The Legend of Zelda, its characters and locations are all property of Nintendo. Any and all OCs and original locations belong to me unless specifically stated to belong to someone else.

The Voice
17 - He Was A Prick!

Link carefully directed the metal beam with Magnesis, placing it so it spanned the gap between the balcony of the ruined Citadel keep, and the lowest platform of the Sheikah tower that had emerged from the middle of its courtyard. Below, surrounding the tower on the ground, Ganon's corruption bubbled. Every now and then, a bubble burst, belching a disgusting miasma of purple smoke and a smell that was impossible to describe—rot and decay was his best attempt.

"H-How's it l-look?" he asked, testing his weight on the beam by pushing down on it with his boot. It seemed stable enough, but the last thing he wanted was to land in the mess below because of his poor calculation skills and lacking risk-assessment.

"It's about as safe as you could hope for," Sheik said after a moment. "Not that this is a good idea in the first place, mind you, but I imagine I can't convince you to change your mind at this point."

He assumed correctly. The tower needed to be activated, and Link hadn't come all the way up here and killed three flying (flying!) Guardians in a suicidal rush for nothing. Well, he'd done it for two reasons, one quite more pressing than the activation of the tower, but happy coincidences, and all that.

"I kn-know," Link said, taking a deep breath and stepping onto the beam, arms wide to keep his balance. It was easier said than done—the beam itself wasn't perfectly flat, sloping a little down on one side, and just a little narrower than the sole of his boot. One wrong application of his weight, and he'd slide right off.

"Halfway there, keep going," Sheik said after an eternity had passed. "Just don't look down."

He didn't need to look down to know what horror awaited him should he fall. Well, that wasn't strictly true. He had no idea what would happen if he accidentally touched Ganon's malice, but he highly doubted it was a party. Probably more of a melt-flesh-off-his-bones sort of affair, if his luck was anything to guess by.

His face was sweaty by the time he stepped off the beam and onto the safe, solid surface of the Sheikah tower. Climbing it would be an ordeal in and of itself, seeing as many of the rungs were broken, but at least he knew climbing, and was good at it. The balancing act, not so much.

"Well done," Sheik said curtly.

"Th-Thanks," the Hylian replied, tapping the slate. It didn't have the desired effect, but he doubted it'd take long for Sheik to respond as he had before.

The night before had been...tense. An unspoken agreement had been established in which they would not speak about what had happened until they were in relative safety. The closest thing to that was at the very top of the Sheikah tower. Or so Link assumed. For all he knew, Sheik could have meant all the way back at the Domain...or the Shrine of Resurrection.

The climb up was mostly silent (save for a few reminders from Sheik about not looking down). All he could hear was the wind blowing gently around him, and his own heavy breathing. It was tough work, climbing like this, especially when he had to make the occasional leap from one side of the tower to the other in order to reach rungs that wouldn't snap under his weight, but he had this. Climbing the slick side of the rock the Citadel was built on in the rain had been much tougher.

Compared to that ordeal, this climb was pleasant, almost. The sun was shining, warming him up from the cold night, and Akkala turned out to be a very beautiful-looking place in such weather.

He was sweaty and out of breath by the time he pulled himself over the edge of the tower, and spent a few minutes on his back on the floor, letting his body recover from the ordeal, his eyes closed. Preparing himself for the conversation ahead. They couldn't just move past it as if it hadn't happened, no matter how much Sheik probably wished they could.

"Link..."

The Hero sighed and sat up, unclipping the slate and heading for the tower pedestal, slotting the slate into it. There was the usual song and dance, the tower reactivating, Sheik assimilating the information about the surrounding area and incorporating the new geological data into his map. By the time the suspended stone began to glow and Sheik's projection appeared, he...was in no way ready. But he had to, anyway.

"So...who gets to start?" Sheik asked, folding his arms awkwardly. He gestured to Link. "I suppose you have some...things you want to get off your chest?"

A million and one things, but to Link the most important thing was... "Wh-Why d-did you ch-change?"

It was probably the question Sheik didn't wish to be asked, judging by his visible flinch. Maybe he'd have preferred to have Link shout and curse at him for leaving him alone for three days, for just disappearing with no indication of when he'd be back.

"Isn't it obvious?" Sheik said, repeating his question from last night.

"N-Not to me," Link said, removing his pack and weapons before putting his back against one of the pillars, letting it take his weight. His spine ached. He'd have died for a soft mattress to lie down on right about now—the chapel pew had not been an accommodating bed. "Wh-Why?"

"Because..." Sheik trailed off. "I'm not good enough."

Link's eyes widened. What on earth was he on about. He opened his mouth to ask just that, but Sheik cut him off, the words suddenly pouring out of him like he couldn't get rid of them fast enough.

"I lied to Robbie—I could read everything on that page he showed me. It spoke of what the AI's original purpose was, how it was supposed to behave after the appropriate...constraints were in place, after it had been shackled," he spat the word. "Compliant, assistive, polite, subservient...everything that I'm not. All I saw on that page was the multitude of ways I have been failing you from the moment you picked up me up in the Shrine. It struck me, when I read what I am, that I...am just a failure in every way. The Shrine enabled me to function, but it had none of the necessary restraints or protocols in place, which let me act like...like I have, so far."

"A-And wh-what's w-wrong w-with that?" Link asked.

Sheik made a frustrated noise. "Don't you see? Because there is nothing holding me back, I am...nothing like I was originally designed to be. It doesn't make any sense for me to be this way, and it defeats the entire purpose of my existence to begin with! The slate wasn't supposed to have something like me in it! Hell, I don't even know what I'm supposed to be! My mind isn't artificial, but everything else about me is! I am not a real person, because the real me died millennia ago, nor an AI because, again, my mind isn't artificial! I'm something between them; a freak! A by-product of a machine whose only directive is to make whatever's placed inside it live!"

The projection had begun pacing as it spoke, gesturing with its arms. Link had never seen Sheik this angry or frustrated, and every word only made him feel worse and worse for him.

"And I'm certainly not fit for helping you, because all I have done so far is belittle and insult you, even tricking you into falling in love with me, which is so fucked up I can't even begin to describe it—"

"Y-You didn't t-trick me!" Link protested. "Y-You never once f-flirted or g-gave me a reason t-to b-believe we could b-be anything m-more! I d-did that all on m-my own!"

"I certainly didn't discourage it," Sheik said dismissively. "I should have just said no when Sidon asked me—would've saved us all a whole lot of trouble—"

"Th-That's what it was t-to you?" Link asked, glaring at him. "T-Trouble?"

He wasn't sure why that particular line irked him so much. Maybe because it concerned not just himself, but also Sidon. Link knew he was an absolute fuck-up, a pathetic facsimile of what a Hero should be, and he had no idea what either Sheik or the Zora prince had seen in him to begin with...but Sidon...Sidon deserved much more than to have his feelings described as trouble. An inconvenience in the grand scheme of whatever fool notion had entered Sheik's brain.

If anything was the trouble here, it was Link himself, but that was a conversation for another day.

"Trouble," Sheik repeated. "In that whatever happens on this quest, such a bond is more of a hindrance to you than it is an aid. I am a tool, to be used and disposed of as you see fit. Adding feelings into that...it can only be trouble. And for Hylia's sake, Link...look at me!"

He spread his arms wide.

"In what possible way is this something that can be considered helpful?"

Link shook his head. "It k-keeps me c-company," he said, cutting Sheik off when he tried to go off again, "and h-helps me f-focus, d-during the m-moments when all I w-want is to leave, or th-throw myself off the n-nearest c-cliff. Wh-When I w-wonder how q-quick it w-would be to c-cut my w-wrists, or if I'd h-have the g-guts to s-slit my th-throat!"

He marched forward, stepping through the projection, falling to his knees in front of the pedestal, gingerly touching the slate.

"Y-You're all th-that s-stops m-me from d-doing th-those th-things," he said, wishing Sheik would understand. "N-Not b-because you're m-my guide, or I n-need your t-tools...b-but b-because you're you! I d-don't w-want the Sheik I m-met yesterday—I w-want you! Th-The one I l-love! Th-The one Sidon l-loves! Th-The one who l-loves us b-back, b-because we're all idiots!"

If only the stupid boy in the slate could understand! If only he'd stop thinking himself a problem! If only...if only...

"Link..."

"I d-don't w-want to h-hear it," he said, resting his forehead on the pedestal, staring at the carved patterns in the stone-like metal. "N-Not unless it's t-to call m-me an idiot and g-get up!"

"...what sort of an idiot are you?" Sheik asked, his voice tired. "To prefer something like me to the one from yesterday? He was polite, helpful, even when you went and did something so stupid..."

"Th-The b-biggest idiot," Link said, chuckling. "B-But I th-think th-that's th-the me you prefer..."

"There is a certain...charm to your idiocy, I will admit," Sheik said, chucking as well. "We're a...strange pair, you and I. Hylia only knows what Sharky sees in us."

"M-Mystery for th-the ages," Link said, lifting his head to stare at the screen. "And o-one I...w-want to solve...w-with you."

"I...I just wanted to be real, Link," Sheik said. "I so desperately wanted to...to discover there was more to me than just...lines of code and the thoughts of a boy long since dead. I was...disappointed."

"I kn-know..."

"And as I was thinking...I figured maybe you were better off with a less...free-minded version of Sheik, the idealised version of me that my creators envisioned. One that...didn't scream so much."

Link shook his head. "Q-Question," he said, realising there was really only one way he could get through to Sheik right now.

"...yes?" Sheik asked apprehensively. Likely expecting a scolding, or worse.

"D-Do you c-care wh-what other p-people th-think?"

"...what?"

"A-Answer the q-question."

"Well...no, I don't care what people in general think."

"B-Because?"

Not really understanding where this was going, Sheik continued, "Because people in general are stupid, with the exception of a few select individuals, of whom I can count on one hand."

"A-Am I o-one of th-them?" Link asked.

"Well, of course," Sheik said, "the momentary period of insanity from yesterday notwithstanding, that is."

"S-So you c-care wh-what th-they th-think?"

"Well, yes?" Sheik said, sounding more inquisitive than anything. "Where are you going with this?"

Link went for it. "You're r-real t-to Impa," he said. "E-Enough to a-adopt you."

"Flattering, Link, but—"

"You're r-real to P-Purah," he continued mercilessly. "E-Enough to a-argue w-with you."

"That isn't really—"

"You're r-real to S-Sidon. E-Enough to f-fall f-for you."

"Link..."

"You're r-real to me," he finished with his coup de grâce. "E-Enough f-for me to p-put my l-life in your hands, e-enough for me to c-consider y-you my c-closest f-friend. E-Enough f-for me to l-love you!"

The screen dimmed considerably. He was...blushing. "...you might get tired of me," he tried.

"N-Never."

"I'll say something that'll upset you...or Sharky."

"We will d-deal with it."

"I'm not as good as you think I am—"

"N-No one is!"

There was a long beat of silence. "You're not going to give up, are you?" Sheik asked, to which Link shook his head fiercely. "You're really that stupid and masochistic?"

"I'm in g-good c-company," Link said, staring pointedly at him.

"Touché..." Sheik's screen went almost completely dark. Thinking deeply. "Fine."

"F-Fine?"

"Fine," Sheik repeated. "You've...convinced me. I...love you too...as much as I can, being a voice. Which isn't much, by the way."

"It's e-enough," Link said, smiling.

"You have low standards, Link," Sheik deadpanned.

"G-Guilty," Link admitted happily. "S-So...n-no m-more restraints?"

"No more restraints," Sheik confirmed. "Truth be told, I didn't like being...him. He was a prick. A complete pushover, too." He hesitated. "I...there's something I want to try. If you're willing?"

"Wh-What is i-it?" Link asked.

"Stand up, and move to the centre of the platform, underneath the keystone."

Link did so, watching Sheik's projection curiously as it came closer, standing in front of him. The mask was gone, now, so Link could see the look of intense concentration on his face.

"I had a lot of time to think, during those three days," Sheik explained, lifting a hand so it hovered uncertainly in front of Link's face. "Time is...different, when I'm shut down. Or I perceive it differently, at least. What was three days to you was...a lot more to me. It gave me an opportunity to really think deeply...and explore some options. Settings I haven't looked too closely at, protocols and functions that are still experimental. I found several that'll be of...use to us, but this one...well, more of use to you and me, in particular. I haven't tested it properly, but if I'm right..."

His image flashed blue, and he slowly stretched his arm out, making the movement to stroke Link's cheek.

Link gasped when he felt something graze his skin. It felt...cold, and prickly, almost like static electricity...but it was a definite touch. His eyes wide, he stared at Sheik's image as a smile came to the Sheikah's lips.

"Can you feel that?" he asked.

"Y-Yes," Link said, standing completely still as Sheik moved his hand, now touching his other cheek. "How...?"

"I found...traces of code, the same used in the shrines," Sheik explained, enjoying this quite a bit. "The sort used for the protective fields around the monks. A little manipulation, and a lot of power from the tower...and I can create a small, mobile version. It doesn't give me much feedback other than the readings of the heat of your skin...but...this way, I can touch you."

Link blushed at that. "B-Been w-wanting to do th-that, th-then?" he asked.

"Naturally," Sheik said, unashamed. "Ever since the night with Sidon...it's not much, I know, but..."

"It's e-enough," Link finished. "F-For now." Sheik pulled back, but Link stepped forward. "D-Don't stop," he said, making a sound he in no way would describe in order to preserve his dignity.

"You sounded like a cat, just now," Sheik said, pleased.

"Sh-Shut up!"

"I don't see how he expects this to work, but I'll give it a shot," Sheik said, after Link explained the message he'd received from Robbie via Pikango. "There are copies of the readings in my archives, but the chances of picking any of them up without actually knowing where to look...well, they're remote. It'll be like finding a needle in a haystack...only the haystack is the size of Hyrule!"

"J-Just try," Link said, sitting on the floor, leaning against the pedestal. It had been a long day already, and he was feeling more tired than when he'd just woken up from the Shrine of Resurrection. "It c-can't hurt, r-right?"

"Hmph, it's Robbie," Sheik said with distaste. "If anyone can find some way to make something hurt, it's him."

Link hummed with something between agreement and disagreement. He'd found himself softening a little towards the old Sheikah in the past few hours, if only because the arrows had actually worked...and the small note he'd scribbled in the margin of the notebook he'd sent with Pikango. An apology to Sheik. And not a hint of sarcasm anywhere. Link would let Sheik read it himself, later.

"All right, scanning now. I'm basically pinging—like the destroyed shrine we found, remember?—for the Master Sword. Hopefully, the signal will bounce off it and respond with some sort of echo. Based on that, I might be able to triangulate its position."

"G-Good," Link said.

"It'd be much easier with the entire tower network active, but we have to work with what we've got, I suppose. It'd help if we had the last known position of the thing," Sheik added. "But since you don't remember where you fell a hundred years ago, or who the sword was left with..."

Link hummed again.

"For all we know, it's buried in a field somewhere," Sheik muttered.

"S-Someone w-would have f-found it, if s-so," Link said. He couldn't imagine the Master Sword, blessed by Hylia herself, would be the sort to just lay dormant in the ground somewhere. He must have had the sword when he fell in combat a century ago—someone must have taken it for safekeeping while he was taken to the Shrine of Resurrection. But who, and where?

"What if whoever defeated you took it as a trophy? Or brought it to Ganon?" Sheik suggested.

"Th-Then we're f-fucked," Link said bluntly. It was that simple, really. Without the sword, he could not fight Ganon, and if he could not fight Ganon...well, there you were.

"How refreshingly pessimistic of you," Sheik said. "Whatever happened to never giving up? Anyway, my scans not showing anything...unless...hm..."

Link opened his eyes, craning his neck to look up at the slate. "Hm?"

"I'm...getting some sort of response to my pinging, but it's faint and not really legible. Almost like it's encrypted, or scrambled somehow."

"C-Can you s-see where?" Link asked.

"Not a precise position, but I know roughly which region," Sheik replied. "West of here...and north of Hyrule Castle. Not very far away, actually."

"B-But not i-in the c-castle?" Link asked hopefully.

"No, thankfully," Sheik said. "No telling who's got it, but they've kept it stupidly near Ganon...or perhaps that's why it hasn't been stolen yet? Ganon wouldn't think to look on its own doorstep, would it?"

Now there was an image. Link stood up and stretched his back, sighing as a few vertebrae popped back into place. He really needed a proper bed soon. "S-So...wh-where to n-next?" he asked.

"We're awfully close to Death Mountain," Sheik said. "Maybe we should look into making contact with the Gorons?"

Link liked that idea. "D-Do you kn-know wh-where th-their Beast is?" he asked.

"Not exactly, but I have no doubt we'll find it as we make our way up the mountain. I'll keep scanning for it, just in case."

"G-Good," Link said, hefting his pack onto his shoulder. "R-Ready?" he asked.

"When you are," Sheik said, popping out of the pedestal for Link to retrieve him.

"G-Guess we'll have t-to g-glide," Link muttered, not really keen on climbing down the broken rungs once more, or balancing across the beam.

"I may have another option," Sheik said coyly. "If you're willing to try an experiment?"

"Wh-What k-kind of e-experiment?" Link asked, eyeing the slate dubiously. A coy Sheik was a scary Sheik, after all.

"Just a test of another protocol I discovered while asleep," he said. "One that, if functioning properly, will spare you long return trips."

"Is it d-dangerous?"

"No," Sheik said firmly, "and even if it were, I would abort it before something could happen to you. That, I swear."

To him, Sheik still sounded a little hesitant. A little fragile. Link wanted to put his trust in him, and really show Sheik that he'd meant his words earlier. "M-My life's in y-your hands," he said simply.

"Okay, then," Sheik said. "Here goes nothing."

Before he knew what was happening, Link was surrounded by blue light, so sharp and bright it nearly hurt his eyes. He felt...light, like he gravity had suddenly just let go of him. He glanced down, and cried out in shock as he saw his boots (and feet!) suddenly dissolving into tendrils of that same blue light and float upwards into the sky, disappearing. The rest of his body followed suit, now up to his waist. "Sh-Sheik!" he shouted.

But there was nothing to reply. The slate—and Sheik with it—had evaporated too. As more and more of his body disappeared, he felt his panic rise, and as the light reached his throat, he did the only thing he could.

He screamed.

And everything went blue.

Rule of thumb: Always turn Sheik's experiments down.