Link awoke slowly, the first thing he saw being the sunlight streaming in from his window. He yawns, wiping a bit of drool off his cheek. His body was a little achy, but other than that he felt refreshed. He couldn't remember the last time he had slept and woken up so peacefully.

Right as he had that thought, Zelda's loftwing came flying up to his window and chucked a letter at him with a screech. But this time, link was ready. Despite still being groggy, the hero manages to fling himself sideways just in time to not be hit by it. I did it! Unfortunately, he miscalculated how far to move his body, and he finds himself tumbling unceremoniously onto the floor in a tangle of limbs and blankets.

Not again, Link thought grumpily as he began trying to extricate himself from his bedclothes. He was wriggling and flopping around like a fish on the deck of a ship, and was thankful no one was around to witness it. No one was around… Wait.

"Ghirahim?" Link feels dread beginning to pool in his gut when there's no reply. The demon isn't in his place on the floor, nor is he under the bed when LInk finally frees himself to look. Wait, LInk should be under the bed too still, he fell asleep there, unless…

Link's heart sinks. So, it really was all a dream. Ghirahim having amnesia and a change of heart? Yeah, that was much too good to actually be true.

Link couldn't help it, he felt sad. Yeah, it was a weird dream, but also a sort of good one? The demon really wasn't that bad when he wasn't trying to kidnap Zelda, revive Demise, or kill him. As strange as it might sound, he actually seemed like someone the hylian could be friends with.

Link sighs and begins getting ready to start the day. Why was he feeling so crushed about this? If he told anyone else about it, they'd think he was completely insane. Am I crazy for wanting it to be real as much as I do? I mean, it would mean a quicker, easier end to all of this… Or maybe I'm just…

"Master?"

"Ah!" Link startled at the sudden appearance of Fi, but soon he found his heart swelling with relief and joy at her presence. It was good to know that she was still here; that she wasn't a dream. "Yes, Fi?"

"You have yet to open your letter from Zelda. I suggest you do so."

Oh, yeah. He'd completely forgotten; that dream was affecting him more than the one he had before all this when his journey was only just beginning.

Link retrieved the letter off his bed and tore it open, scanning over it. What he saw made his eyes widen.

Link,

Meet me in my room as soon as possible. We need to talk.

Zelda

For a moment, link just sat there staring dumbly at the letter, uncomprehending. Zelda wanted to talk to him, in her room. That means she was here, at the academy, in her room. Which meant Link must have rescued her. But the only time he remembered her being safe was…

"Fi?"

"Yes?"

"Where's Ghirahim, right now, do you know?"

And despite his best friend no doubt being very unhappy with him right now, LInk feels himself getting lighter with relief when the sword spirit replies, "Yes, he is nearby."

That's all that LInk needs to hear before he's grabbing up his sword and, in a move that would make Gaepora very disappointed in him, starts running through the corridors at full speed.

"Master, this is highly unsafe," Fi says, sounding as close to frantic as she can get. "There is a high probability that you will—stop!"

"Sky Child!"

"Whoa!" It turns out Fi wasn't kidding when she said ghirahim was nearby. He was so nearby, in fact, that he was inches away from being impaled. "Ghirahim!" Link quickly put his sword away, trying to act casual. "I was just, um, looking for you." He takes a few deep breaths, letting his heart slow down. He couldn't believe he was happy to see the demon, but he couldn't deny the relief he felt at knowing that everything that had happened yesterday had been real.

"With your sword out? Whilst running." Ghirahim looks incredulous at the idea. "How utterly foolish of you. If I recall correctly, most people learn not to run with sharp objects before they're out of diapers, you know."

Link can feel himself flushing. He feels like a small child being scolded. "I was dowsing," he explains, barely above a mutter. "It's how my sword tells me how to find things."

"Well, perhaps consider 'dowsing' at a more leisurely pace next time? It would be highly beneficial to the safety of yourself and others."

"Though I previously calculated less than one percent chance of this ever occurring, I agree with Ghirahim."

It's all LInk can do to not laugh at Fi's comment, but he soon sobers up. "Okay, look. When I woke up a few minutes ago, and you weren't there…"

The demon freezes in his tracks, and a different flavor of surprise washes over his face. "You were worried… about me?" His tone is soft, vulnerable almost. Full of quiet wonderment, as if he were witnessing the impossible. It gave the young hero an odd feeling.

Which he didn't have that long to linger on, for soon ghirahim is perking back up again. "Well, there is no need for concern. As you can clearly see, I am still in perfect condition." He spreads his arms wide and strikes a pose, and Link can feel his lips turning upwards, earning a little smirk from the demon in return.

Ghirahim then takes a few steps closer and lowers his voice. "In all seriousness, I am sorry that I left without informing you. You just looked so peaceful in your slumber, and I had already kept you awake last night as it was. Next time, I'll leave a note."

Link nods. "That works." then the implications of what Ghirahim just said set in, and LInk feels his face heating up. "Wait. Last night, under the bed… did you…"

"It would have been uncomfortable to remain there for the rest of the night," the demon says. He's trying to look nonchalant, but there's a hint of uncertainty in his demeanor. "Would you have preferred if I…"

"No, no, you're fine." Link wasn't lying. What Ghirahim had done was a really kind and thoughtful gesture, one he never would have thought him capable of doing a day or two ago. But at the same time, picturing Ghirahim carrying to bed and tucking him in… he's glad no one else knows about it.

Link begins walking down the hall again, motioning for Ghirahim to follow, which he does without hesitation. "Sky child," he begins. "Do not think for a moment that I don't understand the lengths you're going to to help me. I know bringing me here was not an easy decision, and it is causing tension, especially between you and the Spirit Maiden."

You have no idea, Link thinks to himself Riley.

"And it's not my intention to make things more difficult than they already are. But, I grew curious. I wished to learn more about, well, everything. And, I did!" The demon bounces a little on his feet when he says this, looking very proud of himself.

"I spoke with this fellow—Jakamar, I believe—who was cleaning up after last night's storm. I offered to assist him, which he refused; however, he was happy to chat for a while. It was quite pleasant. He seemed surprised to see me. He said Skyloft doesn't get visitors often."

As Ghirahim rambled, Link felt himself starting to relax more. Yes, his conversation with Zelda was bound to be tense, but somehow, the hylian found his concerns about that ease. His unlikely companion was just so cheerful and full of life that it was infectious. "Yeah, that's mostly because you need a loftwing to get here."

"Oh. By the way, where are we going?"

"I need to talk to Zelda," LInk explained. "It won't take long."

Ghirahim falters for a moment. "Oh. And I take it that's her room up ahead?"

Link nods. "I think it would be for the best if you waited out here for now. I'll see if she wants to talk to you after, but…"

"Right, I understand." Ghirahim leans against a wall. He tries to look casual. "Oh, and Link?"

Link turns back. "Yeah?"

Ghirahim's face and tone soften suddenly. "I may not remember much at the moment, but… I have a feeling that I am right where I need to be. So, as long as you will have me, I am not going anywhere."

Link is stunned. That… he doesn't know exactly why, but he feels emotional all of a sudden. He blinks rapidly, what is going on here? Just a day ago they were at each other's throats, and now…

"Not that I could leave, anyway. We are on an island surrounded by nothing but air." The demon's expression is now back to a smirk, almost like the previous moment never happened. "I wish you the best of luck, Sky Child."

Link smiles. "Thanks." Then he approaches Zelda's door, and knocks. Time to face the music.