Ashei's eyes drifted open the next morning at the sound of the bedroom door slamming shut. Ilia strode in and plopped down on the bed.

"What's that?" asked Ashei weakly, referring to a large green bundle wrapped in Ilia's arms. Ilia jumped at the sound of Ashei's voice.

"Yikes! Ashei, I'm so sorry, did I wake you up?"

"Yes," Ashei answered, wondering whether she actually sounded bitter enough to be convincing. In all honesty, Ilia had woken Ashei up, but Ashei didn't care. She just wanted to make Ilia think she cared, to remind Ilia that she didn't fit in yet.

"This is a watermelon," Ilia said, answering Ashei's previous question. "Well, half a watermelon." It was true- the watermelon had been sliced in half, exposing the pink interior in the shape of a perfect circle. Without further ado, Ilia revealed a spoon—where had she been keeping that?—and began eating the watermelon with her spoon like it was a bowl of soup.

"You're so weird," Ashei stated.

"I know," Ilia answered simply.

With a sigh, Ashei sat up in her bed, pushing her thick black hair out of her face and letting it fall behind her shoulders.

"I saw you were rummaging through my makeup last night," Ilia now said, trying to tackle a scoop of watermelon that had come out quite larger than she had planned.

Ashei felt her stomach turn over. "What makes you think that?" she asked, trying to sound amused and not defensive.

"We girls always know," Ilia answered, and then yelped as her too-big scoop of watermelon slid off of her spoon as a sacrifice to the floor. "Darn it!" Ilia yelled, and laughed. Ashei caught herself chuckling along, and stopped as soon as she realized what she was doing.

No, Ashei reminded herself. This is Ilia. The last thing she needs to do is feel special.

The door burst open and Shad strode inside, slamming it behind him. Ashei growled, and Shad yelped.

"Knock next time, yeah?" Ashei demanded, retrieving yesterday's burgundy tunic from the foot of the bed. She pulled a white undershirt and leggings from the drawer and marched into the bathroom to change.

Shad turned to Ilia once the door had shut, an incredulous smile playing its way across his face. "Is that a watermelon?"

"Yeah," Ilia answered, "it is. Weird, right?"

Shad shook his head. "Not at all." He added, as an afterthought, "Telma and her crew are back."

"What? Already?" Ilia replied.

"Yes. She wasn't too eager to stay around Renado, so they made the trip in less than a day. The new road system Princess Zelda ordered has been working out quite nicely for travel."

"Sit down," Ilia suggested, patting the quilt in front of her. Shad sat down awkwardly.

Ilia nodded her head in the direction of the bathroom. "Is Ashei in a bad mood?" asked Ilia, digging again into her watermelon.

"Are you kidding?" Shad answered, laughing. "She's in a great mood. Usually she spends every morning trying to kill Link."

"Really?" Ilia answered, leaning forward.

"Yeah. They fight a lot."

"I didn't know that. Link never seemed one to pick a fight before the dark days. Now he's arguing with everyone. Do you know… do you know what happened to him? Something changed him."

Shad bit his lip. "I get this question a lot," he answered. "You're not the first one to ask, believe me. Rusl, Telma, Ashei—everyone's wondering how he ended up the way he is. When he's in large company, he's very cheery. Overly cheery, if you will. But if somebody strikes a nerve—and it happens quite often, believe it or not—he opens right up. He drinks a lot, too.

"So, in that way, Ilia, you're right. There's definitely something off about Link. I'm not quite sure what it is, but I've come to the conclusion that something must have happened to him that came as quite a shock; something happened that he couldn't get over. Maybe it's shell shock, from the fighting? Or—and this one confuses me—somebody might have died that he loved very, very much. Losing somebody hurts a lot—I lost my parents at a young age—and it wouldn't surprise me if what caused him to change like this was loss."

Ilia gulped. "I never knew you lost your parents," she said quietly. "Did you say that you lost both of them?"

"To illness, yes," Shad answered. He added, quickly, "But don't fuss over me. It's nothing to cry over. I barely knew them, anyway. All that's left of them is my father's vast research, which I have taken upon myself to finish."

"Oh," Ilia said softly. She struggled to change the topic as quickly as she could. "Link and I had a bit of a row last night," she said. "How should I face Link about it?"

"I wouldn't worry," Shad said, having stood up and now brushing off his trousers. "Link usually deals with things by trying to forget about them—hence his false cheeriness. He won't try and reconcile with you. If anything, he'll pretend last night never happened."

As if on cue, a soft knock came from the door. Two seconds later, Link entered with a smile.

"Morning, Shad!" he said. "Morning, Ilia!"

Ilia turned to Shad, impressed with his knowledge of Link's tendencies.

"Where's Ashei?" asked Link.

"Changing," Shad and Ilia answered simultaneously. For a second, they turned to each other. And then they broke out into synchronized smiles.

"Really?" Link replied. "I figured she had gone out, seeing as she didn't wake me up with a death threat this morning."

"An inclination which would not surprise me at all," Shad agreed, adjusting his glasses.

"I bet she was done in by that bum rush in Castle Town yesterday," Ilia admitted. "I know I am."

"Well, I hope you're not too tired. I've got plans for today."

Ashei emerged from the bathroom at that moment. "Plans?" she asked, having heard the last few lines of the conversation. She reached for her fur-lined boots and slipped them on. Then she grabbed her leather belt and fastened it around her waist. She didn't wear much armor nowadays—nobody did—although she kept it polished and in good condition should the chance ever arrive.

Most everybody in the group wore plain, simple clothing—tunics, for the most part. The exception was Shad, who still dressed like a mix of Princess Zelda and a runaway circus member.

And then there was Link, who still wore that old green tunic with the stupid hat. The thing smelled—she couldn't begin to imagine what he'd gone through in that uniform—and Ashei couldn't get over the fact that he refused to change out of it.

It wasn't that he had nothing else to wear—he did.

It was just that he chose not to.

"Yeah. I figured we've all been holed up in here for awhile now, and so I thought it would be a good idea to get out for awhile."

"Okay," Ashei said. "Pitch it to me."

"I thought we'd go to Hena's pond," Link suggested. "It's up on the river. We could rent a boat… maybe go fishing, maybe cast a line or something,"

Shad shrugged. "Sounds fishy to me."

There was a short pause, and then Ashei slapped Shad right across the face.

Shad only laughed. "I regret nothing."

"It's decided, then," Link said.

"Wait," Ilia cut in.

"Yes, Ilia?"

Ilia wiggled uncomfortably. "Can I finish my watermelon first?"

"Only if you finish it on the way down the stairs," Link answered, slinging his arms around both Shad and Ashei. "We'll be waiting in the bar."

They got downstairs to find Auru sitting at the bar. Neither Telma nor Rusl were anywhere to be seen. Ilia trailed several seconds behind them, an empty watermelon shell in her arms. She found a home for it in a trash bin adjacent to the bar itself.

"I see you've returned in one piece," Shad commented upon sight of the old man. Auru smiled weakly.

"I couldn't have said it better myself."

"What does that mean?" Shad now asked.

"Oh, we had a run in with a league of bulbins. Rusl was more than happy to ward them off. I tried to help, but—well, as you can imagine, I've seen better days as far as fighting goes."

"Bulbins in Hyrule Field?" Ashei asked. "That's strange. I thought they all left when Gan—when Zelda was restored to the throne."

Ilia cast Ashei a strange look. It was obvious that she had been about to say 'Ganondorf.' Despite being unaffiliated with most of the events the occurred six months ago, even Ilia—a young girl living on a farm—knew the name of the tyrant. Was there a taboo on the name that kept Ashei—and, for that matter, anyone around here—from saying it?

Curious, she turned her gaze to Link. He looked just as uncomfortable as Ashei.

Was that it? Was he sensitive to the name?

Between Link's attitude last night and the things Shad had said earlier, it was becoming steadily clearer to Ilia that the man Link was now was not the same one that she had known back on the farm.

"Where are you lot headed off to?" asked Auru, changing the subject with a certain amount of deftness.

"We're going fishing," Link explained. Auru shook his head.

"Bad idea, mate," he advised. "It's going to rain later."

"Says who?" Ashei returned.

"His bones, probably," Shad answered.

"My bones indeed," Auru clarified, to the disgust of the younger ones. "What? Don't give me that look. My brain says, look at the sky! It's blue! But my bones are telling me not to trust it. The atmosphere is heavy. It will rain."

"We'll be fine," Ashei assured him. "If it rains, we'll come back." She smirked.

"Very well," Auru answered, raising his eyebrows. Ilia couldn't tell whether he was amused or disappointed. "But when you're soaking wet, don't come crying to me!"

"Ashei doesn't cry," Shad claimed on the way out of the door. "It will just be raining on her face."

"Oh, Link!" cried Hena when she saw him enter through the cabin door. "I haven't seen you in ages!" She hopped nimbly over the counter and pulled him into a tight embrace, which he returned rather weakly.

"Good to see you, too," he said, giving her a pat on the back. After awhile he said, "I don't know what your motives are, but if you're going to hold me here forever, then…"

"Sorry!" Hena cried, pulling away. Shad stumbled in next.

"Ashei tried to push me into the pond!" Shad cried.

"Oh, please," Ashei groaned, trailing in behind him and patting him on the shoulder. "I would never do that. The pond doesn't deserve it."

"It would have been fine if Ilia didn't make a big fuss about it and try to help me, thinking that I might be hurt!"

"Have a crush?" asked Hena in amusement as Ilia materialized in the doorway.

"Nah," Ashei answered. "Ilia doesn't deserve that either."

Hena laughed and high-fived Ashei.

"Don't make fun of him," Ilia demanded.

"Oh, calm yourself. It's out of love," Ashei explained.

Shad rolled his eyes. "She lies," he said. "It's out of spite, jealousy, and some form of twisted glee."

"Let her go," Link said. "She's happy for once."

Ashei shrugged, not at all offended. "It's true," she said with a hint of pride.

Link turned to Hena. "Do you have any boats for lease? And fishing rods, for that matter?"

"I do indeed," Hena answered. "It's a beautiful day. Might rain, though…."

"Figures," Shad grumbled.

"You wouldn't be looking for a fun, savvy guide, would you?" Hena asked, bumping Link's hip with her own.

"Not today," Link answered. "We can manage on our own. I'll show 'em the ropes."

Ilia took a moment to observe Link's behavior. It was becoming a favorite study of hers. Link was like an experiment—exposing him to different atmospheres affected the way he acted.

Here, in public, but around people he was comfortable with, Link was mature and relaxed, while still managing to be happy.

In the bar—around Ashei and Shad, in particular—Link was a little sillier, a little more spontaneous and tenacious.

And then, when alone or dreadfully uncomfortable, link closed himself up completely and just held everything in until he exploded. It was almost like you had to be careful, or he'd become dangerous.

Goddesses, who was this man? He was delicate. Far more delicate than anyone—even Ilia—wanted to admit. And she was beginning to realize that the others sensed that, as well, and that they tried their best to live with it.

"I can only fit two in a canoe," Hena explained, leading the group outside. There were several other canoes already out on the pond with fishermen and tourists inside. "You'll have to split up into groups."

"Okay," said Link, taking control. "How about… Ilia and me in one, and Ashei and Shad in the other?"

Ashei turned to Shad and wiggled her eyebrows. Shad shook his head violently.

"No way!" he cried. "She'll shove me into the water!"

Link rolled his eyes. "All right, then. Shad, will you share with Ilia?"

A smile crossed Shad's face. "That sounds nice."

"Glad to know I'm loved," Ashei mused, throwing her arm across Link's shoulder. "You're stuck with me."

"Oh my God," Shad said. "You two will try and kill each other…"

"Wouldn't be the first time," Ashei said, stepping tentatively into a canoe as Link pushed it into the water.

"Hey, I have an idea," Ilia said. "How about a fishing contest?"

"You're going down," Link informed her.

"You're telling me," Shad muttered, staring ominously into the murky water as the boat cruised out onto the lake.

Link handed Ilia one of the paddles and they rowed out into the center of the lake. Link fiddled with his fishing line to attach the desired lure before looking around and casting it.

Ashei was sitting behind him and, the line cast, he turned around to face her.

"And now… we wait." He smiled. "Do you know how to fish?"

"I know how to ice fish," she said. "Is it anything like that?"

Link shrugged. "I wouldn't know. I've never been ice fishing—ah," he said as something tugged on the line. "Here." He passed the fishing rod to Ashei, who—having at least some idea how to fish—started reeling in the catch. She was actually quite good for never having gone fishing—although, who knows, maybe she had been fishing before. It wasn't quite below her to lie in order to seem more impressive.

She landed a bass swiftly and easily. Link jotted something about the fish down in a fishing journal—something he'd been carrying with him since Colin made him his first fishing rod—and then suggested that Ashei throw it back into the water, as it wasn't setting any kind of record and wasn't worth keeping.

Shad and Ilia weren't having as much luck on their boat. They were a ways across the pond, struggling to untangle a fishing line.

"Boy," said Ashei, casting the line herself this time, "they're really something."

"I think they'll get along well," Link mused, laughing as a pike jumped out of the water and caused Shad to nearly fall out of the boat.

"Just like you and I," Ashei added.

Link shook his head. "Nah. Not that well."

"It hasn't been just you and I for awhile," Ashei said, reeling in an empty line. They paddled farther through the water until Shad and Ilia were out of earshot. "I know Ilia's important to you, but… well, it's been a few days since we were able to talk."

"I should have known this was coming," Link groaned. "We're never sharing a boat again."

Link glanced up to see Ashei smile. That smile made him incredibly happy for no reason at all.

"We found, um, receipts. Customer receipts. Shad and I were a little startled—your name showed up a lot. You've, um, been… drinking, yeah?"

"Yeah," Link answered. "Don't worry about, me, okay? I've been better. I'll be okay."

"Are you sure?"

Link didn't answer, as at that moment something caught on the line and the boat gave a jolt.

"What? What is it?"

Link gave the line a passionate tug, reeling the fish in with all he had.

"Holy Hyrule... there's got to be a whale on the other end of this thing!" Link cried, and Ashei suppressed a rude comment about Princess Zelda.

"Keep reeling," Ashei demanded, trying to cover up her excitement by speaking in a dull voice. It was a bad habit of hers.

There were a few suspenseful seconds where Ashei thought that the boat might tip over, and then Link reached down into the water and retrieved the most glorious creature Ashei had ever seen.

"What is that?" she asked in something just above a whisper.

"Oh," answered Link, "just the Great Hylian Loach."

Ashei leaned forward, eyes wide. "I thought those didn't exist!"

Link shrugged. "Nah. I've caught a million of 'em. Just ask Hena."

And with that, Link unhooked the fish and released it back into the pond, much to Ashei's dismay.

"Heavens above!" Shad cried, craning his neck in Link's direction. "What is that mammoth creature on the one end of Link's fishing line?"

"Ashei?" asked Ilia dully.

"No!" Shad cried, completely oblivious to the insult Ilia had just thrown out. "It's some type of fish!"

Ilia glanced up once, returned her eyes to the tangled fishing line, and then did a double take. She leaned forward, her eyes about to pop out of her head.

"It's a loach!" she cried. "Link caught a Hylian loach—a Great Hylian Loach!" she couldn't contain herself with excitement.

Something slowed down for a second as Shad looked over her face. She was young and lively, a smile on her face that radiated innocence and warmth. For a second, Shad let his shoulders slack so he could just sit still and watch her happiness for a little while.

But then the perfect image cracked as Ilia opened her mouth in protest. "What is he doing?" she cried. "He's letting it back into the water!" With a huff, she collapsed back into the canoe. "Figures."

"Link at his finest," Shad agreed. He glanced down at the tangled line, a puzzle which Ilia had nearly solved.

"There we go," Ilia said, straightening out the line. "Ready to go."

There were a few seconds of awkward silence, broken by Ilia's: "You don't know how to fish, do you?"

Link managed to land another bass and a pike, while Ashei caught a pike and an Ordon Catfish. They had kept the larger pike—Ashei's—and returned the others to the water, jotting down their fish count. It was now at six. Over an hour had passed, and Link thought it might be a good idea to catch up with Shad and Ilia, if only to see whether they were still winning the competition.

Astoundingly, the pair in the other boat had caught a fish. It was a tiny greengill, a fish that didn't even require a lure to catch. Somehow, Shad had landed it, and he was quite proud.

"Look at this fish!" Shad cried. "Not half bad, is it?"

"Put it back in the water!" Ilia was protesting. "…Poor little guy."

"Link caught a whale," Ashei commented.

"That still only counts as one, though," Shad harrumphed.

"Shad, put the fish back in the water," Link ordered. With a sigh, Shad unhooked the miniature creature and released it back into the pond.

"It's starting to get late," Ilia said, glancing at the sky. "If we don't leave within the hour, we'll never get home before dark."

"Good point," Link said. "All right. Let's bring it in—Shad, what are you doing?"

During their conversation, Shad had cast his line back into the water, upset at losing his prize. Now, the line gave a hearty tug. Whatever beast was at the other end of the line was apparently intent on capsizing the boat.

Shad reeled with everything he had. After a few seconds, it became clear that this was no ordinary fish. It must have been the loach, similar to the one Link had landed.

The fish put up a glorious battle. Shad did his best to catch the fish, but it was all to no avail. The loach on the other end of the line gave one final tug, pulling Shad straight out of the boat and into the water with a splash.

He was underwater for a second or two before he surfaced, gripping onto the edge of the boat and panting.

"And you were so worried I was going to push you into the water," said Ashei, leaning back in her boat. "Lesson learned."

Shad glared at her while spitting some seaweed back into the pond. He did his best to clamber back into the boat, but only flipped the entire canoe over, sending Ilia into the pond as well.

She emerged with a scowl that broke after a couple seconds. Link and Ashei were roaring with laughter in the other boat.

"So long, suckers!" Ashei cried, and the two paddled away.

"Well, this is just great!" Shad spat. "I fell into the water, capsized the boat, and lost my fish. Could my luck get any worse?"

And then it started to rain.

Told you I might try and update! Here it is, then, chapter 5. I thank you for your continued support with this story, and I hope you will continue to review and give me your thoughts and ideas!

On the other hand, I won't be updating for at least a week. When I do, however, we will see Shad's attempt at reaching the heavens—the City in the Sky. Link has plans to shoot him out of a cannon… we'll see how this goes.