PART EIGHTEEN - THE HERO OF HATINO

Link didn't feel like a hero but he never felt so much better. The first thing he noticed was the bereft of pain. His back, which had ached from the blow he took from the Kroko few weeks ago, had healed completely.

Oblivious to his new surroundings, he stood up to test this and was agog to find out that that every wound on his body had been taken care of. It almost seemed too good to be true. His wounds the past few weeks were paternalistic so to able to move freely was the greatest relief.

He glanced at himself in the mirror and only then did he realize that he was in a place unfamiliar to him. The room was small but cozy with a medium sized bed and a dresser with his things in check. He noticed a table with lavish gifts wrapped in vibrant wrappers and tied with curly ribbons. The clothes he wore were comfortable with a brown shirt and baggy pants.

The events played in his mind at once: Gorge, the town, fire, his friends.

His eyes widen and his heart raced. With not a moment longer, he festinated to the door in two strides and opened the door to find a large man about to enter.

The man looked a bit startled when he saw him. "You're awake," he said, his rosy cheeks rising. "Goodness, thought you never would."

Link went on the defense immediately, glaring at the man. He had no idea where he was or who this man was and most importantly his gang were nowhere to be found. "Where am I?" He demanded.

The man didn't faze at Link's churlish tone. "In the doctor's place," he said simply. "He was nice enough to lend you and your friends a room."

He couldn't remember any of it. The last thing he recalled was Gorge's face. "Ilia and the others, what—"

The man put his hand on Link's shoulder. "Relax. They're doing okay. You need to worry about yourself more."

Link opened his mouth to demand an explanation but his stomach did the honors. It growled in such a volume that he couldn't help but flush.

"Hungry?" The man chuckled. He had small, bright eyes and a kind smile. Link didn't even know this man's name but he could sense than this man was a warrior with arms of mountainous muscles. His huge white beard splayed across his chest. Despite how intimidating the man was, he had a friendly, winsome smile on him.

Link wanted answers and he wanted them now. The man handled his restlessness by pointing out that Link was too hungry to think which was true but he didn't want to admit it. The doctor was out tending to his patient and his wife just cooked them a buffet before she left, the old man explained, leading Link into a large room with a rich aroma of food. The smell was enough to drive all of Link's worries away.

The hallway had a brownish-cream carpet and old antiques on shelves. Rough paintings hung on worn out wallpaper with rusting nails. There were woodcarvings of that cursed triangles triggering an itchy reaction from his hand. The little stab of irritation soon dissipated at the mere sight of the food.

The long table crammed in the living room, making it difficult to maneuver around it. Fresh eggs, sausages, cold milk, cream soup, and other things he couldn't name were all splayed over.

The man was chuckling and it took Link a minute to realize that he was drooling like an idiot. He wiped it away, ignoring the man's amused glance. He didn't know how long he was unconscious but food never looked so welcoming. But still. "My friends," he said, returning back to the main point and growing impatient by the second.

The man, still imperturbable, was about to reply until someone toppled over Link with a cry. It was Hank.

"Easy. He just got out of bed," the man said with a warm laugh.

Hank looked better than he ever had in years. A pair of scissors had tamed his messy, unkempt hair down. They were now curly locks that stayed out of his eyes, making his face clearer and brighter. His goggles hung around his neck, the left glass cracked from the corner. His clothes matched Link but with a jumper over it.

"Don't you ever do that again, idiot!" Hank was shaking him angrily. "Do you have any idea how much you scared us?"

Link was about to say something when another body came on top of him. It was Dyer and the guy was in tears. His hair had tightened back into a small ponytail. All the scratches on his face were completely gone. "Link, I thought you were a goner!"

Then it was Gus who weakly punched Link's arm. "I bet it was funny, wasn't it?" He growled. He was the surprising one out of all of them. The bruises from his days of imprisonment had completely vanished. He looked more like his old self now. He looked newer, fresher with those jumpers and baggy pants which made his scrawny figure a bit wider.

The only thing that changed about Andie was his clothes. His hair was still a mess and he was still adorable. "Link!" He hugged his idol tightly, squeezing the air out of him.

Link had enough of this brouhaha and pushed them off. He stood up and pulled down his wrinkled shirt. "Good days, you're acting as if I'm dying," he huffed, pleased by the attention. There was a warm feeling when he saw his friends, their faces that glowed with health and the clean and nice clothes they wore instead of tattered stolen ones. "You really thought I'd die by a bastard like that?"

There was someone else at the door and he felt his throat tightened. Ilia wore a beautiful white dress, short till her knees, and her hair was been pulled bag into a bun. The only clothes she had ever worn were usually baggy, old, oversized but now she showed a more gentle, feminine side. Nothing at all like the rowdy, reckless girl he knew.

"Link," she whispered and he accepted her less aggressive hug with ease. She smelled like flowers and her hair was soft to touch. She was so small and diaphanous in his arms that he found himself not wanting to let go. "I-I thought you were—"

He managed to pull away to look at her. "I'm still in one piece," he said with a wicked smile. Something small and bright caught his attention and his eyes widen. Was he still dreaming? Perhaps he's still half-asleep. There was no way. Link blinked hard and looked again, still too shocked to comprehend what he was seeing. "Katie?!"

Katie giggled, turning to a bright energetic orange. "Sounds like you missed me," she teased going to his side and there was heat radiating from her small body. "Guess you've had quite the adventure, huh?"

Still gob smacked, he turned to his friends and they all laughed at his face. What was going on? Was he dead? Are they all dead? His friends were all nice and clean and Katie was here so he must be. Did Gorge really get the best out of him? Did his friends join him?

"You look like you've seen a ghost," Dyer said, patting him on the back.

"I bet you think we're all dead," Gus chuckled.

Ilia smiled at him kindly. "I think you need to sit down," she told Link.

It turned out the old man was the famous chief Dobbin himself who was never dead to begin with. Katie had joined him at one point of his adventure and he brought back enough healing herbs to heal an army. Dobbin expressed his amazement at Link's strength, saying that he lost a lot of blood but still managed to come back strong. He was comatose for three days and during those days they've been working on restoring Hatino.

The merchants returned, the people were safe once again, and they were calling Link the Hero of Hatino. The gifts in his rooms were for him in gratitude and for apology. It seemed that he was completely vindicated of the whole incident regarding Dobbin's house.

He didn't know how to feel about this. There were too many good things happening at the same time and it just didn't feel real. Dobbin was actually alive and Katie was with him. His friends were safe and sound and the town was back to normal.

"Am I actually dead, guys?" He asked and he was actually austere.

They gave a hearty laugh and turned their attention to the food. He filled his plate with everything he could see and convinced Dobbin to let him take a cup of sake. He had showed voracity like never before, engulfing the palatable food in sight. There were thousands of thoughts racing through his mind and his fingers were jittered as he ate.

One of the questions he asked was what ever happened to Gorge. This question damped a bit on the jocose mood and Link didn't need an answer to know what really happened. Gus gave him one anyways in a light manner, explaining that Gorge died due to head trauma. In other words Link killed the man and now he had to deal with blood on his hands.

But he didn't feel bad. Why should he? Gorge got what was coming to him. Attacking his friends like that was like opening a forbidden door. What lie on the other side was Gorge's risk, his consequence. If he didn't like it well tough shit. He shouldn't have opened the goddamn door.

And besides this wasn't the first time he killed someone.

Even though Link was anything but comfortable it was lenitive to see his friends doing well. There were far too many things in his head to partake in their conversation so he just sat down and stayed reticent. They all had smiles on their faces, Andie was sharing a story with Gus and Hank was joking with Dyer, there was even Ilia and Katie both having a pleasant conversation.

It was an odd sight to see his friend and the fairy get along together. He never thought his friends would be capable of befriending such an irritating fairy. But then again he never would have thought that his friends would be here in public, not stealing or formulating a plan but here as a part of the people. Not as criminals but as civilians.

Who knew that such a day would come? He figured that they would have to move out to stay anew in order to leave their villainous crimes behind. For some reason there was this feeling of uneasiness that made him shift in his seat. It was a feeling that made him wanted to get up and leave.

His friends were all in a garrulous discussion on how they were helping around town and how they saved people. Link pretended to be interested but the more he listened, the lower his heart sank. Hank was helping to rebuild some of the buildings, Dyer assisted the doctor with his patient, Andie and Gus and along with some villagers set up a shelter for the people who went homeless and it was Ilia's responsibly to serve them three meals a day along with tending the horses that belonged to villagers of nearby towns who all came to help. They spoke with such enthusiasm and pride, going on their schedules and how they still have so much to do.

The town was exaggerating when they titled him a hero, Link thought as he munched through his eggs. His friends were the real heroes of the day. But why did he feel this way? Why did his heart clench at the mention of their good deeds?

At one point Quill entered to the house. A bandage was smacked right on his cheek but Link could still see the red twisted mass of ruined flesh that cracked down from Quill's jawline. "Wait, you're still alive?" Quill asked when he saw him.

"Quill," Ilia said with a warning but Link couldn't help but smirk. The Sheikah made it sound like he was annoyed as if he expected something different but there was relief in his eyes.

Link tried not to wince since whenever Quill talked you could see a glint of his bone on his jawline.

"Sorry to disappoint but you'll just have to get used to it." Link leaned back with his hands behind his head and gave a wicked smile. "Nice looking scar you got there. Must have scared all the girls away."

"Link!" Both Ilia and Katie gasped, looking at him mortified.

Quill sat down and crossed his arms. "Actually you could say it fascinates them. Unlike you with that ghastly hair of yours."

What a bastard, Link thought with a grin.

Dobbin took the head of the table, going on and on about his adventure through the woods. Link listened keenly at the thrilling story. The famous Dobbin was sitting right next to him. The very same one who dived into a river of ice just to catch fishes for a woman that just delivered, who climbed the highest of trees and slaughters wolves with his hands. It wasn't every day Link met a man of such admirable strength. Link thought with amusement of the crap Katie had to endure with this man.

Katie often interrupted the story, snapping at the old man that he had been nothing but reckless and drove her to the near end of sanity. The conversation then went on to a unique discovery that the two have found.

"Link, there was a mirror like the one Desmond used to have," Katie explained, fluttering over to his face.

He stopped a spoonful of eggs from his lips and brought it down. The guardian did say there were countless of portals out there but to think one was so close to Hatino? He felt a pessimistic feeling in his pit.

Hank nodded to this. "Yeah. We actually went out to see it for ourselves. That thing is huge." He took some more bacon and his attention worn out promptly. "Man, this is tasty."

Gus rolled his eyes at him and turned to Link. "We've been thinking of locking it away just in case any Gerudo warriors decided to crash in."

Link looked over at Katie to see her flush to pink then he turned to Dyer who had a hard time swallowing his milk. "I didn't think you'd mind," Dyer said quickly. "They had to know."

Hank elbowed him a little. "You could've told us what happened to Agnes," he said. "We would've understood."

Link eyed Katie carefully as she turned pink. "I told them that the Gerudo warriors raided Ordon village and took Agnes," she explained frantically. "And that a man named Desmond said that they came from mirrors."

From the way she said it, it sounded like his secret was still safe. He would have thrown her to the stream himself if she said otherwise.

"Portals from mirrors. What a strange world," Gus wondered.

"That's so cool," Andie says with a mouthful of bread. "You can like go from your room to the bathroom without getting up." He was unaware that small bits of bread were flying out of his mouth.

Hank used his plate as a shield. "Yo, say it, don't spray it."

"Andie, close your mouth when you speak," Ilia said sternly.

When Gus met Link's eyes, his expression was grim. "Are you really going to go all the way to Gerudo district? No offense or anything but that's like finding a needle in a haystack."

Link looked down at his half-eaten sausage and eggs. There was more to the story than that. In order to fix Desmond's mirror and find the location of the bandits, he had to visit three regions and get their gems and even thought sounded insane. "Yeah, I know it's a pretty big world out there but I need to find her. You know that."

Gus looked like he wanted to say something, maybe explain to him that he had no hope of finding Agnes in the world's biggest region or that he was being reckless again, but thankfully he closed his mouth and said no more. Dobbin remained silent as if he wasn't here, paying more attention to his food than to the kids.

If those wrenches attacked his village then there's no doubt they would come after Hatino too. If they didn't come before to the town then it's only a matter of time.

Link glanced up to see his friends and could see that his silence was making them nervous. It didn't matter that they were against his mission. They saved lives just like he has told them. They've been helping all around town while he stayed in bed.

He didn't belong here. That was what this uncomforting feeling was. He didn't fit in anymore. These weren't mischievous kids like him. He reminisced of when they used to rob people blind, and how they followed his every footstep. It made him feel unique and important. The reason why he taught them thievery was to sink them down to his level, get them to understand him and speak his language. Why did he ever do something so selfish?

The answer was simple: misery loves company.

The thought of it made him lose his appetite. He wanted to drink sake but Dobbin only allowed him half a cup. Clearing his throat, he looked at them and the discomfort greatened. They looked so much different than the rowdy kids he grow up that it was difficult to look at them.

A part of him almost didn't want them to change. He had always been selfish and greedy and he wanted things to go back to normal. He felt that he was accepted and that he wasn't the only one that was miserable with his life.

But he had been cruel to them for the last time. If he ended up suffering then he might as well do it alone and quietly. He had done enough damage to these people. "I have an idea," he finally said with a sigh. They were all listening to him carefully and he wondered if they're ever willing to forgive him and his callousness. "You all need to protect this town."

Gus was now blinking bewildered, as if Link has just lost his mind. "Wait, are you saying—"

"I'm saying that you're going to be the defenders of Hatino," Link finished and saw their eyes widening and exchanging looks to one another. "Listen to me, all of you. I'm not going to stay here." He heaved out a sigh and looked at his cup, wishing it was filled. "Those Gerudo bitches will come one way or another so you need to fight for these people." He gestured over at the window. "Just look at how easy someone like Gorge took over the town. Like no offense, chief, but I've seen them fight. I don't think one man could take on those bandits."

The chief didn't say anything and finally looked up at them, nodding.

Andie fiddled with his fingers. "So we're going to be like…um heroes?" He asked.

There was a pang in Link, almost like physical pain. He'll miss them so terribly. Even though they might as well be strangers now, he couldn't help but dread of never coming back. How did he ever do it the first time? "You can be anything you want," he told him. "But I want you to stay here and protect this town from harm."

"I'll do it," Dyer said at once and the pain only deepened. Dyer always went with what he said. Was he always that devoted? So loyal? How did Link not see this?

"You sure?"

"I've been doing nothing useful so far," Dyer said with a shrug and a smile. "My stealing days are over."

Hank blew out air with a shaky laugh. "This is a pretty tall order, my man," he said still in disbelief. His fingers drummed near his empty plate. "I mean, someone needs to help these people but…" He pursed his lips then straightened up when an idea came in mind. "Wait, if I help, can I work at the blacksmith's?" He was asking Dobbin.

Gus frowned. "Wait, are you serious? He chased you across town."

"With a sword," Andie added.

"And he tried to kill you if I remember right," Dyer said.

Hank gave a nervous smile. "Yeah, he's a little bit nuts but come on! The guy can literally make anything with his hands."

"Well, I guess I could talk to the man myself if you're interested in a job," the chief said.

Hank turned to Link with a smirk. "Count me in then," he said with a grin. "When you come and visit, I'll be having my own shop." He was rubbing his hands together, already visualizing it. "Oh man, I can't wait! I'll make it real nice and shinny."

Link nodded with a fake smile. He was never going to come back. Not ever.

Katie giggled at his excitement and Gus was now speaking. "I want to be a librarian if you'll let me," he explained to Dobbin. His shoulders looked as if they carried something heavy since they slumped low. His sorrowful eyes stared down at his half-eaten sandwich. "I just want a second chance in this town."

Hank was rocking his shoulder a bit. "Man, relax, people are okay with us now." His tone was incredibly soft and Link could see that Hank was slowly losing his enthusiasm as well.

Gus nodded but it still looked like his shoulders were heavy. "I know that but I feel like it's not enough. So many people died and I…" He took a deep breath that lifted his shoulders. "I still want to try and make things right with myself and those people."

It was something they all agreed and Dobbin respected that, saying that he would be proud to have Gus working with them.

"I have been thinking about that actually," Quill spoke to no one in particular. He had been so quiet that Link completely forgot about him. His plate remained untouched and his eyes were distant. "Forgiveness shouldn't be so easy earned and I need to do much more than clean up my mistakes."

Link could feel the guilt eating the Sheikah up. It took real courage to still roam around in public in the same town after what he did. That took guts and Link honestly respected him for that.

"Gorge was the real bad guy, not you," Andie insisted. "You did everything you can to make things right."

Quill gave a gentle smile with emotional eyes and scuffed his hair a bit. Andie had been on his side even when Quill turned his back on them. He was too precious for this world, Link thought. To think someone as pure as him looks up to someone as vile as Link. If only Andie could find someone else worthy of being his idol. Hopefully, with Link gone Andie would forget all about him and find someone worthy of being his hero.

"A lot of it was my fault. I never should have left," Dobbin admitted regretfully.

Katie glowed blue sympathetically. "You didn't know…" She insisted. "It's not your fault, Dobbin. Gorge was the real villain here! You all made mistakes."

Quill just shook his head. His eyes were barely visible, hiding behind strings of white hair as he bowed his head low but Link could see misery in them. "Gorge would have never gotten that power without me. I started the fire. I started all of this mess." His arms were crossed and his fingers bit into his flesh. "I'm not going to sit here and say that I wasn't involved." He finally looked at them with a little weary smile. "So I'm going to make up for it. Whether it takes months or years, I will. But just please don't tell me that's not my fault, okay?" His voice cracked a little in the end but otherwise he kept his emotions in check.

The chief stared at him for a moment and nodded. "You kids have been through a lot," Dobbin said softly. "I can see that right now and if you're really willing to change your ways and start a brand new life here, then we'll open our arms to you. We'll give you everything you need and more. In return, all I ask is for you to consider your well-beings and don't be too hard on yourself. You're all still children."

The sunlight from the window made their tears glint. Andie's bottom lip quivered a bit and a tear ran down Hank's scarred cheek. Ilia sniffed and smiled a little and Dyer was blinking hard. Gus patted Quill on the back and was telling him that everything was okay now.

This was what they needed, Link realized. They didn't need him barking orders like a dog or the blame of someone's death or the whole to hunt them down or even a nasty scar. This was what they needed, something that he never could give them. Kindness, hope, munificence.

"So you'll all stay here?" Link asked, although he didn't need to. He could already see by the looks in their eyes that they're willing to do it. Everyone except for one.

Ilia's hands clenched to fists and she stabbed her carrot with a fork. "Saving their lives wasn't enough?" She dropped her fork and just glared down at her food. "Now you want me to be their slave?"

"It isn't like that, Ilia," Dyer said, taken back by her remark. "They need us."

"Well," she started, turning to Link, there was hurt in her eyes, "we need you too but I guess a dog is more important than us. How can you keep doing this to us?" She didn't wait for an answer and left.

"Ilia," Link called out and was replied by a door slamming. "Ah geez."

"Give her time," Gus advised him. "You can say it's been a few rocky days for us."

Katie sighed, looking at the door. "She didn't mean any harm about Agnes. When she heard what happened to your dog, she was in tears."

Link groaned, feeling a headache coming on and thought it best that he leaves soon. He had overstayed his welcome in Hatino for far too long. Agnes needed him and seeing Katie here just made him want to leave as soon as possible.

Link found his tunic hand washed and folded on the couch. A terrible thought came to him and he rushed to his adventure pouch, frantically searching for the notes. He found them and breathed easily. No one had touched them and he decided to keep the one that was on the corpse.

He was about to demand Dobbin to explain on the skeleton in his bed but stopped himself. He can't tell Dobbin that he found skeleton otherwise his friends would find out the terrible truth he hid from them.

In the end though, Link found himself not caring. Finding out the truth now would mean nothing.

So instead Link gave Dobbin the letter from Rick to which the old man replied, "Don't worry about it. Just leave it to me. It's the least I can do."

Link decided to take a moment to himself. Katie went with Andie to town and Dyer said he'd try to talk to Ilia.

All of Link's items were left untouched, thank goodness. He was even relieved to see the Master Sword despite hating it so much. Thankfully, it still remained wrapped tightly in leather, just as he had done before the hideout burned down. So far it looked like his secret was safe. For now.

He sat on the bed and took a deep breath. Everything would go much smoothly now. He wondered how long it would take to reach the Zoras' and what challenges would await him. His fingers ran through his hair, messing with the pin and his bangs fell on his eyes.

The gifts in his rooms made him feel nervous. Him, a hero? That was a recipe for disaster. That wasn't even funny. They better not get too carried away with this. He opened a few and saw useless cards and woodcarvings, some things he has no use for and some that belonged to the garbage. If they were thinking of showing their gratitude then they should've given him some sake instead.

He thought of his friends, his newly changed, redeemed friends, and there was bitterness. It was better to forget about them. He could pretend that he doesn't know them, that they mean nothing to him now. He just didn't like this feeling, how he felt so weak and pathetic.

A soft knock cut his thoughts short and he opened it to see Hank. Link had just finished changing into his green tunic. It was strange but he's become more accustomed to wearing the green uniform even though he had no desire to take on the task that came with it.

Hank was awkwardly standing there. "Hey, can I talk to you?"

Link wasn't ready for a conversation. Dammit, why couldn't Hank just wait until Link's thoughts were sorted out?

Hank sat on the edge of the bed, struggling to find the right words. Inexorably, his hand habitually rubbed over his scar over and over again. "I just need to say thank you," he said, his voice was watery. "I'm glad you came back."

Link hated the surge of emotions running through him and decided to give Hank what usually makes him feel better: a cup of good old sake. Hank accepted it with relief and took a sip. "I feel like I can do something better, you know? Like I have something to look for." He paused, turning his eyes to the window. "I miss our hideout so much but I think it was for the best. Like you said, it was a hideout for thieves and I think it'll force us to make the right choices."

"You're better off without me," Link blurted out, sitting next to him on the bed. "I wasn't there when you needed me."

"But you're here now," Hank said, looking down at his lap. "That's what matters."

He looked so different. There was something meaningful in his eyes. He looked more mature and grown up and Link felt bothered by this and even hurt. This wasn't the same handy man anymore. This wasn't the same person he shared drinks with. This was a stranger.

Hank pushed something into Link's hands. "Take this with you."

It was a long, black wire that was neatly looped and attached to it was a palm sized squared remote with a red button on it. Link looked up at him with surprise. This was the only thing out of Hank's inventions that survived and he was giving it to him? Bad move.

"Attach the end of the wire to the string of any bombs." Hank showed the inner circle at the end of the wire. "Just plug it right in."

Link shook his head, shoving the wires away. "This is yours. I might break it or—"

"Just please take it." It sounded like a plea. "After what it did to Quill, I don't even want to look at it."

Link paused, looking at the wire. With a sigh, he then did his friend a favor by putting it in his bag. "Thank you."

Hank appreciated that and blew out air. "Are you really going to leave for good?"

"I—"

Bursting through the door was Andie and Katie. Link never knew Katie could bright up to such an orange color. She almost looked like a lantern. "Link, oh my gods, you won't believe it!" She squealed, going up and down. "This is crazy! You need to come check it out!"

Andie was smiling widely and he grabbed Link's arm. "Come on, come on! You have to go before it starts!"

"Before what starts?!"

Andie was dragging link and behind them was Hank just as confused as Link was.

"The puppet show!" Both Andie and Katie said in unison.

He was led outside and the cool air touches his cheek. The cloudless sky was brightly blue and the town was in a much better state than he had anticipated. The fire had left its mark in black smudges that smeared on the crumpled houses and blackened trees. The fountain still remained untouched in a heap of debris.

It may not be perfect yet. Three days could hardly repair all the damage but they were making impressive process.

Did his friends really helped that much?

Aside the buildings, Hatino's people were just as he first saw them. Bustling with excited energy, there was the sound of hundreds of voices of builders and merchants, both parties helping in bringing back the life of the town. Children ran past them in a game of tag, he watched a dog circle around its owner and felt his heart tug a little, a man sprinkling birdseeds on the stony ground and watched pleasantly as a flock of birds went at it.

For a moment Link was stunned. It felt as if everything that happened over the past few weeks were nothing but a nightmare. Maybe he underestimated them. He couldn't imagine that anyone could ever move on after the horrific fire and all the chaos the previous chief had done but here they were now, in a new day, in the same town. It was…inspiring.

The admiration he felt for the people quickly worn out when someone cried, "Link, our hero!"

Like a bunch of wolves hurdling around a prey, villagers surrounded him, blocking every possible exit.

"Thank you!"

"You're the greatest!"

"Can I have your autograph on my face?!"

The attention made goosebumps on his arm and Gus patted him on the back. "Come on, Link. You got the best seat in the house."

This had to be a nightmare again. There's no way people are actually smiling at him and calling him a hero. He really must be dead. They all are dead. Gorge must be walking on their corpses right about now.

His gang moved through the crowd that grew increasingly large as they went downtown. People came from everywhere, wanting to speak to him, invading his personal space. The heat felt unbearable, his face slick with sweat.

At long last they arrived near the entrance of the town where the puppet show was located. The very sight of it made him gawk. While the rest of the town still had a lot to do, the puppet show looked nascent and completely out of place. The violet paint shined brightly under the sun, outlining the squared stage that was build three times its original size. There were fine delicate paintings added just below the stage of grasses and flowers, butterflies and trees in soft strokes of a paintbrush. The thick, wavy velvet curtains remained closed.

To make such a master piece under the circumstances…

Katie was squealing in his ear and he felt a headache. "They're about to start it now."

"Start what?" Link asked feeling so lost in the wave of praise and 'thank you'. They were giving him handshakes and hugs, thanking him for his service, overwhelming him with tempestuous adulation. A part of him wanted to run away from all the attention. He was used to being chased by pitchforks and torches but against friendly villagers? That feels wrong.

"They were going to play a show called Hero of Hatino weeks ago," Gus explained. He was sitting on one of red cushioned chair. Link sat down with Andie by his side and Hank behind them. "It was going to be about Julian who discovered this town before the era of Calamity Ganon but the puppet master decided to change the script instead." Gus gave a smirk when Link's face fell. "Oh relax. It's not that bad."

Why did he get out bed? He should've just cloistered himself in the doctor's place.

"Would anyone notice if I bail?" Link turned to see the doctor's house but it was blocked by a group of villagers that are eager to see him. "Help me out here."

"Link, don't be mean!" Katie whined. "They worked really hard on this."

"And I'll work hard on getting out of here."

How should he do this? Make a run for it? Pretend he has a heart attack? He glanced back at the people shouting his name and smiling brightly at him. He figured that there's no need to pretend to have a heart attack when it will most likely happen naturally.

He was about to get up but someone pulled him back. It was Andie and his smile was damped. "Please, Link," he begged with cute eyes. "I know you're going to leave soon so just stay with us for a while."

Goddammit, he can't leave when Andie looks like that.

Hank was wearing his old smile, which did give Link some comfort. "Aw, is someone getting cold feet?" He teased.

"I'm not," Link grumbled, slumping back into his seat. Was it just him or is it getting hotter?

"Link is shy," Katie said with a giggle.

"Am not," he snapped.

Gus laughed. "Someone bring a camera."

They were all teasing him now and he won't give them the satisfaction by leaving. It was so loud and it was growing increasingly hot that it was unbearable. People kept coming up to him, bothering him with more 'thank you' and 'sorry we've been a jerk to you'. Link tried to rebuff them but they took his tergiversation as modesty. In the end he just gave up and sat back with arms crossed and an irked expression.

"Just try to relax," Hank advised him and the show began to start.


The puppet show wasn't all that bad. It was just absolutely, downright terrible. It would have been better if he were a kid himself and if the show was about anything but him. How can anyone stretch the truth so far? Since when did he enter into battle riding a horse? Since when had he ever saved a maiden? Since when had there ever been a fire breathing dragon?

And the children were buying it too. Great. To top it off, after the show they were practically begging for his autograph. He would have refused to do so since he didn't want to leave anything behind that would remind them of him, but he couldn't say no to such little kids that were smiling up at it. It reminded him so much of when he first met Andie.

They held their papers with his illegible, scribbled name like it was treasure. He could just imagine them now storing it away as a precious memory of him and show it off to others as years come by. The thought would have flattered him but he was too irritated by the whole event.

The rodomontade of the show dragged on and on with a rich orotund tone that attracted many of the audience, besides Link of course. The only thing he was impressed with the puppets themselves. Small little socked-shaped characters blabbering away garrulously at the stage. They were neatly stitched and mouths were widely stretched but it moved in perfect sync with the disembodied stentorian voices that came from behind.

They didn't even come close to resembling the puppet sock to Link but strangely he felt okay by that.

In the final play where Link battled Gorge the great evil dragon, the puppet master scintillated the fire in the background. The faces of the audience glowed orange and went 'ooh' as they watched small sparks of fire from the dragon. Not too bad.

Okay, fine, it wasn't all that bad but he still considered the whole event a waste of time.

Link was given exclusive access behind the stage and met with the puppet master who eagerly shook hands with him. While the story didn't come close to reality, the play itself was okay and the script was tolerable. The man was an impeccable eloquence if he managed to impress someone like Link who would normally be blasé towards childish shows.

"The story might be a little off," the puppet master explained. He had a handsome lean face framed by curly locks of ginger hair but his back remained a little hunched and low, showing his fatigue after years of performance.

Link took the man's words as an understatement. "Uh huh. Are you going to make me fight against a giant pig next?"

"What he means to say," Katie inquired, shooting him a flashed color of red then returning to amicable orange, "was that we really enjoyed the show. It was lovely."

The man smiled proudly. "Pleased to know it helps."

Link rubbed the back of his neck. The interior of the stage was dry and hot. He glanced back at the exit to see his friends, who were still waiting on him. "No offense but why give a show now? Shouldn't you focus on fixing your town instead of wasting time?"

Katie gasped indigently. "Link!" She hastily turned to the man. "He didn't mean that."

The man wasn't at all offended. "We've been working for the past few days endlessly. The first day we set up a memorial for the lives that were lost. I just couldn't help myself I guess, seeing the town a bit dark so I thought a show might cheer people up a bit."

Link thought of the jovial children just jumping in their places, the adults who were having so much fun, everyone around him had loved it. "Well, you might've done just that," Link admitted. "Hell of a show, I gotta tell you."

"It was thanks to you," the man said, looking serious. "I may have exaggerated the story a little, for the children's sake, but you really are the hero in the end."

"Link, hurry up," Gus called out.

Link studied the man a bit, feeling a bit nauseous at the word hero. It sounded so foreign to him. Without saying goodbye, Link hastily turned around. Behind him was Katie apologizing profoundly for his behavior.

On the way back with the sky darkening as they had spent hours at the show, Gus, Hank, and Quill who had watched the show from the shadows, were all were provoking him to commit murder.

"Link, where's the maiden?" Quill asked him with a mocking laugh.

"Where's your gallant horse, hero?" Hank said, elbowing him a little while wiggling his eyebrows.

Gus adopted a more sultry tone. "Oooh, my hero, so big and brave!"

Andie chuckled a bit nervously at the tick in Link's eye and his gritting teeth.

"Did you really fight a dragon?" Katie asked excited.

Katie had believed the show's story and it was Hank that was making it worse. Link never knew Katie would indulge in frivolities like the puppet show, thinking that she was too uptight for it. Now she was dancing above his head, making it rain of sparkles, asking too many questions.

"If you all don't shut up right now what I did to Gorge would happen to you all," Link threatened.

"The story was really nice," Andie offered, to cheer Link up no doubt but really he wasn't making it any better.

Hank and Quill both enjoyed their satire, poking more fun at Link until Gus told them off, for their sakes.

At gloaming, Link retired back to the doctor's place while the rest of his gang went back to the shelter, still with so much to do. He told them that he was leaving tomorrow, slamming the door in their faces before they had anything to say about it. He wasn't staying another second in this town.

His head pounded and his ears were ringing. Throughout the whole day was nothing but shouting and hooting from villagers. He was tired and wanted nothing more that to forget about the day.

Dyer was nowhere to be found in the show. Link saw him sitting on a stood and tying his footwear. "How's the show?" His friend asked, not bothering to look up.

"I'm going to kill someone."

"Glad you like it."

Link looked around. "Where's Ilia?"

Dyer paused. "She's gone to see the hideout…what's left of it anyways." He seemed a bit annoyed. "I've tried taking with her but ah…"

"What?" Link squinted in the dim light. Outside the sun began to dip down, and the torches haven't been lit yet. But he could see a red mark on his cheek. "Damn, what'd you do?"

"I don't know!" He sighed frustratingly. "Okay, I might've said a few things."

Link's eyebrows reached until his hairline. Dyer saying a few things? That's unheard of. "Such as?"

"She's being a drama queen." Link let out a low whistle, earning him a scornful look. "It's not funny. I shouldn't have said that. I tried to be patient with her but it was going nowhere!"

He was still amused, could even picture the look on her face but decided not to poke fun at Dyer. "Why bother anyways?"

"Because she's going to regret it later on." Dyer stopped and for a moment he seemed to hesitate. "After you leave that is. Since you never write to us anyways." There was some bitterness in his tone.

Link sighed. "I'll send something." That was a lie of course but anything to get Ilia to come back and speak to him.

Dyer shook his head. "That's not good enough." He looked like he wanted to say more, much more, but decided it wasn't worth it. He got up to the door, muttering that he had a few things to do and left Link alone in the house.

Link sighed, feeling agitated. How could this woman be such a headache? Did nothing change her mind about thievery? Will she still continue?

After packing his things, he snooped around and found himself a bottle of sake. It could be the doctor or the villager's gifts but Link didn't care. He nearly died taking Gorge out so he'll do whatever he please. The doctor came in and smiled when he saw Link on the couch with sake. "Someone looks healthy."

Link shrugged. "It's the sake," he said, gulping the amber liquid down his throat. The doctor had shown munificence in offering his home to them all. "Thanks for letting us stay."

"Of course." The doctor sat down with a grunt and heaved out a breath. "I wouldn't have agreed to bring you in here at first." He gave a small smile. "You have some good people on your side."

He does and he doesn't deserve them.

The doctor helped himself with a cup of the amber liquid. He was a short man with a long forehead that was embedded with deep thought wrinkles and a balding head. The bags underneath his eyes hinted that the number of patients kept him away from his bed.

Link found himself enjoying the doctor's company. The old man said nothing so far, only sipping on his drink in peace and quiet. The day had been long and exhausting and to find someone who didn't run their mouth was alleviating.

It was then that he felt a twist in his guts when he noticed the doctor's scrutinizing eyes on him. He couldn't help but feel tensed up by the doctor's expression. Whatever the man was going to say won't be good. The doctor cleared his throat, and placed his cup on the table. He looked at Link straight in the eyes. "I've seen your back," he replied quietly.

A tug of fear grew in Link's heart. "It was from a bear," Link answered and noticed how his voice was shaky. He swallowed and stomped down the memory before it took his mind.

"Dobbin has always been my number one patient so I would know a bear wound when I see one." His eyes were clouded. "Your scars are old and I'm guessing it's from your childhood. Did—"

Link clenched the cup too much until it shattered. The shard buried into his hands but there was no pain. His mind went a little blurry but in the next moment, he was pressing the shard of glass against the doctor's neck. His heart pounded too hard, shaking with that same fear. But soon that fear dissolved in complete anger. "It's none of your business," he said quietly at the old man.

The doctor didn't even have time to react. He tilted his head up, meeting Link in the eyes, wincing a bit as blood trickled down from his neck.

"You're not going to tell anyone about that for your sake," Link told him through gritted teeth. His hands clenched hard around the shard, painting it with his blood. "Be a good doctor and forget what you saw."

He left the doctor who was too shocked to speak and went to his room, slamming the door. Once inside, he felt the air too thick to breath and something was gripping his throat. The memory was fresh and the pain in his back renewed like it was yesterday. He closed his eyes and his body trembled. Everything was fine now. Nothing will hurt him anymore.

His bottom lip quivered and his knees buckled. He was pulling his hair, trying to breath. It was going to be okay. He'll save Agnes. It'll be just the two of them. Everything will be okay when he saves her. His heart began to slow down as he lay on the bed.


Saying goodbyes was the hardest. He's been thinking of just leaving without a word but that would make things much worse. Katie did the best thing and left him alone while he packed up. He wanted to hurry and not have to go through this storm of emotions inside of him.

The doctor had prepared breakfast himself but Link acted as if the man doesn't exist. He hid the wounds on his hands behind thick gauntlets. Even as he slipped them on, he was shaking with pure anger. Someone, a stranger at that, had violated his privacy even if it had meant to save his life.

What kept him from hurting the doctor so bad was the presence of his friends. They would've thought he had lost his mind if he so much laid a hand on the old man in front of them. They didn't know that side of him. No one but Agnes knows. The doctor did the best thing and kept last night to himself.

Andie was trying so hard to be strong for him and Link was so grateful for that. If his little guy started to cry it would've been difficult. He was sweet enough to run to town and bring Link some more supplies whenever asked. Link would have never been able to do it with the crowd of fans. Andie didn't even notice that some of the supplies he bought, bought not stole this time, were actually tools used to torture someone.

He didn't need to know that part.

His friends were trying so hard to act normal while they ate and talked about their day but he could see the sadness in their eyes. This may very well be the last time he ever eats with them again. They no longer needed him.

Dobbin handed Link a map and he seemed grim. They were all standing by the door and the weight of the Master Sword grew heavy.

"Now listen up," Dobbin said. "As you know, monsters popping up here and there so keep your eyes peeled. Once you get far from Hatino, you'll come across the Tabahl Woods but don't travel at night. There are wolves everywhere. You'll find yourself a small stable over there to rest up and when you get out of those woods, you'll see a river and that'll be the Zoras' river. It'll take you right to them. Another thing to remember when you meet the Zoras is be on your best behavior. Those people have a low tolerance for any shenanigans."

The map was rough in his hands and Link put it attentively in his pouch. He jumped a bit when someone small wrapped his arms around him. Andie didn't want to let go as he laid his head on Link's chest.

Link felt a wave of love for the kid. He reminisced how he saw Andie for the first time. He was sixteen and Andie was only twelve at the time. Him and his gang were out in their mischievous ways until they came across a peculiar boy playing in the mud. Andie had ran away from his orphanage because of the poor state it was in. The adults never approved of him playing in the mud so the first thing Andie did with his freedom was just that.

Link adored him from the start.

"I want you to keep getting stronger." Link squeezed his shoulder. "Think you can do that for me?"

Andie nodded quietly, sniffing. "You'll come back right?"

Never.

"Of course but don't wait for me, okay?"

Gus nodded sharply when Link acknowledged him. "You better come back if you can or we'll never forgive you."

Link found himself unable to say anything. He could very well die out there but they all refuse to think about that. To them, he was a legend and invincible.

He bumped shoulders with Hank and looked him in the eye. Hank has always been the nutcracker out of all of them but now he stood tall and proud with strict eyes.

"Come back this time." It wasn't a request and Hank was squeezing his hand. "We still need you here."

And the painful truth was that they really don't. They never needed him to begin with.

Link saw Dyer giving him a nod. "Find Agnes," he said. "I know you will."

There was Quill crossing his arms and leaning on the wall. His scarred face made him look like an old man. "Well, you're finally getting out of here. Thank the Goddesses for that."

Somehow Quill still managed to bother him, badly. With a tight smile, Link took out a hand and offered it to the Sheikah who looked skeptical. "Take care of the gang for me."

He didn't seem convinced but did take the hand and when he did, Link squeezed hard and made the Sheikah shriek. "You miserable bastard!" He yelled angrily, rubbing his aching fingers.

"Link!" Katie scolded and he almost forgot she was here. She was glowing with a tint of red and he never thought to admit it but he's almost glad she was back and well.

The road would get a bit boring and he'll have someone to annoy.

His friends were staring with shock at him and he shrugged. "Come on, you expect me to be nice all of a sudden?"

Everyone but Quill and Katie laughed and some of the tension lessened. "Hope you die out there," Quill growled.

Link returned him with a wicked smile but frowned as he glanced over at Dyer. "Where's Ilia?"

Dyer's smile dropped and he gave an apologetic look. "I don't think she's coming." Dyer showed his hands helplessly. "I tried to talk to her but, Goddesses above us, she just won't have it. She thinks you're seriously never coming back."

Oh how right she was. If anyone knew him better it had to be her.

"Oh this is rubbish," Hank spat. "Is she going to put on a show now?"

"She's going through some tough time." Gus held a disapproval look. "But she should still be here."

"I could go get her if you want," Andie offered.

"It's fine," Link said with a sigh. Guess he'll never get the chance to look at her for the last time. It was sad. "Just tell her I said hi." He snapped a look at them. "Don't give her a hard time because of this. Be good to her, understand? Or I'll whip your asses." He felt like a father telling his children to behave.

Dobbin opened the door for him. "About the mirror or portal as you want to call it, I've decided to leave it in the woods."

"But what if—"

"Who knows when we'll need it?" Dobbin smiled proudly as he patted Hank's back roughly. "This boy right here will put up a fence around it and have those girls dancing."

"It's nothing," Hank coughed, straightening up. "I'll get be working with new supplies and I'll be able to maximize its life supply."

Link could just picture it now: Hank with his own shop, hammering away with passion firing in his heart. This was always his dream.

Link motioned Katie to his side and her orb changed to blue. She turned to them and sounded upset. "I'll see you all later. It was nice knowing you all and I hope you get better."

It will be a rough few weeks for them, Link knew, but as far as getting it together, they can manage that.

Andie was wiping his eyes and swallowed. Link felt hollow inside as he turned to them all. "I know it's going to be rough but I know you guys can do it without me. Don't let those Gerudo bitches take this place." He should tell them how proud he was but just couldn't bring himself to say it. "And stay alive for me, okay?"

"You too," Dyer said, holding on to Andie as he began to weep.

With a ragged breath, he turned to leave with a hand raised in a wave. "Ta-ta, guys. It's been fun."

He didn't expect it to hurt, turning his back on them for good. This will be the last time he sees their faces. He wanted to turn just to take one final look but he wouldn't let himself. He can't show them any weakness.

Walking through town would've taken all day with villagers so he took the same old route through the alleyway. Dobbin had provided him with all the necessary equipment for travel. He had enough herbs and medicine, food, water, rupees, sake, always sake, and other supplies that were sure to last for months. He also had enough torture equipment at hand.

"You have nice friends," Katie finally said, as they walked through the woods.

He did and that didn't make him feel any better.

How did she ever become friends with the people that threw her into a stream? He was thankful that her mind changed about them. It meant that even the villagers would open up to them eventually.

There was a low ditch and he climbed out of it. The feeling of no pain still satisfied him greatly, how his movement weren't limited for his back and leg.

A shout cried behind him and both Katie and him turned to see someone on a horse, galloping this way. The rider wore a summer blue dress with a straw hat. He froze. Her braids flew behind her as she softly kicked the horse and he felt a little smile pull his lips.

Ilia pulled back since the ditch was too low for the horse. She had salty liquid down her cheeks and was tearing. "Link," she cried out, it was a heartbreaking sound and he wanted to hug her. "You'll come back, won't you?"

Her tears had always been a soft spot for him. For a momen,t Link hesitated. Two years ago he made a promise that he would come back as soon as Agnes felt better. He shouldn't lie to her now. It wouldn't be fair. Not after the damage his absence caused. But like the selfish man he was, he decided to take the painless route.

"I will."

She laughed, sniffing. "You too, right, Katie?"

Kaite turned to a deep shade of blue. "Of course," she promised, then turned to a playful orange. "You won't see the last of me."

Ilia looked at Link and he saw neither a petty thief met nor the insecure shy little girl, what he saw was a strong woman, a leader, and knew that his guys were in good hands. "The town will be here when you do," she told him with a smile as tears ran down her cheeks. "I'll make sure of it."

There was nothing he wanted more from her. His throat tightened and he could only feel pride swelling inside him. He gave her a wink. "Then you better get started, don't you think?" He put a hand on his chest and bowed a little. "Ta-ta, my Queen."

Daylight was burning and he spent enough time here. It was high time he went back to business in getting those gems.

With that in mind, he unwrapped the leather from the master sword, still admiring how his back carried the extra weight with no trouble. Katie was over his shoulder, turning blue then orange but otherwise remained silent. They both carried on the day with hopes held high and the wind blowing on their faces.

— THE HERO OF HATINO —

~ End ~


I KNOW NO ONE LIKES AUTHOR'S NOTES BUT PLEASE READ!

And there you have it. At long last the journey of the gang is COMPLETE!

Now I've already finished Link and Katie's epic adventure in the Zora Domain. It shall be called the Blade of Honor. Or the Honorable Blade. I still haven't decided. They're both nice names. -_-

There's still a couple of other chapters before that. I mean we can't JUST get to the domain without Link suffering a little, you get me? It's literally two chapters so it won't be long.

It's all still messy though and I have a TON of editing to do. So I'll update the first chapter once I'm done editing all of it, which will take time, therefore I'll be on a little break.

Thank you everyone for staying so far. I know this lasted longer than it should but now Link and Katie will finally continue in their adventure and I hope you guys will stay with me until then since I could already predict that this is going to be a long story for me.

Tell me what you thought of the gang and how you thought of their redemption. Which one out of all of them had improved so far? Which one do you like? Did the characters seem likable? I'd love for some feedback.