A/N: This chapter was revised as of 9/3/2020 - Polished, minor errors and typos fixed.


When Heroes Fall

By: Selphie Kinneas 175

Chapter 23: Sunset

.:.

Midna woke to the warmth of fire and good company by her side. She blinked dazedly at her surroundings and landed upon the face of her hero. The nightmares of frozen tundras melted away somewhere between his blue eyes and his crooked smile.

"Feel better?" she heard him ask, but his voice sounded no better than she felt.

She grumbled, "I guess."

She moved to sit up and it started coming back to her. The mountain, the blizzard, the avalanche. She had nearly lost Link.

Shock flashed across her face, "Dummy! I should be asking you if you feel better."

Link chuckled, "I'm fine."

She wanted to smack him for his typical, annoying response. The sound of clanking pots and pans in the room adjacent stopped her. She turned to Link in confusion, eager to ask at least a million questions. The boisterous yeti flying through the door didn't give her the chance.

"Small human awake, uh!" Yeto yelled.

Yeta peeked out from behind him, "Uh, but lips still blue..."

"Come! Have Yeto's soup! It warm you right up, uh!"

Without awaiting a reply, the yeti couple ducked back into the kitchen. Midna looked at Link who was smiling at the display.

"Yeto's soup?" Midna asked with a cocked brow, instantly recalling memories of the last time they were here.

Link nodded, "It's actually quite good."

Midna laughed in the silence that ensued before taking on a serious expression, "How long have you been up?"

Link shook his head, "Not long."

She looked around at the room they occupied. She lay upon a soft sofa, the same one she remembered Link waking up in years ago. Multiple thick blankets lay atop her, and Link sat on the floor beside her, his own armor of quilts draped over his shoulders. The fireplace across from them warmed the entire freezing atmosphere. She closed her eyes and the images of what happened flooded back to her much like the snow had flooded over them. She had been so terrified. There were so many times over the course of her life that she'd thought she had lost Link; this time somehow felt so much more real. She thought, perhaps, because it would have been entirely her own fault.

"What is it?" his voice forced her eyes open.

She looked at him, really taking in his appearance now that her grogginess started to fade away. He was pale, bruised, and had bags of exhaustion rooted firmly beneath his eyes, but he was otherwise... just fine. It irritated her how well he took everything. How much of a beating he could take and simply bounce back. How he could be so close to the brink, but looking at him you would never know it. She had not nearly died, yet somehow, she was the one lying down being fretted over. While it irritated her, it also calmed her to know she really didn't need to worry about him much – he really had learned how to survive in their years apart, even more so than he already did in their years together.

She shook her head and sat up further, "Nothing. Just trying to wake up."

He saw through her lie and looked at her with sincerity, "Hey, we're okay. We made it. We're safe."

She stared at him. She felt as though his deep eyes could see right through her, read her thoughts, feel her heart. She glanced away at the discomfort, but her gaze always returned to his.

"I know," she started, "I... I was just scared, okay? But I know we're fine, so I'm fine."

"There's nothing wrong with being scared. You of all people should know that."

She furrowed her brow, "Why me of all people?"

"Midna," Link chuckled, "You've seen me lose my cool. You've seen me get scared out of my mind. Have you ever thought less of me for being scared?"

Midna scoffed, "No, but that's different."

"It's not," Link stood up, "And we're not going to argue it, either."

At first, his serious expression made her angry. Then he smirked, and she couldn't help but laugh with him. He removed the blankets draped over his shoulders and placed them neatly on the sofa.

He extended a hand towards Midna, "Let's go get some food. Yeto's never been the patient type."

Midna did not take his hand, her guilt was too heavy to carry on her own. She stared at him a moment before uttering, "Hey... I'm sorry about-"

"Humans!" Yeto burst through the door like a madman, "Come!" and he was gone just as quickly.

Link and Midna exchanged flustered looks. She then grabbed his hand and rose to meet him before turning for the door.

"What were you going to say?" Link asked.

She shook her head, "It can wait," and she entered the kitchen before he could protest.

The inviting smell of cooked vegetables and steaming broth greeted them like shelter in a storm. Midna breathed it in deep before beholding the sight in front of her.

Yeto and Yeta were two such creatures she could never forget. Yeto, with his boisterous, brash attempts at being a gracious host, and Yeta, with her quiet, reserved... Midna didn't know. Most of what she recalled of the beast-man's wife was her possessed state, the one that threatened her hero. She would be lying if she said she completely trusted this yeti – she just could not get the image of her red-eyed, sharp-fanged face out of her mind.

But there was someone else there she had not seen before.

"Humans!" Yeto bellowed, "Come, come! Sit, uh! Eat!"

The biggest yeti pulled out two chairs at the table and plopped down two bowls the size of his guests' heads before them. Link and Midna both sat with anxious smiles.

"I've already had quite enough, Yeto, thank you," Link said, pushing the bowl toward his host.

Yeto only beamed wider, "Human have more! It make you strong, uh! Eat!"

Link grimaced but he hid it with a nod and brought the bowl closer.

"Who is the little one?" Midna asked before bringing the first delicious spoonful to her lips.

One much smaller beast sat in a makeshift highchair crudely made of wood. The tiny yeti looked just like a miniature version of both bigger ones combined, massive grin and all.

Yeta smiled, "This our little Yety, uh..."

Midna glanced at Link, "Um, 'yeti,' like, as in, 'yeti'?"

"Uh, not like 'yeti!'" Yeto yelled.

"It 'Yety' with 'y,' uh."

Midna nearly choked on her soup as she struggled not to laugh.

She whispered to Link, "I didn't know they could spell."

Link kicked her under the table.

Yety giggled and cooed and Link couldn't help but smile.

"Uh! She like you!" Yeto grinned and smacked Link on the back.

Midna laughed to herself and continued eating.

"She's very cute," Link said.

"She Yeto's whole world!" the father yeti declared proudly, "Yeto nothing without Yeta and Yety. That why Yeto defend home against bad humans, uh. Yeto let nothing bad happen to family."

"You so sweet, uh..." Yeta smiled.

The two embraced, but Link did not want to drag out his stay.

"That actually brings me to why I've come to visit you."

Yeto turned to him with a grin, "Humans come to snows to slide, uh! Yeto not seen tiny humans in many, many sunrises! I been practicing, uh. Whole family can slide! Yeto put Yety on head and we fly down mountain so fast, uh!" Yeto stuck his arms out wide and ran a circle around the room. Yety laughed and clapped her hands.

Midna frowned, looking at Link in sadness.

Link cleared his throat, "No, I'm sorry, there are more serious matters at hand."

Yeto's smile diminished, "Uh. This about bad humans."

Link nodded, "Yes."

"Bad humans hurt you, uh..." Yeta said, staring at Link's bruised purple and black eye.

"What?" Link didn't immediately know what she meant. He glanced at Midna who pointed at her own eye. "Oh, this," Link touched his eye and was shocked to feel how swollen it was – he had forgotten about it entirely, "No, this wasn't from them."

"Monster got you, uh?" Yeto asked.

Link squirmed under the discomfort, "No, this was from... a friend."

Yeto and Yeta looked at each other in confusion.

"Friend, uh... hit you in face?" Yeto cocked his brow.

"Um, yes."

"Humans strange, uh..." Yeta said.

Link shook his head, disregarding the subject entirely, "I've come to ask you for a favor, Yeto."

"Human save wife. Human save home. Yeto help human with anything."

"Help me take down the evil king who has usurped Hyrule. It is because of him that your mountain was under attack. King Viscen gave the order."

Yeto sat down with a serious expression, "Uh... King... Viscen... bad human?"

"Yes," Link nodded. Midna watched the conversation intently, fearing he would decline just as King Ralis had.

"Bad humans, uh... threaten home?"

"Yes. They threaten all of Hyrule. No one would be safe from his rule."

Yeto glanced at his wife who looked afraid, then at his baby who looked carefree, then at Link who looked determined, and he knew his answer.

"Yeto will help."

Link's shock was evident, "You will?"

Yeto nodded, "Uh. Yeto said... Human save wife. Human save home. Yeto help human with anything. Yeto mean what he say."

Link smiled and so did Midna at his side.

"Yeto not warrior, but Yeto can defend. If it mean defending family, defending home... Yeto can be warrior, too."

Link stood from the table, "Thank you, Yeto."

Yeto tightened the saddle atop his head and stood to meet him, "Uh! Yeto ready!"

Link chuckled and shook his head, "Not yet, we still need time to gather help. Three weeks from now we'll all meet in Kakariko Village."

"Kaka... uh..." Yeto looked to Yeta for clarification, but she shrugged in the same confusion.

Link thought for a second, "I'm sure you've seen the fiery mountain opposite of yours, right?"

"Yes, uh," Yeto nodded, "Fire mountain not nearly as nice as snow mountain."

"Be at the village at the base of that mountain in twenty-one sunrises."

"Twenty-one sunrises, uh..." Yeto contemplated before a look of determination came over him, "Uh! Yes, uh! Yeto will be at the fire mountain in twenty-one sunrises to help small green human who save wife."

Link nodded, "Thank you again. We'll be on our way then."

He turned for the door but Yeto was quick to block his exit, "Uh! Humans not go anywhere tonight! Snows still upset, uh. Snows bury tiny humans. Yeto not be able to find tiny humans again, uh."

Link sighed and looked out the window. The sun was setting and the snow still whipped loudly against the house. He caught eyes with Midna who shrugged.

"Uh, humans stay here tonight," Yeta said with a smile, "We keep humans safe and warm by fire, uh."

Link forced a smile. He was grateful but he hated the waste of time, "We appreciate your hospitality. I hope you wouldn't mind if I retired for the evening?"

Yeta's smile faded. Yeto replied, "Uh, yes... Humans sleep by fire to stay warm."

Link nodded his thanks and took his leave. Midna sat awkwardly finishing her soup.

Yeto didn't allow the silence to linger for long, "Small green human not like snows, uh? Not like house? Uh, maybe not like soup..."

Midna wiped her face and cleared her throat, "It's not that. He just worries that he won't have enough time. He tends to be harder on himself than he should be."

"Uh..." Yeto nodded slowly, trying to understand, "That sound like Yeto, uh. Yeto try to make perfect soup. Perfect amount of fish. Perfect amount of pumpkin. Perfect amount of cheese. But, uh, perfect never perfect for Yeto. Yeta and Yety love soup, uh!" Yeto grinned widely and his family reciprocated, it made Midna's heart warm, "Uh uh uh! They say it perfect every time! Uh, but, never perfect enough for Yeto. Yeto never satisfied. Little human sound like Yeto."

Midna pursed her lips and thought on it. She had always taken the yeti family as nothing but beasts, but they had insights of their own, things they could open her eyes on, perspectives she had not considered before. Midna smiled to herself – the saddle-wearing beast-man put it so simply, so easily.

Midna pushed her empty bowl aside, "Thank you for feeding us. The soup was perfect."

Yeto beamed, "Uh! Yes, uh! Sleep good, little human!"

Midna bowed her head in thanks and dismissed herself.

She entered the main sitting room of the yeti's mansion and saw Link in front of the fireplace. He sat with his legs crossed beneath him, an elbow on each knee, and his chin rested softly on the tops of laced fingers. Eyes closed, the orange glow adorned his tired face. Always tired. It was the one adjective that fit him no matter the time or place. He always looked so internally exhausted, as if his spirit was constantly fighting. Midna supposed it likely was.

Midna grabbed the thick quilts from the back of the sofa and draped them over Link's shoulders. He straightened up and looked at her with a smile.

"Figured you were probably still cold," Midna said.

"A little," Link replied before scooting over a bit, "I'm sure you are, too."

Link motioned for her to sit by him before the fire and she took it with the coy reply, "A little."

For a moment they sat with no words. They could hear the yeti family laughing and enjoying themselves in the room over, and they shared a happy chuckle at the sound. Link, however, always went right back to looking somber. The temporary smiles he showed were always just that – they never lingered long, not like they used to.

"The offer still stands for you to open up and talk whenever you want," Midna broke the silence.

He did not look at her, "I know."

She stared at him. The silence begged him to speak, but he ignored it. She could tell he was not willing to open up yet, so she changed the subject.

"Twice now this mountain has tried to kill you," she said with a sigh, "What I was trying to say before was... I'm sorry I let you down."

He turned to her with a furrowed brow, "Let me down? You could never let me down."

"I couldn't keep up my magic. I couldn't protect you," she scoffed, "I almost got you killed."

"Midna," Link said, facing her fully, "If it weren't for you, we would be dead. We would've been buried long before Yeto ever learned it was us. You saved us."

"No, you would've figured out some other way to save us like you always do."

He shook his head, "I was powerless there. I'm powerless more times than you think I am. I don't always know how to save us."

"Yes, you do. Now you're just being annoyingly modest."

He turned back to the fire, "Whatever you think of my ability doesn't matter. You saved us on the mountain. That's what matters."

Midna watched him turn away and retreat inward once again. There was no getting to him right now, no scratching beneath the surface. She got up, went over to the couch, lay down, and fell asleep. Link heard her in the back of his mind. He wanted to reach out to her and tell her he wanted to talk, that it was just too difficult, but he couldn't. His jaw was welded shut, his throat constricted, his voice had a mind of its own. Everything only seemed to pile on higher and higher, and it was all so much stronger than him. He heard her breathing even out as she at last dozed off, and eventually sleep took him just the same.

Morning came quickly as sleep was sparse for the both of them. The smell of breakfast at sunrise awakened their senses, but Midna ignored it. She also ignored the sound of Link getting up and strapping on his effects. She knew he was eager to get on his way, but she was only eager to pretend everything was easier than it really was. Why was this their fate? To never rest, to always be amidst some greater turmoil? She lay on the worn cushions and did naught but stare up at the ceiling for some time. At last Yeto's blustery entrance snapped her out of it.

"Humans have breakfast before they leave, uh!" Yeto shouted happily, holding a steaming bowl in his monstrous hands.

Link forced a smile but shook his head, "Thank you, but no need-"

"Yeto not take no for answer," the beast-man looked downright resolute.

Link stared at him a moment before giving in, "Alright, Yeto. Thank you."

The yeti instantly transformed from beet-red and livid to lively with a broad grin. Link went to follow him, but Midna caught his attention.

"It hurts his feelings when you refuse to eat," she said, thinking of what Yeto had told her last night.

Link furrowed his brow, "Since when do you care about his feelings?"

Midna rolled her eyes, "Can you not be childish today, please?"

"Me? Really?" Link looked at her in disbelief.

She placed her hands on her hips and gave him an annoyed face. It shut him up with a reluctant huff.

Midna entered the warm kitchen and Link followed behind her. She smiled to the yeti family and took a seat at the table.

"Come! Have Yeto's breakfast soup!" Yeto exclaimed.

Midna cocked a brow, "Is it always soup?"

"Don't hurt his feelings, Midna," Link said sarcastically.

Midna shot him a glare.

Yeto gave a full-belly laugh, "Yeta favorite food soup, so Yeto make soup!"

Link began eating without another word, and Midna soon followed suit. The yeti family chatted happily with each other, often trying to engage their guests in conversation as well. Midna was far too in her own mind to give more than a smile and a nod, and she could tell Link felt the same.

To tell the truth, she was dreading continuing this venture. She did not want to reopen old wounds, feel all the pain she'd buried all over again. She did not want to get close to her hero again, after teaching herself for so long how to forget him. But her other option was no better. She did not want to go home, either. Home had not been a comforting place since Zant usurped the throne. Even after their success in defeating him, when the rightful ruler again took power, it was not where she wanted to be. It was where she needed to be, so it was where she was, but she had no desire to be there. Going back now was what she needed to do, but she had no desire to return. So, she stayed with Link, though staying with Link felt like being perpetually held in limbo. It felt like being dangled by an imaginary force over a void of nothing. At any moment you could be dropped by the invisible hands that kept you from your doom and you would be lost to all you knew. At the same time, you could be held there, suspended, no change to be made for good or ill, no hellish descent yet no heavenly release either. The last option, for the suffering to end and the hands of those greater than her to at last allow her peace and happiness in this life so devoid of it... she wished that most of all.

In the midst of her rambling thoughts she didn't notice Link get up from the table and thank his hosts. She mimicked his actions and bowed her thanks as well.

"No need, little humans!" Yeto said with a grin as he also got to his feet, "Now, Yeto will escort the small humans down the mountain, uh."

"That's alright-" Link tried, but Midna interrupted and stood before him.

"We would appreciate that, Yeto! Thank you."

Yeto smiled, gave Yeta a kiss, and ran for the door.

"Come, uh! The leaves are best at sunrise!" Yeto beckoned.

Midna looked at Link in confusion, "What does that mean?"

Link shrugged, "You're the one who accepted his help," and he slid past her for the door.

She rolled her eyes and followed.

Just outside the mansion stood a tall tree with massive, frozen leaves. Yeto smacked the thick trunk and the leaves hit the ground. Hard, thick, and sturdy they were, and Yeto planted one foot on it to keep it from sliding down the slope.

"Uh! Come!" Yeto yelled as he smacked the tree again, "We race, uh!"

"Race? What?" Link asked in shock.

Yeto jumped on the leaf and quickly barreled down the hill, his laughter echoing off the snow. Midna giggled and hopped on her own makeshift snowboard.

"Don't be a sore loser when I win," she called over her shoulder at him.

He wanted to be irritated at the childish behavior in such a time that called for the opposite. In the years since the twilight he had become so cynical, so serious. The smile that graced his lips at Midna's comment, however, could not be held back.

"You've always been the sore loser," he replied as he got a running start and hurdled past her in a flurry of snow.

She laughed and kicked off, taking a moment to find her balance before getting the hang of it.

The snows had calmed during the night and the sky was free of storms or blizzards or any other such nasty things. The air was crisp and clean and the slopes were ripe for gliding. The smiles on their faces were pure and genuine, and for a moment the suffering they endured lay buried. Link caught up to Yeto quickly, and Midna was not far behind. When she got much too close to passing him, Link made a quick sideways dash just in front of her, kicking up a wall of loose snow in her face.

"Hey!" she screamed angrily before regaining her bearings and starting again.

Link laughed wholeheartedly. He felt it in his spirit and his heart grew so warm from the unusual feeling. Thoughts of an evil that was his responsibility to end were nowhere near his mind. He thought only of his friends, his love, the adrenaline, the sheer fun with no strings attached. He wasn't sure he'd had careless fun like this since he was a small child – he couldn't recall.

The base of the mountain came quickly, and Link took the lead from Yeto in the last minute. Link hopped off the frozen leaf with a smile that burst, and the yeti clapped him on the back for his victory. When Midna approached them, she had a playful fire in her eyes.

"You cheated!" she yelled.

"But I won," Link said.

"Yeah, because you cheated!"

"See? You're the sore loser, not me."

Midna crossed her arms over her chest and steam billowed from her ears, "Oooh! Link! It's because you cheated! You make me so mad!"

Link doubled over to his knees and laughed so fully it was contagious. The redness in Midna's cheeks diminished and the smile she was trying so hard to fight surfaced.

"Why is making me mad so funny?" she asked through her own laughter.

"Because you're a sore loser."

"Because you're a cheater!"

Yeto interrupted by smacking Link on the shoulder so hard he fell to one knee, "Uh! Little human beat Yeto!" he grinned, "Little human get special request soup next time he visit mountain, uh! What soup little human favorite?"

Link stood with a smile and dusted himself off, "How about pumpkin."

"Uh! Pumpkin, uh! Uh uh uh uh!" Yeto laughed, "Yes, Yeto make special pumpkin soup next time little human visit. But Yeto first keep promise to small green human to meet at the fire mountain in twenty sunrises."

Link's smile slowly faded away. The reality sank back in.

"Yes, Yeto... Twenty sunrises..." Link said, staring off into the distance at Death Mountain.

Midna's joy dissipated as she saw her hero's do the same. She watched a darkness settle back into his eyes, and the brief respite was over.

Link looked back at the yeti with a forced grin, "Thank you, Yeto. For everything."

"Yes, little human, uh! Yeto keep promise. Yeto see small humans soon, uh!"

With a wave and a nod, Yeto began his trek back up Snowpeak, and back toward his family.

Link and Midna stood where he left them. The weather was calm, yet still the breeze that whipped through them was penetrating. Link did not feel it. There was too much on his mind. Midna was there to bring him back.

"Should we go back to King Ralis? Let him know the domain is safe?" she asked.

Link finally blinked and looked at her, "Yes, we should."

Without another word, they went back. The remainder of snow they had to traverse was a short, flat field covered in a still, white blanket. They went in silence, as they often did.

They emerged from the tunnel and the warm air was welcoming. They informed the Zora guards stationed there of what had transpired on the mountain, and that they would be safe. They offered their thanks, to which Link gave a hurried nod and they continued on their way. Epona waited for them as she always did, and she got them back to Lake Hylia by dusk. Link spotted the Zora king in the center of the lake, surrounded by a small escort. He urged Epona to the bank and left her to graze.

Ralis noticed the hero's approach and swam to meet him with haste. He dove from the water and spoke with poorly masked urgency.

"I am pleased to see you have returned, hero," the king said with a bow.

Link reciprocated, "Zora's Domain is safe, Your Majesty."

Ralis looked shocked, "I do not imagine it was as simple as you make it sound."

"It was," Link said, straightening up, "The yeti of Snowpeak and I are friends. The Hylian soldiers were evacuated, the beast was calmed, and your guards are now safe and able to continue their patrol there unbothered."

Ralis visibly sighed in relief, "Thank you, hero, truly. Your deeds never cease to amaze me. How can the Zora people thank you?"

Link paused. He felt Midna's eyes on the back of his head, begging him to demand that the Zora help them in their fight against Viscen. Link understood the pressure Ralis felt as the leader of a broken people; he could not demand his people fight after he had already declined.

Link forced a smile, "There's no need, Your Majesty. We'll be on our way by morning."

With that, Link turned to leave. Midna shot him an angry glare as she turned to follow. Ralis pursed his lips and pondered for just a moment. Then his voice stopped the duo short.

"The Zora will aid you."

Link froze briefly before turning around. The look of surprise on his face was enough of a response.

"You continue to show my people the meaning of true courage, of true sacrifice. You continue to show me why I should trust you," Ralis paused with a glance at his people scattered about the lake, each looking more distraught than the last, then he looked back at Link. "It is true that my people are scared. We are dwindled, and we do not have many left in the way of warriors, but... you are right. Action must be taken. This threat to you is a threat to us all. We cannot sit here and allow our home to be taken from us. Zora's Domain has housed generations of Zora back before my great grandparents could even recall. It is sacred to us. If we will not fight for what is sacred to us, what, then, will we fight for?"

Link smiled, and Midna's smirk behind him was devilishly pleased.

King Ralis placed a hand to his heart and lowered to one knee, "The Zora people I pledge to you. We will fight for you when you call upon us."

Link bowed his head, "Thank you, Your Majesty. We will be victorious."

Ralis rose with confidence, "You have never steered me wrong. If you say it is so, then it will be so."

"We are meeting in Kakariko Village just under three weeks."

"The Zora will be there," Ralis said.

Link could only repeat himself, "Thank you."

"No," Ralis shook his head, "Thank you. I will be able to give my people hope again. I have not been able to do that since I assumed the throne. Thank you for giving me this gift."

Link smiled and nodded. Ralis reciprocated before taking his leave. Link could no longer ignore Midna's eager stare from behind him. Link turned to face her, but she spoke first.

"Did you know he would cave if we helped him?"

Link shook his head, "Not at all. I thought he was firm in his stance."

"Seems your bravery has a way of persuading people," Midna said with a smirk.

Link ignored the comment, "Let's get a fire going before dark."

"Yeah, yeah," Midna mumbled under her breath before following him.

A roaring, welcoming fire beckoned her in no time. She had been in such a daze that she did not even notice him build it. He was so good at it anyway; she supposed he could do it quicker than she could when she could summon flames with the snap of her fingers. He sat down and prodded at the fire without a word, so she sat opposite of him.

For a while, she simply watched him. He always kept himself busy. Kept his hands at work. She knew why. Busywork of the body distracts the mind. Focusing on what your hands can accomplish diverts from what the brain and heart cannot. She could tell that addled mind of his wanted to race around the entirety of Lake Hylia. She could tell if it were set free it would rampage untold generations. She stared at him long enough for him to finally notice.

"What is it?" he asked.

She shrugged, "I don't know, what is it?"

He furrowed his brow, "You've been staring for a while."

"You've been ignoring for a while."

"Ignoring?" he asked, "Ignoring what?"

She leaned forward, "Everything."

He put down his prodding stick and looked at her. Her expression was sassy, as usual, but it was also accusatory. He did not have the energy for the argument he could tell she was winding up for. Though, he never did.

"Midna, please, can we not do this right now?"

Midna narrowed her eyes a moment, taking in his defeated expression. She then nodded and leaned back.

"Sure, Link. We always do everything on your terms. What's one more thing?"

Link flew to his feet in anger, "I asked you to not start this right now. Why is it always something?"

She didn't say anything.

Link clenched his fists, "You always have something to say, then when I ask for it, you give me nothing."

She looked up at him, "You didn't used to have such a temper."

"You didn't used to be such a nag."

For a moment, she just stared, and he stared back.

She turned away, "Whatever, Link. I'm done trying to help."

"This is you trying to help?" he gave a cynical chuckle, "Could've fooled me."

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. His seams were coming apart. She decided to let him unravel them himself.

"How is berating me helping? How does waiting until you see I'm vulnerable to drag me down help me?"

She remained quiet, simply watching him.

"Midna, I've been so far down for so long, I'm not sure I can ever find the top again," he said, staring at her. His desperate eyes punctuated by the fire behind them. "I feel like I've been clawing my way out of this hole for decades, but I never get any closer. I feel like I'm suffocating, and when I can nearly taste the air, I fall back to the bottom."

His stare did not waver, but neither did hers. His expression implored her input, but she would not give it. She had given it enough; it was time he faced his own.

He huffed and sat back down, "I've lost everything... It started with my parents, then my childhood, and any peace or innocence I might have lived along with it. I still haven't learned how to cope with my time as hero, all those years ago, yet the present refuses to let me rest either."

He looked at her no longer, but her eyes remained on him. His clasped fingers fiddled atop crossed legs, and he watched with emptiness.

"I thought I could get you back and I could find some sense of normalcy," he scoffed, "In that endeavor I only made everything worse. All that time, I never knew what my absence was causing. Ilia, Ren..." he shook his head in disbelief, "I had no idea. I truly... had no idea."

When his eyes started to water, Midna could stare no longer. She turned to the dark sky, gazing at the distant stars and wishing they could escape to the furthest one.

"I can't believe Ilia's dead," he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose as if to force the tears to retreat, "Not only is she gone, but it's my fault. And Ren..." he dropped his hand and shook his head, "He has no chance, does he?"

Midna looked at him. After a moment, his eyes met hers, but she still said nothing.

"He has no chance at a normal life. The one thing I always wanted for myself, I inadvertently took away from my son."

When their silent stare lingered and the only sound was the crackling fire, Link had to look away. She let him sit with his pain, rather than avoid it, or try to fix what was not fixable. This was what she had been begging him to do. Acknowledge his hurt. Recognize his grief. Come to terms with the deep-rooted, buried, and buried again years of suffering. Allow himself to realize the emotions he had entombed over a lifetime. Allow himself to feel.

When at last he permitted his heart to open, gave way to his tears, and his pain at last commanded his full attention, Midna spoke up.

"You and Ren both still have that chance, Link."

He turned to her with puffy, red eyes.

"The pain never goes away, but we can learn to live with it. We all need time to sit with our suffering... come to terms with it," she gazed off a moment before returning to him with a smile, "You should have some time to yourself."

She stood and he watched her, but he said nothing. In his eyes he acknowledged her, and that was all she needed. She walked off along the shore of the lake, and when her distance grew, she heard Link sob openly behind her. It hurt her heart, but it was good for him; he had been nothing short of a stone wall since they reunited, and she knew it went back much further than that.

She continued to walk until she could no longer hear him. She could hear nothing save the gentlest ripple of the water when a breeze blew by. The moon and the stars shone on her fully, no clouds to mask their beauty. She had to admit, the light world was magical. Not only in its visual charm, but in what it managed to teach her. The imp who tormented her hero as a wolf all those years ago seemed like a different person entirely, a distant relation whom she did not like and therefore had nothing to do with. She had learned much from the light world, from Zelda... from Link.

She thought of her people. She worried for them. At the same time, she wasn't sure she cared. When that horrid thought arose she struck it down; that was no way for a leader to think. Of course she cared about her people. But... then that negative notion of the very absence of caring wriggled back into her brain like a worm. One thing that never changed was her selfishness. She never wanted to be there, she always wanted to be here. She was only trying to do her duty. Maybe... that wasn't the life that was meant for her.

A sudden weakness swept over her. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she felt her knees buckle. Her lungs grew shallow and her heart raced to make up the difference. Her head spun and her legs grew so weak she collapsed to her knees. She held a hand to her chest as pain struck her there, but she could only gasp out her alarm. She looked down at her hands as they trembled. She could not procure a fire.

"Li-Link..." she tried, but it came out as a whisper.

Fragility wrapped its dark hands around her and she fell the rest of the way down. She pressed her palms to the soft grass and lifted herself to yell.

"Link..." but it was no louder.

Her limbs were weighed down by anchors. Her body was too heavy to move. She was too weak. She closed her eyes and focused on breathing. She gathered the strength to try again.

"Link..." a little louder, "Link," once more, "Link!"

She heard her own voice carry across the grand lake, but her insecurity told her he would not come for her. She told herself it was just her weakened mind playing tricks on her. Her eyelids were heavy and she fought against them with all her might to keep them open. Then her hero came into view.

"Midna!" he shouted, approaching her swiftly. He lifted her top half and held her on his lap, "What happened?"

She looked up at him wearily. Her face lost all color. She raised a shaky hand and stared at it. She knew what happened.

"My powers... are gone," she whispered.

Link grabbed her hand, "What? How?"

"The Fused Shadow..." her eyes went wide as her words spoken aloud were realization to her just as much as him, "In the Twilight... someone has taken it."

Link's eyes narrowed as he stared off momentarily, his mind running rampant.

He looked back down at her, "Are you sure?"

She nodded, "Yes... My power is gone."


With every sunrise comes a sunset.


A big thank you to the following for helping me get this chapter out there!

Big Jake, Lee Glerum, Moonfairy, Jacob Peachey, Jared Thomason, Owen Reilly, Anonymouse, Ivalee, Lotus Eater, Yami No Nokutan, Ethan Carney Fesler, Silvia Delgado, Eponas, Mandelbrot, Emily Zuber, Sabine, wingdesire, Brandan Saldaña, Rob Walters, Jessie, Gabby-J, Claudia, Chloe Rose, Mel

You guys are amazing!