oh, hey, look-it's Peatrice! And Groose!

yep, I brought them in. Because Groose is strong enough to be a guard leader-hence his role-and Peatrice? Well...Vio needs someone to give him rumors.

and yes, Vio can paint. Because why not?

As of this chapter forward, the plot shall officially begin! Sure, there may be a couple of filler chapters, but hopefully not too much.

Enjoy! I own nothing!

Shadow sighed, sinking into the warm waters of the pool. His duty had long since ended and he decided to relax in the pool reserved for the guards and staff of the palace. The princess and royal advisor each had their own, as well. It was rarely crowded, and thankfully, at the moment was empty except for him.

"Hey."

Shadow opened his eyes, seeing a familiar face stepping in the pool. "Blue." He sat up as the other sat on the step beside him.

"Didn't think I'd see you here," Blue said.

"Were you hoping I was Red?" Shadow teased, smirking.

Blue's face turned light pink. "Don't be ridiculous," he snapped, glaring at the other, "Of course not."

"I don't believe you," Shadow said, crossing his arms behind his head.

"Whatever." Blue sighed, leaning back against the wall behind them. "Hey, can I ask for a favor?"

"Depends on what the favor is," Shadow said.

"You know who Karane and Pipit are, right?"

Shadow frowned thoughtfully. "Hmm...Karane helps Red in the kitchens, and Pipit's a stable boy, right?"

"Yeah," Blue said, "I'm surprised you know. Anyway, Karane's friend Orielle is a new dancer at Ilia's dance house. Pipit and Karane are going to support her. They asked Red if he wanted to attend and support her, but he is going to be busy. They asked me if I wanted to come, but I won't be available, so I thought maybe you'd be interested in going in my stead."

Shadow rose an eyebrow. "Let me get this straight. You want me to accompany two people I barely know to a dance house on the south side to watch some stranger dance." Blue nodded and Shadow sighed and frowned. "What's in it for me?"

"I'll owe you, for one," Blue said, thinking a bit, "And...did I mention Vio was going to dance?"

Shadow rose an eyebrow again. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah," Blue said with a nod, "He dances before Orielle. He's going to be warming up the crowd for her, I think. At least, that's what Karane said." He looked at Shadow. "So, interested? It's going to happen next week."

"..." Shadow sighed. "I'll think about it."

As he said, he did think about it, mostly the next day while he patrolled Castle Town. The kingdom was separated into four parts-Skyloft, which was the northernmost district; Kakairiko Village, which was the western area; Castle Town, in the east, surrounding the castle built against a cliff; and the southern district, which is known simple as the south side.

Shadow sighed, watching as their leader, Guard-Captain Groose, addressed the royal advisor about an issue within the ranks of the guard. He wondered where the princess was. Busy again? Honestly.

"Well, then there isn't anything I can do," Ghirahim said, shaking his head, "It seems you will have to figure this out on your own." He left without another word.

Shadow frowned. He didn't exactly like the royal advisor. And he was sure he wasn't the only one. Groose turned to look at them, the sour expression on his face confirming Shadow's thoughts.

"Alright," Groose said, "We're done here."

The guards drifted apart, some leaving, others chatting with others. Shadow spotted Blue heading towards the kitchens.

Shadow himself left, walking through the marketplace streets. There were still occasional stragglers out, some of them merchants who were finishing closing their stalls. As he headed home, he drifted into thought. Should he go...?

. . . . . .

Vio sighed as he walked through the busy marketplace, arms full of small painting canvases. He sighed warily. Why did Ilia's dance house have to be so far away?

He scanned he area around him, listening for anything that could help him with what the princess had asked him to do.

"Stop! THIEF!"

Vio ignored the commotion, figuring the guards would handle it. That is, until someone ran into him from the side.

"Oof!"

The canvases fell to the ground as Vio and whoever had run into him fell to the ground. Ignoring the throbbing pain in his head, he pushed the other off and pulled himself into a sitting position, beginning to pick up the canvases. When there was one left, he reached for it just as another hand neared it.

Startled, Vio looked up, blue eyes meeting with another pair. A familiar voice said, "Oh, sorry."

Vio frowned and sighed, picking up the canvas and used the other's outstretched hand to pull himself up. "It doesn't matter. What brings you here, Shadow?"

The purple haired guard frowned, crossing his arms the best he could with the small canvases he had picked up in his arms. "I was chasing a thief before I ran into you." At Vio's frown, Shadow shook his head. "Just forget about it. Guy's got Link and Blue on his tail. He won't escape."

"You seem awfully confident about that," Vio pointed out.

"Of course I am," Shadow said, "Link's fast and Blue's strong. They'll get him." He ignored the disbelief in Vio's eyes and held out the canvases. "These are yours, right?"

"Yes," Vio said, taking them back and making sure he had all eight of them, "They are."

"They're pretty good," Shadow said.

Vio sighed. "Thank you," he said dryly, frowning. He watched Shadow run in the direction he had originally been heading in, probably to help catch the thief. Vio continued walking, making it to his destination before long.

"Hello Peatrice," Vio said as he arrived at the stall.

The blonde perked up, smiling a bit. "Oh, hello, Vio. Brought more paintings?"

"Yes, I have." As he set the canvases down for her to look at, he asked "Have you heard anything?"

"No," she sighed, eyes running along the paintings on the canvases, "Nothing. Sorry."

"It's fine," Vio sighed as Peatrice took the paintings and set them on display.

As she knelt down and opened a small chest hidden from view of buyers and passerby's, she asked "Hey, Vio?"

"What is it, Peatrice?"

Peatrice's cheeks turned pink as she lifted a medium sized pouch and set it down. "Would you...would you happen to know a guard named Link?"

"Not personally, no," Vio said, "Why?"

Peatrice looked disappointed at that. "Oh, nothing."

"...are you attracted to him?"

Peatrice turned red as she held up her hands and shook her head rapidly. "N-no! Of course not!" She turned sheepish, pushing her index fingers together as she mumbled a bit. "He just stops by and looks at what I have on display...and talks to me a bit." She paused. "Well...not 'talk', per say. But he listens to me and he's really nice and...cute..."

"What do you mean?" Vio asked.

"I don't know why," Peatrice replied, "But he can't seem to speak. I mean, he can make sounds, like sighs, gasps, all of that. But he can't actually say words."

"That's odd," Vio mumbled as he took the pouch from Peatrice, the coins inside making a pleasant clinking sound.

"I know," she sighed.

"Well, I'll see you later, Peatrice," Vio said as he put the pouch away. He turned and walked away, hearing Peatrice bid him farewell.

It would figure that there would be no new rumors. Oh well. Perhaps next time.

AznDumplings: yep!

linklover88: agreed!

Mikau majora: umm...no.

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