After what felt like far too long, Knil made it back to shore. He started running, knowing that the desert was too far from where he was. "(If Link's as bad as I think he is, I'm never going to make it. There has to be a faster way to get there.)" The solution hitting him like a ton of bricks, Knil skidded to a halt. "That's it." He rummaged in his bag, pulling out the small wooden ocarina. "Now how did that song go again."

It took a few sour notes for it to come back to him, but Knil finally managed to squeeze out the notes to call Epona back. He heard her neigh off in the distance, and ran off to meet her, sliding the ocarina back in his rucksack.

They met half-way and Knil climbed up onto her back. "Alright girl, run fast." Either feeling that her master was in danger, or Knil's urgency, Epona took off at a dead run. Miraculously Knil was able to maneuver to hold on against the bucking back of the horse. He stood up on the stirrups allowing her free range to move.

Soon, they came up upon Gerudo Fortress, sailing over the bridge. There were very few Gerudo left, but they didn't seem too keen on having him there. They shot arrows at him, running forward with swords and spears ready.

Epona just rushed past them. Knil pulled a bomb from one of Link's pouches on her saddle. He snapped the flints on his fingers and threw it at the gate leading to the desert. It exploded, causing Epona to whinny, rearing up on her hind legs. Knil actually let himself fall off. When he stood he grasped Epona's reins, calming her down. She soon settled, shaking her head. Knil stroked her nose, telling her to get away, not wanting the horse to get tangled up with the Gerudo, seeing as how she couldn't follow him into the desert.

Knil didn't actually see if she had left or not, before he ran off into the torrent of whipping sands. Trying to run in sand was very difficult, especially with zero if any visibility. Both from the whipping sands, and the darkness. Far too often, he had to stop and look around for the next marker, hoping he didn't misjudge the direction, and get turned around. Every second he wasted felt like an eternity. His head didn't seem to lose it's haze, as he had hoped it would. On the contrary, the longer he took, the more it seemed to fly. At one point Knil nearly lost his head completely. He lost his senses and collapsed just under one of the green flags, coughing in a way that felt like something should come up.

"Knil?" Ivan poked her head out of his collar.

"Ivan, fly to the next marker. I don't want to get turned around."

She hesitated slightly, but did as he said. She might have called back to him, but there was no way he could hear her. His vision started to haze over, and he felt like he was going to throw up. He needed to hurry. It was pretty clear to him where this pain was coming from. A brief thought crossed his mind to wonder if he would die along with him.

Knil clenched his eyes against the wind, glancing back the opposite way. Why hadn't any of the Gerudo followed him? He used the flag pole to lift himself back onto his feet, and set off again. Ivan resumed her normal position in his collar.

Finally reaching the Oasis, Knil stumbled from the wall of sand. His head snapped up, as the sound of rushing water grew steadily louder. The dizziness of his head didn't want to fade, but a new warmth seemed to swell in his chest. Knil clambered to his feet and set off at a dead run. There was no way he could make the same jump as before. He was far too weak to get the kind of power he needed, but there was still another way. Knil bolted towards the cliff's edge stripping off his tunic, and pulled the blue one out from his sack, sliding it on over his head. He closed his eyes briefly, wondering whether or not he should leave them closed, so he wouldn't know where the edge was.

"Are you really going to dive in?"

"I don't have a choice."

"But how do you know this tunic will really help."

Knil paused briefly, opening his eyes again. "Link said it would." Knil picked up speed, hoping it would keep him from stopping, and jumped over the edge of the cliff. A thrill spread through him as he seemed to freeze briefly in mid air before plunging to the pool below.

He curled himself up to try and diminish the impact on the water. Mainly from force of habit, Knil held his breath, sinking into the deep pool. He felt a wave of panic as he clawed desperately at the water encasing him. Finally, Knil's head broke water and he gasped for breath.

"Knil." Ivan flew over. "Knil, are you ok?"

Hopefully from the chill of the water, Knil shivered. "I'm fine. Let's hurry." Knil swam towards the edge of the the falls, and rode them all the way down. Still a bit nervous about the circumstances, he tried to hold his breath as best he could, but it was difficult with the rush of the water. He ended up inhaling some of the water, but an interesting thing happened. He could feel the water rushing in, and the molecules split. The oxygen divided from the water and made it's way into his lungs. It was amazing. He could actually breath.

When Knil made it to the bottom pool, he scrambled over to the shore and pulled himself out. He knelt on the shore, trying to catch his breath. As much as he was able to breath, it was different, and didn't feel like enough. "Wow. That was actually pretty cool."

Soon, a indistinct scream caught his attention, back down the river.

"It's Navi." Ivan cried.

Knil scrambled to his feet, drawing his sword as he ran down the bank of the river. Soon a small blue light came into sight and his heart nearly stopped. Link was bleeding badly, slumped unconscious against where he was tied to a tree. In a cry of rage, the black blade sparked in the moonlight, cutting the rope that bound Link's neck.

"Kn-Knil?" Navi sighed in shock.

Link's head slumped forward. "Ivan, heal him." Knil dropped to his knees next to Link, as Ivan started trying to heal his wounds. He propped his lighter-side's head against his shoulder, looking over the irons holding his arms. "Damn, Link. What on Earth have you gotten yourself into?" He struggled with the irons, unsure of how to get them off.

"Knil." Navi called, banging on the glass. "Knil, let me out. I can unlock the irons." Knil propped Link against the tree, making his way over to where Navi was. He grasped the bottle, and tried to pull the cork out, but it was shoved in too deep. Feeling aggravated, Knil threw the small bottle up, and sliced at it with his sword. The glass cut in half, and Navi zoomed out of it, making her way to Link.

Knil knelt next to Link again, supporting him away from the tree. "Hurry, Navi." The chains finally came undone, and Link was free to fall forward. Knil cradled Link in his arms, head falling back over his shoulder. He ran a hand through his hair, a chill cutting through him again. This time, however, it didn't dissipate.

"Is he ok?" Navi cried, hovering frantically.

"He's so cold." Knil's gaze fell. "But at least he's breathing. Come on, Link, you can't die."

"Can't you heal him any faster!" Navi screeched.

"I'm trying." Ivan cried, shaking her head. "He may already be too far gone."

"Don't distract her." Knil's eyes gently closed, drawing Link closer to him. "Come on, Link. You're stronger than this. You have to wake up. Don't let something like this take you down. Not after everything you've been through."

Link's shallow strained breathing started to even out and he moaned softly. "Knil?" He crooned in a weak rasp.

Knil started. "Link? Link, are you alright?"

He looked for further signs of life, but Link couldn't even open his eyes. "Knil, you're wet."

Knil laughed shortly, holding him tighter. "Yea, I realized this."

"Link!" Navi cried, rushing over to check on him "Link, are you alright."

"Knil, listen to me. You have to protect the stone."

"What are you talking about?" It was a miracle he could speak at all, but his voice was still too low. The only reason Knil could hear him at all is because his head was right next to his ear.

"The Spiritual Stone of Life. It's the only thing keeping the village alive. You have to get to it before the Gerudo."

"Stop talking, you idiot. Do you want to agitate your wounds?"

"I buried the stone. I tried to deceive them, but they might still find it. You have to protect the stone." Link cringed, the wound in his stomach sharpening.

"I said, stop talking. I'm not going to leave you, in this condition."

A small smile touched Link's lips. "I'm glad to finally hear you say that. But you need to hurry. My life can't compare to the countless families that will die if that stone's taken."

"I don't care about them. Your life is all that matters. I don't know these people, I don't care what happens to them."

"Then think of it this way." Link's head rocked into the side of Knil's neck, his eyes finally opening. "If those people die, then my injuries will have been for nothing. If you won't do it for them, then do it for me."

Knil was struck silent. So he did get hurt to protect these people. "Why?" His eyes narrowed upon his injured friend. "Why would you give your life for these people? You don't even know them. What have they done for you? You really are an idiot."

Link smiled, laughing softly, though it seemed to hurt him to do so. "I suppose I am. I guess I can't escape my destiny after all. I'm always going to be cursed to be the hero." Link sighed softly, his eyes closing again. "Please, Knil. Navi can lead you to the stone. Just promise me you'll protect it."

Knil's grip loosened, and he sighed. "I guess there's really not all that much I can do for you here."

"Knowing that you're helping them might help me."

Ivan glanced up at him. "I'll keep working on him. You can go."

Gently, Knil moved Link to lay him on the ground. Link's eyes strained against the pain, and he groaned. "Please, hurry."

"You'll be ok?"

"Just go." He responded weakly. "There's not-not much-time." Link let out a slow sigh and fell under again.

Knil watched him a bit unsure. He knelt next to Link's head, running a hand through his hair. This wasn't right. He didn't deserve to be put through all of this. Knil sighed, beginning to rise to his feet. "Come on, Navi. Show me where this stone is."

Navi glanced down at her unconscious partner. "Ok. I can lead you through the tunnels. I think I remember the way." She took off, and Knil ran after her, snatching his sword up from the ground. Navi took off behind the waterfall, but Knil stopped. He glanced back at Link. The sick ping hitting his stomach again. For the first time since he could remember, he found himself silently praying to the Goddesses. He figured it was worth a shot to ask them to look after Link. Considering what all they've thrown on him, they owed him that much.

He closed his eyes, turning away from him. "Please, don't let him die." Knil hurried behind the waterfall so that he wouldn't lose Navi.

AN: i've come to the realization that Ivan is actually a Russian name (ok, i've known that for a while, but i hadn't been pronouncing it that way for her, and i didn't think of it until just a few seconds ago) the name of Knil's faerie i intended to be pronounced ee-von. it may not matter, just throwin it out there. also, i need to pay more attention to what i write, and how long they are. This has been in my compy for weeks now. i was just writing the chapter, not sure where i wanted to break it, then realized it was nearing 13 pages, and not approaching a stopping point... so yea.