Chapter 5

There was a sudden, loud, pain-filled scream that filled the air. Midna recognized the scream easily and started to cry as the platform she made continued to rise. Time tried struggling again, but he couldn't put up much of a fight due to his lack of strength at the moment. She made it to the top and started heading toward the academy where Sky and Zelda were running out.

"What just happened?" Sky asked.

"My baby has probably been taken away..." Midna said. Sky's eyes widened. "He told me to get him to safety." Midna looked at Time who looked down at his tunic belt when she spoke. Sky closed his eyes to try and keep from crying. He opened his eyes again and said, "Let's get Time back inside. He'll catch his death out here." Midna nodded and followed him inside.

"Link, what's going on?" Fledge asked from the kitchen doorway when they walked in.

"One of the boys under my care is gone. Ghirahim may have captured him."

"Oh no... If there's anyway I can help, please, let me know." Sky nodded.

"Well, do you think you could get some medicine? The other one is sick." Fledge nodded.

"Of course, anything for you, cousin." Fledge ran to go find some medicine. Sky led the way to his room. He opened the door so Midna could place Time down on the bed. Sky covered him up and sat on the edge of the bed to feel his forehead.

"You have a pretty bad fever. No more going outside, alright?"

"But..."

"No buts. Now keep yours in bed until you're better." Time closed his eyes and sighed. "It's for the best. You are aware that if you die, Twi won't exist, aren't you?" Time opened his eyes. "I'm assuming you don't have any children yet, so if you die, it's all over for Twi, remember that." Time nodded and he started to tear up. Sky brushed his bangs off of Time's face and kissed his head. "Rest, young one. You'll be better before you know it. In the meantime, I'll find Twi." Sky stood up and turned to Zelda. "Zelda, while I'm gone, could you take care of him for me?"

"Of course."

"And I'll go with you. He is my babe and I plan on finding him with or without help anyway." Midna said.

"Alright then. We'll set out in the morning."

"Why not now? He could be dead by then."

"My Loftwing can't fly at night. If we go now, who knows when we'll be back. We only have a couple of hours until Twilight, it could be night by the time we return, then we'd be stuck there at the mercy of Ghirahim, which by the way is something he lacks, believe me."

"Ghirahim is after you though..." Time said quietly.

"I know he is, but no one else can do it but me. I'm the only one who knows the layout of the lands inside and out. I'm also am, I'm also am, yeah, I speak goodly." Sky got off topic for a few seconds, but went right back to it. "I'm the only one who knows how to fight Ghirahim. Whatever Ghirahim wants, I won't let him take it." Zelda walked over to him and kissed him on the lips.

"Whatever you decide, I'm with you. Just be careful. Promise me you'll come back, because if you die, then it's over for both Time and Twi." Zelda said. Sky nodded.

"I know the risks, but like I said, I'm the only one who can do this. I promise though, I'll be back." Zelda nodded and smiled. Midna shook her head and went to the window, looking outside.

"H-Hey, Midna..." Time said. Midna turned to look at him. "Do you know, who... the gold wolf is...?" She rested her hands on the windowsill. Sky and Zelda were talking about something in the background.

"Well, honestly, I don't know much about him. He is my baby face's ancestor who was also a hero. He died with regret and couldn't pass on until he passed down his legacy to his successor. He would always tell Link, 'A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage.'" Time's ear twitched when he heard Midna say that. She looked over to him. "I have to thank you though, if not for you, my baby wouldn't be the way he is. He grew up on your story and you were his role model, because of it, he is how he is and I love every single bit of him and how he is. So, thank you." Time was taken aback by Midna's comment, but slightly smiled and slightly nodded. The door opened.

"I have the medicine." Fledge announced.

"Thanks buddy, I can always count on you." Sky took the medicine out of Fledge's hand.

"Link, are you sure it's safe to give him more medicine. He had some not that long ago, didn't he?" Zelda pointed out.

"I'm sure he'll be alright. That was when the sun was high up in the sky, now it's approaching Twilight." He walked over to Time, sitting on the edge of the bed once again. "Here, drink this down slowly, alright. It won't taste the best, but it should be alright." He lifted Time up at an incline so it'd be easier for him to drink it. After Time drank it all, Sky let him go back down onto the bed.

"The Headmaster is having me bring in that second bed for the boys. Think you could help me?" Fledge asked.

"Sure." Sky followed Fledge to the door, he stopped and turned around, "Time, you stay put, you hear me?" He perked his ears back. Sky turned back around and followed Fledge out. Midna started to laugh. Time sighed and covered his face with the pillow.

"Hey, Midna, I'm going to go talk to my father about you staying here. Could you keep an eye on Time for me?"

"Gees, everyone wants me to watch over Time, good gods, I mean, really?"

"Well um, if you don't want to I mean-"

"I'm joking, I'm joking. Of course I'll watch over him." Zelda laughed.

"Thanks." Zelda walked out of the room.

"This is stupid..." Time muttered.

"What is, Mr. Hero?"

"I don't need a babysitter."

"I'm not sitting on you." She walked over and sat on his stomach. "Now I'm sitting on you. We just want to make sure you stay put. We also want to make sure Ghirahim doesn't come after you. That's my beliefs anyway."

"Hmm... Could you get off...? I can't breathe..." Midna rolled her eyes and stood up, stretching.

"You're so much like your little boy, you know that?" Time chuckled.

"I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree..."

"Definitely." There was a loud knocking at the door. Midna went to open it and let Sky and Fledge in. They were carrying a bit of the bed frame in.

"Thanks." The two carried it in and rested it against the wall. Sky started cracking his knuckles. "Damn, my hands hurt."

"Really? Mine feel fine."

"You're stronger than me." Fledge smiled.

"I guess we go get that next piece."

"Yep." They both walked out again, but left the door open.

"This seems like it will take a long time." Midna said and went back over to the window. "You know, I used to hate the outside, mostly because I'd die in the light, but I've learned to enjoy it and the light no longer bothers me because of the sacrifice the Zelda I knew made for me. I learned to love the outside from my Link. He was such an outdoors person. Probably because he was a ranch hand."

"Was? He's not anymore?" Midna shrugged.

"I don't think he's sure at the moment. He's probably scared and confused. The poor boy. I knew I should've..." Midna trailed off.

"Hmm?" Midna shook her head.

"It's nothing. Just thinking aloud." She turned to look at him. "How are you feeling?"

"Not much better."

"I figured as much. It probably will take some time for the medicine to kick in." Time nodded. Midna sighed. "I hope Link's ok... He's probably scared... He's so... jumpy, and anxious. He's so fragile." She closed her eyes.

"If he's anything like me or the Link in this time, then I'm sure he'll be just fine."

"I hope so... He gets into trouble so much, the idiot... Just, why?!" She punched the window, knocking the stick holding it open down. "He's always trying to sacrifice himself for others! He should be the one being taken care of! He's the one who saved their asses, he shouldn't still be taking care of them!" She rested her elbow on the sill of the window and covered her face which was turning red from anger and sadness. "He's just a boy..." Time sat up and swung his legs over the edge and stood up. He walked over to Midna and put an arm around her to comfort her. She looked at him and he pulled her into a full hug.

"I promise, once I'm better, I'll take care of him until the day we return to our own times. Even then, the day he's born, I'll continue to watch over him, forever and always." Midna hugged him back and started tearing up. They stayed like this in silence for a few minutes and then pulled away. He wiped her tears away.

"Thank you for saying you'll watch over him. I just hope you mean it."

"Of course I do. I'm a man of my word." Midna smiled.

"You better get back to bed. You're still sick." Time nodded and turned around, but turned around too quickly and started to fall back due to dizziness. Midna caught him. "Whoa, are you ok?"

"Y-Yeah, just lost my footing..." Midna scooped him up and put him back in bed. She then covered him up.

"Then you better stay in bed." Sky and Fledge walked through the door way again, this time, there was another boy with them wearing a similar tunic to Sky's only it was yellow.

"Put it against the wall close to my bookshelf, ok?" Sky ordered. The three boys set the piece down.

"How many more pieces are there again?" The yellow clad boy asked.

"I believe the base pieces, the mattress, the knobs, and the blankets." Sky answered.

"That's going to take so long..."

"You volunteered, Pip. Let's keep going. It'll be faster if we work together. Maybe... Fledge, get the two base beams. Pipit, the knobs. I'll grab the hammer. Then we'll get the base board and the mattress in one."

"Ok."

"Sure thing."

"Alright. Let's do this." They did some sort of secret handshake or something where Sky grabbed Pipit's right with his right, then Fledge's left with his left, and Pipit grabbed Fledge's right with his left. All their arms were intertwined with each others. Then all three walked out, leaving Midna with a raised eyebrow. She looked back at Time who only shrugged. Zelda eventually walked inside the room.

"Well, I talked with my father, and since Karane has already graduated and moved out to live with her fiance, you can take her old room. There's nothing much in it except a bed and a cupboard though."

"That's perfectly fine. It will suit my needs."

"That's good. Sorry we couldn't do anything more elegant for you, Princess."

"Ha! Elegant. I'm basically the opposite of elegance, trust me. You'll see at supper." Zelda giggled.

"I believe you." The boys walked in with the supplies.

"Could you guys go get the baseboard and the mattress while I work on the frame?" Sky asked.

"Sure. We'll return with broken backs while we're at it." Pipit said.

"That's the spirit!" Sky said cheerfully. Pipit smiled and shook his head at the younger boy's antics. Both Fledge and Pipit walked out.

"Do you need any help?"

"I think I've got it, Zelda. Not to worry. If I need help though, I'll let you know."

"Ok." Sky put the hook of the base beam into a slot in the headboard. He pulled out a block from a cloth bag and tried to put it in the hole that was there, but couldn't get it, no matter how hard he tried.

"Zelda... could you, um... lift the base beam up a bit..." Zelda giggled.

"Of course, sweetheart." Zelda knelt down next to the beam and lifted it up. Sky put the square in place and hammered it in as much as it would go. Sky then tested it and found it to be stable. The two lovers worked together to get the rest of the pieces in place. Another few minutes after, Fledge and Pipit carried in the baseboard and the mattress together. Zelda and Pipit held onto the mattress while Fledge and Sky got the baseboard secured. Once that was done, the mattress was put on top. Sky plopped down on the mattress.

"That was so much work..." He mumbled tiredly. Fledge smiled mischievously and jumped onto the bed and started tickling Sky's stomach. "Gah! Hahahaha, stop it!" He tried to push the younger boy off of him, but didn't have the strength or ability to even push him a bit. Pipit dropped his mature resolve and joined in the roughhousing. They eventually all stopped and sprawled out, breathing heavily from all the craziness. Sky was hanging upside down on the edge of the bed, Fledge was on top of his stomach and Pipit's legs were resting on top of Sky's legs.

"You guys are such goofballs." Zelda commented.

"You still love us though." Sky smiled all cheerful and silly-like, which made Zelda giggle and agree.

"How could I not? You three always keep me entertained." Fledge got up off of Sky.

"That's enough craziness for me for a bit. I'm going to get back to helping Henya with the kitchen." He said.

"Ok, have fun. Don't get crushed by a barrel." Fledge smiled at the inside joke and walked out.

"I don't want to get up..." Pipit mumbled.

"Well, both of you have to, we should get the blankets on it so that Time can switch to that bed." Zelda reminded them. Pipit sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, though accidentally grazed Sky's chin with his foot.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"I'm gonna have a bruise now, thank you." Sky said jokingly. Pipit shook his head and crawled up to where Sky's feet were and pushed him off. Sky fell onto the floor with a shout. "I'm going to have a bump, too!" He whined, he held his head where it was hit.

"You're overly dramatic."

"Really? I thought I was Link." Pipit's eyebrows scrunch together and his ears perked back..

"Don't be a smart-ass."

"I'd rather be a smart-ass than a dumb-ass, but I'm both, so ha!"

~Twi~

Twi opened his eyes and looked around the room. It was dark and dreary within, covered in sand and dust. On each wall, he could see grates which is what he guess he was chained to. His arms were above his head which made his shoulder hurt terribly. He could smell the scent of his blood on his shirt.

In the center of the room, he could see a short podium which held some sort of spherical object.

Twi tested the chains and winced, they were very tight around his wrists. He could feel his heart start to race. He knew he was on the verge of a panic attack. He took a deep breath and let it out, over and over to relieve himself and calm himself down.

"A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage. I've got to remain calm. If Ghirahim were to come, he'd want to see my fear. I don't want to give him that satisfaction." As if Ghirahim could sense his awareness, he appeared in the middle of the room, balancing on the small pedestal gracefully.

"Glad to see you awake, wolf boy." He jumped off the podium and walked over to the boy. He grabbed his chin and lifted it up to make sure Twi could see into his eyes. "You are my key to gaining what I desire." He turned Twi's head to get a clear look at his neck. He licked his lips as he stared at Twi's vulnerable neck. "There is one thing I lust for, but I have to restrain myself. Master would not be pleased if he were to miss out on such a rare soul." Ghirahim brushed up and down Twi's neck with his finger which sent shivers down his spine and caused his hair to stand on end. "It's still so tempting..."

"S-Stop that..."

"Oh, am I making you uncomfortable, wolf boy. My bad." Ghirahim lowered his hand to Twi's neck and pressed inward to the point Twi couldn't breath. He struggled to breathe, but couldn't get a single breath in or out. His head began pounding as the blood rushed, trying to supply oxygen to his brain. His face was starting to turn red from the lack of oxygen. "You need to learn your place. I can see the defiance and strong will in your eyes, if I had enough time, I could break you into pieces. Yet, I believe that brat you call a hero will be on his way first chance he can. Which will probably be tomorrow morning since it's already night." Ghirahim let Twi's neck go. Twi took a sharp breath in and began coughing, breathing heavily between the coughs. Ghirahim grabbed a fistful of Twi's hair and pulled his head back. "Which means you're mine to play with until then. Unless, the boy never comes for you. Then you'll be mine forever."

Twi took a deep breath in through his nose and let it out the same way, trying to keep himself from showing fear, but his lower lip was trembling, which was a dead giveaway of his fear. Ghirahim smirked.

"Seems I've already struck fear into your eyes. Maybe I do have enough time to break you." Twi's head started to hurt from when Ghirahim started strangling him. Ghirahim reached a hand up and over Twi's shoulder wound. "Let's see what this does, it made you pass out last time, but I'll have to be careful not to let that happen again. I want to have some fun with you and I can't do that if you're unconscious, so..." Ghirahim slid the tank top sleeve down to uncover Twi's shoulder. Twi's heart started racing, wondering what Ghirahim was going to do to him. He soon got his answer...

Ghirahim dug his fingers into the wound as deep as he could make it go, making the wound rip at the ends. Twi started screaming as the wound began to tear. Tears stung his eyes and began rolling down his cheek. Ghirahim slowly pulled his fingers out to cause Twi more pain.

Twi let out a sob and lowered his head when Ghirahim let go of his hair and stepped back. Ghirahim licked his fingers.

"Your blood is quite delectable. Not the best I've tasted, but not too terrible." Twi silently sobbed. "I thought heroes weren't supposed to cry, especially in front of their enemies. It's a sign of weakness, isn't it? Though, despite being a hero, you're only human, a human child at that." Twi closed his eyes in reply, the tears fell faster when he did so. "So, what do you go by, child? I thought I heard that one man call you Link. You're a chosen hero too, aren't you?" Twi made no response. Ghirahim grabbed a fistful of his hair again. "Look at me when I speak to you, boy. You do not want me to get angry, do you?" Twi slightly shook his head the best he could. "Good." He let go of Twi's hair. "Now answer me."

"I... I am a chosen hero... and I go by Twi here... That man called me Link, because... that's my real name... there's another Link here in this time... so I have a nickname..."

"Very interesting. So you time traveled here? From when?"

"I..." Twi's eyes widened when he realized. "I don't remember..."

"That's rather strange. I suppose it doesn't matter. You'll never see it again."