Wind knows he should stop staring. His grandmother told him it was rude, but he could not tear his eyes off Wild.

Well, he is not exactly looking at the Champion per se, but at the wispy silhouette of a little girl lurking around him. The ghost girl looked a couple of years older than his sister with straight blonde hair that reached halfway to her back and blue eyes the same shade as Wild's. Green ghost fires flickered around her as she hovered close to the Hero of the Wild, watching him finish dinner preparations with interest. Wild is entirely oblivious about her presence, ducking his head from Malon's compliments about his incredible cooking skills compared to the other Links. There was a slight tinge of red at the tips of the Champion's ears, and the ghost girl giggled at the hero's expense.

This is not Wind's first rodeo - as Twilight would say it - when it comes to ghosts. He can see, talk, and rarely interact with them. The little ghost girl that flitter around Wild is just one of the many spirits that the Sailor saw follow him around like a grand procession. While the souls around the Champion initially moved on gradually to the afterlife, Wind noticed a sudden decrease since the older man received his hero title. Barely a fourth remained, and more are leaving. Just before they jumped to Time's era, he watched ten of them – grown-up Hylians in shiny armors – pat Link on the back as if to say their goodbyes before dispersing into pinpricks of lights toward the sky.

Wind finds it sad that Wild cannot sense them. If these souls knew and cared about him when they were still alive, the Sailor is then sure it will help lift the Champion's spirits. Wild seemed down and alone, and Wind did not like that. He wanted him to be happy, really happy, as genuinely happy he is around Twilight. Maybe meeting and talking with the ghosts will help. Perhaps, even help recover the memories that Wild had forgotten.

Wind watched as Wild and Malon emerged out of the kitchen with bowls and plates of perhaps the biggest homemade feast that the Links have laid eyes on. He stood up from his chair to help prepare the table when he noticed the ghost girl trailing behind Wild. Her translucent arms were wrapped around his neck, and she was close enough for Wind to see the flowers embroidered on her sundress. For a moment, the Sailor stood frozen because the girl resembled Wild so much it was hard not to think they were related at all.

Then, their eyes locked together. Wind held his breath as the girl blinked at him with those blue eyes in surprise? Shock? Realization? The specter opened her mouth as if to say something when a loud sound jolted the Sailor back to Time's era. Wind's eyes flickered to Wild, who just snapped his fingers in front of his face to get the hero out of whatever trance he was in. Both he and Malon shared a look of concern that made the Hero of Winds uncomfortable.

"Wind, are you okay? You zoned out for a moment there."

"Y-Yeah. Just fine." The Sailor tried not to let his gaze drift back to the ghost girl that now had inched closer to him. "I…uhhh… I'm gonna call for the others. Be right back!"

"Wait, Wind –"

Wind did not hear what Wild was about to say. He was out through the door and to the paddock where most of the older heroes are. He took his time calling and fetching the rest of the Links because he was not ready to see the little girl who had probably already realized that one of them could see and speak to her freely. When they returned to the house, the phantom was gone, but at the same time, not. Wind knew she was still around like the rest of Wild's ghosts – invisible yet present. He did not know where the souls of the departed go when they are not milling around the living, yet have to move on to the afterlife, but he knew better to keep an eye out. They are spirits, after all, and dead. They could appear almost anywhere at any given time.

Dinner is a fun affair. It always is whenever they end up in Time's Hyrule. For the first time in a while, it was not Wind who started the round of storytelling. Instead, it was Warriors, who seemed keen to regal them with some interesting (lowkey embarrassing) stories of his time with the knights under him. He recalled when about ten disappeared right under his nose, only to find out that they fell into an old pit meant to trap big game.

"That wasn't the only one." Warriors was telling them. "There are tens of them in that forest. Many of my men nearly broke an ankle or two from tripping and falling into them. It took us nearly half a day just to get out of that Hylia-damned forest. Turns out it was an old royal hunting ground. Some poachers had made their base there, and we had to hunt them down." He smirked. "You know, like hunters going after their prey."

There was a collective groan from the dining table. Legend cupped his hands around his mouth. "Boo! You suck. Old Man's better than you at making jokes."

"Shush, Vet!" Warriors pointed out. "And it's not just any jokes. Time's making dad jokes. That's even worse!"

Time glared at him over his third plate of Prime Poultry Pilaf. Despite that, amusement crinkled at the edges of his eyes. "I'm not that old enough to be called your father, Captain."

"Father Time! Father Time!" Wind chanted.

Legend grinned. It is a grin that everyone knows well that will crack them into pieces. In a hilarious way. "Dad, could you please pass the salt?"

Four and Twilight nearly choked on their food, and Hyrule dropped his spoon. The others stared at the Veteran in utter disbelief as a sly smirk slowly crept its way on Warriors' lips. "Dad, could you buy me a sword? I want a shiny new sword."

And that was it. There was chaos on the dining table as the others joined in on the rare opportunity to poke fun at their de facto leader. Wind nearly toppled his chair backward as he stood up with an energy of a fourteen-year-old in a sugar high. "Daddddd! Teach me that sword move you used earlier."

"Dad," Four said, pretending to pick on the peas on his plate with his fork as blue-green swirled in his eyes. "I'm out of polish for my sword. Can you give me my weekly allowance so I can buy some?"

"Dad, sing me a lullaby tonight for sweet dreams." Sky requested with a soft smile. "I want goodnight kisses too."

"We need to restock potions." Hyrule inclined his head innocently. "Go to the town with me, Dad?"

"Dad," Time cast Twilight a wilting look that clearly says, Not you too. The Rancher simply shrugged and smirked. "Dad, won't you tell us the story of how you fought the moon?"

"Papa, let me borrow your Biggoron's Sword, please!"

Twilight threw an incredulous look at his protégé. "Papa?"

"What? You want me to call him Daddy?"

"Oh, goddesses! Cub, NO!"

"Father!"

"Dad!"

"Papa!"

"Alright, alright! That's enough, all of you." Time scolded, but the mirth in his eyes has not gone unnoticed by the other heroes. "Someone call me any of those three again, and I will have you handle the cuccos first thing in the morni-"

"…Daddy."

The ruckus paused abruptly, and nine pairs of eyes and a half turned to Malon, who had been watching the little merriment. She had a barely concealed smile on her lips as her husband gawked at her as he tried and failed to process what she just said. Then, like the screen of Wild's Sheikah Slate that was activated, the heroes broke into a fit of snorts and hysterical laughter.

"Oh, Hylia! She said it!"

"She broke him!"

"Way to go, Missus Malon!"

Time sighed and pouted at his wife as if she had gifted him with the biggest betrayal in Hyrule's history. Malon giggled at his husband's expense and patted him on the arm to appease him. The Hero of Time shook his head, his eyes conveying that he would have his revenge later and no one would be able to escape it.

Dinner ended on a high note, and Hyrule and Legend were left in the kitchen to wash the dishes. The others climbed upstairs to prepare for bed and divided themselves on who will occupy the two spare guest rooms in the house. Since the group's first arrival to Time's Hyrule, the rooms were reserved and furnished for the heroes to use every time they ended up in that era. Beds of good quality were purchased to replace the bedrolls, and fluffy pillows and blankets were stored inside the lone cabinet of each room. It was decided that Sky, Four, Hyrule, and Legend would take one room and the remaining four heroes the other. Time and Malon bid them goodnight before retreating to their shared bedroom.

Sleep came quickly to Wind, and when it did, he found himself submerged in a strange blue liquid that glowed against the darkness. Bloodied hands were wrapped around his neck, the crooked fingernails digging against his skin. He could not breathe and see who is strangling him, but he knew they wanted him dead. They are furious at him for taking up a role he was forced into and want him dead. He tried to struggle, to fight back, but he could not move, and his senses were failing and...

Wind's eyes snapped open. He jerkily sat up on his bed and gripped the front of his shirt. Nightmares are not the latest news to the heroes, and even Wind is not safe from them. However, compared to the other heroes, he is least likely to be subjected to their horrors. Most of them centered around his sister getting kidnapped or Ganon dying on his hands, but never drowning in a weird liquid and certainly not about someone choking him. He tried remembering anything similar in his journey, but he drew a blank. If that dream is not a part of his journey, it only means that...

A whimper shook the covered lump on the bed at his right. Wild was lying stiffly on his back, his form wracked in heaves and sobs as if he was struggling to breathe. That jarred Wind away from his own night terror, and he nearly made a beeline to wake the older hero. Nightmares are bad, and it is everyone's responsibility to rouse anyone inflicted with them at the first given opportunity. Warriors and Twilight slept like a log and did not even stir at the commotion, presumably exhausted from continuous portal-hopping and fighting they did the past month. The two even got poorly injured weeks ago, and it only makes sense that they have yet to recover completely. So, the responsibility of getting Wild out of his nightmare is on Wind's shoulders.

"Wild! Psst! Hey, Wild. Wake up!"

It did not take much for Wind to make Wild open his eyes and sit up on the bed in a cold sweat. The Champion is one of the light sleepers in the group and is always alert to signs of danger at any given moment. The group attributed it to him having the sharpest senses, with Twilight coming in second. Wind had enough space to duck in case the older hero accidentally attacked him. Four nearly stabbed Sky with a dagger just the other night when the latter woke him up from his night terror.

It was miraculous that Sky was awake enough during his watch - the Skyloftian has a terrifying record of falling asleep anywhere and anytime he wants. Once, he nearly fell into the sea in Wind's Hyrule when he decided to take a nap on the forward of Tetra's ship. It was a fortunate thing Nudge saw the lower half of his body hanging over the side and pulled Sky back to the deck before he ultimately fell to the water. That one instance was enough for the crew to assign someone in rotation to watch over him, much to the Chosen Hero's chagrin.

Wind could not see Wild's expression in the dark, but he could make out the rapid heaving of Wild's chest and the tight clench of his fists. He counted up to fifty, giving Wild time to orient himself before speaking. "Are you okay? You were having a nightmare there. I woke you up."

"I…" Wild rasped, nearly coughing at his attempt to answer. "Y-Yeah. I'm...fine. Thanks for waking me up."

The Sailor hummed thoughtfully as the other wiped the sweat off his brow and kicked the blanket clinging around his legs. Wild staggered out of bed, clumsily navigating around some squeaky floorboards that needed repair tomorrow. He grabbed the unlit candle on the drawer beside Twilight's headboard with shaky hands and stopped by the door, opening it just a sliver to let some light in from the hallway to the room.

"I'm… I'm going to grab water downstairs." The Champion whispered, just loud enough for Wind to hear but not rouse the sleeping heroes. "Do you want me to fetch you something to drink?"

"Nope. I'm okay." Wind answered, already climbing back to his bed. "I'm going back to sleep."

Wild did not have enough energy to give him a proper nod. "Alright…."

The youngest hero mumbled a quiet Come back soon before the Champion disappeared to the hallway and the door shut closed. He watched a smaller light flicker to life through the gap at the bottom of the door before it moved downstairs. The Sailor was about to drift back to sleep when he felt a light pressure above him, and a child's voice whispered.

"Hey…are you still awake?"

Wind's eyes snapped open, and he found himself face-to-face with the ghost girl stuck at Wild's side. "HYLIA! HOLY SHI-!"

"No cursing!" The girl reprimanded, cutting off the Sailor. "That's not a nice thing to say, you know. Papa said those are bad words. You shouldn't say them."

Wind covered his mouth with his hands to keep his screaming inside, lest he rouses the whole house. He did not know how he would explain that a ghost (or ghosts) lurking around Time and Malon's home just because they are here and that he can see and talk to them. He scrambled to sit up and found that the ghost girl was trying to copy him by settling down by his feet on the bed. He would have been fooled if only she was not hovering an inch above the mattress, never touching the cottony sheet.

"I knew you could see me!" The ghost girl chirped, clearly happy to be able to speak to the living. "I'll introduce myself. My name's Aryll. I'm Big Brother Link's…ummm Wild's sister."

Wind's shock from the ghost's sudden appearance left his system. Wild has a sister? And she has the same name as Aryll's? "I-I'm Link, err, Wind." He managed to choke out. "I'm your brother's friend."

The little girl, Aryll, giggled. "I know. I've been around before you guys found him." She tilted her head forward in a semblance of a bow. "Thank you for taking care of my brother."

"Ah! No. I-It's okay!" The Sailor waved his hands frantically. "He cooks yummy food for us and helps us in battle with his awesome archery skills. We should be the ones thanking him. If it weren't for him, we'd starve. Grandma and Missus Malon would be sad if they find out we're not eating well."

"Riiiiight? Big Brother is a great cook. No," Aryll opened her arms wide. "He's the greatest cook in all of Hyrule! He can even bake desserts! You should try his Fruitcake. It's the best!"

Wind smiled, finally letting the tension leave his shoulders. Wild's little sister seemed to be a kind soul with no ill will towards him or the others. It would not hurt to indulge her with proper contact in the living world. He leaned against the headboard of the bed as the questions he wanted to ask the ghost whirled in his mind. Most of them were not 'happy' ones. Suddenly, he felt nervous. "Ummm…is it…it okay if I ask how you…."

"How I died?"

Wind flinched at her bluntness. "Y-Yeah…."

Aryll tapped her chin as her face scrunched into a thought, seemingly oblivious at the discomfort of the hero. "Hmmm…I died because I was old. Like, really old and wrinkly and stuff. Didn't get sick. Just old. I just looked like this because I want to? I'm not really sure how that works."

"Oh. Is…is that so?" When the girl reconfirmed, Wind let out a sigh of relief. He was glad that Wild's sister at least lived her life and died a natural death. "How about your parents? Your mom and dad?"

"That's…I…uhhh…I never got to meet Mama when I'm still alive." Aryll admitted quietly. "Papa said that she died when she gave birth to me. Big Brother just really doesn't like talking about it. As for Papa…" Her form flickered as her small hands bunched the fabric of her ghostly sundress on her lap. "Papa died protecting Hyrule. He's out of the kingdom's army for a long time because he got badly hurt, but he still went to help when the king needed more people. I tried to stop him but he…."

"Sorry..." Wind wanted to hug her, but he knew he would just pass through her if he tried. He hoped his words could convey the actions he could not execute. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay!" A smile lit up on Aryll's face. "I got to see them again, anyway. I finally met Mama, and she's beautiful, you know. She's like a fairy! My brother and I got her hair and eyes." She crossed her arms and huffed. "Though, it's unfair that Big Brother is prettier than me. Did you know that he could dress up like a girl, and no one will notice he's actually a boy?"

The youngest hero looked at her as if she had grown an extra head. "Wait. What?"

Wild's sister nodded her head vigorously. "Yeah! I'm not joking. You know the Gerudo? He has to dress up like a uhhh…I think they call it a vai, you know, girl in Gerudo, to get inside their town. Everyone thinks he's one unless he changes clothes. It's unfair!"

Wind mentally added that as one of the things he wanted to ask Wild about. He wondered if Twilight knew something about it. He should try questioning (or interrogating) the Rancher later. It might not be easy, but it is something he could not just pass up.

"I also reunited with Papa." Aryll continued. "I gave him a mean scolding. He's scared of me, you know." She puffed her chest proudly. "I told him that it isn't nice of him to leave me alone. I was lonely for a long time. My brother hasn't woken up yet back then, and I can't visit 'cause I can't climb the Great Plateau. It's too tall, and there are scary monsters there."

The eight heroes are familiar with the Champion's story – that Wild died, was placed in stasis for one hundred years, and returned to the living world to defeat his version of Ganondorf. That was all they knew, anyway. Wild has yet to tell them the full details, and they could have prodded, but they respect each other's right to silence. If he did not want to say to them, they have no right to force him to, as long as it does not endanger the team.

Wind calls bullshit because he has told everyone almost the entirety of his journey, and it would not be fair if he is just the only one. He has yet to divulge the whole seeing and talking to ghosts business, but then again, would the others be comfortable if he told them dead people are stalking them every day? They probably would not, but what can he do? The ghosts have not done anything wrong, and it would be mean of them to get rid of them just because.

"You must be happy when Wild finally woke up."

"Yeah, I am! I'm glad Big Brother is alive with Princess Zelda. She's really nice if you get to know her. It's her dad who's the mean one." Then, Aryll frowned. "But you know, I'm sad that Big Brother doesn't remember. He doesn't remember me, Mama, and Papa. He also forgot our neighbors in the village too. And also, Papa's knights. They're nice people. Even though my brother beats them up during training, they never got angry. They're quite amazed at him. They said that he might become a captain of the royal knights like Papa was."

Noticing the troubled expression on Wind's face, the girl hastily added. "But he's remembering now! It may take a loooooong time, but I'm sure he will remember us." She looked down on her lap and wrung her hands together. "I just hope…he would also be okay."

Wind blinked at her. "What do you mean?"

"I…uhhh.." Aryll looked nervous. She glanced to the sides as if someone was watching them. "I really don't know, and I really shouldn't say but," She leaned in and whispered. "I think something is wrong with my brother. He's injured or something."

"Wait. WILD'S INJURED -!"

"Sshh!" The girl placed a finger on her lips and hushed the hero. "You're gonna wake the others, and they will get angry at you!"

Wind covered his mouth as he glanced at Twilight and Warriors. The Rancher shifted in his sleep, mumbling something about goats, while the Captain did not even twitch. They waited in bated breath, and when they were sure that the Sailor had not woken the two, the youngest hero turned back to Aryll and spoke in a low voice. "What do you mean Wild's injured?"

"Oh! Ummm…he isn't hurt like you think he is." Aryll frantically tried to pluck for the right words. "I think he doesn't recognize himself? Like he believes he isn't him, even though he really is him. His soul is wonky, I guess? I can't sense him him, but I know he's there."

The Sailor's eyebrows furrowed together. "I don't understand."

The girl shook her head solemnly. "Neither do I. I'm sorry." She met his gaze with a hopeful look. "Wind, can I…ummm...can I ask you a favor? Can you look after my brother like a little brother?"

"H-Huh?"

"I know you guys care for him," Aryll confessed. "But we never got a chance to see each other when he finally woke up. He can see ghosts, but he can't see me. He doesn't even remember me. Maybe…just maybe, you could do my part. I know I'm asking too much, but… I'm really worried about him. I hope that having someone like a little sibling would help him heal. His soul to heal. I don't know." She then hurriedly added. "Ah, of course! You can refuse. I won't get mad, I prom-"

"Okay." Wind nodded, his eyes alight with determination. "I'll do it, but not because you asked me to. Wild's like an older brother to me even though we haven't known each other for a long time. So, I'll do it." He placed a fist on his chest. "You can count on me!"

"R-Really?" Aryll's eyes lighted up in glee. "Oh, thank you, Wind! Thank you!" She rushed forward to hug the hero, but she stopped abruptly when she remembered she was a ghost. She threw him a sheepish smile when her ears perked up in a way the Sailor saw Wild's do. "Oh, Big Brother's coming back. I'll go for now. Let's talk some other time, 'kay?"

"Okay." Wind nodded and raised a hand with his fingers curled except his pinkie. "Pinkie promise?"

Aryll tried to hook hers around the Sailor's, but her digit simply phased through. Wind, however, did not mind. It is the thought that counts. "Little siblings pinkie promise!"

They giggled, and Aryll bid him a Good night and a See you later. Wind watched her ghostly silhouette flicker and fade into the air until there was nothing but space by his feet. He has a lot to unpack from that interaction, but he decided to set that aside for tomorrow. The Sailor laid down and pulled the covers over him just in time for the door to creak open, and Wild's near-silent footsteps shuffle inside. A small light washed the fabric of his blanket in orange and yellow as he felt a calloused hand press and brush his hair. Wind peered to the Champion's weary face, blinking against the harsh candlelight.

"Good night, Wild."

A fond smile slowly formed on Wild's lips, the exhaustion from his earlier nightmare momentarily forgotten. It is a smile that the Sailor imagined that the Champion would quietly grace his sister with. "Good night, Wind. Sweet dreams."

Ah, yes. Younger siblings tattling their older siblings' darkest secrets. I have more than enough experience of that.