The hospital beeps had been deeply rooted in Everett's mind already. The room had been lit dim by the moonlight that casted itself through the window shutters. He's already hated hospitals by the time he was nine, the endless white halls of people moaning. Suffering. Dying. It had haunted him, but he had yet to understand it.

Over in the corner, he had seen his brother Aston fast asleep in the chair that he knew was uncomfortable. But it was other that or the floor, he had stared at his mother with a unreadable expression.

He had heard her softly wheezing, almost as if she couldn't get her breaths out correctly. Her eyes were always halfway closed, as if she looked merely tired. He had sunken his face down to the floor, looking at he white lifeless colored floor. He was met with a soft, gentle hand that caressed his cheek, pulling his face up to look at his mother. Her eyes now looking at him.

"Everett..." He heard her weakly moan out, as if it took everything she had. He heard her faintly wheeze a couple more times before she could get her next words out.

"My courageous, strong boy."

...

The rumbling excitement from the crowd made it seem that the entire coliseum was shaking. Yells and cheers deafened the ears of the warriors, who stood apart from each other in sword-fighting stances. The king eyed the two men who stood below them on the dirt floor.

The Hero of Hyrule, who had saved Hyrule countless times throughout history, defeated many foul beasts of evil and sealed the darkness on numerous occasions. Facing him was no other than a mere man, a nobody. Someone who randomly appeared out of nowhere, yet this mere man could kill lynels with his bare hands, possibly lift the heavens if given the opportunity, and there was nothing stronger than him. An unstoppable force versus an immovable object.

King Rhoam had been lost in thought as the two kept their stances. He knew putting two of the best hopes Hyrule against each other was foolish, as one of them could easily be injured or killed. However, he wasn't entirely sold on Everett. Sure, anyone could be strong and muscular-looking, but in this line of work, if you didn't have skill, you might as well sign your own death certificate. He was well aware of his strength, but strength didn't necessarily equate to skill, and strength could be misused. That said, taking a Lynel down with his bare hands could make someone instantly check his name. In Rhoam's mind, he wanted to see what Everett could do with a sword.

Everett felt Link inch closer before he suddenly blurred and blitzed him. Everett barely managed to raise the sword over his head to block the powerful strike. Somehow, Link's power was ten times stronger than any Moblin.

He was incredibly quick as he unleashed a flurry of blows with his sword, while Everett watched, feeling his body move almost on its own with the sword in his hand. As he watched Link's sword connect with his, he felt his body move fluidly against and around the hero's strikes.

Link had jumped to the side to dodge an attack from Everett, before quickly swiping at the man's muscular bicep. Everett slid back, pressing his teeth together as the pain seeped into his arm. He was going to have to think outside the box in this fight; brute force wouldn't work against someone as skilled as Link.

Everett took his turn, moving forward towards Link who did the same thing, he had quickly swiped at Link's chest who easily slid back to avoid it; Link had brought the sword above his head once more, and Everett raised his sword, but Link had faked him out. And Everett saw it this time.

Link had gone to slam the hilt of the sword into Everett's side, but the latter had barely dodged it. The two had traded swords, with Link attempting to jab at Everett's torso. The stronger man maneuvered his way around the blow, striking Link's sword down and driving a muscular shoulder into his chest. Link stumbled back a bit, but immediately regained his composure. He straightened the sword out and let it hang by his side once more.

Link dashed forward, intending to deliver a powerful blow. He cocked the sword back, ready to swing it around his vicinity, hitting anything within a ten-foot radius. Everett felt his body jolt as he dodged the blurred sword coming at him. Another swing from Link was aiming for his bicep, but Everett managed to block it, moving around the swing and leaping into the air. Bringing his sword down onto Link's, they clashed together. Didn't know I could do that. Everett thought.

"Let's...," Everett began, as the two struggled against each other. He felt his strength surge a bit before he felt himself begin to overpower Link's own strength. "Let's try not to kill each other, eh?"

Link had gritted his teeth determinedly, trying his hardest to overcome Everett's strength, but it was to no avail. He had finally answered. "Deal."

Everett had kicked the hero back a few feet; Link had doubled over before skidding a few feet away from him. He saw Link clutch his stomach before his face hardened and he went for another strike, which was quickly shot down by Everett who went for one of his own, which Link parried.

Link had swiftly cut at Everett's thighs, who had pushed the pain down inside of him. He had gotten two marks on him. Everett gritted his teeth. He felt his arm move in a diagonal motion, Link easily dodging it.

What Link didn't know was that when he sidestepped, Everett had already flung his fist in that direction. It had barely connected with the hero's chin, nicked him. His fist had harshly grazed the side of Link's face. Link had jumped back and grimaced, but he refused to show Everett that he had done any damage to him; he had seen Everett seemingly blur as he charged at him, ready to strike.

Link had dodged, and everything had seemed to slow down for the two warriors. Link had gone to slam the hilt of the sword into Everett's side. It had crashed into his rib, making Everett cough up quite a bit of spit.

He had jumped back, clutching his side. The soreness began to pour in as he took another stance. Link had side-stepped before dashing towards the larger man, swinging the sword upward diagonally. However, Everett was too quick this time.

He had dodged the blow completely; the sword almost slipped past his torso. Everett dropped his shoulder back, his perception having seemed to slow down and he had thought to himself, 'How the hell did I dodge that?

He countered, bashing his elbow into Link's chest, making him hop back in retreat. Everett capitalized on this, jumping forward and slamming his sword into Link's. Now he had the upper hand.

He had swung, hoping to strike at Link's arm, but the hero had dodged, and instead swung his sword in a strong, complete circle. Everett didn't think he would be able to dodge it, but his body disagreed. He hopped back, and everything seemed to slow down again. His vision tunneled, focusing solely on the man in front of him.

Just he and Link fighting.

How the hell am I keeping up with him? Everett had hopped back, dodging the second 360 swing Link had dished out. He switched the sword from his left hand to his right and swung diagonally, but he didn't see what came next.

Link had flipped backwards, swiftly dodging the blow. Everett's eyes had widened, and Link had landed in the ground gracefully. He then went for his own strike, dashing at Everett at an inhumane speed. No wonder this guy is the chosen one.

He slid his foot back, and watched as Link had countered to his move. Everett had pushed off his left foot, replicating the exact move Link did. The world flipped upside down, as he came down roughly on his feet. He flung himself at Link, with his sword held high.

Link blocked it, swiping diagonally.

Everett slipped the blow, swinging for the head hoping to graze it with the hilt of his sword.

Link had ducked, then rolled to the side, and went to swipe at his feet. They continued to go back and forth with each other.

Everett had hopped off the ground slightly, letting the Master Sword graze against the dirt and kick it up. Everett jumped back before he sidestepped and rushed at Link. Link had readied his feet before he swung the sword around his body again. Everett let out a war cry as he brought the sword over his head and down onto Link's.

Zelda could hear the swords slamming into each other even from the royal box. She was barely able to keep up with the two men who were currently going at it. Link was incredibly fast and skilled. All of his moves seemed to be smooth motions, as if he had been practicing the techniques for years. He had practically danced around Everett.

Surprisingly, Everett was keeping up with Hyrule's hero. Anyone would have thought the muscle he had on him would slow him down, but it seemed he was getting faster with every swing of his sword. He was much quicker than the average person would expect.

Everett suddenly jumped back a few feet after Link parried one of his attacks. He took an awkward stance before he raised his sword skyward. He then lowered it to the palm of his hand, with the hilt of the sword facing him and the sword pointing towards a section of the crowd. It seemed as if he were using some foreign technique.

"What the...," Zelda had snapped her head towards the direction of Impa, who was looking completely flabbergasted. As if she had seen Hylia herself. "How did he-"

"Impa, what's wrong?"

"T-that stance he's taking," Impa's face was one of utter disbelief as Everett stood still in what Zelda knew to be some kind of technique. Everett had dashed quickly towards Link. Link had jumped back, but he wasn't quick enough to dodge the strike that Everett had landed on him. "That's an ancient secret sheikah technique! How in Din's name did he learn that?"

Link felt a rush of adrenaline surge through his arm as Everett continued his assault. Now on defense, Link quickly sidestepped faster than Everett anticipated and slammed the handle of the sword into his side. It did little to nothing, as the stronger man merely brushed the attack off. Everett, who had no idea how he was pulling this off against the best swordsman in Hyrule, managed to dodge two perfectly executed strikes from Link.

Everett had performed a very sheikah like strike, using the hilt of the sword as if it were an eightfold blade. He struck quick and fiercely, his strike making Link jump back and take up another stance. It meant nothing, as Everett had easily landed into blow with the hilt of his sword against Link's arm.

They were faster than the average eye could see, but by no means was Everett average anymore. He slammed his shoulder into Link's chest again, breaking his defenses. Then he swiped up diagonally, breaking his guard once more before letting the blade graze Link's firearm.

They had jumped back from each other, creating a distance. She saw Link holding the Master Sword skyward, and bringing it down in front of his face, almost as if it were split apart. He then threw his arm out, and assumed a stance.

Everett did something similar, parting his legs slightly, bending down into a stance before pointing the sword at Link. He had started to dash forward, and Link reacted. They had both closed their distance before Link could straighten the blade, and go to close his hand around it. Everett didn't let the sword drop as he kept it straightened at Link, running towards him.

Zelda thought everything had slowed down. She hadn't seen so much emotion on Link's face before; he had an intense expression, a mix of determination, anger, and confidence. Everett had his teeth gritted, and the same determined look on his face. It wasn't long, just seconds in fact, until they were about to slam into each other.

Oh goodness...

"Enough!" She was startled when she saw her father standing up, with a stern expression on his face. The two men had dug their feet into the ground and were halfway through the motion of striking each other. They had almost been frozen in place, as the tension had risen to an unbearable level.

Link had closed his arms, the Master Sword just floating above Everett's neck. Grazing it, he could feel the uncomfortable sharpness of the blade resting alongside his neck. Everett had kept his stance, having the most distance as his sword never dropped. The tip slightly touched Link's Adam's apple. The two men gulped as they realized they could have easily decapitated each other.

"You may drop your swords," King Rhoam had declared loudly enough for the entire coliseum to hear. It was deathly quiet, and the only thing that echoed throughout the coliseum was the panting and heavy breaths of the two knights. Everett was the first to let his arm hang loosely and begin to slowly drop the sword; Link followed suit. Both were cautious. Everett saw Link had nodded his head at him, and he returned the gesture. "That…may have been the most excellent display of swordplay I have ever witnessed. I have never watched two warriors as skilled as you two, which is why I am declaring that this sword fight…has been ruled a draw."

A tie? Everett felt his blood boil. There was no way in hell, that the King would make them fight each other only to come to the conclusion that they were equally matched. He felt himself let out a breath of frustration. The King had eyed the two for a moment or two before he had nodded for them to be dismissed. Everett dropped his sword to the ground, and walked towards the tunnel. He didn't want to keep looking at King Rhoam's face; he feared that if he did, he'd find a reason to execute him.

He walked down the quiet, dark tunnel. His body ached. The cuts over his body burned if he moved the wrong way. He felt the slight burn of the master sword, which had been rubbing against his throat.

"Hey!" He heard a familiar voice yell at him. He seen the figure of three women, and they had been marching his way. It wasn't until they were now standing in front him, Princess Zelda, Purah and Impa. Impa looked furious, and it seemed Zelda and Purah had been trying to pull her away. "You. You have some explaining to do."

Everett raised his eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

The question seemed to infuriate her more. "I'm sick of you playing dumb! How did you know that technique?"

Everett's face still had a puzzled look. "Lady, what technique?"

She bursted from the seams, and exclaimed at him. She basically leaped forward but Purah and Zelda had her in they're grasps. "The shiekah technique you did! When you pointed the blasted sword skyward and did that pose! That's a technique only us shiekah learn."

Everett didn't know whenever to decide he was speechless or completely lost. He had just been doing what his body told him to. Reacted how his body reacted. He didn't even know what he was doing half the fight. He was so deep in that fight, that he hadn't realize he performed the technique. He had fumbled the next words out of his mouth.

"Look, I don't know what you're talking about. I don't use any technique. I did what I thought was right in that fight." Everett stated. "And if using that technique you claimed I did offended, then I apologize."

Impa had raised a strong finger at him. Her eyes colored with suspicion as she points the slender finger at him. "I don't know who you are. I don't know what you are. But I do know this, you're hiding something. In due time, you will uncover you're true intentions. I just pray you don't have thine ones."

Impa had turned on a heel and took strides away from Everett with Purah on her heels, not looking back a single time. Zelda had ran off after her after giving him a suspicious gaze. He had watched her disappear back into the coliseum, he shrugged before turning on a heel.

All Everett could do was sigh...

Zelda couldn't really shake the anxiousness off of her. Impa had been pacing around, a million thoughts must've clouded her head. Was it that important that even the Princess of Hyrule didn't know? And Impa was one of her closest friends. She'd never keep anything from her. They were back at the castle and in Zelda's room, she had been sitting on the furniture that had been placed by a nearby window, with a hot cup of tea in front of her.

"He's playing us," Impa accused. She had a stern look on her face that made everyone in the castle side step her so they wouldn't feel the wraith of the Sheikah advisor. "I told you all, that he wasn't a nobody."

Purah sighed. "Now hang on a moment, just because he knows about it and used it doesn't make him suspicious."

Impa had twirled around, snapping her attention onto her older sister with a look of disbelief. "You wouldn't understand, our best warriors take years to master such a technique. Even then, they still can't do it to perfection."

Purah waited for her sister to continue. "And...?"

"It's a sacred technique. The only non-sheikah to ever learn it was far back in the past. Back to the hero of time era." Impa said, making the scientist and Princess perk up with curiosity. Impa continued. "When the great king of evil attacked, it is said the Princess of that time was taken far away, and trained to secretly be a sheik by the sheikah to aid the hero of time. That, was the only time during the sheikah's existence that the technique was taught to someone outside of our race. It's very disrespect and shameful to our tribe if it were to be known by non-sheikah. We need to watch him."

"Yes, we should keep an eye on him." Zelda agreed. She stepped up from behind the two sisters, who had turned to her attention at her tone. "I suspect he has no ill intentions, but it won't hurt to be careful around him."

"I don't want to be the odd one here," Purah said, making both of the other woman snap they're attention towards her. "But, if Everett were going to do something, I think he had the opportunity to do it out there."

"What do you mean?" Impa challenged.

"Think about it. I'm not exactly a fighting expert, but I saw with my own two eyes many times Link and Everett could've killed each other in that fight. He's equally matched with Hyrule's hero it seems, and he had the upper hand in some of that fight. If he really wanted to do something, it would've been in that fight against Link."

Impa and Zelda hadn't thought about it that way, it did do away with some of the suspicions the two woman had but it didn't smooth it.

Impa shook her head. "Regardless, I do not trust him. He has yet to given me a reason. Simply refusing to kill someone is not a good enough reason. It's not like he could've gotten away if he had did away with Link, we would've stopped him.

Purah scoffed. "Yeah sis, you and what army? Because last time I checked, that guy is the same guy who tore a lynel to shred with his bare hands. Good luck doing that."

Zelda had cringed at the accomplishment. "Enough. We will keep an eye out on Sir Everett, we will make sure he doesn't do anything out of the ordinary that will raise suspicion."

Impa had opened her mouth to say something, but a knock on her bedroom door erupted. One of the handmaidens peeked her head through the cracked doors, it was Laysha.

"Your highness? Lady Urbosa is here to seek you." Laysha announced.

Zelda's face has brightened almost instantly. "Of course, let her in!" The double doors had opened, Urbosa standing high and tall with her hand on her hip. "Urbosa!"

"Hello, little bird." Urbosa sweetly said before embracing the younger woman in a hug. "It's been a few weeks, since I last saw you."

Urbosa had nodded towards the two sheikah women who had bowed in return, before she had gently let Zelda back away from her grasp. She looked up towards her motherly figure. "What are you doing here?"

"I've come to ask you to aid me in Vah Noboris, and that you and I spend some time together in Gerudo Town. I was thinking I needed a pedicure partner. How about you're next trip tomorrow?"

Zelda had almost squealed in excitement. She hadn't been to Gerudo in a few good months, and that she hadn't seen Urbosa in a few weeks. The thought had clouded the fact that she had nearly forgotten that Link and Everett would have to accompany her. Men aren't allowed in Gerudo Town.

"Absolutely." She said with no hesitation.

Urbosa smiled. "I've already talked to your father about it, he says it's ok with him. As long as you're ready for you're pilgrimage after."

Her mood soured slightly but she had replaced it with the fact that she was going to Gerudo Town tomorrow. But she had to figure out what she was going to do with those two. They couldn't enter the town, and she didn't like the idea of leaving them out in the hotness for a few days. There's enough things to do in the desert, right?

"So, what were you ladies talking about?" Urbosa asked.

Impa stepped forward. "We're curious on our "strongest man in Hyrule."" Zelda rolled her eyes at the title.

"And how Impa is suspicious of him, because he used an ancient sheikah technique that only the sheikah are allowed to practice." Purah added.

Urbosa's smirk didn't fade, as she brought her hand up to her chin. "Yes. That was the best duel I've seen. Fierce, skilled and talented performance. I expected it from Link, but maybe this Everett man does sound suspicious. Being able to keep up with Hyrule's hero, and fighting him to a draw? That's no small feat."

"Indeed," Purah agreed. "But still, if he wanted to do something the perfect chance was out there."

Urbosa nodded. "I agree. There were times I saw in that fight, where Everett had Link yet decided to swing at his legs or arms. Anybody looking for the kill, would've went for it."

Zelda sighed. "Okay, can we stop talking about him? I don't care if he's killed a lynel with his bare hands, nor do I care about him being the strongest man in Hyrule. I just want to talk about something that doesn't pertain those two and duty."

Urbosa laughed. "Well in that case, let's go down to cafe and eat some lunch. We'll talk about our pedicures and the massages we'll get in Gerudo."

All Zelda could do was smile from ear to ear.