Chapter 3
"Time!" Sky knelt down next to him and turned him onto his back, putting an arm around his shoulders. He put a hand on his forehead. "He's burning up terribly..." Sky took off Time's sword and quiver and put them on the ground. He then slid another arm under Time's knees and lifted him up. "Twi, could you open the door right next to us." Twi nodded and stepped over to the door that was right behind them. He opened it up wide so that Sky could carry Time in. Zelda was by his side. She pulled the blankets back on Sky's bed. Sky set him down gently. He undid the belt around Time's waist, pulled it away and lifted the tunic off of Time. He set the tunic and belt down on his desk chair. "That should make him more comfortable."
"I grabbed his weapons." Twi said as he walked in.
"Good, set them on the chair, ok?" Twi nodded and put them down on the chair. Sky took out the hair-tie from Time's hair. Zelda had already taken off his boots by then. Sky covered Time up with the blanket. "Twi, there's an extra blanket in my cupboard, could you get it for me?" Twi nodded and found the extra blanket in the cupboard. It was a dark blue blanket that felt really familiar to Twi, but he wasn't sure why. He handed it to Sky who covered Time with it to keep him more warm.
"I thought he looked a sickly pale color, but I thought that's just how his skin was." Zelda said.
"He needs medicine."
"I'll go get it." Sky nodded and Zelda left the room.
"It was kind of funny seeing you two. It was like you were trying to take care of your sick child." Sky smiled at Twi's comment. He walked over by where Twi stood and leaned on his desk.
"It may one day become a reality. She's been my girl for almost a year, I think it's about time I asked her that special question. I've just been trying to decide how to do it."
"I'm sure you'll figure something out." Sky smiled even more.
"She means everything to me. She was the first person other than my cousin to show me kindness."
"Really? How come?"
"Well, um... Many thought I was cursed." Twi raised an eyebrow. Sky sighed. "The day of my birth, my mother had fallen down the flight of steps we walked up to get here. She went into labor instantly. I was born, but the fall was fatal to her and she passed away just moments after my birth."
"That's so sad..." Sky nodded.
"My father took care of me for a few months, but then he suddenly went missing. No one knows what really happened to him. Many think he fell off his bird and fell below the cloud barrier. I fell under the care of my father's sister. She had a son who is Fledge. Though, my aunt fell sick shortly after me coming to live with her. Her husband had died several months prior to this. No one wanted to take care of us because of a woman named Clea. She claimed that I was cursed. Many started to believe it, especially after my aunt's death."
"But, that's all just coincidences. That doesn't mean you're cursed."
"There were very few who believed that back then. The only one who did was the headmaster. Under his order, Fledge and I were under Clea's care, though, she treated us horribly, me especially. She would slap me, starve me, and always remind me that I'm a cursed brat and that I shouldn't be allowed to live. It's amazing how such a horrible woman was the mother of my angel."
"That witch was Zelda's mom?!" Sky nodded.
"She even has most of her looks, but she has such a kind heart, much like her father, the headmaster. Clea passed away due to sickness when I was four. At that time, I was the main caretaker of my cousin and myself. I would sneak out of this very room and get some food from the kitchen. I would sneak us to the bath when we would get too dirty. I always took care of him because I was the only one who would."
"That's so brave of you to take on such responsibility at a young age."
"Thanks." Sky smiled. "One day, we decided to sneak out of the entire building. I was hit by a woman and called cursed, which made me cry of course, but that didn't stop me. Fledge would tag along with me and we would walk around wherever we wanted. The people eventually got used to it. They would glare and call me cursed. I never went anywhere without Fledge, except once Fledge fell sick so I went to get him medicine. That's when I met Groose and, when I met Zelda. Groose knocked me down, but Zelda stood in the way. She offered her hand, but I slapped it away and took off. Then I started my sleep walking. It scared Fledge, Zelda helped him and they found me. From then on, Zelda and I started getting closer. Before I knew it, she was my best friend. Fledge, Zelda and I, we took care of each other."
"That's so sweet." Sky nodded and smiled.
"She saved me. If not for her, I don't know what my life would be like. I'd probably be a terrible person."
"You're definitely a great person and probably would make a great parent." Sky smiled even more.
"So, can you tell me any of your backstory?"
"I can try to tell you what I can. According to the man who raised me, my parents died in a fire when I was an infant. Because Rusl, the man who raised me, was my dad's brother, I fell under his care. Though I'm beginning to have my doubts about his story. I never found any remains of a house that was burned down for one. Another thing is, the chosen hero is supposed to be Hylian, Rusl claimed my dad was half Hylian, half Ordonian. It doesn't help I have amnesia. I can't remember my first five years of life."
"That sounds terrible. I hope you remember eventually, so you can learn the truth."
"I hope so too. There was this one person that may have some sort of idea of the truth. I knew him as the Gold Wolf. He taught me a lot, not only that, but he protected me for as long as I can remember. He may know what really happened to my parents. He's related to me in some way, he called me his child."
"What do you think you'd do once you found out?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure. I guess I'll find out once I get there. I hoped Time might have been him, the Gold Wolf taught me the words 'A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage.' When I heard Time say them, I thought maybe he was him. The way he looks at me was the same. The way he talks, the way he even moves, so quick and confident and experienced... I thought I found him again after weeks of not seeing him after the last skill he taught me, but he had no idea what I was talking about when I was talking about the Gold Wolf."
"Maybe he is, but he's not."
"What do you mean?"
"He might not have become your Gold Wolf yet, but he will be someday. I think he may possibly be your father, grandfather, hell, maybe even your great grandfather. Who knows? All I know is, both of you are related to me. I feel it in my gut that both of you are descendant of me. I think Time feels it too and you do also."
"What makes you say that?"
"When Zelda and I first found you two, you were unconscious. I wrapped up your wound, but when I tried to pick you up, you wouldn't stop squirming. Then he tried picking you up and you made no fuss. You felt comfortable with his touch when your wound was being sewed up, you relaxed when he pet your head. You know it deep down, the touch is familiar to you. It may have to do with your memory loss." Twi's ears perked back. He sat on the ground in a mixture of emotions, his eyes wide like an owl.
"I've been trying to avoid him and keep him away because it felt weird being beside him... I wasn't sure why... my instincts sensed something weird about him... So I tried to stay away from him..." Twi covered his face. "I was such a terrible person towards him... how could he ever forgive me...?" Sky knelt down in front of him and put his hands on the sides of Twi's head.
"Just relax, pumpkin spice, ok?" Twi uncovered his face
"Pumpkin spice...?"
"That's my little nickname for you. You seem to like pumpkins and you've got quite a bit of spice to your attitude." Twi smiled a little. Sky smiled more and hugged him. "Everything will be ok. If Time truly cares for you like I think he does, he'll be very forgiving." Twi closed his eyes and smiled more. Sky pulled away and put his hands on Twi's shoulders, being a little lighter on his left shoulder due to the wound. "I'm glad to see you smile. Never lose it, ok?" Twi nodded. The door opened. Sky stood up to greet Zelda and stopped before he even took a step.
"We have another newcomer." Zelda said the moment she stepped in and then stepped aside from the doorway. A girl with long red hair and a black hood stepped in. Twi stood up and turned around. The girl gasped. Twi's eyes widened.
"Link...?"She asked and ran over to him. Before Twi could say anything, she cupped his face with her hands and squished his cheeks. "I knew it was you." She hugged him tightly. "I missed you so much." Twi hugged her back.
"Oh now, what's this? Looks like you've got yourself a girl there, Twi." Sky teased. They both pulled away from their hug. Twi turned around to look at Sky.
"Technically she's not." The girl wrapped her arms around him from behind and he unconsciously leaned back against her embrace.
"I'm his companion. I looked out for the idiot and made sure he didn't die. My name is Midna. What's yours?"
"Well, my name is Link. I'm a different one though, definitely not as cute."
"Eh, I'd say your decent, but my baby face here is the cutest there is." Midna smiled and hugged Twi tighter. Twi cringed a bit.
"Midna, please let go."
"Aw, why?"
"My shoulder..." Midna let go.
"What happened to your shoulder?"
"Well, um..." Twi whispered something into Midna's ear. She gasped and her eyes widened.
"Oh, Link, I'm so sorry. Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"Uh..." Sky was really confused. Zelda walked over to him with a bottle of medicine.
"Here's the medicine for Time." Sky grabbed it from her hand.
"Thanks, Zellie. I owe you." Zelda smiled. Sky sat on the edge of the bed and slid an arm behind Time's back and lifted him up a bit so that he could drink the medicine. He uncorked it and put the medicine to Time's lips and tipped it so it'd go into his mouth and down his throat. Once it was gone, Sky stood up straight. "Twi, can I ask you a favor?"
"What do you need?"
"Well, when I tell my fellow Skyloftians about Ghirahim, could you stand beside me?" Twi smiled.
"Of course I will." Sky smiled brightly.
"Thanks. Oh, and do you think you can help me move things around, or will your shoulder be a hindrance?"
"I can help, definitely." Twi walked over to Sky. "What do you need me to do?"
"We're going to first move my dresser over to the left of my door." Twi nodded and walked with Sky to the dresser.
"Be careful not to hurt yourself, idiot."
"I won't, Midna, I'll be fine." Twi helped Sky lift the dresser up.
"Ok, turn, turn turn turn turn. Whoa, kay. Don't open you freakin cupboards!" Twi started laughing at Sky. "It's not funny." They set the dresser down. "You know what, I think it would be better along that wall once we move the tables out of the way."
"Are you serious...?"
"Yeah."
"Make up your mind!"
"Sorry, sorry, jeez. Come on, let's get those tables out of here for now." Twi sighed and opened the door wide.
"Midna or Zelda, could one of you hold the door open for us, please?"
"I will." Zelda volunteered and walked over to hold the door. Twi walked over to Sky and lifted the table in front of the bed then started to walk out with it.
"Turn, turn, turn. Ok, we're good. Go back, you're good, keep going. Tilt it. You're not tilting it right!"
"I'm trying my best!"
"Just tilt it!"
"Just shut it!" It was obvious to the girls that they did not work well together, at least for now. They managed to get the table out into the hall.
"Ok, let's get the dresser over here." Twi nodded and walked over to the dresser. Both of them carried it to where the table was just was. "Turn, turn, turn turn turn!"
"Shut up, please." They got the dresser in place.
"Why do you have such an attitude?"
"Why are you always talking?"
"I have a mouth, so I might as well use it."
"For what?" Midna asked with an impish grin.
"Talking!"
"Don't yell at her!"
"Don't yell at me!"
"Gah! Both of you shut up! You're going to wake Time." Zelda said. Twi sighed.
"Next, let's move the desk to where the dresser was." Twi nodded and followed Sky. They carried the desk carefully over to the opposite wall. They went back for the second half and carried it, scooting it into place once close enough. Twi dragged the chair over. "There, and we're done."
"What about the table in the hallway?"
"I'll bring that back in once the other bed is in here. I'm going to put it in between the two beds depending on the size. I believe it will be another foot bigger than mine for both of you to share."
"Wait, we're sharing a bed?"
"Mhm, that's what I told Gaepora. Is there something wrong with that?"
"No, I've just never shared a bed with anyone other than Midna."
"Ooh, you guys shared a bed?"
"Yea, during our quest."
"And what-"
"Don't waste your breath, sandy haired Link, my Link is too innocent to understand that sort of stuff." Midna said. "And nothing serious happened. The most serious thing, he was sick from poison."
"Poison?"
"Yep, from mini-ghomas, they are about as big as my head and they poison you if they manage to bite you. It was horrible..." Twi said.
"That sounds horrible..." Twi walked over to the bed and sat down.
"So, who's he?" Midna asked.
"His name is Link also, but since there's a few Links here, he goes by Time. He's the Hero of Time." Twi explained. "He may very well be the Gold Wolf but not yet."
"Really? That's crazy. Isn't he your idol or something?"
"Mmhmm." Twi crossed his arms on the bed and rested his head down. "I am the way I am because of him." Midna smiled. "There were other influences too of course, but none were greater than his." Sky lowered his head onto Zelda's shoulder.
"Link, is everything ok?" Zel asked.
"Hungry..." Sky mumbled. Zelda giggled. "We never ate breakfast... My stomach hurts so bad..."
"Oh, that's right. Let's see in Henya is back yet and if she'll prepare the afternoon meal."
"Ok..." Zelda walked away from Sky and went toward the door, but Sky stayed put.
"Come on, silly." She grabbed his hand and they started to walk out.
"I'll go see about it too, ok Link. I'll bring you back some food if you want." Midna offered.
"It's up to you." Twi said.
"Ok. I'll be back." Midna walked out to follow Sky and Zelda. Twi looked up at Time's sleeping face. He seemed to be sleeping rather peacefully despite being sick. Sweat has made Time's bangs stick to his forehead, which Twi brushed off his face.
Midna, Sky, and Zelda returned after roughly a half hour and found Twi asleep on the edge of the bed.
"Aw, that's too adorable." Zelda said.
"He looks like a little brother waiting for his big brother to wake up." Sky said. He had his energy back.
"My baby can fall asleep anywhere and be comfortable..." Midna mumbled.
"I think it's a common thing where Links are sleepyheads." Zelda commented with a smile.
"Hey!"
"Hehe, that seems to be true." Midna agreed.
"It is not." Sky crossed his arms.
"It is." Zelda giggled. "Anyway, Midna, I can give you a tour of the academy if you want."
"Sure. If you don't mind."
"I don't mind at all. Come with me."
"I'm going to go to the sparring hall and get Twi a weapon that he can use while he's here. He shouldn't be unarmed, especially with Ghirahim about." Sky said.
"Will he let you take another sword?"
"I might be able to trade him some pumpkin soup. He loves that stuff."
"Alright. We'll see you in a little bit." All three of them left the room. Zelda showed Midna around the academy and they both wound up in Zelda's room.
"Wow, so... pink."
"Yeah, I told father that pink isn't my favorite color, but he still insists. My favorite color is actually purple."
"Purple's a nice color. It was my brother's favorite."
"You have a brother?"
"Yes, though, he's no longer around..."
"Oh... I'm sorry." Midna smiled sadly.
"It's alright. It had to happen. He would have suffered otherwise."
"Would you mind telling me what happened?"
"Well, our father died and um... My brother was very close to him and he just completely fell apart once he found out. He started wearing his clothes, though they were too big on him which I found a bit funny to be honest. Thanks to an evil King named Ganon, my brother lost his mind. Ganon manipulated his vulnerable mind to do bad things... Zant was such a sweet, loving, silly young boy. He was still a child to me. Then again, younger siblings may always be children in the eyes of the older."
"That sounds terrible..."
"It was... and I was the one who ended his misery. Even if Ganon were to be gotten rid of, my younger brother would never be the same, he was too far gone... so I..." Midna started to tear up. Zelda walked over and put a hand on Midna's shoulder. "I have no family left now, but I can't let that stop me. I have my duties as a princess to guide my people. I need to rebuild my world."
"What about your Link, isn't he family to you?"
"No, not at all. He's just a friend... a good friend." Midna relaxed
"Oh really? It didn't really seem that way earlier."
"What do you mean?"
"The way you hugged him, seemed like more than a friend hug, you hugging him from behind." Midna began blushing.
"Well, that's what I always do to him, he freaks out a bit when I do that and I like messing with him." Midna was speaking rather fast when she spoke. Zelda giggled.
"You know, there's nothing wrong with giving in to your feelings."
"He and I are of different races. I doubt he would accept me like that. Maybe as a friend, but not as a lover."
"Then, maybe, try talking to him about it. You have no idea until you try. Believe it or not, but I was the one who asked my Link if he wanted to be mine. He said yes. He and I were childhood friends, often they're more like siblings. Give it a shot, you never know."
"Alright, maybe sometime in the near future I'll reveal my feelings for him, though, I'll have to go back to my world and he'll have to go to his and we'd have no way of communication."
"Love can break through anything if it's real enough." Midna smiled.
"Thanks, Zel. You kind of remind me of the Zelda I knew, though, she wasn't as bubbly." Zelda giggled.
"I'll take that as a compliment."