Coin-Operated

11.0

Forty Feet Remain

It's as if someone suddenly flipped a switch. We come upon an ancient grove with me in the lead over Link; the wings give me their quiet protest to ward us from the wrong path. The slight flutter keeps me alert despite my lack of energy. Sunlight has finally broken through the canopy, and the light sparkles as if casting itself on something ethereal. The little flecks continue to shoot one way and the next, Link saying that they were thought to be fairies once. Warmth seeps into my skin, but maybe I am only feeling its comforting touch now that we are finally out of the maze of the woods. The quiet is soothing, much unlike the eeriness that creeps through the maze.

When I look at Link next to me, I realize how hard it can be sometimes to remember that in his current state, he is nothing more than a machine. His overwhelming human qualities and his vivid memories can make me temporarily forget his current state with the way he will still unconsciously rub at the back of his neck. His facial expressions as of late have become more refined like a human's. Even now, although his eyes are wide as he looks at our surroundings, and I can see some hint of awe and recognition of the area in his face, it's his eyes that remain a constant reminder that he is just a machine. Little glass balls cannot swim with emotion the same way that a human's can.

Most of all, Link does not "sleep" like I do. Link shuts down, turns off. Yet he dreams in his off times. Never does he speak of the dreams in detail, but with the way he looks upon the grove, I feel a prickling that forces my mouth open. "Link, do you see this space when you're dreaming?"

"I do," he says softly. "But I'm not me."

"Then who are you?"

A small snail chugs along in front of his shoes, and he reaches out to touch the snail in what seems to be nostalgia. His rubberish skin catches on the shell, and he lets his finger trail across it though he feels nothing. "I don't know," he says. "Sometimes, when I'm in Ordon, I dream of goats."

"Ordon has plenty of goats, Link."

"Oh, don't I know it!" he laughs. "But the few times I don't dream of the woods, it's the village, but it's smaller – smaller than I remember. All the buildings are wooden – not one with plaster walls like I can recall. I'll hear my name, and when I look over my shoulder, I'll see my old warhorse annoyed with these goats in a pen. She's not even quite the same." His eyes click closed, and he leans his head back as he delves back into his dream world. "My warhorse had a bad temperament, smart, and she would test my patience with her every day from puffing herself out when trying to saddle her to attempting to create a new bald patch on my head." The image of his troublemaking horse surfaces, and I fight the smile trying to stretch my lips when I can see and hear her snicker at young Link's attempts to get her ready for training and how her massive size dwarfs the page as he chastises her. "This one though doesn't seem groomed for war in the slightest, and she's much more mannered. You could call her a little polite even, but I just know she has her preferences."

"You had told me you dreamed of the desert sometimes too, right? You were you, but yet not-"

"Because I'd never been to a desert," he finishes. "Hm."

He nudges me after a moment of thought. "Remember how I explained to you before that these woods form a triangular space?" I nod. "This is that final point. Nothing here changes but what the flow of time dictates."

"So you've been here before."

"Of course," he says with a grin, and with his jaunty steps, Link goes deeper into the grove. He turns back to check if I'm following once he reaches a threshold of stone, moss and vines. The old stone has been worn away and in some spots, there's a brick or two missing. Insects infest the small the pathway beyond the threshold, and it twists and turns until a large boulder blocks our way. It takes Link a few moments before he's able to get a good foothold, and then he hoists himself up. Vines break away from the force and weight and fall limply to the ground. Link, still crouched, swivels and reaches out to help me up.

"There's a pretty steep drop ahead. I'll help you down."

Link swats his hand through the air, taking out some webbing hanging low. The stonework continues around us under all the vegetation. "What was here?" I ask.

"Some sort of temple," Link replies. "I'm not really sure. It was already in ruins like this in my day."

When the narrow passage cuts off at a drop, Link motions for me to stop before launching himself over the edge. He lands on his feet with little more than a slight bend in the knee. "Just climb over!" he calls up, and I peer out into the area. What was once a building has been overrun by nature once more. Trees have broken through some of the stone to stretch their roots and branches. Moss has clambered onto statues to hide them from view. When I look down at Link, he suddenly seems small. There's a slight twist in my gut, and it's not from lack of food, and I turn and swing my legs over. I hang for a second before letting my weight crawl down the ledge. Link's laugher lifts up into the air. "I'll get you, don't worry. Just let go."

"No way!" I cry, thinking of my already screaming muscles. "You're made of metal!"

"Fine! Can you reach my shoulders?"

Hanging by my fingers at this point, I swing one foot trying to find a hold. "Link! I'm going to drop!"

"Do it! You're only a few inches away," he laughs.

My feet find Link's shoulders, although for a moment, a strike fear races through me when I think I'm going to fall back. Link takes hold of my legs to steady me as my hands claw at the face of the ledge. He lowers me down slowly, until I can safely hop off. "After we get out of here," I spit, "I never want to do that again."

"Do you have no sense of adventure?"

"I think I'm having enough adventure to last me a few lifetimes, thanks."

"So grouchy."

Grass, moss and wild weeds have sprung and crawled their way through cracks in old stone flooring underneath our feet. Some tiles have been completely taken over, while others have gone missing. Gnarled roots from the trees spring up here and there as Link and I walk further into the old structure. "It looks like a chessboard, almost," I comment as we step onto a diamond shaped field of black and white tiles.

"I think it was some sort of puzzle once," he says as we approach a towering threshold guarded by two giants. Halberds in hand, they stare out into the grove but are strangely untouched by the wild and ever growing plant life. The axes on their weapons shine and the tips of the pikes sparkle under the sunlight. I feel as if they have eyes, and they stare me down as we pass by.

"Link," I call once we pass through the threshold, and I feel the weight of the guardians off of me. "What are those things? There aren't any plants on them either."

"A final hurdle," he tells me. "Although you're right, it's a little weird that there's nothing on them."

The passageway opens up into an open chamber. Parts of the ceiling have long since been torn away, allowing the sunlight to pool into the area. A pedestal sits in the center, entombing a sword. "Is this the one?" I breathe as we come up to it.

Link smiles, but it's not his usual quirky one. The feeling of nostalgia behind it almost makes me think for just a moment, that he's actually human. "It's been a long time." His fingers touch the blade, whose metal has yet to even lose its shine, let alone rust. The broadsword has a flat face and razor edges. Engraved near the purple winged hilt is the pattern of the Triforce. Link takes the sword by the hilt in one hand. He pulls away after a minute, frowning, and stares at his fingertips. "She doesn't recognize me anymore." He wiggles his fingers some. "I have arms and hands and fingers and appear similar to my old self, but not even old friends can recognize me now."

"It's a girl?"

This makes him chuckle some. "Of course, and her name's Fi."

"I like it. She's pretty."

It's almost comforting to hear the way birds chirp in the distance again and the rustling of leaves as wind whips through the treetops, as if there's life in the woods once again. Bathing in the sunlight is warming like an intangible hug, and the way it filters through to the pedestal makes the ancient sword gleam. I know though, outside this area, the forest is silent and vacant.

I, too, reach my hand out and touch the sacred sword. It hums through to my soul when I take hold of the hilt, and I feel its beat. The sword's heartbeat pulses up through my arm until I release it. The blade is smooth to the touch, but the edges are razor sharp, and my hand recoils at the first sting. A little bubble of claret seeps from the wound, and I quickly suck the metallic liquid from my finger.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I dragged you all the way out here and for nothing."

I shrug, still enthralled by the ancient sword. "It's not like we could have stayed in Ordon longer."

"I had foolishly thought that maybe in some way she could help me again. If only I could wake her…"

…

It's waiting for us outside of the grove. The puppets crackle and shake their limbs and heads and buzzed like cicadas. The small thing with the horn shakes its masked head left and right, left and right as it approaches us. "Skull Kid," Link mutters to me, and his expression turns grim. It pauses, then takes a few steps towards us. Laughter, high-pitched and bouncing between notes comes from the Skull Kid, and then it takes another few steps toward us. Link steps in between me and the Skull Kid and its puppets, and it looks curiously at us. It suddenly jumps back, its head swinging wildly side to side. It perks up some, and then it scampers over to pick up a somewhat thick stick. It giggles and points at Link, then whips the stick around. Skull Kid slashes the stick downwards and then holds it out for Link. It laughs again when he takes the stick, and then it waves one of its hands. I realize that the creature wants Link to mimic it when it repeats the motion. Link figures this too before I say anything, and he slashes the air with the stick. Skull Kid makes a jabbing motion, and with a quick glance back at me, Link mimics this as well. They go through another set of motions, and then the Skull Kid laughs.

Pleased with Link humoring it, the Skull Kid scampers off into one of the wood's tunnels. It stops at the entrance before turning back to see if we're following or not. I look to Link, and after a second, he steps forward and past the puppets. "It's fine now. Come on."

The Skull Kid's giggles bounces through the wood walls of the tunnel and Link lets the stick scrape along in one hand and the flashlight in the other. Skull Kid's steps are short despite its lanky limbs. It tugs at the wide brim, straw hat on its head as we come out on the other end of the tunnel. Raising its horn, it blows into it. The sound rockets through the woods. The mutated child rustles as if it is a tree, and holds its hand to its head to listen for a response to the horn call. It leans forward, and I exchange perplexed looks with Link, but we keep our silence. I jump when the Skull Kid suddenly leaps up. It giggles again and waves at us. Slightly hunched, Skull Kid hurries onward into the twisting woods.

I can hear the rattling of Skull Kid's puppets in the dark depths of the forest. Our feet trample the fallen, dead leaves. The shuffling of the Skull Kid kicks up the crunchy, organic matter. Occasionally, we have to stop for the child to blow the horn in its hand as it leads us through. Time passes in a drudging pace until an overhang meets us. The Skull Kid rushes to the edge in a full-on sprint, and then it peers over the edge.

When it turns back to us, it shakes some, trying to hold in its laughter. It points into the foliage below and bounces around some. It ceases its bouncing, and then its limbs begin to crackle as it points. Link takes a step forward, but this only seems to alarm the child. Gloved hands shove forward with open palms, and it shakes its head. Link steps back and casts me a curious look. However, when I step forward, the mutated child stops me as well. It turns back to look out into the lower level of the woods before back to us while throwing its arms down. "I think it wants us to get lower," I say. Link frowns but shrugs and drops to the ground, and I follow suit. We crawl up to the edge, and the Skull Kid wiggles itself in between us.

It points again, and I squint into the woods. "I can't see anything," I mutter. Link grunts in response as he cranes his neck some. When his eyes widen, I press him, "You see something?" He doesn't respond as if he's frozen up. "Link?" He shrinks back from the edge, and the Skull Kid pulls back with him. "What is it?"

"Zelda, get back and stay quiet," he whispers.

"What is it?" I ask again as I crawl back.

"Those Din damned squads somehow got this far into the Lost Woods."

We pull away from the overhang to the closest tunnel we can find. Link absently swings the stick around as he mulls over his thoughts. He's watched with much interest by the Skull Kid, until finally, it takes a few bow-legged steps up to Link and tugs on the back of his shirt. He turns to Skull Kid, and it pretends to swing a stick of its own. Link relinquishes the stick and says, "Sorry, but I don't think a sword can help me now.

"Listen," he says after a moment where the Skull Kid has a silent lament over the stick, "do you think you can get us around them?"

Instead of responding to Link's inquiry, Skull Kid looks over its shoulder in the direction of the overhang. When its attention is back on Link, it breaks into a hopping a dance. Realizing the creature won't speak, Link says to it, "Draw it for us." The hopping ceases, and the stick in hand, the Skull Kid bends to the patch of dirt under out feet and begins to etch into it a picture.

Once the child finishes it backs away from its masterpiece, and Link goes to crouch before it. Peering over his shoulder, I get a good look at the picture. "Is it just me, or does that look like Ghirahim?"

Link looks to the ratty, mutated child. "Did you see this person in the woods?" he interrogates. The Skull Kid quickly and eagerly nods the affirmative. "Is he here right now?" Another nod. Link beckons Skull Kid towards us. Still crouched, Link is eye level with the little terror. "Listen, Skull Kid. We really need your help on this part. We need to get out of these woods without being seen by any of those people. Do you understand?" After a moment, the kid nods its head again. "Are you willing to help us with that?" Skull Kid goes to agree, but then looks to me. It takes it a minute to overcome its hesitation, but it eventually relents to Link.

"Where are we going to go from here?"

Link shrugs. "I don't know. Kakariko, maybe? We just have to keep moving. Farore forbid we ever get caught by those men, I don't know what'll happen to us."

"Don't you think that's a bit risky? Kakariko is fairly big."

"Not tiny though," Link says, stretching back up to his full height. "I think it might be better if it's bigger. More places to hide."

Then he turns to Skull Kid. "Lead the way? Up north, towards the mountains."

Skull Kid bobs its head enthusiastically up and down before jetting off into the brush with Link and I hot on its heels. My feet scream with each step, and eventually, Link notices and stops. He hands me the duffel bag to carry on my shoulders. He carries me on his back, and we catch back up to Skull Kid who waits for us at the start of yet another dark tunnel.

"What is with this place?"

Link chortles. "Welcome to the Lost Woods."

We curve through so many clearings and tunnels, I start to lose track. Occasionally, the Skull Kid blows its horn, and the clacking of its puppets echoes in the woods. We enter one tunnel maze, and the further we go, the more something seems off. The wings give little flutters, and I say something to Link about it. "Are you sure?" he replies.

"I don't know what it is." So we continue on, and I try to ignore the flapping in my chest. The sense of wrongness is pervasive though, but when we say something to the Skull Kid, it makes no indication that it has heard anything we've said to it. It goes on its way, occasionally stopping for us to catch up or to look back to see if we're still following.

Link says to me, "I don't know if I can get us out of here if we don't follow him."

"This isn't right though."

When we come out from a tunnel, the Skull Kid is startled, and the wings start up in a frenzy. The Skull Kid freezes for a few seconds, then it shakes in its straw clothing. Wearing a dark uniform with his badge prominently displayed on his breast, an officer mutters some startled curses when he spots the three of us. The four of us stand, too stunned to do anything for a minute. Then Link bolts off, and I yelp, clinging to him in a death grip. Skull Kid takes off as well, and some distance behind us, I can hear him blow his horn again. The officer bellows after us. His voice carries through the trees, and I can hear more shouts begin to join his.

"If we can get to higher ground, we'll have better bearings of where we are, and maybe we can find our way to Death Mountain and Kakariko," Link tells me.

"You're absolutely insane!"

My heart pumps away with wild abandon in my ears. I barely hear Link yell back, "It's the best chance we got!"

Link veers off towards the right, and that's when I can feel the fluttering grow more frantic. The right wing is off beat from the left, and I know I need to stop Link somehow, so I start to wiggle. "Let me down!" I screech.

"Zelda!" he hisses, but I don't relent. "Stop!" He finally drops me, and I start to sprint for the opposite direction, hoping that he'll follow.

While he does just as I hope, we aren't fast enough. I can hear the thunder of feet right behind us. Adrenaline fuels my muscles and veins, and I don't dare look behind me. I can sense Link behind me as well. His footfalls are faster, and he's soon in step with me, but he doesn't leave me behind.

And that's when the first ball of fire whizzes between us. I shriek and dart off to the right, and Link quickly follows. One of them knows magic. Link snakes a hand onto my arm and pulls me to the side. Instead of me being roasted, a nearby bush ignites in flames. Like mice trapped in a maze, Link and I skitter in one direction, and then the opposite as we try to outrun the flames and the group of officers closing in behind us. Officers meet us head on, and our shoes scrape at dirt when we finally come to a halt. I'm out of breath, my lungs burning, while Link takes in the situation around us.

I look inward. The vines are overgrown masses around my magical core. They wind their way around my core, weaving in and out of each other in a hold of organic strength. I feel as though I'm about to be sick, and the vines grip a little tighter onto me. The wings stretch to their full span, leathery feathers rippling.

One of the officers has a Lens pointed right at us. His eyes are wide like marble shooters, and his jaw is slightly slacked as he looks through the Lens at Link and I. "What in the-?" He sputters some when he tries to speak at first, but then the order comes out, clear and precise, "Take them out!" The squad surges forward, and Link calls out my name, but all I can see is that man and the Lens in his hand.

The leathery wings slow their beating. Each flap of the wings is slow as pulling taffy. The moving squad approaches as if they were running through the deep end of a swimming pool. Their movements become so painfully slow in my peripheral vision.

One pulse.

"Zelda!"

Two.

"What're you doing?!"

Three.

The Lens shatters. Fragments of the tinted glass are blasted from the frame. One of the officers tries to throw another round of fire at us, but in the blink of an eye, it's deflected back at the squad who have halted their advanced.

My nerves tingle with electricity, and my body feels hot with power. Another pulse bolts through my muscles, veins and nerves.

Another order is shouted. I send out pulses of golden waves out at the oncoming officers. As much as will for them to be pushed back, a few manage to push through my magic. Link grabs hold of my arm to try and pull me out of the way, but I still end up getting tackled to the ground. Link tries to pull me away as I wrestle with the man, but he becomes preoccupied when two more attempt to take him down. I scrape at my assailant, trying to claw at his eyes. Stars burst out in my vision when his fist strikes me in the head. My vision swimming, I do whatever I can to keep moving, keep squirming and to not get trapped. The beating fills my ears, and I feel my magic pushing at the constraints of my core. My chest tightens, and my skin prickles. The uniformed man is blasted from me when I send out electric shocks.

I scramble to my feet. I'm only slightly aware that I'm not in control anymore as I watch Link throw a man from him as if he were nothing more than rags. I pummel right into him, wrapping my arms around his waist. He tries to fight me off at first, not realizing who I am, before I send us both to plummet into a negative white space. It's almost as though we get carried through on a drift of wind like we are nothing more than paper bags. In one moment, there's nothing but the white, and in the next I'm still in the middle of throwing myself at Link, but we are no longer in the woods.

I yelp when he lands funny on my wrist, and the pain rockets through my arm. Link hastily untangles himself. "Sorry, sorry!" he says getting to his feet.

Dusty earth gets in my face as I roll onto my back. Grey sky meets my eyes, and there's nothing to obscure it. Link's head looks all around us. "Zelda, what did you do?"

"I don't- I don't know."

Link helps me up, and I take in our surroundings. I've only been to this place a couple times in my life, but I know it well enough.

By some act of the Goddesses, I'd teleported the two of us to the outskirts of Kakariko.

…

Birds chirp from the rooftops, and dust rolls across the dry streets. We were able to get a room at one of the inns in town, and after stuffing my stomach as much as I could, I slept clear through for almost a day. Link got me some ice to try and keep the swelling of my eye down, and I've had the bag stuck to my face since. But despite the cooling weather elsewhere, heat from Death Mountain is still pooling over the town, and so my ice pack is now a slinky bag of cool water on my face as Link and I stroll down the main street.

"Link, can we spare a few cents?"

He digs into his pockets, saying, "I guess. How much you need?"

"Fifty, but I don't think I'm going to use it all. Just in case."

"Aigh'." He hands me a few coins, and then he pulls the duffel from his shoulders. "I'm going over to that junkyard. Take the bag with you, okay?" He holds out the duffel and I take it from him, slipping over one shoulder before we go our separate ways.

I walk a few blocks over to the train station, figuring that there ought to be some long distance booths there. Despite autumn having already settled in and the building's tall ceilings, the place is hot as people move about, waiting for tickets and trains and to greet passengers as they disembark. My shoes clack across the marbled floors as I hurry to snag one of the phone booths. I drop the duffel on the booth's floor, and then I shut and lock the sliding door once I step it. Plopping into the tiny seat, I toss in a coin and then have the operator patch me through.

Slightly garbled, the voice is still familiar, and my stomach gives a small lurch. "Hello?"

"Ruto! It's me-"

"Zelda? Oh my goddesses! You're not calling me from jail are you?" she babbles. "My daddy knows this really good lawyer-"

"No! No no no!" I hastily cut in. "It's nothing like that."

"Oh. Are you well?"

"As of right now, I'm fine, yes."

Ruto sighs on the other end of the connection. "That's good," she breathes. Her tone takes a quick harsh tone, however. "You know you're fired, right?"

"I… kind of guessed. Yes."

"What happened? You just stopped showing up!" she demands. I can almost see the spit flying from her angry lips. "You know they went ahead and promoted that little bitch weasel Aba?"

"Ruto."

"You know the one that makes those stupid 'you're gonna die' jokes? Nayru! Why did you have to leave?"

"Ruto!"

"What?"

"Please," I beg, "I need you to listen for a second! I'm sorry, I never called sooner, but what happened to that carnival that was in between town and Lon Lon Ranch?"

"Oh, are you talking about the one that burned down?"

"Yes!"

"Oooh." I'm sure there's an eye roll to accompany that. "Yeah, apparently this guy that was running was trying for some fraud or something, so he burned the place down. I think he died though. Kind of a waste. Aren't you keeping up with the news at all? Where are you? The boondocks?"

"Wait, they're saying the carnies purposely burned it down?"

"Well, yeah."

I groan. "Is there anything still left out there at all?"

"I don't know." And the attitude was back. Good ol' Ruto. "I don't drive that way.

"Where are you by the way?"

"I can't tell you that, Ruto. I'm sorry. And I can't really tell you what's happening either, but I was at that carnival the night it burned down."

"Why not?" she whines, and I have to resist the urge to blurt out that she's the biggest gossip that I've ever met.

"I'd be up shit creek, and you wouldn't believe it anyway," I say taking a glance over my shoulder to see if anyone was waiting for the booth. I see people buzzing by like busy bees, but nothing else. The receiver's cord twiddles in my fingers.

Ruto huffs. "Fine! Be that way."

"Ruto-" I try, but the sudden loud growl from my stomach sounds.

"Farore, what was that?"

"My stomach. I'm pretty hungry… I guess."

"You guess?" she spits with incredulousness. "What have you been doing, Zelda?"

"Scraping by."

She sighs. "Tell me where you are. I can wire you some money, if you need it."

"Ruto, I can't let you do that!"

"Oh, come on, Zelda. I don't even really need this stupid job. It's all chump change," she insists. "I can get you money this time, but Daddy has been complaining about some sort of recession and he-"

"The economy has been in the dumps for a while, Ruto."

"Look, just tell me where you are, and I can help you a little bit."

"I didn't call to ask for money."

"Zelda, shut up."

…

"HOY!" Some of the birds resting atop of the building are rattled by the shout. Old cars sit, half torn apart for any usable parts. Metal signs are laid up against various objects, such as rusted bicycles or broken gas pumps. Link stands on a worn out porch. His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows with one hand in his pocket. The other hand waves at me, and that stupid grin is on his face. Anyone else would think him crazy for being outside in such chill as another breeze comes by and whips his blond hair. From the decrepit house walks out another man dressed in flannel and overalls covered in dirt and grease. I can almost see Professor Mizuumi in him with the way his spectacles have widened his eyes in a similar likeness to the goggle-wearing scientist. "Zellie!" Link shouts again, and I hurry over to Link and the man. "Come here!

"Meet an old buddy of mine and Darunia's," he says and gestures to the man. Instead of holding out his hand to meet mine, he plants his gloved hands on his ill-defined waist. A filthy rag hangs from the leg pocket of his denim overalls. His moustache twists some as he looks me over, and I retract my hand. "This is Barnes. He was one of the foremen in bomb manufacturing back in the war."

One caterpillar of an eyebrow cocks as he turns away from me. "She looks too young to remember the war days," he scoffs as he slaps his pot belly. What does he take me for? A child?

I clear my throat and say, "No, I remember them quite well, thanks."

"This girl wouldn't know rationing if it bit her on the ass," Barnes mutters to Link, who instead of saying anything, simply gives me an apologetic look and a shrug. Some help.

I choose ignore Barnes for the moment, and instead I turn to Link. "I spoke with Ruto. You remember her, right?" Not bothering to hide his disinterest, Barnes steps off of the paint peeling porch and wanders away into his collection of what looks like pure junk on first glance.

Link leans on the column as he thinks it over. "The Zora girl, yes?"

"Yeah! She's going to wire us some money," I say. "She insisted on it."

"Well, aren't we lucky?" he muses. "Quite generous of her.

"Look what I scavenged though!" he pipes, and then he bends down to a box.

I come closer as he undoes the clasps. "An accordion?" But he only chuckles some and pulls out the instrument. The ivory keys and buttons have yellowed some in their age, but it's a nice, pearly garnet color. I ask, a little skeptical, "Does it even play?"

"As far as I know, none of the reeds have been damaged," Link says and slips the straps on.

"Never took you for an accordion player."

He laughs. "I travelled with the Evelyn sisters, remember? I know a little of this and that from them. See?" When he pulls the bass out, the claret accordion begins to sing in its many harmonizing voices. The piano keys play out the melody, and Link tells me as he flips a switch right next to the keyboard. "The voices are all working though." The accordion's treble sings in a few different pitches in perfect harmony.

He leans in towards me. "Don't mind Barnes; he's actually a bit of a wimp on the inside," he whispers to me, and I laugh a little.

"Sure."

"Try not to tinker with his stuff though. It drives him absolutely mad." I look towards the grubby man pulling apart one of the old cars for a part. Link plays a slow, leaping drone on the accordion before letting a couple of chords ring out as the bellows continue to pump air to keep the notes regenerating. Barnes swears and shakes out his hand, and then he dives back into the car's engine cavity. His hollered curses are drowned out when Link begins to play a swaying melody where I feel a hint of solemnity poke through.

"Link," I say finally. Link doesn't stop playing, and his eyes are set on the large, looming Death Mountain. He seems to be less livelier than ever. His hair more fake, his eyes glassier. Even his skin looks more rubberish, like something off of a children's toy. I put my hand on his left arm to try and stop it from pumping the accordion's bellows, knowing there is no way for him to feel that my hand is there. The mechanical man is much stronger than I am, and so the accordion wails on. "Link, please," I say again, but he won't look at me. "We need to talk. I can't do this anymore."

Firstly, I try to reply to people when they review, but if I didn't get to you, I'm sorry! I really do appreciate all your comments guys. It makes it worthwhile to know that there are people reading and enjoying the story, so I'm always glad to hear from you guys.

Holy crap, I have been so buseeee! I've been wanting to move back home for a couple of years now, and I finally got the chance to do it, so I'm gonna do it! The first thing I do when I get back to Chicago, I decided, was get some Portillo's. I cannot express how much I miss Chicago junkfood. But damn, do I want some good hotdogs - hotdogs that I don't have load up on condiments to enjoy. Sorry South, you just can't make 'em good.

But yeah. I've been planning on picking up the trailer and then moving out the next day, so that's the twenty-first. I still have a lot of stuff to pack/get rid of and holy shit that's two weeks away-