The months went on without much trouble. By some miracle, Link made it through his senior year of high school, and to Rusl's surprise, he even got accepted into the community college in the city. He supposed he couldn't give his son too much of a hard time; he was the hero of Hyrule, after all. And the fact that he bothered to look into colleges came as a surprise to Rusl. In truth, he didn't care what his son wanted to do with his life, as long as it meant he was happy, alive, and certainly not living with his father until he was in his forties.

As if he Rusl expected to even live that long in the first place.

And though his communication with Dorian had almost completely disappeared, he knew he was working day and night to keep tabs on Kohga and provide all the intel he could to Impa.

Admittedly, he had grown anxious with how quiet things have been, though he was beyond grateful for the time he had with his children. So when the call from Impa finally came, he was torn, sick with the idea that he may have to leave his children behind, for who knew how long, and yet anxious to get out into the world once more, learning all he could about the Yiga Clan, and fighting to give his children the chance to live in a world at peace.

He stood in front of Impa as she waved herself with a manilla folder. Her brows were knit together in annoyance as she grumbled angrily about the heat.

"It is summer," Rusl reminded her, grinning.

"I know that," she snapped at him. "But for the love of Hylia, why does the AC need to cut out now of all days?"

"It's like you're stuck in the middle of the Gerudo Desert," Rusl said dryly. "Too bad no one knows what that's like." His brows raised. "Oh. Maybe D does."

"I'll kill you," she hissed.

Rusl frowned. "That won't make it any cooler out."

"But then I won't have to listen to your stupid shit."

"Touche." He offered her a smile. "So? What's going on?"

Impa leaned back to sit against her desk, still fanning herself with whatever she could find. "I've got a job for you." She hesitated and met his gaze. "It's dangerous. It will take you out of the city and across Hyrule for a long time. Are you up for that?"

"I'm a walking target," he reminded her.

Impa pulled her gaze away and sighed. "I know. But I'm running out of resources. And I trust you will do whatever you have to do to stay alive and out of Kohga's hands." She glanced at him. "Cado will be with you," she added. "And as many of my men as I can give you."

"Sounds like I don't have much of a choice."

"You do," she said. "If you would rather stay here in the safety of the city with your children, I would understand."

"Trying to convince me to stay?"

Impa pulled her gaze away. "The choice is yours," she said. She stopped fanning herself. "I need your help. But it is risky."

"What am I doing?"

"Purah found the Sheikah Slate," Impa informed him. "And Robbie has found another Divine Beast. He and his men are working on recovering it, and with the slate, Purah will restore them. You should know that Dorian has made Kohga aware of this, and Kohga plans to take the slate from Purah."

"You want me to stop him?"

Impa shook her head. She turned her gaze to the floor. "Let the Yiga Clan take it," she said.

"They'll kill -"

"They won't kill her," Impa snapped at him.

Rusl's gaze narrowed on her, but Impa continued.

"The slate won't respond to them," Impa said. "Purah has made sure of that. They won't be able to do anything with it." She met his gaze. "Kohga will realize this, and he will give it to Dorian to bring back to us with the hope that we will activate the Divine Beasts for them."

"Wasn't that the plan?" Rusl said between his teeth.

"Yes and no," Impa said. "A back up plan, really."

Rusl's forehead creased as he started to put the pieces together. "A back up plan?"

"If Dorian's intel is true, then with all Kohga has been working on, he will likely be able to gain control of the Divine Beasts and turn them against us."

"The Divine Beasts are a backup," Rusl started, "for… what? For when Link fails?" His nostrils flared. "You're going to send him to his death?"

"Our war with the Yiga Clan can only go one of two ways," Impa said sternly. "If you die, Link will have the power to stop Kohga. However, if you stay alive, Link will not be able to stop him, and we must rely on the Divine Beasts to aid us."

His teeth grit together. "It seems to me this is a lose-lose situation. You're trying too hard to make sure everyone gets out alive. That will be what destroys Hyrule."

"As prepared as you are to meet your fate," Impa hissed, "we are not. I will not sacrifice -"

"War is nothing but sacrifice, Impa," Rusl snapped at her. "You of all people should know that."

Impa stared at him, her expression softening. She pulled her gaze away. "I am prepared for every possible outcome," she said softly. "I am prepared to sacrifice only when necessary, and save those who deserve life."

Rusl's jaw clenched. "What the hell do you want from me?"

"I want you to help find the last Divine Beast," Impa said, her voice strong and steady. "Robbie has sent Koko and Cottla to Tabantha to find it. You and Cado will assist them. Once found, report back to Robbie and Purah; they will take care of the rest."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"I really don't think you need me for something as simple as that."

Impa held her gaze on him. "The truth is," she started, "the Yiga Clan is getting stronger every day. Kohga's power has far surpassed even Dorian's power, and soon it will surpass my own. They will become unstoppable." She pulled her gaze away. "Link will not be able to stop them, and I am unwilling to let you sacrifice yourself so that he can."

"You are putting Hyrule in a far more dangerous situation," Rusl said fiercely. "Activating those Divine Beasts will leave them open to be turned against us. You said so yourself."

"I have a few other cards I can play," Impa said. "I haven't played my best hand, yet."

"What could you possibly be saving?" Rusl hissed. "Link is the only one that can stop Kohga."

Impa met his gaze. "Tell me, Rusl." She paused. "Do you think your role in all this is as simple as bringing the Chosen Hero into this world?"

Rusl's gaze softened. He stared blankly at her for a moment. Then his brows furrowed furiously. "What are you saying?"

"Chosen Heroes are only meant to seal the darkness. They are Hylia's only means to preserving Hyrule from a curse doomed to repeat itself for all eternity. But they are not all who sacrifice to keep this world at peace. History is full of those who have gone unrecognized - who have given their all to help the heroes succeed. Without them, Hyrule would have been lost centuries ago. Princesses and Light Spirits, Sages and Champions. All who have equally earned the title of Hero." She paused to let this sink in. "Don't you see, Rusl? You are not merely a tool of Hylia's own game. You have so much more purpose than you realize. Without you, Link and Zelda would have never succeeded. Hyrule would have been lost long before Ganondorf's revival."

Rusl hesitated. "You're talking out of your ass," he hissed.

Impa smiled. "I see the strength of your power. It will surpass even my own. You may think it is your job to die, but I can assure you that you are meant to live. You are meant for more."

Rusl was leaning against his car with a beer in hand when Aryll and Link came home, though he hardly drank from it. His mind was preoccupied with Impa's words. She was insistent on remaining cryptic. Perhaps she didn't know as much as she lead on. Still, he knew the old Sheikah knew close to everything about everything. Surely she wasn't just caressing his ego. But he couldn't possibly wrap his mind around her words, and he was so lost in trying to decipher them that he didn't even notice his children's arrival until Aryll skipped down the driveway toward him and climbed onto the trunk of the car.

Rusl turned to her, relieved for the distraction, and smiled. "And where have you guys been all day?" Rusl inquired.

"We got ice cream and went to the park and Urbosa braided my hair." She flipped her hair over her shoulder to show her father. "And Riju and I went to the arcade and Link got kicked out and Mipha bought me a new shirt, look!" She spread her arms open so her father could see her shirt, and she grinned. "My other shirt got dirty."

"You owe Mipha a hundred rupees," Link said with a grin.

"For fucking what?"

"Because," Aryll started. "Mipha says you're too stupid to take care of me and she's gonna start charging you."

"You know," Rusl said. "It was Link's turn to take care of you today. That's why I stuck you with him."

"Well, you know how good Link is at that," Aryll said, rolling her eyes. "Link said he took care of me enough and he's done." She crossed her arms and pouted.

Rusl frowned. "He doesn't mean that."

"I kinda do," Link said.

Aryll slid off the car. "I don't need you guys," she said, stomping her foot. "I can take care of myself, yanno!"

Rusl smiled. "I know you can. But the government wouldn't be happy with me if I let you do that."

"I'll talk to Zelda," she said, straightening. "Zelda is my friend." She perked up suddenly, growing excited. "Can I live with Zelda?"

"Live in a really cool, big palace with a princess, or get stuck here with Link and I." Rusl pretended to think about her options for a moment. "Well, I think it's a no brainer."

"So I can?"

"Stay here with us?" Rusl grinned.

"Dad!"

"You would rather live with Princess Zelda than with me and Link?"

"No offense," she said in her childish tone, "but you guys are lame."

"I thought heroes were cool," Link muttered.

"Come on," Rusl whined playfully. "I'll let you have all the peanut butter and banana sandwiches you want."

"I dunno," Aryll said slowly. "I'll think about it."

"Why don't you think about it while you get ready for bed?"

Aryll frowned. "I don't wanna go to bed!" Despite this, she yawned.

Rusl smiled. "Okay," he started. "But you can at least go get dressed so you don't ruin your nice, new shirt when we eat ice cream."

"Yes!" She thrust a fist in the air, then turned to hurry inside of the house.

When the door closed, Rusl turned his attention to Link. He reached behind him to hand him a beer, and Link frowned.

"You're a really terrible father, you know," he said. "I'm not even twenty."

Rusl shrugged. "Fine. Don't take it."

Link moved to his side, taking the can from him with a smirk. He pushed himself onto the trunk of the car. He frowned, his gaze turning to the beer as he opened it. "You only let me drink when you want to talk."

"I want to talk," Rusl confirmed.

"I know." Link hesitated. He turned his gaze to the sky as a meteor graced the world with its presence. "How long will you be gone?"

Rusl sighed. "I don't know," he admitted regretfully.

"And you're not going to tell me anything."

"Right."

"So, I'm stuck taking care of Aryll some more."

Rusl smiled apologetically to him.

"You know," Link started. "You can't keep pawning her off on me. That's not what I'm for."

"That's exactly what the oldest child is for."

"I've been more of a father to her than you have."

Rusl frowned. "Guess I owe ya, then."

"Yeah, kinda." Link sighed. "Whatever," he said. "I don't mind. I just gotta give you shit."

"I know." He turned his gaze to him. "I guess I've never really thanked you for everything. For taking care of her when I couldn't. I don't know what I would have done without you."

"Yeah, whatever."

Rusl smiled.

"When are you leaving?"

"The end of the week."

Link nodded once. "Alright."

"I'll call when I can."

"Sure."

"Don't let her eat junk."

Link smiled. "Like peanut butter and banana sandwiches?" He met Rusl's gaze.

"I've failed terribly with you," Rusl said. "But she can probably still be saved. Try to get her to eat those things… I think they're called vegetables."

Link laughed lightly. "Yeah, I think that sounds right."

Rusl pushed himself offthe car and finished his beer.

"Are you ever going to tell me the truth?" Link asked quietly.

Rusl met his gaze and smiled. "Yeah," he said. "Someday. I promise." Someday he would be gone. Someday Hyrule would be at peace again. And someday, Link would learn the truth. Someday.

Link frowned. "Someday?"

Rusl hesitated. "Link," he started. "Whatever happens… Promise me you won't get involved."

Link's brows furrowed. "Dad."

"Just promise," Rusl hissed. "That's all I ask. Stay out of this."

Link hesitated, holding his gaze on his father. After a moment, he pulled his gaze away. "Alright," he said softly. "I'm trusting you."

"Thank you."

Link slid off the car onto his feet. He moved to his father and hugged him.

Rusl wrapped his arms around his son. "Everything I do is for you and Aryll," he said. Perhaps he was saying too much; he didn't want to give Link any reason to get involved. But he didn't care. He needed him to know that much.

"That's what scares me," Link said. "Someone told me I was as stupid as you."

Rusl smiled. "Yeah," he said. "That's what scares me."

The door opened and Aryll leaned out into the night. She watched as her father and brother pulled apart, and she grinned.

"I'm gonna eat all the ice cream," she called to them. She held a spoon out before her and giggled.

"When do we introduce her to vegetables?" Link asked.

"I don't know," Rusl said. "But I think you need to do it slowly so the change in her diet doesn't kill her."

"Maybe we should consult with the vet," Link said with a grin. "And take her to the groomers."

"I can hear you, yanno!" Aryll shouted at them. "I'm not a dog!"

"Do you like going to the park?" Link asked.

"Yes," Aryll answered slowly, her gaze narrowing on her brother.

"Do you like treats?"

"Yes."

Link grinned. "Do you like belly rubs?"

"Link! Shut up!"

"Just to be sure," Rusl started, "we should get her on a dewormer."

"I hate you," Aryll muttered. "I'm eating your ice cream." She stuck her tongue out and ran back into the house.

Link's shoulders slumped. "Don't you dare."

When she appeared in the doorway again, she had the open carton out, her tongue hovering over it.

Link shrugged. "Do it. I don't care. I'm an adult. You're a kid."

Aryll licked the ice cream.

"Aryll!" Link chased her into the house.

Rusl followed his children inside, shaking his head. Though he knew he would have to leave them, he liked the idea that their safety - and the safety of Hyrule - wasn't as dependant on his death as he once thought. It seemed his fate wasn't written in stone afterall, and that was all he ever wanted.