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
Chapter 35 - You Need a Break

Link was warm—uncomfortably so—and his limbs felt restrained. Not tied up, just...covered by something so heavy he found it difficult to move them. His eyelids felt like they were glued shut, and it took massive effort to open them a mere crack. The blinding light quickly made him regret this decision, and he forced them shut. There was a dull ache in his side, and the small shuffling movements caused something to tug at it.

Ah, must have passed out again, he thought. What time was this? He'd lost count. Frankly, this was becoming an annoyingly common occurrence...and this time he had no idea what had caused it.

There was annoying fluttering sound that kept moving around him. By his bed, by his feet, then somewhere above him, and back to his head.

What had happened? One moment he'd been...up on Medoh? He'd spoken to Revali and...

He couldn't suppress an annoyed groan at the thought of the Rito Champion. Sure, they seemed to have reached some sort of understanding, if nothing else, but Revali's entire persona just grated on Link's nerves like nothing else.

There was a gasp right next to his head, and another flutter, which ended at his feet.

With another groan—this one of effort—Link forced his eyes open a sliver once more, focusing his gaze on the source of the sound. A blurry, white shape stood at his feet, its head cocked to the side in a quizzical stance. It moved a little closer—not a step, but a little hop. The shape grew a little sharper, and Link could finally discern some detail—white feathers, a grey-blue beak. Three feathers on its head rose in a trident-like crest.

A Rito child. Or chick? What did the Rito call their kids?

"A-Are you awake, Mister Hero?" they asked, their voice high and squeaky, making it hard to tell if they were a boy or a girl.

Link meant to say "Yes", but it came out as "Mrrrghhh" because his mouth and tongue were even less willing to cooperate today, if such a thing was even possible. The Rito looked confused, hopping a little closer, their small, feathered fingers twitching.

"Mister Hero?" they asked again.

"'m 'wake," Link managed to force out, trying to sit up. An impossible task, as it turned out, because of the sheer number of blankets and other assorted large lengths of fabric that were piled on top of him on the floor. No wonder he couldn't move—it was a small mountain!

The Rito let out an excited peep and moved closer until they were standing next to Link's head, peering down at him with big, blue eyes filled with excitement.

"Dad said you fought a monster on Vah Medoh! Is that true?!" they demanded, almost vibrating with anticipation of the answer.

Dad? Who was dad? Teba? Link nodded.

"Y-Yeah, it's t-true," he said, trying to keep up with the kid as they flitted jumped back and forth in front of him, unable to keep still.

He (or so Link assumed, since Teba said he had a son) stared at Link with anticipation, clearly expecting details. "B-Big one," Link elaborated. "W-With a h-huge g-gun on its arm."

The chick's (Link decided it was too cute not to refer to him as such) eyes grew wide and he leaned in closer. "Did it shoot at you?" he squeaked.

"Y-Yup," Link confirmed with a nod. "A l-little t-too much, honestly."

"Awesome!" the Rito exclaimed, hopping around in a little dance that was, to Link's sleep-addled mind, too adorable not to grin at like an idiot.

"Wh-What's your n-name?" Link asked.

"I'm Tulin!" the Rito said. "Teba's my dad!"

Got it one, Link thought to himself, smiling as he introduced himself. "I'm L-Link."

"I know! Dad told me all about you, and how you saved us all!" Tulin said. He suddenly stopped, looking horrified. "Oh! I almost forgot!" he hopped closer, leaning over Link and tapped his small beak firmly against the small sliver of the Hylian's chest that wasn't covered with blankets. "That's how Hylians say hi, right?! Mom taught me!"

He looked so proud at having executed the greeting correctly that Link didn't have the heart to say no, simply nodding in return. His cheeks burned a little as he recalled his first (disastrous) meeting with the boy's mother. He'd thought for certain Saki was pulling his leg, but evidently not. He hoped she wouldn't convince the rest of the Rito to do it as well—it'd be just his luck to start an embarrassing diplomatic tradition based on being clumsy as hell and tripping over his own feet. Goddess, Sheik's mocking would never cease...

...and speaking of...

Link glanced around, realising he couldn't see the Sheikah Slate anywhere. A spike of panic rose in his chest, but he fought it down. Wouldn't do to freak out in front of the boy. "S-Say," he said calmly, "have y-you s-seen my f-friend?"

Tulin paused. "The loud one?" he asked.

Link nodded, forcing himself not to grin. That was definitely Sheik. "Y-Yeah."

"He's with dad," Tulin said. "They're talking to the chief!"

Link's spike of panic was replaced by a plunging dread. Oh no...

"Oh!" Tulin exclaimed. "Mom told me to get her when you woke up! I'll be right back!"

He was gone in a flutter of feathers and tiny feet tapping on wood, leaving Link alone in the hut. That was good, because that meant he could make as many pathetic noises as he wanted while he tried to extricate himself from the mountain of blankets on top of him. It wasn't easy because of the weight, and the persistent ache in his side didn't help matters.

Eventually he managed to find purchase against the mattress he was lying on and pull himself out from beneath the mountain, yelping when something tugged harshly in at his side. He lifted the hem of his Champion's Tunic and found bandages covering his side—there were a few red stains in the otherwise clean, white fabric. He didn't try untying them, but he knew the tugging feeling must have been stitches.

Huh...the Blight must have gotten him worse than he'd thought.

...but who had stitched him up?

He sat up slowly, ignoring the ache and slight light-headedness that struck him at the sudden height change. His equipment—all his equipment, even the stuff he'd left behind at the tower before leaving with Teba—was stashed in the corner of the hut, the paraglider folded neatly next to his pack. Teba must have gone back for it...but hadn't he been wounded too? That burn had looked nasty...

The Master Sword was leaning against the wall in its scabbard, looking absolutely pristine. It practically radiated smugness, and Link deliberately ignored it.

Stupid thing could have told me it could grow and shrink, he thought.

That was all he could think before Saki strode inside the hut, Tulin hot on her heels and chattering excitedly. The purple-plumed Rito quickly took in Link's appearance and knelt beside him, not even saying anything before lifting his tunic to inspect the bandages.

"You're looking better than last night," she said, looking relieved. "You were bleeding a lot."

That explains the dizziness, then, he thought. Oh, Sheik is going to be mad...

"Th-Thought I j-just g-got scratched," Link said, suddenly feeling very chastened when Saki levelled an immensely displeased expression on him.

"Scratched?" she asked. "There was a deep puncture just below your ribs—it missed anything vital, but the blood loss alone could have killed you. You're lucky Teba brought you back in time, and that Sheik had pictures and instructions on how to help you. Otherwise you might have died!"

Link nodded meekly, staring down at his lap. "S-Sorry," he said.

Her large hand landed on his head, gently rubbing his scalp. "It's okay," she said. "You just worried us, Link."

"Wh-What happened?" he asked, daring to look up at her, relieved to find her smiling again.

"I'm not entirely sure," she said. "Between Sheik screaming and Teba squawking like a chick it was difficult to get the whole story, but from what I understand you suddenly passed out when you got back from Vah Medoh? I was more concerned with getting you patched up, myself."

Link tried to reconcile his mental image of stoic, unflappable Teba with a version of the Rito who squeaked just like his son, finding it impossible.

"Your friend screamed a lot," Tulin supplied helpfully, giving Link a broad smile. "I didn't know there were so many words for—"

Saki reached over and forced his beak shut with a gentle grip.

"Those are not words fit for repeating, Tulin," she told him, chuckling a little before letting go. He hopped back, out of her reach with a glare. "But yes, Sheik has quite an impressive vocabulary, and he saw fit to share it with the whole village when Teba brought you back."

"S-Sorry about th-that," Link said. "H-He's a k-keen t-teacher."

"Especially when he's worried, right?" she said, lowering the tunic and setting a very firm pillow at Link's lower back, so he could rest against it. "Teba had to calm him down."

"How'd he d-do th-that?" Link asked, surprised.

"I'm sure he can tell you that himself when they get back." She sat back, looking him over. "Are you hungry?"

"N-Not really."

"Then I'll get you some water, at least. I'll be right back." She rose, looking to her son. "Tulin, keep an eye on him, would you? And don't bother him."

"Yes, mom," Tulin said, his expression telling Link he had no intention of not bothering the Hylian. He was surprisingly okay with that, though. It kept his mind off the inevitable haranguing he'd get from Sheik for getting himself injured yet again.

He was right. The moment Saki was gone, the little Rito was unleashing a full barrage of questions at Link so fast the Hylian had no chance of keeping up.

"What was it like? Did the monster speak? Can you fly Vah Medoh? Was it cold up there? Did it hurt when the monster stabbed you? Did you see Master Revali?"

The questions seemed never-ending, and Link could only do his best to answer them—hopefully before the boy ran out of breath and passed out—taking a stab at the last one. "Y-Yes...I s-saw Revali. S-Spoke to him, e-even."

It was apparently the correct one to answer. The boy's eyes widened even further, to the point Link worried that they would pop out of his head. "Really?!" he said. "Was he really there?! The adults say he died a hundred years ago!"

"His s-spirit l-lingered," Link said, wondering if he was accidentally stepping on any cultural taboos by talking about their revered hero this way.

"What's he like?" Tulin asked. "He was the strongest warrior the Rito's ever had, and I want to be just like him when I grow up!"

"W-With a b-better p-personality, I hope," Link said, shaking his head.

"Huh?" The boy cocked his head to the side.

"N-Nothing," the Hero corrected himself. "He's...he w-was j-just like y-you said. A Hero."

"I knew it! So, is he still up there? Flying Vah Medoh?"

Good question, Link wanted to say. He had no idea. He could only assume that Revali had, as Mipha and Daruk before him, taken his Divine Beast to a position overlooking Hyrule Castle, preparing for the assault on Ganon, whenever that would occur. He tried to ignore the way his stomach dropped a little when he realised that, with Medoh's liberation, he was yet another step closer to facing Ganon itself.

"That's enough, Tulin," Saki said as she re-entered the room, carrying a carrying a cup in her hand. "Go on, see if your father is finished with the chief, and bring him back here if so."

"But mom—"

"Now, Tulin," she said, tone leaving no room for argument.

Tulin's cheeks puffed up in a pout, but he did as he was told, waving enthusiastically to Link as he left. "Please tell me more later, Mister Hero!"

"S-Sure," Link promise. "And c-call m-me Link!"

"Careful," Saki said as she down next to him, helping him take a long draught from the cup. It felt wonderfully soothing to his throat. "Indulge Tulin too much about Master Revali and he'll never leave your side. Harth has one of his original bows in his armoury and made the mistake of mentioning it in front of Tulin once—the poor man had to endure Tulin's badgering for days before he finally let him see it."

"J-Just a l-little enthusiastic," Link said, taking the cup from her. "Th-Thank you."

"It's the least I could do," she replied. "Teba told me you saved his life up there when some creature was about to kill him. I don't dare imagine what would have happened if you weren't there, Link. Thank you." She bowed her head slightly. "I am unsure of how I can repay you—"

"H-He saved m-me t-too," Link interrupted. "M-More th-than once. And if a-anything, I'm in y-your debt!"

Saki sat back and looked him over with a critical gaze before the corners of her mouth turned upwards and she began to chuckle.

"I suppose we can go in circles about this forever and ever," she said. "So how about we call it even instead?"

"S-Sounds good t-to me," he replied.

Satisfied with the accounts, she pushed the cup back towards his mouth. "Finish that—you'll need to eat something soon, so your body can start replenishing all the blood you lost. The village is already preparing a feast." As she spoke, her fingers began to brush through Link's hair, tugging at knots and removing Goddess knew what had lodged itself among the strands.

"A-Are you g-grooming m-me?" Link asked, confused but also not displeased—Saki was being very gentle, careful to avoid the bump on the back of his head, the souvenir from Sheik's attempts at aviation.

"Sorry," she said, though she didn't stop. "Force of habit. Put a messy child in front of me and there I go. Can't have the Rito's saviour looking like he just fell from the sky and landed in a shrubbery like a chick just finding their wings."

He blushed. "Th-That bad?"

"I'm certain you will want to look your best in front of Sheik too, right?" she asked, undoing the braid that held the Snowquill headdress in place, her fingers deftly combing the hair back into something respectable before redoing the braid, making sure the feathery decoration was presentable. She gave Link a knowing look. "Or have I misinterpreted the situation?"

What was with the Rito and their complete and utter lack of reactions not only towards Sheik, but also—apparently—his admittedly very unorthodox relationship with Link? Link had thought Teba was just a rare example of a completely unflappable member of the species, but Saki seemed to be exactly the same, and Tulin had certainly not found Sheik to be particularly strange if his words from before were any indication. Then again, Tulin was a kid, but still...maybe it was a family trait?

He briefly considered lying, wondering if admitting that he was in love with a voice in a slate was going to backfire and make his image even worse (like that was even possible), but...no, Saki had been a hundred percent open and honest with him the entire time, even if their first meeting had been a little thorny at first. Link owed her his honesty, if nothing else. Well, he owed her a lot, really. The Snowquill outfit alone...

He nodded weakly. "You're n-not...wrong..."

Saki hummed, returning to her work. "I figured as much. Sheik is a very prickly individual, but there was no mistaking the way he spoke about you when we were looking to your injuries, and while we waited for you to wake up. We held off for as long as we could, but Teba had to report to Kaneli and decided to bring Sheik along to corroborate what he said. Sheik told us in no uncertain terms of what he would do if something were to happen to you while he was gone." She chuckled. "How he intends to pluck us all and fry us in a bucket with a number of secret herbs and spices without arms is beyond me, though. Still, a very compelling image and threat."

Link groaned. "I am s-so s-sorry," he muttered into the cup

"It's all right, he was worried," she said, as if Sheik hadn't just threatened to cook the entire village. "He could work a little on his diplomacy, though, just between you and me."

"D-Duly noted," Link said, filing it away as a conversation he would never have with Sheik, on account of knowing what the Sheikah's reaction to it would be.

Apocalyptic was a fitting descriptor.

"I won't lie and say I understand it, but I'm glad you have him," she said. "And that he has you. An immense burden has been placed on your shoulders, and the thought of you having to bear it all on your own..." she trailed off, looking away. "I imagined Tulin in your place and...I was angry. I wish there was more we can do to help than clothe you and feed you, but...we are still reeling from the loss of so many warriors..."

Link reached out and took her hand with his own, nearly gawping at how much bigger hers was. "Th-That's m-more th-than enough," he said, and meaning it. If he'd learned anything from the fight on Vah Medoh, it was this: Never bring anyone else to the Divine Beast. Teba had gotten way too close to dying while fighting a battle he shouldn't have been at in the first place. He'd saved Link's life, certainly, but Link was sure he'd managed to pull through without him somehow. "J-Just knowing y-you're on m-my side is all I n-need."

"Hmph, and Sheik says you don't think you're a hero," she muttered. "You're just like Teba."

"Huh?"

"Never mind," she said. "Rest assured, however, that when the time comes, the Rito will do their part."

"I d-don't—"

He was interrupted by an approaching clamour. Tiny feet tapping on wood, a child's laughter...and the unmistakeable sound of an irate Sheikah floating on the wind, the latter as pleasant to the ear as a sawmill.

"Put me down this instant, you overgrown cuccoo!" Sheik shouted as Tulin rushed inside the hut, Sheik held high above his head, the Rito laughing wildly and immediately starting to run around the room. "Tweety! Control your offspring!"

"I would if I knew how," Teba said as he followed shortly after. His foot and side were bandaged, and he was walking with a cane in order to keep the weight off his burned foot. His eyes alighted on Link, and a small smile lifted the corners of his mouth. "Good to see you awake, Link. You had us quite worried for a while."

"S-Sorry," the Hero said for what must have been the millionth time that week. "D-Didn't realise h-how b-bad it was..."

"I am very upset with you, Link!" Sheik said, still being carried around by Tulin like a trophy. "Don't let my easy-going attitude in front of the child fool you!"

Never would Link associate the word easy-going with his cantankerous companion. If this counted as easy-going for Sheik, Link did not look forward to what the Sheikah would have to say when they were alone later.

Teba paid the commotion little attention and went to sit down beside Link, on the opposite side of Saki's. For a moment his eyes met hers, and the warmth that filled them would surely melt even the iciest of hearts.

Too bad Sheik isn't paying attention, Link thought, and immediately felt guilty for thinking about Sheik that way. Sheik's heart wasn't icy. If anything, it was soft and warm...and spiky as hell.

"I should have checked more closely when the monster got you the first time," Teba said, turning his attention back to Link. "The coat hid the bleeding quite well—it was only when you started swaying we realised what was going on."

"It was my fault," Sheik said, apparently resigned to his fate of being Tulin's favourite toy for the moment. "I wasn't paying enough attention to your vitals, and when they dropped like that I thought it from fatigue rather than bleeding."

"And you were theorising on Master Revali's braids," Teba pointed out. The words sounded harsh, but Link could see an amused twinkle in the Rito's eyes...though it was also marred with worry.

"I...that is...you...how dare—"

"Master Revali had braids?" Tulin asked, stopping abruptly and holding Sheik close to his face, eyes wide. "Can you show me?!"

"What am I, a sketch artist?" Sheik asked. "I didn't exactly stop to take a photograph, you know."

Tulin's crest drooped a little. "Oh..."

"But...hang on..." Sheik's screen flashed a bit, and an image started to slowly appear on the screen, line by line. "Give me a moment...he looked something like this. Right, Link?"

Link watched with no small amount of wonder as Sheik carefully drew a nearly perfect rendition of Revali's face on the screen, line by line. He must have made it from his memory or something, but it was still very impressive. He even got the braids right! Saki cleared her throat, and he realised Tulin and Sheik were waiting for a confirmation, and quickly nodded.

"Y-Yeah, that's h-him," he said, not commenting on the fact that Sheik had clearly deliberately made Revali's eyes cross slightly. Luckily, Tulin didn't notice, too thrilled with seeing his idol's visage on Sheik's screen.

"Awesome!"

Seeing the young Rito's amazed face made Link reconsider his earlier thought: Sheik's heart was soft and only mostly spiky. Certain people were clearly allowed through, even if Sheik pissed and moaned about it the entire time.

"Want to see the Goron and Zora Champions as well?" Sheik asked, his tone suggesting it was an immense bother and utter pain for him to draw these images, but Link knew better. Not even the surliest Sheikah in the land could resist the cuteness of a Rito chick.

"Yes, please!" Tulin announced. "Mom, dad, look!"

Link had forgotten the cardinal rule around young children: never take your eyes off them. One moment Tulin had been on the opposite side of the room, his face inches from Sheik's screen, the next Tulin had leapt clear across the room and planted himself in Link's lap, holding up the slate so he, Saki, and Teba could all see the image displayed on it.

"Tulin!" Saki admonished. "Be careful! Link is hurt—"

Teba sighed and made to pick his son up. "Sorry about that, Link—"

"It's o-okay," Link said quickly, waving their hands away. "It d-didn't hurt—he w-was c-careful!"

He had been. The jump may have looked uncoordinated, but Link could tell Tulin had made sure he wouldn't jostle Link's side when he landed.

Paying no heed to his parents, Tulin only held up the slater higher. "Look! It's a Zora!"

"That's Princess Mipha, the Zora Champion," Sheik explained. "We fought to free her spirit alongside Prince Sidon, her younger brother. Their Divine Beast, Vah Ruta, stood in the middle of a lake..."

Link let Sheik's story wash over him, a mental image of Sidon's face appearing before his mind's eye. The cheerful smile, the shining eyes filled with nothing but wonder and admiration and affection...the feeling of safety when wrapped up in those big arms...

He missed Sidon. A lot.

All the more reason to finish the final beast quickly, he thought, not realising that Sheik was studying him very closely, committing the minutiae of the moment to memory.

It convinced Sheik to make a decision.

Despite the heavy losses of the failed attack against Vah Medoh, the Rito's celebration of Link and Teba's success was loud and energetic. Held at the top of the cliff on which the Rito had built their village, a gigantic fire had been lit, the flames streaking high into the sky, and tables had been arranged in a big circle around it. There was music—flutes and drums and accordions of every kind, singing, creating a wall of sound that was both harmonious and cacophonous at the same time.

There was so much food, and the Rito seemed completely insistent on making sure he had enough, to the point where he felt like he was about to explode. Link could do little else but let the experience wash over him, forcing down the ever-present anxiety that told him to run away as fast as he could.

He did his best to talk to the various Rito who wanted to thank him for stopping Medoh—the ones who slipped by Teba, that is, who had apparently decided to be something of a gatekeeper, distracting most of the Rito who approached with his own account of what happened up there...annoyingly attributing most of the victory to Link's actions rather than a cooperative ordeal.

Why he did this, Link didn't know, but he suspected that Sheik had something to do with it. He'd probably remembered Link's behaviour and reactions during the feast at the Domain. He already knew the extent of Link's anxiety, so perhaps the warrior simply wanted to make sure Link was as comfortable as possible?

Either way, he appreciated it. It felt a little awkward, but then when wasn't he feeling a little awkward? Awkward was Link's basic state of being.

That, and being tired. Bone-tired, now. He'd caught himself nearly nodding off several times already, and very much wanted to go to bed on the mattress prepared for him in Saki and Teba's home. The celebration seemed to barely have started, though, and it'd be rude to leave so early.

"What are you thinking about?" Sheik asked from his spot on the table, propped up against a massive tankard of some sort of wine. He'd been dormant for quite a while now, apparently collating and analysing data from the battle, making adjustments to his improvised shield tech, and a lot of things that went way over Link's head. "You're gonna give yourselves wrinkles like this."

"N-Nothing in p-particular," he replied, leaning closer so he could hear better. "J-Just tired."

"That's no surprise," Sheik said. "Blood loss, hypoxia from the low oxygen counts in the air up there, general battle fatigue...I'm surprised you haven't conked out already."

"W-Want to," Link confessed, shaking his head. "B-But it'd b-be rude."

"You saved their village, as well as their lives," Sheik said in a deadpan voice. "I think you'd be forgiven if you decided to go back to sleep for another hundred years."

"Th-That's extravagant," Link said, grinning a little. "Even f-for m-me."

"Hm, you're probably right. Might want to stick with a decade or less, just in case. Don't want to get a reputation for being lazy, after all."

He nodded, taking a drink from his cup. A sweet juice made from some sort of berry. He was pretty sure a single cup of the weakest wine they had would just make him pass out. Plus, Saki—at Sheik's insistence—had forbidden him from ingesting any alcohol, on account of his injury. He didn't mind that, really.

There was a momentary pause in the music as the group of Rito musicians gathered in front of the fire, giving each other looks and nods, clearly preparing to play something a little more composed than the improvised music from before.

"Oh dear, looks like the minstrels have prepared a song," Teba said, suddenly in the seat next to Link's. He moved surprisingly quickly and graceful despite his injuries. "Brace yourself."

"That bad, huh?" Sheik asked, snickering.

"Not bad, just...enthusiastic," Teba replied, giving the slate a look. "And somewhat embellishing."

"Don't think you can possibly embellish what actually happened up there," Sheik said drily. "And even if he does...well, isn't that just normal for folk music?"

There was the sound of a dying cat as a large, blue-feathered Rito pumped up the bellows of his accordion, which caught the attention of the gathered Rito. He took a breath, and spoke, "We have prepared a verse to honour and commemorate Master Link and Master Teba's victory over Calamity Ganon's minions onboard Vah Medoh. Please, enjoy."

Teba grunted in annoyance. "I told them not to call me that. My apologies, Link."

"It's all r-right," Link assured him. "Y-You've certainly earned th-the right t-to call y-yourself th-that-"

Teba's eyes widened. "But that's a title reserved for the Champions—"

"You're in good company, then, Tweety," Sheik said. "Along with Roly-Poly and Sharky. The new Champions, if you ask me."

Teba needed a minute to consider those names. Link kept his focus on him, realising that the song being played in the background was recounting, indeed, a very embellished version of his and Teba's battle against the Windblight that had them both acting very heroic and mighty when the truth was that they'd been running and flying around in a panic, barely surviving by the skin of their teeth...er...well, Link's teeth and Teba's beak, he supposed.

"I assume Roly-Poly would be the Goron Yunobo and Sharky is...Prince Sidon?" Teba said, looking to Sheik for confirmation. "You showed us their images?"

"Got it in one," Sheik said, screen flashing brightly. "Couldn't have gotten to the Divine Beasts without them, so as far as we're concerned, they're Champions. Right, Link?"

"R-Right," Link said, nodding firmly. He was quite sure Mipha, Daruk, and Revali would agree as well. Well, maybe not Revali. Because he was an ass like that. It only further motivated Link to call Teba a Champion, knowing it'd annoy the blue-feathered prick.

Ah, friendship.

"Well...then I am honoured," Teba said. "Thank you."

"Huh, haven't heard you say that in years," Harth said, coming up behind Teba. "We should hold a celebration just for that alone." His arm (wing?) was in a sling, but he looked a lot better than he had at their first meeting.

"His feathers look like hair," Sheik hissed quietly to Link while the Rito exchanged greetings, referring to the side-swept style Harth kept his crest in. "How?"

"B-Beats m-me," the Hero replied with a shrug. Sheik got hung up on the strangest things, sometimes. The Yiga and their bananas, the Rito and their weird hair-feathers...what was next? Goddess, he hoped the Gerudo didn't have any strange or unusual habits or appearances.

"So, I hear my bow came in handy up there," Harth said to Link. "How did you like it?"

"It w-was excellent, th-thank you," Link said, smiling. "It's b-back w-with the r-rest of m-my g-gear, if you w-want it b-back—"

"That's what I was coming to say, kid," Harth said, shaking his head. "You can keep it. It'll do more good in your hands than locked up in my house...plus, the idea of letting you go back to that ratty, bokoblin-made thing makes my feathers stand on end, which isn't good for my style." He let his fingers run along his crest, as if to make sure it was still swept to the side.

Link smiled even wider at that. First Nekk (presumably at Saki's insistence, judging by his grimace) had come to tell him to keep the Snowquill outfit—"On account of the blood and tears in the fabric, can't sell it like that"—and now he was gifted the Great Eagle Bow as well...

"See, this is what being a Hero should be like," Sheik said. "Gifts and tributes everywhere!"

"You've certainly earned it," Harth said, patting Link's shoulder. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a minstrel to strangle. Pardon me." He stalked off in the direction of the musicians, where one of the singers started looking decidedly nervous.

"Wh-What?" Link said, staring after him.

"The lyrics implied that your gear didn't have much to do with the victory," Teba supplied. "I think he intends to change that notion. Harth is very proud of his work."

"He sh-should be," Link agreed.

"Indeed."

His eyes were growing heavy, and Link shifted in his seat, trying to stay awake. Teba must have noticed, because the warrior's hand was on his shoulder, shaking him slightly.

"I think perhaps it's time to retire, don't you?" he suggested.

"Can't," Link murmured. "'m a g-guest."

"It's quite rude to fall asleep at the table, don't you think?" Teba said in a slightly admonishing tone. "To be honest, I'm quite tired myself. Sheik, how about you?"

"If it means I don't have to listen to this caterwauling, I'm up for anything. Besides, I think it's time to enact my plan anyway."

"Already?"

"It's very much needed, I reckon."

"Tulin will be disappointed."

"We'll make it up to him somehow."

"Wh-What are you t-two t-talking about?" Link asked, looking between them with a confused grimace.

"Eh, nothing much, just a little idea I've been playing with. I'll tell you more later."

And that was all he'd say on the subject, apparently, and Link stewed in his annoyance the entire way back to Teba's house.

"I th-thought we agreed th-this w-was only f-for emergencies?!" Link cried as he stood in the middle of the room, his weapons and equipment packed up and on his back. Had the paraglider always been this heavy? The tip of the Master Sword was digging into his hip, and he was pretty sure it was doing so on purpose, as revenge for his comment back on Medoh.

"We did, and I have deemed this an emergency," Sheik chirped from his position on Link's belt. "Just in case, I conferred with Tweety, and he agreed. So, two against one."

"In f-favour of wh-what?!" Link asked. "You haven't even t-told m-me where we're g-going!"

He'd been looking forward to spending the night on a soft mattress instead of his bedroll, but no—the moment they'd gotten back Teba had started packing up Link's stuff for him, Saki joining shortly after putting Tulin to bed.

"Well, I'd like for that to be a surprise, if you don't mind," Sheik said.

"I d-do mind!"

"I don't care."

"All right, that's enough, you two," Saki said firmly, hands on her hips and staring at them. "Sheik, don't antagonise him. Link, you don't think Sheik would hurt you, do you?"

"W-Well, n-no, but..." He looked longingly to the mattress, which had been rolled up and placed in a corner.

"So lazy," Sheik drawled.

"Sh-Shush!"

"And you're sure this is safe?" Teba asked, looking sceptical. "I thought you said it didn't work..."

"Not from up on Medoh, no," Sheik said. "I lost contact with the network up there, probably because of interference from the monster, but down here it's all fine and dandy. No problems whatsoever."

"E-Except I'll g-get sick," Link muttered. He hated teleporting. He'd only done it once so far, but the nauseating result was something he never wanted to repeat except in emergencies—as they'd agreed. This was the last time he made a deal with Sheik—the bastard would just go back on them whenever it suited him anyway.

"Relax," Sheik said. "I've made adjustments to the protocols and procedures. You'd be amazed at the difference carrying a one will do. I've run several simulations, and everything worked perfectly—it'll be fine!"

"I d-don't t-trust your m-math!"

Sheik gasped, screen flashing dangerously. "How dare you?! I will not take this from someone who can't even do algebra," he growled.

"L-Letters and n-numbers d-do n-not mix and match!" Link snarled in reply.

"The letters represent numbers, you nincompoop!"

Unnoticed by either of them, Saki sidled up to Teba and gave her husband the universal look recognised by parents everywhere: It's your turn.

Teba returned another: I did the last one.

Saki countered by glaring at him until Teba felt like he was being slowly cooked from the force of it, and he hung his head in submission.

"All right, break it up," he said, stepping forward with the intention of getting between them...until he realised Link and Sheik were, more or less, joined at the hip. Or clipped to the hip, as it were. "You're both tired, and so am I. Amusing as your argument is, maybe save for it later?"

Link sighed. "F-Fine," he said, looking anywhere but at Sheik or Teba.

"This isn't over," Sheik warned him quietly.

"What was that?" Teba asked.

"Nothing!"

"That's right."

"Is that all?" Saki asked, looking around the room. "Got everything you need?"

"Th-Think so," Link said, checking his pockets. Everything seemed to be there. Sword, bow, quiver (filled with the arrows Teba hadn't used up during the fight), tunic and other clothes (including the Sheikah suit), various knickknacks and a few gifts from the younger Rito (including one very shiny rock). Now, if only he knew where they were going...

"Good," Saki said, pulling Link into a hug. "Be careful out there, okay? Don't give Teba grey feathers."

"Too late," Teba piped up.

"I bet you were born grey, Tweety," Sheik snarked.

"Hmph!"

Saki chuckled, looking at him. "But you were, honey."

"I cannot help the colour of my plumage," the warrior said with a huff.

Unflappable by anyone but his wife and son indeed, Link thought, enjoying seeing this side of Teba as well.

Saki let go of Link and bent down to tap the slate in an affectionate gesture. "Look after each other, won't you?"

"It's my lot in life," Sheik replied with a put-upon sigh.

"I'll m-make sure he d-doesn't d-do anything s-stupid," Link promised.

"Hm, wonder if I can re-introduce the nausea-inducing elements of the teleportation procedure..."

"D-Don't you d-dare!"

The argument was cut short as Teba took Saki's place, looking down at Link with a wry smile.

"Never been good at goodbyes, so I'll just say this: If you need help, don't hesitate to ask. I—we, the Rito—owe you a great debt, and we will jump at the chance to repay it. Sheik has already told me about the mobilisation being prepared by the Goron and Zora. While the Rito don't have the military might or manufacturing capabilities of our neighbours, we can offer air support and transportation. Our arrows will blot out the sky, if need be. So, when the time comes—or before—let us know, and we will be there."

Link saw the respect in the Rito's gaze, and he could only return it, nodding. "Th-Thank you—we'll n-need all th-the help we c-can get."

"And you'll have it," Teba affirmed, bending down and tapping Link's chest with the tip of his beak...which had the Hylian blushing like a tomato.

Why, oh why did I have to stumble into Saki like that? he thought.

"What was that?" Sheik asked.

"N-Nothing!" Link said (shouted). "A-Anyway, d-don't we n-need to g-get g-going?!"

"Oh, so now you're eager, huh?" Sheik asked slyly. "Figured out where we're going, huh?"

"Y-Yes?"

"...you still have no idea, do you? Eugh, fine. Link, you need a break, so I'm taking you to the one place I know you'll be able to relax!"

Link tried to protest, but Saki and Teba nodding in agreement deflated him before he could even start.

"Even Heroes need a vacation every now and then, so...we're going to see Sharky!"

Sheik didn't give Link any time to form any arguments—the blue light from the Sheikah Tower Network was already starting to envelop him, beginning to break him down into a billion tiny particles, preparing to fire him halfway across Hyrule and reassemble him at the other end, provided none of the little particles were lost underway.

...why had he asked Sheik to describe the process to him again? Knowing how wrong it could go only made it a thousand times worse to endure, nausea or no!

"Right, here we go!" Sheik announced with no small amount of glee. "Next stop, Zora's Domain!"

Link wasn't sure what was worse—knowing that his legs were dissolving into nothing and being unable to feel it...or Saki's horrified look at the Hylian dissolving. He tried giving her an assuring look, but he was quite sure it just came out as a horrible grimace. He tried waving instead, which seemed to placate her a little.

And through this horrible, horrible process, he still felt a flutter in his stomach at the thought of seeing Sidon again. He'd lost track of how long it'd been since he'd left the Domain the first time—all he knew it was too long.

"You sure you have enough blood for that?" Sheik asked, cackling as they both seemingly ceased to exist, the blue light disappearing as quick as it had appeared, leaving the Rito Village far behind.

Teba and Saki stared at the spot where the pair had been for a few moments before looking at each other.

"Are you sure?" Teba asked, cocking his head to the side in the exact same way Tulin did. Definitely father and son, those two. "'Cause they seem to kind of hate each other."

"I'm sure," Saki said, not having the heart to tell Teba that Link had confirmed his relationship with Sheik. "Besides, don't you remember how we used to act when we first met?"

He shifted uncomfortably. "You threatened to pluck me," he said accusingly.

She laughed and pulled him close, rubbing the side of her beak against his, a gesture he returned.

Ah, memories...

Standard apologies, life's busy, and this record-breaking heatwave that's lasted all through May has basically broken me. Expect more fluff in the next chapter!