notaname: IT WAS THREE SQUARES OF PAPER TOWELS! And it was for... uh... definitely NOT my own personal enjoyment. A shooting near you? That sucks. I think that the last shooting in my area was... actually, I'm not sure. We have gangs in this town, so... probably more shootings than I know about? Ah, yes, the Batman death scene... so sad. I didn't cry though - didn't cry through at all throughout Infinity War (almost at *Infinity Spoil Here* Spiderman's death *Infinity Spoil Here*). Same with Endgame, though it was pretty good. Almost cried during Detective Pikachu, though. I put what in? The Pewdiepie thing? I dunno. Eh, I haven't sold much stuff. My mom makes these AMAZING homemade cinnamon rolls, and she had me sell them for 25 cents each at our garage sale or something (my memory's a bit hazy). My mom makes... too many sugary sweets. Not that I mind, I get to eat cookies for breakfast! In my normal math class, I just kind of spend the whole class on homework because I already learned everything we're learning right now in my advanced one. Then, in my advanced class... the teacher is just really weird. He lets us work on it at the end of class and tells us we'll only get five minutes to work on it the next day, then gives us the freaking entire class period. Not that I mind that, either. It means I have more time to write instead of doing homework! Hey, you've heard the story before! They become all buddy-buddy later! OR DO THEY?! Maybe I did that summary to throw everyone off! Maybe this is an AU, and from this chapter on, the Calamity will destroy everyone! NO ONE KNOWS! Heh, just kidding, I do... and my cat, she can probably read minds. I READ A FIC ONCE WHERE THE WRITER SHIPPED SIDON AND PAYA, OKAY? It's not normal, but... apparently it's a thing? Hmm... that would be funny to write. I was thinking of writing a story about their kids, who get sent back in time by accident and decide to create an alternate timeline where Ganon was defeated as soon as he came. Huh, I didn't realize that about the tree stump! Interesting!

Have a wonderful week! Now, ONWARD, TO VICTORY!

Chapter 18: Resentment

"The princess is missing!"

"I heard she ran off after something she overheard the other maids talking about."

"I think that she's trying to get away from Sir Link."

"Why would she be doing that?"

I don't know, Link thought as he rushed past the maids, not even stopping to apologize, and towards the stables.

It was a lie, of course. Link knew. The princess hated him - looked down upon him with disdain. He had tried hard to hide his weakness, but it seemed the princess had seen through him as if he was transparent as glass.

And now… she thought that he was too weak to protect her.

"She's gone to Tabantha," Purah had explained breathlessly, still catching her breath from her quick run to the chambers. "Ancient Columns. We found a strange structure, and… well, she bolted for it. I'll take care of your cat while you're gone. Just… be careful."

Purah didn't usually speak so seriously. Despite being several years older than himself, she was a free spirit - a child until her death. For some strange reason, couldn't even imagine her as an old woman. Impa, though younger than Purah, acted like a grandma.

I'm getting side-tracked… again. Stay focused! The Y- any monster or assassin could be after the princess this very moment!

He shivered at the thought of going into battle against them again.

Stop it, Link! Focus! Get to the stables and ride harder than you ever have in your entire life!

Link drew in a calming breath, composed himself, and continued to the stables.

Purah was… nervous. Yes, nervous! The great Purah, known for her great optimism, was capable of fear too, you know! It was bound to come when the princess rushed off, putting not only herself in danger, but Link as well!

Zelda… though she thought Link was an arrogant butt-face, Purah knew just how wrong the girl was. The princess was rarely so wrong as to come to a conclusion opposite to the truth. After all, Link was quiet and humble, could definitely do with more confidence rather than less, and apparently he rescued kittens off of the side of the rode.

Purah stroked the kitten, avoiding the spot where the bandage on its side was speckled with blood. It was oddly soothing. The kitten, despite having lived on the streets, had such soft fur - clean, too. She didn't doubt that Link had cleaned it up - he was like that.

He was a lot like his mother. Purah looked up to that woman greatly. She was so kind and gentle… it wasn't fair that the kindest of people seemed to suffer the most. Link had by no means an ordinary childhood under his belt… yet he still managed to go on.

Purah sighed and scratched the kitten behind the ears, a rumbling purr coming from its throat. For once, Purah actually felt her age rather than someone ten years younger.

Hylia, protect them.

Zelda kicked the pedestal with a groan. So far, nothing. Nothing! She couldn't get into any of the inner systems of this strange shrine - whoever had made it had built it to keep people out, and they had done it well.

For the third time, she slid the slate across the pedestal. Of course, there was no reaction. She drew in a deep, calming breath.

"Nothing, once again," she voiced quietly. She turned her eyes up to the door, decorated by ancient Sheikah, which read like gibberish to her. "Hmm… perhaps this structure was actually designed to be exclusively accessed by the chosen one."

An annoyance rose within her. Of course the hero would be the one to be given opportunities that others should have. Of course the hero was given abilities that were denied others. After all, he was clearly the goddesses favorite out of the two of them.

Zelda drew in a deep breath to calm herself. He's not here. You escaped him. Hopefully he'll end up being punished properly for letting me slip by… though others might argue that he was on that "emergency leave."

"Designs can always be worked around," Zelda said hopefully to herself. "Probably. There must be a way to activate it, or even get inside…"

Then a neigh, accompanied by hoofbeats, reached her ears. She whirled around, only to see a familiar chestnut mare, her blue eyed master on her back.

Zelda felt her hands on the slate tighten as the knight leapt off his steed with ease, jogging towards the shrine and stopping just short of it by a few yards.

"I thought I made it clear that I am not in need of an escort," Zelda sneered as she stepped down from the shrine's platform. "It seems I truly am the only one with a mind of my own. I," she exaggerated a gesture towards herself, speaking deliberately, "the person in question, am fine - regardless of the king's orders."

Zelda stuck her nose in the air and strutted past the 'hero.' "Return to the castle, and tell that to my father, please."

She heard the slight, quiet pad of feet behind her. Breathing in a sharp breath, she turned on her heel. "And stop following me!" she shouted.

With that, she turned back around, went to mount her horse…

...and was thrown to the ground by the stubborn beast.

Link had been very, very relieved when he had found the princess perfectly unharmed (besides a few scrapes from her rearing horse, but she got up and proceeded to ride away as quickly as she could, seeming perfectly fine). It seemed, however, that he was not to be spared of her rage. He showed no sense of hurt at her actions.

But Fi could feel otherwise. Though it had been thousands of years since her connection to the hero had been forged, it remained precisely 97.91635 percent intact. Or so her calculations told her. Occasionally an error would occur during the calculation process, despite her meticulous programming and careful creation.

Her thoughts, or as Hylians commonly said, her "train of thought" was getting sidetracked, as would often happen to the hero's. She supposed it had something to do with their bond. But moving on… it was difficult for her master to hide anything from her. His prolonged silence merely made his thoughts race faster, something she could gain more information on than speech ever would.

Right now, as he trailed Princess Zelda at a safe distance, she could hear his thoughts clearly. "I'm not good enough. It was implied before, but now it's clear that the princess isn't just taking out her frustration on me. Her frustration is me."

A large percent of his thought process went along the lines of this. The moment the slightest confidence or peace began to grow, he crushed it and beat it back to the dark recesses of his mind. His self-esteem was not where it should be.

Fi knew that this was because of traumatic events in his past. Many of the hero's past incarnations had been forced into such trials by the divine. It was necessary, so that the hero would be strong enough to successfully combat evil, and willing to do whatever he must to right the wrongs that he had "created."

It was a cruel tactic, Fi had to admit. Though she had not been given a consciousness at the time, the original hero had gone through much suffering. Her databanks held accounts of years beaten and abused in the dungeons for a crime he never committed. Her Grace Hylia had told her, albeit a bit solemnly, that it was necessary to shape his spirit and test his soul to become unbreakable - or, as Hylia had said, "a sword hammered and honed so that it would never break."

Yet they continued to do so, time and time again. It seemed that to merely harden the soul once and simply reawaken the memories was not an option, though Fi could not understand why. Though... Her Grace had told Fi that she was not to reveal the true nature of the hero's spirit.

Perhaps the goddesses wished to keep those millenia of suffering from him. After all, with lifetimes of memories of demons and shadow, there wouldn't be the slightest chance for the hero to find peace - as temporary as it was. Memories would haunt his every step.

However, it mattered not what the goddesses thought. Fi was merely a sword and a servant to them, and though she sometimes had her doubts, the goddesses above knew what they were doing.

But… Fi felt the traumatizing experiences this time around had been a bit… much. In other past lives he had been merely bullied because of a lack of a fairy. This time he had been beaten and bruised, eternally physically and emotionally scarred by the experiences. He wasn't entirely in his right mind anymore. Occasionally she found him thinking-

"They should have chosen someone more qualified…"

And there it was. These thoughts would only continue to spiral downward. In approximately three seconds… one… two… thre-

"Maybe they were wrong. Maybe they realize that. They should just kill me now and choose another. There are plenty of others that can do better than me."

It was when he had begun to think about dying, and how the world would be "better off without him," that Fi knew that he needed help. Help from someone more experienced in the way of emotions. Though Fi felt emotions, hers were duller than those of the Land of Hylia. She felt sadness, yes, but never as crushing as this self doubt and… she supposed the proper term was "depression." Yes, Master Link had fallen into a "depressed" state.

"Master Link," she said quietly. He did not respond verbally, nor did he direct his thoughts at her. Instead, he slowed the gait of his steed to show that he was listening.

"I apologize for intruding on private matters, but I have noticed that you are not in a positive state of mind." What to say next? Perhaps a single question would yield more information than a full-on interrogation, whether she already knew the answer or not. "Why is this?"

There was a hesitation that shivered down the bond. "I don't know what you're talking about," he replied mentally. Fi could tell that this was partly the truth. He didn't want to admit to himself that he was falling apart. He didn't want to let her, or anyone else, know of his secret self-loathing.

"I would normally suggest that you seek assistance from one who is close and trusted," Fi said honestly, "but it seems that you are rather lacking in relationships in that category. I may be no expert on emotions, but as you are the only one who can hear me, the exception being Mistress Liari, it is safe to say that all you speak of to me will remain confidential."

"That's a… kind offer," Link replied mentally, a slight discomfort passing through their bond. "However, I don't think it will be necessary."

Fi merely released a small chime in response. She had not made much progress… and it would be much time before Master Link would recover completely.

Her mind whirred with plans to fix this. She would find a way. She had to.

No one expected that Fi POV, now, did they? To be honest, I didn't either.

Sorry for the delay! It's HERE! The note will be deleted by the time this is published, so if you didn't know why this was late, long story short, I had a very busy week last week. Hopefully this week will be on the calmer side... though there is a science report that I forgot to do that's due today, so who knows? Life can be crazy.

I think I got all the reviews... probably. If I didn't reply, don't take it personally - blame my cat or something, she was really needy this week. It won't be on purpose if I don't reply!

...I think that's everything. Have a great week! Hopefully there will be no delay on the next chapter!

Sincerely,

Ari~