AUTHOR'S NOTE

Thanks to some well-placed time off, I was able to get this chapter out a lot sooner than I expected. I hope you all enjoy!

CHAPTER 22

Everlasting Secrets

"I suppose you thought it would be fun to send me all the way back to the Water Temple."

The repeat journey to see Biggoron was not one Dark had wanted to go on. His fear of heights was only slightly more manageable than his fear of water, and if he had not just gone to such lengths to prove to Link he was more than capable of following him anywhere, he would have surely requested to stay behind. As it was, he could not be coaxed up the mountain again, and despite his insistence that he would be able to make it up there if given adequate time, after the third time he had choked back his tears and stepped away from the cliff face, Link suggested he try the alternate route through the volcano he had mentioned briefly before.

The alternate route was a small improvement upon the mountain path, if only because the sweltering heat kept his mind off the dangers of falling. It was the second time Dark had needed to purchase a tunic for a special purpose that week, and though the Goron tunics were not unique and were easier to select, he had already decided he did not enjoy shopping. He did not quite understand why such heavy fabric and metal were used to protect people from the heat, when it seemed to only make the temperature more unbearable, but he had made it through the volcano and up the mounted ladder safely despite the additional pounds of fabric he carried, and even felt sure that he would be able to find his way down with minimal assistance.

"Fun?" Biggoron inquired, peering down at them. "On the contrarrrrrry...I expected thissssss to be a chore...somethiiiiiing you would not take lightly."

Dark was beginning to feel slightly concerned about Link, something that unsettled him more than he had expected. Though Link had insisted he was more of a listener than a talker, this was something Dark had not experienced first-hand until today, and his companion's silence as they made their way through the forest and Goron City was mildly disconcerting. Link's face was unreadable as he surveyed Biggoron, and his voice sounded infuriatingly calm and even, but that did not shake his feeling that something was wrong.

"I always take doing your chores with the utmost seriousness," Link responded, and if Dark didn't know any better he would have said he detected a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "A weapon maker of your skill level should be held in high regard, and I certainly respect you for that."

"But not for anythiiiiiing else," the Goron noted.

"I set out with the best of intentions," Link continued, ignoring what Biggoron had said. "One statue should not matter much in the grand scheme of things, after all. I've done worse things as the Hero of Time. Destroyed things more precious than a simple stone. Used important artifacts to perform much stranger tasks."

Dark was downright awed at how impressive Link sounded right now. His tone was commanding, much in the same way as Queen Zelda's was, and yet it carried with it a note of patience in his explanation that Dark doubted he would be able to muster in a similar situation.

"After all, we do need the information you claim to hold. Obtaining the Megaton Hammer...using it to smash a statue in the Water Temple...both of those are worth it for the knowledge you hold. Or, I suppose, that trade would have been worth it." It was taking a lot of effort to keep his voice even, and he tried to hold it for one more minute before he would need to breathe and undoubtedly let the anger he felt over this flood back to him. "Did you not think I would find out about the history of the dragons? Why would you ask me to do such a thing? The Zora are not our enemy. Even if they were, they would not deserve to have such a sin committed."

"The historrrrrry is...irrelevaaaaaant. You should know. You destrrrrrroyed...Volvagia..." Biggoron pointed out slyly, as if there had been some flaw in his logic.

"Volvagia was a living, breathing, monster," Link replied. "She let Ganon imprison the Gorons, and fought against those who attempted to free them."

"But...she was a drrrrrragon..."

"I was not aware that the Gorons worshipped dragons, or would be upset by the loss of one that wanted to kill them," Link said coldly, and Biggoron inclined his head in recognition. "The Zora do worship dragons, and were visibly distressed at the mention of destroying even a mere statue. Even if that were not the case, I cannot allow myself or anyone else to commit such an act of violence in a sacred place."

Biggoron bent down, and Dark would have said the way in which he tilted his head was intended to mock them for it not been for the fact that he was, after all, quite large, and might not have been able to properly see them otherwise. "And what, Herrrrrro...do you innnnnntend to do aaaaaabout it?"

The moment of silence that followed the question was tense, and Dark found himself wondering if Link would change his mind. While this was something he clearly felt strongly about, Biggoron seemed to have no remorse for his request, and would be unlikely to rescind it.

"I intend to do nothing," Link said at last, his words short, and disappointment evident in his voice. "The deal is off."

Biggoron looked surprised for a second, and then smiled, his gentle chuckle shaking the mountain ever so slightly. "Welllllll done," he commended Link. "I wasn't sure...you woulllllld have it innnnnn you."

Link's eyes narrowed; his lips pursed tightly as he surveyed the Goron. He was not, by nature, a suspicious person - but this behavior certainly warranted a certain amount of skepticism.

"It was...a tesssssst," he explained, sounding somewhat proud of himself. "I had to be ssssssure...you were pure of hearrrrrrt. That you could...make deciiiiiisions, weigh yourrrrrr options, before simply aaaaaacting."

During their time travelling together, Dark had the opportunity to witness a wide range of emotions, and with each one both the similarities and differences of how Link was versus how his brother had acted when experiencing each struck him as somewhat fascinating. He had seen happiness and excitement; irritation and worry. He had seen flashes of expressions he had not recognized too, ones he had not inquired about for fear of judgement. But never before had he seen true anger, which now reigned over Link's face. He pulled his lips into a scowl, furrowing his eyebrows and fixing Biggoron with a very serious look that Dark was sure would have rendered him speechless had it been directed at him. He could not, however, blame Link for the reaction, as he too felt anger rising within him as he considered the words. If Biggoron had not decided that such a test was necessary, he never would have given Link the task of smashing the dragon statue, and he never would have headed out to the Water Temple. Link would not have abandoned him, and in turn he would not have nearly lost a battle with his emotions; would not have nearly drowned or felt the need to mark himself with wounds to represent his conflicted feelings. Instinctively, he took a step closer to Link, somehow finding comfort in his dangerous glare and stiff pose.

These thoughts must have also floated through Link's mind, for when he had regained his composure, he stated flatly: "I am sorry to know that defeating Ganon does not automatically qualify me to be pure of heart and sound of mind."

"Defeating Gaaaaaanon was an act of necesssssssity, not choice," the Goron retorted. "Even if it wassssss, it was not one you made aaaaaalone. You had hellllllp; from Zelda, and from the Saaaaaages."

"I could have refused." He knew it was a lie even as he said it, and from the way Biggoron smiled at him, he was sure he had come to that same conclusion. Rather than wait for him to mention it, embarrassing him or making him even more upset than he already was, he decided a subject change was for the best. "Why that particular request, then? I notice you specifically asked for the Megaton Hammer to be used."

With these words, he pulled the Megaton Hammer out from under his shield, and Dark jumped back with a start. He was not sure how he missed it earlier; was not aware of how Link could have carried it without him seeing it, and yet, there it was.

"Ah, yesssss..." he reached down, plucking the hammer from Link's grip before he could yank it backwards. "One of my finnnnner works...if I do say ssssso myself."

"You made it?" Link asked in surprise. "But I thought...that hammer is well over 400 years old!"

"I am...verrrrry old," Biggoron admitted. "We Gorons...have long lifespans, and grrrrrow as we age. I...and my brrrrrrother, Medigoron...we are the oldest remaining Gorons."

Dark let out a low whistle at hearing that, and Link also looked rather impressed.

"It pained me...maaaaaaking this hammer," he admitted. "You see...Volvagia was not always sssssso violent...she was a spirit of the mountains; frrrrrriend to Gorons...I remember her before the siiiiiickness took over." Without warning, he sat down into a more comfortable position, shaking the ground and most likely the entire mountain.

"More than just a friend to the Gorrrrrrons...she was my friend. I spent...much time in the volcannnnnno. I am not sure...she cared all that much for my compaaaaaany. She liked to fly arrrrrround the area...I would watch her, thinking it was a show all for me. I was...quite younnnnnng at the time. I knew not...the dangerrrrrrs of befriending such a beast. Even if dragons are gentle...their touch can still be painful. I found this out...the harrrrrrd way.

"I like to thinnnnnnk...the first Goron that died did so aaaaaaccidentally. His body...turned to rrrrrrocks when it hit the lava...we all thought he had falllllllen in by mistake. But when another of our people...failed to rrrrrreturn...we feared the worsssssst. This Goron...I will not share with you the grrrrrrisly details. Visits to the volcano...were banned. Yes," he said in response to their unspoken question. "I did go back...I very nearrrrrrly lost my life. Volvagia...reached out and grrrrrrabbed for me...she only lightly scratched me." He twisted, and Link and Dark got a look at the back of his arm, where a now-faded red scar resided. "Eventually, we knew somethiiiiiing had to be done...we asked our most talented blacksmiths...but theirrrrrr weapons all failed. Volvagia...was too strong.

"I was apprenticed at the time...to a blackssssssmith named Rubaaaaaas. I devised a method…to make the weapons sssssstronger...to bring down Volvagia. I...changed the shape...using a haaaaaammer instead of a sword. But when the tiiiiiime came...I could not do it...I could not harm the beast I had called frrrrrriend. The then-king...also named Darunia...took up the hammer and did what I could nnnnnnot...it was successsssssful. The hammer was sealed in the volcaaaaaano...and I had not laid eyes on it since." He stared at the hammer fondly, even longingly, and then with a sigh handed it back to Link. "It has not changed much," he admitted. "I do not need to keep it, Herrrrrro...it was nice to see it again, though."

All that followed was silence, save the birds chirping and a faint sound of what Dark would have sworn was mooing if he was not convinced that a cow could not climb so high. Neither knew what to say in response to Biggoron's disclosure. Finally, Link asked: "Volvagia was sick?"

"Very much so," the Goron told them. "I do not believe...she woulllllld have harmed us under normal circumsssssstances. Something made her sick...ssssssomething upset the naturrrrrral balance. I do not...know what it was. Undoubtedly...it was maaaaaagic. Otherwise...Ganon's magic would not have made her so viiiiiiolent once more..."

"And now you're sick because of magic."

"No," corrected Biggoron. "I am merely...sensitiiiiiive to its awakening. Surely you have noticed...I have not sneezed since you arrrrrrrived." It was true, and Link relaxed just a tiny bit.

"Then why tell us all this? About Volvagia, and the Megaton Hammer?"

"Can an old man...not share storrrrrries with the young?" he inquired. "But...I suppose I did make a promisssssse to you...of a different one. Come...this is not for prrrrrrying ears..."

It was just as uncomfortable being lifted up by the giant Goron this time as it had been last time, Dark decided. At least this time, he had the forethought to sit down as he was being lifted up, nestling his back into the wall created by Biggoron's fingers. Link did not take such precautions; nor did he seem bothered by being lifted. He stood proud and tall, wearing an impatient look on his face with his arms crossed as they were pulled closer. He's so brave, thought Dark admiringly, though he quickly shook his head and scowled to clear the errant thought away.

"I know of the shadow maaaaagic...what it feels like...for it ussssssed to be common among the Sheikah, who liiiiiived just over that way." Biggoron moved his head slightly as both his hands were occupied, and Dark nodded, being very familiar with his people's villages. It surprised him to hear the Goron speak in such an inaudible tone of voice. He would have thought that every sound he made would be like an earth-shattering boom, but he could honestly say that he did not think his voice was carrying beyond their ears at the moment.

"We Gorons...love trrrrrravelling. Did you know thaaaaaat? We keep to oursssssselves these days...but when I was youngerrrrrr...we moved all over Hyrule aaaaaand the surrrrrrrounding areas. I have only grown quite larrrrrrge...in the last twenty or so yearssssss...before then, I could still waaaaaander. I was...not siiiiiized for the average house...but I could sssssstill walk through Goron City, and visited Sheikah villages...often. It was there that I hearrrrrrd...rumors of the Resistaaaaaance.

"The iiiiiidea fascinated me...it fascinated many, of course...but magic is a dying aaaaaart. It still runs through the bllllllood of some...but so few can actively usssssse it. It was the same way...baaaaaack then. I have Earth magic." Dark did not doubt the validity of his statement. He seemed to almost be a part of the mountain they stood on, a feat that he did not feel would be possible if he were not connected with it on some deeper level. "But you are not innnnnnterested in how I came to join," he continued, noticing the matching pair of expressions on their faces. "You want to know morrrrrre about...the map.

"My use of the magic is what caussssssed me to grow this biiiiiig, I believe...Medigoron, too, uses maaaaaagic in his craft...sssssso it was shortly after my participation that I realized...I would need to lllllleave Goron City. I thought, at firrrrrrst...when I picked out this mountaaaaaaintop to be my new home...I would simply brrrrrring the map up here...but I decided it was too dannnnnngerous. I stand out...like a beaconnnnnn. And I am not...shielded from the elementssssss. No...better to leave the map ssssssomewhere safe in Gorrrrrron City.

"Earth magic...is differrrrrrent than the others. Away from the laaaaaand...power will fade. That is not to say...it cannot be trrrrrransported, or even stored elssssssewhere...there is no true expiraaaaaation date. But if you are looking for long terrrrrrm storage...of Earth magic, liiiiiike I was...then it musssssst remain with dirt, rock, or greenerrrrrry...I chose all three. I left my map...with a frrrrrriendly Deku Scrub...he let me leave iiiiiit with him for a small fee." At this, Link muttered something under his breath, and Dark reached over to pat his elbow; as high as he could comfortably reach from his current position. He looked down in surprise, and shook his head slightly, prompting Dark to withdraw his arm.

"Those aren't Deku Scrubs," Link pointed out. "They're Business Scrubs."

"For my purrrrrrposes...their official names do not mattttttter. This particular one had a home difficult for most to get to...he lived acrrrrrross a pool of lava that not many would know of...and undergrrrrrround from there...this kept my map rooted to the sourrrrrrce of my magic...and it has not come to any haaaaaarm. I would know."

"I'm pretty sure I know where to find it," Link said, and Dark stared at him in surprise. Either Link was very familiar with the layout of Goron City, or he was willing to do a bit more searching to return back to the ground. "Anything else we need to know?"

The Goron smiled mysteriously as he lowered them back to the mountain. "Brrrrrring money with you when you go to retrieve iiiiiit."

Link had not said anything in response, he simply pursed his lips and stared at the Goron in an almost challenging way. It was not the answer he had been hoping for; Dark was sure of it. And yet, what more could he want, when he claimed to already know where it was located?

"Thank you," Dark told Biggoron, not daring to believe that for once, he seemed to have better manners than Link. He risked a glance in his direction, to see if Link was proud of him for remembering, or if he would even acknowledge it, but he did no such thing. The Goron, on the other hand, noticed immediately.

"So polite," he murmured, with a small smile. "But not you, Herrrrrro...surely you cannot still be mad at me...for subterrrrrrfuge." When Link did not break his gaze, he continued, "After alllllll...your friend here...has done a much bettttttter job of it than I have."

"My...friend?" Link asked, and then realized who he had to be talking about. "You mean Dark?" He shot a surprised glance at Dark, who looked back at him and shrugged, telling him he was unaware of what this meant.

"Yes...Darrrrrk...or so he claims to be. Perrrrrhaps...you should ask him."

At hearing this, Dark immediately stood straight up, fixing the Goron with an expression that clearly showed that he wished he would stop talking. It was a look of equal parts surprise and horror, and it got Link's attention much faster than he would have expected.

"Dark? What is he talking about?"

His expression darkened, turning to hatred as Biggoron chuckled. "We've met beforrrrrre," he explained to Dark. "I forrrrrrgive you for forgettttttting me," he added, though this did nothing to improve Dark's mood. "You were a bit younnnnnnger then...and a bit different too." His eye dipped down in an action that could have been a wink, and Dark scowled.

"Let's go," he said shortly, now upset that he had wasted an effort in good manners on him. He turned abruptly and walked back towards the way they had come, glancing back just once to make sure Link was following him. Then, before he would have to even hear the sound of Biggoron's laughter one more time, he had disappeared back into the volcano.

To his great relief, the walk through the volcano had been silent. He was so bothered by Biggoron obviously knowing what he had been so careful to keep hidden from Link that he was surprised to find he had strode through the parts of the journey that scared him the first time without sparing them so much as a frightened thought.

They had even made it through Goron City without speaking a single word to each other, which he found surprising as he was expecting Link to possibly return the Megaton Hammer, or even ask him if he wanted to take the time to pick up the map piece they had found out about now. He did not even see Link falter from his view from the corner of his eye the whole time they had been there.

However, by the time they exited into the Lost Woods, his luck had obviously run out. Link had stopped just past the marble doorway, his expression unreadable and his face pointed towards the ground. "What was Biggoron talking about?"

"Nothing," Dark said quickly, waiting for Link to start walking so they could get a move on. Night had already fallen, and while he was personally fine with that, he knew Link would be unhappy if they stayed in such a dangerous place any longer than they had to.

"It doesn't sound like nothing." He was not, by nature, a suspicious person. But after all he had seen and all he had done, it was hard not to think the worst of people sometimes. When he had first met Dark, he had been scared that he was one of Ganon's minions. And while Dark's story seemed to match up with what he knew of Sheikah history, he had not done anything during his time with Link to truly prove he was as innocent as he claimed.

Dark looked at him, frowning. "Well it is," he said shortly. He knew what Biggoron must have been referring to, but while he certainly didn't see it as subterfuge, he also did not see the purpose in enlightening Link. Unfortunately, he was not sure he had a choice, for Link's face was contorting into an expression of rage; a rarity for someone as forgiving as him.

He had no idea of the betrayal Link was feeling right now. Link had heard frequently that he was too trusting for his own good; a side effect of growing up with the childlike Kokiri. But he had gotten very close to Dark in a short amount of time, ignoring any warning bells along the way as he surprised himself with how much he valued his unique personality in what he found to be an otherwise bland landscape of individuals. And then there was the other matter of his willingness to ignore potential problems with him. Just thinking about it made him clench his hands into fists and he straightened up, advancing on Dark, who took a step backwards and almost tripped over the uneven ground.

"I trusted you," Link said, his tone low and threatening. "I helped you escape from your prison. I've been nothing but supportive of your goals, for very little in return. I let myself care about you. So if I find out that was a mistake...that you've been lying to me about something, Dark..."

"My name isn't 'Dark', okay?" The words burst out from him in a panicked wave, more than slightly terrified of the Hylian warrior who stood in front of him now. He was sure this was the Link that his enemies knew. That Ganon had known. It scared him shitless.

"Is that all?" Dark nodded unhappily, but the action did cause Link's advance to stop and his intimidating aire to fade, for which he was grateful. Link sighed, both relief and curiosity spreading through him. A small voice in the back of his head did warn him that this could be a lie, but he ignored it. "So...what is your name, then?"

Dark gave an annoyed huff, crossing his arms. "Does it occur to you that if I haven't told you by now, I must not want to?"

This statement only increased Link's curiosity. "But...why? You give me grief about my name all the time! It certainly can't be worse than you think mine is."

There was almost a moment when it appeared the Sheikah would tell him; his mouth opened and closed several times as his eyes darted between him and the ground. But eventually, it settled into a grim line before opening once more. "Don't you have any secrets, Mr. Hero?" he asked quietly, and Link froze.

It took several seconds for Link to regain the use of his vocal chords, but even then he found he could not properly form a sentence. "I...um...I mean..." He could never risk Dark finding out his secret, though he privately admitted to himself that he actually would consider telling him, if for no other reason than to stop his incessant teasing about Malon. But he had no sense of proper decorum or awareness; no notion of what he should and shouldn't say in public. To tell him would likely mean the rest of Hyrule would find out shortly after, and then he would be forced into hiding, or worse.

"Just as I thought." Dark's voice was much calmer than Link was accustomed to hearing, and the smile playing on his lips was just as foreign. "So then. Let's hear it."

Link recoiled, and Dark laughed. Though he could not tell if the sound was originating from a place of amusement or cruelty, it was infectious, and before long he found himself joining in. "Point taken," he said at last, gasping for breath. "You don't have to tell me your secret if I'm not telling you mine. But I'm going to wonder about it every time I say your name now."

Or think it, he reflected, as Dark smirked at him. He thought Dark's name a lot more than he said it, really. Dark. Dark. Dark. The whispers gathered around him, and he knew they were not the enchanted voices he had been hearing, but a swirling thought of his own.

"Are you okay?" The words sounded like they were coming from far away. "I think it's time to get you home, Link." Could he have been wrong? Maybe those were the shadows from long past, reaching out to him a different way. Or perhaps he had just folded in on himself to escape the rush of emotions that the repeated sound of Dark's name brought out in him. The same emotions that he felt manifesting as Dark put his arm around him, pulling him out of the Lost Woods.

"I can walk, you know." With some effort, he struggled out of Dark's hold, wondering what had caused the change in his companion. The Dark he knew would have been bitter over this turn of events. He would have resented Link for finding out something, anything about him that he had not volunteered himself. And now he was attempting to help Link, without any prompting, for the first time.

"There has to be something else," Link whispered. Why be so kind, if it were not out of relief that Link hadn't discovered everything that had been meant by the Goron's statement? "Why are you being so nice?"

Dark took a deep breath, looking away. "You really think I'm going to walk away when it looks like you're about to fall down or pass out or something?" Link's expression softened. If he didn't know better, he would say Dark was worried about him. "I know I'm an asshole. But not that much of one. Give me some credit."

They walked side by side out of the Lost Woods, their shoulders brushing every so often as they passed through narrower sets of trees. He supposed, if Biggoron had known Dark as a child, he wouldn't have been such a jerk at that age. It's possible that was all he had meant. After all, hatred was something that was taught. Children weren't born with it. He certainly wasn't. So then, it would make sense that his hatred hadn't consumed him fully. That he was still capable of caring. The thought sparked some kind of sick hope in Link that he pushed down as quickly as he could.

"You were right, you know," Dark said quietly, as they approached Link's house. "About not getting much in return from me. I guess it's about time I said...thank you. It means a lot to me that you're helping me." Those words sounded like they took a great deal of effort to say, and Link stared at him in shock, never really expecting to hear them. As if he could read Link's mind, he quickly spat out, "I suck at this kind of shit, so don't expect to hear it again."

Link smiled. This was the Dark he had become so familiar with. "You're welcome. Helping people is my job." It sounded so impersonal to say it that way, and from the way he heard Dark's sharp inhale, he thought so as well.

"However," Dark continued, the stiffness in his voice indicating he was regretting saying anything in the first place. "As you're so fond of telling me, actions speak louder than words." It was something Link had repeated to him on many occasions; one of the things he would often cite as a reason for why Dark's attitude didn't bother him that much. "So if you're still not sure you can trust me anymore, I'll let you ask me one question, that I have to answer honestly. Just one. And not my name," he stated, glaring at Link.

Link pondered this as they climbed the ladder to his house. It was a generous offer, and one that shouldn't be squandered. It was not that he had doubts about Dark being honest with him, but his responses were generally given in short, one-word answers were they not about his family or his past. This would be an opportunity to ask anything, and most likely get a more descriptive answer in return.

He tried to release himself from the fear he felt in choosing a reasonable question, one that Dark would be able to answer without fear of repercussion. Of course Dark would judge him for what he chose. But letting that thought influence him would mean picking badly. As they stepped inside, he knew what he wanted to ask. He was sure he knew the answer already; it was something he had suspected for a while now. But more than hearing his response, he wanted to feel it. He walked forward, resting his hands lightly on Dark's shoulders. "Here's my question: Will you be staying in Hyrule, once we've restored the Temple of Light?"

Dark's breath hitched. His hands trembled. He could not fathom why Link would ask him that, of all things - and he knew he would not be providing the response that he seemed to be hoping for. "You know restoring the Temple of Light is only part of my goal." He had no experience with softening his words or delivering things in gentle tones. 'I'm looking for my brother. I have to restore the temple to find him, and I have to do that in Hyrule. Once that's done...I don't know."

His answer sounded lame, even incomplete, and from the way Link gripped him he knew he needed to provide something a bit more descriptive to fulfill his promise. "If Shadir isn't in Hyrule, then yes, I'll leave at some point." Link's hands slid down his arms a bit, then dropped to his sides. "I don't know what will happen once we're done putting the map back together," he explained. "If there's something more that has to be done in Hyrule in order to find Shadir, then I'll stay for a little. And if somehow, he's waiting for us when we next return to the temple...then maybe I'll stay even longer. But nothing else is holding me here anymore, Link. When it makes sense for me to leave, I will."

Link was not sure why he felt such bitter disappointment. Had he truly thought Dark would value their friendship over his own family? It was not the answer that made him so upset; rather it was the note of finality in Dark's voice. This was not something that was up for debate. This was not something he would reconsider. He had spoken the absolute truth. Nothing else is holding him here anymore. Not even Link himself.

"Isn't that what you wanted to hear?" Dark asked, and Link stepped backwards, drawing his face into an expressionless pose to hide the sting of those words. Why did he want him to stay so badly? He did not like the feelings he experienced around him; this sensation of losing control that threatened to grab him even now.

"It's what I wanted to know," Link replied, his tone slow and even as he tried to reign in the sensations of something that he knew now, with certainty, that he could not permit himself to feel. He could not allow himself to be at all upset or disappointed when it came to Dark's decision. "I appreciate your answer."

"It doesn't sound like you do," Dark told him, surprised. This was not the reaction he had expected at all. He had thought Link would be delighted that he wouldn't have to put up with him beyond the amount of time their quest took.

"I'm just tired," Link told him, turning around and walking towards his bed. Flat. Expressionless. Emotionless. He repeated the words to himself as he got in bed and laid down, his back to Dark. "Goodnight, Dark." Not Dark, he reminded himself. "Sleep well."

"Sleep well," Dark echoed, taking his place on the floor. But something didn't feel quite right, he was certain of it. He just wished he knew what it was.

IN CLOSING

Folks who played other versions of this game besides the English one, is Biggoron's style of speaking just as unusual in other languages? It made this chapter a bitch to edit. Probably made it a bitch to read, too. So if you think it would be better if I just...pretended those extra characters were there, and didn't actually type them out...drop me a line, and I might edit them back out.

Don't forget to check back for Chapter 23. Thank you for reading / following / favoriting / reviewing!