A.N.: Oh. My. Goodness. If you have as many extracurricular activities as I do, you'll understand what I'm going through. It's basically - wake up, school, clubs, go home, study, sleep at midnight. I'm sleep deprived, too, and sore from sword fighting...
We're entering the final stage of this story! That doesn't mean it's going to be over soon, mind you. ;)

NOTE: For those of you thinking this is going to turn yaoi, I'm going to disappoint you.

Chapter 16: Breaking Minds

Medli woke up as the sun's light began to creep across the boulders she had been lying on. She rubbed her eyes, stretched, and then almost screamed and ran when she thought she saw a monster.

"Oh my goddesses, Link, are you all right?" It was dark around his eyes and he looked a bit sickly, and his blank stare made him appear like a corpse. Medli hurried over to him and put a hand to his forehead to check to see if he had a fever. She was glad he was fine, but was still worried about the stare. "Link, did you sleep at all?"

"No," he mumbled.

"But why?"

The boy looked away towards the sun. "I was waiting…"

"He might come back tomorrow, Link. Valoo never said when he should return."

There was a low growl as the dragon decided to speak. "You are wrong. It has taken too long. I'm afraid he may have failed and decided to choose the wrong path."

"Oh," Medli whispered. She looked towards the hero who still sat rigidly watching the dawn break over the sea. "Link…"

"O Hero, the time is up for the sorcerer. We must give you your task to complete alone."

The girl treaded softly over to the huddled Link and put a hand on his shoulder. Link continued to ignore her. "Link, you should get some sleep. We can come back here tomorrow if you'd like…"

"No," his lips barely moved. He'd come all this way putting up with Vaati, and he didn't intend to finish it all alone. His eyes fluttered as he fought to stay awake.

"Link, you're going to get sick."

Suddenly, there was a sharp wind and Medli had to bring her hands up to her face to keep the sand away. When she looked up again, she was overjoyed to see the return of the sorcerer. Valoo spoke first, its voice full of surprise and respect. "O sorcerer, so you have returned. You had us worried that you had failed."

Vaati nodded, his face expressionless.

"I was wrong about you. I grant you access to Hyrule, and perhaps you may have a chance at redemption." The dragon's neck bowed down in a humble gesture. "O Hero of Winds, forgive me for doubting you. May the goddesses guide you both."

Vaati's eye twitched, but it was barely noticeable. The mage sounded like he was making an immense effort to be pleased by the grace when he uttered "thank you." As he turned to leave the mountain, he was interrupted by a loud noise of something heavy hitting the ground.

"Link!" Medli cried. The Hero of Time had fallen asleep.

XXXXXXXXX

The waves lapped against the side of the ship as it lurched its way towards the Tower of Gods. Progress was slow, as Vaati had retreated to sit by the bow by himself, refusing to touch the Wind Waker and forcing the crew to do their best with the current wind. Link was asleep in the cabins, resting after the long night awake at the mountain summit.

Vaati was lost in thought, going over what Dethl and Valoo had told him. He wasn't sure what bothered him the most; the fact that he had been called a hero, a word that he despised, or the fact that he realized he had wanted to be a h…no, no, he wasn't going to think that. That was absurd.

"Er, captain…" a timid voice interrupted. The mage turned around abruptly and glared at Niko who had inched his way towards the bow. The pirate was wringing his hands together and trying to avoid the captain's red eyes. The eyes narrowed, and Niko scooted back again, unnerved. "Um, actually, never mind sir."

"No. Stay."

"What?" Niko squeaked. He began to expect some horrible punishment.

"If you want to say something, stop squirming like you want to pee and say it," Vaati snapped. The pirate gulped.

"Oh, er, I was just wondering if Link was, you know, all right."

The mage muttered something under his breath and rolled his eyes. "That idiot boy doesn't deserve worry, fool. He subjugated himself to stay up the entire night. At times I wonder how stupid he could possibly get." Niko hung his head and said something in apology. Before the pirate could scuttle away, Vaati stopped him. "I suggest you don't bother him. We don't want him to become more of an idiot." The mage had looked away so Niko couldn't see his face.

"Yes sir!" He began to dash away when he flinched and tripped over himself from the sound of the captain's voice.

"I didn't say I was done with you."

Niko sighed. What was it now? The pirate returned to the captain in sluggish steps, definitely not looking forward to what Vaati wanted. He grudgingly brought his face up to see the captain, expecting the usual glare. Niko was mildly surprised when he found the captain appearing hesitant and unsure.

"How do you see me? Answer this honestly or I'm going to make you regret the day you were born."

Niko blanched. Honestly? Well, I freaking see you as the most evil thing on the Great Sea. You're mean, you're a bully, you're purple, you're short, you have mood swings like a girl, heck, you LOOK like a girl, and you're the weirdest, creepiest person I've ever known in my life.

"Um, you're pretty scary, sir."

"Hm." Vaati put a hand to his chin and looked thoughtfully at some seagulls that were perched on the masts. His bangs hid his eyes. "Good," he whispered. Niko stood frozen on the spot, wondering when the captain was going to let him go. The pirate shook a little when Vaati turned around, a shadow over his face with a tight-lipped frown. "Hear this, I'm a villain. Do you understand that? A villain." Niko backed up as Vaati walked toward him. The pirate couldn't find his voice as he was cornered against the edge of the ship. "There's no question about it, understand? I'm evil, and nothing will change that. Now tell me I'm a villain."

Niko tried to answer but his voice seemed to catch at his throat.

"Say it, fool," Vaati hissed. The mage watched Niko trembling before him, and then roared in rage. "Say it! I'm the greatest villain of all time and not some foolish hero! I'm not a hero, you understand that?! I'm no hero! I'm EVIL!"

"Y-y-yes sir," Niko stuttered. His eyes were bulging in fear.

Vaati whirled around and stormed back into the cabin, slamming the door behind him. Once inside, he took a deep breath and waited for his pulse to slow. The sorcerer pinched the bridge of his nose in concentration. He was losing his identity, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could stand it. What was he? Vaati slid down to the floor with his back against the wall and put his face in his hands. This adventure was making him confused about himself, and he looked forward to its end. The end: it was so close he could feel its comforting warmth creeping up to him – he only hoped it wasn't going to end up consuming him in a burning inferno.

XXXXXXXXXX

Link was dreaming. Like in most dreams, he could only catch the vague sense of being sure of where he was. He assumed he was at Hyrule castle from the bustle of people gathered around some sort of plaza. He wandered around and tried to push past the crowd that was beginning to chant and scream obscenities, and Link wondered what it was that was causing the people to respond with such outrage.

It was a near perfect day, with a sky so clear that even the most cloistered scholar would want to come out and take a stroll. The only thing that Link found strange was that there was no movement in the air. There was no breeze that bothered his hat or pushed his hair into his eyes.

Link was able to push through past the crowd, as there was the snapping sound of taught rope. He was shoved into the middle of a clearing as the crowd cheered and went into a jubilant frenzy. When he finally got the sun out of his eyes he looked up and saw the gallows. In the warm morning sun, it was out of place.

Link's head went numb when he saw an inanimate object swinging slowly like a pendulum on the gallows; its blindfolded face washed over with strands of lavender hair. A purple hat with a red jewel lay on the ground before its feet.

Vaati was hanging from the noose.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"Swabbie, we're almost going to have to say goodbye, huh?"

It was three days after they had left Dragon Roost Island, and Link had finally come back to the deck, though Vaati was as sour as ever. Link and Niko were propped by the edge of the ship, watching the outline of the Tower of Gods become more distinct as they became closer to their destination.

Link glanced at Niko. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, swabbie, that I won't…I won't ever see you again after you go to Hyrule," Niko sighed sadly.

"Of course you will. I can defeat Ganondorf, so don't worry about it."

Niko looked away. "I know that. But I won't see you swabbie. If you finish this, I won't ever get to talk to the Link that had traveled time."

Link didn't say anything. What the buck-toothed pirate had said was true, and when they said goodbye this time, it was probably goodbye for good. If he succeeded, then he wouldn't return to the future. If he failed, then every incarnation of him will disappear forever.

"What's going to happen with you and the captain, swabbie?"

"Huh? Oh…I'll figure something out…" Link was lost in thought. To be honest, he wasn't sure what was going to happen. He remembered the dream he had and wondered if that was what it was going to come down to. Even if the spirits had forgiven Vaati, Link couldn't think of a way for all of Hyrule to forgive the mage enough so the hero could convince them not to hang him. It was a near impossibility; they would expect the sorcerer to be killed.

"Hey Link."

Link leaned against the ship's railings. "Yeah?"

"I'm going to miss you."

The ship creaked to a stop as the anchor was dropped and they arrived at the Tower of Gods; the place where Link and Vaati had first begun their travels across the flooded Hyrule hundreds of years beyond their time period. Link tried to convince himself that the water that was collecting beneath his eyes was just some sea spray. "Me too."

OXXXXXXXXO

bleu-blizzard: Because Dethl is a nightmare, I'm not sure if it can ever die. I think it can always come back. And yes, Nintendo did give it a weird name.

H-bomber: Hmmm, what will happen?! I also can't wait to find out how this goes! XD

Diablo1123: No. I don't think they will ever be back until summer vacation starts again.

Reily96: It's not horrible if it's self-afflicted XD. Well, you do get extra homework...but it's more fun. My personal thought is that Dethl will never die.

Peka the Corsair: No problem! And thinking's good!

Rune Caster: I didn't particularly enjoy writing its dialogues too...dang, I didn't like Dethl at all.