Author's Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda. I am earning no profit from this story other than the enjoyment of writing it and sharing it with others. I hope you all enjoy reading it! Feel free to let me know what you think by giving this chapter a review.

The rest of the day passed quickly. Too quickly, in Link's opinion. He didn't want the next few days to be over anytime soon. This would be the last few days he'd get to be a child. Because apparently the Hero of Time could never have peace. Zelda had originally sent him back to his own time so he could have a childhood. Then he'd gone to Termina and become a hero there, wasting some of his precious time and sanity repeating the same three days over and over. Then he'd gotten back to Hyrule and began living on Lon Lon Ranch. And for a few short, blessed months, life had been good. Too good apparently. Then the Fierce Deity started in and now Link was going to have to give up what remained of his childhood yet again. He knew Malon would wait for him. Whether it took five years, seven years, or maybe longer, she would wait. He knew her words were true, and her heart was pure. They would always be best friends. That would never change, no matter how much time passed. No matter what the sword took from him this time around.

When evening fell, Link ate as quickly as he could. He still struggled with the fork, still had a hard time seeing. But he didn't throw a fit tonight. He was much too melancholy for that. No one really spoke much. Malon had said all she could. She was upset too, as it was. She didn't want to lose Link for seven years. For him, that time would be over in the blink of an eye. He'd have a new body to adjust to again and a changed world to survive in, but he didn't have to actually wait out the seven years he'd spend in the Sacred Realm. But she would. She would need to wait for him for seven years. Seven long years. Or maybe longer. She would wait. And it would be hard. To wake up in the morning and not have him lying beside her, clutching at her hand desperately. Or even to have him wake up in his own room when she called for breakfast, walking out into the dining room with his blonde hair matted against his head and hanging down in his eyes. Seven years until she'd get to hear that quiet laugh that she'd grown so fond of. Seven years until she'd see his silly, small smile that could light up her day anytime. Seven years until she'd get to see him again. This time, the Master Sword wouldn't just be taking from its hero. This time, it'd also be taking from his best friend.

Malon and Link slept in their shared bed that night, just to keep the Fierce Deity out of Link's head. Naturally, it had heard their plan and felt the conviction in Link's heart. It knew it was in trouble. It knew its time feeding off Link's mind was almost up. As such, it's calm composure and smooth words were gone. They were replaced by constant annoying screeching and yelling, endless torrents of horrid threats, and just general noise that pressed through even when Link was touching someone. When he retained contact, it was reduced to background noise that was barely audible, but it was enough to keep him from sleeping all night. Well, that and the idea of drawing the Master Sword again kept him up awake until sunrise.

The second day went by without incident. Link stayed in bed until Malon told him they had to get up and make breakfast. He agreed without comment. She wanted to reassure him, but there really wasn't anything for her to say. They went to work together, as the deity's new manner of speaking was too much for simple busywork to keep at bay any longer. Link still couldn't see well anyway, so it was better for him to be with someone else. When lunch came, still no one spoke. Same with dinner. Link wanted to make these last few days count, and yet he had no idea how. Talon offered to let him have the next few days off work, but the hero realized he had no idea what to do with all that extra time. Having fun was not something the Hero of Time had ever done. At least, not since he grew up in Kokiri Forest, but that was an eternity ago. So, he refused, preferring to pretend like everything was normal.

The third day seemed to drag on, however. It was possible Zelda would return in her carriage, the spiritual stones at the ready, expecting Link to be ready to go with her. Malon was coming too, of course. But Link just kept staring down the road that lead to the ranch, hoping and praying that the carriage just wouldn't come. He didn't want to do this. He knew he had to. He knew he would. Hyrule needed to be saved. And its hero wasn't going to abandon the kingdom now, regardless of the fact that he was saving it from himself. Because he really couldn't hold on much longer. The deity was getting to him, and he knew it. He found himself feeling angrier when it was screaming at him, not only at it but at anyone who dared try to reach him through his haze of fury. He could hear its voice clearly almost all the time. Only touching people helped now, and it didn't help much anymore. Their connection was clearly getting stronger. Even without the magic of the full moon, it wouldn't be much longer until the Fierce Deity had consumed the hero of Hyrule. This needed to be ended, regardless of how Link felt about the solution.

But the end of the third day came and Zelda still hadn't arrived. Tomorrow, Link realized. Tomorrow morning, most likely. His time was running out.

He lay in bed with Malon that night, curling his hands around hers, leaning his head against hers, lamenting all the time that he wasn't going to get to spend with her. He'd wake up and they'd both be adults. No more time for sitting around the stables with Epona or playing chase in the cows' grazing field. That would all be over. The two of them would be expected to have actual jobs and enough money to provide for themselves. Everything would have to change. Again. Link was used to change. He had gone through rapid and unfair changes time and time again. But it never got any easier. And this time, he was expecting it. Before, it had always been sudden and unavoidable. But tonight, he was just waiting for his life to get wrecked all over again.

"Malon, I can't do this," Link whispered. His only goal at this point was to not cry.

"I know, Link," Malon whispered back, running her hands through his tangled hair that he hadn't brushed in three days. Not like it mattered. He tightened the grip he had around her. She heard his short and shaky breaths. She could almost feel the tears he was refusing to let out. "It's all so unfair," she sighed.

Link nodded. "When can I be done? First, I needed to save Hyrule from Ganondorf. Then Termina from Majora. Now Hyrule again…from me. When will I be done with being a hero? I'm tired, Malon. It's hard…so hard…I've lost everything…over and over…"

"You won't lose me," Malon promised him. "You won't lose me. I'll be there for you, when this is all done."

"Everything will change."

"That doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does!"

"We'll always be best friends, Link. That will never change."

"…Okay."

They lay in silence for a few more minutes. Link stared up at the ceiling, rubbing his head as he listened to the ever-present voice of the Fierce Deity. Their connection had been growing stronger much faster over the past three days. Likely due to the deity's increased anger over its upcoming demise, its voice had just been growing louder. Even with close contact, Link could still hear its whisper now.

If you don't want to do this, child, why are you doing it? You're screwing us both over. Our connection will be eradicated by that foul blade. My power will be lost to you. Your life, as you know well, will be rushed forwards. You'll be all grown up when you awaken. That girl will be too. You think two adults can be 'best friends?' You think that kind of relationship will last the span of seven years? You are a fool if you believe that!

"Shut it," Link whispered, too tired and weak to really resist.

"Can you hear it?" Malon asked quietly.

Link just nodded.

"Don't give in, Link. Just this one last night. Then you'll never hear it again."

You'll never hear me again, sure. But your childhood will be over! Never again will you be allowed to play with that little girl the way you love to now. Never again will you be without responsibility. Take my power as yours, and we can destroy that blade. The Master Sword would stand no chance against our combined might! What do you say, boy? Shall we blot out its fake light? Shall we take from it, just as it once took from you?

"Go away," Link whimpered, burying his head in his hands.

"I'm here for you, Link," Malon promised. "Just hang on. The princess will come tomorrow. Then this will all be over."

"One nightmare right into the next," Link muttered.

Yes. That's right. You don't want this. Don't do it! Don't do what everyone else says! You have the power to do what you want! You don't need to submit yourself to that sword's judgement!

The two lay in bed all night. Neither got even a minute of sleep. Malon talked to Link as much as she could, but she knew her words were mostly hollow and meaningless. Promises of what was to come tomorrow, even though they both never wanted tomorrow to arrive. They were stuck in this timeless torture. This night needed to end, so Link could be rid of the deity's voice. And yet, when it ended, the two would be separated for over half a decade. It was a long and hard night. Eventually, Link just couldn't take it anymore. He cried into Malon's arms, clawing at his face aimlessly, just wishing he could have peace for once in his life. Malon wished with all her heart that she could do something, but she could only listen and nod and smile halfheartedly, whispering empty promises of things getting better.