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 83 – An Amazing Idiot
It was still dark when the army quietly woke and broke their camp, the sky only beginning to lighten by the time they were once again on the march. The first light of the day had begun creeping over the western hills and distant towers of Hyrule Castle when they reached and began to cross Thims Bridge.
Link's chest grew tight as he neared the bridge, and grew even tighter still when he spotted Sidon standing beside it, flanked by Bazz and a group of Zora soldiers, waiting for him. He'd known it was coming, but had put the thought of it aside, dreading this moment from the day the plan had been put into stone.
Still, there was no avoiding it now. He clicked his tongue and had Maladict increase his pace to a trot, peeling off from the rank-and-file of the march, and headed towards them. Sidon waved at him with another one of his blinding smiles, and Link did his best to return it as he dismounted.
"Sorry about disappearing this morning," Sidon said. "I had to race ahead and make sure everything was in order." Water was still dripping off him, having emerged from the river only recently.
"And?" Link asked. "Are th-they?"
Sidon nodded, his smile fading a little. "They are. Nothing out of the ordinary to report, apparently." He gave Bazz and the Zora a look, and they moved a little away, giving the two of them some privacy. "How are you?" the prince asked then, giving Link a serious look.
"S-Scared," Link said. "W-Worried."
"You will do fine, I'm ce—"
"F-For you," Link interrupted him. "I w-won't be able t-to see you...until after. If I m-make it."
Sidon frowned. "Of course you will make it," he said. "We all will."
Link shook his head, his chest hurting now. He couldn't take it. What if this was the last time he got to see Sidon? He still wasn't entirely convinced he'd walk away from the battle against Ganon alive. He'd already died once, and that was only after a small fight against one of Ganon's fragments!
Or worse still, what if Link survived...and Sidon didn't? What if Mipha's gift wasn't enough to keep either of them alive?
Hylia above, there was too much at stake, he was asking too much of his friends! He was leading them to their deaths, it was all going to—
"Link," Sidon said quietly, but firmly, his voice dropping to a low rumble that only he could hear. The prince's hand was heavy on his shoulder, grounding him. "I will be fine. And so will you. And so will everyone. We have the finest fighters with us, the best laid strategies. We have the Divine Beasts, piloted by the old Champions. We have an army unlike any that has ever walked across these lands. And we have you, Hylia's Chosen, wielding the Sword that Seals the Darkness. And most importantly, Ganon no longer has the element of surprise. We know what it can do, we know its strengths, its powers. We know what we're dealing with, and what to expect." He kneeled down so their eyes could meet properly. "And you know what else we have? What I truly think will make a difference?"
Link wiped at his eyes, his vision blurry. "Wh-What?" he asked.
"We have Sheik," Sidon said with utmost seriousness. "Vah Sheik, to be exact. Do you really think Ganon or any of its minions will dare to face him? Frankly, I believe all we need is to have Sheik walk towards the castle and tell the enemy exactly what he thinks of them. They'll all be too busy crawling back into their holes in shame to even consider fighting back. He'd shame Ganon into submission, and verbally eviscerate it if it ever even considered coming back."
Not even Link's anxiety could ignore the hilarity of that mental image. An image of Sheik, angrily shouting at Ganon until it was nothing more than a quivering, sobbing mass of malice, manifested in his head, and the Hero could do little but laugh.
Sidon laughed too, and while Link knew the two of them must have looked odd to the passing army, he didn't care.
For once, he didn't care at all.
"Th-Thank you," Link said after the laughter subsided, and he didn't feel like he was about to pass out anymore. "Y-You're getting good at th-that."
"I like to think I've come to know you rather well these past few months," the prince, his scales catching the morning light in a rather mesmerising way. His hand moved from Link's shoulder to cup his cheek. "My pearl, I promise I will return. Promise me the same?"
"I p-promise," Link said, nodding. He turned his head and pecked Sidon's palm, feelings his cheeks heating up. He'd never enjoyed public displays of affection—he always felt so...exposed and vulnerable, but...who knew if he'd ever the chance to do so ever again? "I w-will do everything in my p-power," he added, leaning forward and kissing Sidon's lips.
"We'll win this, Link," Sidon said, returning the kiss. "We will."
"I kn-know..."
"...and I swear, you try to talk to him without me there, you'll find me to a very vindictive brother!"
It was interesting, how easily Sheik's voice cut through the noise of marching, dozens of voices all talking to each other, and the sound of rushing waters of the river. A poet would likely try to claim it was because Link's mind and soul had become so attuned to Sheik's unique sound and presence that he'd easily pick him out of any cacophony.
That, or Sheik was just that loud and grating.
Link's rupees were on the latter. It was certainly the case here, as Link turned around and spotted Sheik walking beside the cart carrying the Sheikah elders, angrily gesturing to Robbie, who was sitting on the back, probably trying to convince Sheik to let him talk to Stabby.
"What is that expression again?" Sidon asked, sounding amused. "Speak of the devil...?"
"...and he sh-shall appear," Link finished, grinning despite his earlier despair.
"Vah Sheik, in all his glory," the prince said with a chuckle as Sheik spotted them, cutting his conversation (argument, rather) with Robbie short, racing over to them.
"We can never let the gnome talk to Stabby alone," he said upon reaching them, his visible eye giving Link a quick once-over, probably noticing something was off but not commenting on it. "I swear, he starts drooling whenever he talks about analysing Stabby's brainwave patterns."
"Stabby's what?" Sidon asked, confused.
"Something Robbie will never ever see if I have something to say about it," Sheik muttered, shaking his head. "So, this is it, huh? Hope you weren't planning on leaving without saying anything, Sharky."
Sidon looked offended at the idea. "I would never," he said. "I was going to wait for you."
"Hmph, you'd better have," Sheik said. "I'd be so angry if you hadn't."
"Sidon," Bazz called from edge of the river. "It's time!"
Sidon waved back, grimacing. "I know better than to wake your rage, my ruby," he said quietly, pulling Sheik closer and kissing him without warning. "Please, look after yourself. And the others."
"They'll be helpless without me, of course I will," Sheik said with a huff, tugging gently on Sidon's scarred fin. "And don't you get yourself killed, got it? No octorok heroics."
"I doubt that will be necessary," Sidon said, straightening up and looking down at them with a blinding grin. "I will be surrounded by heroes, after all." He paused, looking at them both. "I love you. Both of you. Let's make it out alive, yes?"
"Count on it, Sharky."
"Y-Yeah."
The prince turned and joined Bazz and the other Zora. Link's eyes met Bazz's, and the brigade leader gave a salute.
"L-Look after him, B-Bazz!" Link called to him.
"I'll do my best to get him back to you unharmed!" the captain promised, a vicious grin on his face. "We have a wedding to plan, after all!"
Sidon almost managed to appear unaffected by Bazz's shout, but he couldn't hide the way his tail went absolutely rigid, along with him nearly stumbling over his own feet. He didn't look back to his lovers, merely striding past Bazz and into the river, where he disappeared under the surface immediately. Bazz, cackling, gave them another wave before following the prince with his squad.
"Is it just me," Sheik asked, staring at the river as Zora after Zora swam past them, following their prince up the river, "or has Bazz just stopped giving a shit about etiquette?"
"He's d-died once," Link said. "He's allowed t-to."
"Yeah, but he doesn't know that," Sheik said, giving Link a sidelong look. "And you've technically died twice now. And you're still a stickler for the rules."
"I always w-was," Link said, walking over to Maladict and petting his muzzle before climbing into the saddle. He gestured to the horse. "G-Getting on?"
"I have patrol duty," Sheik said with a grimace, giving Maladict a doubtful look. "Besides, I think I'd break the poor bastard's back. I'll see you at the ruins."
"Okay...g-good luck."
"Hah, I'm not the one riding a horse," Sheik said with a mock salute, running off to join a group of Sheikah hurrying past and across the bridge.
Impa was certainly keeping him busy...though that was probably a good thing. Meant there was less time for Sheik to find trouble to get himself into. Unless they happened across another Stone Talus and Sheik decided to re-enact their first meeting with one on the Plateau.
Link suddenly felt very sorry for Sheik's team.
The march continued. After crossing Thims Bridge, the army followed the road and continued south when reaching the next crossing. Orsedd Bridge would take them over the Hylia River earlier but would bring the army within view of the castle and its inhabitants, which was the exact opposite of what they wanted. Their plan hinged on having the element of surprise, which was why Sheikah squads patrolled the area meticulously, ensuring no enemy scouts caught sight of the allied army.
They continued along the road until they reached Rebonae Bridge, which they crossed. The road then took them past the Applean Forest and through the Mabe Praerie. Here they left the road, marching through the ruins of Mabe Village and the remains of a huge ranch, following the canyon walls until they opened up into the Passeri Greenbelt.
The army spent another night here, sheltered by the trees and foliage. They all knew it was the last peaceful night they would have in a while.
Link spent most of it awake, unable to sleep. He could feel Ganon's malice, this close. In the distance, through gaps in the forest ceiling, he could see the purple tint to the night sky, coloured by the evil emanating from Hyrule Castle. Every now and then, a tremor passed through the ground.
Link closed his eyes, leaning forward, covering his ears. The log he was sitting on vibrated for several seconds before the tremors died down again. He opened his eyes again, staring into the fire he'd made for himself near the edge of the camp.
Scouts had reported the tremors had started growing worse over the past few days, the activity at the Castle increasing. Either Ganon knew the allies were coming, or the princess was growing weaker, losing the fight she'd kept up for a century.
Zelda had been fighting alone for too long. Link gritted his teeth, clenching his fists.
"J-Just hold on," Link whispered. "I'm c-coming. I promise."
"Master Link?"
He jumped in his seat, at least managing to stop himself from yelping. That would've been embarrassing.
Harth looked apologetic where he stood, holding a long, thin object wrapped in cloth. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."
Link cleared his throat, looking away. "I w-was miles away. Wh-What can I d-do for you, Harth?"
"It's more a case of what I can do for you, Master Link," the black-feathered Rito said, stepping closer. "I have something for you." He handed Link the bundle, which the Hylian unwrapped.
Link gasped. It was a bow, and probably the finest he'd ever laid eyes on. The wood was a dark brown, almost black, with lighter shades swirling through the grain. It had been bent and bowed into the familiar shape of an Eagle Bow, with a grip that fit Link's hand and fingers perfectly. The string was thick, consisting of three smaller strings braided into each other, and not very likely to snap from wear and tear.
"I did not have much time to decorate it," Harth said, adjusting his fringe. "Compared to Master Revali's, it's positively spartan, but I did at least add some carvings."
Link noticed them. A variety of different symbols, some Hylian writing, some Rito, some Zora, some Goron, some Gerudo...and a delicate representation of the Triforce, right above the arrow rest.
"It may not look particularly impressive," Harth continued, "but I can guarantee you, Master Link, that is the finest bow you will ever wield. I made it specifically for you."
"M-Me?" Link asked. "Wh-Why?"
Harth looked away, now suddenly the uncomfortable one. "While I believe it was a good thing to lend you Master Revali's bow, it was made for him, and it's not right for a Hero to not have a bow of his own. I got to work as soon as my arm recovered, and intended to give it to you sooner, but...circumstances got in the way."
Link laid the bow across his lap, running his fingers reverently along the wood. Made for him...Harth had made this just for him.
"Make no mistake," Harth said quickly, "I put every iota of my skill, effort, and energy into making that bow. It will not fail you."
"Th-Thank you," Link said, looking up at him. "T-Truly. It's a f-fine bow." He bowed his head. "I l-look forward t-to using it."
"Yes, well, I'd rather not have subpar or ancient equipment be the reason for your failure," the Rito said, blinking when he realised what he'd just implied. "Not that I believe you will fail, of course."
"Of c-course," Link said, chuckling a little.
"I leave you alone for two minutes and you end up insulting the Hero," Teba said, suddenly stepping out from behind a tree. "Shall I help you withdraw your spurs from your beak, Harth?"
"Why am I not surprised you were hiding behind a tree, guarding your chick?" Harth asked, snapping his beak in Teba's direction before looking down at Link. "I meant no offence, Master Link. I look forward to hearing how the bow performed after the battle. Good night."
"G-Good night."
Harth stalked away, back into the main part of the camp. There was no cover on the high ground around them, so the Rito squad had decided to sleep on the ground that night. It made them all uncomfortable. Teba was no exception, it seemed.
"H-How long w-were you s-standing there?" Link asked the Rito Champion, who fidgeted uncomfortably for a bit before sitting down next to him on the log.
"I don't wish to say," Teba said, avoiding Link's gaze, focusing on the bow in his lap. "Fine work. Harth tends to run his mouth a little, but his bows have never failed us. It's a privilege for a non-Rito to be given one."
Link smiled, handing it to Teba for inspection. "I f-feel privileged."
"Can't sleep, huh?" Teba asked, pulling on the string, testing its strength.
"N-No." Link studied the older Champion for a bit, noting a restless quality to him, a slight redness to his eyes. "Y-You?"
"Sleeping on the ground generally makes me uncomfortable," Teba admitted. "It's a Rito trait—we prefer heights. Harth meant to give this to you with some fanfare tomorrow, but he too must be having trouble resting down here."
Link nodded. Honestly, he very much doubted he, Teba, and Harth were the only ones struggling to sleep tonight. The camp was quiet, but he spotted several bedrolls moving and shuffling as their occupants tossed and turned, trying to get their rest.
It wasn't even the eve of the battle, but...it was their last night of peace, nevertheless.
At least Link had something to focus on now, and someone to talk to. Assuming Teba wasn't about to leave again, that is.
An idea struck him. Harth hadn't taken Revali's bow back. He leaned back over the log and reached for his pack, pulling out the Great Eagle Bow, wordlessly passing it to Teba, who took it with confusion.
"I'll get this back to Harth," he said.
"N-No," Link said. "You t-take it. Use it."
"Link, I don't think I—"
"Y-You're the R-Rito Champion," Link insisted. "R-Revali would approve."
"I'm not sure—"
"Ask him."
Teba paused, narrowing his eyes at Link. "How did you know?" he asked suspiciously.
"I d-didn't," Link said with the best copy of Sheik's shit-eating grin. "Until n-now. But I s-suspected. R-Riju has been t-talking t-to Urbosa, S-Sidon was v-visited by M-Mipha. Yunobo s-saw D-Daruk at D-Death Mountain...it m-made sense."
Teba clicked his beak, giving Link an affronted look.
"Fooled by my own chick," he harrumphed, feigning insult. "The shame." The corners of his mouth turned up in a smile, though. "But you are right. Master Revali has been...giving me some advice. Teaching me a trick or two. Anything to give us an edge in the coming battle, including his Gale."
Link nodded. He'd suspected as much. Whether the old Champions had collectively decided to give their successors a hand or just felt a need to help individually, he didn't know, but he appreciated it nonetheless. He wondered if Daruk had spoken to Yunobo after Vah Rudania, or if he'd left it at the appearance.
"It w-will come in handy, I th-think," Link said.
"So do I," Teba agreed, lowering his voice even further as he leaned closer, "but between you and I...he is a bit of a braggart."
Link snorted, fighting to keep his giggles down. "Y-You don't s-say?" he managed to wheeze out. That made Teba break too, and they shared a quiet laugh over the fire.
The whispers of bare feet on the forest floor were all the warning they got before Riju appeared beside them, looking annoyed.
"You woke me up," she said, sitting next to Link with a huff. "I'd just managed to fall asleep, too."
"S-Sorry," Link said.
"Eh, don't worry about it," the Gerudo said, her frown disappearing. "It wasn't a good sleep anyway. Nightmares, you know? Plus, when Bul gets going she's not exactly the easiest to sleep next to. You think her shouting is bad? Just listen to her snoring."
"I've had the dubious pleasure," Teba muttered.
"So, what are we laughing about?" Riju said. "Something good, I hope."
Teba took the opportunity to regale them both with his first conversation with Revali. It had been...vaguely frustrating, especially when the old Champion had turned out to be the worst teacher.
Riju giggled. "Lady Urbosa is the finest warrior the Gerudo have ever produced, and the greatest paragon we can aspire to...but I have to admit, her teaching methods leave a bit to be desired," she said in a conspiratorial tone, like Urbosa herself was listening.
Which, honestly, she probably was. Link had no idea how pervasive the old Champions' presence was. Were they following their successors' every step, or were they only able to take their attention of their Divine Beasts for short amounts of time?
Had Daruk ever spoken to Yunobo, Link wondered, or had the Goron simply chosen to make brief appearances?
As if sensing Link's thoughts, Yunobo himself shuffled carefully into the light of the fire, looking uncertain. It was a wonder, really, how such a large being as Yunobo managed to be so stealthy.
"Um, do you mind if I join you, goro?" he asked.
"Not at all, Yunobo," Riju said. "Please, make yourself comfortable."
"Thank you, goro," Yunobo said, sitting on the ground in front of the fire, to Teba's immediate right.
"Couldn't sleep?" Teba asked. Link didn't miss the analytical look that came to the Rito's face as he studied the Goron.
Yet another chick to possibly adopt, Link thought, suppressing a laugh. Chronic worrywart, his bird dad.
"No, goro," Yunobo admitted, his fingers digging anxiously in the dirt. "I can't stop thinking about what'll happen in the next couple of days."
"J-Join the club," Link said, giving the Goron a smile. "Y-You're n-not alone."
Yunobo looked a little surprised. "You t-too, goro?" he asked. "I thought you, of all people, would be calm and collected, brother."
"I b-bet I'm the most w-worried out of all of us," Link boasted.
It was the saddest boast in history.
"It's not a competition," Teba said, shaking his head. "It's only natural to be worried. There is a lot at stake here."
"Just the fate of the world," Riju said. "No second chances, and all that. No big deal."
"You s-sound like Sh-Sheik," Link said with a grin.
"Oh gods, no," the Gerudo said, grimacing. "Am I going to start assigning obnoxious nicknames next?"
"You complain about it," Teba said, giving her a look. "But I think you would be even more upset if Sheik hadn't given you a nickname. Don't you agree, Tiny?"
"Shut it, Tweety!"
Yunobo laughed. "I like my nickname, goro. Sums me up pretty well, I think."
"At least your rolling has a purpose," Riju said, grimacing. "Me, he sums up as short. Small. What's flattering or meaningful about that?"
"You'll grow to be far taller than him someday," Teba said, smiling. "Maybe Sheik is just trying to make the most out of the time you two are still on somewhat equal ground? And, no offence, my lady, but compared to your bodyguard, you are quite...small."
She pouted. Link suddenly remembered that she was just fourteen years old. Far too young to be involved in this. Another failing on his part, this, having to drag her into his fight.
"Yeah, well," Riju said, struggling to come up with a comeback. "You're...a bird!"
Teba stared at her evenly. "Indeed, my species is avian in nature."
"Doesn't it feel insulting, having him sum up your entire being into Tweety?"
"Birds do tweet, my lady."
"I've n-never heard you t-tweet," Link said, hoping he could stave off the budding argument.
"That is true, goro," Yunobo said, looking up at him, his fingers no longer digging nervously. "Do you tweet, Master Teba?"
"Just Teba is fine," the Rito said, looking uncomfortable at the title. "And as for tweeting...well, I have been known to greet the rising sun with a melodious warble every now and then. It's rather instinctual."
Riju sighed. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"I think you mean improbable," Teba said, chuckling. "But to answer your question: no, I am not insulted by the nickname. Perhaps you haven't noticed, my lady, but Sheik only seems to assign nicknames to people he likes. Outright insults, he only offers to those who've wronged him. I have heard quite a few of them about this Sheikah scientist...Robbie, was it?"
"Gn-Gnome is his g-go-to," Link supplied. "And I d-don't blame him. R-Robbie is...w-weird."
"I just wish he'd given me a different nickname," Riju said, kicking her feet a little. "Like...Sparky, maybe? That'd be quite good, I think." As if to prove the aptness, she snapped her fingers, causing sparks to leap from fingertip to fingertip. She sent it back and forth, dancing between her digits before letting it dissipate. "See?" she asked.
"Oh, that was amazing, goro," Yunobo said, staring at her with wide eyes. "How did you do that?"
"Magic," Riju said cryptically.
Link cleared his throat.
"...and a little help from Lady Urbosa, the Gerudo Champion before me," she admitted. "She has been teaching me, granting me a little bit of her power. Link can do it too. Show him!"
Link obliged her, snapping his fingers. He didn't have as delicate control of it as Urbosa had had, but he managed to create a sizeable ball of lightning contained to the palm of his hand. It sparked brightly and loudly, and he could feel it beginning to burn the skin of his hand. The power was never meant to be contained like this—only unleashed in a furious shower of lightning. He let it dissipate before the damage became apparent. Yunobo had a huge smile on his face, though, thoroughly impressed.
"Amazing, goro," he repeated. Then he paused, looking confused. "You have spoken to Lady Urbosa, goro?"
"I have," Riju confirmed with a nod. "Teba has spoken with Master Revali."
Link figured this was his best opportunity to ask. "Have y-you talked to D-Daruk?" he asked Yunobo.
"No, goro," Yunobo said, looking disappointed. "I have only seen him from a distance. He never said or did anything, but...I always knew it was him, goro. He's always out of reach, but he's always looking at me and...smiling, goro."
"B-Because he's proud," Link supplied, nodding. "Urbosa and R-Revali have spoken t-to Riju and T-Teba in order t-to t-teach them their skills. Y-You've already mastered D-Daruk's—he d-doesn't need t-to t-teach y-you anything."
Yunobo brightened a little at that. "I guess, goro. I just...I wish he'd tell me that I'm doing the right thing, brother. That I'm not an embarrassment, you know, goro?"
"He'd l-let you kn-know if that w-was the case," Link said. His sparse memories of the Goron Champion were few and far between, but he knew for certain that Daruk had never been one to mince his words or hide behind fake politeness. Always cheerful, certainly, but never afraid to tell you what he thought either. If Yunobo had been anything less than exactly what Daruk wanted him to be, he'd find some way to let the young Goron know.
Yunobo nodded. "I'll take your word for it, brother. Thank you, goro."
The group fell silent, their thoughts drifting off as they stared into the fire. Slowly, the levity left them, and they were once more left with thoughts of what the next few days would bring.
War. Chaos. Death. Destruction.
The end of the world, possibly.
"Where is the loudmouth, anyway?" Riju asked, her voice breaking the silence like a sledgehammer smashing stone. "Haven't seen him all day, since we split up from the Zora."
"Around," Link said, not entirely sure himself. "Impa k-keeps him busy. Out of t-trouble."
"I caught sight of him on patrol earlier today," Teba said. "He was running away from Mistress Paya, for reasons I am sure I do not wish to know."
"Bet he said the wrong thing, as usual," Riju said, shaking her head.
Link hummed. "I'm not s-sure," he said. "At th-this point I th-think it's like a g-game for th-them."
"I'm not sure tying someone into knots counts as a game," Teba said doubtfully. "Unless I have severely underestimated the harshness of a Sheikah upbringing."
"Sh-Sheik likes p-provoking her," Link explained. "And P-Paya likes k-kicking his arse. It's a g-game."
"And here I thought the weirdness was restricted to Sheik only," Riju muttered.
"Have y-you met R-Robbie?" Link asked. "Or P-Purah? W-Weirdness r-runs in the clan."
"I like them, goro," Yunobo said happily. "In the Domain, they kept coming to the forges, asking about our techniques and if we could teach them. Very politely too, goro. They made the Divine Beasts once. I think they'd like to learn how to do it again someday, goro."
"Let's just hope they put in stricter security measures next time," Riju said.
"Oh, believe me, Tiny, I will insist on it," Sheik said, suddenly standing behind Link.
All four of them jumped at the same time, exclaiming their surprise. Link nearly lost his balance and tumbled off the log, but Sheik's arm was quickly at his side, stabilising him.
"How long were you there?!" Riju whisper-shouted at him, glaring.
"Long enough to hear you call me loudmouth, Tiny," Sheik said, giving her a blank look. "And you're one to talk, by the way. I could hear you all the way across the camp. Your idea of whispering is about as loud as Slagathor's snoring. And just as flattering."
"Why you—"
"Y-You off f-for the n-night?" Link asked, hoping to stop the budding argument in its tracks.
"Finally," Sheik said, sighing exhaustedly, plopping himself on the log as well, between Link and Teba. The space wasn't really big enough for him, and it resulted in Teba nearly getting knocked off the log altogether, and Link being shoved into Riju. "Oops," he said in a non-apologetic tone. "Clumsy me."
"I hate you," Riju hissed, steadying Link. She was like a rock, honestly.
"I thrive on your hatred, Tiny, keep it coming," Sheik said with a grin.
"Sheik, perhaps you ought to get some sleep?" Teba suggested. "You seem a bit tired."
"Oh, but how can I go to sleep when there's a Champion meeting to be had? Bad enough that we're excluding Sharky, but there's not much to do about that. I'll just give him a summary when we meet back up."
"N-Not really a meeting," Link said leaning his weight against Sheik a little, smiling when the Sheikah repositioned himself to make it more comfortable. "J-Just...talking."
"Still don't like being left out," Sheik grouched. "So? What are we talking about? Tiny being short? That's always a good one."
Beside Link, Riju breathed out through her nose hard. "No, we were not, in fact, talking about my height," she said slowly.
"Not anymore, at least," Teba muttered.
"Teba!"
Sheik snorted. "Knew it," he said.
"Doesn't matter," Riju hissed. "I'll still be much taller than you someday, Screamy."
"Oh-ho, the claws are out, I see."
"Sh-Sheik—"
"Son, perhaps now is not the time—"
"D-Did you see something interesting out there, brother?" Yunobo, dear sweet Yunobo, asked, looking up at Sheik. "You were scouting, right, goro?"
"Yeah," Sheik said, nodding. "I've been on a mesmerising stroll through the woods, seeing absolutely fuck-all. Trees are only interesting the first few times you see them. Five times, tops. After that there's just no splendour to 'em. I did see a nice patch of gneiss, though, Roly, in case you were feeling peckish."
"Oh, I d-don't—"
"Oh, come on, I've seen you pick up the odd pebble and give it a nibble, finding it subpar. I don't blame you. Minerals around here must be dull as shit compared to what you find on Death Mountain."
Yunobo looked a little embarrassed at that. "Marching works up an appetite, goro," he said.
"No shame in that, Roly. It's a few hundred yards to the west of the broken tree over there," Sheik said, pointing to a large pine tree at the edge of the camp, its trunk snapped in half at the base by something big. A hinox, probably. "It's a small crevice, but you should be able to get a decent breakfast out of it."
Yunobo looked a little unsure of what to do with that information, but he eventually nodded. "Thank you, brother. I'll let the others know, goro."
"One of the perks of having access to geological survey data straight from the Network," Sheik said smugly, tapping his temple. "You can thank Stabby for that, by the way. He's the one who alerted me to it."
"Stabby?" Yunobo asked, confused. "Who's that, goro?"
At the end of the log, Teba stiffened.
Link's stomach gave a little lurch. Oh no. Sheik wasn't about to...was he?
"My little brother," Sheik replied.
Shit.
There were three unique reactions to Sheik's statement, which, had it come from anyone else, would've been completely innocuous. As it were, it didn't come from anyone else; it came from him.
Yunobo looked puzzled, but still smiled. "Little brother, goro?" he asked.
Riju, unable to contain her volume, shrieked, "Your little what?!"
Teba, who wasn't prone to large outbursts of emotion, didn't say anything. At first. His head, however, swivelled so he could focus on Sheik so fast Link swore he could hear his neck crack. Then, calmly, he said:
"I was led to believe it was contained."
Sheik, apparently just now remembering that there had only been two people in the know at the fire, gave Teba an innocent look that fooled absolutely no one.
"Er...it's a long story?" he tried.
Teba did not buy it.
"I've got time," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
It wasn't the way Sheik had intended it, possibly, but for the rest of the night, the mood around the fire was lightened considerably.
The day after was a beautiful one. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky, and the temperature was perfect. It was the sort of day best spent doing absolutely nothing, laying in the grass and contemplating life and everything in it.
Or analysing and organising statistical data and trying to solve the equations that, if understood, could possibly lead to godhood.
Sheik had ambitions, what could he say?
Brother, I do not think the Goddess would allow a mortal to ascend.
Stabby, ever the spoilsport, decided to chime in on his musings.
"That's her loss," Sheik harrumphed, adjusting the weight of his pack on his back. "Besides, I think she'd appreciate some company. Must be lonely in the Sacred Realm now that she's absorbed the Three Sisters...or killed them, or whatever she did to achieve supremacy."
I think that is blasphemy, brother.
"Only to people who don't recognise the superiority of Din," he muttered.
Ahead of him, leading their squad, Paya cleared her throat, not looking back. It was a signal to keep quiet, because, apparently, the sounds of hundreds of pairs of feet marching in unison wasn't louder than Sheik muttering to himself.
Then again, no one else seemed to be talking either, their attention focused entirely on putting one foot in front of the other, faces grim and drawn. Sheik's success at bringing some levity to the camp the night before had only been temporary, to his chagrin. At least he'd been able to get the Champions to fall asleep with something other than frowns on their faces. Riju had even been giggling, near the end.
Nothing like an obnoxious, loudmouth bastard at the fire to lift the mood in the camp.
It did work temporarily, brother. I think they appreciated it. Uncle Link deserved a proper rest cycle.
"A good night's sleep," Sheik corrected him quietly.
Yes, that.
Sheik agreed immensely with that. Honestly, he was surprised at how calm Link was, this close to the...
...he couldn't find the words. The end? No, that was far too foreboding and final. The battle? Correct, but suggesting bloody carnage. The success? Sheik hoped for it, but, as he hated to think, by no means guaranteed.
Uncle Link will win, brother! I know it!
Sheik had no doubt Link would win. He had the strength of an army at his back, along with the support of no less than four Divine Beasts and their pilots, a sword that, despite an attitude problem, was specifically created to seal away evil, and...well, his skills, which were immense despite his own misguided doubt.
Link would win.
That was guaranteed.
But would he survive?
That's where Sheik's calculations failed him. He could never reach consensus, the odds remaining firmly at fifty-fifty. He hated that. Wished he could do something about it, but that'd require the aforementioned godhood that Stabby kept telling him was out of his reach.
We will find a way.
I hope so, Sheik thought. I'm not letting him die a third time.
The army sections that had gone ahead had been busy, preparing for the main bulk's arrival. Emerging from the woods of the Passeri Greenbelt, the army was greeted by the ruins of Hyrule Castle in the distance, its towers wavy in the haze of the heat. Ahead lay the Sacred Ground Ruins, the remains of a long-forgotten temple of sorts, the only intact structure being a central, round dais surrounded by pools of water.
Among the trees, a wooden palisade had been built, long enough to obscure the ruins from view, hiding the camp that had been built by the allied army. Rows of tents had been put up around the ruins, hidden by the palisade wall and rows of trees. Near the eastern end, a broken, dead Guardian sat miserably in a pile of broken parts.
Sheik committed the layout of the camp to memory, his focus mostly drawn to the rows of siege engines near the palisade wall. The cannons. How he itched to get his hands on one of those. Just give him one good shot at Ganon, and this would all be over...
General Kato and his aides rode out of the camp to greet them, helping direct the arriving troops to their assigned positions, giving everyone a quick run-down of the situation.
"So far, it seems the enemy does not know we're here," the general said, leading the newly arrived Champions and other commanders through the small city that was the allied camp. "We've kept a close eye on their patrols, sending out Sheikah teams to divert them whenever they got too close. We have also quietly eliminated whatever active Guardians we've found, using the instructions and schematics provided to us by Master Sheik."
"Go for the eye," Sheik said, grinning under his mask.
"Easier said than done when the thing can move, but yes," Kato said. "Remarkable efficient, if you are able to hit it reliably. Granted, most of them had lost the use of their legs. We've yet to deal with one that could walk around."
"Same strategy, just be more daring."
"I think the word is suicidal," Riju intoned, to which Buliara hummed in agreement.
"My arrows will make the job a lot easier, general," Robbie promised, his stubby legs somehow managing to keep up with them. Impa and Purah had gone to meet with the other Sheikah at the camp, trusting Sheik, Robbie, and Paya to represent them adequately.
Paya-nee was doing a good job, looking serious and nodding along with Kato's report.
"I understand you were only able to make a limited amount of those, Doctor," Kato said. "We shall put them to good use...though if we're lucky we'll be able to take out whatever Guardians remain within the city and castle before they ever reach us."
"How d-does it look?" Link asked. "Th-The castle, I m-mean?"
"In a word?" Kato said. "Bad. Ganon has no small amount of forces roaming the Castle Town ruins and the castle grounds. It'll be a hard fight, regardless of whatever preparations we make."
"Oh..."
"But where Ganon has the numbers, we have the skill," the Hylian man said, giving Link a boastful smile. "Each man and woman in this camp is worth ten bokoblins or more." Kato paused, grimacing. "And speaking of Ganon..."
Sheik registered an energy spike emanating from the castle less than a second before the entire area erupted. A pillar of yellow-purple smoke, of pure malice, exploded from the castle and into the sky, taking the shape of a gigantic monster, a shadow of the beast that dwelled within. The ground shook, forcing Sheik and the others to brace themselves lest they be knocked over. A rack of spears fell over, nearly stabbing a smith whose back was turned.
The eruption ended as soon as it began, the purple mist dissipating and the tremors ceasing. Around them, the activity in the camp resumed as normal, the inhabitants clearly used to it by now.
"That has been happening more and more frequently over the past few weeks," Kato finished, wiping some dirt off his armoured knee. "And I don't need Master Sheik's analytics to deduce what it means. The Princess is weakening. I don't think we have much time left."
As one, the group of Champions (and Robbie and Paya) looked to Sheik.
"Oh, so now you want me to talk?" he asked indignantly. Link gave him a Look. "Eugh fine. Yes, the data gathered by the Towers says the bursts are happening more frequently—the duration of time between each eruption grows shorter and shorter. Whether it's because the princess is growing weaker or Ganon is simply getting pissed off—which, after a century, is understandable—I have no idea. Either way, time is running out."
"Thank you, Master Sheik," Kato said, nodding. Where the hell this respect had been back at the Domain, Sheik didn't know, but it was about fucking time he was shown some. "Indeed, time is short...which is why I suggest we move up the time of attack."
"To wh-when?" Paya asked.
"Tomorrow," Kato said. "Dawn. Vast as it is, Ganon's army are late risers."
Beside him, Sheik noticed Link stiffening. His vitals began to race as well. Things were moving too fast for him. Sheik wished he could do something to alleviate his worries, but...Kato was right. The sooner they got started, the better. They couldn't risk Ganon breaking loose from the princess' hold in the middle of the battle.
"We've only just arrived," Riju said. "Our troops will still be recovering from the march."
"Unfortunately, we do not have the luxury to afford them proper rest, my lady," Kato said, shaking his head. "They will be well-fed tonight, and my troops can handle security and watch duty to let those who had just arrived get some extra sleep...but that's about it. At dawn, we attack with everything we have."
"I suppose we don't have much choice," Teba said, looking as unhappy about it as everyone else. "My fliers will be ready, general."
"So will my girls," Riju said. "If anything, they will just consider this to be an extra challenge."
"That is good to hear, Master Teba, Master Riju," Kato said. "Master Teba, could you send one of your fliers to inform the Zora of the change in plans? A rider will take longer than I am comfortable with to reach them."
"Of course, I'll dispatch one of my fastest immediately," Teba said. "Is there anything else I should tell them?"
"No, there are no more changes to be made to our plans," Kato replied. "Just inform them of the new time of attack. We'll have to trust in our strategists from here on out."
"Hylia help us all," Sheik muttered under his breath. Link jabbed his elbow into Sheik's side. He didn't even react—Link hadn't put any force into it.
"Anyway," Kato said, gesturing around him. "As you can see, the camp is more or less set up already. Get your people situated, and then we'll reconvene after supper for one final discussion of the plan. I'll send runners to fetch you. Ah, Master Yunobo, a moment of your time? We're having an issue with the cannons..."
"O-Of course, general, goro!" Yunobo said, letting the general lead him towards the, frankly, impressive collection of artillery.
"I'll get my girls situated," Riju said, nodding to the rest. "Come on, Bul."
"Yes, my lady," Buliara said, following her chief diligently.
"I have a messenger to send," Teba said, giving Link and Sheik a nod. "I'll catch up with you two later."
And so, the two of them were left alone in the large camp, surrounded by activity, bodies, noise, and smells that blended together unpleasantly. The smell of horses, in particular, permeated the very air itself, even though the beasts were kept nearly at the other end of the field.
"Well," Sheik said, "looks like we've got some time to kill."
"Y-Yeah," Link said, pointing to the large dais in the middle of the Ruins. No one had set anything up there, likely leaving it alone out of respect. "C-Can we take a c-closer look?"
"You're the Hero, you lead the way," Sheik said, taking a moment to review the data on the immediate area provided by the Towers. Not the most defensible spot in the area, but since the allies had chosen to go for stealth rather than defences, he supposed it was as good a choice as any.
Link frowned at being referred to as such, but didn't say anything, taking the lead as they headed towards the dais and its surrounding pools.
On the way, a system alert told Sheik the program he'd been compiling since that morning was ready. He began testing it in a sandbox specifically made to simulate the conditions in which it'd be deployed, hoping all the while it would never have to be used.
Stabby pointedly did not comment on it, which told Sheik all he needed to know about his brother's opinion.
They'd argued about it for hours during the patrols, and they'd yet to reach anything that could be called an agreement on it. Well, apart from agreeing to disagree, that is.
Not like Sheik was chomping at the bit to use it himself, but he recognised the need. Stabby did not see it that way.
Eugh, too many things to keep track of, now. Too many arguments.
He still needed to see Purah and Robbie about it, too...
He almost bowled into Link, not realising the Hylian had stopped near the edge of the dais, staring vacantly at the spot. Sheik was about to ask Link what the fuck he was doing when he noticed the familiar look on the Hero's face. It wasn't the blank mien of someone with nothing going on in their heads—this was Link remembering something.
He barely had time to react as Link snapped out of his trance-like state, his posture sagging, like all his energy had been sapped from him. His vitals looked good, if slightly elevated. They always were, when something in his memories was unlocked. It was a stressful experience, clearly.
At least he didn't fall over this time, only grabbing Sheik's outstretched arm to steady himself, breathing heavily, his eyes clenched shut.
"You okay?" Sheik asked quietly, looking around to make sure no one had spotted their one and only hope to save the world collapsing out of nowhere. Luckily, everyone's attentions were on their own tasks, too wrapped up in whatever they were doing to notice. Too focused on their own mortality, very likely.
"Y-Yeah," Link said, pinching the bridge of his nose to alleviate the headaches that always accompanied his memories resurfacing. "J-Just...remembered s-something."
"Something good?" Sheik asked, taking Link's arm and leading him gently but firmly to the edge of one of the pools, pushing down on Link's shoulder until he took the hint and sat down, legs dangling above the water.
"Mmm," Link hummed, looking unsure. "N-Not good...but n-not bad either. I was...being appointed as th-the Champion."
"Sounds like a good memory to me," Sheik said, letting the tip of his boot graze the surface of the pool, creating ripples in the surprisingly clean water. Not a single piece of algae or water plant to be seen.
"This w-was before Zelda b-began to like me," Link said. "Sh-She...resented m-me, back then."
"What a stupid girl," Sheik harrumphed. "Must've been blind and deaf."
"I w-was a r-reminder of her failures," Link pointed out. "Of c-course she w-wouldn't like having me around."
"No fucking excuse to take it out on you, though," Sheik said. "Her failures were her own. You were forced to take up that fucking sword—"he nodded towards the Master Sword on Link's back—"against your will. Your whole life was mapped out before you even had a chance to consider it."
"As w-was hers."
"It still wasn't your fault that she couldn't live up to everyone else's expectations." Sheik paused, glaring into the water. "Hah, expectations...guess we're all victims of them, in the end."
"Sh-She came around, in th-the end," Link said, smiling.
"I guess," Sheik agreed, nodding. "She's the reason we were able to gather this army, I suppose. And then all collectively commit suicide."
Link grimaced.
"But death comes for us all in the end. Except me, because I'm amazing and will live forever."
That made Link snort and grin a little, despite himself. "Y-You're an idiot," he said.
"An amazing idiot," Sheik said.
Link laughed, and Sheik considered his mission accomplished for the day.
"Are you sure about this, Sheiky?" Purah asked, looking up at him with wide eyes. "If I'm reading this code correctly, then this could mean you will be—"
Sheik interrupted her before she could say it.
"It's not like I want you to have to use it," he said. "I'm just giving it to you as a precaution. A safety net. Like, a Plan C in case Plans A and B fail. I've set up everything in terms of Network access; all you have to do is enter the command and execute it. The script will take care of the rest."
The diminutive scientist continued to look up at him, her eyes widening yet even more (Sheik had no idea it was possible), and taking on a bit of a shine. "Sheiky..."
"Look, I've no idea what the fallout will be, so maybe nothing bad will happen, but just in case...well, there you have it," he tapped Purah's primitive terminal reader.
"Risky gamble, boy," Robbie said, elbow-deep in the guts of a dead Guardian, cannibalising it for parts. "Surprised you're trusting us with it." He didn't seem too affected with what Sheik had just showed them, but then that was no surprise. Robbie was just that sort of unfeeling piece of shit. His only redeeming quality was his engineering skills.
"Yes, well, there are only four people in the camp with the knowledge and capability to execute the damned thing, and three of them are in this tent," Sheik replied, gesturing to their little workshop.
"Who's the fourth? Ichigo?" Purah asked.
"Yeah, and he's made his position on this program clear," Sheik said, hoping Stabby was listening. "So, I'm stuck with you two."
"We'll take good care of it, Sheiky, I promise!" Purah said, tugging at the bottom of his tunic insistently until he kneeled down with a sigh. She smiled and placed a little kiss on his cheek. "Only if necessary."
"Only if necessary," Sheik repeated. "You hear that, Robbie?"
"I'm old, not deaf," Robbie grumbled, withdrawing his arms from the dead Guardian and stepping over to the low workbench that had been set up for him. "While you're here, boy, get over here with those weapons of yours."
"I'm not letting you cannibalise my weapons," Sheik said, stepping back and cradling the pommel of his Ancient Sword protectively. "They were gifts."
"I'm not cannibalising them," Robbie said with a growl. "I'm stabilising them, you insufferable little shit. If you insist on going into battle with them, I might as well make sure they're not going to short out in the middle of it. Here, put that here!"
"I'm keeping an eye on you, old man," Sheik said, reluctantly placing his sword and spear on the bench, carefully watching as Robbie opened them, poking and prodding at the fragile wires and parts within.
"These are all corroded to hell and back," Robbie muttered, ignoring Sheik entirely. "Purah, get me some wire."
"Here," the other scientist said, bringing him a bundle of incredibly thin wires, almost too thin to even see. "Careful, Robbie, they're fragile."
"I taught you how to salvage them," Robbie muttered. "You, boy. How is your power supply?"
"What's it to you?" Sheik said.
"Because the batteries on these things are almost completely drained," Robbie said in a deadpan. "And I don't know how you prefer your weapons, but I assume them being able to power on is one of those essential little things on your list? If you have some power to spare, we can charge them up through that port in your head."
"Huh," Sheik said. He hadn't thought of that. He'd been too busy focusing on everything else to remember that his weapons needed power too. He checked his own supply, satisfied to find it somewhere north of three hundred percent. That mega-charge he'd taken in the Shrine had lasted him a long time. "My supply's good, old man. Let's do it."
"Good," Robbie said, gesturing to a loose wire he'd pulled loose from within the spear handle. "Take this, and then plug it in."
The next hour or so was mostly silent as the three Sheikah worked together, getting Sheik's gear up to snuff.
Sheik still didn't like Robbie.
Sheik's internal clock told him it was around ten at night when he joined emerged from the Sheikah tent and joined Paya and the others outside. They'd assembled in a line, about fifty of the fastest and strongest warriors the clan had to offer, and Impa was walking down it, inspecting and giving each warrior advice, whispering into their ears.
He couldn't hear what the old woman spoke into the ears of her warriors, but the words clearly affected them all in different ways. Paya looked ready to cry when Impa stepped back, stroking her granddaughter's cheek before moving on to the next in line. Pikango looked oddly serious as he nodded to her, letting her take his hands into both of hers, squeezing. Sheik did hear what she said to the painter.
"Look after them," Impa said quietly.
"I will, Impa, you can count on it," Pikango answered just as quietly. "I'll get them home."
"Thank you."
Sheik tuned out the subsequent conversations, preferring to keep an eye on the Network for the duration. The scouts reported no signs of Ganon or its army knowing they were there, and the sensor data suggested the same. He still couldn't shake off the feeling that it was too easy, though. Too...convenient.
"Nephew," Impa's voice said, breaking him out of his reverie, "if you would be so kind?"
"Right," Sheik said, kneeling down so they were roughly eye to eye. "Sorry."
Impa leaned closer, lowering her voice so only Sheik could hear her. "Are you ready for this?" she asked.
"I don't think my answer matters, in this case," he replied. "This could either go very well, or absolutely to shit. Won't matter if I'm ready or not, either way."
"A fair answer, I suppose," Impa said, smiling that annoyingly calm smile of hers. Like she knew everything that was going on inside his head, and more. "But I trust that, ready or not, you will put your trust in your brothers and sisters at your side. They are there to support you, and you them."
"I don't think Paya needs my help," Sheik said. "She's an army all on her own."
"True, but I'd still feel better knowing you are keeping an eye on her back, and vice versa."
"Yeah, I guess so."
"And Ichigo? How is he?"
Well? Sheik thought. Anything you want to say to the old bag?
Thank her. For giving me a family. And a name.
"He says thanks," Sheik relayed. "For giving him a place in the clan, and a name."
"He is—"
"He can hear you through my ears, you know."
"Ah...well, you are most welcome, Ichigo. I look forward to getting to know you better after the war. There is so much to teach you, after all."
Thank you! I cannot wait!
"He says thanks, and that he can't wait."
Impa's smile grew a little wider. "The same goes for you, nephew. Our time together has been woefully short, but that is a mistake I intend to correct when this is all over."
"Y-Yeah," Sheik said, his stomach giving an unpleasant lurch at the thought (such an odd sensation, but very fitting). He wasn't sure whether she was going to make good on her threats from their first meeting.
"Be careful out there, and come back alive, understood?"
"Yes, master."
She patted his mask-covered cheek. "Good, good."
And that was it. She moved on to the next Sheikah, a girl named Mira, and spoke to her for a little while. And so she continued until all fifty of them had gotten a talk. She then stepped back and regarded them all with nothing less than pride in her eyes.
"You are our swords at the enemy's back," she said. "Our scalpel. Our success hinges on your abilities to finish your mission. Go out there and show Ganon why we are a people to be feared. And come back alive!"
"Yes, master!" they all spoke in unison.
"Team one w-with me," Paya said, holding her hand aloft, gathering her team around her. Sheik and Pikango were part of it, under her command.
The other nine teams gathered in clumps, and then began to head to the western edge of the camp. They had a long way ahead of them, and the sooner they got started the better.
Of course, Sheik had hoped he'd be able to sneak out of the camp without anyone noticing. Particularly, a certain Hylian and his cohorts, but...Sheik had no such luck.
As usual.
All the Champions were waiting near the edge of the camp, naturally. The only one missing was Sidon, and frankly, Sheik would've liked to see his huge frame among them.
But the Zora had their own roles to play in the battle, which required them to be somewhere else.
"Thought you'd just slip out without telling anyone, huh?" Riju said, leaning against a cart, looking smug.
"What can I say, Tiny, I thought you'd be too busy getting your desperately needed beauty sleep to see off little old me," Sheik replied easily, breaking off from his team to approach them, not really putting as much venom behind his words as usual. It's not like he hated the girl.
"Hmph, if anyone needs beauty sleep, it's you," she retorted. "Have you looked in a mirror lately?"
"I have, and it didn't crack, unlike yours!"
"Sh-Sheik, please b-behave," Paya said, having broken off with him, a hint of steel in her voice.
"Right, right, sorry Paya-nee," he said without meaning it.
"M-Make it quick, okay?" she said. "W-We have a lot of g-ground to cover."
"Got it," Sheik said with a nod.
She nodded back and, to Sheik's surprise, approached Link with an unusually firm and steady gait, raising her hand in greeting. Even Link looked surprised, but he quickly broke into an easy smile as their words grew hushed.
Leaving Sheik to fend for himself against the Champions.
"So, this is it," Riju said, her arms crossed, foot tapping in the dirty. The very picture of discomfort, honestly. "Don't do anything stupid out there, yeah? I'd rather not have to come bail you out of whatever idiocy you get up to."
Sheik snorted. "I'm not the one literally burning my fingertips off whenever I try to pull off a fancy trick," he said. "If anything, I should be telling you not to accidentally electrocute yourself. Or Slagathor. Or Ayla."
"Don't blow your cousin up!"
"Don't stumble over your own tiny legs!"
They were standing inches apart now, glaring into each other's eyes. Or eye, in Sheik's case. He was still wearing the eyepatch. Riju's nostrils flared with each breath as their words stilled...and then she breathed out, knocking her forehead against his in an aggressive show of...well, affection was a bit too strong a word for whatever it was she was trying to convey.
"Don't get killed, Screamy," she said.
"Right back at you, Tiny," he replied.
She drew back and stomped off, pretending to be angry. "Just wait till I'm taller than you, bastard!"
Yunobo came up next, fidgeting awkwardly. "Never was good at goodbyes, goro," he said, holding out his fist. "So this is just a...see you later?" he suggested.
"Sounds good to me, Roly," Sheik said, knocking his fist against Yunobo's massive one. "I'm expecting a good show tomorrow morning, by the way. Can't wait to see those babies in action."
"They w-won't disappoint, I promise you, goro," Yunobo said, nodding. "Th-They won't know what hit them, goro."
"It'll be a show to remember, I'm sure," Sheik said. "Good luck, Roly."
"You too, brother."
Yunobo walked away to join Riju nearby, waiting.
Right, Sheik thought. Guess Tweety's next and—oh crap!
All he saw as he turned around was a white wall approaching him...and then he was wrapped into another extremely tight, feathery embrace. He knew better than to resist, however, even grudgingly angling his head to let Teba's beak peck at his hair. The preening didn't last long, luckily—Sheik had been sure to tie his hair up tightly, to keep it out of the way.
The beak stopped picking at his hair soon enough, but the embrace remained.
"I don't think there's anything I can say or threaten you with to stop you from taking stupid chances," Teba murmured quietly. "So I'll just say this: come back alive. If not for my sake, then for theirs."
Sheik didn't need to ask who Teba meant.
"I don't plan on dying anytime soon, Tweety," he said, voice slightly muffled by the feathery shoulder he was being squeezed against. "You can count on that."
"Even the best laid plans can go wrong," Teba said, his tone tight. "A father will always worry."
"Yeah, well...I'll do my best," Sheik said, hesitating for a moment. "Dad."
"Son," Teba said, squeezing him tightly one more time before letting him go. "I'll be looking forward to introducing you to the tribe properly."
"They won't find a louder screecher, that's for sure," Sheik said, grinning despite the extremely tight feeling in his chest, watching Teba stalk off and join Riju and Yunobo.
Turning to Link, he found the Hylian alone. Paya had gone to join the rest of the team, waiting nearby but out of earshot. Link stepped closer and, without much ado, yanked Sheik's mask down and kissed him. Gentle at first, but then his arms pulled Sheik closer, increasing the pressure and intensifying the kiss. Sheik groaned, quite sure that they were supposed to exchange heartfelt words and promises right about now and save the kiss for later.
Link evidently didn't care much for following the script.
Then again, neither did Sheik.
Their lips separated after an eternity (an eternity Sheik wouldn't mind stretching on and on, honestly), but their bodies remained close, their breaths intermingling.
"I d-don't know what t-to say," Link murmured, barely audible.
"Me neither," Sheik admitted. "And I'm usually so eloquent."
Link snorted. "Th-That's what you c-call it?"
"I'll have you know my vocabulary is huge. I just choose to use simple words so the poor idiots around me will understand what I'm saying."
Link snorted again, his lips twisting into a grin despite the wetness in his eyes, banishing the frown that had infested it before. "Y-You're awful."
"And yet you still like me," Sheik pointed out.
"S-Somehow."
"I don't blame you, I'm the best."
"S-Stop," Link said, chuckling. "I'm t-trying t-to be serious."
"Why? It's not like we're doing anything serious," Sheik said, raising his hand and tracing his thumb along Link's jaw. "We're just two idiots going out to do stupid things. Like saving the world. Or, well, that's your thing. Me, I'm just going to make a nuisance of myself."
"Th-That's y-your thing," Link said.
"That, and blowing shit up. Can't wait."
Link kissed him again. "B-Be careful," he whispered, looking into Sheik's eye. "P-Promise."
"I'll be careful," Sheik promised without hesitation. "You do the same."
"I p-promise," Link said. "And S-Sidon—"
"He has his own tasks...but I'll keep an eye out for him."
"Good..."
Sheik drew Link closer and kissed him one last time, committing the sensation of Link's lips against his to memory, making multiple backups and storing them in several separate locations. No way in hell would he let himself forget this.
"I l-love you," Link said.
"I love you too," Sheik replied. His cheeks warmed considerably, but at least he managed to say it. Link's brilliant grin was worth the embarrassment he felt.
"T-Tell Stabby t-to be good," Link added.
"He knows," Sheik said. "He hates disappointing you."
I do, Stabby confirmed.
"Sh-Sheik," Paya called to him. "We n-need to go!"
Sheik drew back, giving Link an apologetic look. "Guess that's my cue. She's right—we've a ways to go."
Link looked like he wanted nothing more than to grab Sheik and force him to stay, but kept himself in check.
They all had their parts to play.
"You've got this," Sheik said. "Kick Ganon's ass, yeah?" He walked backwards, waving to the other Champions at the same time. "Really humiliate it!"
"I w-will!" Link promised, waving.
And that was the last time Sheik expected he would see Link. He turned and jogged up to his team, letting Paya take the lead as they entered the forest once more.
And disappeared into the darkness.
The fields of Hyrule were unusually quiet as the skies began to brighten. It was as if even the animals knew something was about to happen and kept quiet and took shelter wherever they could. No birds sang, no insects creaked.
The sky went from almost black, to a dark red.
A crimson dawn. A bad omen. A promise that blood would be spilled that day.
The dawn found General Kato, Lady Riju, and Boss Yunobo standing at the edge of the edge, looking through gaps in the palisades, watching the once-mighty, now crumbling walls of Castle Town. The enemy camp beyond them was quiet, the only activity that could be seen were the smoke of cook fires gently rising into the air above the walls.
General Kato snorted.
"As the reports confirmed," he said. "Ganon's army is vast, but they are not early risers." He turned to the Goron Champion. "Master Yunobo, is the artillery ready?"
"Y-Yes, general," Yunobo said. "Ready to fire, goro."
Kato nodded.
"Then I believe it's time to wake them up, don't you?"