Author's note: I do not own Hylia, Hyrule, Dragmire, Link etc, or any variation thereof. They belong to Nintendo.


"Hold still, would you?" Sarah cried in frustration as she wrestled Natalie's red hair into a curling iron.

"This is stupid," she protested, trying to wriggle away. She had no where to go in the small bathroom located near the ICU. Sarah grabbed Natalie by the hair and forced her back to the sink.

"No, you just putting your hair into a ponytail is stupid," Sarah hissed. "I would get done a whole lot quicker if you would just stand still," She continued to curl the girl's hair while she pouted. Natalie didn't like getting made up or fussed over. She wasn't a tomboy but she wasn't very girly either. She was accustomed to her aunt's brand of femininity. She had trouble seeing herself as anything but a daughter to her father and a niece to her many aunts. That world had collapsed on itself and Natalie was resisting moving out of it.

Natalie stared at herself in mirror as Sarah began to part and twist her hair. "Hand me those clips," Sarah commanded.

"Which clips?" Natalie asked, looking over the vast array of pins, clips and bands Sarah had lain out as a torturer displays his instruments. Sarah pointed to some plain clips and pinned the hair to one side as she began to work on Natalie's hair. She closed her eyes and made overdramatic whines every time Sarah pulled her hair.

"You can look now," Sarah prompted when she was finished. Natalie tentatively looked in the mirror, expecting her hair to resemble Marie Antoinette. She was surprised to see a ponytail. It wasn't just a ponytail. Her normally stick straight hair fell in cascading curls over her shoulder. There was a bit more pouf on top and twists and braids to accent it. Natalie twisted her head back and forth to take it in.

"I still look like me," she whispered in surprise, still gazing in the mirror.

"As if you could be anything else," Sarah remarked, putting her hair things into a case and fishing out another one. "Make up time."

"Okay."

"You aren't going to fight me?"

"Not as long as I still look like me in the end. I like the hair."

"I thought you might, hold still."

Natalie stood very calmly as Sarah quickly applied makeup. "See? I'm done already," Sarah smiled as she put down her brush.

"Already? You spent forever on my hair." Natalie peaked suspiciously.

"That was my everyday, casual routine," Sarah explained as she put away all her implement. "Anything else would have overpowered you and wouldn't have been "Natalie" enough. You are already pretty; you just needed a little polishing. Come on, let's put on your dress." Sarah was embarrassed at how Natalie wasn't about stripping down before Sarah could turn her back. Natalie quickly wriggled into her dress and had Sarah help fasten the back. "You know, not everyone can pull this color off, especially redheads," Sarah remarked as she smoothed the pale pink material. "Your complexion suits it." Natalie wrinkled her nose at it, still protesting the idea of wearing a dress. It was quite becoming. It looked feminine while still showing off Natalie's toned arms. She gave herself a quick glance in the mirror before diving for the bag containing her jewelry. She began layering on the pieces with abandon, carefully tucking her mother's necklace into place. Natalie pulled on a pair of opera length fingerless gloves that would have looked tacky on anyone else, but somehow looked classy on the teen.

"Much better," Natalie said triumphantly as she looked at herself bedecked in more jewelry than most people would consider tasteful. Somehow, it suited her. It complimented her personality without looking gaudy. Natalie helped Sarah gather the various boxes and bags and head out of the cramped bathroom.

"For someone who doesn't like dresses or makeup, you like your jewelry," Sarah teased they slowly made their way down the hall.

"They are shiny," Natalie shrugged as she sashayed down the hall in her simple flats. Sarah had argued she needed heels until Natalie pointed out she was already as tall as the boys. Natalie continued her dramatic walk through the sterile corridors of the hospital, bowing regally to the amused nursing staff. She entered the familiar room and flung the bags in the corner. "How do I look?" She sighed dramatically as she twirled around in the confined space.

"You are beautiful, leannĂ¡n," Her father replied, smiling as he watched his daughter preen about, "but you didn't need a new frock to prove that. I guess you decided you like it after all?"

"Meh," Natalie replied, sitting down in the corner with a graceless plop. "I suppose it will do."

"Are you ready?" Link called as he popped his head in the door.

"No," Natalie sulked. "I still do nae want to go." She rummaged through the discarded bags until she found her purse.

"I hope you have a good time anyway," her father replied. Natalie huffed and stared at him coldly.

"I hardly know any of them," she protested. It was true she had been in the same school with many of them her entire life, but she hardly socialized with them outside the classroom. She had even kept those on the track and cross country teams at arm's length. She had effectively isolated herself. It had been a misguided attempt to protect her aunts' identity, but it had left her alone and vulnerable now that her life was crashing down around her. Natalie sighed, "Do nae worry about it, Da. I'll be fine. I have to be going." She sighed heavily and headed for the door.

"I love you, Natalie," he called out, stopping her as she was about to leave. She turned around and went to the outstretched arms of her father. They embraced tenderly.

"I love you, Da," she whispered in reply, clinging to him for a silent moment.

"Get going now," he said with a soft kiss to her hair. He looked over at Link, standing just outside the door. "I expect her back by 10:30."

"Yes, sir," he replied with a grin and walked with Natalie towards the exit.

"I'm not sure I like him taking my daughter to a dance," O'Dragmire said to Sarah, who had been sitting quietly in the corner.

"It isn't like he is her date," she reminded him with an amused smile. "He's going to drop her off, then head for the office and work until he has to pick her up."

"Does he do anything besides work?" O'Dragmire inquired.

"Link does get side-tracked a lot, but yeah, mostly work," Sarah replied.

O'Dragmire shook his head and smiled slightly, before a grimace overtook him as he put a large hand over his side.

"You think very highly of Link," he mentioned once he had caught his breath.

"Yeah," Sarah agreed with a smile. "He is a great guy."

"I'm glad he makes you happy," O'Dragmire said curtly; which elicited a strange look from Sarah. She began to laugh.

"Oh, it isn't anything like that," she giggled, abandoning her usual worried demeanor. "We went on a few dates, but we don't have too much in common. We have totally different goals in life. He wants excitement and adventure."

"And what is it you want?" O'Dragmire prompted, his eyes crinkling in amusement. He hoped his relief wouldn't be too apparent.

"Total domination of Hylia," she replied with a broad smile.

"You set your sights too low," he teased back. "I do nae think I'd stand for anything less than world domination."

"You're more ambitious than I realized," she quipped as they smiled at each other. Another grimace interrupted their teasing and brought O'Dragmire back to the grim present. "Should I get the nurse?" Sarah asked with concern, pulling herself up and steadying herself against the wall.

"Nae," O'Dragmire shook his head. "I have nae pushed the PCA pump in a while because it makes me tired. I knew you would be here and I wanted to talk. I'll be alright." Sarah sat back down but her face was still drawn with worry. "How are things at the office?" O'Dragmire said through another grimace. Sarah looked worried and shuffled to the edge of her seat.

"Fine, I guess." Sarah replied, eyeing her shoe as she bounced it nervously.

"You're lying, tell me the truth," he replied sternly. Sarah looked up at him apologetically and bit her lip.

"The land acquisition passed," Sarah blurted out, staring intently at the hospitalized man to judge his reaction. His eyes narrowed and darkened. He held her gaze for a moment before looking up at the ceiling. The air was tense with frustration and disappointment.

"So you've won," he said darkly.

Sarah put her face in her hand and shook her head. "It isn't like that," she protested. "I'm sorry. I tried to protest it, but in the end I failed."

"I am nae surprised. Once you put that idea in their heads it was nae one you could get out again," O'Dragmire lamented. "Had you stopped them this time, it would have come up again and again in and endless cycle if need be. It the end it would have ended the same."

"I'm so sorry," Sarah whispered.

O'Dragmire simply nodded and stared at the ceiling to hide his own disappointment until he heard a strange sniff. He looked over at Sarah. "Are you crying?" he asked. Sarah shook her head but another sniff made it apparent she still wasn't truthful. "You do nae need to cry about it. Everything I do is doomed to fail in the end." This made Sarah cry more forcefully. "Look, Zelda,"

"Sarah."

"Sarah," he corrected himself. "I knew this would happen the first time I received a letter from you about your little plan. Am I disappointed? Absolutely. However, I had already resigned myself to my fate. I can nae win against you."

"Then why did you fight me on it? I could have made changes that benefited you more."

"I guess it is just in my nature to fight. I can be pig-headed sometimes and will fight when I think I am being treated unfairly."

"Well," Sarah smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "I've already seen you are willing to fight to the death."

"Beyond that if need be," O'Dragmire returned with a smirk. "Though honestly, sometimes I think I would be better off if I had died that night."

"Don't talk like that!" Sarah gasped.

"Do nae look at me like that," O'Dragmire reprimanded. "Do you have any idea what it is like being confined to this forsaken hospital? I can only sit here and watch everything fall apart. I can nae get my hotel back in order. I can nae be a proper father to Natalie. All I do is sit here and puzzle the doctors as to why I am nae getting better. There is too much I should be doing but nothing I can do. I have to watch Natalie waste her time in that chair. She should be out being a teenager and nae hovering over me. I've wasted enough of her youth already."

"That is one thing I can help you with," Sarah interjected.

"How?" O'Dragmire demanded. "It is nae like I can go back seven years and change things."

"No," Sarah agreed. "I can help you protect her, though."

"I do nae understand."

"I don't want to sound morbid, but your condition isn't good. Natalie isn't eighteen yet, so what would happen to her if something happened to you?"

"Tell me," O'Dragmire said, glaring at her.

"She would become a ward of Hylia," Sarah answered. "She would be placed in a home. I don't know where she would go, but I doubt I could intervene there. She isn't old enough to hold property so the Hotel Gerudo would become property of Hylia. Theoretically it would be held in trust, but I'm beginning to see how that would go."

"I have thought about that," O'Dragmire confessed, letting out a long sigh. He shifted in the bed, letting out a low groan. "What would you have me do?"

"I've checked the family codes and such," Sarah explained. "She is old enough and the situation is favorable to emancipating her."

"You mean declare her an adult?" he clarified.

Sarah nodded, "Yes, if she were an adult you could transfer property to her and Hylia couldn't touch it."

"I see what you mean," he said thoughtfully.

"I don't want you take this wrong," Sarah pleaded. "I'm not trying to plan for your death, but, you aren't getting any better."

"I understand, you are being wise," O'Dragmire murmured. "What do I need to do?"

"Fill out a ton of paperwork and get a judge in here to sign it. It can be finished Monday."

"Fine, we'll do that," he agreed. "Please do nae tell Natalie about it. It would make her upset."

"I won't tell her. I'll let you do that."

"You know, Zelda,"

"Sarah."

"Sarah. If I had to fall to an enemy, at least it was you."

Sarah let out an annoyed sigh. "Why does everything have to be battles and war with you?" she demanded. O'Dragmire merely shrugged in response and pushed the button on his pain medicine. His eyes immediately became heavy.

"It's just in my nature I suppose," he muttered as he became incoherent.


O'Dragmire awoke to sharp pain radiating up his side. He groaned and adjusted himself in his hospital bed. He was disoriented by the sunlight streaming in the window. It was still dark in his last lucid memory. The chair where Sarah had sat was now occupied by Natalie, who had fallen asleep still wearing her gown. The nurse knocked on the door and entered quietly.

"How are you feeling this morning?" she asked softly.

"About the same," he grimaced in reply.

"That bad?" she asked sympathetically. O'Dragmire nodded.

"Why does he hurt so bad?" Natalie mumbled as she stretched lazily in her chair.

"It's badly, Natalie," her father corrected. Natalie rolled her eyes.

"Should nae he be used to the pain by now?" Natalie asked the nurse.

"Unfortunately, you don't get used to it," Ima explained. "The longer you are in pain the more sensitive you are to it."

"Huh," Natalie replied, wiping her face and smearing the remaining makeup. "You're so smart, Ima. You should have been a doctor."

"Being a nurse is my calling," Ima replied matter-of-factly. "Doctors treat diseases, nurses treat people. Let me get you some more pain medicine and I'll be right back with your morning meds." Ima swiftly left the room to retrieve the prescriptions.

Natalie sauntered out of the room to change. She wasn't thrilled with the makeup stained face that stared back at her so she quickly scrubbed it off with the harsh hospital soap. She felt much more like herself as she looked herself over wearing a t-shirt and jeans. She was humming to herself as she passed the nurse's station.

"Can I talk to you for a minute, Natalie," Ima called as Natalie passed by.

"What's up?" Natalie asked as she skipped to the desk.

Ima sighed and looked at the girl. "Natalie, Your father still isn't improving like we hoped he would."

"Yeah, that is what you have been telling me since he came here," was her bored reply.

"Natalie," Ima said sternly, "this isn't a light matter. Your father has been stable more or less, but without some sort of improvement he can't remain in his current state forever."

"I guess he's about to start getting better then," Natalie replied, annoyed. "He is nae getting worse so he has to get better."

"I'm glad you see it that way," Ima replied. "I just wanted to check, you are Catholic, right?"

"Yes," Natalie replied.

"Have you thought about calling a priest out here?"

"No!" Natalie snapped. "I thought we just agreed that Da was going to get better. He does nae need last rites."

"I was thinking more along the lines of anointing of the sick," Ima explained. "At any rate, I didn't want to start an argument. I want your father to get better, but we're at the point we need all the help we can get."

"Da will be fine." Natalie growled and stormed back to the room.

"You are nae in a good mood. What is wrong?" her father asked as she plopped down in her chair.

"Nothing," Natalie lied.

"Are you going to talk to me about it?"

"No."

O'Dragmire sighed. "How did your dance go last night?"

"It was alright, I guess," Natalie shrugged. "I had fun. I actually got to talk to some people. They are nae so bad."

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," he replied warmly. Natalie shrugged and looked out the window. "You've asked me several times over the years, where you really fit in at. I think last night you found out. You really do belong to Hylia. I'm sorry I kept you up at the hotel where you could nae get out and make friends. It would have made all this easier. I should nae have wasted your life like that."

"Did you ever think that maybe that is the life I wanted?" Natalie asked softly. "I loved living at the hotel, surrounded by you and the aunts. Sure, I talked about going to college and doing whatever random and crazy job that caught my interest, but I always wanted to end up at the hotel. That is where I always wanted to be, not here." O'Dragmire gave his daughter a heartbroken look as the room stood in a melancholy silence.

"I guess in the end none of us get what we want," he replied aloud, his voice heavy with unspoken disappointments. "We just have to keep going, I suppose. I used to think I had everything planned out where nothing could go wrong. I just feel guilty. I could have left the hotel more often myself. To tell you the truth, I hate Hylia. I should have moved somewhere we could have had a place in the community, but instead I build a useless phantom of a life. "

"Everything is going to be alright, Da," Natalie tried to reassure him. "You are going to get better and then we can open the hotel back up and ignore Hylia like we always did. Things will go back to normal."

"I'm sure things will become normal again," O'Dragmire replied thoughtfully, "but I do nae think 'normal' is going to be the same as it was before."

"Da, you can nae stay like this forever."

"No, I can nae."


"Well," the doctor began, clearing his throat. "You hemoglobin levels have been dropping again. I was hoping they would come up on their own, but they are still dropping. We still don't know where the blood is going. Your side hasn't bled again, has it?"

O'Dragmire shook his head. He glanced over at Sarah who was sitting nervously by the bed, holding his hand. He was grateful Natalie hadn't made it back from school yet.

"I'd like to give you another round of blood, but we are all out of your type. I've called around to other blood banks, but they're cleared out, too. You have the rarest blood type and it's the most in demand."

"Then what is the plan?" O'Dragmire asked blankly.

"There isn't much we can do at this point," the doctor admitted. "I'd like to keep you here so we can watch over you, but in all honesty, we've done all we can do. We have to leave your outcome up to fate now. If you want to go home, I'll sign the papers now."

Sarah let out a little gasp and squeezed O'Dragmire's hand. He frowned slightly, but made no other obvious show of emotion.

"You don't have to decide right now," the doctor assured him. "I'll give you time to think it over. Let me know when you decide." The doctor nodded and started to leave the room.

"Wait," Sarah said as he entered the hallway. The doctor popped his head in the door. "You said he has the rarest blood type? You mean O negative?" The doctor nodded. "I'm O negative. I could give blood."

The doctor quickly came back in the room, smiling in relief. "Normally, we don't do patient specific donations, but this is hardly a normal case. We could get it processed tonight and have it ready by tomorrow. Thank you, you're such a peach. I'll have the lab call you when they are ready." The doctor rushed out of the room again and immediately began furiously typing on a computer while making a phone call.

"What's going on?" Natalie asked as trudged into the room and slung her bag into the corner. Sarah stood up and fetched the folder she had left on the counter.

"I'm going to have another blood transfusion tomorrow," her father informed her, taking the folder from Sarah.

"Again?" Natalie asked, looking confused. "It's been so long since you had one."

"Apparently I need another," O'Dragmire said flatly. He took several packets out of the folder and handed them to Natalie.

"What are these?" She asked, glancing over the legal papers.

"You are an adult now," her father explained. "I'm sorry we couldn't have a party or do this more ceremoniously."

"I do nae understand," Natalie said, looking at her father with a worried expression.

"Circumstances being what they are," her father began, clearing his throat, "I thought it best to take precautions and have you declared an adult. I also transferred ownership of the Hotel Gerudo to you."

"The doctor have you scared you're going to die so you have the courts say I'm nae longer your daughter?" Natalie shrieked, throwing the papers back at him. "This is stupid. Nothing is going to happen to you."

"Nae Ma'am!" O'Dragmire firmly replied. "It simply "removes the disability of minority" it does nae change our family. I'm sorry you do nae like the situation and believe me; I do nae like it either. If this is the only way I can protect you, then so be it."

Natalie set her jaw and fought back tears. She picked up the papers again and flipped through them. "You are going to regret this," she warned. "I'm going to give you hell when you come back to work at my hotel." She stuffed the papers in her school bag before shouldering the pack and storming out of the room.

"She took that better than I thought she would," O'Dragmire said, turning to Sarah who stood shocked in the corner.

"You call that good?" She asked, resuming her seat.

"For Natalie, yes," he affirmed. The phone in the room rang and both jumped. Sarah answered it and spoke quickly.

"They're ready for me at the lab. Will you be okay?" Sarah asked as she hung up the receiver.

"I'll be fine. I'm worn out," he assured her. "Just go home after you are done so I can sleep."

"Alright," Sarah said, smiling. "I'll see you tomorrow." She patted his leg on her way out the door.


"I'm sorry about this," Ima said as she pressed gauze to O'Dragmire's wrist. "I know we were supposed to start another IV, just incase, but we can't even infuse blood through the wrist. I don't know why the night nurse tried to start one here." After a few minuets the bleeding stopped and Ima checked the site. "It doesn't look pretty now," Ima said. "She blew the vein and it's pretty bruised up. Look, you can hardly tell you had a tattoo there." She wrapped a bandage over it before taking off her gloves. "All you lines are flushing so I'm not going to stick you again. I have some more papers for you to sign. Do you have any questions?"

"No," O'Dragmire said in amusement as he signed his name. "We have done this how many times now?"

"Twelve," Ima replied with a smile. "We still have to go through the entire process every time we give blood. I'll go get it and be right back." She hurried out of the door after double checking that she had everything she needed.

"Hey Da," Natalie exclaimed sleepily as she entered the room.

"Should nae you be at school?" He asked as she slumped into a chair opposite Sarah.

"I took the day off. I did nae sleep well last night," she answered, stretching out in her chair.

"You never came back last night, where did you go?" her father asked with a concerned look.

"Home," was all Natalie replied.

"You really should be at school," he pressed.

"You can nae make me go," Natalie retorted, making a face.

"Did you come here just to taunt me?" O'Dragmire chided. "I am nae in a mood to put up with your attitude." Natalie rolled her eyes and sat silently in the corner. Ima appeared trailed by a husky male nurse.

"Natalie, it is nice to see you," She nodded as she entered the room. "Sarah, I'm sorry but I'll have to ask you step outside while we get this started. There are too many people in here right now.

"Not a problem," Sarah assured her as she stood up and went to the patient. "Take care. I'll be in the waiting room."

O'Dragmire squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, Zelda,"

"Sarah."

"Sarah, it is nae like you will never see me again." They smiled at each other before Sarah limped out of the room.

"Dariun, I need you to double check everything for me," Ima stated as she matched labels and took O'Dragmire's vital signs. The other nurse checked everything again and Ima started to hook all the tubing up.

"It's odd," Dariun said as he handed the bag of blood to Ima.

"What is?" she asked, spiking the bag and hanging it on the pole next to the saline.

"The blood," the nurse responded, pointing to the bag. "It is lighter than you would expect."

"You're right," Ima agreed flipping through the paperwork from the lab. "Everything tested out fine. The donor wasn't anemic. That's odd. Okay, I'll call you if I need you." She turned to her patient. "I have to wait in here with you for a few minutes. How are you feeling?"

"Just fine," O'Dragmire assured her as she started the pump on the transfusion. They sat in silence as the minuets stretched into eternity. Ima scribbled notes until fifteen minutes were up.

"How are you feeling now?" Ima asked, getting up from her seat to check him again.

"Fine, it's just cold," he replied vaguely.

"I know, it is safer if we don't warm the blood before transfusing it," Ima explained. She checked his temperature and compared it to her previous recording.

"This is the last time you are getting blood, Da," Natalie informed him, breaking her sulky silence.

"Excuse me?" her father replied sleepily.

"I tired of you being in here," she replied. "Hurry up and get better."

"I'm trying," he replied with a soft smile, the smile quickly faded as he coughed. Ima immediately took note. "I'm fine," he insisted, waving her off. He grimaced and clutched his side.

"I don't like this," Ima whispered and consulted the screen. "Your temperature and heart rate are going up."

"My side hurts where it always does," O'Dragmire retorted. "I'm fine."

Ima quickly grabbed a pair of gloves as she stuck her head out the door. "Call the doctor for me. Dariun, get the crash cart ready."

"Do we have a code?" he asked as headed toward the large red cart. The secretary dialed a number.

"Not right now, but I have a bad feeling about this," Ima replied before ducking back in the room. She looked at the monitor again. "I'm stopping the transfusion," she said as she crossed the room. She quickly stopped the pump and clamped the tubing before disconnecting it.

"What's going on?" Natalie demanded, coming over to peer over Ima's shoulder.

"I think he's having a reaction to the blood," Ima replied flatly as she watched the monitor.

"But he's never had a problem before," Natalie protested.

"Every time is different," Ima said as she looked at her patient. He groaned and clutched his side. Ima crossed to the opposite side of the bed and lifted the covers to check his wound. "It isn't bleeding," she whispered. Natalie grabbed her father's hand and fidgeted nervously.

Suddenly the monitor's alarms rang out. Ima immediately checked his pulse. She placed her hands on his chest and pushed rhythmically. "Help, Now!" she shouted. Several nurses came running. Ima barked orders as Natalie watched in silent horror. The nurses compressed O'Dragmire's chest until Natalie was sure his ribs would crack. A large mask was over his face, blowing oxygen into his lungs. Ima abdicated her position to another nurse and shut the monitor alarms off.

"What is happening?" Natalie squeaked as Ima stood beside her. Ima put a hand on her shoulder.

"Sometimes blood transfusions don't work out like they should. The body starts rejects it," Ima explained. Natalie looked up desperately. "He went into shock; we're doing everything we can."

Despite her best efforts, tears streamed down Natalie's face. Ima stood beside her until the doctor arrived. The doctor briefly checked him before making a decision.

Dead.

Ima held Natalie as she sank to the floor in tears. The other nurses quickly cleaned up the room, removing lines and monitors that had been attached to the body and left silently. After the worst of the sobs had subsided, Natalie sat up. She tried to speak but the words wouldn't come out.

"Do you want me to stay here with you?" Ima asked.

Natalie shook her head.

"Do you want to be alone to say good bye?"

Natalie nodded, sobbing again.

"I'll be right outside the door," Ima whispered gently to Natalie. "I let Sarah know so she isn't surprised when she gets back. Natalie nodded again and stood up. She stared at her father, making odd noises in her throat. Ima gave her one last hug before leaving the room to give Natalie privacy. Natalie crossed to the bed and began to cry harder again as she leaned her father to wrap him in a tight hug. The sleeve of her shirt shifted, revealing a fresh tattoo on her left wrist.


Author's note: Please tell me no one was surprised by that ending. This is Zelda, what other outcome could there be? This is the end of the story, but I do plan on writing an epilogue that takes place a few years down the road. Thank you for reading! I thought this story was going to be longer, but I guess I didn't have as much to say as I thought I did. It ends a bit abruptly, but hopefully the epilogue will help alleviate that.