I'm back! And with me, is chapter 10! *cheers* Not sure how many people are even reading this, but oh well. *laughs* Here's the final chapter of Who's Side... *smirks* Enjoy it!

Edit 7/1/14: I am changing the ending up a little bit, and will probably be adding an eleventh chapter soon.

Disclaimer: I own a lot of things - just not Zelda.

-SM

Chapter Ten

Ow!

Now that hurt.

OW!

What are they doing to me…?

The third time I got poked, I wondered idly where my sword was, and then decided I should tell them to stop - whoever "them" was. "That hurt," I murmured sleepily. "Gimme a break, mkay?"

"He talked!" said an excited voice - it sounded like a little kid. I opened my heavy eyelids and saw James staring at me with a big smile.

"KELLY!" He yelled, turning away and running out the door, which gave me a bit of time to look at my surroundings.

...Woah. My surroundings. Where was I? This bed was huge - the heavy curtains all around it made me feel like I was in fabricated box.

And everything was purple. What's up with that? Purple does not go with my black color scheme. Then suddenly one of them moved, and Kelly appeared. "You're awake at last," she said. She sounded scared of me.

"Um… yeah. Wait… 'at last'?" My voice sounded weird - probably just from not using it.

"Well, yes. You've been laying there for about two days. Um… a lot has happened," she said.

I raised an eyebrow. "So… let's start small: where is here?" I gestured at the bed. "And-" But then I stopped. I tilted my head to the side. And my eyebrows narrowed as I studied my left hand.

"What is it?" Kelly asked, looking alarmed.

"I'm tan," I told her. "And… the Triforce of Courage is gone from my hand." Never thought I'd miss that. Also, I noticed some scars from where Ganondorf's sword had sliced up my fingers. Judging from the scars, I'd say he got me pretty good.

"Um… yeahhh…and..." she stopped.

"What?" I demanded. "What else is wrong with me?"

"It's definitely you," she said in a decidedly tone, confusing me more. "Anyway, this is Hyrule Castle, and if you really want to know… well, you should probably just look for yourself. There's a mirror in the room, if you want... Oh yeah. One second." She reached outside the curtain-bed-thing and threw a pair of white pants at me. "You might want to put these on," she said, trying hard not to laugh at the disgusted look on my face.

"You took my pants?!" I finally yelled.

"No!" She said. "They, uh… they actually fell off. While you were sleeping. Because they were so ripped."

"Ahem…" I took the pants from her, slipped them on under the covers, and then swung my feet over the edge of the bed, ignoring Kelly's proffered hand. "I'm fine," I told her gruffly.

Then I stood up - or tried to, at least. My legs, weak from all the previous wounds - and my ankle, which still ached - caused me to stumble into Kelly. Also, the light was super bright. I'd been expecting it to be night. Kelly, thank Din, caught me.

"Just like old times in the desert, eh?" she muttered, bringing me over to a huge mirror that stretched all the way from the floor to probably… oh, I'd say it was about ten feet tall. It went up about three fourths of the way to the ceiling - as I'd noticed before, everything was huge.

I looked in. My eyes widened.

My eyes! They weren't completely red anymore… Just the iris was red. I moistened my regular, tan-colored lips. And my face…

My jawline was more rugged, and I had a five o'clock shadow on it. My nose wasn't as pointy, it had more curve, and my hair… it was still dark, but instead of black it was just dark brown, and a little bit longer.

I also looked… younger. My frown deepened.

My shoulders were broader, I noticed. The scowl on my face looked… different from normal. I looked like a different person. Kelly was standing behind me, and I could see as well as hear her swallow.

I turned around. "So… you said a lot has happened?" I asked her.

"Well… yes. There are multiple people who wanted to see you when you woke up - James is one of them, because… well, 'he's my big brother!' And… Princess Zelda and the Hero of Time both want to ask you some questions - hey, what's wrong?" she finally said, probably picking up on how my scowl deepened at the mention of Her Royal Highness, Princess Zelda of Lies and Disguises as well as Hyrule.

"Nothing," I said shortly. "Where's my sword?"

"Uh, you don't have a sword. It got… well, as soon as Link brought it back through the portal, it disappeared. But, um, now that you're awake, well, it's just past lunch time. I guess you're going to dinner tonight, then, with Link and the Princess. King Otis is so busy that he won't be able to attend, but he's sure that Zelda can do fine in his place," she told me. "And why do you hate Zelda so much?"

"Me? I don't hate the Princess…" I said, staring up at the ceiling.

She reached out hesitantly, and touched my arm. "Does it… hurt?" She asked me.

"No. It's fine. Go ahead," I said. She wrapped her arms around me and gave me a big hug. I was a little bit surprised.

"You can tell me," she whispered finally.

"I… she just… lied to me. A lot. And then, when I thought I had the truth… she ended up actually to have lied to me again, and I accidentally overheard her talking to someone, telling him the truth. I just… it... it creates a bitter feeling," I sighed.

She looked a bit lost, so I said, "Well, I'm fine now. You can, um, go if you want."

"Ah. Okay," she said. If I didn't know better, I'd have thought she was disappointed.

She walked out. I went over to the bed and sat down on the edge, moving the drapes away from it. I saw a shirt in a dresser, and a letter on it, too.

I grabbed the shirt, then ripped open the seal to the letter, which was Zelda's.

Dark Link,

I'm not sure if I should still call you that, but I will for the sake of this note. I'm also unsure when exactly you will wake up - but please, I would like to speak with you at dinner. I'm sure that whoever is watching you will tell you of this.

Her Royal Highness,

Princess Zelda of Hyrule.

I stared at the note. She didn't know.

She didn't know, that I did know.

I set the letter down. My hands were shaking. I sat back down on the bed, and rested my head in my hands, with my elbows on my knees.

I hope King Otis doesn't find out that… I kissed her.

In the name of all three goddesses, I wouldn't have kissed her if I'd known!

I laid on the way too comfy bed for awhile - it felt like forever. Then I walked over to the window and sat on the edge, looking down at the huge drop into the field below.

"It's a nice view, isn't it?" said a voice behind me. Right behind me.

I almost fell off the ledge. That voice… I turned and looked. Liam.

And suddenly, I staggered as all my memories came rushing back to me. The nights when he would hear a noise and come crawl over to me, whispering, "Ramian, I'm scared," with those big puppy eyes… the times that we spent chasing down the girls… Mom… and Dad…

And the night that we went travelling. And ran into Ganondorf. My eyes squeezed shut at the memory.

"Are you okay?" Liam's voice snapped me back into the present. I looked up at him, eyes wide.

"I was never Dark Link," I realized aloud. "I was always… Ramian. Ganondorf took me, and he… blocked out all my memories. He changed my form."

"You look just like him," Liam said. "Ramian, I mean. And… that makes sense. Nobody ever saw you again after… that encounter."

I realized I was on my knees, clutching my head. "Hey, Liam," I said. "Remember that time when you 'accidentally' shoved me down the steps at the windmill?"

A slow smile spread across his face. "And do you remember that time when I came over to your bed, and you went over and slept in mine the whole night, leaving me by myself?"

I started laughing. "You deserved it, bed-snatcher!"

He joined in. "I might snatch your bed now. That thing looks comfortable!"

"It is," I told him, "Unless you've been sleeping in it for two days straight. Now let's eat. I'msimply starved."

"You would be," he said. "You were always hungry when we were little."

"So were you!" I said. "You just got full as soon as the vegetables came around."

"I did!" He cried as we ran down the steps towards the castle kitchen.

"Uh-huh." I was unimpressed.

I finally pulled on the shirt, which I'd neglected to do after reading the letter from Zelda (that I successfully hid in my back pocket from Liam). We went to the kitchen and had some bread, which was mostly good - except Liam took half my piece and ate it in one bite. "Sorry," he said, with his mouth full. "I didn't mean to eat it."

My mouth was hanging open, so I grabbed his sandwich and shoved that in my mouth. "S'okay," I told him while chewing.

We stayed there until the cook told us that we'd "better get outta my kitchen before I tell the guards there are thieves in my kitchen!"

So then we ran out into the courtyard. I was walking backwards, telling Liam about Ivan (since he still didn't know), when I turned a corner and ran into somebody.

"-and so when I said 'Ivan' that time it was because - woah!"

"Ah!" said a female voice from behind me. I tripped while twisting out of the way, and fell flat on my back onto the cobblestoned path. I got up immediately, rubbing my right, already injured ankle, which had probably gotten twisted in the fall.

Liam was trying not to laugh. I could tell by the way he was turned away from us and his shoulders were uncontrollably shaking. "I'm so, so sorry," I said, turning to look at the person I ran in to.

It was Zelda.

Oh, Din.

"It's okay," she said.

Suddenly, my throat went dry. I blinked, and then went down on one knee. I sensed Liam hastily following suit. "Princess. My apologies. I was being reckless…"

But she pushed my chin up and looked into my eyes. "It's perfectly alright," she told me. "I spent my childhood running into people, too."

"Not to be contradictory, but I'm hardly a child anymore, at age seventeen."

A faint smile touched her lips.

She was travelling with her usual retinue, and a couple of guards, I noticed. I also noticed that she was wearing a blue dress, with a purple bodice and purple gloves. It looked good.

"How are you feeling?" She asked me.

"Much better, thank you, Highness."

"Please," she said, "call me Zelda… or, if you feel funny, Princess will do."

"Yes, Princess." I said, lowering my eyes again.

"I'll see you at dinner?" she asked.

"Yes," I said, in a rather tight voice.

She nodded to me, and for a moment I saw the pain in her eyes. Then she blinked, and moved on through the courtyard.

"Do you know her?" Liam asked, eyes wide.

"I… no. No, I don't."

"Huh," Liam said with a frown. "You're a terrible liar. We need to work on that."

Despite myself, I smiled. "And what makes you think I'm lying?"

"Because you talk in your sleep, just like Ramian."

My smile faded. "I am Ramian."

Silence. We kept walking.

"Sorry," he finally managed to say. "I didn't mean it like that. Its just… weird - but nice at the same time - to have you back. Not used to it."

"I know," I said, looking down.

"Hey, Ramian?" He asked.

"Yeah?"

"I wonder… if we're allowed to pick the flowers."

A slow smile spread out across my face. I saw one tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Is there… a sign that says not too?" I asked him.

So we spent a couple minutes looking for a sign, and found none.

"Hey, Ramian?" Liam asked.

"Yeah?"

"I was wondering… how much does Kelly like flowers?"

We both busted out laughing.

"Poppies, or… hydrangeas," he wheezed.

"Maybe…both?"

We couldn't stop laughing. We walked around the courtyard for awhile, and then finally I said, "Hey, Liam, I gotta go to the, uh, bathroom. Where is it?"

He laughed, giving me directions. "I'll meet up with you at dinner!" I called to him.

"Wasn't invited!" he called back.

"Come to dinner!" I told him. "You're invited, Liam, just come - and bring your fgirlfriend if you want." And with that, I sped off into the Castle.

I went to the bathroom, then up to my room to get ready. "Wish I had my sword," I muttered to myself.

Then I sat down, thinking about what was going to happen and how I should act. The silence around me was sort of nice, but I just missed Ivan, as annoying as she was.

Ivan…

I wondered if Navi was going to be with Link. I decided that she probably would be.

I heard the bell at the Temple of Time chime six o'clock.

Time to go.

I combed my hair one last time, hoping that it looked okay. I'd spent the last nine years dealing with different hair. Ramian's - or mine, I guess - was more… frizzy.

As I got to the last step on the tower, I pulled on my other boot, hopping on one foot. Then I took a deep breath, and walked through the door into the Dining Room.

Everyone turned to look and see who it was - except for Princess Zelda and a couple of other noble ladies, who had the good sense not to stare at the underdressed fellow who just walked in.

I gave everyone a crooked smile, and took my place at the table next to Link, who, thankfully, was just wearing his green tunic.

"Don't you ever change out of that?" I asked him out of the corner of my mouth.

"Did you ever change out of yours?" he asked, in the same fashion.

I couldn't help grinning. "Nope," I said.

"Same here."

"I'm so glad you could make it…" Princess Zelda said to me - but stopped, unsure what to call me.

"Just call me Ramian, please, Princess." I said humbly.

"Ramian," she said.

One of the ladies pushed a guy forward, out of a group off to the side. He was laughing. Link nudged me. "Watch this," he said with a small smile.

"My most wonderful and beautiful Highness, Princess Zelda of all Hyrule, my name is Sir Kisiel. I come from the land just to the south of Hyrule, and now that I am here, I have realized what a fair land this is.

"You are a fair and just person, Highness, and I am here to make you a proposal. In marriage," he added, getting down on one knee. One of the girls in the corner let out a little giggle. Everything else continued on, like this was perfectly normal.

"Sir Kisiel," said Zelda in a high voice, "I appreciate your flattering offer, and am sure that you are a most valiant knight. However, I cannot accept. I am terrible sorry for this."

"She always apologizes at the end," Link murmured to me. "Why? Everyone knows she's not sorry."

"Maybe she doesn't want the poor Sir Kisiel to feel bad," I said.

"Maybe," Link sounded unconvinced.

"Ramian," Zelda said. "I was wondering if you, um, would like to walk with me." She suddenly seemed nervous, and tense as a cat. Also, the way she talked made it seem like it was more of an order than a question.

"Of course, Princess," I said. Before we could leave, however, I shot Link a smug look. He just laughed and started talking to someone while eating my bread.

She signaled her guards to leave us alone; then we walked into the courtyard.

She opened her mouth several times to start speaking, but kept closing it before any sounds could come out. Finally, she said, "Ramian, do you know a noble lady named Clarinda?"

Oh.

So this what we were to talk about. "Yes," I answered, determined to use the smallest amount of words as possible.

"Do you… know her very well?"

"Um… you could say that," I said.

"Would you be upset if something happened to her?"

"Look, Highness," I said angrily, "what's with the interrogation? And… just get to the point."

Her eyebrows knit. "Well… she doesn't exist."

"Yes she does!" I said, still using an angry tone. "I kis… I've met with her and touched her. She's real alright."

She was not getting off the hook easy, I thought grimly.

"No. She… Well, I suppose I'll just tell you this: I'm Sheik."

I paused in our walk, and she turned around to face me. There was a desperate, sad look on her face that made me feel bad for her. But still, I answered as I'd prepared to: "I know," I said, clipping the words short.

She took a pace back. "You do?" she asked, startled.

"I was there… when you told the Hero," I referred to him as 'the Hero' because that's how I always did it as Dark Link. It had been a little bit of a mark on my ego to constantly be reminded that you were just someone's dark form, and that your name was just… unoriginal.

"Oh… how? I didn't see you…" Her jaw suddenly dropped. "You were there with Ganondorf," she whispered. "And… that magic he used… I knew it wasn't just him. But there was so much other stuff going on, that I…" she locked eyes with me. "He couldn't have done it without you," she said.

"I… I didn't know it at the time," I said. "And I was pretty mad at you. Oh yeah, and did I mention, I'd been brought so close to death that I could barely think straight?"

"Still!" she said. "You knew that you were doing something wrong, didn't you?" She asked. "Or do shadows not have consciences?"

"All I knew was that you were a lying… stupid… backstabbing… girl!"

"Well-" she started to say something, when someone came out into the courtyard.

"Princess," he said, "the King himself has arrived."

"Father is here?" She gasped. Then she hiked up her dress and rushed off towards the Dining Room.

"We'll finish this later!" She called over her shoulder to me.

I rolled my eyes.

Women. They always thought they were right.