"AKANE TENDO! Where are you, servant? Show yourself this instant! My chambers are a mess and I need you to clean them up."
Kodachi, princess of the Hyrule kingdom, stomped angrily down the castle corridor, shouting for her personal guardian.
When the black-haired princess came past the door of her sister's bedroom, Zelda looked outside. "Kodachi, what's with this racket? I'm trying to concentrate here. Those meditation lessons Impa is giving me aren't easy, you know? Now tell me what's the matter with you."
"With me?" Kodachi nearly shrieked. "You mean, with that disobedient servant Akane! I need her to perform a task of outstanding urgency, and she just doesn't show her pitiful face."
"Kodachi, didn't you hear? Akane left the castle this morning to help an agent of mine with an important mission."
"She... she WHAT?? Sister, how could you? Don't you have your own servants for this? What am I supposed to do now? Surely you don't expect me to clean up my room by myself, do you?"
"Princess Kodachi..." Impa carefully said, as she appeared behind her protege. "This mission is extremely important and my daughter was just the best person we could find. Also, I don't mean to intrude, but... surely she has deserved better than being just a servant. I mean, she has been assigned to be your bodyguard, not your chambermaid."
"How DARE YOU?" Kodachi snapped. "You better keep your opinion to yourself, servant, or I'll make sure my father will be informed about this! And just what do you think you're doing, interrupting the conversation between two members of royalty?"
The spoiled princess huffed and turned around on her heel, never looking back once as she angrily stormed off.
"Sister, where are you going?" Zelda asked.
"I'm going to find my dear Captain Mikado-sama... Surely he will help a miserable maiden in distress..."
When Kodachi had vanished behind the corner of the corridor, Impa bent down to Zelda and whispered: "I wonder if the punishment for spanking a spoiled brat like her will be worse than what I have to endure by listening to her..."
Zelda giggled. "Impa, you're terrible..."
----
"By Din's flame..." Kodachi grumbled. "Can't a princess get any attention here? Mikado-sama, where are you when I need your assistance...?"
When she came past the door of the guestroom, she heard voices. Kodachi hesitated. This was where that barbarian king, Ganondorf, was staying. But... did she just hear the voice of the chancellor's son in there as well?
"My lord, I do not know what you mean..."
"Come on, my boy," the desert king's deep voice replied. "I've seen it in your eyes: You deserve more than just being a simple guard in this castle, and you know it."
For a moment, there was silence.
"I... I never understood why my father did appoint that... that upstart Mikado to be captain of the guards, and not me. And the king... I cannot understand his decisions, either. Why should the Sheikah be the guardians of the royal family? They can't be trusted. They're a bunch of back-stabbing devils that prefer sneaking around in the shadows than showing their faces in broad daylight. What for, if not to hide their true intents? Truly, a boy of noble blood would be much more fitting to be the loyal bodyguard of a fair maiden such as Princess Zelda."
"Too true, my boy, too true... But, let me ask you a question: What would you do if I tell you that I know of a way how you could gather all the respect that has been denied to you for all your life?"
"Lord Ganondorf... you are a noble soul. A proud warrior, and certainly a more trustworthy person than my foolish father. Please, I beg of you: Show me your ways of success, and I'll pledge myself as your loyal servant for my entire life."
'That stupid boy...' Kodachi thought to herself. 'What does he expect from that barbarian?' But she pressed her ear even closer to the wooden surface of the door.
"I'll offer you not only a way to become famous all over Hyrule, but also a life filled with luxury... and without your father."
"I'm ready! What shall I do?"
Kodachi could almost hear Ganondorf's sly grin. "Bring to me... the Ocarina of Time!"
Kodachi let out an inaudible gasp.
Tatewaki seemed to be taken aback. "My... my lord... What are you demanding? The Ocarina of Time is the most sacred treasure of the royal family, hidden well within the castle's treasure rooms. Only members of the royal family themselves are allowed to touch it."
"I know that," Ganondorf replied. "But as you know, I have pledged alliance to the king, and I only want the best for his kingdom. I could even cast a special spell that would protect the castle from future intruders."
"You... you're a sorcerer?" Kuno gasped.
"That's one way to put it, but I am much more than that. When I create that barrier, no one would ever be able to enter the castle without the permission of the king. But sadly, I need a powerful artifact for that, one that at the same time is also the personal property of the king. And the Ocarina of Time is the one item that fits this description the best, does it? And I'm sure the king would have offered me to use the Ocarina if it would be allowed for someone like me to touch it."
He stared into the boy's eyes. "You must believe me that I only want the best for the kingdom of Hyrule... I would never ask you to do something like this if I wouldn't believe that it is necessary. You now, I heard about rumors that the Zora tribe isn't as loyal to the king as he would like to believe... People say that they are planning to take over this kingdom. Surely you remember how there was once a war between the two races of the Zoras and the Hylians, do you?"
"Of course!" Tatewaki snarled. "I knew it all the time. Those creatures... I've never trusted them. It was just a matter of time before they would forget the mercy the royal family has shown to them by sparing their feeble existence."
"Yes," Ganondorf nodded. "And that is not all. I'm afraid my scouts have confirmed that none other than the Sheikah are conspiring with the Zora. They plan on opening the gates for them, so they can storm the castle."
"Those... those bastards!"
"You see now, son, that we have no time to think about ethics? I need the Ocarina of Time if I am to cast that spell. Unnecessary bargaining would just cost us valuable time. Only inside my barrier, the castle will be safe from the Zora's assault."
"I... I understand!" Tatewaki knelt down on the floor. "Do not worry, my lord... I shall bring the Ocarina to you, I swear it by my honor as a member of the noble Kuno family..." He gritted his teeth. "Indeed, my father has done much to dishonor our family... I shall cleanse the Kuno name of everything he has done."
"Very good, boy," the desert king nodded. "I knew I could count on you."
When the young soldier left the guestroom, the black-haired princess quickly hid behind some curtains.
After Kuno had left, Kodachi gasped in surprise... a dark-skinned hand was brushing the curtains aside.
"Ga... Ganondorf!"
"Greetings, Princess Kodachi," the Gerudo smirked. "I guess we have much to discuss... would you care to join me within my chambers?"
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(Posted Sun, 17 Dec 2006 12:24)
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