The days following the fishing incident were relatively peaceful. Rusl returned to Ordon, promising to return again within the month. The bustle in Kakariko toned down considerably as the Hyrulean Leadership Interrogation Team—as they had come to be called—set their sights elsewhere and Renado was left alone.

Auru returned daily to the castle to participate in royal affairs. Telma had a trip planned to visit a sister—Telma had a sister?—in a small town a ways off from the city. The absence of the three responsible adults once more could prove to be bad news for the teenagers as they were being left to fend for themselves.

"I promise I'll see you all very, very soon!" Telma cried adoringly, wrapping a shawl around her shoulders and scooping her luggage into her arms. She pulled Link, Ilia, and Ashei into a hug. (Shad struggled to join the hug… it did not work out very well.)

And with that Telma set off for a full month. Ashei was quick to react, slipping a bottle of wine from the shelf and giving an excited call of "Cheers, it's free!"

The first few days after Telma left went swimmingly, with frequent trips out into town. Everybody was getting along for once—although, whenever Ashei thought things were a little too peaceful, she would start an argument just for the sake of it.

There was nothing to do or to lose, and that was when Shad decided it was time to ask Link a very important question.

"Shad?" asked Link groggily, wiping the sleep out of his eyes. The blurry image of Shad leaning over Link's face came gradually into focus.

"Shad," Link repeated, "what in the hell…?"

"Link, we need to talk," Shad said simply.

"About what? It's the crack of dawn, for goddess' sakes." Link sat upright and gave a violent yawn.

"You made a promise," Shad said—fully dressed and awake—"a few months ago."

Link felt a wave of terror run through him. "Was I drunk?" he asked suddenly. Alarmed, he added, "I didn't ask you to marry me, did I? Because I was probably really wasted, and I'll be honest, I don't swing that way—"

"You said you'd bring me to the City in the Sky," Shad cut in with a roll of the eyes. "We were having a conversation, no, you weren't wasted. Perhaps you remember—you stole my field journal and nearly knocked me out with it. You threw it at my head, I fell off the barstool… does any of this ring a bell?"

"Shad, it's five in the morning. Everything's ringing, and it's not pleasant." Link swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, forcing his brain to become alert.

"I was thinking," Shad continued, "that we could go today. But we'd have to leave really early—like, right now, I mean. And so I decided to wake you up."

"Yeah, okay," Link said, not really thinking straight. "Sky City it is… it's a short ride down to the lake…"

"Why are we going to the lake?" asked Shad, unaware of exactly what procedure was used to get to the Oacca's City in the Sky.

"You'll see," Link answered, finding his green tunic. "Just you wait."

Ashei awoke a few hours later to find a note outside her door.

A-

Went out with Shad to visit Sky City.

Will be back sometime later tonight.

-L

"Figures," Ashei muttered, swiping up the note and sticking it into her pocket. Great. Everyone was gone, leaving her completely alone with Ilia.

There was still a decent amount of unresolved awkwardness between Ashei and the farm girl. It was clear by now that Ashei wanted nothing to do with Ilia, but Ilia seemed frustratingly oblivious to this and still demanded frequent attention from the warrior girl.

So… Ashei was left at the bar by herself with Ilia until later that night.

Today would be a good day to get drunk.

The walkway ended and Shad followed Link out into a clearing. They pushed through a few thick trees, leaped down a short ledge, and after a few short strides—and a few more scrapes from the bushes—burst out onto the shore of Lake Hylia.

"Told you I knew a shortcut," Link said. Shad clutched his journal to his chest nervously, scanning the water for sharks.

Link seemed right at home, however, and set off up a ramp leading to the engraved entrance to Lanayru's spring.

"Nice day, isn't it?" he continued. "Great day for flying."

Shad's brow furrowed. "…Flying? I'm liking this less by the second."

"Fyer! Good day!" Link shouted, waving to an absurdly dressed man on a strangely ornamental raft.

"G'day, Mister Link!" the man answered.

"I was wondering whether you'd recommend a trip to the heavens today!" Link continued, approaching the man.

"Well, certainly," the man answered. "The weather's perfect if you find yourself inclined to make the trip."

Link gave a nod. "Thank you for your time. Follow me, Shad…"

He led Shad across the rafts to a distant bank, approaching a mammoth metal structure,

"Wh-what's that?" asked Shad, gulping.

"This, my friend," Link answered, "is the Sky Flyer 2000. Good name, huh? I named it myself."

"What does it do?" asked Shad. Link smirked.

"You really don't know?"

"I'm—I'm afraid not," Shad answered, knowing exactly what it did and feeling himself break out into a light sweat.

"It's a cannon," Link answered. At Shad's worried expression, he smirked. "Don't worry," he promised. "It's perfectly safe. I've done it hundreds of times."

"I don't know whether this is a good idea—"

"Here— just climb up the ladder and into the crawlspace inside. This thing was built for humans, you've got nothing to worry about."

Shad glanced up at the cannon and frowned.

"Come on, Shad. Don't worry." Link gave Shad a shove and he stumbled toward the cannon, resting a hand on one of the rungs of the ladder.

"Shad. It's for research. Just do it." Link was exasperated at this point. "I told you—I've done it hundreds of times."

Shad bit his lip and then tucked his journal safely in his jacket, taking one last look at Link, who smiled encouragingly.

Shad took a deep breath and then wedged himself into the crawlspace, coughing at the dusty, powdery interior. It smelled bad in here. He clenched his eyes shut and waited…

He felt the cannon give a shake as it readied to launch—Link must have lit a fuse, then—and then there was a bang that just about shattered Shad's eardrums.

And then a searing pain flew threw his body as the cannon launched prematurely and he rocketed straight into the dirt.

Link felt a wave of horror fly from one end of his body to the other. The cannon hadn't had time to adjust properly and had fired before it was supposed to. Now Shad had suffered because of it.

Link was sprinting toward Shad before he had time to think. He kneeled beside's Shad's crumpled body and rolled him so he was facing upwards. He had landed badly on his side and his leg looked mangled—legs definitely weren't supposed to bend like that.

"Shit," Link cursed under his breath. "Oh, shit." He put his hands on Shad's chest just to make sure he was alive—yes, he was.

Shad's glasses had exploded on the impact and glass had implanted itself in Shad's cheek, releasing beads of blood where it had cut the skin.

Link grabbed Shad's shoulders. "Shad. Shad, wake up, c'mon, we need to help you…."

After a few seconds, Shad groaned weakly and his eyes flickered open.

"I hate you," he grumbled. Link almost smiled. Then, his frown intensified. "We need to get you help. Now."

Link glared at the white curtain intensely, his head in his hands. He had been so sure that the cannon would work… Shad had been right to worry. Link exhaled into his hands, trying to stop his heart from racing.

Doctor Borville emerged from behind the curtain, pulling off his gloves and dropping them into a disposal bin, drawing the curtain shut behind him.

"Is he okay?" Link asked.

"See for yourself," Borville answered, shaking his head and trotting away, mumbling something about Link owing so many rupees for this that he'd be in debt for the next twenty years.

Link ventured behind the curtain in the small doctor's office and pulled a chair up to Shad's bedside. Shad was propped up against several pillows, his entire leg mummified from the hip down. A small jar on the nightstand was filled with little shards of glass. Shad's right cheek had been stitched up and bandaged.

"You owe me a new pair of glasses," Shad said, jerking his thumb in the direction of the empty frames that had been set beside the jar.

"I know," Link said. He shifted his weight and sighed. "Listen. I'm so, so sorry. This was my fault. I'm a fuck up." His face fell into his hands.

Shad's eyes widened. "Link!" he cried. "Don't say that! You were only trying to support me and my dream! Don't you dare blame yourself!" Shad finished, harrumphing decisively.

"But a few minutes ago you said— "

"Never mind what I said," Shad cut in. "I was only joking. I'm fine now—I just need to regain my bearings and you can help me limp back to Telma's."

Link glanced up cautiously. "You mean that?"

"Of course I do."

For the first time in his life, Link felt a true, deep appreciation for Shad. He'd never really cared much about Shad before because he was kind of the group pet and they loved making fun of him.

Link smiled. "Thanks."

Ashei tipped her bottle back, enjoying the wine as slid down her throat. She scooped her tongue around the rim, getting every last drop, and then tossed the empty bottle into a bin near the wall. She took another off the shelf, returned to her seat, plopped her feet up onto the table, and then popped the cork off with a satisfied grin.

Somebody screamed from upstairs. A few seconds later, Ilia scurried down the stairs, a panicked expression on her face.

"What is is now?" asked Ashei dully, cursing all of her friends for leaving her alone with Ilia.

"It's raining in the bathroom!" Ilia cried.

Ashei smirked. "The SHOWER?"

"...What?"

"It's supposed to do that. It's a shower. Castle Town has a sewage system."

"What's a sewage?" Ilia now asked.

"A SEWER," Ashei answered, "is sort of like an underground river that brings water to your home."

"So it's... A good thing?"

"Yeah," Ashei answered.

"Oh. Sorry."

"Eh," Ashei answered. "Link was the same way when he first got here."

"What are you doing?" Ilia asked.

"Getting drunk," Ashei answered, throwing her head back and letting more wine drizzle onto her tongue.

"Why?" Ilia asked.

"Because Telma's gone so it's free." She took another swig. "A single drink is goddamn expensive around here." She paused. "Usually I pay with Shad's money," she added as an afterthought.

"Shad says Link drinks a lot," Ilia said.

Ashei's hand froze. "He told me he's been better," she said, "but I'm not so sure anymore."

The door opened at the other end of the bar and Link entered. In an attempt to be discreet, Ashei re-corked her bottle and slid it back among the others on the shelf.

"Oh, goddesses!" Ilia cried, and Ashei glanced up dully. She caught sight of Shad and cracked up.

His right leg was wrapped from the knee down in a thick white bandage. He had a crutch under each arm and was limping, stopping next to Link.

"Nice foot," Ashei said with a chuckle.

"Thanks," Shad answered. He added, jokingly, "I got it out of Link's ass."

Link's eyes were downcast. Ashei gave another laugh. Shad rolled his eyes.

"What?" Ashei cried. "Don't antagonize me. I'm not the one who mummified your leg."

Ilia blinked. "You're all insane. You're all totally insane."

"I take great offense to that!" Shad said.

"You take great offense to everything," Ashei said. "Don't get me STARTED on 'Make Ginger Jokes About Shad Day.'"

Even Link laughed. "Cmon, Shad, let's help you upstairs." He took Shad's shoulder and started helping him across the room.

"This is the last time I let you put me in a cannon," Shad muttered. "I at least hope Ashei feels enough pity that she isn't compelled to patronize me anymore."

"If you were stuck in a burning building, your hair would keep anyone from finding you," came Ashei's voice from behind him, right on cue as always.

Thanks to everyone for your great support so far! My next update will be in a few weeks. Link, struck with cabin fever, will decide to take the day and seek out a brawl in Hyrule Field with Ashei at his side. A bedridden Shad will spend the day with Ilia.

Oh, Shad. He's a real forgive and forget kind of guy, as far as Link's concerned.