Yay! Thirtieth chapter. Thanks for the continuous support, you guys.

"Ilia."

The girl froze, only for a split second. Then, she shook her head absentmindedly. There was no doubt Ilia thought she was hearing things, and continued to rummage through the shelves, searching for the tarp. At this point Midna almost lost her nerve. So Ilia had mistaken, her high, unusual sounding whisper as a figment of her imagination. It only gave Midna one more chance to back out, one more chance to give in to her growing apprehension of this last-minute plan. But she simply swallowed and spoke again, more firmly, more clearly.

"Ilia. I need to talk to you." Ilia, still on her knees, looked behind her. When her eyes fell on Midna she gasped and seemed to lose her balance, and fell backwards, grabbing the shelves behind her for support. Her jaw fell open and-

"No, no, no, don't scream!" Midna pleaded softly, wringing her hands. "Please. I'm not a monster, really." She stopped levitating and stood on the ground, hoping it would give her a more docile appearance. "I need to you help me."

"Help...you...?" Ilia spluttered, shaking. She didn't dare look away from Midna, but felt the ground around her in search of...a weapon? She picked up the first thing her fingers touched, an old, rusty lantern.

"Well, not me." Midna admitted. "It's Link."

"Link? But-you-how?"

"It's a long story." Midna said impatiently. "He's hurt. Badly. I need you to come with me so you can help him. You know some stuff about treating wounds, right?" She decided to cut to the chase.

"I-yes, but..." Ilia's eyes narrowed. "Who are you? What are you?" She edged closer to Midna, a look of both curiosity, defiance, and fear plastered on her soft features.

"Listen, we really don't have time for this right now, Link-"

"What in hell makes you think I would trust you?"

"This." Midna hissed, fed up with being interrupted. She whipped out Link's horse charm from her shadow storage. "There. Listen up, blondie. I'm not going downplay this anymore. Link is going to die if someone doesn't help him. You don't have to trust me. But now you have proof I know him and if you care at all you'll at least come with me to look at him." Midna floated up to Ilia, draped the charm around her neck and floated back, crossing her arms.

"What's it going to be? 'Cause if you're not coming I'm going to try to find someone else who'll help him."

Ilia stared at her, the Horse Charm grasped in her hand. She didn't say anything.

"Fine." Midna gritted her teeth, trying to hold in her rage. "Fine. It's your conscience, not mine." She turned to leave.

"Wait. You...you're the one he was talking about. The one who he traveled with on his journey."

"...what did he tell you?"

"Not much. He just said you were from somewhere far away and you had to go back after everything was over. He didn't tell me you were...well...like that...but..."

"I get the point." Midna spat. This girl had already tested her patience enough.

"You hurt him. You left and he was never the same afterward. He tried his best to cover it up, but I knew something had happened."

"Good. You get an "A" for sensitivity. Are you coming or what?" Midna replied sarcastically, still facing the wall of the basement. Pain was ripping at her insides. She never wanted to hurt Link...

"Yeah. But how will we-"

"I'll hide in your shadow."

"What-"

"Just go with it!"

And so Midna slipped into Ilia's shadow, something she never imagined she'd ever do, and they went upstairs into the bar.

"Hey Ilia...where's the tarp?" Chien greeted her, walking over from where Telma was talking with the other members of the Resistance.

"Oh...I, um, couldn't find it. Listen ,Chien, I have to go somewhere. I'll be back soon, okay?" She looked up at him, her green eyes pleading that he wouldn't question her further. He got the message.

"Yeah...okay." Thunder clapped outside, interrupting the otherwise constant tap of rain on the roof. He handed her an umbrella.

"Thanks." She gave him a weak smile and turned to leave,

"Ilia..." He put a hand on her shoulder and turned around. His face was somber and serious.

"Whatever you do...be careful. Don't do anything...out of your league. Please. For me, okay?"

Ilia's eyes widened at these all-too familiar words. Her mouth opened, but she quickly closed it again. She remembered that one day in the spring, with Link and Colin and Epona, months ago...

"Chien...I'll do my best. But I can't make any promises."

He simply smiled. "I had a feeling you would say that." His warm, soft hand slid off her shoulder, but not before he gave her a comforting pat.

Ilia couldn't think of anything else to say. "I'll see you later..."