- Part II -

Chapter 17

Altogether Separate

It was a hushed journey home. The only noise to disturb the air was the flapping of three massive pairs of wings. The determination locked on Link's face proved how eager he was to get back, and to leave the nightmare behind…He leaned down upon his loyal animal companion, communicating silently, with or without knowing it. The feathered animal knew what his master had undergone, its sixth sense alerting him to the drastic change in the human's feel. Noticeable only to a creature as intuitive as a loftwing, Link's shifted demeanor was unvarnished. It made the animal nervous.

It didn't help that traces of magic of one as evil as the demon lord had been deposited throughout Link's body; remnants resided not only on the hands that clutched the bird's shoulders, but in Link's mind, as well. The powerful animal turned a golden eye to his master, seeing the stream of guilt, smelling the scent of regret, and feeling the squeeze of a deep, unidentified longing.

Link considered the amount of time his devoted bird must have been waiting above the cloud rift, resting on a neighboring island, waiting for that call. His devotion almost made Link tear up all over again. To be in the presence of someone who loved him unconditionally, no matter what, was beyond refreshing.

Crimson led the way back to the Main Island of Skyloft. Hematite, Pipit's aptly named bird, trailed several feet behind in Crimson's wind stream. With the leather rein strap in his grip, Pipit kept a low gaze. As he absentmindedly kneaded his bird's back, a mass of silver, downy feathers swallowed his fingers. To his right flew Midna.

If ever there was a majestic loftwing to top all majestic loftwings, Midna's bird would have been that bird. Her feathers were so flawlessly black that she was completely invisible at night; her wing tips were so red that they could easily extract the jealousy from the most faultless of rubies. The creature was absolutely stunning.

"Hematite's a handsome bird," Midna called over the breeze. As lustrous ginger locks floated about her face, Pipit lifted his eyes, roused from his pensiveness.

"Oh…yeah, I always thought so, too," he replied congenially.

"Zelda's bird seems to agree wholeheartedly," Midna noted with a sideways grin. "Judging by her reluctance to let him leave a minute ago." She raised her brow, hoping Pipit's sullen expression would fade.

"Oh, yeah…definitely," Pipit concurred, making no attempt to mask his inability to pay proper attention. "She uh…" His eyes trailed off. "…Azura, I mean, she's had this…thing for Hematite lately…" His voice alternated between audible and practically silent as he fixed his sights on Link.

"Too bad she couldn't come with us. She seemed pretty sad…But she's way too faithful to desert Zelda. And I'm sure she'll continue to track her without any problem."

"Oh, yeah, too faithful," Pipit acknowledged, scratching his scalp beneath his hat. "Way…way too faithful." He took a deep breath, looking flaccid.

"You okay?" Midna asked. Pipit looked ahead, observing his best friend. He seemed to be clinging to his red loftwing with unusual firmity. Hesitating to speak, Pipit shook his head.

"I knew he wasn't gonna be happy with me when he found out," Pipit said softly, "but I didn't expect him to react like that."

"I didn't either," Midna said, quickly altering her focus. "He was pretty upset when he walked off, but…" She stopped to give her secluded companion a sympathetic glance. "…But, yes, some of what he said surprised me a little bit."

"I'll say," Pipit remarked, not wanting to be overheard. "He's been pissed at me before. Like, really pissed. But this time's different. I thought he was gonna rip me a new one."

"You don't have anything to feel bad about," Midna reassured him. "You did what you could. Zelda didn't want to see him."

"I know, but…" Pipit said, grimacing as though he was about to be sick, "I still feel so bad I could die."

"Yeah, well," Midna sighed with a nod, "I think we've all got some stuff to discuss."

"To be honest, I think I'd rather play dead in front of a pack of hungry vultures than talk to him about you-know-who right now…"

"You're gonna have to eventually, Pipit. The longer you wait, the worse it's gonna be for both of you." She gave him a stern look.

"Okay, well, I assign you the job of softening him up," Pipit told her. "Take him down a peg for talking to you like he just did. That was no way for a knight to talk to a lady, especiallyyou. I know you're not gonna take that crap. Sober him up a bit and then I'll talk to him. If I mention what's going on with me and Zelda before he has a chance to calm down-"

"What is going on with you and Zelda?" Midna asked curiously. With shifty blue eyes, Pipit cleared his throat. He looked at Link again.

"Well…" he started. "I'm, uh…not sure yet. We haven't really been able to talk much." He shrugged, hoping Midna wouldn't prod his guilty conscience for answers.

"Not sure?" she asked, monitoring his restless hands as they wrung the rein strap.

"Nope! Not sure," Pipit said insistently. He gave her an edgy grin.

"She wants to be with you, doesn't she?" Midna asked, lifting both copper eyebrows as Pipit's jaw dropped.

"Well-"

"And you want to be with her, as well," Midna said. Pipit swallowed and looked to the horizon, trying incomprehensibly hard to ward off the deep blush that was trying to creep its way up his face.

"Well, d…I just," he stuttered, staring at Link.

"It's okay, you know," Midna said, leaning inward from atop her ebony henwing. Pipit's face appeared hopelessly bleak.

"How is it okay?" Pipit asked, indirectly admitting the truth. "I can't help but feel like I'm stealing something from him. I mean, there's no way around it. I knew that he hadn't completely let her go yet," he said, looking into Midna's eyes, "but I didn't know to what extent he… liked her, like that…" Brooding for several seconds, Midna adjusted her feet on either side of her bird.

"I knew he hadn't let go, too," Midna said with a blank face.

"You did?"

"Of course. It was obvious. The way he'd sound as he talked about her, the way he'd look when he saw her from a distance. Little things like that."

"Doesn't that bother you?" Pipit asked, the wind whipping his dark hair about.

"Well, I knew it from the day that I met him at the party. He would've never reacted the way that he did if he didn't really care for her. It's nothing new."

"Yeah, and she would'a never reacted the way she did if she didn't feel the same way," Pipit noted, shaking his head. "Man, her double-knee-to-the-groin was legendary."

"I'm sure," Midna said.

"He's undergone a lot because of her," Pipit nearly whispered. "I know how he feels about you, and I don't wanna make you feel bad, but…I'd never be able to forgive myself if I got in the way of what's meant to be between them." Waiting for Midna's refutation, Pipit was surprised to see that her stoic expression stuck.

"You're not the only one," she replied dimly. A bit goggle-eyed, Pipit slowly nodded.

"Well, I'm sure glad I'm not the only one who has to completely strangle out his feelings for the good of another," he said. "But he is my best friend."

"Mine too, at this point," Midna said.

"Even if he possibly wants to be with someone else?"

"Of course," she chimed with a shrug.

"Wow. You're one easygoing girlfriend," Pipit chuckled. "Like the polar opposite of Karane. That woman's-"

"That's the thing, I'm not his girlfriend," she explained.

"Oh, you're not his girlfriend…You just play with his manhood in gardens every once in a while?"

"What?" she squeaked, grinning wryly. They both peered at Link, careful not to raise his suspicions about their conversation.

"What, I'm just saying…" Pipit said, asseverating the innocence of his statement.

"That only happened once," Midna claimed. "Not like we went and did it again."

"Right, so instead you assault him in the hallway before his Wing Contest, almost making him late for said important event?" Midna gaped at him.

"I did not make him late," she stated.

"Ha, your argument is moot. I stopped you guys before you had the chance to."

"That's right," she told him, cocking her head. "You did stop us. Therefore, you can't accuse me of making him late, because it never happened. But, if we had made it to his room, I would've delivered him straight to the ceremony right afterward; not only on time, but highly satisfied, as well."

"Pssh, well then," Pipit said with a goofy face and snarky head bob.

"And you can't prove otherwise."

"Alright," Pipit said, maintaining his stance. "So those little incidences don't make you his girlfriend. But what about when Zelda disappears, and he has a duty to go find her, and you all are rolling around his dorm room like a couple of-"

"How'd you know about that?" Midna asked, drawing back.

"Everyone in the building knows about that," Pipit said, smirking at her huffiness. "Look, my point is, you guys were exceptionally cozy for a while there, and he isn't the type to give himself away to just anybody. If you guys aren't together, then you could've fooled me. And most likely all of Skyloft." Midna shrugged as a meager grin stretched across her face.

"I dunno. I told him how I felt that night that we went into the village together. I mean, it was a wonderful evening," she said, recalling their fleeting make out session under the stars, "but he wasn't ready. And I wasn't gonna push it. I'm still not going to. I have no desire to overstep any boundaries."

"Well, we wouldn't want that," Pipit declared. "Especially after you guys stomped all boundaries into the ground with all of your little lovers' trysts."

"Pipit…!" Midna scolded, gesturing toward Link with her eyes.

"Hey, I speak the truth."

"This is coming from someone who is habitually less than restrained when it comes to the opposite sex."

"Hey, I'm a victim of my past," Pipit said defensively, with a good bit of sarcasm. "I've been pulled into bondage by the allure of filling my emptiness with women."

"Sure," Midna said sardonically.

"I'll have you know that I've decided to behave myself more," Pipit said with some form of pride. "Not sure how it's gonna pan out, but I guess we'll see."

"Watch out. Too much confidence in yourself leads to bad things."

"That's what I told him before he left," Pipit said, his tone turning grave.

"Well, if you insist on feeling remorseful," Midna said, "do so on his behalf. Not your own. His harsh reaction to you, and to me, has more to do with what he's dealing with. It has little to do with us."

"Well, thank you, Sage Midna," Pipit quipped. "But I still feel like hell about it."

Unaware of the secretive exchange of words behind him, and not given to curiosity at the moment, anyway, Link watched intently as the image of his home grew. With each passing minute, his eyes widened, his back became more rigid and his heartbeat sped up. To finally be almost home…To be right on the doorstep of the most beloved place in existence, a place he feared he would never see again…

What an unbelievable contrast Skyloft was to everything he had perceived in the demon realm. Despite having endured most of his journey in the Faron Woods, it felt as though his trip in the infernal realm of demons had not only taken up most of his time away, but that it had lasted an eternity…A time without end. Part of him felt as though he had never left.

He rolled his head from side to side, modifying his position on top of Crimson. Sitting still was proving difficult as his thoughts raced recklessly along. As he rubbed the back of his tense neck, he scowled.

He could still see the demon's face, hear his authoritative voice, feel his invasive hands…

Barraged by confused thoughts, he cracked his knuckles, wiggled his fingers, rubbed his bare head, shook the residual dirt from his boots, brushed off the front of his tunic, and assessed the faint scruff that was beginning to show up on his face; all the while, his friends chatted.

He wasn't sure why, but being in the air, and being away from the surface, left him feeling strange, as if something was amiss. Something outside of himself, something altogether separate was vying for his attention. He shifted again, feeling uneasy, craving something, both in mind and in body.

"In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king…" Link heard in his head. Stiffening like a startled deer, he blinked. No…The demon again…

"You may be something in your pathetic home world, but it is all an illusion. You truly are nothing, sky child." Surprise yielded to antipathy. Would the demon ever leave him alone…?

"Why don't you tell your girlfriend how you feel?" Link mashed his tongue between his teeth.

"About what?" he mumbled harshly through a closed mouth.

"Must you ask?" Link rolled his eyes angrily, trying to will the irksome voice away. "You want it, sky child." He clenched his fists hard enough for his nails to dig into his palms.

"I already told you I don't want anything from you," Link growled, grateful for the strident hiss of the wind. "You're a predator and a manipulator."

"I think you enjoyed my predacious manipulations." Link's mind fell quiet for a moment, but it was nowhere near tranquil. "Come now, the first step to acknowledging that you have a problem is to -"

"Just leave me alone."

"Why? Aren't you enjoying this little game? It's been…riveting, has it not?"

"Not exactly the word I would choose."

"You may have left, but you have not gone far." Link glanced around as the billowing breeze flipped his hair about.

"What does that mean?"

"It means, be ready to see me again, hero."

"Oh, I'll see you again," Link grumbled, his eyes agleam with hatred. "As soon as I find out how to kill you."

"Tsk tsk. Such insolent words spoken to your master." Link scoffed heavily.

"…You're crazy."

"Oh, sky child, the great Demon Lord has already been established as your master, whether you care to admit it or not. As soon as you finally relinquished your control to me, the wheels of a thing far more amazing than you could ever have imagined were set in motion."

"What? Because in my misery I let you take advantage of me? I was upset, I stopped caring…"

"Oh, no, there's much more to it than that, hero. And you know it."

"No," Link said, shaking his head. "There's nothing more to it than that. I'm not as weak as you think. I'm not gonna fall for your trickery…Or whatever this power of yours is to tempt me, and make me turn my back on what I really want. You're not gonna win-"

"I do believe you're placing your troops and weapons in the wrong battle formation, sky child."

"What?"

"You're deploying on the wrong battlefield."

"I'm not-"

"You're not fighting me, hero."

"Oh, really?"

"No. You are fighting yourself."

"That's a bunch of…" Link rumbled, staring at Crimson's back.

"Fidgety much?" Midna asked out of nowhere, causing Link to grab his chest in shock. "Sorry," she said. Link looked away. She tilted her head gently as Crimson met beaks with her pitch black bird. "Garnet wanted to come see Crimson," she continued. "She was getting pretty restless back there. You know how these two are. They're like bosom buddies lately." Refusing to move, Link ignored her. "So, what do you wanna do first, when we get back?"

She got nothing but silence from him as he glared straight ahead.

"Well, if you're short on ideas, I've got a few for you," she told him. His blue eyes turned in her direction. "I think you should visit the campus nurse, possibly the hospital. You really should get checked out after your…ordeal." His eyes barely made it to hers before he looked away again. "And we should eat. I think we're all famished. Those funny looking yellow fruits in the woods don't stick with you for very long." Hoping he would turn toward her, she was given only his profile to look at. At least it was a nice looking profile. "If you can manage to climb high enough in the trees to get to them, that is, or have the aim to knock them down with a rock. Or a stick. Did you end up trying one of those? They're really messy, but pretty good."

"Slingshot's good for that," Link said quietly, his eyes locked in front of him.

"You have a slingshot?" Midna asked, happy that he was finally speaking.

"Mmhmm, got it in the woods," he answered.

"You'll have to show it to me," Midna suggested.

"Sure," Link said softly.

"Link," she said, reaching for his hand. He watched as her palm slid over the back of his tight fist. "Don't worry about earlier. I know you're dealing with a lot, and I'm willing to forget about it if you are." As her thumb slowly swept back and forth across his hand, he grinded his teeth, becoming even stiffer. But, his eyes softened. "I just wanted to let you know it's okay. I was annoyed at first, but…I know that's silly of me."

"No, it's not silly," Link said, fixated on the approaching island. "I shouldn't have said what I said, or disregarded you like I did. It was disrespectful. I'm sorry." His jittery eyes finally came to her, but just for a few seconds.

"Thank you," she said sincerely. "Does that mean you're ready to talk to Pipit now?"

"Ha, no," Link replied.

"He really wants to talk to you, Link." At last, he faced her.

"If I talked to him, I have no idea what I'd end up saying," he admitted. "So I'd rather not. Not right now." Sighing, Midna pulled back as Link withdrew his gaze.

"I'm not going straight home," he told her quickly.

"Uh, you're not?" she asked, confused.

"No. I'm stopping in the village first."

"The village? What for?"

"There's someone I wanna see," he said with his eyes low.

"Oh? Who? Is it that Malon girl?" she teased.

"Malon? Why would I make the twenty-minute trip all the way to the North Province to see her?"

"I dunno, you tell me."

"We barely talk anymore," he informed her. "I saw her not that long ago, right before Zelda disappeared. But it was weird. I just felt ill at ease."

"That's 'cause she likes you, stud muffin. And you know she does."

"I suppose…Stud muffin?"

"Well, she needs to get in line, I think," Midna said, giving a little giggle. "But the line…It is long." Link shook his head, trying not to grin. "Ha! Is that a smile I see?" He gave her a twisted look, feeling patronized. "I haven't seen you smile even marginally since I first mentioned your birthday present in the spring."

Link's relaxed expression immediately changed as he turned away. A sensation that could only be described as awkwardness mixed with guilt struck him in the gut, and it packed a wallop. The mere mention of being intimate with her right now…And it wasn't only because of what had happened with the demon.

Zelda's words, the words she had spoken to him as they stood in her room two weeks ago, shoved their way into his head…

"I'm jealous that it's her you desire. And not me." Link's throat suddenly felt tight. "I'm starting to desire you in that way as well…And I want you to desire me in the same way. I want you to look at me the same way that you look at her. I want you to...to respond in the same way when I touch you…"

Her eyes were so beautiful that day…he thought, lifting a hand to tug at his earring.

"I really feel that time is of the essence, you know? I have this sense of urgency that's just growing inside of me…as if waiting to do or say certain things is going to leave me in a world of regret…"

World of regret…

And when they played their instruments together for the last time, he with his violin and she with her harp, there was something thrilling in the air-

"Something the matter?" Midna asked.

"Huh?" Link replied with a jump as his hand dropped. Her lip curved in wonder.

"I think your head got stuck in the clouds for a minute there, my friend."

"Sorry…keeps happening today."

"Well, don't worry about it. I think you've earned the right to daze."

"'Kay, well…"

"So, did you want us to come with you to the village? Or did you want us to wait at home for you?" she asked.

"Up to you, I don't care either way," he replied dryly.

"Well, I think Pipit and I might be a bit paranoid about letting you out of our sight…" she admitted.

"I'll be fine, Midna, we're home now."

"I'm gonna ask Pipit what he wants to do, then."

"Sure."

"Are you gonna tell us who you're visiting? Or is it gonna remain a mystery 'til we get there?"

"You'll see," he told her. The birds' shadows appeared beneath them on the grass of the Main Island.

For Link, passing over the place that he called home was surreal. Everything appeared the same, unchanged, as if he never left. Every landmark and structure was in its place, and intact: the proud Goddess Statue, row after row of residential buildings – including building eleven – the library, the sparring hall, the Bazaar on campus, the pumpkin patches, the sparse scattering of houses that lay separate from the village, caves, streams, waterfalls…

Instructors, students, knights, children, and even remlits bounded about the grounds, busy with early summer activities. Link was sure that the majority of the population must have been preoccupied with the next up-and-coming wing contest: one of a long string of events that took place for the less than lucky students who had not been selected for the first contest.

He could see people pointing to the sky, most likely voicing their amazement about the sudden appearance of Link's rare loftwing. With the only red loftwing, there was simply no blending in.

But his mind had wandered again, providing him with a secluded haven as he soared above the sea of gawkers. He looked toward the westward drop off, a place where he had spent countless hours of his life. Flight classes, maneuver practices and even the contest during the Wing Ceremony had all been spent there.

And what a day that had been; Zelda's final day, their final day together…

Not wishing to fly anymore, and perfectly confident in Midna's ability to keep Link out of trouble, Pipit descended to the large, open landing area. Link and Midna watched as Pipit was enthusiastically greeted by everyone in the vicinity.

"They're all wondering about you," Midna said, looking over to see Link's reaction. Outwardly, he seemed observant, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

And so it went as the pair made their way to the village's North Province. Knowing that he was content with the silence, Midna kept her thoughts to herself. Instead, she looked at him once in a while and smiled, happy to have him home and in one piece, even if his mind seemed fragmented.

Glades, hills, dusty roads and countless farms passed beneath them. Midna sensed a transformation in Link as more and more distance was put between them and the Main Island. His posture became more relaxed for some reason.

With numerous open fields and grasslands to choose from, landing a loftwing in the North Province was never a problem. Targeting an empty paddock within a somewhat isolated dairy farm, Link and Crimson swooped down. Midna and Garnet followed close behind.

With their birds resting contentedly after the long flight, the two humans marched their way to a certain farmhouse.

"Are you gonna share with me what we're doing yet?" Midna asked her determined companion.

"Visiting a girl," Link said.

"A girl?" she asked.

"Yep."

A small timber-framed house, more pragmatic than aesthetic, appeared before them as they walked. Although simplistic, the structure had a warm, welcoming feel to it. Assessing the area for any possible children, Midna placed her bow and quiver against one of the white fences just outside of the house. Walking behind Link, she lifted her hand to an indigo butterfly fluttering about beside her.

After knocking lightly, and assuring Midna that it was permissible to enter, he led the way inside. Taking in her surroundings, she breathed in the rustic smell of wood, felt the heat of a kitchen hearth and admired the many colorful bouquets, made up of wildflowers from a nearby meadow.

As they entered the living area, Midna expected to be greeted by a woman, but was instead met by a stocky, short-statured, brunette man with a short beard, long face and very kind eyes. Sitting comfortably, he held a tiny baby in his arms.

"Link!" he cried. "What a pleasant surprise! Welcome, son. Did you just get back?" Link returned the man's charisma with a weak smile.

"Yeah, I did," he said.

"Any news on Zelda?" the man asked, his eyes beaming brightly.

"She's not here, but she's okay," Link said, watching a nearly visible weight lift from the man. He shook his head in relief.

"So, what happened? Where did she go for so long?" Link ran a hand through his hair, eying the baby.

"Well, we actually don't have a whole lot of time right now. 'Cause we just got back, and all, so-"

"How rude of me! I'm so sorry," he said, looking at Midna. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Rusl." He reached a friendly hand out.

"Midna," she said with a smile.

"So, um, I'm curious as to why two knights have randomly showed up in my humble little abode," Rusl said with a grin. "Did I do something? You guys here to arrest me?" Link and Midna glanced at each other.

"Not that I know of," Midna giggled.

"I know you must have a lot that you want to do now that you're back, Link, so, what's up? Why did you come?" Link looked at the wall for a moment.

"Uli leave you all alone with the little one today?" Link asked.

"She just went into town to do a little shopping," Rusl said with a nod. "Why, would you like to speak with her?"

"Oh, no, just asking," Link told him. "Actually, um, I was wondering if I could hold Myna…" Midna gaped at him, finding his request odd. Rusl stared for a moment before lowering his head to the one-month-old baby girl in his arms.

"Oh, you came all this way to see Myna?" he asked, a bit confused.

"Yeah," Link said, "can I hold her for a minute?" With a vacant expression, Rusl nodded.

"Great, can I take her outside?" Link asked as he scooped her up, claiming her for his own in an instant.

"Uh, yes, if you'd like…" His voice slowly faded as he realized that the young man was already just about outside. Midna was left in Rusl's living room, staring at a stranger. She shrugged.

After leisurely spanning the house, Midna stepped out into the sunshine. She took a few steps, surveying the area from left to right. Finally, she spotted Link, blending into a background of vegetation in his emerald tunic.

In the crook of his left arm laid the tiny head of a baby. She might have been too young to give a genuine smile, but she came pretty close. Link looked into her eyes and talked…and talked, and talked. Just out of earshot, Midna heard nothing but a jumble of mumblings, but she decided against taking another step. She simply watched their one-sided conversation, and waited.

After several minutes, she flopped down in the grass, cross-legged. Playing with the tip of her black knight's cap, she smiled, unsure. Link seemed to be telling the little girl the most interesting of stories as his mouth moved a mile a minute. Her young eyes stuck to him like glue as she squeezed his index finger in her hand. The baby was exceptionally comfortable with him, laying in his arms and listening to his voice. Then again, what girl wouldn't be…?

"What're you doing, you silly boy," Midna whispered, innocently curious, yet morose. As soon as she thought she had Link figured out, he'd throw her for a loop, somehow. She started to smile again, observing a soft Eskimo kiss between the two.

A full twenty minutes had passed by the time Midna saw him climb to his feet. Lifting her face from her hand, she blinked the mild grogginess from her eyes, feeling the stress of the past week.

"Ready to head out?" Link asked, still clinging to the bundle of joy in his hands.

"You bet," Midna answered, glad for the gratified look on Link's face.

After handing Myna back to her father, Link thanked him and turned to leave, promising to return in the near future.

Midna stared at Link's back as she followed him away from the farmhouse and through the trees. She pursed her lips, glancing around. She watched her feet as they retraced the steps that they'd taken along the dirt path between the house and the paddock. She lifted her head to see a high canopy of thick leaves above them. A wooden fence stretched out at their right, while the edge of a forest lined their left. They were alone again…

It was then that she decided she just had to stop him.

"Link," she called, keeping her eyes on him. He stopped abruptly, and she followed suit. He didn't move for a moment.

"Yeah," he said, turning his face to the side.

"Can you wait a second?" she asked. He turned an eye toward her. "Can you…?" She twirled her finger in a circle a few times. He hesitantly turned all the way.

Midna searched his face one more time. Even though he looked better than when she had stumbled across him in the temple, he was a far cry from his old self. The change in him was more obvious now than when they had sat together in the spring. She could tell by looking into his eyes that something had cut him, deeply.

"This probably isn't going to make much sense," she told him as she stepped up to him. "But, you're so…troubled, that I hardly even recognize you anymore." She looked at his chest as he gaped at the top of her head. As she brought her face up, he tensed. "Can I be blunt?" Pausing for a few seconds, Link nodded his disinclined approval.

"I've never seen you like this, and I really don't like it," Midna said. "What could possibly have dashed your confidence like this? You're uneasy…" She wrapped her fingers around his. "Even though you're out of harm's way, and in spite of knowing that Zelda's okay, you're still uneasy." Her shoulders lifted as she sighed. "I know that you don't want to tell me any more right now, so I won't bother asking. But just answer one question for me…" She narrowed her eyes. "Are you okay?"

Link's eyes jumped back and forth between Midna's as different thoughts sped through his mind. He offered her a nod, one full of self-assuredness, but she refused to accept it.

"No," she said with a disapproving headshake. "Truthfully, are you okay? Really okay? In here?" She pointed to her head. "And here?" She placed her palm onto his chest. He took hold of her wrist, feeling its warmth. After running his tongue around his mouth, he took a deep breath. Slowly, he shook his head no.

"I didn't think so," Midna said.

"I will be okay, though, Midna, alright?" Link said, tilting his head toward her. Midna froze, her eyes traveling all over his face. He was practically pleading for her to believe him. She tapered her eyes again, feeling as though he was more concerned with her peace of mind than with himself.

"I'd like to believe that," she said, looking down at their intertwined hands.

"Then please just do," Link insisted. The two stood in silence, moving their fingers together.

"It's not just that," Midna breathed. "I'm a little, well, jealous..." She provided him with a short-lived smile. "Will you ever tell me as much as you just told that baby?" With a few heavy blinks, Link leaned back.

"Uh…" he started.

"Well, maybe sometime…at some point. But, what were you saying all that time? Could you share just a little bit with me? Just…anything, no matter how insignificant?" Not responding right away, he almost made Midna believe that he wasn't going to entertain her request.

"I came here to promise her something," Link told her.

"Oh?" Midna asked. "What's that?"

"I promised her that I wouldn't let her die," Link confided. Not expecting such a statement, Midna tightened her grip. Link just stared back, his heavy eyelids demonstrating his languidness.

"I, um…" she began again, feeling perturbed by his answer, "it's also Zelda. I know you're uncertain, and having some doubts…"

"Midna…"

"No, just…let me finish," she said adamantly. He shut his mouth, figuring she deserved to speak what was on her heart, even if it was painful to hear - for both of them. "I think that, at this point, you have more than just a duty to bring Zelda home safely. You've got some soul searching to do, for yourself, and for her…"

Wanting so badly to dismiss her claim as a mere imputation, Link looked upon her with sadness. He knew that she was right. His desire to protect her feelings, although noble, was gravely misguided.

"I know," he confessed. It was all that Midna needed to hear.

"Well, I'd ask, 'Does this mean we're breaking up?', but we were never together in the first place…" The grin on her lips fizzled out.

"I don't really know what to say," he said. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize," she said quietly. "This isn't something that can or should be controlled."

"I wish I could," he avowed, sounding regretful.

"Don't feel bad. We'll take it in stride. It's best that we take a step back in light of everything that's going on right now, anyway. And just like a wise person once told you," she said, taking his chin in her hand, "just let it go. If it's meant to be, it will come back. Right?"

Link's gaze fell to her lips. He really wanted to kiss her, to offer her some sort of solace. To do such a thing right now would be hypocritical, though, given the circumstances. Or, at the very least, it wouldn't be gentlemanly. Or so he thought.

"I guess that's it then," he said, just beginning to realize that her soft chest was pressed against him. He looked down.

"Yeah," Midna agreed. She looked down as well, feeling the front of his tunic, happy to have him in front of her. "Think I could get one last farewell kiss?" A grin spread across his face.

"Um, you know what happened the last time you asked for a kiss," Link reminded her, not looking her in the eye.

"Doesn't mean it'll happen again," Midna said.

"Mm, well…" Link began. A kiss certainly sounded good. It would probably be their last one for a while, so…

Their mouths closed in. Their noses brushed as they felt each other's breath. Heads tipped, eyes closed and lips parted.

An image flashed in Link's mind. A grotesque picture of the demon lord, pushing into him with his long, dark tongue.

Link immediately shied away.

"What's the matter?" Midna asked, alarmed.

"Nothing," Link said, his eyes conveying something entirely different. "Maybe we shouldn't…" They held each other for a moment, motionless. Setting a hand on his chest again, she nodded.

The walk back was even more subdued than when they had arrived.

"Soooo does anyone else think the spork is, like, the world's most useless invention?"

Link and Midna both stopped, mid-chew, to stare at Pipit. The Friday hustle and bustle of the academy dining hall whirred around them. Link searched the room, amazed that nothing had changed since his departure, but not surprised by it, either. Why should it have changed, even if he had...?

"No, I'm serious," he continued, completely confident in the soundness of his logic. "I mean, look, you can't eat something liquidy like soup with it 'cause it dribbles everywhere." He took a moment to demonstrate as his two friends watched. "And you can barely eat anything solid with it 'cause the prongs aren't long enough to pick anything up. Seriously, whoever designed this thing sure didn't have a mind for the practical."

"Maybe they did it just to mess with you, Pipit," Link suggested, picking at what remained of his lunch.

"Or maybe it's just your purpose in life to either redesign the spork, or totally eradicate it from existence," Midna added, finishing her garden salad. Pipit looked at them both.

"Why don't you storm the kitchen wearing a ski mask and shout, 'Your sporks or your life'," Link added, not grinning in the slightest.

"Yeah, down with subpar dining ware," Midna added.

"It's all just a joke to you guys, huh? Well, I'm serious."

"That's the scariest part of all," Link said, swirling his spoon around in his soup.

"Uh-huh, well," Pipit grumbled, "what other more interesting topics do you ready-witted people have to talk about?"

"How about the way everyone's staring at us like we have three heads?" Midna suggested.

"Well, we do have three heads," Pipit said, taking a bite.

"I mean three heads each, Pipit," she said.

"Well, they are glaring at us pretty good," Pipit agreed.

"They're not glaring," Link said, still playing with his food. "They're just curious about the surface, and about Zelda."

"Meh, well, whatever. I'm kind'a tired of being the main spectacle in the room, so, you guys done? I'm probably gonna head home for a bit." Pipit stood up, grabbing his tray, which was now in shambles.

"Yeah. You ready to go?" Midna asked, looking in Link's direction.

"Yep," he answered, letting go of the newly blacklisted eating utensil.

"I wanted to give you your birthday present in your room, if that's okay," Midna said, standing up. Pipit cracked a smile.

"Just keep it down this time, you two, okay?" he said, turning to discard his tray. A look of horror appeared on Link's face. Midna held back a smirk. Wrapping an arm around Link's bicep, she urged him to stand.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Link asked, slightly appalled.

…..

Link's door clicked shut behind him. He glanced around the room, feeling the faintness of the midday light as it came through his window. He breathed in, very deeply, taking in the feel of it. His jaw dropped a bit as he realized that he was able to detect his own scent. It saturated the entire room.

I've been gone for so long, he thought. He looked at his bed, yearning to jump into it. But there were two things preventing it: Midna, and his violin.

"Happy to be home?" Midna asked, sitting tall.

"Immensely," Link answered with a long sigh.

"I know you probably wanna rest," she said, "but I wanted to do this for you first. Is that okay?" Link curled a lip and rocked on his toes.

"Uuuuum, is this appropriate for two people who aren't together?" he asked. Midna shook her head and laughed.

"Of course," she said, showcasing her pretty teeth.

"Okay, so…"

"Just sit," Midna said, pointing toward the spare bed beside the cupboard. "You ready?" Keeping an eye on her, Link inched his way to the bed opposite his own. He looked down, tempted to leap into the air and crash back-first into the mattress. It'd been a while since he'd had such an opportunity…

"Ready?" she repeated. Link took a seat.

"Sure," he said with his hands in his lap. When Midna took his violin in her left hand, he raised a dusty-blond eyebrow. She slid the bow into her right.

"What, did you have it cleaned for me?" Link asked, leaning forward. "Did you replace that old A string or something?" She grinned secretively, enjoying the look of his inquisitive eyes.

"You'll see," she teased, her smile growing.

"Maybe you had it engraved?"

"Mmmm, nope, but good guess," she said, her eyes twinkling.

"Polished?" She giggled softly.

"Just listen, silly," she scolded lightheartedly, pressing her chin to the chinrest and placing the bow hair next to the bridge. Link's expression turned downright disordered.

"Um, it's a lot harder than it looks, Midna," he told her with the wryest of grins. He almost scoffed, but just barely stifled it. Enjoying his commentary, Midna kept right on smiling.

"Hush," she said. "You keep talking, you're gonna miss it." Link shook his head. He leaned down, holding his chin in his hands.

"Well this ought'a be good," Link said.

"I hope so," she replied, pulling the bow downward, producing a soft yet harsh noise. Link started to cringe.

"Midna, what're you trying to do?" he asked. "I appreciate the effort…"

"Quiet, you, I'm just warming up," she said.

"If that's the warm up, then I must admit," he said, trying not to sound too snooty, "I think my ears are a little scared."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, really," he affirmed. "But, if you insist…"

"Well, I do," she said, just before she began to play.

Within seconds, Link's skeptical face turned utterly awestruck. As he watched her stroke the bow up and down, tilting it and alternating between strings, and moving her fingers along the fingerboard, he realized something-

Midna could play. And she was good.

Link just froze, and stared with huge eyes.

The song was something he had never heard before. It was gorgeous, whatever it was; a medium tempo song, full of feeling and emotion. It echoed off of the walls of his dorm.

He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Link marveled. She seemed to have it all down: harmonics, bowing techniques, the way she plucked the strings with her finger, vibrato… It was all incredible.

Link was shocked. He was amazed, astounded and surprised. He was also grateful for her effort.

But, above all, he was a bit put off. His thunderstruck look turned acidic as he felt the negative feeling start to rise up.

Back and forth she masterfully moved the bow. The notes that poured forth were long and drawn out, telling some sort of story; what the tale was, he wasn't sure.

Finally, her song ended. She looked at him, lifting the bow away and removing her chin from the instrument. The silence following the song was thick.

"Well?" Midna asked.

"Well…?" Link asked, his face in his hands.

"What did you think?" she asked frankly, tipping forward. Link looked away for several seconds. "No words left?" she asked with a half-shrug.

"Nope, no words left," Link said, not looking at her.

"Did you like it?" she asked, trying to tap into his honesty. "Or no? You didn't like it, did you?"

"I didn't say that," Link told her. "It was…really good, actually."

"You think so?"

"Definitely. It was just unexpected. I had no idea you could play."

"Well, I kept it a surprise, just for this occasion," Midna said with a bounce. "When you first told me that you played this instrument, I almost told you that I actually played for a number of years when I was younger. I got the idea to play something for you, to surprise you. I was rusty, of course, but practiced while you were away. Well, before I decided to go down to the surface…I hope you don't mind that I used your violin." Link eyed his instrument from top to bottom as it rested against her thigh. He looked her in the face.

"No," he said.

"I wrote it myself," she said. "Well, it was a composition I used to play as a kid that I modified as I practiced. I was going to play the original song, but, I changed it up a bit as I played. Just, went with the flow of it. I like how it turned out…"

"You must've spent a lot of time working on it," Link stated in a monotone voice.

"I did." She nodded, happy to have gained his approval, but finding his true feelings incalculable. She took a breath and turned her gaze away, a bit disappointed.

Link felt bad, as well. He knew her intentions had been good, but her gift left him feeling robbed, somehow.

His violin, and the mastery of it, belonged to him, and only him…

He hopped to his feet.

"Well, thanks, Mid," he said as politely as he was able. "Really, it was nice, I appreciate it. A lot." She got up.

"Thanks, I'm glad," she said. "But, um, you probably want to rest, so…" She made her way to the corner and claimed her weapon. Link watched, making no attempt to stop her. "I'll see you later." With that, she turned and left, leaving him alone with his closed door.

"Geez, good going," he said to himself, wondering how in the world it all had happened so fast. He scoffed at himself, feeling a touch callous. "Certainly could have gone better."

He gravitated toward his violin. He had missed it so much. It had always been his answer to life's worriment and misfortune. As a palliation for his woes, it prevented him from coming unhinged. He was impressed by the fact that he had lasted so many days without it.

He put his hand on it, touching the cold, polished wood. A feeling of the old and familiar came over him.

Eagerly, he sat down, bringing his instrument close.

Gods, it's been too long…

His fingers wrapped themselves around the fingerboard as the bow came to the strings. Finally…

Shutting his eyes in concentration, he drew the bow down the G string, delighting in the simple, natural movement.

He immediately shuddered and stopped. A horrible sound.

"Maybe it really has been too long..."

Resting his bow on the bed, Link looked at the floor in thought. He brought the bow up, ready to try again.

This time, he drew the bow up, but again, a scratching, strained noise came from the string. Frustrated, he mouthed obscenities.

Dropping his bow, he plucked the strings. They sounded in tune. He bowed down along the E string, but it practically shrieked at him. He hastily but carefully twisted the D string tuning peg before bowing. Suspecting that Midna had messed with the tuning, he experimented, wondering if altering anything would change the sound.

But, nothing worked. Every stroke of his bow sounded just as horrible as the first.

Bewildered by his lack of ability to play the violin which he had mastered long ago, he stopped.

"What's my problem?" he whispered to himself.

Then, a knock on his door made him jump to his feet, ready to fight. His chest puffed out a few times before he realized that he simply had a visitor.

"Uuuugh," he breathed, rubbing his face. Already deciding that it must be Midna, Link shuffled to his door. As it swung inward, however, he was hit with yet another surprise.

Two unfamiliar faces met him at the door. Two soldiers, dressed in army fatigues with matching patrol caps looked down at him. He looked each of them over, feeling as though they might pounce on him. Confused, his brow furrowed.

"Um, yes?" he asked.

"Link?" one of them asked in a needlessly demanding voice.

"Uuuuum, yes?"

"You need to come with us," the other said, his hands clasped rigidly behind his back.

"I what?" Link asked, gaping.

"Gather only what you need for three days," one man stated. "But keep in mind that all basic amenities will be provided."

"Make it quick," the other said, stern and emotionless.

"Wait, what?" Link asked. "Who are you?"

"We're here on orders to bring you to the general."

"…General?"

"Yessir. The general of the army has summoned you."

"Army?" The two soldiers shared a glance.

"Yes. The general of the Skyloftian army." After staring both men in the eye, Link tried to push between them.

"I want to talk to the Headmaster," he told them. One man raised a hand to halt him.

"We've already spoken with him. It's all settled."

"Well I haven't spoken with him yet," Link said, having trouble subduing his annoyance. "What does the general want with me, anyway?"

"He wishes to speak with you," one of the men's voices claimed.

"Well I'm going upstairs," Link said, leaving the impatient soldiers behind.

After flying up the stairs, Link saw that Gaepora's door was already open. Wasting no time, Link entered the office. As soon as he saw not only the Headmaster, but Pipit, standing there, he stopped.

"What's going on?" Link asked, forgetting his usual reverent bow. Fortunately, Gaepora didn't seem interested in formalities.

"It's okay, son, just go with them," he told Link, putting a huge hand on his shoulder. Link looked at Pipit, who looked as confused as he felt.

It was all happening so quickly.

"The general awaits," came a soldier's voice from outside. "Come. We have a one-hour flight. The general is not a patient man." Link turned around and glared before looking back at his friend.

"I'm not going without Pipit," Link concluded. Pipit looked at him for a few seconds, taken aback. "Is that okay?"

They waited as the soldiers deliberated. The two men delivered a rapid answer.

"Yes," they stated simply. Link faced his friend, waiting for his approval. Suddenly on the spot, Pipit nodded.

"It's settled then," one of the men said. "We have to depart. Come along." They gestured toward the exit.

Within minutes, two intolerant soldiers and two befuddled knights made their way outside. Link and Pipit walked along, giving each other looks, ignoring everyone else's puzzled stares, and having no idea what they were doing…