carriage for ten minutes. The castle isn't for another twenty.

"Eh," he had said. No answer. "Hey!" He had slapped the soliders knee harshly, getting a look of death from the solider. Something in his eye glistened red, but it didn't go unnoticed by Everett even in his drunken state. "Why are y'all escorting me again?"

A chuckle from the solider next to him, turned into a maniacal giggle. Everett had scooted a bit away from the solider whose face was darkened from his head gear, he turned to Everett and it looked like he didn't have an upper face. Just a pointy nose, and a evil smile.

"Well, Everett. Let's just say...this is the end of the line," the solider had switch it's appearance to...a Yiga! Everett had quickly snapped out a drunken trance, quick enough to react to the small blade that had popped in the hand of the Yiga.

"Shit!" Everett had gasped, dodging the maniac swinging the blade long enough to grab his arm, disarming him of the blade before he roughly slammed his head into the carriage wall.

Another Yiga had switched quickly into his true form, holding another blade over his head to swing down on Everett. The Yiga was countered by a foot to his abdomen, which sent him back into the wall. Everett had quickly recovered the blade on the ground, and the third solider had took his turn on him.

Everett had felt the blade cut his cheek as he tried to dodge. Gritting, he had sliced the assassins throat, watching the man try to grab it to stop the bleeding. One of them had jumped on his back, whilst the two remaining had recovered their weapons and tried to gut him.

With the man still clinging onto his back, Everett had turned around letting the man's feet kick his own partners down again before eventually flipping him over his shoulder. He had stomped on the man's shoulder, breaking it before he stomped on his head.

Everett felt a searing pain in his shoulder, one of them had managed to stab him. Everett had felt his anger rise, and his vision begin to yellow. Something he hadn't felt since he first arrived here.

In a flash, he had punched the assassin hard enough to feel his jaw out of place, before the other assassin could attack with his remaining blade. Everett had harshly slammed his head into the carriage wall, feeling it slightly crush under his grasp.

Everett had turned, seeing the Yiga being the blade come swiftly down on him. He had reacted enough to dodge to the side, before he rammed his fist into the man's gut. He quickly grabbed the man, and slammed him into the carriage, creating a hole.

The man's head went through the wooden carriage. Everett had angrily yanked the man from the hole in the carriage before he gripped his shoulders. He had head butted the man, before throwing him into the wall full force.

The assassin had gone through the carriage entirely, landing on the rough dirt on the ground. The moving horses had stopped, and Everett had quickly taken cover and grabbed one of the downed assassins blade.

A thud had been heard, and quick shuffle of feet had came closer to the hole in the carriage.

"What in Din's name is going-" before the Yiga could finish his sentence, Everett jumped out, and lodged the blade into his throat. The man had gurgled blood, and the blood spurting from his neck covered Everett's arm a reddish color.

The man dropped dead, and Everett let out the breath he held in. The fear inside him had pushed his adrenaline so high, he felt his anger finally subside. He closed his eyes, breathing in the fresh air of Hyrule. He opened them, and looked at the castle in the distance.

"This is a bad time to be drunk."