…

Next day, Link was leading Amaterasu through Peak Province.

Here, snow was falling upon the snowy mountain Link was taking them.

Issun shivered.

"Even with all your fur Ammy, I'm still cold!" Issun complained as the wind blew. "Well, you should have brought a cloak with you!"

"Fine, I'm walking faster... "

While walking, Amaterasu thought of last night. And what Link had said.

Amaterasu stared ahead, to Link, who was now keeping his distance.

He had woken up very sore and grumpy, but Amaterasu could not blame him.

He was emotionally hurt and also very hurt from the battle with the giant Twilight being.

Basically Link ached, as his bandages still had marks of blood.

Link felt like this before, but he had to get at least one more night's rest to be fully battle ready once more.

Link had kept quiet all day besides simple directions of where they were headed.

Amateraus longed to make it up to Link of how she lied to him.

She wanted to explain herself in a way that would make him understand that she loved him.

However, she knew that was not possible. Instead, she chewed upon her lip in worry.

"... Why didn't you tell him?" Issun asked, clearly knowing she still felt bad for yesterday.

"I don't know!" She cried. Her ears fell as her small shoulders slumped. "I couldn't tell him! He'd leave!!! My one chance of being with him is gone!!"

"Ammy..."

Amaterasu looked down, pondering what to do.

Link soon sat upon a snowy hill. He remembered this hill.

It was one long downhill run towards the Peak Ruins, where a very friendly yeti couple lived.

"We're here Ammy." He said as he stood up.

"Peak Province... " Amaterasu stated as she stared at the snow-capped mountains.

"Yup." All Link agreed too, as he started to go down the hill, trying to once again create distance from her.

Link wanted Amaterasu, but his heart was still broken.

He loved her, but it would be best if they parted ways.

He watched her trot down the hill after him, she was catching up.

"I've decided." She suddenly told, as she skidded next to Link.

Link didn't look at her, but stared at the snow that fell.

"On what?" Link asked, feeling annoyed.

"That I would rather stay…." She admitted.

Link shook his head and tried to walk ahead.

What was that supposed to mean?! Link already knew she would rather stay.

Her sudden declaration annoyed him greatly. She should have been honest from the start, not now.

"But you can't, right?" Link asked with a cold tone.

"I'm sorry." She said as she followed him down the snowy mountainside. She stared at the ground with a sorrowful expression.

"Yeah, well, better you than me." Link mouthed.

As they kept walking, Amaterasu pressed on the issue.

"You're right." She admitted. "I do have a home to return to. I just... I don't want to lose you."

"Well, that just sucks doesn't it..." Link mouthed as they entered the woods. He did not want to be so rude, but he couldn't help it. He felt very betrayed.

Once again, Amaterasu lowered her head and tried again.

"I'm sorry." She apologized again. She felt pretty low.

"For what?"

"For……. getting you into this."

Link shook his head.

"Would have happened anyways." Link mumbled. Link signed. "Well, I'm sorry for that too."

Amaterasu looked up to see Link giving her a sad, but annoyed look.

"You're not serious..." She said in disbelief. "What are you sorry for?"

Link shrugged.

He wanted to say sorry for having feelings for her, but he was just being rude now so he decided against it.

"Nothing." He stated as he kept going forward. Amaterasu walked beside him awkwardly for a moment before catching up.

"You're weird…. ." She accused.

"Yep." He simply agreed as they continued to walk towards the Castle.

Link was happy they kept quiet.

Eventually they made it to the Peak Ruins, which happened to be a castle where a yeti couple lived.

Link opened the door and it creaked open.

Inside was a grand staircase that was broken.

They could hear a happy humming in the background, towards the kitchen.

"Welcome to the house of Yeta and Yeto!" A voice rang throughout the foyer.

"Yeta?" Amaterasu asked out loud, as she gazed up at a suit of fur strewn knight armor.

Link finally gained his first smile of the day.

"It's me Link!" He called as he started towards the kitchen.

Amateraus followed as Link opened the door.

In front of a large cooking pot were two friendly looking yetis.

"Ah! Link! What brought you over to our mountain?" Yeto asked. Yeto was large, and had nothing but a metal helmet.

Link sat and Amaterasu sat by him.

"Oh... Just needed to visit..." Link lied.

However it was then Yeto saw Link's condition.

"My goodness! You're hurt!" Yeta, Yeto's wife cried out. "I'll fix you right up!"

Yeta turned around and started pulling ingredients off of the walls.

"Great, now she's going to do something embarrassing and make us dinner?" Yeto explained with a confident smile as he leaned on the table towards Link.

Link and Amaterasu exchanged happy looks.

"We... could use a break..." Amaterasu agreed with a hint of glee.

As Yeta set up the cooking pot, Yeto turned to Link with a big yeti smile.

"Well now, it's been a long time Link! Where have you been?!" Yeto soon examined how Link was covered in bandages. "... Keeping busy I see..."

"Yeah, this guy sure has….. " Amaterasu added as she gestured towards Link.

"Alright let me take a look." Yeta stated as she turned on her heels and faced Link.

Link felt awkward when Yeta grabbed Link's cheek, embarrassing him.

She unbound his head bandage and saw that his temple had a vertical gash, over his eye.

She ripped off some roots that were covering the wound, then wrapped it up.

"Whoever tended to you took good care of you Link..." Yeta, not being completely dimwitted, gave a knowing wink to Amaterasu, who was the one who tended to Link.

Amaterasu smiled and wagged her tail.

"Now drink!" Yeta ordered as she shoved a bowl of soup in his paws.

Link did not hesitate, he accepted the sup she handed him and drained it.

Link had forgotten how great their soup was. It's taste soon returned to his tongue as he swallowed.

He felt warm instantly.

"Thank you so much..." Link stated as Yeta brought her paw to his brow. "I appreciate this."

Yeto handed Amateraus a bowl.

"And one for the lucky lady!" He chimed.

Amaterasu happily accepted her soup. She ate every single bite, finishing the bowl in record time.

"That was delicious." She complimented.

"Why don't you two stay the night?" Yeta asked as she returned both bowls to their original spot.

Link and Amaterasu happened to exchange glances, and they ended up smiling.

They turned back to Yeto and Yeta.

"That sounds wonderful." Link agreed.

"I'll put the spare bed back then." Yeta stated.

"That's great." Amaterasu agreed. "Thank you very much!"

They talked about other things after that.

Yeto mentioned how Link had saved Yeta for Yeto.

Link was nervous, for he was worried that Yeto was going to mention how he was a human, but thankfully he had not.

After the talk, Yeta was going to show Link and Amaterasu their rooms.

Yeto pulled Link aside when they entered the hallway, right back into the kitchen.

"Oh, what's up?" Link asked, surprised that Yeto had grabbed him.

"Pretty girl you got there..." Yeto complimented with a wink.

Link stumbled on his words.

"Oh. Um..." Link grew nervous. Yeto patted his head.

"Not gonna ask or tell." Yeto laughed. He soon walked off with a hum in his whistle.

Link slowly made it to their room. It was a small room with hay for warmth.

After Yeto and Yeta had gone to sleep, Amaterasu began to speak.

" Link, what did you think of Yeto and his wife?"

"They're nice, don't you think so?"

"Uh huh."

After their short words, the room grew silent.

Link set his head down.

He soon felt it was awkward to be in the same room as his ex.

Link still had feelings for her…..

…. But she was going to leave because she's a goddess... And never do anything but her duty, forever alone...

He looked around the room for something to entertain himself.

When there wasn't any, he stood up and tried to walk out, but Amaterasu stood up too.

She noticed his sadness and sorrow. It was obvious, but she kind of didn't want to say anything.

"You wanna go for a walk?" She asked, not knowing what else to say.

Link tilted his head.

"Yeah... And it's the stupidest thing..." Link looked down. "I'm debating if I want to go with or without you..."

Amaterasu instantly felt insulted and she frowned.

"Well why ask that?

"Because, it's stupid and you're the only reason why I'm debating about this..." Link stated.

"Well, I wouldn't go if I wasn't interested..."

Link rolled his eyes and turned to her

"You're only interested because I'm going..." Link mouthed. He nodded to their hay bed. "Otherwise, our goddess would sleep in the warmth!"

"Oh..."

Amaterasu blushed and sat back down.

"You can trust me." She reassured.

"How do you know that?" Link asked. Link turned and opened the door. "You already betrayed me once..."

Link went out the door.

"I'm still here aren't I?! " Amaterasu responded with a pleading stare as she ran out the door after him.

Link rolled his eyes and soon they both walked outside.

...

As they were walking, they saw Yeta and her husband outside. They were playing catch with a large bone.

They both realized they were hearing the bone as it dropped.

"Having fun?" Link had to ask with a smile.

"It's relaxing!" Yeta responded as she picked up the bone.

She then went to throw the bone, but caught it instead.

Yeto cleared his throat, probably to get her attention.

"Ah..." She relaxed and stopped.

Link signed as he walked up.

Being this close to boredom, and not wanting to deal with his feelings for Amaterasu, he focused on his main goal.

"Have you two seen anything major different? Like maybe a sudden increase in monsters?" Link asked, hoping for a clue to where a Light Orb vessel could be.

"Well, up in the mountains where we camp our village, there are always demons. Sometimes hyenas too." Yeto responded, stepping up, looking serious.

Link nodded. It was a perfect clue.

"Thanks. We will take a look tomorrow after we get our rest." Link declared.

"Sure thing boss!" Yeto responded by raising his large fist and knocking on his head a few times.

It was late into the night and Link couldn't sleep.

Link stood up, not waking Amaterasu, and left to go outside to be alone.

Outside, he took a deep breath, expelling all the air from his lungs.

He looked up at the sky, away from any bright lights. He felt a cool breeze.

It was nice for once, as he had forgot what it's like to be alone.

He thought about the friends he had made, the people he had met, and how they had all left him in some way.

Midna, for one, left him to fight another day.

He wondered what Midna would say about how Link wanted to love a wolf. She knew him the best...

He wondered what she would do….

"Oh. Morning Link." Issun suddenly spoke from within his fur.

"What are you-?!" Link had spat out as he stared at the spot he suspected Issun to be.

"Just a friendly flea."

"A friendly flea? Then why didn't you attack me last night? I thought all the fleas were wild and hungry!"

"You have a weird definition of being friendly."

Link ended up smiling.

He had gotten used to Issun and his weird banter.

Link soon looked back into the snow.

"What are you thinking about Link?" Issun asked. He must have seen how depressed he had been for the past couple of days.

Link's expression dimmers.

"Oh you know..." Link mumbled, unsure if he should spill his heart to the inch wandering artist.

"Well, you gotta talk to somebody sometime!"

"You're always talking..."

"It's true. Besides, I'm not going anywhere. Look, when was the last time you've eaten anything?"

Link laughed as he looked down, but it also made him sad. He felt guilty for being happy.

He wanted Amaterasu happy too.

Link looked at the sky as snow lightly dropped.

"Issun... Does Amaterasu... Really have to leave?" Link asked quietly.

"Hmm? Oh. Yes. I believe she does."

"Why?"

"Hmm, that's a long story."

Link grabbed the snow with his claws. He felt tears fill his eyes.

"... And I can't go, why?" Link asked in anger.

Issun laughed.

"Don't you get it? She's a goddess... You think she wants to be a wolf?! " Issun suddenly questioned. Link tensed up to that.

"What?"

"Amaterasu is in that form because it's the only form she can take on this plane... Otherwise she is only a spirit that remains to serve as a gear in a much larger plane!" Issun explained thoroughly

"So?"

"So... You'll have to ask her why she took that form when she was born again in this world."

"What? Wait... She was BORN again!?"

Issun laughed.

"Told you, long story. But in terms of ending the question, when she completes her goal... She will basically pass away and fulfill her goal to serve the sun..." Issun explained in a sad tone.

"So that's why..." Link said as he was saddened. "... Are you telling me she basically dies? Or like, becomes a ghost?"

"To make things easier, she doesn't want to always be bonded to her duty Link... I believe it's the reason why she came back in the first place... But she will have to go as soon as this task is complete…" Issun paused as the wind blew. " And yet she doesn't want to go... I imagine it's harder for her then both of us Link. " Issun explained further.

"We... We could try to help her..."

"How?"

Link shrugged.

"Is there no way to stop her from going?" Link asked, feeling desperate.

"Probably not, the only chance you have is to wait for her to complete her task. That's what I think is going to happen anyway... Though if you wanna try now, that's fine too."

Link laughed in denial.

"And what, let Akuma take over the world, killing Hyrule?." Link mumbled.

That's what would happen if Link decides to stop their quest. He hated how he couldn't be selfish for Amaterasu. He hated how he had no choice, except to let her do as she wished.

He wanted to be with her. He wanted to complete the quest as a team. That's why he wanted to ask her…

What did she want to do?

Link started to get cold and tired.

"Let's go back Inside."

Amaterasu and Link got up early the next morning.

They both knew it was time to try to look for a Light Orb in the camp, that was even further up the mountain.

It was cold again, but they didn't really have any choice, so they put their cloaks on.

Link's cloak was black to match his black fur, and Amaterasu's cloak was white to match her fur.

Yeto and Yeta had given them the cloaks.

As they both were walking up the mountain, Amaterasu asked a question.

"Are you okay?" Amaterasu asked Link.

"Huh?" Link replied as he was concentrating on finding the camp.

"I asked you if you were okay."

"Oh... Yeah... I'm fine."

Link felt Issun poke him within his fur.

Was he urging him on?

"I uh..." Link slowed down to her pace. Now they were close once again. "... I realized that...you don't want to... leave huh?" Link hinted.

"Yeah... Not really. I don't really have a choice though..." Ammy asked in a hopeful way. "...You can see that right?"

"Of course..." Link trailed in ponder of what to say next. He felt hope in his heart.

Amaterasu stopped walking.

This caused Link to stop as well, and he wondered what she was thinking.

"Amaterasu?" Link called, impatience.

"I don't want to leave... I really like you..." She said, looking right into his eyes.

Now this caught Link off guard, yet again.

Link felt his blush appear, and for the first time he felt dizzy.

Link happened to smile, but he tried to bite his smile away.

"... I don't want you to ever leave you know that?" Link admitted.

"But I will have to someday." She said, clearly resigned.

"Yeah, but... How long do you think that will be?"

"I don't know..."

Link soon slashed the claw in the snow.

"Damn it!" Link soon stepped so close to Ammy that they were nose to nose.

"... Is the world worth this?" He mumbled in his own prideful bliss. Both Amaterasu and Link were blushing.

"We'll find a way to be together... We always do." She whispered in a sweet way.

"You really want to find a way?" Link wondered as he tilted his head with a smile.

Amaterasu looked down. She quickly looked up.

"If we can, then definitely yes..."

Link smiled at this, as he didn't hide his blush.

"Then I promise... "

Link slowly hugged Amaterasu with one of his arms, and she embraced Link with her head. They felt each other's heartbeat.

"I'll fight whoever in order to keep you by me..." Link promised.

They finally walked into the camp.

It was a lot bigger than Link thought it would be.

In fact it seemed closer to a village rather than a camp.

The Twilight beings, sadly, were in plain sight.

Most of the demons were Twilight beings with a couple of exceptions……

As Link and Amaterasu had saw the Twilight beings in the distance, they had not seen two pairs of eyes in an alley.

Suddenly there was a rush of feet, and Link was suddenly tackled by four arms!

The two that tackled him were fairly muscled.

They both had horns, white fur, red eyes and red scales.

One was male, one was female.

Werewolves.

"Who the hell?!" Link cried as he managed to kick the male.

As the female lifted up Link's paw, the male wrapped his tail around him.

The male began to tightly choke the life out of him, as he continued to wrap tail around his body.

"Arck!" Link choked.

Then, in a flash of red, Amaterasu had shot the male with her reflector shield, which was set ablaze.

The male was smashed, causing him to roll backwards.

However the female carried on the attack.

The female lifted him up and slammed him into the snow.

She opened her mouth and a white mist came out.

She began freezing him with her frost breath

"W-Who are you?" Link murmured as he felt stuck and colder.

"Heheh..." She jumped back. Soon the male had jumped beside her.

"My name is Kalinda and my husband here is named Alba.." Kalinda revealed.

"You can talk?" Link asked.

"Of course!" She seemed offended as she frowned.

"Heh, you can talk...?" Alba seemed to reply.

However, right then, Alba dashed fast and kicked Link hard into a ruined building.

"Gak!" Link cried. Link pushed the boards off of him in panic.

"Why did you do that?" Link suddenly sensed someone behind him and he spun around.

"Because we could." She said walking past him.

Right then Kalinda went to smash Link, but he jumped and rolled out of the way.

"What's the matter? Can't find your feet?" He taunted, and Link, as he recoiled, jumped at Kalinda.

"You!" she hissed and bit at him, but he grabbed her horn and twisted it.

Link was able to slam her down and pin her.

"Let me go!"

Link soon looked up, but all he saw was a ball of fire smash him away from Kalinda.

He rolled away, but the blast caught him in the snow pile and melted it.

Then he heard laughters as he saw he was right in the middle of a demon horde.

Link got ready to battle as he stood, bearing his fangs, but soon Amaterasu appeared in a spin.

"Get away from him!" Amaterasu yelled out as she spun with her ink, power slashing all the Twilight beings around them.

It was a direct hit as all the beings were slashed in half.

Soon, the beings were destroyed.

Amaterasu and Link turned to the final two.

Alba and Kalinda.

"You can not win..." said Kalinda.

"So you keep saying..." replied Amaterasu, as she formed a ball of fire and hurled it at Kalinda.

Kalinda simply countered with a ball of ice.

"She means... You can not win even if you do... You lose anyways... Your love will shatter when Amaterasu has to leave..." Alba mocked.

"Shut up! No one asked for your opinion!" Amaterasu shouted as she sent a fire ball faster.

Kalinda hissed as she smashed a ball of ice, which absorbed the impact and sent Kalinda flying into the snow.

"You...!"

Link took this chance, and jumped at Alba.

Alba, the werewolf growled and pinned him down.

"Get off!" Link yelled as he kicked at the demon, but he was weak.

"Get off of him!" Amaterasu suddenly flew down and headbutted Alba from behind him.

This gave Link enough time to headbutt and kick at the demon's leg.

"Arrrr..." Alba screamed as Amaterasu burned his fur and flesh with her reflector.

Link stood, and they watched Alba land by Kalinda.

"You've failed." He hissed as he pulled out a dagger.

"You have..." Kalinda said weakly as she tried to stand.

"But not anymore!" Amaterasu yelled as she sent a powerful ink slash at the two werewolves.

Then they did something that threw off Link and Amaterasu. Kalinda went to cover Alba.

Kalinda was smashed by the ink, and she twisted into the air. She landed on the ground.

Alba coughed up blood as he stood to save his beloved. He stood by her.

"I'm sorry..." she said.

"No!" He said, grabbing her hand.

Link slowly felt guilty. He walked up to them.

"Why did you try to stop us?" Link had to ask.

"We are destined to be together, that is why." Kalinda explained.

"Even if that means one of us has to die?" Link asked.

"It isn't your fault. We're here ope the portal and escape this accursed world. We can't be together if we don't. "

Amaterasu walked to them.

"What portal?" She asked.

"The one to the Twilight realm. When two beings of pure heart hold hands, nothing can stop them from being together."

She looked at Link with one eye; her left was slightly burnt.

Link frowned.

"Did Akuma tell you if you killed us the portal would open?" Link asked.

"Yes."

Link looked down.

"He lied to you. The portal to the Twilight realm was destroyed by the Twilight princess... You can't go home." He explained

"We... We have to go back." She said.

Link shook his head.

"Sorry, but Akuma lied so you would kill us..." Link tried a different approach. "Do you know where the light orb vessel is?"

"Yes..." She said.

Luckily, it didn't take much convincing to let them lead them to the location.

The white werewolf led them to a large ship, like a pirate ship, the likes of which they had never seen.

"The light orb is in there?" Amaterasu asked.

"Yes." The werewolf said, opening a hatch.

They walked inside and found a room full of glowing orbs

"What is all this?" Amaterasu asked.

Link and Amaterasu looked around as the orbs floated around.

".. Hmm... Seems like their spirits..." When Link stepped forward, he saw it.

The Light orb they needed was on a decor stand. The orb was on a carving of an owl.

It was the same one from the Royal Palace, only much brighter. It seemed to be calling him. He didn't feel fear though.

Instead, curiosity.

Link grabbed it and as he had last time, he gave it to Amateraus, who happily grabbed it with her teeth.

She closed her eyes and gave a happy sigh.

"Let's go back ..." She said and ran out of the room, back to the entrance.

They walked outside and onto a mountain peak.

There they saw Alba and Kalinda, who wore bandages now, were there to meet them before they left.

Kalinda held her side, as it was aching.

"I see you found your orb... Maybe we misjudged you... Maybe we should of asked you two for help instead of listening to Akuma. I respect you for that." She said.

"You didn't misjudge. I didn't think he would lie about something like that." Link said.

Amaterasu soon stepped up and bowed.

"I'm sorry we had to fight..." Amaterasu apologized.

Kalinda and Alba bowed as well.

"No need. You two did not have the intent to kill us, even if we are from the realm of Twilight." Alba reassured.

"Well, now that the portal is closed, we have to find our way back home." Kalinda said.

"You can come with us, if you want." Amaterasu offered.

Alba shook his head.

"No need. We only wish you luck on finding the final three Light orbs." Kalinda explained.

They travelled the rest of the night, camped out and continued through the next day.

Night came once again, and they decided to camp out yet again.

Link rested by the fire, as he thought about many things.

Most of all was the fact how Amaterasu was going to have to leave after their quest was complete.

The problem was, now that they had two of the orbs, that didn't seem so far away.

The forest they were in was much warmer than the mountain, and Link was able to relax enough to think of his options.

And think of Amaterasu.

When Amaterasu first arrived, she was quiet and reserved.

After that, she was always giving him smiles and gentle words.

She gave him hope that he may not be alone in this world

Link gripped his paws into the dirt.

When they found the orbs, was Link really going to let her go?

Let her become a spirit just to serve the sun?

He didn't want to admit it, let alone think about it, but the ball was in his court now.

He heard a small whine and looked over.

Amaterasu had found a small ant on one of her paws.

Link giggled at her. He sat up and gave him a cocky glance.

"It's just an ant." He laughed as he wiped the small bug away from her. She frowned, but her face soon showed a smile, as she gently patted his hand.

"Just an ant." She repeated.

As an awkward silence appeared, Link felt his shyness hit a new peak.

He knew he still loved Amaterasu.

He didn't know why or how, but he felt drawn to her.

She fascinated him, made him feel happy, and inspired him in so many ways. He...

"...I'm sorry." Amaterasu suddenly said.

Link held her paw under his. He blushed.

"Don't be... We'll find a way... I promised you that..." Link promised again.

"I know..." Amaterasu cooed in a slow tone. She stared at him with moist eyes. He felt a little bad, but she soon put on a happy expression again.

Link smiled as well. Soon Link moved her paw to where they were paw to paw, and he brought their paws into the air. They were holding paws.

It was a moment that Link would never forget, and he didn't want it to end.

"Will you always be mine?" Link cooed sweetly.

Amaterasu closed her eyes and howled towards the sky.

The moon was bright, but the sun had already set.

After her sweet, and quick howl, she cuddled into Link.

"Forever and ever..."