Ganondorf lay on his back on his cot, like usual, hands on his chest, fingers laced.

"Dragmire, you've got a visitor."

He opened his eyes and glanced at the clock. Still too early for Shadow. Another visitor? Who was it now?

They didn't go to the regular visitor place, though. They went into what looked like an interrogation room, mirrored wall and all. His 'visitor' was already seated on one side of the table.

Turns out it was the senator's wife, Mrs. Harkinian. Ganondorf sat down in the chair, putting his cuffed hands on the table next to the tiny metal loop. The guard bent down to lock his cuffs to it, but Mrs. Harkinian waved him away.

"That won't be necessary today," she said.

"Are you sure, ma'am?"

"Yes."

Ganondorf got the feeling that Mrs. Harkinian didn't like seeing people in chains, even if they were Ganondorf Dragmire.

"You may leave," Mrs. Harkinian told the guard, who hesitated. She sighed. "My personal security will be watching the whole thing. You can be sure I will be quite safe."

Ganondorf hadn't seen any special security on the way, just regular guards and a few inmates. They must be Sheikah Security. He shook his head. Didn't know they still existed.

"Yes, ma'am."

When the guard left, Mrs. Harkinian said, "Hello, Ganondorf."

He nodded politely. "Hello, Grizzelda."

"What a mess you've made."

"How so?"

"Your entire empire has been seized. There is no chance of you getting out of this without a conviction. You'll have fees and debts up to your ears to repair the damages you've done. Your assets will be sold off, your business ventures merged with others or disbanded. You'll be broke. Penniless."

Ganondorf gave no indication her words affected him at all. They didn't, really. He wasn't one to cry over spilled milk. The only person he felt guilty to was his family, and he still had time to fix that. "Why are you telling me what I already know, Grizzelda?"

She sighed and leaned forward, clasping her hands on the table. "Because I've come here with an offer."

He raised an expectant eyebrow.

"We don't know how you managed to pull Krad from the Shadow Realm, and therefore we have no idea how to send him back. Despite our best efforts, we have been unable to figure out how you did it, or how to do it again. The entire council has offered you a lenient sentence in exchange for your help in this matter."

"How generous," he said. There was a long pause. And a staring match. "How lenient?"

Her eyes became hard. "You might get to hug your son again before you're dead."

They had another staring match. This time, Grizzelda broke the silence. "We also are stumped in considering the outcome sending Krad back will have on your son. He needs a new heart, and Krad needs his back to survive."

Ganondorf raised one eyebrow. "Does he?"

Grizzelda took a measured breath. "You are aware by now that he is a sentient being?"

"Yes. And last I heard, still breathing."

"He is still alive, but morally bankrupt, thanks to you. He simply cannot have a fulfilling life without his heart." She breathed out noisily. "But you don't care, do you?"

Ganondorf gave a sly grin.

"You won't work with us to return Krad's heart?"

"No."

"Then we're done here." She broke off their staring match.

"Wait a minute," he said as she stood. She paused to look at him again. "I am willing to help you find a way to the Shadow Realm. It's really quite simple, if time consuming. Sending him back will be no problem."

She only blinked at him, gave no other indication that he should continue. But she didn't leave, either.

"What I need is a lab," he said, leaning onto the table. "I'll get that doorway open between realms, and I'll solve Shadow's heart problem. My way."

"Save the Shadow Realm coming up with a better plan, there is no version of this where Shadow gets to keep Krad's heart."

"We have no deal."

She rounded on him. "Don't you care that your son is dying?! I'm giving you the best offer I can!" She slammed her hands on the table and glared at him, whispering, "Even if it's a lie, tell me you will work to find a way to return Krad's heart."

Ganondorf half-snarled. "I'll be wasting so much time satisfying your council that I'm working on it that I won't actually have time to solve Shadow's problem."

"It's the best I can offer," she repeated through gritted teeth. "You will have a lab, and nigh endless resources." She gave a single, bitter laugh. "Surely a man as dishonest and self-centered as yourself can put up a convincing front?"

He hated her for being right. This was likely the only chance he could ever get again to make sure Shadow's heart remained strong. Outside of this, he'd never see a lab again for decades, likely long after Shadow was dead.

"I have conditions."

A credit to her class as a politician, Grizzelda managed not to roll her eyes at him in exasperation. Straightening, she smoothed out her forehead with a thumb and forefinger. "What do you want?"

"Three hours."

"What?"

"I want at least three hours with my son every day, and I want him to be able to visit whenever he wants, not just once a week."

He watched as her entire face softened. Her eyes became glassy as she looked into his eyes and whatever it was she saw reflected there. She glanced away. "Shadow is a dear friend of Sheik's, as you know."

Sheik? So you've accepted your daughter's new gender. How is your husband taking that?

She was still talking. "I can't imagine being separated the way that . . . you have been from Shadow. I am very sorry for it."

"Sheik isn't dying anytime soon," Ganondorf said bitterly. He folded his arms, hands grasping his biceps so tightly it was uncomfortable. He tried to keep his ill temper out of his voice. "Three hours, or no deal."

"You're not sure you can save him, are you?"

Ganondorf betrayed no emotion, at least an ordinary onlooker would have thought not. Grizzelda was not an ordinary woman. "I don't know," he admitted. "The only thing I can give Shadow is my presence. If he lives, he needs me now so he doesn't screw up the rest of his life. If he dies, he needs me now. There is no time like the present for a teenager, nothing more important than time together. From what I've heard about Sheik, you understand this, don't you?"

Her face was neutral, but she spoke through tight lips. "The council will want to work you night and day."

"Three hours. Unlimited visitation."

A look of hardened resolve crossed Grizzelda's features. "I will manage it," she said firmly.

Her confidence made him believe she would in fact pull it off. Ganondorf felt comforted.


Finally! Ganondorf thought. When the guard came to get him this time, it was Shadow's scheduled visiting time. This time, the guard didn't cuff him.

Shadow was already at the window, the phone held impatiently at his ear even though Ganondorf wasn't even close to the other end yet. He was sitting sideways in the stall, swiveling back and forth in the chair, staring sadly at the floor.

Ganondorf held his excitement in check at the surprise he had for Shadow, but there was a specific way he wanted to let it out, because he was afraid if he did it wrong it would come out a mess. He sat down with a pleased smirk and pulled the phone to his ear.

"Hello, Shadow."

"Hi, Dad," he replied, downcast.

He thought he had the best topic to cheer him up. "I met your boyfriend."

Eye contact.

Ganondorf grinned, with a slight bit of arrogant. "I like him! Seems like a very smart lad."

Shadow frowned. "Well if you like him, it's no wonder he broke up with me!" He sank down further in his chair, looking dismal.

"He broke up—what?" But he'd just seen him this morning! He had to be careful. He always had to be careful with Shadow, but since they hadn't gotten to see each other as much, he'd made sure to be extra careful. How to get information without being hurtful? "I'm sorry. When did this happen?"

"Saturday."

So, before today, before Vio came to see him. Why did he break up with Shadow, but still worry about his heart?

"Well," Shadow continued, "I don't know, maybe I broke up with him? I . . . don't really know." Wild bewilderment crossed his face. Ganondorf noted it. Something happened.

Shadow's eyes glanced impatiently at the clock. He seemed to consider something. He leaned on the counter, tapping the glass between them absently. "When did he come to see you?"

"He came today."

Shadow was taken aback. There was utter confusion all over his face. "But . . . why?"

Ganondorf placed his hand on the glass, where Shadow's fingers were. "He wants to cure your heart, like I do."

"What?"

Ganondorf could tell he was putting the dots together. Whatever Vio had done, it was for Shadow's sake. Ganondorf knew it. Emotions crossed over Shadow's face in quick succession, like photos on a camera. Shock, wonder, disgust, fear, pale fury, shock, sadness, anxiety, shock again. Ganondorf tried to break through the massive storm. "Do you remember when I told you about your mother and I needing a break, so I could clear my head?"

"Yeah, you completely ditched her for like, two years to take anger management classes."

Ganondorf nodded sadly. "Give him time, Shadow. He may yet prove himself to you." It was obvious Shadow had no idea that Vio was attempting to heal his heart, and definitely didn't know how he was going about doing it, or hadn't suspected until today.

"You don't understand," Shadow began, but he trailed off, apparently not knowing how to explain himself. He looked at the clock again.

"Tell me what happened," Ganondorf said.

He shook his head. "It doesn't matter. It's over. I don't want him around!"

Ganondorf kept a straight face, but he knew that was a lie. However, Shadow's responses made him suddenly suspicious of Vio's behavior. Was there more going on here that he didn't know about?

"Dad?"

"What is it?"

"I've gotten drunk."

Ganondorf blinked. Okay. Apparently it's confession time! Shadow looked so supremely guilty that Ganondorf couldn't even be mad. He was mostly just, again, overwhelmed at how much he was missing while being stuck in here, and how rudderless Shadow'd been without him. "Oh?" he asked with a bewildered frown.

"Yeah. A c-couple times. With Vio. We did other stuff, too. It was all bad."

Ganondorf blinked again. "Does Mrs. Knight know?"

"Huh? Oh, Grammy. I don't know. I don't think so. I snuck out of the house." Eyes on the clock. "But, I wanted you to know. I'm sorry." He lowered his head, but then looked up through his lashes at Ganondorf, looking ready for angry words, worried words, any kind of words that would validate his guilt.

Sneaking out of the house, getting a boyfriend way too young, getting drunk with him? Just what kind of home life was that old woman giving him?! "I'm sorry," Ganondorf said. "I'm sorry I haven't been there for you."

Shadow straightened in his seat out of confusion. "Huh? It's not your fault, I'm the one who did it all, cuz I'm nuts! You always told me to, you know . . . stay away from trouble."

"I wasn't around to ground you this time." Shadow made a face that made Ganondorf laugh. "Shadow," he said. "I know it's been hard for you. But I want you to know, I'm proud of you. I'm proud of you for telling me, and standing up for yourself."

"You're not mad?!"

Ganondorf forced his grin to widen, but his eyebrows lowered. "Uh . . ."

Shadow nodded. "Good. I won't do it again if you tell me not to."

"Don't do it again, Shadow. I swear, when I get out—"

"I won't, I promise!" He waved his hands, giggling suddenly. Then he sobered up. "I felt like shit." He glanced at the clock, his eyes flashing confusion before he continued, "but now, I'm spending more time with Link, and Aryll, and Grammy, and even Sheik again and I'm starting to feel better. We don't do that crazy crap together." He looked at the clock again.

"I'm glad, Shadow, I'm really glad." Ganondorf couldn't resist the happy grin he got when Shadow glanced at the clock again. He'd obviously noticed that their twenty minute window had passed. Shadow was wigging out, and Ganondorf loved it. Shadow didn't know if a guard had forgotten, got distracted, or what. He didn't know what to do. Celebrate? Freak out? Get excited? Worry that any second the guards would remember time was up? "Shadow, why don't you tell me more about your friends? How is Link? And Aryll?"

"B-but do we have time?" Shadow asked, obviously devising something he could chat about in anything from twenty seconds to a minute. This couldn't go on longer than that, could it?

Ganondorf still had his hand on the glass. "What's wrong, Shadow? You keep looking at the clock."

"Yeah, well." He didn't want to say time was supposed to be up. The guard listening in might get wise!

Ganondorf grinned a stupid grin. "What if I told you time wasn't up?"

Shadow blanked out at him, mouth agape.

"What if I told you we still have two hours and thirty-five minutes left?"

Total blank. Then, "What?" He woke up and leaned onto the counter again. "Are you serious?!"

"Yes, serious."

Faced with suddenly so much time, Shadow blanked out again. Then he blinked back into existence. "Holy cow!" He was so excited he bounced in his seat, but it was a stressed excited. So much time after so many short visits, he didn't want to waste it, obviously, but being as excited as he was, he was sure he would.

"And," Ganondorf added helpfully, "not just today."

"What? You mean EVERY WEEK?!"

Ganondorf had to take a few seconds to be able to say the next sentence coherently around his own excitement. "Every day."

"Every day?" Shadow repeated after a moment.

"Three hours, every day. Sheik's mother set it up for us. Wasn't that nice?"

Shadow sprang to his feet. "EVERY DAY?!"

The excitement on his son's face, at the idea of getting to see him more, made him so happy. He had waited a long time for his son to be excited to see him again. Their relationship wasn't perfect, and Ganondorf was by no means a perfect man, but his son's approval was the only real thing he needed in life.

"OH MY GOD," Shadow was squealing. "OH MY GOD." He flopped back into his chair, arms and face on the tiny table. "I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY!"

A guard came up to them. "Excuse me, you need to calm down."

"Huh?" Shadow sat up. "I'm sorry," he said meekly. The guard left, and Shadow gaped at Ganondorf. "Every day?"


Shadow hadn't been to Sheik's house in ages, not since before his dad was arrested. He had texted Sheik several times in the last half hour, but no response. Now he called him.

"Hello?"

"It's me, bozo. Why aren't you texting me back?"

"Oh, sorry! I was with Groose." Before Shadow could ask teasing questions, Sheik continued, "How are ya?!"

"Good. Are you home?"

"Yeah."

"Can I come in?"

"Wha—sure! Hold up a second."

A moment later and one of the large double doors at the front of their mansion opened, and there stood Sheik in his chuchu pajamas and Blupee hoodie. He grinned when he saw Shadow, then ran and threw his arms around him. "Hey, buddy!"

"Hiya." Shadow hugged him back.

They went inside together. As they passed the kitchen, Shadow glimpsed Mrs. Harkinian chopping up some vegetables. She cooks?! Hasn't she got servants for that? Nevermind, she's obviously just the best parent in existence! Shadow took a detour from the stairs to Sheik's room and went to the kitchen. He stood shyly in the doorway.

Mrs. Harkinian looked up when the door creaked, then smiled. "Why, Shadow! What a nice surprise! I haven't seen you in a while."

Gaining courage, or maybe his gratitude overwhelmed his shyness, Shadow walked around the island in the center of the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Mrs. Harkinian's waist in a hug.

She hugged him back in some surprise. "Shadow? What?"

He buried his head in her shoulder. Her embrace was warm and inviting. "Thank you," he said.

"For what?"

"I got to talk to my dad for three hours. I know you did that."

"Oh." She cradled his head gently, stroking his hair with a soft smile. He'd avoided this house, angry with Sheik, angry with her, for what happened with his dad. She hadn't expected him to forgive her. "Shadow, you're always welcome here. No matter what happens, I hope you know that this is a safe place for you."

"I know that now. I didn't before, but I do now. I'm really sorry for . . . I mean, you know."

She shook her head and held him at arm's length, putting her hands on either side of his face. She grinned in a funny way, her lips pressed together. "No need to apologize to me. Now go play with Sheik, he's over there looking desperately jealous." She turned back to her cooking. "I'll bring dinner up in a bit!"

Shadow turned with his hands on his hips and said to Sheik, sassily, "Your mom's my new best friend."

Sheik stuck his tongue out at him, grabbed his hand, and dragged him out of the kitchen.


"I don't think we've ever actually been introduced," said Shadow. He and Groose were staring at each other, arms folded.

"Oh," said the big red head. "I'm Groose." He held out a hand.

"Shadow."

They shook hands.

Sheik jumped on his bed. "So I've been thinking! I know it's not summer yet, but I REALLY wanna go camping!"

Shadow balked. "Camping? You mean with bugs, and backpacks? And hiking?!"

Laughing at his horrified expression, Sheik hopped up and down, his feet making the bed squeak. "Wuss alert! Wuss alert!"

"Nobody says that anymore," Shadow complained.

"I think camping would be fun!" Groose said. "My uncle has a cabin in the mountains, there's electricity, a jacuzzi, and the BEST grill in all of Hyrule!"

"Ooooooh!"

Sheik jumped off the bed. "Dude, that is SO not camping!"

Now it was Groose's turn to balk. He straightened his quaff in worry. "You mean tent camping? No showers, no shampoo, no conditioner?"

"Yep."

Shadow piped in, "No TV, no cafes, no electronics?"

"Yep."

"ARE YOU CRAZY?!" Groose shouted. He gestured at himself. "This body does not do camping."

"I can't survive without at least my Hypod!" Shadow added.

Sheik shrugged. "You can bring your guitar."

Suddenly Shadow got a thoughtful expression. "Okay . . . I'm listening."

Groose looked absolutely betrayed.

Sheik grabbed both of them by the shoulders. "Think about it! Just us guys, right? In a tent, in the middle of nowhere," he gestured in a circle at the ground, "sitting around a warm fire." He gestured up at the ceiling. "All of Hylia's stars above us, the entire Milky Way, no streetlights to dim them out. Shadow—" He squeezed the guy's shoulder, "Playing Nocturne of Shadow, or maybe the Song of Time?"

Shadow was still staring at the ceiling in a trance, as if there were really stars there. "I've almost mastered that whole book of music from Hateno Village. I wonder what it would sound like under the stars?"

Groose started sweating. "Don't fall for it! Camping SUCKS!"

Sheik wrapped an arm around Shadow's shoulders and squeezed their cheeks together. "S'mores, corn grilled over a fire, potatoes, carrots, every vegetable you can imagine."

"I do like vegetables," Shadow said. He glanced down at Sheik. "You've convinced me."

Groose fell backward onto Sheik's bed, his massive body dislodging all of Sheik's pillows and his collection of chuchu plushies. "Nooooooo!"

"You don't have to come, you know," Sheik said, only half jokingly.

Groose raised his head. "You kiddin' me? Of course I'm going."

"I-I really don't want to make you do stuff you don't like, Groose. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, but YOU like camping and I like you. You look really excited. I will support my friends!" He sat up and patted his quaff regretfully. "No matter what it does to my hair."

"I'll pay for your next hair appointment, if that helps?"

"Naaaah, spend it on yourself." Groose jumped to his feet. "ALRIGHT!" He made a militaristic pose, slapping one hand into his palm. "We need to prepare for this excursion. We need sleeping bags! Firewood! Khakis! Marshmallows!"

Shadow and Sheik saluted. "Sir, yes, sir!"


Outside, Sheik realized he forgot he wallet, so he left Groose and Shadow outside.

"Dude," Shadow said. "You're, like, super supportive."

Groose raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

"I mean, it's really cool. I'm glad you're here for Sheik." He looked at the street between his shoes. "I haven't been the best friend lately, so even though it sucks, I'm glad I've got a replacement. Actually," he looked at Groose. "I think you're better at this stuff than I am."

Groose looked like he was holding back a look. What look? He shrugged. "I don't think I'm your replacement. I mean I don't know what your friendship with Sheik was like before, but he seems better with you here." His voice quieted. "I don't think it's possible to replace people."

Shadow had to look away for a moment to consider. "No, I guess you're probably right about that." He suddenly felt really sad. He picked at his gloves, thinking about how he still missed Rufus, that piglet he knew for a week before his dad killed him, how he'd spent his whole life trying to save animals in an attempt to feel better about missing Rufus, about what happened to him. He couldn't replace his dad, either, that was for sure. Even though he hated his dad, most of the time, why did he still feel the need to see him? Why did he want to talk to him, get his approval? Even though Granny fed him better, was nicer, and listened to him sometimes for hours . . . she still didn't fill the space left by his dad when he got arrested. It's ok, he told himself to calm down. I get to see dad whenever I want now. I mean, not at home, where it's comfortable, but at least . . . it's something.

"Hey." Groose gave him a light tap on the arm with a fist. Apparently he'd noticed Shadow's descent into sad thoughts. "I think it's cool you're here, too."

Shadow chuckled with a wan grin, but there was a spark in it. Just a little one. "Thanks, man."


Link brushed the paint stripper all over the boat's side. Most of the paint had already chipped off over the time the boat spent beached in Linebeck's Shipyard. It was a thirty foot sailboat, with a below decks as well as ample room upstairs on deck. It would be perfect for sailing around on the ocean for days at a time, if not longer.

"You really think this boat will float again?"

He glanced up from his task. Nabooru sat inside the boat wearing off-white harem pants and an orange bikini top. She was squatted next to the mast, using a knife to poke around for spots where the wood had rotten.

Grinning, Link replied. "I don't know. That's the fun of it!"

Nabooru sighed. "I think we can't save this mast. The top of it's okay, but down at the base where it connects to the boat is rotted pretty deep. Water must have pooled in here after a huge rain."

Moving to a part of the boat not covered in paint stripper, Link grabbed the railing and pulled himself up and over. Then he walked over to see. It was like literal black goop between the mast and the metal studs that kept it in place.

Sighing again, Nabooru stood up and put her hands on her hips. "I'm surprised it hasn't fallen over already."

Curious, Link lifted a foot.

"Link, what are you—DON'T!"

Link kicked the mast with all his might. Not even a creak. Slightly disappointed, he lowered his leg back to the deck.

"Oh my goddess," Nabooru said exasperatedly.

Link looked at her, still pouting from not being able to topple the mast.

"You gotta be more careful," Nabs said. "Is that too much to ask? What if that thing fell on me?"

Looking properly scared for two seconds, Link suddenly grinned. "I guess you'd have to hit the deck!"

Trying to hide her chuckling with a groan, Nabooru walked to the other side of the mast. "You're lucky you're so cute when you're disappointed. Now let's topple this thing!"

"What, really?"

This always happened. Link did something stupid, and she chided him for it, and then her curiosity got the better of her and she joined him in his insanity.

It was fun.

"If more rotted on this side," she explained. "We'll have a better chance of toppling it from here. Plus—" she pointed ahead of her, into the shipyard. The boat sat next to a pile of uncut lumber. "—we won't damage any boats if the mast falls that way."

Link looked where the mast might have fallen if it had broken when he first kicked it. First, it might have hurt Nabooru. Yeah, pretty dumb. Then there were the other ships in the yard. Yeah, most of them were beached, but they also had a lot of parts that were still valuable, and if he'd damaged anything, Linebeck would have him working for free every weekend from now until eternity! He felt really sheepish, but sometimes with his ADHD he just couldn't wait to think about things. He stepped up to join Nabooru's side. "What would I do without your foresight, Nabs?"

She turned up one side of her mouth coyly. "You'd be in debt to your eyeballs, probably." She turned to her side to get a better kicking angle. "You ready?"

Link was bouncing on his toes in excitement. "Ooooooh yeah!"

"One, two, three—HYAH!"

"HYAH!

A sharp snap reverberated through the yard as they both felt the mast give beneath their feet. They refound their footing and watched as the mast slowly tipped, and then fell.

"Woohoo!" cried Nabooru, fists in the air.

"That's AWESOME!" Link clapped his hands over his head.

The mast crashed into the pile of lumber with impressive clashing. When it did, the boat they stood on shifted on the side the mast fell to, and the deck dislodged them.

Link found his footing immediately, grabbing a rail to help, but Nabooru felt herself falling forward and grabbed Link out of instinct. Link wrapped an arm around her waist and somehow she found her feet again and stood up straight.

"You ok?" Link asked.

Nabooru somehow had gotten her arms around his neck, holding onto him for stability. She stared into his worried, ocean green eyes. She smiled gleefully. "You saved me again, Hero."

He made a face at the name. He let her go and squatted next to the remains of the mast's base. "That's ridiculous, you weren't in danger, you just were off balance. And don't call me Hero!" But he was blushing.

She folded her arms and tilted her head slyly. "Whatever, Hero, that paint thinner's probably about done, don'tcha think?"


"I just don't understand," Zant's whimpery voice broke into her thoughts again. "I get that you have a weird fetish for Hylian fashion, princess, but those gloves are simply the tackiest things I've ever seen!"

Midna threw down her copy of the Hyrule Tribune. Do I really gotta deal with this guy? Ever since the council had decided, unofficially, of course, that she and Zant were soulmates, they'd insisted that the two spend every waking second at the estate together. The Twili liked to live together in giant, hotel-like structures, side to side with each group of families. She couldn't go anywhere, visit anybody, or even sit down without Zant being right there, and she couldn't, and didn't want, to spend all of her time outside of the Twili neighborhood. She was their princess, and spending time with them wasn't just lip service like it was for Zant. She wasn't just trying to reassure everybody that her close relationship with the Princess of Hyrule did not mean she was no longer loyal to her people, and she wasn't just doing it for her public image. She truly loved her people. She loved her culture, she loved her language, she loved everything about being a Twili. She wanted to do everything she could to protect them, to make sure they didn't end up just another impoverished minority in Hyrule.

That's why she wore the gloves. Sure, they had studs and matched her neon green and orange goth outfit, but the real reason was to hide that cursed mark on her hand.

The Triforce of Lorule.

After doing research—regrettably on her own instead of with her councilmembers because the less they knew about this, the better—she realized it wasn't really that odd. Lorule was, in a sense, a lot like the Twilight Realm. It was another, darker version of Hyrule, and the Twilight Realm was a dark place as well. And, the Twili people were the descendants of Hyruleans, something they as a group hated to remember.

I've lived here my whole life, since I was brought her and separated from my parents when the Mirror broke and trapped us all here. If a Hylian goes to the Twilight Realm, they become a spirit. She stared at her right glove, as if boring through it to the upside down Triforce symbol on her hand. If a Twili stays in Hyrule for a long time . . . will I stop being a Twili? She clenched her fists and bit her lip to get her face back under control. She couldn't appear weak, even if no one knew what she was thinking!

"Are you alright, princess?" Zant asked, annoyingly observant as ever.

Midna turned to him and snapped, "You gonna keep staring at me all day or are you actually gonna get some work done?!" She picked up the Hyrule Tribune and all but threw it at him.

"Y-yes, princess!" Zant caught the tribune and obediently opened it. Then lowered it slightly to glare at Midna, dissatisfied and hateful.

Midna rifled through the rest of the publications they were trying to read through. They were both required to know what every country in the world was saying about the Twili at all times, and to keep up to date with all of the news. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and breathed a sigh of relief, finally allowing herself a soft grin.

Zant was glaring at her suspiciously.

"It's from school," she explained. "I gotta take it!" She jumped out of the chair and went to the hallway, looking out the corner of her eye to make sure Zant stayed seated. She lifted her phone to her ear. "You have no idea how happy I am you called me."

"Gee, sugar, I'll call you all day if it'll make ya happy." Malon's voice never failed to send butterflies jittering in her belly, and today she sounded extra chipper.

Midna gripped the phone tightly, a huge grin splitting her face. "You know I'd love if I could let you do that."

"Haha, I know, council'd go bonkers if they found out you're dating a girl."

"Bleeeeeh," Midna made a face, even though Malon couldn't see her.

They chuckled a bit, both wondering what they could and couldn't say. Midna glanced back at Zant, and all around her, for any listening ears.

"You thinkin' 'bout gettin' out this weekend?" Malon asked.

"Actually, yeah. I've been cooped up talking to people, settling disputes for too long. I think I could use a day out, and I think people won't think I'm being bad for going."

"I'm sorry they got you on such a leash, Midna. It sounds terrible."

"It's . . . Ok. I don't mind so much, I mean," she thought about her hand again, "except for the part where, I mean." She thought about dating Malon. She couldn't say the words. Not here.

"I know what you mean, sugar."

"So . . . This weekend?"

"Sure! I'll plan everything, don't worry."

"Okay. Um, I—I have to get back."

"Well, best hustle! Twilight Meadows ain't gonna rule itself!"

Midna smiled. "Bye, beautiful."

"Bye, bye!"

Hanging up and stuffing the phone back into her pocket, Midna hurried back to the chairs and sat back down, picking up the nearest publication and opening to its first page.

"You look like you're in a good mood," Zant said suspiciously. "Who called you?"

What? Happier than with I'm with you? I can't imagine! "None of your business."

"Why was the school calling you?"

"I said, it's none of your business."

"There's no reason for the school to be calling you. You have good grades and you're never in trouble."

She wouldn't break. She couldn't. She flipped to page two. "My good mood is swiftly becoming sour, Zant." It wasn't a lie.

Zant continued to stare at her suspiciously for an ungodly amount of time. She just kept flipping pages and reading, ignoring him and the chills down her spine. Finally he went back to reading as well.

The space between them got icier, still.


"I'm hoooooooome!" Shadow announced.

"SHADOW SHADOW SHADOW!" Aryll barreled into him excitedly, offering the drawing in her hand insistently.

"Aryll, Aryll, Aryll!" Shadow took her drawing, expecting it to be seagulls again, like it was every day. Instead, he found a crayon picture of what he assumed was him, and Link. All three were holding hands. "Aw, what's this, Aryll?"

She pointed at the characters. "Link. Aryll good girl. Shadow. Hold hands."

Shadow squeezed her closer. They still had no idea why he, of all people, was the only person alive that Aryll was comfortable hugging or holding hands with. Shadow knew Link and Granny weren't mad at him, or jealous, but he knew it made them sad that them holding Aryll caused her pain.

Aryll wasn't the best at expressing things, but this was pretty clear. It was her dream to be able to hold Link's hand the same way she held Shadow's.

"It's a great picture," Shadow said. "Did Link love it?"

"Link love it!" She patted herself on the head and ran back to the TV, on which was playing her current favorite show, Ruckus in Rabbitland.

Shadow studied the drawing again. It must be really bothering her today. She never drew anything but seagulls.

Granny was cleaning up after dinner—Shadow ate at Sheik's. He said hello to her and then went upstairs to his and Link's room.

Link was on his bed, a pencil in his mouth, printouts of schematics laid out all over his bed.

Chuckling, Shadow asked, "What's all that?"

Link glanced over. "Hm?" He pulled the pencil out of his teeth and sat up. "Oh! A project." He set the schematic he was looking at aside. "How was Sheik?"

"We're going camping this weekend."

Link's mouth opened wide. "What?"

Walking to his bed and laying down, Shadow answered, "Sheik wanted to, so we went and got everything, like, torches, and I got the BEST sleeping bag with little single-eyed bats all over it—"

"Wait! Who's all going camping?"

Shadow looked at him funny. Then he said, "YOUR sleeping bag is a map of Hyrule. They didn't have any Hylian Shield ones. Sorry."

Link grinned. "You don't even know if I'm working this weekend!"

"Are you?" he asked seriously.

"Nope!" Link laughed.

"Jerk." Shadow reached into his nightstand and pulled out some double sided tape. He stuck it on Aryll's drawing and hung it next to his bed. "Did she show you this one?"

Link was silent for a second. Then, "Yes."

Shadow lay back with his hands behind his head. "What do you think it's like for her? Being in her head?"

"I don't know." Link fiddled with his hands. "I don't want her to feel bad about who she is. I've always tried to hide it, you know?"

"What?"

"I mean . . . that it makes me sad, you know? That I can't hold her hand, or hug her, or even have a regular conversation with her. It's gotta be so frustrating for her. And that makes me MAD! But I didn't want her to know that. I guess she figured it out."

Putting on an air like a villain in a videogame, Shadow said, "She's getting smarter, old boy. How will we EVER outsmart her?"

Link chuckled. "I swear, if she knew how to communicate with this stupid world, she'd take it over."

"Make us all her slaves and feed her army of seagulls."

The image made Link laugh out loud. "I just want her to be happy, you know?"

"Me, too," said Shadow. He turned his head. "Has she ever been camping, before?"


A/N Ganondorf! Don't encourage Shadow to wait for Vio! BAD parent, BAD!