A Quest to Seal the Darkness

by Ebblenubble

One century ago, a disaster struck the kingdom of Hyrule. The knights were slaughtered, the citizens were scared, and the princess was trapped. Those who survived the event lived with the knowledge that, when the princess lost her power, Hyrule would be destroyed. In the present, she calls out to her hero, not knowing that another hero is out there. One journey, two legends. Enjoy!

7. Chapter 5, Across the Lands

A/N - WARNING: Heavily implied abuse during the section surrounding the Yiga Clan. Be wary.

---

Act II, The Heroes of Hyrule

Chapter Five, Across the Lands

One, near sleepless, week later…

BOOM!

In a large arena, filled with monsters above that cheered for their champion, Link and Enn were thrown into some old pillars, the latter of which crashed right through one. If they hadn't gotten a good night's rest last night, which was already tough, then they would've been dead by now. The last thing Enn had expected from the journey of a lifetime was a lack of daily sleep. According to Link, 'We can't waste too much time, so… sorry, but we have to stay awake.' That was what he had said on the first night since he left his sweet home. Maybe that wouldn't have been so horrendous if they didn't climb the Dueling Peaks that night.

Regret now loomed over him, claiming that he had thrown his whole life away, like Link wanted to, just to suffer even more than he already was. It was, through some weird way, an inaudible voice in his mind that sounded much like his own, trying with all of its might to pull him back home. Since he swore to be better, the voice moved into his mind and refused to pay any kind of rent or leave, yelling loudly at him and chastising him for everything he did. Now, it yelled louder and more often than it had before. Every single time, he'd answer it with the mantra, 'It's worth it, it's worth it, it's worth it.'

Was it really worth it? All of this pain and struggle just to be happy?

…Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was. After everything, it had to—

"ENN!" Link shrieked, tackling him to the ground to dodge the lynel's flying shield. It careened into the wall behind them, cracking it open. At the sight of their fear, the lynel chuckled, reversing the grip on its blade.

"You really can't keep up, can you?" it taunted, giving them the briefest of moments to calm down and stand. "Focus and fight!"

"Please, Enn," Link said, readying his strongest weapon, which was a fancy Edge of Duality he got from a shrine, "be careful." For the past week, Link had grown so painfully overprotective, paranoid of anything he didn't know — which was literally everything. Thankfully, he was always brave enough to get closer first and take a photo, learning that the thing was probably some harmless mushroom, and then let Enn follow. It even persisted when they were on the road; he was so far ahead and refused to slow down. That also meant they rarely spoke or had a casual conversation. Shame.

He nodded, hiding an eye-roll, and stared down the lynel with his staff in hand. With twice the speed of a galloping horse, the lynel got on all fours and charged toward them, its sharp horns looking more like a pincer than anything else. While Link rolled out of the way, Enn drew his shield and raised it. Noticing that only at the last second, Link yelled something desperately, already starting to run back. It didn't matter if he would make it in time or not, as Enn was prepared.

Shink!

Spikes, embedded into the front of his shield, shot out and stabbed the top of its head, simultaneously making it recoil in pain and sticking him to its mane. Now with the upper hand, he reoriented himself and began beating at wherever he could, even stabbing it when the blunt edges of his staff began to chip off and sharpen. Link caught onto the plan, distracting the lynel with several shots to the nose and the occasional leg slash if he felt brave enough. The roars of both their opponent and the monsters up top muted almost every other sound.

But then, Enn lost his footing, tripping off of the lynel's back and instantly getting his leg stomped on. Link yelled, sprinting to where Enn was. Just as he got there, Enn rolled away and pointed at the lynel's back, starting to throw whatever useless thing he had to spare at its face. Link hopped on, slashed wherever he could, got thrown off, and then Enn did what he just did. To his surprise, not Enn's, the fight had grown easy once they managed to enter a cycle of mounting and distraction.

The lynel went down with a roar and a loud 'boo' from the monster crowd, but not before it said, "Congrats." As part of their endless cycle of life and death, the monsters above tossed down whatever weapons they still had, rewarding them for a job well done. It felt pretty good to finally get something off of his bucket list that had been ignored for the past… lifetime, at this rate. When the remains of the lynel faded away, Enn sarcastically saluted to it, caressing the spot on his sleeve where his arm scar was. The thought of how it once looked irked him.

"Would you say that was worth it?" Enn curiously asked Link, picking up some small weapons to repurpose certain parts for other weapons.

"I suppose," he murmured, taking the lynel's equipment. "It still wasn't easier than our first fight, though. Why did you come here again?"

He laughed faintly, breaking the blade off of a sword and kneeling, also setting his staff on the ground. Despite Link's confused looks as he picked up the weapons from the other side of the arena, swapping them out when necessary, he ignored them and began securely wrapping rope around the blade and blunt end of his staff. After a few test jabs and swings, he returned it to his back and stretched. "I don't think there's any harm in checking off my bucket list while we're with each other, is there?"

"Right. I get it." They finished scavenging monster parts and weapons, silently returning to their mounts who patiently waited just outside the colosseum. Enn felt quite jealous seeing them get along so well, not only because his relationship with Link had somewhat worsened since they joined up, but also because of the fact that a completely random horse in Ziro's eyes was suddenly his best friend. He hoped, with every bit of his heart, that it would improve over time.

Maybe if Link learned to trust him.

"Hey, Dai," he said, twirling a soldier's broadsword flawlessly as they neared some ruins. Behind them was Dai, a former 'enemy' of Enn in his childish eyes, who had been cowering there for the past 30 minutes. It was funny seeing him all scared and anxious, especially since, as a child, he was a brave boy. Too brave. "Here's a souvenir." He tossed it over to Dai, who barely caught it with trembling hands.

"Th-thanks, Enn. You got 'em, didn't you? Man, to think I was so brave," he murmured.

"Don't feel any shame; things change, Dai, and that's okay," he reassured, walking right up to him and patting his shoulder. "Just don't die, alright?"

Meanwhile, Link, who was already atop Epona and barely heard the other two, smiled faintly. The number of times he had said those words to Enn was… funny. Yet, he knew that Enn didn't see it that way. He could just feel his anger, even from a few feet away without a glance. Every time he noticed it, he was so tempted to talk and be cheerful, just like he was when they met. Every time he was tempted, he remembered the words Zelda had said to him two days after he and Enn teamed up:

"You mustn't have anything to lose. You're stronger that way."

The words rang through his mind, over and over, until the sounds of a trotting horse snapped him out of it. Without doing so much as waiting, Enn had started crossing the bridge on his own, not looking back. It was scary to see him just go to whatever waited around the corner, encouraging Link to pick up the pace and get ahead. Should a big monster or, worse, Guardian emerge from over a hill or behind a corner and take Enn down, Link could potentially not be close enough to save him.

Was he being too cautious?

…Eh, probably not. At least Enn would understand.

Click clack click clack.

'Hylia be damned,' he thought, seeing Link get ahead of him once again. This time, though, he wasn't going to stare at the back of his head in silence. No matter how awkward it felt to start a conversation in the blink of an eye, it would serve him well, in this case more than any other. "Link?"

…

Shocker. He didn't hear it. Again. "Link."

…

"Link."

…

"LI—"

"Yeah?" he asked, for once, turning around. "Sorry, my mind…. I mean, I hope you know how it is."

He quickly dropped his anger, taking calming breaths and smiling. "I-I just wanted to… y'know, talk a little. You've been quiet for most of the week, and… I missed just relaxing with you. You seem so paranoid about my safety and so pressured by what's next that you don't talk to me. So… how are you? Except for everything I mentioned, of course."

"Hmm… fine, I suppose. You?"

"Nervous, excited, a bit agitated, frankly. I'm guessing you know why I feel agitated, right? Right?"

He paused, bouncing between the answer of yes or no. On one hand, denying it would give Enn a chance to explain, thus giving Link a chance to help. On the other, admitting it could calm him down while not explaining what it was. He had no clue what Enn was mad at but didn't want him to be that way. "Er… I—"

"Begone you rapscallion!" a voice shouted from more nearby ruins, alerting Link in an instant and giving Enn soft nostalgia tingles. He knew that voice — quite well, too — and knew who often came with it. "Otherwise, I shall slay you where you st— YEOW!" In the blink of an eye, Link galloped to the ruins that were barely a quarter of a mile away, followed by a much more casual Enn. "Thou shall perish, you — OW — piece of shit!"

"Stop doing that, Mils!" another person chastised, poking a red bokoblin back with the tip of her blade.

While Link stopped to briefly survey the situation, Enn used Ziro's momentum to jump straight into it, drop-kicking a red bokoblin with ease and tossing a small shard of metal at the other. It only took those small moves to take them both down, an unsurprising thing to everyone but Link. The duo of other travelers helped Enn stand, gasping with a pleasant surprise when they saw his face. He did the same thing with them.

For the longest time, he never thought he would see his two first and closest friends, especially after they dropped him off outside of Hateno and left to go find treasure. They weren't just his friends, though, they were his family's friends, ever since they protected them from a monster ambush. He could recall that day in a surprising amount of detail. A wheel snapped, his father checked it out, almost got shanked, his mother helped him and his sister hide, and then he was yanked out. That part was the scariest, at least until he was saved along with his parents. Before he really knew it, their wheel was fixed with a lot of improvisation and they escaped. Soon after, he learned the names of their mysterious saviors.

"Mina and Mils," he greeted, smiling from ear to ear at them and barely stifling his excitement. "What happened to goodbye, huh?" The very second those words left his mouth, they all hugged, laughing cheerfully and saying some unintelligible words with an equally happy tone.

A little ways away was Link, staring at the three of them without joining them. He felt a bit jealous… but that was wrong. He couldn't feel that, especially if Enn was happy and healthy.

Enn finally let go of them both, still very giddy and cheerful. He admired their rather unique attire, the one thing that seemed to change after five years. Little trinkets, made of shiny metals like gold or steel, dangled from their padded vests that were surrounded by armor. Mina's protection was limited to elbow pads, a pauldron, a knee pad, and a single shin guard, all because of her favor of speed. Mils, however, had plenty of thick plates surrounding most of his body, all salvaged from rusted remains of armor. 'Talk about a workout.'

As for their actual appearances, both of them were technically dirty blondes with blue eyes, yet Mina had dull silver hair. If he didn't see her dunk her hair in the white dye pot, five years ago, he would've mistaken her for his cousin. "Man, it's so good to see you both, again," he said, punching Mils in the arm — the part most heavily protected — as Mils put away his claymore. "What have you been up to?"

"Could ask the same thing!" Mina exclaimed, sticking her finger through a ring at the bottom of her dagger and starting to twirl it. After some dozen twirls, she sheathed it in one of her many holsters lining her vest. "I thought you woulda settled down there with the whole village. What finally gotcha out of your little house? Was it—"

He blushed and interrupted, "No, no. I'm past that point, Mina. Love is, frankly, the least of our concerns."

"Sure, sure. But, if it's… supposedly not that," —he rolled his eyes at her, seeing her smirk— "then what is it?"

To Link's surprise, Enn turned and gestured at him, smiling a bit. "A good friend of mine just needs a tricky favor from me," he explained, winking at him. "Why don't you make some introductions?" After some brief deliberation, he nodded and eagerly dismounted, jogging over to them. "Here he is."

Link gave a little wave, smiling politely and saying, "I'm Link."

Mils put his hands on his hips, thoroughly looking Link up and down as if he was looking at battle plans. "Golden hair, blue eyes, fair skin — 'tis a textbook golden boy you've got here," he remarked, skeptically looking at Enn. "If thou aren't a fool," —Mina punched his arm, making him groan— "then you know where this is going, right? He's—"

"A good kid," he interrupted. "I thought I taught you appearances weren't everything, didn't I?" He shrugged shamefully, nodding at Link with remorse in his eyes. "Chin up," he said, lifting Mils's chin and patting him on the shoulder. As he thought, the small smile he wore was transferred to Mils, restoring his confidence. Five years of traveling the world, searching ruins for treasure and good souvenirs, and he still looked sad as ever when he offended someone. Still, it wasn't as bad as Enn's own regret.

Mina spat something out of her mouth before reaching out to Link and shaking his hand, smiling warmly. "Nice to meet you, kid. You're short, eh?" Before he could reply or even acknowledge the comment, she wrapped her arm around his neck tightly, ruffling his hair a bunch. "Heh, you" —she backed up, looking at Enn— "remind me of a younger someone. Definitely cuter, though. Sorry, not sorry."

"Oh, dear, I'm SO offended," he replied, pressing the back of his hand to his head and bending his knees a bit. The exaggerated act brought a little smile to Link's face and an expectant smirk from the others. It felt nice to smile at him again after mostly a week of interacting as little as possible.

"So, Link, d'you mind if I ask the big question?" Confused, Link tilted his head, oblivious to the context of the conversation. Enn, with a slight elbow nudge and some whispered words, told Mina that, merely gesturing for her to clarify. The fact that he only needed his hands and some looks to do that was quite neat. "Y'know… what's the favor? If you brought someone out of retirement—"

"I'm 18, Mina," Enn groaned, only acknowledged to the point where Mina shoved him away, playfully.

"If you brought someone out of retirement, then it has to be quite a thing to them, eh? So, what is it?"

Behind her, Enn stared Link down, a bit anxious to hear his answer. There didn't seem to be an apparent reason why, as Link had lied plenty of times before to anybody who dared to get close to the secret, but it put him on edge. On the bright side, Mina and Mils didn't know who he was exactly since they would've said something by now. He could word his way out of this, couldn't he? Clearing his throat, he reminded himself of the lie he had said so many times before and started to recite it. "I owe someone important a big favor — something really big," —Enn silently and subtly began to freak out— "and I decided that I couldn't… um… do it on my own. I'm just glad I had a good friend willing to help me out with it.

…

…

"Hmm…." Doubt embedded itself into her face as she crossed her arms, leaning back a bit. "Say, who's this important person? What's the favor?"

"Someone… who… er… is—"

Suddenly, Enn came to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder. His stutter had told Enn that, now that somebody had bothered to dig deep into his reasons, he couldn't handle the subject on his own anymore. "At this point, we don't know exactly. All the person has communicated through are letters marked with a random initial, telling us what we've done and what to do next. It's creepy how they are basically watching out every move, but the reward is pretty good. As for the favor, we just need to go on the equivalent of a big treasure hunt. We're on our way to Tabantha, right now."

A concerned Mils furrowed his brow at Enn, asking in his normal voice, "You're not getting into anything shady, are you?"

"No, no. But, speaking of," —he hit Link's shoulder with the back of his hand, starting to walk away— "we've got a deadline. I'd rather get there a bit early, you know?" The other duo nodded in sync, waving warm farewells to both Link and Enn. As a courtesy, Link waved back, but Enn bowed theatrically, directing at nothing specific like a performer on a stage. "We'll see you… sometime soon, I hope," he said, clambering onto Ziro as Link flawlessly jumped up Epona.

"Hey, Enn," Mina said, barely catching them before they trotted away, "keep in touch, would ya?" He nodded and smiled.

"I wish you luck on your treasure hunting!" he yelled as they slowly left the duo.

Perhaps they would see each other again.

While he and Link got back onto the dirt path, crossing bridges and going up and down hills, he began thinking about their first big stop once again. Rito Village and Tabantha were both many weeks away, but they were, at least, nearing the halfway point of the journey: the infamously rainy Ridgelands. Outside of Satori Mountain, the whole region had no reason to exist. Even if they could just teleport through it, the sensation was sickening. So, through rain and thunder they would go.

Thinking of bad weather reminded him of the lovely weather shortly after he joined Link. Clouds, clouds, clouds, rain, thunder, more clouds. Just clouds. At least today had been sunnier, meaning that tomorrow would probably be sunny, too. Conditions like that would, not only be a mood booster that he needed but rather, be more practical, especially if Link wanted to go visit the first memory location: the one right in front of Hyrule Castle. Sure, they were still close to Hyrule Field, but that didn't mean it was smooth sailing from point A to point B.

Running from Guardians was petrifying — he did that twice when he was 13. What a life to live.

Up ahead was another fork in the road and, as they grew closer to it, Link had a small debate within his mind. North would lead them closer to the first memory, yet South would get them one step closer to Tabantha. For all he knew, getting close to Hyrule Castle would be both dangerous and take days. Taking the southern route would avoid that, but delay the other mission of remembering who he was by weeks, as Zelda had requested. Perhaps he would need some insight from a friend. "Enn?"

"Making the first move, huh?" he joked, hearing a slight laugh from Link.

"Yeah. So…" —they stopped at the fork and Link pointed at each road— "north can bring us to the location of my first memory, but south can get us closer to the first Divine Beast. Both of those missions feel important, in equal measure, so I… er… can't really choose on my own. What do you think?"

He snapped his fingers, glancing at both paths. Soon enough, he made his choice: "North. I think it's better that you get a start on recalling your memories."

"Let's stay off of the roads, though," Link added as they began moving further north, glancing around for any threats. The thought of encountering a Guardian — with legs — scared him. Thankfully, Enn agreed, watching Epona step off the roads and following soon after. Not being on the paved paths that he always, almost exclusively, traveled on was a bit weird for him. Over a nearby hill and past some ruins was another ancient tower, key to easily traveling between every region since the one they were in was between all the rest. "I have to get to that tower, first."

Enn paused, turning to Link with an unimpressed look on his face. "Just you?"

"There could be Guardians there, I wouldn't want—"

"Link," —he joined his side, opening an ancient holster on his belt— "I've run from two Guardians when I was barely a teenager. Since then, I've cut down at least one all on my own without a shield. Besides, now that I actually remembered it this time, it'll be a walk in the park." Despite the reassurance, Link was still nervous, met with a single scoff from Enn. "This is exactly why I've grown a bit sour toward you," he remarked.

"Look, I trust you, I just—"

"Prove it; prove that you trust me," he dared with anger, drawing a Guardian blade from the holster and igniting it with a stab at the air. He astutely stared at Link with a brow raised high, fiddling with the handle of his sword. Link stared blankly at the ground, regret and thoughtfulness filling his gaze. Finally, he saw the true extent of Enn's frustration, something that grew to a blade that stabbed his heart.

How could he be so ignorant? This whole time, he was clueless. All he had at heart were Enn's best interests… but he never bothered to see what Enn thought. Was he doing the wrong thing? Not exactly… but it was the lesser of two good options. If trusting Enn was the greater of those options, yet the riskier one, then… maybe he had to pick it. Still, it didn't make it any easier to reply to Enn with, "Okay. Yeah."

"We are allies, Link. If not friends, then allies. Either way, both of those terms involve trust in each other." Link nodded, faintly smiling at Enn. There was no need to dwell on his former ignorance; now was here and now brought a fight. "Now," —Link drew his sword and Enn reversed his grip on his own— "let's go kick some Guardian ass," he said with a smirk, dismounting Ziro to run bravely into the ruins surrounding the tower's base.

Thankfully, the only Guardians there were decayed ones lacking legs, only relieving Link just a little. "Poor things," Enn sarcastically remarked, approaching one fearlessly as it began activating and turning to him. Seeing its fiery pink glow mixed with the piercing blue iris, once again directed at him and now with the knowledge of what would happen, made him fear for Enn. But he had to have faith. "I mean, they killed dozens of men and women, so I don't feel a thing toward them."

Beep… beep… beep… beep…

A bright red laser shot out from the very center of its eye, aimed so poorly at Enn that it hit Link right in the eye. Slow as a dying soldier yet terrifying as a spider in a bathroom, the laser swayed left to right as it adjusted its accuracy.

Beep, beep, beep, beep…

It locked onto Enn's chest, climbing up to his face. With each inch it passed, Link tensed up more and more, growing fidgety to resist the urge to shove Enn out of the way. 'Faith, faith, faith,' he repeated in his mind.

Beep beep beep beep…

Finally, it reached the spot right between Enn's eyes, something he met without a movement. On the other hand, Link began sweating profusely. One side of himself tried to back away, having full faith in Enn's abilities. The other side, one of his instincts, fought to move forward, leaving him leaning back and forth with one foot about to leave the ground.

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!

PEW!

…

…

Thump thump, thump thump, thump thump…

The sharp tip of the blue laser pierced the air, shoving any of it out of the way without any effort. Just the glow of the laser, so bright and almost entrancing, made the world around him look like it was in the dead of night. And, much like the dead of night itself, it brought death and fear to any that would dare stand in its way, as Enn was right now. Standing in the glow of that light with full confidence, his fist clenched tightly around his shield's handle, pulling it out of its holster in slow motion.

…No… he had to watch.

Even if it felt like centuries before Enn drew his shield, he had to… trust him. Enn would do it. By himself. No assistance needed….

The laser had almost reached Enn, now, emitting small blue embers. Still, his shield wasn't fully out.

Before he really knew it, it was practically in front of Enn's face. And, even though death was within kissing distance of him, his shield was only at his side.

'NO!'

"Don't."

'…What?'

"Trust him, kiddo. I did — you have to, as well."

'But—'

"I know. Heh. You haven't changed, old friend."

Despite having no idea who said those words, he trusted them, thus trusting Enn. Now that he was finally willing to take a leap of faith, he shut his eyes and listened keenly. "He's got this," Zelda gently assured as a gentle and warm feeling came to his shoulder. "If Nathaniel says so, then he must… right?"

CLASH!

Wooosh!

Crack!

BOOM!

…

"See?" Enn asked, watching Link slowly open his eyes with relief. At the spot where the Guardian once helplessly sat were now nothing more than parts and metal shards, sent flying so far from the original spot that, at a glance without context, they would appear to just be more ruins of the past. "I've got this."

"Yeah… yeah, you do," he said, smiling and hugging Enn briefly. Before Enn could really react, Link let go, happily nodding at him. "I'll take care of the other one over there. Then, I'll show you the view from a tower. They're pretty great."

With that, they split off, taking down the other two immobile Guardians with perfect parries. For both Link and Enn, it did nothing but prepare them for their, unfortunately inevitable, encounter with a walking Guardian. Soon after that, they joined up at the bottom of the tower, looking from its base to its top, something that looked like an impossible climb from here. That would only be the case should they avoid the platforms for… some reason. "What about this?" Link asked, a hint of playfulness in his tone. Hearing that out of him was quite refreshing for Enn.

Rather than say anything, he simply brought a blue bandana from his pouch and wrapped it around his head. Link did the same with a red one, albeit with a surprised expression. "Purah made another bandana," he casually explained. "You'd be surprised at how easy it is to make these things. It's harder to dye them, really."

"Have you ever used it?"

"Not exactly."

"How about a test run, then?"

"Why not a race?"

For the first time in a long time, Link smirked, willing to have a bit of fun in the adventure. After all, they were exploring the world, it would be a waste to just ignore everything else. As long as Zelda could hold out for a few more months. "It's on."

They simultaneously leaped up and latched onto the tower, scurrying up it with, anticlimactic, above-average speed. The power of just the bandana was only so great. Eventually, they found themselves on platforms, catching their breath. Enn was actually higher than Link was and, when he saw, that sparked his competitive spirit, making him recover much faster. He passed Enn with, still above-average, speed, focusing entirely on getting to where he had to go. Quickly realizing that he was losing the race, Enn began throwing himself up the tower, barely holding onto each handhold for more than a second. The very moment Enn was beside him, he began leaping, too. Enn jumped ahead of him, Link caught up and, a second later, Enn leaped again.

When they finally were in jumping distance of the entry hole in the platform, Enn took just one more second to recover — long enough for Link to prepare himself as well. Link jumped. Enn jumped. And…

"Huh. Tie," Enn said, laughing faintly. "That's what happens when you play rock, paper, scissors, with your reflection."

"Yeah. But look!" Link exclaimed, cheerfully jogging toward the edge of the tower and pointing at the castle. Despite its evil aura, the orange glow of the sun that flickered off of its shiny stone walls made it look just as it used to, the effect enhanced by the fact that it had rained last night. While such conditions made for an uncomfortable sleep, they made for a lovely view when they awoke to see the clear skies. "It's… so beautiful."

It wasn't clear if the sunlight made Link's eyes sparkle or if they were just… normally like that. Enn's eyes, even in this light, weren't shiny at all.

They weren't physics-breaking, last he checked.

"Hey," —Link nudged his arm, walking back— "I'll activate the tower and we can take a little nap up here. It's not safe to go face a horde of Guardians while you can barely walk, right?"

"Fair." Link walked to the pedestal, dropping his Sheikah Slate into its slot and waiting for the information to drop. Meanwhile, Enn sat on the very edge of the tower, dangling his legs off of it and kicking them freely. The last time he had done something so casual and innocent was when he was three. Yeesh. But everything he did today, tomorrow, next week, next month… it was all worth it. Blue, soft, skies would ask for him once again, even after so many years.

Innocence… peace… calmness… love… all things he hadn't had in his soul since forever. There was only one solution to get those back: Save everyone who he once wronged.

Knowing that he finally helped the people he broke would put him at ease.

Hopefully.

Hylia… what was he doing? Throwing it all away to win a war that wasn't his own.

…

…

…

"Enn?" Link asked, concerned. Being addressed by his name snapped him out of his trance, making him turn. "Are you going to sleep, or…?"

"R-right. Or… actually… not yet," he replied, receiving a curious look from Link. As always, a changed mind seemed to boggle the young hero's mind. Even if Enn didn't feel anything romantic for him, he couldn't help but note that Link was quite cute. "Why not talk? I find it easier to sleep when I get everything that pressures me off of my chest. Although, knowing you, I feel like you would rather take it on your own, wouldn't you?" He didn't mean to sound so insulting when he said that, something he showed with a slight flinch and nervous look.

He was glad to see that Link caught on. "I-I mean… probably? I can't tell you. But if it helps you sleep at night, I'll be here for you. Talk to me, Enn." For saying that he wanted to talk, he seemed to not want to do it up close, simply standing in the same spot he was in earlier.

"Come closer; sit beside me," he requested, something Link put up little resistance to. Once Link did what he was doing, except the casual leg-kicking, Enn took in a deep breath, recalling everything that had been weighing down on him that Link didn't yet know about. First, though, he wanted to ask one little thing to him. If he asked for something from Link, then Link deserved something from him. An act of care for another act of care. "How are you, though?"

"What happened to talking your worries away?"

"What harm is there in asking that?"

"Fine," he said, surrendering to such a daring and challenging request. "I'm… well… fine. I'm not too worried, not anymore, nor am I under lots of pressure, right now. And yes," —Enn's eyes, filled with skepticism, poked out through his otherwise attentive expression— "that's the truth. I'm not a liar, Enn."

"Maybe so," he quietly said, turning away to speak his own thoughts, inaudible to Link. "You just hide the truth.

"It's not like any of us don't do the same."

…

"Hey," —Link nudged his arm, a bright smile on his face— "don't dramatically pause again. You wouldn't talk about it if it hurt you that much, would you?" To see an expectant look on Link's face was both the most unexpected yet the nicest thing he had seen so far in this adventure. If only he had known beforehand that befriending him would be so easy. "I'm not gonna judge and, if you don't want to talk about it, don't feel the need to."

"You were always the nicest guy in the room," Enn replied, wrapping one arm around Link's shoulders, like his grandfather once had. Every time he did something that was even close to what the great Nathaniel once did, a sense of shame washed over him. He was just a copy. He soon let go, starting to talk about whatever came to mind first. Some of it wasn't even stuff that weighed on him, but rather random topics or nitpicks he wanted to say things about. And, of course, through it all watched Link, smiling and laughing at almost everything that called for it.

He was staring at the truly perfect guy… and here he was, acting like he belonged with him. Maybe he didn't… but he wasn't leaving.

The fact that he was unwilling to really delve into that little thought haunted him, unknown to Link, who listened cheerfully to his tales and fell for his happy-go-lucky mask. But even something like that wasn't what weighed on him most, no. In fact, it was something that he had known about for years — something that everyone else involved in Zelda's plan knew from the start. There was one secret, so harmful and vital to Link's mission, that he knew they would face someday. Only then, though, could he tell Link something he desperately needed to hear.

'…I'll cross that road when I get there,' he affirmed.

Hours of talking passed faster than both of them would've preferred, as what once was a one-sided venting session turned into a cheerful talk between two friends about, quite literally, anything. From monsters to history, from ruins to villages, from wacky theory to wacky theory, it was all discussed with plenty of jokes between. Even that, though, had to come to an end. "So," —Enn rolled his neck and shoulders, tensing up his body before relaxing— "we agree that Hyrule isn't the only land in the world?"

"Well, it's the one we have to care about," Link replied with a smile, standing up and walking toward his sleeping bag. Well, not his, but rather the spare one Enn had on hand and let him keep. "Like your friends."

The smile on his face faded slightly as he stood and walked toward his sleeping bag. He really hoped that Ria and Dara hadn't killed each other yet, or that Zu was driven to their breaking point, wherever it was. But what could he do so far from home? "Yeah. Thanks for your little nugget of wisdom, by the way," he said, lying down. The solid floor didn't do him any favors but, on a journey like this, discomfort was of little concern.

Link, who was just a foot or two away, rolled onto his side with his head tilted… somehow. "Which one?"

"…You… only gave one."

"Oh." He turned red, freezing up as Enn stifled small laughs. After a moment, he brushed the color off of his face and said, "Sorry, I got so caught up in our conversation that I forgot you were venting. What was it about, again?"

"'You're not a friend if you don't have faith,'" he said. "I don't doubt Ria for a second, nor do I doubt the others. She's not gonna do anything crazy — like travel the world — while I'm gone."

"She won't. And, if she does, she'll be alright."

"Wiseguy," he sarcastically insulted, laughing with Link. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"You too," Link warmly replied, rolling onto his back and resting his hands on his stomach. Suddenly… he fell asleep. No appearance from Zelda, no warm feeling in his heart, just… sleep. Perhaps it was because all of the kindness and genuine care he needed to sleep was right there, calmly shutting his eyes and quietly snoring in a sleeping bag. 'Heh. I wonder how Zelda is sleeping, if at all, within the Calamity,' he thought, falling deeper into his black void of unconsciousness.

Yet, despite its looks, it was warm and cozy — fit just for him.

When Link woke up, he was surprised to see Enn, dangling off of the edge of the tower like yesterday. If he didn't know any better, he would've thought that Enn hadn't moved all night. He slowly got up and sat beside Enn, noticing him, once again, trapped in his mind and talking with his thoughts. "Good morning," he quietly greeted, waving to get his attention. "Looks like someone else got some good sleep, huh?"

"Really good sleep," he added. "By your tone, it wasn't just me, right?"

"Right. So, we'll get our bearings up here and then head down to the memory location. Remember, we're going off-road and cantering; the faster we get this done, the safer everything else is."

"Makes sense."

Now with their plan prepared, they… did nothing. They didn't even talk. All they did was sit in peaceful silence, thinking or worrying about everything that mattered to them. Enn had a lot less to worry about, especially since he vented most of it to Link a few hours ago. Link, though, grew more nervous by the moment. Guardians, what the memory would be about, if he could complete his mission in time, what facing a Divine Beast would be like… it all ran around his mind like a rabid animal.

He could only live in the future for so long, however.

They looked at one another and Enn merely glanced at the ground below the tower, jerking his head over to it with his brow raised. Unfortunately, Link still struggled to read the silent signs, forcing Enn to actually say the words. Communication without words was a skill they both were still learning — and one they would need. Later, of course. "I'm feeling awake — time to go?"

"Yep." Both of them stood up and rolled up their sleeping bags, shoving them into their pouches for later. It made them quite stuffy, but their horses weren't that far, anyway. Everything else they needed for traveling was on their mounts. Link finished his work, ensured nothing was left behind, and jumped off of the tower, gliding safely down. His landing was soft and safe, getting Epona's attention. She nuzzled into him sweetly, quickly joined by Enn's mount.

…Wait… where was Enn?

Confused, he looked to the very top of the tower, seeing Enn staring right back down at him. From here, his frown was little more than a tiny line, but it was certainly there. He blushed and tried to say something but, before he could, Enn walked away from the edge. It took a good few minutes before he was on the ground, clearly upset, but not as much as he was earlier. "I can't do exactly what you do, Link," he said. "Maybe I match you in physical prowess, but that's it. So, acknowledge that, would you?"

"Yeah. Sorry, I—"

"First is the worst — just don't repeat it."

"Okay."

"Now," —he tried to leap onto his mount, failing and having to crudely clamber back onto it— "lead the way." Link did as told, picking up the pace slowly to avoid putting too much pressure on Epona. That little touch was something Enn kept in mind, for the sake of Ziro.

For every Guardian Link or Enn saw, they instantly veered the other way or passed through a small forest to avoid being seen. Usually, they would see another just a few minutes later. Rather than be a threat — for now — they were more of an irritation. Turning over and over and over just so they weren't seen. On the bright side, the woods around the memory location grew ever closer, and some stone ruins peeked past the trunks of the trees.

As they got closer to it, Link began to see flashes of the past, increasing in length and detail with each step. On the edge of a sacred platform, a group of five individuals gathered in anticipation. In the center, two figures stood, one of them kneeling while the other performed a ritual. With a sword in hand, the conductor tapped the bowed figure's shoulders slowly, their mouth moving but no sound emerging. Following the ceremony, the standing figure swapped positions with one of the five individuals at the perimeter. The dignified gown, the long hair, the soft features of their face, it all gave away who it was behind the shadows: Zelda.

…

"LOOK OUT!" Suddenly, Enn tackled Link off of Epona, barely getting grazed by a Guardian beam. Out of panic, the horses ran off as fast as they could, leaving the two to deal with a rapidly approaching Guardian. Enn swiftly kicked himself up off the ground, yanking Link up and passing him his shield while pulling out a spare. The rapid beeps were far from soothing. "They take three blasts — be ready!"

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!

PEW!

CLASH!

BOOM!

The smoke concealed the Guardian's position, but the loud clanks and thuds of its feet didn't. When the dust settled, they found that it hadn't moved that much, preparing another blast. It was parried, smoke was blown into their faces, the Guardian hardly moved, and it was soon destroyed. Once Link saw all of the ancient parts, his eyes lit up and a smile spread across his face. Before that, though, he wanted to check on Enn, who looked heavily relieved and seemingly exhausted. "That wasn't as bad as I thought," he said.

"It never is… when it's over," he clarified. "But if you miss one of those parries… you're done."

"Funny."

"What?"

"I think I took a Guardian blast right to the chest a hundred years ago. And, well, look at me now."

A nervous look flickered across Enn's face, quickly replaced by a smile. There was no reason to be nervous — not anymore. "It's luck, Link."

"I was" —he returned the shield to Enn, starting to loot the remains of the mechanical beast— "shot in the heart, though."

He raised an eyebrow toward him, checking his other shield for any damage. It was a Guardian Scout shield, something that wouldn't defend against actual Guardians too well but something he kept anyway. Seeing the ancient tech gave him a bit of confidence when fighting them. If only his parents let him go while they were up in Akkala; a visit to Robbie would be really handy, right now. "Alright then. Did it go through you?"

Link pressed two fingers against the scar below his armor, shutting his eyes and thinking deeply about it. A single flash of light. A burning sensation in his chest. Yet, nothing that hurt on the other end. "I don't think so."

"So you're not undead, then," he replied with a wink. "Now, let's keep going. By the time we face a third Guardian, my shield arm is almost guaranteed to be busted up."

"You've faced three?" he asked, jogging back to Enn.

"Well, two, but by that point I was exhausted out of my mind. I think a third one would be my end. Anyway, how about we get moving so I don't end up facing a third, yeah?"

"Yeah." Link put his fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly, its pitch occasionally falling and rising beyond its starting point. Meanwhile, Enn, unable to whistle, had to use the one that was made for him. Doing it in front of Link was shameful, yet he told himself to be lenient. Of course, it didn't work, and he berated himself internally nonetheless. They got back onto their mounts, seeing the grounds not too far away. Before they went, though, the look on Link's face said that he wanted to say something.

"What's on your mind?" he asked.

"I could give you a bit of advice on handling a horse," he said. "Y-you're not bad or anything, it's just that… you need improvement."

He smirked at Link, only saying one single word that had more of an effect on Link than he thought it would: "Cute." The amount of shock and flattery all over Link's face was amusing to look at, even more so when he tried to cover it and walk away. Being on horseback, the latter of those things was much harder than he would've preferred it to be. "Yeah. But we'll talk about that later when we're safe in the Ridgelands. To the first memory, we go."

To both his and Enn's relief, avoiding Guardians the rest of the way was a breeze, and the forests around the grounds kept them hidden from more. Besides, in order to properly recall the memory, he would need peace and quiet, something Enn already knew about and respected. No words had to be said to get that across. While Link would be learning of his tragic past, Enn would be leaning against a broken column, keeping an eye out and thinking of his own past. 'Heh. What a historic day,' he joked in his mind, watching Link gingerly pull out his Sheikah Slate.

It was dangerous to delay but disrespectful to rush it. That they both knew.

On his album page, he selected the first photo, allowing it to consume the full screen and, thus, allowing it to consume his mind. He slowly looked up from it at his current surroundings, seeing the broken columns, moss, and other damage that the photo lacked. Plus, the castle of Malice, not too far behind it all. Once a monument to the glory of a kingdom, now a monument to the fall of a kingdom. But that was not what he had to think about now. The past of where he stood embraced him warmly, and he calmly shut his eyes, being greeted by a vision of his own past.

Finally, he could remember who he was, and the life he once lived.

---

One hundred years ago…

Yesterday was a long day — but today would be just as long. They ended yesterday with a feast and photo taking. They started today with a ceremony. Yet, all of them knew it wouldn't be cheerful.

The ceremonial grounds weren't far, much to Zelda's relief. As for the others, she didn't know — Link most of all. He never said anything, not since he drew the Master Sword, according to his one confidant. Only Nate had even heard the sounds of his voice, despite the fact that he, himself, wasn't a Champion. He was only here to add to the ceremony, by Daruk's request, and break the news to Champions about her father's intent for him.

Not far behind herself, the sounds of the Champions talking caught her ear and she slowed her pace, almost bumping into Link. He followed so closely that he couldn't react to her sudden slowness. The idea of him following this close didn't seem crazy… but she wished it was. "Do we have to walk this slowly?" Revali, the best archer in all of Hyrule, complained to Nate. "Hyrule Castle is just a mile from here, and yet, after over 20 minutes, we're not there. Can't we hurry it up?"

Revali's navy blue feathers, mixed with some white ones and darker shades, were a sight to behold, always enhanced when he soared through the sky. Despite his skill and status among the Rito, he never asked for any sort of special marker or armor from them, donning the same thing that Rito warriors wore. The one special thing he ever asked for from them was his bow, made with gold and the hardest metals found around Tabantha, putting it on the same level as a lynel's weaponry. As for his sacred garb, he used it as a scarf, ensuring that the little Divine Beast logo was very visible.

"Negative," Nate answered, not looking to face him. "It's a disrespect to the ceremony."

"Oh, please; the only reason we haven't started our training yet is that" —he pointed an accusing, feathery thumb toward one of the other Champions— "someone just wanted to indulge a bit more." Right behind him was the great Daruk, the peer-dubbed bravest Goron to ever exist, saddened slightly by the insult. Still, his famous toothy smile came back, albeit, not in full force. If it had been, though, then Revali would have been blinded by its sparkles.

Daruk's gruff hair across his body and the metal chain around it were all that separated him, appearance-wise, from any other Goron. His weapon, along with his powers, made him unique. While not sharp in the traditional sense, his blade was sharp by Goron standards, made to be more durable and stronger than all the rest. On it, the mark of the Goron people was proudly displayed, showing his confidence to the whole world without a care at all. He wrapped his sacred garb around his body, crossing the chain yet still below it.

"I can't just leave a friend hanging. He's done so much for the world!" Daruk argued, not aggressive in the slightest.

"Has he? Then recount it."

He scratched his beard, staring at nothing in particular. Truth be told, Link had only one accolade to his name: being able to pick up the Master Sword. Everyone also knew that it was merely a coincidence that he was also the world's best swordsman, besting even Nate at his own game. The truth wasn't ideal but it wasn't wrong. "Er… well… he will! I know it, we all should!"

"Yeesh," —Revali rolled his eyes, slinging them right back towards Daruk— "pipe down. The guards can hear you from here."

"Speaking of loudness," Urbosa, the revered chief of the Gerudo, cut in, "you are being quite bothersome, don't you think? Both the princess and her knight are not far ahead and could both be under loads of pressure, with you adding to it, and you would never know. There's always an untold story, Revali." As always, she had the wisdom of hundreds.

Urbosa's custom-made armor, golden and flowery, made her a beautiful show of sparkles when she fought. Her flowy fighting style was also more of a dance than a duel. But it wasn't just her armor that marked her as the chief of the Gerudo, no, as her weaponry always defied any attempt to harm her or those she cared about. The nearly unbreakable shield, covered with intricate designs of nature and the like, and the sharp blade she wielded were both a challenge and a warning to her opposition. When she received her sacred garb, she replaced her dress with it, with no other good place to put it.

"And, while I also understand that Link technically lacks any accolades, the fact that he could defeat the best swordsman in Hyrule while only getting struck once is still a feat." Finally, Revali stopped his fussing, muttering something about having to be better and stronger. Whatever it was, it didn't matter right now. "I appreciate that you know when to back down, Revali."

"I'm not backing down," he defensively said, "I'm just—"

"Pardon!" Mipha, the softest princess of the Zora, suddenly exclaimed, stopping all of the chatter between them. Instantly, she grew flushed but could still talk, a feat that not many other Zora her age had. "Um… we have almost arrived at the ceremonial pedestal, fellow Champions. I believe that being so talkative before something so important is quite rude."

Mipha's sweet humility made her quite popular among her fellow Zora, especially because of her status as a princess. Not once did she parade around her jewelry, her skill with her special spear, or her mastery of healing. The spear she held was made out of love for her craft, not hate for her friends. She was a sensitive girl, even by the standards of the naturally emotionally-centered Zora, but never let that or her height put her at a disadvantage. And, of course, her love of seeking a challenge that was often blocked out by everything else. She used her sacred garb as a little sash around herself.

With that, the Champions, along with Zelda, stood at the edge of the platform while Nate and Link approached its center. For the first time since this morning, she was grateful for Daruk's sudden choice to add Nate into the mix. The more time she had to recite her script in her mind, the lower the chances that she would mess it up in front of Link. If he could fulfill his destiny and she couldn't even say some words, then the whole world was doomed.

Nate fixed his cap, also checking that the bun of hair beneath it was still secure, and drew his strengthened royal guard blade. "While I have dutifully served this kingdom and His Highness's daughter, and…" —he glanced over to Zelda and the Champions— "enjoyed every second of it, I must pass on my duty to another; I must pass my duty on to you." He solemnly tapped his blade on both of Link's shoulders, moving up to his head, as he recited, "In the name of the Goddess Hylia, and those before her, I pray that you protect Princess Zelda and that your destiny is fulfilled." While that should have been the end of his speech, there was one little line he wanted to say, for Zelda's sake and Link's.

Even though one of them was blinded, his two, uncovered, eyes sparkled brightly. "You need no luck — for what you have is courage."

Unfortunately, his extra delay didn't seem to soothe Zelda's nerves at all. But he couldn't stand here forever. He switched places with her, exchanging one, final, assuring nod with her. As she approached Link, who didn't do so much as acknowledge her presence, she subdued her emotions and recited the script one last time. When she finished, she took a deep breath and lifted her arm, directing her palm toward Link's head. Movement like that was all she could remember from her mother before… it happened.

'Not now!' she shouted in her mind. 'Don't mess it up — he dislikes you enough as is.'

"Hero of Hyrule," she began, stiffening her hand, "chosen by the sword that seals the darkness, you have shown unflinching bravery and skill in the face of darkness and adversity. Thus, you have proven that your blessings from Hylia are deserved, like every other hero before you. Whether skyward bound, adrift in time, or rebelling against a false king, the sacred blade is bound to the spirit of the hero. Even past death. We pray for your protection… and… w-we… we both hope that…."

…

…

She slowly looked to the others, hoping to see even the slightest hint of reassurance. Only one of them gave that hint: Nate. He mouthed some words of comfort and nodded, keeping her relaxed just enough to say the last few lines… of the first part. 'Great,' she thought, 'I can hardly handle it and I'm only halfway through.' "We hope that you grow stronger together — as one," she muttered.

After that, she had to back away and drop her hand. Being so close to Link as he just sat there was too much, worsened by what the script made her say. The faint memory of her father walking into her room, concerned after hearing such a loud groan of frustration, almost made her smile. Maybe thoughts like that would get her through this. She raised her arm, stepped closer, and continued her speech. Meanwhile, the Champions had their own thoughts on this little ceremony.

Revali expected all of this, just from what he heard between Urbosa and Zelda last night. It wasn't his intent to eavesdrop, he heard it in passing anyway, but he knew what he heard. If that wasn't enough, her actions today spelled it all out letter by letter like a teacher to children. "Is it everything you were hoping for?" he derisively asked Daruk.

"No… I thought she would be happier about this," he answered, frowning at the two and slouching a bit. "Or that it wouldn't be so solemn. Frankly, I just saw the word 'ceremony' and thought of what we Gorons often do. My bad." He couldn't help but notice that Zelda had also started reading her lines faster.

"My poor little bird," Urbosa murmured, separate from the conversation between the others. "I wish I could help you so much more than I really can. But, if Link truly is everything you have failed to be, that doesn't mean you are worthless. If only I could ask your goddess why she did this to her own descendant."

"I agree with your sentiment, Lady Urbosa," Mipha said, quietly joining her side. "Zelda doesn't deserve all of this hardship. I…. Well, I can't say I have been through anything close to what she is going through, especially since she's dealt with this since she was so young. Maybe I could help, but… I'm not so sure."

Out of all of the Champions, Nate looked the most concerned, not just for Zelda but also for Link. Neither of them deserved what they were going through — the pressure, judgment, and fear, all hidden beneath a mask — but there was nothing he could do to help. It didn't matter if he had one or a hundred Hylia charms around his necklace, as nothing would change. However, thoughts of how he could help were quickly replaced with how Zelda looked, sweating and shaking, reading her lines so fast that few words came out properly. "Zelda?"

It was only then she stopped her speech, which had turned into wild ramblings that barely followed her script, and looked up at the others. Her face turned red, her shaking stopped, and she relaxed, at the cost of embarrassment. On one hand, she cut a 10-minute ceremony down to just three or four. On the other hand, she had completely ruined it. As always. 'Fix one problem, three more come up. How am I supposed to do something like save the world?'

"Just say it," Nate said hushedly, glancing briefly at Link, seeing his pointed ear perk up just a bit. Even he couldn't turn off his senses.

Zelda nodded, fixing her footing and saying the final, yet hardest, line of her speech. "You will… fulfill your destiny… as well as I. Thank you… hero."

Despite everything, despite the embarrassment, chatter, fear, rambling, and so on, Link remained quiet.

A silent knight, forever and always.

Or so she thought.

---

Present day…

WOOOOOSH!

"So, how was it?" Enn asked from behind, leaning off of the pillar and glancing around for some Guardians. One at the edge of the forest was the one that scared him the most, approaching ever closer while Link stood helplessly in the center of the platform. They were merely lucky that it didn't try to cut down the trees. "I can't say I know what it's like… so I hope you don't mind if I ask." Hearing something as innocent as that, especially after something that hit so close to home, snapped Link out of his trance.

He put his Sheikah Slate away, turned around, and walked toward Enn with a faint smile on his face. "It's… an experience, to be sure. So many things, they…" —flashes of the Champions' faces and names looped briefly through his mind— "they all come rushing back to you. Some good, others… not so much." A few tears fell from his misty eyes, ignored up until Enn pointed at his own and then toward Link. When he realized what it meant, he flinched and turned on his heel, wiping his eyes thoroughly. 'No vulnerability,' he reminded himself.

An uncomfortable silence followed his realization. It would've been very worrying to him, but only if he didn't know about what Impa had told Link — something he disagreed with but couldn't convince her otherwise. On the bright side, his friendship with Link would make convincing him easier. Maybe. Hopefully. "I know that kind of rush. So many things, they…. Well, you said it. I don't think it bears repeating."

"It doesn't," he replied, rubbing his dried eyes one more time and turning. "Anyway, let's get going."

"I've never agreed more." With that, they left, getting on their respective mounts and cantering away from the scene. The ride back to the road was focused and, thus, quiet. A few new Guardians had popped up, seemingly out of nowhere, but only visited their route for a few seconds at a time, not delaying them much. Soon enough, they made it and relaxed, right as the sun slowly set over the horizon. "Well, we didn't die. Lucky us."

Usually, some offhand comment like that would make him smile. This time, though, it didn't, all because of what Nathaniel had once said to him. 'You need no luck — for what you have is courage.' It was good advice and something that deserved to be passed off — most likely things he wanted. However, now that his thoughts were directed back at his long-dead friend, he realized something odd: He looked different. He still had his cap, his hair was in a bun, and his eye was uncovered. What transpired to make him change those things?

He simply ignored his questions and put down his two rupees. "We don't need luck," he said, slowing Epona to a trot while Enn, not too far behind, did the same. Ziro put up more resistance but gave up eventually. "If we're both willing to sacrifice everything, we won't need it. Our strength will carry us." Despite the goodwill behind his advice, Enn seemed discouraged when he heard it rather than inspired. Or… was it discouraged? Upon closer inspection, it looked more like… concern.

"You've given better advice, Link," he plainly said. "Sacrifices aren't what win wars. It's—"

"HYAH!"

Slash!

Neigh!

Thud, thud, thud.

"LI—"

"HYAH!"

Crash!

Both of them were suddenly blindsided by a duo of Yiga Clan members, making their horses freeze up while their owners were beaten to the ground. For Link, the assassin atop him was throwing countless punches and wild swings, barely blocked by his arms that collected more bruises by the second. Meanwhile, Enn had managed to catch the sickle wielded by his attacker and was pushing away with all of his strength, his gloves being the only thing protecting his palms.

Link bravely separated his arms and tried to punch back, missing by countless inches. Before being able to even retract his arm, the assassin caught it and pinned him to the ground, pulling his arm with immense force. If he couldn't do anything soon, it would be broken. Ribs were something he could handle, but not his sword arm. Enn was in a similarly dangerous situation. No matter how hard he pushed, it inched ever closer despite his assassin's thin figure.

The attacker also had a Yiga Clan pauldron with a snake slithering through it.

Enn, quickly running out of time before his eye was cut out by the sickle's sharp tip, desperately grabbed the assassin's arm, leaning his head to the side in case the blade fell. The sudden act confused the assassin, long enough for him to pinch as hard as he could. Because of his attacker's thin figure, his thumb and finger almost met inside of the arm, something gross yet useful. Out of pure agony, the Yiga Clan member almost jumped and fell on their back, screaming. He got up without delay and stomped their lights out, briefly checking that their heartbeat continued before running toward Link.

To his surprise, Epona seemed to have the same idea that he had, cantering over to the attacker and punting them in the face, mere seconds before his arm snapped. They rolled off of Link, holding their mask in pain and groaning. Link didn't do so much as brush his sore arm before drawing his blade, standing atop his attacker with a tight grip around his blade. When Enn saw him, he ran faster and reached out, but was too late.

Slash!

Drip, drip, drip…

'Dead,' Link thought, flicking the blood from his blade and sheathing it. He turned to check on Enn, glad to see that was okay. But he seemed confused — sad, even. "What?" he asked.

Rather than even acknowledge the question, Enn heaved a heavy sigh and walked past Link, lightly pushing him out of the way. A sense of shame washed over him, fusing with his own confusion into a ball of bad emotions. He watched silently as Enn knelt beside the dead Yiga Clan member's body, taking off their mask only to shut their eyes before putting it back on. He solemnly held his hands against his heart, saying a short, inaudible prayer and bowing.

So much respect for someone who didn't deserve it… in Link's eyes. For Enn, only the cruelest Yiga Clan members deserved death. The difference between those ones and others was very clear.

Finally, he stood up and turned around, the same agitated expression on his face that he had just yesterday. "Link," he said, approaching with an intimidatingly slow pace, "we don't kill assassins like these men."

"Why so? They tried to kill us, Enn; I couldn't let that happen to me or you," he defended.

He dropped his slightly intimidating act, now seeming upset in a more sad way. For a minute straight, he struggled to say a single word. Both the need to choose his words cautiously and the shock of seeing a dead Yiga Clan member influenced his silence. "Has anyone told you that you see things in black and white?" he asked. "Because, guess what, you do. I understand that you wanted to protect us, but there is a better way to do that."

"He was a threat!" Without thinking about it, his frustration began to grow, directed at the last person he wanted to shove it toward.

"And does that give you a good reason to kill him in cold blood?"

"I'm not having this debate again! They die, we live, it's that simple!"

"They are Hylians—"

"So?!"

His fist clenched, tighter than he realized, and his blood reached its boiling point. Still, he had one shot to keep it from escalating. "…How about I give you a brief history of the Yiga Clan as a whole?"

"And how will that—"

"ENOUGH!"

…

…

…

'What the fuck did I just say?! Dammit, I'm so STUPID!'

'Enn… I'm so sorry, I-I should've listened, I….'

"Fuck me," Enn muttered, turning and pressing his hand against his face. Out of hatred, he pressed the tips of his fingers against it, harder and harder until he felt the agony he deserved. "Okay. The…" —he took a deep breath, wiping his face down and turning around— "Yiga Clan was born from the ancient Sheikah… that you already know. Then—"

"I-I don't," he quietly replied. "I just thought they were rivals or something. They come from the same line?"

A vague sense of calm came back to him, but not before the inaudible voice in his mind solidly recreated what had just happened, dooming him to relive yet another moment that never should've happened if he wasn't an ass all the time. At least Link wasn't too upset about it. 'He probably wants to tear my head off and just doesn't want me to know.' "Yeah. Ten thousand years ago, after the execution of the Sheikah, all of the ones who fought back and lived joined up, swearing to join the Calamity for vengeance. Eventually, the Yiga Clan… well… changed its branding." Link smiled faintly, stifling a few laughs. Seeing that boosted Enn's mood. "I'm serious," he said, smiling as faintly as Link was.

"How so? Going from a" —Epona nuzzled into him as he spoke, receiving the pets and loving strokes she felt she had earned— "group of vengeful psychos to something else is a big leap."

"Yeah. Anyway, they went from a group of rigorously trained assassins set on killing anyone who fought against the Calamity to, and I kid you not, a club for those who didn't think the Calamity was that bad of a monster."

"…Hahaha!" Link burst out laughing, trying to subdue it with his palm but failing. "A — hehe — club? I-I… hahaha… sorry, I—"

"Don't be," he assured, grinning. "I get it. But most of the Yiga Clan is made up of people who just dislike Hylia and are, probably, pretty chill. The elite members, though? Those are the ones out in the field. Even so, most of them fight simply to stand up for what they believe in, with only a few psychos who lick the blood from their sickles in the mix. The latter of those members deserve death, not the former."

He cleared his throat and relaxed, respecting the seriousness that returned to the conversation. "If I shouldn't kill them, then how do I tell the difference?"

"If they aren't making wild wolf noises and have a separate mouthpiece on their mask, simply for the task of mauling their opponents or bananas, then they're normal." A solemn expression washed over Enn's face, now that the brief history lesson was over. It also reminded him of the dead and unconscious bodies not far from them both. "Let's pay our respects for a moment. They deserve, at least, that much."

Link nodded, setting his smile aside for another, more appropriate, time. They went to the body of the assassin, bowing and saying words of respect before getting on their horses and riding off. "So, what were you telling me about sacrifices and wars, again?" Link asked, moving on with a lesson learned. Outside of the shamefully legal murder they committed, one thing lingered in Enn's mind: the pauldron. He knew who wore that and he felt so much sympathy for him.

By the time the duo of heroes left the scene, the survivor of the battle woke up with a sore skull. Enenra hadn't been beaten that hard since he was a kid, nor was it a sensation he missed. Still, if it meant that he had become an elite Yiga Clan member, then the price was an easy one to pay. At least, that's what he thought before he stood to check on his best friend. "They kicked my ass," he said in a joking tone, wobbling a bit. "What about you, Ilo?" His eyes widened with shock when he saw his corpse lying there, still as the sands of home. "Ilo?" he quietly asked, approaching slowly.

Poof! Poof!

"He's dead, Enenra," his father coldly told him, joined by his mother. Tio and Valen — the most cold-blooded people in all of Hyrule. Supposedly, they tore a man's head off, with their bare hands no less, and laughed about the weather afterward. As extreme as that sounded, the part of that story that nobody mentioned was the fact that he watched every second of it. Other than being traumatized by his parents' actions, they threw him around a lot. But it was never to the point of death or serious injury… except when they broke most of his ribs… and when they gave him a massive gash on his forehead… or when they put him in a slight coma… but those were mistakes. "It's all a part of the elite life in the Yiga Clan," Tio continued, staring down at Ilo with disappointment.

"Link is the villain," Valen affirmed, sliding right into his line of sight. "He kills us and lies to make himself feel better. He is trying to kill our god, dearie. If we let him roam, he will succeed. You wouldn't want that, would you?"

There was no doubt in his mind that his mother was right. Yet, what about the other kid? The one who spared him? "I lived, though. There was another kid, I—"

"It's to make you suffer," Tio explained, examining Ilo's body closely. The slash mark across his throat guaranteed his demise. "If we keep sending you in with a friend, then he'll help Link kill them and leave you alive. And this," —he turned to face Enenra, his broad stance more intimidating than ever— "is exactly why I told you to not get close to your comrades. They will die."

"Of course, father," he quietly answered. Being friendly had its ups and downs. "I won't—"

"Don't say it. PROVE it." Then, he stomped Ilo's chest into the ground, spitting on the body for good measure. "Home. Master will want to hear about this."

Poof! Poof!

…

…

He sighed, staring at the body of his friend with misty eyes. 'Just another hole in my chest,' he thought, feeling his world grow just a bit darker.

Poof!

Soon, he found himself inside the elite section of the Yiga Clan's hideout, right next to the door. Now that he could take off his uncomfortable and damp mask, he took in a deep breath of the, equally unclean, air. A cave was more practical, not more comfortable. He would've been moving quickly to Master's quarters if it weren't for someone he knew unfortunately well. "Your hair," his girlfriend suddenly said from behind, "it's losing its color."

"I know, Ilia," he said, ruffling his, already ruffled, red and white hair. "Listen, I—"

"I heard."

"Oh."

"When I have time, I'll host his funeral. I suggest you join." With that, she walked away, completely ignorant of the pain she knew he felt. It was weird how the only relationship his parents supported was with this girl, specifically, but he guessed it was because of her… looks? Even now, he had no clue why he liked her, why his parents liked her, and how he hadn't broken it off yet. Not once was she there for him, not once did she sound happy with him, and somehow she always convinced him to stay. Maybe it really was his fault.

A brief flash of Ilo popped up in his mind again but he shook it away, ruffling his hair to keep his mind off of it. Up ahead, Tio and Valen walked into Master's quarters, leaving him to sheepishly catch up to them. The first sounds he was greeted with were, unsurprisingly, the sounds of someone eating a banana. "Ilo is gone," Tio announced, surprising Master Kohga. Despite his rotund figure, he was… apparently, the best of them all. But if anyone challenged him, they had to get through his hands, who were, without question, outstanding fighters.

The Giant and the Thief — the Right and Left Hand.

"Oh, come on!" he groaned, tossing his peel into a pile of countless others. "He was my best scout! Ugh, what of his…. Oh. I see." When his parents realized he was behind them, they both forcefully grabbed his wrists and tossed him toward the ground in front of Master Kohga, so hard that it sent him to his hands and knees. "Why did you survive? You have a minute."

"His companion—"

SPIT! SPLAT!

"WHAT?!" If the incredulous look didn't say it all, the fact he spat out and wasted a perfectly good banana said it, too. "Link is a big fat loner! There is no way someone would want to, let alone get to, join him on his adventure. There is only one person who I trust more than myself, and it was my father's mother's father's mother's father! And he said that Link could hardly talk on his own!" He paused for a moment, thinking deeply about his ancient ancestor. Any normal Hylian would only have a few generations between now and a century ago, but not any Yiga Clan member. Because of their diet, their lives were usually split in half. Being 19, that wasn't something he was worried about, yet. "He also mentioned a friend of Link's, so…. Fine. Carry on."

"His companion spared me for the" —he glanced at his parents, getting on one knee and looking more professional— "explicit purpose of making me suffer more. If I'm sent in with a partner, I'll live and they won't—"

"Which is exactly why I suggest you send him on a solo scouting mission," Tio interrupted, immediately countering Enenra's look of shock with a look of intimidation. He may not have asked for, or wanted, something like this, but he was damn well getting it. For the cause. "On our last mission, Valen and I found the hometown of his companion. He has left, that much is clear, but he had friends. If Enenra were to learn as much about this mystery companion from them as possible, we could find a weakness — emotional or physical."

"Manipulation?" he asked, still staring back at his father.

"Or we could kill the rest of your frie—"

"Of course, father."

Kohga chuckled, taking another banana out of his pocket. "And this" —he practically inhaled another banana— "is why you two are the backups for my Hands. Valen, Tio, you are dismissed." They simultaneously bowed and muttered the motto of the Yiga Clan, leaving him behind to deal with his new instructions. "As for you, Er… Eden… something, something, you are to go to their hometown and learn as much as you can about Link's new friend. Get your normal clothing — you are going undercover."

"Yes, Master." He stood up, turned, and walked toward the door. There was still one thing left to be said, however. "It's Enenra, by the way," he hissed.

"Yeah, sure, Eden. Get me more bananas!"

'Ugh.' To his lonely little quarters, he went, entering one of five long hallways full of countless doors. Well, exactly 50, but countless from a glance. As it so happened, his quarters were at the end of the hallway. The very end, personally requested by his parents for 'being so roomy.' It probably was but his cluttered lifestyle didn't make it look like it. His parents wanted what was best for him — every parent did.

His parents were just… special.

He lazily tossed his mask onto his tiny table, the sound of its clatter filling the room for a moment. On the wall right across from his sliding door were his normal clothes, consisting of a robe, plain tunic, and pants. For an assassin, the pay was awful. He didn't even like bananas that much, only eating them when his parents called for them. Parents knew best, after all. "Ilo…. Damn you to hell, Link," he muttered, sitting on the edge of his bed.

This loss would be the third time he lost a friend, but the first time he felt so strongly over it. Like the last two times, he felt hollow, but now with an added sprinkling of rage. No matter how long it took, he swore on his life that Link, his companion, and all of Hyrule would crumble before they succeeded. It was his fault that he hadn't tried to kill them both when he was so close to them, but now it would be because of him that the Yiga Clan finally secured a victory.

Either that or he would die trying. Whether that would be at the hands of his parents or of the heroes… he would die… for the cause.

Once he finished moping and had changed into his attire, hiding his sickle beneath the cape of his poncho, somebody knocked on his door. "Yeah?"

A familiar voice replied from past the door, bringing a smile to his face, "It's me." Just the sound of voice reminded him that, even if every other friend he had died in battle, he would always have at least one person to lean on. More so than his parents… which would bring gallons of shame to him if anyone found out.

He happily opened the door, being greeted by his favorite giant: Sooga. Despite not being related by blood, Sooga simply oozed with 'big brother' energy, all because he raised a young Enenra when his parents were… 'busy,' so they told him. With what? That he never knew. If he was lucky enough to catch them talking, they would mention playing some people for fools and using close relations to their advantage, but then he was usually caught. "Here to talk or bring me to my next task?"

"A bit of both," he replied, his voice deeper than almost any other person's. "How are you taking his loss?"

For a moment, because of his resistance to crying, it felt like somebody used all of their strength to punch him right in the heart. But that pain was nothing compared to what he had felt before, so he persisted. "Fine. It's… a day on the job, nothing else."

"You're sure?"

"…No."

"Thought so." He softly set his massive hand on Enenra's, already small in comparison, shoulder with a smile on his face. The only way he could really tell that he was smiling was because certain scars on his face moved up and closer to the edge of his face. Oh, how many scars Sooga had on his very tanned face, contrasted only by his green eyes and black hair. "I'm your rock, Enenra. But… not here. You are prepared, yes?"

"Physically."

"It'll do." Sooga shut the door slowly, sparing more than a few concerned glances at him. Like his life was for the cause, Sooga's concern was all for the hidden kindness beneath his cold shell. They exchanged a nod, tightening the grip around the smoke pellets embedded into the gloves of their outfits. In sync with one another, they did a small hop and crossed their forearms together, leaving the room without walking out the door.

Poof! Poof!

The true secret behind their travel methods was unknown to everyone at this point, but it didn't make it any less effective. "A forest; perfect," Sooga quietly remarked, glancing around to see nobody at all. "You know what to do?"

"Yes."

"Then do it. Sooga out."

Poof!

…And now he was alone. 'Oh, god.'

He quickly left the forest, stepping right onto a stone pathway that led up to Hateno's gate. A place like this felt odd for the descendant of a decorated Royal Guard member to live in, but, of course, royalties had died when the royal family died. Most of the family, anyway. Dusk was quickly setting in, not allowing for much working time. 'Just play it cool, Enenra. Be the Scottish laddie ye are, and it'll go doon fine. Nothing can go wrong if ye—'

"HEY!" Suddenly, a farmer leaped out from behind the gate, jabbing a pitchfork wildly at him. The sudden appearance made him flinch, not the wild poking. "What are you doing up so late? Here to rob us, are you?!"

Before he could answer, someone, quickly approaching, yelled, "Hang on!" The young girl's figure, whom the voice belonged to, soon appeared, lit up in the pinkish glow of the descending sun. She had light protection, a poncho, and a tunic, like… his own clothing. Yet… she wasn't a Yiga Clan member. Sheikah, perhaps? Not all Sheikah lived in Kakariko or wore their traditional attire. It would explain her short white head of hair, too. "Thadd, I thought Enn—"

"Do you see the hour? He's clearly—"

"Let me ask," she cut him off, frowning and furrowing her brow with disappointment. "So, sir," —she looked him up and down, resting her hands on her hips— "are you here to rob us?"

"No, ma'am," he answered, his thick Scottish accent coming through, just as it always did. The habit was actually picked up from one of his earliest friends, who… was the first he lost. But he was a toxic gaslighter with an accent, so, looking back, he felt nothing. "Needed a place to stay, heard about you from a lad doon the road. Don't wanna be caught while it's pishin' it doon, would aye?"

…

"…Raining?" she asked, her head tilted so far to the side that he swore it would fall off if he made her more confused.

"Yes."

"Cool. You can come on through, I'll give you a little tour." The farmer glared at him skeptically, his guard higher than mountains for no reason. Surely, he didn't know anything… right? Well, he got his answer soon enough. "The guy's paranoid, sorry. So," —she stopped, pointing at certain buildings as she read out what they were— "the inn is all the way back there, the dye shop is at the little stone bridge, the armor shop is across from the general store, which is… next to… my house."

"Why'd you hesitate?" As those words left his mouth, he realized that wasting his time with silly questions like that was a bad idea. But it just came out without warning.

When she finally acknowledged his question, she had to shake her whole body a bit as if there was a feeling physically clinging to her. He made a couple of calculated guesses as to what that feeling was, his best answer being shame. Maybe he could use that. "Er… it's not mine. You've heard of Enn… right? No, wait, of fucking course you have. If you haven't, I…. AHEM, it's his house."

"And he trusted you to live in it?"

She didn't get a chance to answer his question, though, as two more people quickly ran over to her. One was a fairly tall man with shades of white and gray for each piece of clothing he donned, while the other was a somewhat short person who wore a small red cap seemingly for the sake of it. Their other clothes were standard attire worn by travelers all across Hyrule, even in the sandy deserts he called home. "New face, eh?" the man asked, smiling politely. "Don't reckon Thadd welcomed you with loving arms, right, new guy?"

"Tha' psycho at the ga'e?"

"He's charming, isn't he?" the girl answered for the man, upsetting him. A petty rivalry would be just the tool Enenra would need, should his plan of, 'hope they are naive and pray,' fail. Other than Link, he couldn't manipulate people too well, which was why he was only sent with a partner to do a hit-and-run. "Yeah, don't mind him. But, do mind us. We here consider ourselves protectors of this town, so don't prove him right, for once."

"Speaking of us," —the man pushed her out of the way, shaking Enenra's hand— "I'm Dara, she's Ria, and they're Zu," he said, pointing at each member of the trio. "Good friend of ours was Enn, who left and put us in his place."

"Shame. Hopin' to meet him, I was," he replied. "Mind if I ask a few questions from ye? Migh' as well learn about 'im if I can't talk to 'im."

"Of course!" Zu happily answered, seemingly tired of being the squeaky fourth wheel of the conversation. Nobody saw that but him, which… made him feel the tiniest hint of pity for them. But that was wrong. "What do you want to know first?"

"Late hour, Zu," Dara interrupted, stepping between the two. "Man should get some rest, first."

Ria checked her glowy watch, only looking up at Dara to doubt him. "It's six."

"Yeah. It is." Enenra backed up a bit, examining them closely for any little trait he could take and use for his own benefit. Today wasn't a perfect day, with the loss and unwanted assignment, but he would make it a damn good one. Link would be dead — he swore on his life that it would happen — for the cause.

"Dude, you sleep in an hour or two. You're just going to assume that he does the same?"

"Ugh." Dara walked off, getting all edgy away from the group. Noted. "Alright, Ms. baloney," he grumbled, leaning against a board full of papers, many of them looking to be requests for help. Not urgent, just little favors. For being the self-dubbed protectors of the town, they didn't seem to be helpers. Turning a whole village against three people was certainly a big leap, but the option was always there. Anything for the cause.

Zu seemed a bit disappointed, frowning at Ria for a second. 'They don't like this. Good.' Drama aside, he started to ask fairly innocent and basic questions, keeping a keen eye on each member of the trio. Dara hung his head, Ria glared at him, and Zu glanced at them both every so often. Unfortunately, he learned nothing valuable from Zu, only hearing praise for the cruel kid. How could they praise such a cold-blooded killer? Sure, his parents killed people, too, but… it was for a… good cause.

No. It was for a good cause. A good cause. Right.

Still, he failed, meaning that it was time to do what the Yiga Clan did best: play dirty. "Cheers, mate. All I wanted to know," he said, waving and walking away. By then, Dara and Ria seemed to calm down, too.

"Alright. Make yourself at home while you're here!" they happily replied, skipping away with their friends. Soon, though, they walked normally, glancing, concerned, at the others. Dara and Ria were calm, but not happy. That still meant he had a shot at turning them against each other, which would… help… maybe. For now, it was time to enact plan B. In other words, it was time to start stalking them.

Unlike his training sequences, this one was in a public space with him undercover, not under covers. He started by distancing himself from his target, the trio of friends, while maintaining sightlines. For every step they took, he took two. For every word they said, he wrote it down in his mind and the one after. For every little hint of emotion they showed, he looked for weakness. Or so he liked to think. Truthfully, he was reciting everything that Sooga had told him on day one of that nightmare boot camp. Maybe it wouldn't have been a nightmare if the words weren't beaten out of him, on day two, for his whole time there.

Another thing he was taught was patience. Another thing he forgot was that patience.

The trio of friends — er, his target — only talked. Nothing substantial, either; it was just banter. On the bright side, he could excuse his odd pace, lingering stares, and confusion as being a new guy. Everyone was so easygoing… and so naive. While he watched the trio of nothing do nothing, his thoughts traveled back home to his parents and friends. He never really figured out what they thought of him, outside of Sooga. All he could guarantee was that his parents, despite everything, loved him. Definitely.

'HEY! Stop that! Focus, focus, focus!' he reminded himself, slapping his own cheek. He was glad to see that it motivated him just like it did when his parents did it. However, there was no use to it, as they continued doing nothing. Ria and Dara had, unfortunately, finally relaxed and were having a chill talk. But Ria sounded… a bit sad. She must have been the closest one to Enn, especially if he trusted her to live in his house.

…That was assuming Enn was the kid who knocked him out earlier. The context answered it enough, but he didn't know for sure.

A whole lot of nothing happened until the sun left the world behind, sending it into darkness, one more physical than the emotional one he lived in. Maybe it wasn't bright, but if it was for the…. Oh, what was the point in reciting that line? 'For the cause,' this, 'for the cause,' that; his whole life was for the cause and there was no escaping, nor was there a good reason to. Killing Hylia was impossible — but killing her knight was. And by Calamity Ganon, he would be the one that would properly kill him. He got so close — he had to pay his debt.

Dusk had started to set in when Ria followed Dara and Zu to the inn and a building halfway up a big hill, leading up to another big hill topped with a lab of some kind. By then, following her had gotten tricky because of the empty streets. Of course, he could just walk around her vicinity and be seen every so often. There was no requirement to get low and move quietly. Yet, as everybody his age knew, people were truthful when doors were shut. And that bit of knowledge worked like a charm.

Her face fell and she lost her confident stride, wiping her face down with her hands. She was glad that she was the only one on the streets tonight. With each step, she slowed down a bit more, finally stopping just outside of her door. But it wasn't hers. It never could be. Enn had done so much in five years, yet she just had a few months to do what he did. How could she sing in the rain without her voice?

Crunch!

"Huh?"

Woosh!

The pile of leaves outside of Ventest Clothing, the one Sophie refused to get rid of, had been stepped on. By the sound of it, she knew that the steps weren't from a little animal or critter — it was another Hylian. Everyone else was asleep at this hour, though, and what assassin would be stalking her of all people? Were they even an assassin? Was it a good idea to draw her sword and yell to scare them off? No, wait… that was dumb.

If Enn was, as he always was, right, then her skepticism would save her from something. Embarrassment, maybe.

Still, she made sure to keep a keen eye on the pile as she entered Enn's house, fiddling with the lock for a minute straight before finally unlocking the door. Just before she entered the house, she glanced down the street to check if anybody had seen her awkward burst of paranoia, seeing Clavia hastily leave her home down the road. 'Oh. It must be Buttons,' she thought, sparing a final glance at the pile of leaves that were now rustling some more. 'Phew.'

She entered the house, instantly losing all of her energy at the very sight of it. Despite it, she didn't want to sleep; not because she had things to do, but because… she couldn't. Thoughts of Enn, memories of Enn, anything about him swarmed her mind like a horde of bees. The kind that Enn would always run from. He hated bees, mainly for the buzzing sound that freaked him out. It was fun to watch.

…

"Ugh," she groaned, sitting at the table hazily. With every new thought, her headache only worsened, as well as her mood. She would've preferred if she didn't know that thoughts of Enn kept her awake; it, at least, wouldn't have downed her mood so much. But, of course, she was out in the rain without a hood or her voice. She set one of her arms on the table, resting her head in her free hand. From here, whatever remained of her day would go downhill.

With what little optimism she had, she went upstairs and lay down, using her poncho as a blanket rather than Enn's perfectly good one. Rolling around, rolling around, nothing here, nothing there, Enn, Enn, ENN. Sometime later, as she had no will to even look at her glove, she stood and walked downstairs. 'Tea,' she thought, grabbing a cub and starting to brew some chamomile leaves. 'Maybe that will help.'

It wouldn't. It didn't.

'Hylia, be, fucking, damned.'

She looped through his house, somehow doing everything she could while doing nothing at all. Each time, Enn came back to her mind with a genuine smile and sweet words, whether he was 13, 18, or anything in between. No matter what she told herself, she knew, deep down, that she had to be with him again. But… going on a world-spanning adventure, while trying to keep up with people already a week ahead of them, was an even bigger responsibility that she didn't want.

Could she really be trusted with leading her friends across the world? If she could hardly keep a smile on her face while staying in a single town, how could she keep one while traveling so far?

'…Catch your breath, Ria,' a 14-year-old Enn assured her, in her mind, sounding twice as old as he really was. That sentence in particular was very memorable — well, one of the many memorable ones — as he said it shortly after her first mental breakdown. That was her era of blaming herself for everything she did, like being abandoned or burdening someone with the responsibility of a child. Unsurprisingly, he told her that he wouldn't have changed a thing in the world if he could. 'Fresh air helps, too.'

'It better,' she mused, slowly walking toward the front door. Unlock. Open. And… huh. There was the new guy, drinking a little energizing elixir right across from her house. Her surprise woke her up a little, met with pure terror from the new guy. "Er… morning?" she asked. 'Wait, I have a watch.' Keeping eye contact with him, she lifted her gloved hand up a bit and very briefly looked at the time. As it turned out, it wasn't even close to morning time. Only 10 minutes had passed since everyone went to sleep. "Why are you awake so… late? I thought—"

"AHEM, I…. Good weatha, so I took a stroll. Tha's all," he answered, almost throwing the elixir back into the pocket of his tunic. It looked a lot like her own.

"Okay. Hey, I-I know we met just a little while ago, but… do you mind if I join you?" A mix of terror and consideration overcame his face, confusing her more so than his very presence did. Surely, an offer like that wasn't that bad. Or was he an introvert? Was she shoving herself into his private time? Or—

"'Kay," he said. "Just needa clear my head, 'ere. Migh' help ye, too."

"Oh. Cool, yeah…. And I might vent a bit. I know I—"

"Perfect," he replied, missing his strong accent. Previously, he lost it a bit, but now it was completely gone. Her face gave away her internal thoughts. Reading body language, of all kinds, was a required skill in the Yiga Clan elite training, unknown to her. "What? Thinkin' about my accent, are ye?"

"…Never mind. Thanks." With that, she left and locked the door, joining the new guy's side as he started walking down the road. His pace was slow, almost deliberate, but she brushed it off as a casual pace. Still, she kept it in mind, just in case. "Say, what's your name? I forgot to ask," she said, staring intently at his white and red hair. By the looks of its brightness in the moonlight, it was dyed, not natural. Neither she nor Enn had a sibling with a full head of white hair, even if it had sprinkles of natural hair through it, so that made sense.

But the moonlight also made her own hair look like that, so…. Never mind, it was definitely fake.

He paused for a moment, clearly unsure about his trust in her. It was painful to sit and wait there, for her, but the right thing. Still, by the time he even did so much as look at her, she wanted to grab his shoulders and start screaming in his face. "Eden," he replied, fixing the collar of his poncho and feeling around for something below it. He seemed to grab the handle of something for the smallest of seconds before letting go. "Eden Tzen."

"Fun name," she remarked. "Where did your parents get it from?"

"Couldn't tell ye. My" —he lost his accent a bit— "parents were never one to share their thoughts on… anything. Other than my work performance." When he realized his accent had faded a bit, knowing what that meant, he cleared his throat and looked away. Ria, to his relief, was still clueless. "Wha' about ye?"

…

…

…

"Ria?"

'Spit it out,' she told herself, looking up at Eden with sorrowful eyes. For the longest time, the very thought of her parents was something she rarely thought would come up again, at least, until she recited her earliest memory to Enn. Still, she didn't think that she would have to acknowledge that again — nor did she want to. 'Just say it!' Her heart hurt at the idea of who her parents were, or what had happened to them. The red on their faces, the one thing she could remember, was distinctly messy and crude. Were they really… dead?

'Damn it, SAY IT!'

"I-I didn't know my parents," she hastily answered, feeling her eyes growing a bit misty. Eden's once frustrated and increasingly impatient demeanor faded the moment her sentence finished. The last thing he expected, or wanted, was for her to mention something so heavy. Sure, it would get her talking, but not about Enn. And yet… he wanted to hear it. She needed to get it off of her chest, anyway. "When I was 11, they…. I wasn't with them. Enn has been my guardian my whole life."

"So… you were never conditioned at all?" he asked. By now, he had forgotten his original goal of starting this conversation, more focused on what she felt — which was very wrong.

"I was, just… very gently. The only punishment I ever faced was from other people because of the bad choices I made. Still, Enn was there for me." 'The perfect guy,' she thought, smiling at the moon and imagining what crazy antics he was up to. Frankly, it was probably just traveling and sleeping, but at least he and Link were getting some well-earned bonding time. As long as she didn't ruin it when she returned to him — if she did. Meanwhile, Eden was floored by her words, something only noticed when she looked back at him. "What?"

He furrowed his brow and pressed his lips tighter together, slowing his pace even more so than earlier. At this point, they were only a few feet from the gate, meaning that they really hadn't moved that much. "How are you good at… anything?"

"What?!"

"I don't mean to be rude," he quickly explained, "it's just… nobody can raise a good kid like that." His lack of an accent, once at the forefront of both of their thoughts, was completely forgotten about. "If somebody isn't conditioned and disciplined through force, then they won't grow." Oh, what memories that sentence brought to Enenra. From the first time he asked about it to the last time they did it to him, his parents explained their actions with those very specific words. He became an elite when he grew up, didn't he? Surely, that meant that they weren't wrong; as if they were ever wrong.

To someone on the outside, however, that logic was very concerning. "No, that's… not right. Where did you get that from?"

"I'm successful, all because my parents disciplined me very well. Look." He clenched his fist and pressed it against his cheek, grinding it against his skin for a few moments. When his hand was back down, she saw a horrific bruise on his cheek, mixed with a hardly healed cut just under his eye. After every disciplining session, his parents insisted that he cover it up, especially for facial wounds. "They did this. And I'm better now. Kindness isn't a good choice in this world, wouldn't you agree?" he said with a proud yet somewhat crazed smile.

As much as she wanted to brush that off and talk about her own problems, she knew, very well, that Enn wouldn't do that no matter his mood. Others were first, no matter how hard that was to know. She had to help. "They hurt you. When have they rewarded you?"

"…Er… sometime… I think. I can't—"

"Have they done as much as smiled at you?"

"Um—"

"Would they care if you died?"

…

What the hell was she thinking? How could she assume so much about his parents? They were… very… bad. Smack, hit, yell, lecture, throw, ignore… all things they did daily. But that was to discipline him. Every step of the way led to greatness — a ladder that never ended — meaning that there were no breaks in discipline. Yet… did they care? If a traitor snapped his neck right in front of them, would they even bury him?

Yes. Of course.

Maybe?

No… they wouldn't. They never gave him anything good. They were never positive. They were…

Special. And she was insulting them.

'…DAMN YOU!'

Sheen!

"HYAH!"

Caught up in his emotions, he whipped out his sickle and swung it toward her, barely stopping right at her throat. Even after all of the insults toward his parents, he couldn't bring himself to kill her. "You… don't… talk about MY parents in that way. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!" She didn't flinch. She didn't talk. She just stared with that same sorrowful glare. "Don't…. Oh, shit." He backed up, examining the glint of his blade with remorse. Not because of what he was going to do, but rather because he had ruined it. He blew his cover.

"Eden—"

"It's ENENRA!"

POOF!

Poof, poof.

He found himself gasping for air, on all fours in front of Master Kohga and two others. As it so happened, those figures were his parents, glaring down at him with every hint of rage in their eyes. They never needed the jaws on their masks to show their intimidation. It took him a while to even look up and register where he was, but, when he did, he felt fear. Both of his parents raised one hand, slowly lowering one finger at a time: a countdown.

Ten, nine, eight, seven…

"They insulted you!"

Six, five…

"She said you didn't raise me right!"

Four, three…

"She didn't say anything even remotely useful!"

Two, one…

Zero.

They remained unconvinced, as they always were. His father lined his hand up nicely with Enenra's bruised cheek and slowly raised it higher.

They were special.

---

Across Hyrule, in the Sanidin Park…

Click clack, click clack, click clack…

"'Be sure to take the time to soothe your mount. That's the only way it will know how you truly feel,'" Enn recited, brushing the mane of Ziro with a smirk on his face. The white streak in his hair never looked more shiny. "I've gotta say, I'm kinda dumb for not thinking of that earlier."

"You're not," Link affirmed, closely examining the braid on his new mount, Storm. A while ago, an old stablehand had asked about a pure white horse, willing to reward them with some unused and undamaged royal horse gear if they tamed it. Being a master of horses, Link tamed it after only a few minutes of struggling, earning the gear and some jealous looks from Enn. On their way back up the hill, Link finally gave the long-awaited horse advice to him. He had quite a lot to say.

That was also the case with their day-long 'sacrifice' debate.

"I wish I could believe you." They stopped their mounts at the stone park where one of Link's memories was recorded, not intending to get it, however. Both Link and Enn agreed that it was better that everything was remembered in order. If they could find the second picture, they would've gotten it by now. Even Enn didn't know where that random lake was. "So, we'll mark this place and keep going?" he asked, pulling out an energizing elixir from his pouch.

Link looked up at the orange sky, seeing it slowly turn pink with increasingly blue and purple hues. Night was going to fall, sooner or later. "Let's rest here. I'm, honestly, pretty hungry."

Surprised, Enn lowered the elixir from his mouth, shutting it with a little pop. "Really? The great" —he leaned back, making grand gestures as he slowly said his words— "Hero of Hyrule needs a break?" Despite his teasing words, he was really grateful to actually sit down for a bit. From not stopping at all to stopping to sleep to stopping for an extended break. What a way to move up in the world.

"Oh," —he gently jabbed his elbow— "don't do that," he said, smiling coyly.

"And if I want to?" Link shrugged, chuckling along with Enn as they dismounted. While they scaled the stairs leading up to the main monument of the park, each taking deep breaths of the fresh air, Enn remarked, "You know, I've always wanted to have a picnic in a place like this. A beautiful view, some great food, and a good friend."

"Zelda would, too," he calmly murmured as they reached the top of the stairs. Outside of the wear and tear on the stone bricks and bits of metal, it looked identical to the photo of it from a century ago. Enn was right: A place like this was perfect to relax and recharge, something they would need for the journey ahead. They would need a lot of rest. For now, though, they needed food. Link merely brought out whatever he felt first while Enn spent a good minute just figuring out what to eat. "You're picky?" he asked, surprised.

"A bit. Mainly when I don't make the food… and even when I do make the food." He examined his plate of mushroom risotto, being pleased with the sight and saddened by it. Something as simple as a meal had so much weight behind it. "Either way," —he picked out both a spoon and a fork with just two of his fingers— "I'm not one for getting messy."

And so, they ate. Not a word was exchanged, there was a better time for that, but many thoughts ran through their minds. One topic, even after a full day, remained trapped in their minds: sacrifice. No matter what Enn said, no matter how many, at least, decent points he brought up, Link wouldn't change his perspective. 'Those who threw away their lives would earn everything, should they survive to see the end,' he said, shortly before they arrived at a stable for the night. Since then, they didn't bring it up, but they both knew that the discussion wasn't over.

If a place like this was a good place to eat and relax, maybe it was better to talk about something that truly mattered.

When they finished their meals and drinks, using water to wash the plates off and save them for later, they admired the fiery sun at the railing of the park. Every flicker off of wet rocks, metal bits, and ponds of water looked beautiful. This view could relax anyone. But, one century ago, a sight like this stressed a young princess out more than she wished it would. That carried over to her knight. So much land, so much travel, so many people, so many objectives, so many things that could tear the world apart… all in a swirl of violence and peace.

Peace would dominate that violence — he swore it.

…

…

"…Hey," Enn said with a serious tone, losing his appreciative smile, "about what we talked about yesterday… I just need to ask…" —Link readied his response, defending his views with a solid guard— "what makes you think that?" In an instant, Link felt surprised and was a bit confused. Yesterday was filled with Enn telling Link that he was wrong and that sacrifices were never needed, all things he countered, so he expected to continue his streak of good points. And Enn just dropped the subject overnight.

"You're done telling me I'm wrong?" he asked, curious and a bit prideful by his tone.

"You do you, Link," he answered, staring down with caring and soft eyes. With his dull, unreflecting eyes. "But what is your reason?"

Right then, Link, quite literally, had war flashbacks. As a soldier, he didn't serve for too long, less than a year, but he served long enough to know what it was like. Every day, a good man was buried. No amount of love could protect someone from death. Every war was like that. "There is no battle without bloodshed," he explained. "Every fight, every skirmish, every war, someone dies. The higher-ups know that, and—"

"Why do you think that?" he interrupted. "I would counter your points, but I need to know why you believe that sentiment. Something drawn from your past or present, not history's past and present. Say it again."

…

"…I have nothing to lose," he quietly said. "Everyone from my past is dead. I can't know them and I never will. There's no history I can make anymore — I am history — I'm a corpse, Enn; nothing ties me to this place. But I can't watch it crumble to the ground. If I die…" —his lip quivered a bit and tears fell from his eyes— "it will be paying off the last debt I have to this place." Just before he could turn and hide his feelings, Enn grabbed his shoulder and turned him around. The very second they faced each other, Enn pulled him into a warm embrace, allowing him to silently cry it away.

'You have no idea what you just said,' he thought.

For Link, he really didn't.

---

A/N - Ah, drama. Oh, how it hurts my heart.

Y'know, I feel like I've been inconsistent with the characters — to some extent. I'm not saying Link has wild mood swings or that Enn just becomes insane with the flick of a switch, but I am saying that things like motivation, speech, and internal musings have been a bit off. Or so I think. I dunno, if it's there, tell me.

Otherwise, what do I think?

Well, this chapter was… set up. The entire point of this chapter, in my eyes, is to set up the plots that will go on throughout the second act. Of course, there will be more subplots, but it sets up the main one and one of the sub ones. On the topic of subplots, let me just list the characters involved in their respective subplots. Enenra I've covered here, Ria, Dara, and Zu have been slightly covered, and so have Mina and Mils. One of leaving toxicity behind, another of growth and maturity, and a third of treasure hunting and dangers of the world.

Three subplots, all tying into the main story. I've got something good cooking, I know it. I just can't see all of it.

Speaking of Enenra… um… yeah, the abuse. I may have only had strict parents growing up, but I know the feeling of justifying bad actions. So, I tied that in with a healthy dose of research (by that I mean not much please don't hurt me) and gave it a shot. If you struggle reading that, I apologize, but it's not for shock factor. It's Enenra's whole plot, so trust me here.

The next chapter is cooking, so give me a bit. School is coming back soon, so I'm gonna have to get back on that grind.

Love y'all,

Ebblenubble.