Chapter 53 - Combat Training Plans
Summary: In the Calamity timeline, Astra faces her mother's concern over the Crenel Peak incident. Astra agrees to help Fallon with combat training.
As the setting sun painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, Astra, Fallon, and their three bitter captives galloped toward Hyrule Castle. The memories of their Crenel Peak adventure were still fresh in their minds, and Fallon was still in awe, trying to come to terms with Astra's exceptional combat ability. He was still amazed by what he saw happen in almost the blink of an eye. This Princess was far from the sheltered royalty people might have expected. What she did was almost beyond belief, and she must be the greatest sword fighter in all of Hyrule! It suddenly reminded him of a conversation he once had with his former platoon leader, Lieutenant Wilson.
"It's been an honor serving under you, Sir," said Fallon as Wilson made the rounds at his retirement party and shook hands with everyone.
"I've loved being here and getting to know all of you," said Wilson. "But Lieutenant Allan is a great leader, and I know you'll be in good hands."
"I still feel I have much to learn from you, Sir," said Fallon. "Your swordsmanship is amazing."
"Keep training hard, and you'll get there, Fallon," said Wilson. "But I can share a little secret that helped me master the art of swordsmanship. Back when I was starting out, many years ago now, I had the privilege of serving under Lieutenant Link before he became Captain and Princess Zelda's knight. One day, he saw me practicing and stopped to give me some combat tips and how best to train, which he did for all of his subordinates. He would also check up on me occasionally, and we would spar a bit – although he would go easy on me! In actual battle with monsters, though, it was another story entirely – it was like poetry in motion; he fought with such grace and accuracy that no enemy could stand against him. Though I could never hope to match his proficiency, those lessons stayed with me throughout my career."
"Good to know, Sir," said Fallon. "And here's to a healthy and fulfilling retirement."
"Thanks! I'm looking forward to spending time with my grandchildren and helping out at my son-in-law's ranch with my wife," said Wilson. "Keep working hard, Fallon. I think you have a promising career ahead of you."
"You know," began Fallon as his mind returned to the present, "I learned how to use a sword, of course. But I should probably take some sword-fighting lessons from you. Your precision is unmatched, even if I can't match your speed."
Astra chuckled, "Sounds like a fun date idea. But if you're serious, I can definitely share some tips."
Fallon looked at her earnestly, "I truly mean it. Call me old-fashioned, but I felt I should have been defending you or, at the very least, standing beside you in battle."
"And if I thought I needed your help, you would have been," said Astra. "But we can start doing some combat training next time we're together. Assuming Her Majesty doesn't lock me up, that is, for being so reckless. Our misadventure will not sit well with her."
"I can see that," nodded Fallon. "You don't know how much your presence brought new hope to our kingdom. When we learned Her Majesty could not have children, it seemed Hyrule was doomed to be without any royal successor. And then, when Her Majesty's husband was killed, it only made matters worse - that our enemies were triumphing over us. Your arrival, seemingly from nowhere, brought cheers and tears of joy to so many people. I should have realized how risky it was for us to ride alone and blame myself, too."
"Don't feel bad, Fallon. I'm the one who should have realized it but thought no bad would come of it. I grew careless, something that should never happen. But lesson learned."
They rode in silence for several more minutes until they neared the castle. Fallon glanced towards Astra, uncertainty clouding his features.
"Um, Astra, how do you want to approach this? The Royal Guards will demand a full account - reasons for the arrest and details of what happened. I want to shield you from further involvement. But avoiding any mention of you… It's obviously impossible."
Astra offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Fallon. Tell them everything precisely as it transpired. I can swear to the accuracy of your statement afterward. And if the officer interrogating you becomes too difficult, perhaps offer them some of that fruitcake I left you."
Fallon chuckled, "Not a chance! I have every intention of eating that myself. My only regret is not having you with me to share it. I want to test which is sweeter: the cake or your kiss.
"I guess you'll have to rely on memory to conduct the comparison," laughed Astra. "And do let me know your conclusion."
"I think you already know the answer," laughed Fallon. "But we're nearing the castle now, and protocol demands I be formal, Your Highness."
"Yes, we need to be proper, soldier," Astra agreed.
Then, with a mischievous smile, Astra blew him a kiss. He laughed, quickly returning the gesture.
As they halted, attendants approached to take charge of their horses. But the sight of their prisoners in tow quickly drew the attention of castle guards. A tall, stern figure stepped forward, his armor catching the dying light.
"Your Highness, I am Lieutenant Logan. What, might I ask, happened?"
"Lieutenant, Sir," Fallon intervened. "Would you allow me to detail the day's events for you and save Her Highness any further inconvenience?"
Logan nodded respectfully. "If that suits you, Your Highness. I do not wish to infringe upon your time unnecessarily."
Astra's gaze met Fallon's briefly. "Yes, that is perfectly satisfactory, Lieutenant Logan. And thank you, Fallon - for everything. Goodnight."
Fallon bowed, "Always at your service, Your Highness. And it was my pleasure."
As Astra headed towards the castle's entrance, she felt a pang of guilt. Leaving Fallon alone to grapple with the interview and paperwork seemed unfair. However, her involvement in preparing the report would only complicate matters. Her presence would make the Lieutenant feel he needed to involve a superior officer. And then, who knew how far it would cascade up the chain of command, dragging out the proceedings. Speaking of the chain of command, she had no doubt the incident would be reviewed by senior Royal Guard officers who would likely add their comments - primarily critical of her traveling unguarded. And by tomorrow, the report would reach her mother.
So, perhaps dinner with her mother tonight wasn't the best idea, either. Mother would ask her how the day went, and Astra would be obliged to tell her. She wanted to end today on a happy note, remembering her special time with Fallon, their first kiss - not the inevitable reprimand she knew she would soon receive. So, she made a brief detour to the castle's kitchen, grabbed some fruit, and retreated to her bedroom.
Astra sighed as she stared out her bedroom window and munched on an apple, "Quite an eventful day."
A soft voice in her head, almost ethereal, chimed in, "It evokes memories of our past time together, Mistress, battling evil. It solidifies the importance of my presence by your side."
A smile tugged at Astra's lips, "Indeed, Fi. But I wasn't only thinking of battling evil. I had a lovely time with Fallon. Anyway, I need to be up early, so I'm going to bed as soon as I finish this apple."
"Sweet dreams then, Mistress."
It was dawn the following day as Astra paced restlessly in her room, door ajar, eagerly awaiting Queen Zelda's departure for breakfast.
"I sense a spike in your anxiety, Mistress, as though you're steeling yourself for combat once again," echoed a familiar voice inside her mind.
"In a manner of speaking, I am, Fi," Astra responded, "though it's not the kind of battle your expertise would help with. I must intercept Her Majesty before she gets wind of the incident report concerning those thugs at Crenel Peak. As you know, after we handed them over, Fallon had to help fill out a report for the Royal Guards. I want to brief Mother myself before she reads the report, and I hope to prevent any overreaction. Myra typically delivers the previous day's incident reports either directly to her bedroom before breakfast or at breakfast itself. Hence, my need to keep an eye out."
"Keep an eye out, Mistress? You cannot be serious!"
"It means 'watching' Fi. We discussed this, didn't we? Did you think I intended to pluck out my eye?" Astra chuckled.
"The ambiguities in your language are no cause for amusement, Mistress," Fi's voice held a hint of reproach. "And I have perfect memory. We did not discuss that bizarre expression."
Astra's attention shifted. "Oh, Mother's leaving for breakfast. I must go, Fi."
Upon seeing her daughter already awake, Queen Zelda exhibited a look of mild astonishment. The two converged in the hallway near where the portrait of Astra's coronation hung.
"Good morning, you're up early today," greeted Zelda, wrapping Astra in a fleeting embrace before they made their way toward the private dining room. "Did excitement or hunger rob you of sleep? I noticed your absence at dinner. How was your time with Fallon?"
"Quite unforgettable in oh so many ways," Astra replied. "We opened up about our feelings for each other, which was wonderful! And Fallon is eager to meet you but still a touch apprehensive."
Zelda smiled warmly. "I await that meeting with bated breath. And I'm very happy for you, dear. By the way, did Crenel Peak's vista live up to its reputation?"
"It was nothing short of spectacular," Astra replied as they arrived at the dining room and settled down for their meal.
Upon lifting the silver cloche, Zelda discovered a delectable mushroom omelet meant for sharing. Both also helped themselves to the aromatic tea at hand and began eating. Zelda noticed the absence of the incident reports usually present by now.
"Hm, Myra seems delayed with yesterday's incident reports," observed Zelda, a slight frown forming. "She assembles them in order of severity, more significant reports being longer and often with attachments. So, I fear there must be some bad news if it's taking her longer than usual."
Astra hesitated, "Well, speaking of that, Mother, there was a minor scuffle at Crenel Peak."
"A minor scuffle?"
"A trio of thugs attacked us with the ridiculous idea they could take me hostage and hold me for ransom. They're all in custody now."
Zelda's eyes widened, "Excuse me? Exactly what happened?"
"It's not as dire as it sounds, Mother," Astra rushed to explain.
Zelda, though, cut her off, "No, I think it's quite serious. Are you and Fallon unhurt?"
"We're unscathed, Mother. However, …"
"Those three must have somehow learned you were traveling without Royal Guard protection," Zelda interjected, her face shadowed by concern. "And, rest assured, that will change from now on. Perhaps it's partly my fault for allowing you, lulled as I was into a false sense of security after the demise of the Yiga Clan."
"I easily dealt with those ruffians, Mother. They were no problem at all," Astra countered, her voice tinged with exasperation. "Their aim was ransom, not to harm me. My real concern lay with Fallon's safety."
"And what if there had been many more than three? Or, in the heat of battle, something went wrong, and you were fatally injured? I can't believe you would even argue with me about this!"
Zelda took a moment to compose herself, then continued.
"You must cease thinking of yourself as the reincarnation of your derring-do father, a reckless adventurer ever-ready for battle. You need to focus on your role as Hyrule's Princess and future queen. I'm beginning to appreciate how my father must have felt when he was so strict with me about trying to fulfill my duty to the kingdom."
Astra tried to interject, but a knock on the dining room door interrupted her.
"Please enter," Zelda called out.
"Greetings, Your Majesty, Princess," Myra began, her posture respectful. "My apologies for the delay. The incident reports from yesterday are here. The primary report had several attachments, including some stern advisories from the Royal Guard's security chief and insights into the breach."
"Thanks, Myra," Zelda acknowledged. "The Princess and I were just discussing it. Would you like to join us for some tea or breakfast?"
"I appreciate the offer, Your Majesty. However, I've already eaten. Perhaps it's wiser to have your dialogue with the Princess continue in private?"
"Yes, quite right," Zelda agreed.
Acknowledging with a nod, Myra exited, shutting the door gently behind her.
"You should acquaint yourself with these reports after I finish reading them," Zelda said, her tone harsh. "Perhaps they'll underscore the gravity of what transpired. Unless you travel directly somewhere safe using the Sheikah Slate, the Royal Guard needs to be with you. Am I making myself clear?"
Astra nodded. "I understand, Mother."
After a contemplative silence and a sip of tea, Zelda spoke again.
"Look, dear, I'm not heartless," Zelda began. "I understand young love and recognize your desire for intimate moments with Fallon. We can arrange for the Royal Guard to ensure your safety without infringing on your privacy. But going without Royal Guard protection is out of the question. Your safety and the kingdom's survival are far more important than your privacy."
"Yes, yes it is," Astra agreed. "I should have realized that."
If she and Fallon wanted to be alone together, she thought, he would have to meet her at a travel medallion.
"Okay, enough said about that," said Zelda. "Now tell me all about the good part of your date."
"Happily!" said Astra with a smile.
Meanwhile, that same morning, prison guards escorted the lockup inmates to the mess hall for breakfast. As he took his seat, Frank looked up in shock to see his brother Frond and his fellow gang members, Leon and Rogan, also being led in. They were all sporting bandages on their legs, and when they saw each other, they sat down together.
"I'm surprised to see you guys in here. I guess things didn't quite go as planned. How long are you in here for?" Frank whispered.
"We're all still awaiting trial, of course, so have no idea," said Frond. "But unless the judge is pretty merciful, our sentences will not be light."
"What went wrong?" Frank asked.
"What went wrong? Nobody told us that the Princess could fight like a demon! She handled all three of us in seconds before we even knew what happened."
They paused their conversation as one of the prison guards made his rounds past their seats, then continued when he was out of earshot.
"Well, that's news to me, too," said Frank. "And what about Fallon, that guard who arrested me?"
"There wasn't time to deal with him," murmured Rogan. "We were all too busy trying to stem the bleeding from our wounds."
"Ah," Frank nodded. "I'll have to take care of Fallon myself when I get out in three months."
"Good luck with that, but one piece of advice: make sure the Princess isn't around when you do it," said Frond.