A\N: Nothing much to say other than sorry for the wait, and I hope you enjoy!
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"Ghirahim… Ghirahim, wake up."
The little demon sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes. His stomach felt much better than the day before, though his head was throbbing a little bit.
"Ghirahim, it's time to get up now. We slept a lot."
Ghirahim opened his eyes, looking up into the face of his master's friend, trying to recall what happened. He never slept a whole night through! But after that first nightmare… he couldn't remember waking up. What…?
"I forgive you."
Ghirahim grinned, jumping to his feet and throwing his arms around Link's waist. "Thank you, Link!"
The blonde laughed, picking him up and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "What for?" he asked, his brow crinkling a bit.
"Just… just thank you!" Ghirahim repeated himself, unsure of how to voice what he was thinking. "Thank you…" He hugged him again, and Link hugged him back, whispering into his ear.
"You're welcome, precious."
Ghirahim blushed. No one had ever called him precious before. Ever.
Link set him on the ground and knelt down, holding out a roll. "I want you to start with something small and light so you don't get sick, okay? Once we get back to the cabin I'll be able to get you some medicine, but for now, we're going to take it easy and try a little something I thought of last night."
Ghirahim took the roll, nibbling on it slowly, not wanting to overwhelm his stomach and make himself sick before they even broke camp. "Okay... what are we going to try?"
"This is Jade." Link opened up a bottle, and something flew out, hovering right in front of Ghirahim's face. "She's a fairy."
Ghirahim gasped, examining the being with wide eyes. She was like a really tiny girl with black hair, green eyes, pointed ears, and pale skin. Her dress appeared to be made from pink lily petals, and her entire body—iridescent wings included—had a pink shimmer around it.
The demon slowly extended his finger, holding it right next to her feet. "She's pretty."
The fairy smiled at him, landing on his finger and walking up his hand towards him.
"Link, what can she do? B-besides fly, I mean."
"She heals injuries and sicknesses. So hopefully she can keep you healthy during your stay," Link explained, putting out the fire and throwing a few final objects into his adventure pouch.
Ghirahim's jaw slowly lowered, and he looked at the fairy with wide eyes. "Can you come live with me forever?"
The fairy smiled again, and he heard a soft tinkling sound like bells chiming from her throat. Link glanced over his shoulder, standing up and motioning for them to start walking.
"No, she can't. But there are lots of fairies that can heal you. You can find them almost anywhere, and they'll help you out."
Ghirahim made sure she had a comfortable resting place on his shoulder before running after his caretaker, a little bounce working its way into his step. "I feel much better today, Link. Thank you for taking care of me."
"You're welcome," Link smiled, holding out his hand.
Ghirahim latched onto it, and the duo continued down the path. "Thank you for the food, too!"
Link nodded again. "You're welcome."
"And thank you for—"
Link stopped, turning to him and kneeling down. Ghirahim felt the temperature drop a few degrees, fear filling his body. Link's hand slowly reached out, and Ghirahim flinched away when it made contact.
"I'm sorry!"
Link gently cupped his face and turned his head so they were looking at each other. He leaned forward until Ghirahim could feel the swordsman's breath on his face, and then…
He kissed him. Right on the nose.
"Ghirahim, you don't have to thank me for every little thing. I appreciate it, but I do these things because I love you, not because I want recognition."
Ghirahim blinked a few times, looking up at the man with a baffled expression. "But it's only polite that I—"
Link shook his head. "It's not about being polite, Ghirahim. It's about love. It's about caring for someone and putting their interests above your own. Looking out for them."
"Love…"
Link nodded, giving him a big smile. "That's right."
He stood up, holding out his hand again. Ghirahim grabbed it idly, still thinking it over in his head. It was all so foreign to him… but it was also nice.
Love…
Link threw his head back and welcomed the cool water that ran down his throat. He swallowed, pulling the canteen away from his mouth and handing it to the boy at his side.
"Want another drink?"
Ghirahim nodded and took the water while Link wiped off his mouth. He let out a sigh, falling back on the warm surface of the boulder they had taken a rest on. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling great! Jade is really helping me!"
Link smiled at him, folding his arms under his head. "That's good." He turned his gaze to the sky, watching the white, puffy clouds drift across the blue expanse. "So, Ghirahim… what do you like to do for fun?"
"Fun?" Ghirahim frowned, putting the lid on the canteen and tossing it onto the ground with the rest of their stuff. "I don't… I don't really have time for fun."
The hero frowned, crossing his legs at the ankles. "Well, that's not right. If you don't have fun, what do you do?"
Ghirahim scratched his chin for a few moments and then shrugged his shoulders. "I train and practice my magic. I help Master with his work… I go to school and learn how to read and write and stuff."
Link shook his head. "You never play games? You never watch plays? You never go on adventures?"
Ghirahim just stared at him, all of the words completely lost on his brainwashed little mind.
"Alright!" Link clapped his hands together, sitting up and cracking his back. "We're gonna have some fun!"
"H-how do you have fun?"
"I'm gonna teach you." Link flicked the little boy's nose, grinning widely. "We'll start off with a game of hide n' seek, and if you feel up to it, we'll play some tag later."
"Tag? H-hide n' seek?" Ghirahim stuck his thumb in his mouth, chewing on his knuckle nervously. "But I don't know how!"
Link pulled him to his feet and dusted him off. "Ghirahim, it's not a competition! It's just for… for…" How could he explain what he was trying to say without using the word 'fun'? "It's just for… pretend. It's not real. It's not training or practice or anything… it's to make you smile. Make you laugh. Make you feel happy inside."
Ghirahim looked down at himself, tracing his finger over his chest. "I… I want to feel happy inside."
"Then we're going to have fun!" Link jumped off of the rock and held out his arms. "Hop down!"
Ghirahim pursed his lips, blinking a few times. He still seemed nervous about the whole thing, a horribly guilty expression on his face.
"But… but what about Master?"
Link gave him a look. "Now, Ghirahim. Do you think I would do something your Master wouldn't approve of?"
"N-no…"
"Then trust me!" Link shouted, never once letting the smile leave his face. "Come on!"
Ghirahim hesitated once more, and then he jumped, giggling as he fell into Link embrace.
"Okay, Link! Teach me how to have fun!"
And that's exactly what he did.
Ghirahim toppled into bed, completely drained from the long day he'd had with Link. They had managed to get back to the cabin with Jade's help, and supper had still been on the table. Ghirahim had met Zelda and Groose, and they had eaten a great dinner before Link said it was time for bed. Ghirahim had no objections, he just hoped he didn't have any more bad dreams. Without Link to hold him and make him feel better… he was scared.
It'll be fine. Link's still in the house. He'll come get me… if I… have a bad… dream…
And with that comforting thought, the little demon drifted off to dreamland, a content smile on his face.
"What happened to him?"
Link sighed, rubbing his face as he attempted to gather his thoughts and explain the phenomenon that had made Ghirahim the way he was. "Well, he made his first kill, and he was completely devastated. I was trying to figure out what could have happened between that first kill and the Ghirahim we know today, so I asked Faron. I figured she would be old and wise enough to have a basic understanding of the situation."
Zelda and Groose both nodded, listening intently, and I did my best to continue in summary format.
"I talked to her, and she told me it would be best to go through different phases of his life with him. Then whenever he becomes an adult, he'll have both sets of memories, and he'll have to pick which one he wants to live by. So he was four, and she made him six. I think nine is the next age…"
Zelda frowned, tilting her head slightly. "I'm confused. Why does he lose his memories?"
Link stopped for a moment, not really sure how to answer her. "I don't…"
"Maybe," Groose interjected, and then paused. "I don't know how to word it, really, but I think it's like… like imagine if Ghirahim were unconscious and we had some kind of gizmo that could put us into his head. That's where we are now, in his head, rewriting his memories. And then when we're done, we leave, and he wakes up. And when he wakes up… it all comes flooding back to him. Maybe it's like that."
Zelda and Link both stared at their companion. Groose shifted nervously.
"Wh-what?" he mumbled, scratching the back of his neck.
Link squinted. "That was surprisingly profound… who are you and what have you done with Groose?!"
Groose threw his head back and laughed, and Link tackled him. Zelda stood up, running over and strategically standing behind the chair.
"Get'im, Link!"
Groose and Link both laughed, rolling around on the ground and trying to punch each other out. Zelda jumped back as they nearly knocked over the chair, moving to the couch and picking up a ball of yarn, aiming to throw.
They all froze as a scream rang through the house.
Link jumped to his feet. "Ghirahim!"
He dashed down the hall towards the bedroom door.
Ghirahim screamed.
Fire rose up around him, licking at his skin and reaching for his body. There was nothing but fire. Beyond the flames, only blackness could be seen. Blackness and flames, blackness and flames… so dark and suffocating, like he was being squeezed underneath a massive weight.
"Help me! Somebody help me!"
"What are you doing, Ghirahim? Help yourself!"
Ghirahim flinched, looking up at the darkness and seeing a pair of glowing red eyes peering down at him. They narrowed, glaring angrily.
"Why are you weak? I trained you better than this! What are you doing with your time?"
"I w-was having… f-fun! That's all, Master… please, don't be angry… p-please… I…"
"Fun? Fun?! Do you honestly have time for fun when there are spells to be mastered? And techniques to learn? And studies to finish?" The thundering voice from above shook the world around him, sending the fire in rocketing pillars towards the sky.
"P-please, Master, Link and I were just—"
"Train! Learn! Grow stronger! You don't have time for fun!"
"Y… Yes, Master… I'll remember this! I'll train hard, and I won't have any fun! I promise!"
The world shuddered again. "You better… or you're going to pay dearly, slave!"
Ghirahim fell on his back, flames leaping over his vision, surging towards him. He threw his hands up, covering his face.
And he screamed.
Ghirahim's eyes snapped open, and he tumbled into a nearby corner, curling up into a ball. Fire slinked across his walls and furniture, moving swiftly towards the ceiling, and Ghirahim could smell the thick smoke in the room.
He coughed into his hand, blood flecks appearing on the surface of his skin. He felt sick and dizzy and tired all over, and the inability to breath wasn't making things any better.
"Master? Master, are you still here? Make the fire stop! This is Link's home!"
He doubled over, violent coughs racking his little body and sending pain throughout his body. The door flew open with a bang, and Link's head snapped up to see a very angry Link.
"Ghirahim, what are you doing?"
"I-I didn't do it!" he shouted, pushing himself back into the corner. "Please, don't be mad! I didn't do it!"
Link stormed up to him, waving his arms in frustrated gestures. "Then what happened? Did the room just magically catch on fire?"
Ghirahim shook his head and opened his mouth to speak, but smoke flooded the hole, and he doubled over again. Fingers coiled through his hair, jerking his head back.
"Don't you dare look away when I'm talking to you! What happened here?"
"I don't know!" Ghirahim cried, wiping his eyes and struggling to breathe. "I just woke up from a dream, I don't know! Please, I didn't do it! I didn't do it!"
"You expect me to believe that?"
"I didn't do it!"
"Liar!"
"I didn't do it! I didn't do it! I didn't do it! I didn't! I didn't! I didn't!"
Link fanned the boy in the bed obsessively. "Hurry up with that water! And get another blanket!"
Groose finished putting out the small fire that had sparked up in the room and ran down the hall, nearly running into Zelda, who ran into the room with a basin of water and some rags.
"Where's Jade?" Link asked, grabbing a rag and wringing it out before folding it over the feverish child's forehead. "I need her!"
Zelda ran for the door. "I'll see if I can find her!"
Groose came in with the blanket, nearly hitting her again. "There's a fairy whistle in my closet! Use that if you have to!"
Link grabbed the blanket and threw it over Ghirahim's body, blowing on his face as he had the night before. "Thank you, Groose."
"What else do you need?"
"Nothing, really…" Link sighed, running his fingers over the boy's face, neck, and chest. "I just need to stay with him until he's stable. I'm worried about hallucinations, though. Hallucinations and nightmares… there's no telling what he'll see."
Groose frowned, pulling up a chair and sitting next to his friend. "And he was just started to have fun and lighten up…"
Ghirahim squirmed in his sleep, a pained expression etched onto his face. "I didn't do it… didn't do it… didn't… didn't… please… I didn't…"
Link leaned down to Ghirahim's ear, blowing on his face and stroking his hair soothingly. "Shh… shh… I love you… I forgive you… it's okay, it's not your fault… you're safe here… you're loved… you're special… you're fabulous… Ghirahim, you're going to be okay… I love you, Ghirahim."
Link continued to whisper sweet nothings into his ear, trying to pull him to reality. The small child clutched his hand, but he was still in a state of complete deliria. All Link could do was love him and pray that would be enough.
"I love you, Ghirahim."
"I didn't do it…"
A\N: So, yeah... Things are not going to be pretty when Ghira wakes up. Stupid Demise... *take all my hateful feels, Demise*
Please review! And I hope you enjoyed it! Thank you all for supporting my story thus far! It means a lot to me... *heart*