A/N: This chapter was revised as of 12/6/14 – Polished, minor errors and typos fixed.


What Makes a Hero

By: Selphie Kinneas 175

Chapter 54: Honest Dishonesty

.:.

Link's mind had ran him ragged that night and the one following. He literally thought himself into exhaustion; of course, his injury didn't help, but he pinned it entirely on the mental aspect.

Now he had the hearts of two of his closest friends in the palms of his hands – as if he didn't already have enough on his shoulders. He had debated his feelings regarding either side so much that he was beginning to wonder if he had simply lost his mind and it had all been merely a dream. He was proven it was reality, though, every time he called for Midna and she did not respond, and every time Ilia would come into his room and mention his confession or his kiss.

What had he gotten himself into?

By the following morning, he reminded himself of the much more important task at hand, telling himself that the affairs of his heart needed to be put on the back burner. He was at the end of it all, the climax of his journey – the girls and whatever emotions he affiliated with them would simply have to wait.

He got out of bed at dawn, and he couldn't help but wince as he attempted to stretch his arms high above his head at the subsequent pain in his middle. It had stopped bleeding the day prior, but Renado didn't hesitate in reiterating that he was still on the mend and needed some more time to fully heal. He reluctantly agreed, but that didn't mean he couldn't get out of bed and, say… take a stroll around the village.

The sun had just peaked over the horizon, and no one was awake just yet. He knew they would be up soon, so he knew if he was going to get some fresh air without the nagging of the shaman he would have to do it now or not at all. That's not to say he didn't understand that the 'nagging' came from a good place, and that's not to say he didn't appreciate how strongly they all cared for his wellbeing, it was just that he felt like a caged bird being cooped up in that room all day – he was just eager to spread his wings in the open air.

He got to his feet, carefully throwing on his loose, ivory top as he whispered, "Midna?"

There was no response. He glanced all around the room, down at his own shadow, and poked his head out the window, but he saw no sign of her.

He heaved a sigh; he knew she was upset, but surely she was mature enough to understand that they had a job to do, and that he couldn't do it without her.

Oh well, he thought, maybe it was best that she get another day or two to relax and cool her head. Din knows he wouldn't want there to be any tension between the two of them when they were to head off to face Ganondorf. They both needed to be focused, not distracted by their feelings – or whatever it was that they had – for each other.

He noiselessly made his way down the stairs, a rank smell reaching his nose as he did so. He looked around the large, bottom floor of the inn, noticing that they had removed the carcasses of the Bulblins, but the blood stains were still very much present on the wooden floor. There were broken chairs and various other pieces of furniture that had been destroyed in the attack. He sighed; he didn't want his friends to live like this, in constant fear. He had to put a stop to it – there was simply no other choice.

On his way out, he attempted to set upright an end table that had been overturned in the prior commotion, but as he knelt down to pick it up, a sharp pain erupted in his torso. He groaned, giving up and leaving it as it was before heading out onto the patio with an agitated huff.

The number of Gorons that had come down from the mountain to help their brethren guard the village was inspiring; Link was almost positive that the crater had to be completely emptied. There were four at the northern entrance, six at the south, two at each building, and numerous others simply wandering about. It lifted a huge weight from the hero's spirit to know that his loved ones would be extremely well protected while he was away.

He took in a deep breath as he looked out across the rundown village. It hurt his heart to know that this place was once lively and bustling, only to become mostly uninhabited and decrepit when the Twilight descended. However, it hurt his heart even more to realize that he had killed most of the innocent villagers after they had been forcibly transformed into beasts of shadow. The only way he could live with the guilt and regret was by telling himself that there was no other way, and that, honestly, he had put them out of their misery. There was no way to change them back, so it was better for them to be at peace in the Sacred Realm than trapped in malevolent forms that were not their own for an eternity.

He exhaled as he diverted his attention to the gloomy sky. Dark, gray clouds had long since filled the once bright blue atmosphere. He could feel the evil in the wind, smell it in the air, and hear it in the emptiness. He remembered standing in this exact same spot and thinking this very same thing not too long ago, just after having restored Ilia's memory. Now, though, the feeling was multiplied by at least a dozen. The sheer wickedness that was so thick in the air chilled him to the bone; he couldn't help but wonder if he was the only one that could feel it.

"It is not wise to linger outdoors," an unexpected voice rang suddenly behind him.

He turned around to see the mature face of the shaman. He took a few strides forward, standing now beside Link and leaning against the railing just as he was.

"Especially when one is injured, such as you are," he added.

"I know, I just felt like I couldn't breathe in there," Link stated, inhaling deeply as he proceeded to think aloud, "But I've found it isn't any easier out here."

"I'm sure you've felt it, too, then," Renado said, gazing out over the once proud town he had always called home.

Link looked at him in bewilderment; perhaps he wasn't the only one that could sense it.

Renado turned to him, "The pure malice in the air. It is almost as if our very oxygen is poisoned," he elaborated, returning his eyes to the nature around him, "It seems as if all living things are affected by it, whether subconsciously or otherwise. You feel this, too, don't you?"

Link nodded when the shaman looked to him for a reply, "I do. I've felt it for quite some time, only now, it's much worse…" he paused, contemplating something in his mind before speaking it, "You don't suppose the kids can feel this… do you?"

Renado turned away, a bit of a disparaging look on his sage-like features, "I cannot say for sure. I do believe they can sense it – I have noticed that they tire much more quickly, and they do not play nearly as much as they once did."

"That could also be a result of everything they've been through, though," Link noted.

"Yes, it could be. But I do not doubt that their senses are attuned to this growing evil; children are more observant than adults, I'm sure you already know."

Link looked away and sighed. Silence befell the two for a number of heartbeats, with nothing but the sound of the wind rushing through the town reaching their ears.

"I have to bring it to an end," Link said at last.

Renado turned to him, but the hero did not reciprocate the gesture.

"I'm sure you haven't been blind to the fact that this malevolence is Ganondorf, evil incarnate himself," Link began.

The shaman took in a deep breath, keeping a calm exterior for the young man's sake, but inside his stomach was doing somersaults. It was true, he had always known deep down that that man was responsible for Hyrule's recent descent into turmoil, but hearing Link say it made it that much more real, that much more terrifying.

"It's up to me to defeat him, and, well…"

Renado suddenly knew where this was going.

"I'm not entirely sure I'll make it," Link finally blurted, at last turning to meet the concerned, dark eyes of the healer.

Renado opened his mouth to say something, but Link silenced him as he raised an open palm.

"You don't have to say anything. I just need to know that the kids will be safe. They need to get back to their parents, and once my deed is done, the field should be safe to travel again…"

"Link-"

"Just make sure they know that I did everything I could, and leaving them was never my intention."

"Link-" he tried again, but was cut off just the same.

"I just don't want them to think I abandoned them… I want them to know that what I did was to ensure their safety. I-"

"Link!" he finally yelled, instantly silencing the hero. Renado exhaled once slowly, calming himself back down before saying, "This pessimistic outlook on the situation will be what does you in."

Link opened his mouth to argue, but found he had no plausible argument.

So Renado went on, "I will not lie and tell you that it will be easy, or that I believe you will finish the battle both victorious and unscathed, because I'm sure by now that you've come to accept that neither of those things are true. I will, however, tell you that there is not a bone in my body that doubts you. I know you can defeat this evil, as does everyone else. If you could not do it, the Goddesses would not have chosen you. You have what it takes. It may be a grim realization, but all this hardship that being the chosen hero has put you through this past year has made you incredibly strong – both physically and mentally. I know you can do it. The problem is… you have to know you can do it."

He paused to examine Link's expression, but the young man said nothing. Renado turned to face him straight on, placing his hands on his shoulders to make sure he had his full attention and that he knew his next words were serious.

"This negativity will ruin you. You mustn't think this way, or else you will be what ultimately ends your own life. If you cannot find it in yourself to be confident and optimistic, then take that energy from your friends and loved ones. There is not a soul that is aware of your journey that doubts in your victory. Please, Link… You need to realize how vital trusting in yourself is to your cause."

Link stared into the unwavering gaze of the wise man as he did just the same. Renado did not break his stare, making sure that his words had proper time to sink in and sit with the hero before pulling away.

Link was the one to look away, glancing down at his bare feet and the wooden porch beneath them. A minute later, he looked back up at Renado and said, "Thank you… For everything you've done for me and my friends and family."

Renado dropped his hands from the young man's shoulders, shaking his head in an attempt to protest, "That isn't necessa-"

Before he could finish his statement, Link grabbed the shaman in for a much-deserved hug. Renado was a bit taken aback, but after a moment, he couldn't help but reciprocate the gesture, wrapping his long arms around Link just the same.

There was an overwhelming comfort in the embrace. These arms had carried him when he was on death's door time and time again. These hands had kept his very heart beating when it was much too close to stopping more times than he could count. He was alive because of this man, and he knew, no matter how hard he tried, that there was simply no way he could ever begin to repay him, or even simply justify his thanks.

Renado pulled away after several long minutes, and Link couldn't shake the feeling that the gesture was also a sort of farewell as well as a long overdue thank you. He disregarded the thought, reminding himself of the shaman's previous words about having faith in himself.

After separating, Renado considered shrugging off the young man's sincere thank you much as he usually did (and as he had started to before Link had gripped him in the hug), simply feeling that the thanks were not necessary as he was only doing what he felt he had to. He knew, however, that that would do nothing for his spirit. No… too often everyone dismissed his thanks and replied with a meaningless response; he knew it would do the hero good to hear someone actually accept his genuine thanks and take them to heart.

So, despite his initial reaction, Renado thoughtfully said, "You are so very welcome, Link, and I will continue to look after them as well as you for as long as I live – and I mean that whole-heartedly."

Link smiled, not really sure of what he should say next. It seemed to the hero that not only could Renado heal with his hands, but he could heal with his words, too.

Finally breaking what had turned into a prolonged silence, Link said, "I just came out here to get some fresh air and a good stretch. So, if you don't mind, I'm just going to take a short walk around the village."

The shaman seemed a bit skeptical, but he knew it would be good for the young Ordonian's weary soul to get away from everything, even if only for a short time, and take a solitary stroll to collect his thoughts – Din knows he's got enough on his mind to drive a thousand men crazy.

"Alright, my son, but do not stray too far, and remember that you are still weak so be careful not to exert yourself, please; if not for your sake then for mine."

Link nodded, "I'll be back before you even realize I'm gone," he said with a smirk before heading down the steps onto the dusty terrain that made Kakariko so recognizable.

Renado smiled at his ever-present playful spirit that never seemed to dampen even when things were grim. He considered remaining outside to keep an eye on the hero, but he knew that he simply needed some time alone with his thoughts, and he trusted the Gorons to keep him safe should the worst happen.

Link could hear the door to the inn click shut behind him, and he knew that Renado had given him the space he so longed for. He wanted to find a place in which he was entirely alone. No children, no Gorons, no Midna. He simply needed a moment where he could hear naught but his own mind, feel nothing but his own beating heart, and see not a soul before him – his sanity depended on it.

Realizing that the rock creatures had their eyes on him over every square inch of the village, he made his way slowly towards the graveyard, somewhere he knew would be devoid of anyone else.

He loved the company of the children, appreciated the presence of the Gorons, and cherished every moment that Midna was in his life, but he had begun to realize that over the past year he rarely ever had a spare moment to himself. That was probably why he was so constantly on the verge of insanity, because he never had even a second to reflect within himself and contemplate his own thoughts and feelings about everything that was happening to him and around him.

He was glad, for the moment, to be alone.

He entered the desolate graveyard, and the eerie silence chilled him to the bone. It was so dry, so empty, so… sad. He walked lightly, knowing that countless bodies lay lifelessly beneath his feet. He gazed at the headstones as he passed by, most of the letters and names having been worn away over the course of time. His heart ached; below the dirt lay what once was real people… real people, with real names, real lives, and real history – a story, if you will – but now, not even their names could be deciphered on the stones of their graves. He had no way of knowing what the people now buried in the earth had done in their lives. Had they died suddenly, viciously, their lives still yet to be avenged? Or had they died heroically, bravely, their lives put on the line to save the former's? Each body once housed a soul, a soul that lived a life that held no meaning in this day and age. Their stories were not being told, their names all but erased from memory.

He couldn't help but wonder if his fate would be the same.

A faint glimmer in the corner of his eye caught his attention, drawing him away from the grim setting. What he saw at the opposite end of the clearing was a familiar sight that he had not seen in quite some time. He smiled and made his way over to the golden wolf.

He closed his eyes as the beast prepared to lunge; he knew the routine by now. He knew he would have a headache when he woke up, and he hoped none of the children would find him lying in the graveyard as they would likely think the worst, but he simply could not pass up the opportunity to see the old spirit again – he had so many questions he was just dying to ask.

When he reopened his eyes, he found himself once again on the ethereal plane he had visited a few times in the past. He looked up and saw that the wolf had transformed into the decrepit skeleton he had met before. Link got to his feet, and just as he was about to say something, the spirit spoke up first.

"We meet again," the deep voice echoed in the hallow chasm, "There are skills I still have yet to teach you, forgotten ways of the blade that do not leave our bloodline."

Link was confused. Referring to 'our bloodline' was almost entirely giving his identity away, and yet, he was acting distant and cold, and not at all like the hero he had seen back in the Temple of Time. Were they one in the same… or not?

Before Link could pose one of his many questions, the spirit jumped into a lesson without giving him even a moment to consider anything else. The spirit showed him better, more intelligent ways to sidestep an adversary that it would certainly not expect. The spirit showed him a quick, foolproof way to roll quickly behind an enemy and slice cleanly at its backside before it could even realize what had hit it. The spirit showed him ways to trick a foe into making it anticipate one move and performing something entirely different, how to more effectively use his guard, and how to put more power into each swing without overextending it and leaving himself open.

He wasn't aware of how much time had passed, or even if time passed normally when he was in this… place. It had been a while, though, before the otherworldly being finally declared that he was ready.

"At last… the time is now. You have mastered numerous skills and now house the spirit of the true hero. Although I accepted life as the hero, I could not convey the lessons of that life to those who came after. At last, I have eased my regrets."

Link furrowed his brow, but didn't waste a second in putting in his two cents before he could be cut off, "So, you are the Hero of Time, then?"

The skeleton seemed hesitant and so avoided the question, "You, who have marched through countless foes, each mightier than the last… You, who now gaze to the future with vision unclouded… Surely you can restore Hyrule to its stature of yore as the chosen land of the gods."

Link stood his ground, "Answer my question. Are you the Hero of Time?"

The spirit was silent.

"How else could you have 'accepted life as the hero' if you aren't the Hero of Time? And how else could we share the same bloodline, as you mentioned before? You must be… Why have you tried to conceal your identity from me?"

"I cannot reveal myself to you… yet. The Goddesses would disapprove. Think what you will, but it is imperative that your mind stay clear and unfazed from unnecessary distractions in Hyrule's darkest hour."

Link smirked, "I know you're the Hero of Time… I just know it. Can't you just answer my questions? I just… I guess I just want to know if you think I even have a chance against Ganon," he scoffed, "Can someone like me really face… someone like him?"

The hero couldn't read the skeleton's emotions, and so he did not know if his words even affected the lost soul in the slightest.

"You are endowed with the strength required of the hero," it spoke in a wise voice, "Do you not feel the courage granted by this strength as it guides you step by step toward your enemy? Believe in your strength. Continue to push forward unflinchingly, and without straying from your path."

Link didn't seem satisfied with that response, his gaze dropping to that of his boots on the misty ground beneath him before saying, "That's… not very reassuring. Just because some call me 'hero' doesn't mean I have what it takes to take down this-this… I don't know, eternal evil that has plagued Hyrule for centuries. If so many before me have tried and failed, what separates me from them? What gives me any better a chance to defeat him?"

The spirit's glare did not falter, but there was bitter quiet for several minutes before a reply was uttered.

"If you go into that battle with even the slightest bit of uncertainty, you will fail. The resolve of a hero waxes and wanes depending upon the strength he sees within himself. If he views himself as weak, he will be feeble. If he views himself as strong, he will be powerful. The old saying, 'mind over matter,' has lasted throughout decades and eons because its words ring true. What your brain tells your body is what will be. If you tell yourself that you cannot succeed, you will fail. If you tell yourself you can succeed, you will triumph," he paused briefly, "You must trust in your strength and your abilities to overcome and succeed. You must trust in yourself with every fiber of your being. Even the faintest glimmer of doubt can overshadow hope."

Link was utterly silent, his voice entirely lost to him. He stared unwaveringly at the hollow skeleton as the masterfully strung words seeped into his soul. As his mind was mulling it over, the spirit added one final statement.

"Do not allow the king of evil to win before the battle has even begun."

Seemingly by magic, the hero's confidence was restored. This spirit was right, and even though Renado had spoken similar words only moments prior to this encounter, hearing them fleshed out and from the mouth of whom he still assumed was the legendary Hero of Time made them that much more powerful to him. The old hero had gone through what Link was going through; he knew exactly how he was feeling and knew exactly what to say to give him courage, and he had done just that.

Link smiled a sincere smile before saying, "Thank you."

Just as the world around them began fading, Link realized that, even though he had given him newfound hope, he still had yet to answer so many of his questions.

"Wait! I still have so much to ask you!" he shouted.

Before he could get another word out, he heard an echo of a reply just before everything was blindingly white, "We will meet again, hero. Farewell! Go, and do not falter, my child!"

And with that, the shade of the hero was gone, and all Link could see was a world completely whited out.

He was quickly made aware of a nagging in his ears and a pounding in his head. His eyes started flickering open and he could hear a familiar voice at his side.

"For Din's sake, Link! I thought you were dead!"

He reached a hand up to his throbbing head as he sat up and looked at his frantic partner without saying a word. He could see the worry plastered plainly across her face and there was a wetness at the base of her lashes.

"Midna, I'm fine," he tried, "You should have remembered that this has happened to me bef-"

"Really?" she huffed, "You're gonna try to blame me for getting upset because I should have remembered that you like to just randomly pass out for no reason? Oh, well excuse me for being worried. I guess I also 'should have remembered' that I don't care anymore!"

As she began to make for a hasty exit, Link grabbed her wrist and held her back.

"Stop it!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, the tears now free flowing, "Let me go!"

"Why are you crying?" he asked in a calm voice, hoping beyond hope that him being calm would rub off onto his comrade.

"Why am I crying?" she yelled, turning to face him full on as she wiped her face dry, "Goddesses, you always have been too thick to understand anything. I'm crying because I'm… I'm so Goddess-damned mad at you, Link! You're so stupid! And you know what… you're selfish! First thing you say when you wake up and see me here is, 'I'm fine.' Well, great! What about me, Link? Did you stop to wonder if I'm fine? We haven't been separated this long since we met, and you just carried on like it didn't affect you, but it's been eating me up inside not being able to talk to you," she was hysterical by this point, "And yesterday you-you… you kissed that… that stupid girl! You kissed her right in front of me you inconsiderate jerk! How do you think that made me feel? It felt like a knife, Link. Like the damn knife that was sticking out of you just the other day. I would rather you had just let Zant stab me instead of allowing me to see what I saw yesterday."

He had had enough.

"Do you hear how selfish you sound?" he cut in before she could utter another word, his voice raised to the point of yelling, "How was I supposed to know you would be so upset by what happened yesterday? I'm not a mind reader, Midna! For Din's sake!" he got to his feet as he began pacing, "And how dare you say you would have rather I let him stab you. You have no idea what it means to sacrifice anything, do you? I constantly put myself in danger to protect everyone, to protect you, and it's not for any recognition or any reward, I just do it! I do it because I care about you and would never want to see you hurt like I've hurt! How was I supposed to know Ilia was going to kiss me? Or even that our kiss would hurt you so much? How was I supposed to know, Midna?"

He paused, giving her the opportunity to fill in the blanks, but she said nothing.

"Exactly. You've never said anything about feeling jealous, or feeling anything more than friendship between us. So don't you even try to blame me for that. Maybe, instead of worrying constantly about your own feelings, you could've asked me if there were even any feelings behind that kiss before blowing up at me over it."

Midna scoffed, "Please, Link. I'm not an idiot. I know you better than any of them and better than you know yourself. I've seen every expression you've ever made, every emotion you've ever felt displayed on your face. I can read you like a book, Link, and I could see clearly that you enjoyed that kiss," a tear slid down her cheek that she instantly wiped away, her voice now calm again as she continued, "I'm not mad at you for loving her… I didn't mean to sound so selfish. If you love her and are happy with her, then I'm glad, because I want you to be happy."

"Midna-"

"I just wish I didn't have to witness it is all, I guess. I wish someone would've told me that I was just being foolish in thinking that there would ever be anything more," she gave a dry laugh, "I mean, I'm not even from this world, why would I think there could ever be anything between us."

"Midna, plea-"

"It's fine, Link. I'll be gone forever when this is all over and I won't get in the way of you and her. I'll leave and make sure I can never come back. You two can live your lives happily without me in the way."

"What?" his voice was low and intimidating, his brow furrowed deeply.

She looked up at him, realizing what she had said and regretting it immediately - so she played dumb. "What?"

"You know 'what.' Why would you say something like that? Why would you even joke about leaving?"

"Link, I-I," she stuttered, instantly wishing she could take it back. It was something she never intended to tell him – she knew it would only cloud his mind and get in the way of him completing his journey.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying desperately to conceal his rapidly increasing anger, "I don't even know what to say. You sit here, making me feel guilty about supposedly leading you blindly toward something that could never be, and yet, you were the one that was doing the leading on."

She opened her mouth to say something, but he continued abruptly.

"You've led me to believe that you would be by my side through it all – never once did you hint at leaving. You've been with me from the very beginning. You've been the only one I could truly talk to, the only one I could really confide in and relate to," his tone quickly escalated, "You've been the one talking of some unrealistic everlasting friendship and some ridiculous fairytale story of peace in the world once this is all done, but for what! Why in the hell would I want to keep living after fighting so long only to be left with no one that understands anything I went through in the end! I love those kids, and I love my family back in the village, but they have no idea the things I've done, the things I've seen. I don't think I'll ever be able to live like I used to, but the idea of at least having you within reach always gave me hope."

She could spot the tears in his eyes from her distance, and just as tears of her own began to slide from her lashes, she desperately cried, "Link… please, let me explain-"

"No, Midna. I… I can't even look at you right now. I want to hold you and tell you that that kiss yesterday hardly meant anything, and that since then I've only been able to think of you, but… then you go and tell me you've been planning on leaving without any way of returning? I can't even – I don't even know what to say to you. I've never felt so betrayed by anyone in my life."

"Link," she sobbed, reaching out and grabbing his wrist as she pleaded, "Please… I can't take any more of us fighting. I can't stand it when we aren't talking. I know you feel the same…"

He turned to her, his eyes damp but he was still suppressing the tears from falling, and a look of disappointment was all Midna could make out on his face, "I have a job to do. As you know, it's kind of important. I've pictured you at my side for the last leg of this fight for the past year, but if we can't get past this then I will go it alone."

Midna looked heartbroken, "We're both upset… But you need me, and I need you. Can't we just talk about this and focus on what we have to do?"

Link let out a heavy sigh, "I've done enough talking. If I keep on, I'll probably say something I'll regret later. I need to focus on getting better and then taking down Ganondorf. I was feeling pretty good about it after – what did you call it? – that's right, 'randomly passing out for no reason.' I think I met with the spirit of the Hero of Time, and he gave me some nice words of wisdom and had me feeling pretty optimistic about my upcoming battle to decide Hyrule's destiny. But now, after this conversation, you've got me feeling like the whole thing's pretty pointless."

She was speechless for a moment; she had never heard her hero sound so bitter and hostile.

"Come on," she tried, "I know you don't really feel that way about it."

"In my right mind, probably not. But right now I'm so angry I can't think straight," he responded bluntly as he began making his way out of the graveyard.

Midna hovered quickly in front of him, halting his exit as she said, "I get it, okay? When I was mad I just ran away – I just needed my space and I wanted to get away. So… I'll let you have some space for a little while, but just, please… don't forget I'm always right here, okay? When you're ready to talk… I'll be right in your shadow… okay?"

Seeming to have forgotten his previous declaration of not saying anything more, he did just that, "Do you remember all the times I've asked if you'd stay with me after this was all finally done? Like, when we were in the prison in the desert, for example? After I had nearly drowned in quicksand and you pulled me to safety, I asked if you would be here at the end of it all, and you said yes. Just tell me this… Have you known all along that you were planning on leaving at the end, and just chose to lie to me this whole time? Or was this some new revelation?" he gave a dark, sardonic chuckle, "Surely the truth can't hurt me now."

Midna averted his piercing gaze, glancing around at their surroundings in hopes that what she should say next would be written in the dirt. She thought quickly, and her decision was one she was sure she would come to regret, but it had to be done.

"I'm not really planning on leaving, Link," she stammered, "I was just mad at you because of the whole Ilia thing and I said some stupid stuff… I'm sorry for hurting you with what I said; I didn't mean it."

The imp could see in her partner's eyes that he was desperately trying to search out the truth in her dark irises. He narrowed his eyes, debating within himself if he believed her or not.

"You aren't really leaving," he clarified.

She shook her head, "No, I'm not really leaving."

They were silent for quite some time still, both of them battling their own inner turmoil.

After what felt like an eternity, the corners of Link's mouth perked up just a hair, "I should probably be angry at the fact that you lied about leaving just to get a rise out of me, but I'm just happy to hear that you aren't actually leaving."

Midna's stomach flip-flopped – was this a lie she could really keep up? It already felt like a stab in the heart.

She gave an apprehensive nod, "Just be happy, okay? I'm so done fighting with you; I can't stand it. I hate being mad at you and I hate having you mad at me. Are you still mad at me?"

He deterred the question, "Are you still mad at me?"

She pondered it for a moment, "Mad? I guess not. I'm just hurt, I guess."

He sighed, "I get it, but you have to talk to me, Midna. I've said it before and I'll likely say it again: I can't read your mind."

She definitely knew that was true.

"I had no idea you felt that way," he went on, "I still don't really know what it is you're feeling. I don't even know what I'm feeling. You have to talk to me."

She huffed, knowing she just needed to give in – after all, telling him the truth in this instance would at least slightly clear her conscience about lying to him on other matters, "I just felt really jealous when I saw you two kissing, okay? I wanted to fly across the room and smack her in the face."

Link couldn't help but chuckle.

"What?"

"Just picturing it."

"You don't have to just picture it; I'll enact it for you."

"No, no, no," he laughed again, "It's funny to imagine, but I would never want to see two of the most important people in my life fight."

Midna frowned, "So she is important to you."

"Of course she is. But so are you."

"Ugh. That sounds so… like a way of avoiding the real question."

"What's the real question, Midna?" he teased.

"You know what the real question is! Do you love her?" she yelped, folding her arms over her chest as she awaited what she was sure was going to be a painful answer.

He glanced away from her, then back before saying honestly, "I don't know."

She gave him a look.

"Okay, I mean, I do," he amended his previous statement quickly before adding, "Of course I love her, I grew up with her, but I don't know if I love her the way she loves me. I think she sees her future with me… she sees the rest of her life at my side living peacefully in Ordon… but I can't picture that anymore. There's no way I could go back to a life like that. I can't even think of settling down in one place and planting roots," he shook his head, "Sounds so… constricting."

"So…?" she urged.

"I love her, Midna, I do, but I don't see it the way she sees it. I love you, too, but I don't know if I see that the way you see it, either. I literally have no idea where you stand on that subject," he chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck as he did so.

Midna's cheeks instantly flushed a deep red color. She quickly raised her hands to cover the sudden warmth and she turned away from him, unsure for a split second what to say. Taking a moment to compose herself, she whirled back around.

"I love you, you stupid, crazy wolf. I've never cared about anyone else the way I care about you. But I'm done putting my feelings first. It doesn't matter what we feel or don't feel; we've got so much more important things to deal with. Ganondorf won't wait around for us to figure out how we feel about each other. Like you said earlier: we need to focus on getting you better and then taking down that tyrant."

Link smiled, "That's something I've always loved about you; you put your duty above all else. Even though, in the beginning, putting your duty first meant being completely cold and heartless towards me, but it's alright. You needed those Fused Shadows at the time, and you did what you had to do to get them."

"Ugh," she sighed, "Horrible example, Link. I didn't have to be so ruthless to you to get what I needed."

He shrugged it off, "It's in the past. And honestly, I think starting off on the wrong foot is what's made us so close today. We've seen and dealt with each other at our absolute worst and we're both still here."

Midna giggled, "And that's something I've always loved about you; you view everything as a learning experience or an opportunity for something to get better. 'Oh, hey!'" she began in a mocking voice, "'I just got shot with an arrow! That's fine – at least now I'll know how to deal with this in the future!'"

Link let out a genuine, hearty laughter that sounded like music to Midna's ears before gasping out, "I don't really sound like that, do I?"

The imp couldn't help but join in the fits of hysterics, "Yeah, you do!"

They shared in a much-needed laughter that did wonders for both of their spirits for quite a while after that. Midna made a few more jokes about her hero and he didn't hesitate to do the same to her. After laughing so hard for so long that their sides were hurting, they both felt significantly better.

Link sighed contentedly, "You always know how to make me feel better."

"Same to you," she smiled, "But hey, I've been wondering something."

"What?"

"You mentioned earlier when we were fighting that you were passed out here because you met with the spirit of the Hero of Time, was that true?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty positive it was the Hero of Time."

"What was the good advice he gave you?"

"He told me I couldn't doubt in myself, that without confidence in my abilities I would fail."

Midna's eyes went a bit wide, "Geez, did he put it so bluntly?"

Link chuckled, "Yeah, he did, but he needed to. I needed to hear those words; I needed to be told that I could be my own undoing in doubting in myself. The last thing he said was to not let Ganon win before the battle even started. Those words really kind of drove it home for me, I guess you could say."

"Well… do you feel better about it after talking to him? I mean, do you feel ready?"

Link nodded, taking a moment to think on it before saying, "Yeah… I do. I feel more ready than I ever have to finish this. And after hearing you say that you aren't leaving…" he paused and smiled, "I feel that much better."

Midna's heart sank into her stomach, "I'm glad," she mustered.

She never imagined that seeing a smile on his face would feel so similar to a punch in the gut. She had lied to him. She would continue to lie to him. What would he do when he would inevitably find out she had been lying when she was to take her leave in the imminent future? What would he do if he was to find out she was lying before said event could transpire? He would likely fall apart at the seams, much like she had begun to witness when he knew it as truth just earlier. He wouldn't be able to carry out what had to be done… He wouldn't be able to fulfill his destiny and save Hyrule…

It would be the end of him…

It was a good thing that she was an excellent liar, she supposed.


Sometimes, in trying to make things better, we only make them worse.