notaname: Thank you for your patience! The suspense is killing you? Oh well. Good thing killing never killed anyone! ...Wait...

Chapter 25: Meetings and Mishaps

When Zelda reached the training field, it seemed nothing had changed, despite the long walk to reach it. The hero was training just as fiercely, currently wreaking havoc on what remained of a training dummy.

"Sir Link?"

She quickly found herself stumbling backwards, a blade pointed towards her. Her eyes grew wide.

There he was, Sir Link's eyes wild and wolf-like, narrowed at her. But the expression did not last, quickly becoming the normal neutral as he lowered his sword and bowed his head.

"My apologies, Princess," he said quietly. "You startled me."

"Raise your head, Sir Link," Zelda ordered. "I would like to speak eye to eye."

For reasons unknown to her, the knight hesitated. What would cause him to do so? He had looked her in the eye plenty of times. What made this time any different?

It was when he raised his head that she realized why.

Bruises marred his normally clear face. All were fresh, only just beginning to show.

"Hylia," she breathed. "What happened to you?"

"It's nothing, Your Highness," the knight said, bowing his head low, hiding his face from view once more. "You needn't worry about me."

"But I should," Zelda insisted. "You are my knight. Despite my… mistreatment of you before, I have all the reason to worry for your well-being. That is the whole reason you've had time off. Can you, at the very least, tell me what happened to you?"

"I'm afraid that would be impossible, Princess," the knight said, shaking his head. "You have nothing to worry about."

Zelda sighed. "Come with me, then. You need to be healed. After that, you must answer all of my questions honestly."

There was a hesitant sort of silence that came from the knight, but he eventually nodded.

"As you wish, Your Highness," he said simply, as solemn as a man marching to his grave.

Link drew in as deep a breath as he could without drawing the princess's attention to him. He forced himself to ignore the pain that flared through his ribs with each rise and fall of his chest, instead remaining as blank and calm as he could.

Must've cracked them, he guessed, wincing inwardly. He prayed to Hylia that he would be able to keep up his act. I have to remain silent. I have to remain strong.

If only he wasn't so foolish! If he hadn't let the captain's words get to him, he would've gone back to his room in the barracks and cleaned himself up, expertly hiding his injuries, like he always did. But he got too angry. The rationality of his thinking had gone down the drain, and he had found himself trudging towards the training yard instead.

I'm such a fool! Fool… he seemed to be using that word to describe himself a lot lately. Maybe if I didn't keep doing foolish things, I wouldn't be using it. But it was getting awfully repetitive. He needed some different words. Idiot, maybe? I suppose I've been pretty idiotic. Moron works, too.

Why in Hylia's name was he chosen to wield the Master Sword? He was stupid! Maybe if he followed orders like he was supposed to, it would be fine. He never would've been injured in the first place. Why did I think it was a good idea to research anything? I'm just a weapon.

Weapon. That was all he really was. He was supposed to be silent and cold as steel! He was supposed to be a merciless tool for killing! He had been trained from a young age in the way of combat. It was the only thing he was good for. Why had he thought any different? What was he doing when he snuck away to the kitchen late at night? What was he really doing when he turned to books for answers?

I'm in denial, he realized. Though I know I'm nothing but a soldier, no more than a killer, my subconscious doesn't want to admit it. So I've been making up excuses.

"Excuses get you nowhere!" the captain had scolded him years before. "The fact of the matter is that you still snuck down here. Cooking is for the servants. As a squire, your only task is to train! That's all I've asked of you, and you failed!"

Link breathed in deeply, his side sending waves of fire through him. I'm a disobedient, useless soldier who has never done anything useful in my whole life.

But you saved the princess, something in him whispered. That has to count for something, right?

He quickly squashed down that thought and realized he had stopped moving. He quickly jumped back into motion and caught up to the princess, who had made it halfway down the hallway without him.

The only reason the princess's life had been in danger in the first place was because he wasn't doing his job. He had let down his guard… he had almost been too late.

He was worthless.

"I have calculated that there is a 96 percent chance that this line of thinking could prove to be destructive towards your mental health," Fi said.

It doesn't matter, Link replied, holding his head high as he followed the princess, ignoring the stares he received. He didn't need a mirror to tell that he looked like crap. My own well-being is irrelevant. If there's a choice is between my health and success in the battle against the Calamity, I will gladly sacrifice it. He carefully blocked Fi from the last thought: I deserve it.

An emotion that was not his own brushed the back of his mind, but it disappeared as quickly as it had come.

"If you deem it necessary, Master Link," Fi replied emotionlessly. "My suggestions are merely that. I am here to guide, not to make decisions for you."

I-

"Sir Link," came a voice up ahead, pulling him out of his stupor. "Are you alright? You stopped walking…"

Link blinked, noticing that the princess had, once again, gotten halfway down the hallway without him. He had stopped again, and this time she had noticed.

"My apologies, Your Highness," he said quietly, keeping his voice emotionless. "I was merely distracted."

The princess gave him a suspicious look, but turned anyway and continued down the corridor, Link jogging to catch up behind her.

Liari yawned as she made her way out of the lab. After the princess had left in a hurry, Purah had decided against continuing research, instead opting to take a break for the rest of the day.

Liari stretched her arms, relieved as the stiff joints popped. She was starting to have second thoughts about being Purah's apprentice. Sheikah technology, though interesting to her, was complicated - so much so that she barely managed to grasp the concepts Purah drowned her in. But it wasn't like there was any other occupation for her to consider - she was no Sheikah warrior, so Sheikah scholar/scientist it was.

If only I could be something else. But nothing in life was that simple. As a Sheikah, especially as an apprentice of Impa, she had to go into a "noble" Sheikah occupation. She had other options, of course, but none she was particularly fond of. Besides… she could help Link this way.

Liari wondered if this was how Link felt when the sword chose him - or even before that, when he had been forced into swordsmanship. He had never been fond of shedding blood, but it seemed that his fate had other plans. Unlike herself, her friend, practically her brother, had no choice in the matter - it was fight or die.

Liari felt a bit guilty. While she grumbled, groaned, and complained about what she should do with her life, Link had been forced into a destiny that didn't match his personality. He wasn't a weapon!

That phrase… she recalled using it once, years before. Link had announced his desire to become a squire at the castle and, later that night, she had confronted him. She could remember his voice like it was yesterday.

"Why are you so against this? Everyone will be... safer this way."

"I don't want you to leave me alone here! That, and… you're not a weapon. Fighting isn't who you are!"

Liari sighed. If Link had never become a squire, he would never even seen the Master Sword. Instead, the sword would've chosen another that was more suitable for the task. Her dear friend would've never put up his walls again. Those thick, impenetrable, miserable walls.

That sword. Liari's fists clenched against her will. That stupid sword! The one whose voice she had heard, as emotionless as Link's mask. If that sword had chosen someone else - anyone else, really - it would all be better! She would have her fun-loving brother in all but blood, rather than the stoic knight that had replaced him. If only...

"Excuse me, but are you Mistress Liari?"

Liari jumped with a small cry of surprise, quickly turning towards the voice.

There stood a Sheikah, though he was not familiar to her. His way of dress made her assume him to be one of the Royal scholars, what with his dark blue robes that hung over his shoulders, trimmed in silver. Something in his crimson eyes was a bit unsettling, but the softness of his facial features contrasted it.

"My apologies," he chuckled smoothly. "I didn't mean to startle you. You are Mistress Liari, yes?"

"I-uh…" Liari cleared her throat. "Yes, I am. And you would be...?"

"I am Vald," the Sheikah said with a polite bow. "I am a scholar researching Hyrulean architecture." He stood back up and offered his hand.

Liari shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Vald," she said. "What is it you were seeking me out for?"

"I wanted to meet Dame Impa's famed apprentice, of course!" Vald replied excitedly. "I'm told you are quite rebellious, and that impresses me. Who dares skip lessons from Dame Impa?"

Liari blushed, embarrassed that she was known for that in particular. "I'm not really her apprentice anymore," she explained slowly." I've been spending too much time in the lab with Mistress Purah."

"Ah," Vald said, nodding. "So you are going into ancient technology?"

Liari nodded. "It seems that way. No other subjects have interested me as much." That, of course, was not the whole truth.

"Ah," Vald said, nodding. "I understand. I couldn't imagine researching anything other than architecture. You must have a great passion for the ancient science!"

"Uh… I guess you could say that," Liari lied once again. It's where I'll be the most helpful, she told herself. And, despite her confusion regarding ancient technology, it certainly was an interesting topic. One that she would, eventually, manage to understand.

"Well, Mistress Liari," Vald said, straightening up and folding his hands behind his back. "I expect you have things to do. Perhaps we could do a knowledge trade? I could tell you about a Zonai ruin I found, in exchange for some inside information on ancient technology?"

"I don't see why not," Liari replied a bit awkwardly. She had never been good at this formal speaking thing.

"Then fare thee well! Till we meet again," Vald said eloquently, dipping his head in a traditional Sheikah parting. "I look forward to speaking with you again!"

Liari repeated the gesture, bowing her own head before straightening. "And you as well."

And so they both continued on their way. But Liari couldn't help but notice the feeling of foreboding that rose within her.

I am REALLY sorry for all the delays I've had lately. Hopefully that will not happen again for awhile. I am currently almost a chapter ahead of schedule in writing, SO we shouldn't have to worry about it next week. You're welcome.

You may have noticed the MANY changes to the cover of this story. If you haven't... it has changed at LEAST three times. This is because I have been doing a ton of art lately (totally not procrastinating on writing or anything). Because of this, I have like, fifty pictures for the cover (slight exaggeration, but whatever). And I keep drawing MORE. Hopefully I will be able to make up my mind soon? Hopefully?

Apparently the week delay of a chapter was not necessary (don't kill me) because I was back on schedule by Tuesday. But I didn't want to mess up the update schedule, so... sorry. BUT, in that free time, I managed to plan a prequel for Before. The rough plot, anyway (which is absolutely AMAZING, because I'm a very spontaneous writer most of the time). So... yeah. It's basically (without spoiling for Before) about Link's backstory, but I don't think ANY of it will be from his point of view. That's all I'll say for now. I'll probably do some more detailed planning before I begin writing it.

Once again, thank you for all of the reviewers! Believe it or not, the rewrite has nearly the same amount of reviews as the original (having 150 while the old had 152), but get this - it is eleven chapters SHORTER so far! That's amazing! I'd also like to thank all of my silent supporters out there (I think only ten or eleven people total have reviewed, and there are 78 people following) who've stuck with me since the beginning of this wild ride. If you've only recently joined the world of Before, then I will welcome you to this chaos with open arms! I hope you enjoy the story!

And that's all, I guess. I'm sorry if I haven't replied to your review - if I failed to do so, I will blame my tendency to be scatterbrained. I will do my best to reply to all reviews from now on!

Sincerely (PeRhApS),

Ari~