The doors to the inn burst open as the group filed in, some helping others through while Jules was carried in Teli's arms. The moment everyone had entered, Prima and Dantz closed the doors behind them. After dusting snow off her little legs and fluffy dress, with her pencil in her hand, Purah did a quick head count.

"Wait, I thought we didn't want the town to know," Teli mentioned, still holding Jules's body as Purah counted. "Aren't the gossiping ladies here? And what about the others who took shelter from the storm a few days ago?"

"I sent everyone home before I left," answered Prima, who was helping Zelda stay on her feet, "If the storm was calm enough for those two to come and get drinks, then it was safe for everyone else to head back."

"And all who went has already been accounted for and safely home," Reede said. "Manny and I made sure earlier. It went by far quicker than it would have been thanks to Manny's help."

"W-well, I mean, I guess—" Manny managed out, starting to form a stupid grin, but was quickly interrupted.

"Seems like everyone's here," Purah said as her count came to a finish. "Our time's running low. Prima, we need that thread now, and Teli, get her upstairs and in bed. Zelda—"

She glanced over at the employee as Teli and Prima (who checked to make sure Zelda was alright on her own) hurried off. She squinted her eyes from behind her red-framed glasses as she looked Zelda up and down. She was slightly bent over, her chest rising and falling from her heavy breaths. She was exhausted from the trek to the inn, and even after taking the spicy tonics she had been forced to drink, her hand was holding her injured stomach. There was a good chance she made it only thanks to Prima's help, having used the clerk's shoulder as a crutch, and this hadn't gone unnoticed by the little researcher.

"—are you sure you can handle this?"

"We talked about this already," Zelda panted. "I can, as long as you guide me—"

"I'm referring to your physical state," Purah corrected. "Your body looks as if it's failing you. We can't have you giving out during this. I'll ask again: are you sure you can handle this?"

Zelda furrowed her brow. She glanced around the room, catching everyone's gazes of worry for her in their eyes. Soon, she landed on Celessa, who also wasn't looking too good, but was faring far better than Zelda was. After a pause, she looked down at the hand that rested on her stomach before taking a deep (but painful) breath.

"I can do it."

Purah gave her one last glance over and nodded before pointing her pencil at Manny.

"You. Help Zelda up to the second floor" she commanded.

Manny looked around before pointing his own finger at himself. Before he could question why a little girl was giving him orders, Purah gave a little growl. Opting to continue holding his questions in, he walked over and allowed Zelda to place an arm over his large shoulder and slowly began helping her to the stairs. After watching them for a moment to ensure the large oaf would handle her with care, Purah looked back at the rest of the group.

"I'm assuming you wish to be there for the two of them, yes?" she asked the traveler, who nodded in answer.

"They're my friends," she explained. "I need to be there, and well… I don't exactly live here, so the inn is the only place I can go."

"Hm. Very well then," Purah accepted. "Your injuries weren't as fatal. Will you manage to get up the stairs yourself?"

"Y-yeah, I can," Celessa confirmed.

"Then be on your way. I'll be up in just a moment," Purah replied. With another nod, Celessa followed after Manny and Zelda, leaving just the mayor and farmer in her presence. "Will you two be staying?"

"I'm worried about Jules and the others," Dantz said, "but, if there's some crazy assassin running around, then I best get home to my family."

"Do you think he failed?" Reede asked him. "Do you think Link may have lost to—?"

"The chances are low," Purah spoke up. Both looked down at her.

"But Purah, you saw how he came back the first time," Dantz said, "and how he ran out again. What makes you think he'll make it back a second time?"

"Becaaaaaaause Zelda gave him something he didn't have before," Purah said before giving him a stern look. "Trust me, he'll be back in a snap."

"Then does that also mean you believe he did it?" Reede asked. "That he killed that man?"

"That, I'm unsure of," Purah said. "But, if I had to give you an answer, he either did, or he found another way to run him off. Either way, I do believe that Yiga won't be making a second appearance."

"You seem awfully sure after what we just witnessed," Dantz said. "You believe that strongly in him?"

"I do," Purah said. "Look, I've been in this much longer than you two have. Take this old lady's intuition and rest easy."

"It's hard to accept that answer when you look like that," Dantz sighed. "But… I'll choose to hold out hope. That's what you said we have, right?"

Purah gave a small grin.

"Then I'll be off," he said before turning to Reede. "You'll update me when we get answers, right?"

After receiving a nod in agreement from the mayor, Dantz gave a single wave before opening one of the front doors. Before he stepped out, he looked back at the little girl one last time.

"Good luck."

With that, he disappeared into the snow.

"How is your side feeling?" Purah asked. "It doesn't need any treatment, does it?"

"I'm fine, really," Reede answered. "You know, it's unlike you to be so caring."

"Why do people insist on telling me that?" Purah fumed. "I've always cared, thank you very much. I'll have you know, much of my research goes into restoring and protecting Hyrule to the best of my ability."

"Forgive me, it's just… You're showing it a bit more. It's almost unusual," Reede said kindly. "It's nice to see."

"Yeah, yeah," Purah said, placing her hands on her hips. "You'll be heading home as well, yes?"

"Indeed. Like Dantz, I too have a family to care for," Reede answered. "As much as I find those upstairs my responsibility, I fear there isn't much I can help with. I can do nothing but leave them in your care."

"Hmpf. All of you have been under my care for over a century now, " Purah sighed before looking the mayor in the eye. "They're in good hands. I can assure you of that."

"You have my thanks," Reede replied, "for everything."

"If you really wanted to thank me, you'd send funds to the lab in order to help me with my experimental endeavors," Purah suggested, raising an eyebrow. Reede gave an awkward smile.

"You know we don't make that much down here…" he said nervously.

"Miss Purah! We're ready for you!" Teli's voice called down. Almost relieved to escape Purah's sudden underhanded request, Reede nodded.

"I better be off," he said, following in Dantz's steps toward the door. He took the handle into his hand but looked back at the little girl one more time. "You truly believe we're safe? That he's safe?"

"Believe me," Purah said confidently, "he's succeeded and has come back from much worse than this."

She gave her fingers a little snap, causing Reede to give a single chuckle. Pulling the door open, the mayor disappeared out of the inn as well. Once the door closed, Purah's smile disappeared. She took as deep of a sigh as her little lungs would allow her to before quickly heading up to the inn's second story. All the beds had been empty, all except for one, with Jules laying in its center. While Prima was actively ensuring the bandages around her stomach were holding, Zelda and Celessa (with considerably shaky hands) were preparing the needle and thread as Teli and Manny watched from a few steps away.

"Zelda, do you have the needle and thread ready?" Purah asked as she hurried to the bed where Jules had been laid down. With a wave of her hand, she signaled for Teli to grab one of the chairs that sat next to one of the other beds nearby to sit next to the bedside.

"Just about," Zelda answered, finishing the knot on the needle. As soon as Teli set the chair he had grabbed down next to the bedside near the employee, he stepped back as Purah jumped on.

"Were they sterilized?" the little girl asked Prima.

"I washed them as best I could, but it was in a hurry," the clerk answered.

"That'll have to be good enough. Okay. You know the rules," Purah said, turning her attention to Zelda. "It's the same as when you come to my lab to do research. You do exactly as I say. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Zelda said, now staring at the bandages Prima had nervously begun to unravel from Jules's waist.

"Alright then. It won't be a large stitch, the blade isn't that wide," Purah said. "We aren't doing anything internal; that would be impossible with what we have. This is just to buy us time. You just need to close the wound for now. Got it?"

"G-got it," Zelda agreed again. Purah nodded.

"Then are you ready?"

With her heart pounding, Zelda looked down at the now revealed wound on Jules's bloodstained stomach. Immediately the wound reopened, allowing drops of red to spill off to the sides. She glanced over at the needle in her white fingers before looking back down at the bed.

Jules had saved her. Despite everything that had happened between them, from their arguments to their failed attempts at working together, she had come. She came to the house and fought, even though she didn't know how. Even though she might've felt Zelda didn't deserve to be saved after everything, she took a weapon in her hand and faced the assassin alongside them, even having to fight on her own for a time. And above all else, she jumped in front of the blade that had gone through them both. Jules had done all of that in an attempt to shield her, a person that jealously saw her as nothing more than a problem.

Zelda's brow furrowed as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. After a brief pause, she opened them back and looked down at the needle in her fingers once more, stilling it as best she could.

"I'm ready."

Hearing this, Purah nodded.

"For those who have weak stomachs, I ask you to either look away or leave. We can't afford aaaaaaaany distractions," she said.

While no one left the room, Manny did go take a seat in one of the chairs near one of the other beds, opting to support them from a distance. Assuming those who remained in their places wanted to support from up close, she took her pencil and pointed it at one side of Jules's wound.

"We'll start from here and work our way across. It just needs a basic pattern, it's not necessary for it to be perfect. It just needs to be done," she explained before bringing her free hand up. She began waving her fingers in guidance. "Bring the needle down… Careful… Yes, right there… Good. Now… Let's begin."

...

The air in the room felt heavy, almost suffocating. All were silent except for the extremely complicated demands of Purah verbally guiding Zelda's fingers as best she could. Zelda looked pale and her legs were clearly weak, yet she continued on as smoothly as she could. Finally, the last stitch was made. It had only taken a few minutes, but to Zelda, it felt as though an hour had passed. The moment the excess thread was cut, her legs gave out. She fell back, needing to be caught by Prima, who had been standing next to her the entire time.

"Is that… good enough?" Zelda asked, finding her balance again with the clerk's help. She looked at Purah, who was inspecting the stitchwork. After a few seconds, she nodded.

"For a medical stitch, it's crude and would be mocked by any professional," she said. Regardless, she tapped the end of her pencil against her cheek and grinned, and with a wink, she added, "but, it'll work, and it's the best stitch I've seen anyone do without any practice whatsoever. You really are gifted with a piece of thread, Zelda."

"That's… good to hear," Zelda replied, closing her eyes in exhaustion. Without warning, her legs began to give out again, requiring Prima to hold her up.

"Hey, Zelda! Maybe you should lay down," Celessa said, quickly moving to help before wincing herself. With a deep breath, she clutched her chest.

"You both should rest," Purah spoke up, looking back at the two women. She pointed down at Jules.
"This one here isn't the only one who was injured. Both of your wounds only just closed, and that's only from taking the bare minimum healing—"

"No," Zelda suddenly spoke up. With a few deep breaths of her own, she pushed herself off of Prima and onto her feet. Ignoring the pain, she opened her tired eyes and looked at the little girl standing on the chair. "You said that would only buy us time. We have to come up with a plan to save her— to truly save her."

"It will buy us time," Purah confirmed, "but, if your wounds open up again, then we'll be making plans for two."

"Then all the more reason to come up with a solution as quickly as possible," Zelda said.

"Then I'll ask this: do you, or anyone else in this room have a plan that we can put into effect right at this very moment?" Purah asked. She looked around, only to find everyone either looking away or down at their feet, including Zelda. "Exactly. You can say we need to do something now all you want, but until someone here actually comes up with an idea—"

"I have an idea."

That was a new, but very familiar voice. Everyone turned toward the staircase to find the one who had run off a little bit ago. His clothes were still covered in blood, including the trident that was now on his back. He looked each person in the eye (while choosing to linger on Zelda's worried green ones), before looking at Purah.

"Look who returns," the researcher said, folding her arms. "I'm surprised to see your wounds haven't re-opened."

"If you look closely enough, I'm sure you'll find a few that have," Link chuckled awkwardly. Realizing no one had even snorted, he cleared his throat, leaving Purah to save him with a hmpf.

"You said you have an idea, yes?" she asked, seemingly ignoring the current atmosphere in the room. Link nodded.

"If we're out of fairy tonics, then we just need to get more," he said. "I'm sure you know of the fairy fountain in Kakariko. We just need to get fairies there. I can make tonics out of them. That'll patch Jules, and everyone else up."

"A fairy fountain?" Zelda asked, but Purah spoke up again.

"Last time I checked, the Great Fairy hasn't been seen in decades," she said. "None of them have."

"I freed them," Link explained. "Or, I guess I paid them to come back out. They said rupees give them power. I'm not really sure how that works, but— Anyway, they're back. That's what matters."

"Hm. With the Sheikah Slate, getting there and back will be a snap," Purah said thoughtfully, placing her hand on the slate (having taken it from the house) before snapping her fingers. "Right! Then that's what we'll do! Good work, Linky. I looooove when you use that brain of yours, even if it chooses to disappear every now and then."

"T-thanks," Link said with a small smile. "Then I'll take the slate and—"

"Nooooope!" Purah said, lifting up her hand to waggle her finger at him from her chair. "I believe you've done enough for today."

"What?" Zelda spoke up. "Purah, we have to go! Jules could—"

"I said Linky has done enough for today," the little researcher cut in. "I didn't say you all were done."

"Purah, I'm fine—" Link began to protest, but Purah quickly shot him a glance.

"You were the most injured out of everyone here," she said sternly. "You've lost the most blood, and honestly, it's a miracle you're still standing having run off to fight the assassin for a second time. With how white your skin was, I wouldn't be surprised if you had lost three-fourths of the blood your heart had pumped through your body."

"I... I could fight even if I only had a quarter of my heart left," he mumbled, yet Purah brushed his comment away.

"You need to be rebandaged. As of now, someone else will have to go in your stead—"

"Let me go," Zelda instantly spoke up, yet Purah immediately sighed.

"You two are more similar than you'd believe yourselves to be," she grumbled. "Have you forgotten your injuries? If it weren't for those tonics, you'd be in the bed right next to her."

"She's right, Zelda," Prima said. "You aren't looking too good. I think someone else should go."

"I refuse to let anyone else go but myself," Zelda argued. "She saved me, Prima—"

"—and you saved her by doing the stitches," Purah added.

"I didn't save her, I only postponed what's currently inevitable," Zelda corrected. "I must go. I wouldn't feel right leaving it to someone else."

"But… Zelda, you're hurt too," Celessa said. "It really might be best to let someone else handle this."

"I can go," Teli spoke up, raising one of his hands. "I'm known down there in Kakariko, at least a little bit. Mostly for my roguish good looks, might I add—"

"I said I'm going—!"

"You know, you don't need to make a tonic for fairies to heal you," Link suddenly spoke up. Everyone turned to face him. He looked around again before clearing his throat for a second time. "If they sense you're injured, they'll heal you themselves— as long as you're gentle. It's not as effective as the tonics, but there are a few of them there… Since Zelda is as hurt as she is, if she goes and interacts with the fairies, she can get healed as soon as possible while gathering what we need, right? That's two keese with one arrow."

Zelda gave him a confused look, and she wasn't the only one. That was a suggestion Link would have never made before. She opened her mouth to question him, yet Purah had already started before her.

"You do recognize the large number of flaws and contradictions in that proposal of yours, yes?" Purah asked.

"I'm sure I can think of a few," Link answered, "and I'm sure you could probably find more."

"And yet, you still believe in letting her go through with this foolish plan of going by herself? Is that what you're saying?"

"Yeah, it is."

Purah stared into Link's unwavering blue eyes. She raised a curious eyebrow. It looked as though the two were having a silent conversation, one that no one else in the room could decipher. Finally, she shrugged.

"Okie-dokie, then."

"What?" Prima, Celessa, and Teli cried.

"You're agreeing? That plan is insane— look at her!" Prima said, gesturing to Zelda. "She's exhausted!"

'Then we better make some food," Purah said cheerfully, jumping down from her chair. "If we use the right ingredients, they'll give her some energy. Right, Linky?"

"Y-yeah," Link answered, also seemingly surprised by Purah's quick agreement. "Some food can heal too, but I don't think we should rely on that…"

"My thoughts eeeeexactly!" Purah said as she walked toward him and the staircase. She raised her hand above her fingers and snapped a few times. "Come, Prima! We have some cooking to do!"

"Wait, Miss Purah!" Prima called loudly after the little girl. "You can't be serious—"

"Prima," Purah suddenly cut in. She stopped in her tracks (now standing right next to Link) and looked back. "If you think Zelda is going to sit there and do nothing after what— What was her name? Jules?— did for her, you're very mistaken. I knew her one-hundred years ago, and believe me, if she wants to run away, she'll run away. She even got away from Linky here a few times."

"I-if Zelda's going like that, then I'm going too!" Celessa suddenly said. Prima looked as if she were losing her mind.

"Not you as well!" she said, completely flustered by the sudden volunteer. "You both are injured!"

"If Zelda's going under the logic Link gave, then the same applies to me!" Celessa said. "It's fine if she doesn't go alone, right?"

"Celessa…" Zelda murmured, looking back at her friend.

"I— Teli! Manny!" she suddenly said loudly to the two other men in the room. "Help me!"

"I-I'm not in this. I'm tired of fighting, especially with him," Manny said from the chair he sat in, gesturing toward Link. "If he says so then, whatever, I guess…"

"Honestly, as much as I agree with you, Prima, you did something similar," Teli chuckled. "You ran right into danger earlier, having gone to Link's house and all. If we couldn't stop you, why should we stop them?"

Prima fumed. She furrowed her brow and looked around the room, yet she was alone in her opposition. Purah grinned.

"The longer you take to agree, the longer it takes to get food in their stomachs and to Kakariko," she said. After a few moments of thought, Prima sighed.

"Fine," she reluctantly agreed. "Fine. All of you run my nerves up the wall, and in my own inn too."

"We appreciate you, Prima," Zelda said with a weak smile. Prima rolled her eyes before helping Zelda lower herself onto Jules's bedside.

"Sit there, at least for a while," Prima said. "We'll let you know when the food is ready. Manny, Teli, come. You're helping me downstairs."

"Wha…? But, I wanted to rest…" Manny groaned, yet Teli looked at her and then Link and Zelda before placing a fist on his chest.

"I'll gladly help!" he said, puffing his chest out. "I'll make sure the meal is full of taste and looks as dashing to eat as myself."

"H-huh?" Manny gasped. He looked between Teli and Prima before quickly standing up. "Actually, yeah! I-I'll help too!"

Almost running, he quickly headed to Prima's side.

"In fact, why not let me do all the cooking? I can cook way better than—" he began before Prima took him by the ear.

"Just shush and walk," she said tiredly, now walking and dragging him by the ear. Teli laughed as he watched her pull the large Hylian past Purah and Link and down the staircase.

"I guess I'd better follow before I get my ear pulled off too," he said. He gave Zelda a quick bow and followed in the clerk's footsteps, though he paused next to Link. "Hey, I know you said she can go alone, but… what about the assa—"

"I think I hear Prima coming for you, Teli," Purah suddenly said. Confused (and worried), Teli's ears pricked up, but after one look down at Purah, he quickly understood. He patted Link on the shoulder before disappearing down the staircase, leaving just her alone with the couple. "Well, I better follow those children and make sure they make the proper dishes. I'll be using any Stamella shrooms I find in here."

She looked up at Link and tapped on the slate that sat on her hip, to which the champion nodded. With a nod, she turned to head down the stairs, though she paused one more time and glanced back.

"About what Teli was about to ask…?" she murmured quietly.

Link simply gave a small smile. With a grin and final hmpf, she snapped and disappeared down the stairs, leaving the two of them alone. They sat alone in silence, listening to the distant sounds of arguing and pots clanging from the dining hall below. Suddenly, Zelda tried to stand.

"Hey," Link protested, immediately heading over to her. "Come on, Prima told you to rest."

"You should be too," Zelda argued quietly as Link got on a knee in front of her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "and yet here you are, trying to help me."

"Then, I'll stay right here," he said. "I'll meet you in the middle."

This took Zelda aback slightly, but she silently nodded her head in agreement. Gently, she raised both her hands and gripped his forearm.

"I was worried…" she said as tears began to form in her eyes. "I was so worried that I lost you again… He said… He said that he killed you, and I… I…"

"I'm sorry," Link said softly. "I don't have any excuse. Honestly, I only survived because I'm whatever hero the goddess chose me to be."

"Link, just because you're the hero doesn't mean—" Zelda began, but Link shook his head.

"No, Zelda, you don't understand," he said. "I only survived because I'm the hero. I got saved by the Master Sword. If it weren't for her… I would be dead right now."

"Her?" Zelda asked. "You mean the spirit in the sword?"

"Yeah… She saved me," Link said. "But that doesn't change the fact that had I not had her, or if she had chosen not to intervene, I would have died."

"Link…" Zelda murmured, gripping his arm a little tighter. Link lowered his head in shame.

"You were right, Zelda," he said. "I… I drove myself to madness worrying about everything around us. I let my anger grow. I let someone as simple as a foot soldier do all of this… I almost cost you and many other people their lives because of my paranoia. And even when I saw that… I still chose to act selfishly. I left you all."

He lifted his head and glanced over at Jules's body before looking down at Zelda's abdomen, where her dress was still stained red.

"You were right. I wasn't myself," he said. "I'm sorry."

"No, Link, I…" Zelda stammered.

She pursed her lips, trying to hold in the tears before suddenly, she tugged on his arm. She pulled until his face was in her neck, something that caught him off guard. Still breathing heavily, trying to stay in control of her breaths, she wrapped her arms around his shoulder and head.

"It's my fault too," she said, sniffling. "I didn't heed your warnings. I kept you locked away, trying to force you to handle things the way I wanted you to, not the way you needed to. I should have let you search for him. I should have trusted your word. I… I tried learning from my father's mistakes, and only ended up repeating them. I got frustrated. It's my fault, it truly is—"

"Zelda, if you had let me go after him— even when we first arrived— I would have lost myself, and probably for good," Link said. "I… I would have killed him, and that isn't me."

Zelda's eyes grew wide. She loosened her grip, allowing him to pull his head away in order to look into his eyes.

"D-does that mean…?" she began to ask. Link gave a tiny smile and nodded.

"He was beaten," he explained, "and he really wasn't a threat. I only let him turn into one. Now that he knows he can't manipulate me anymore, he won't try coming to the village again. That's the way it should have been all along."

"But, what made you stop?" Zelda asked. Link's smile grew a bit larger.

"You did," he said. "You trusted me… and I refuse to break that trust again."

She couldn't help it any longer. Tears fell down Zelda's cheeks as she pulled Link back into her neck. This time, Link closed his eyes and very gently wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I'm glad you're back," she whispered.

"I'm glad to be back," he whispered back. "I think we should have a talk later… A real one."

"I think a proper talk would do us well," Zelda sniffed, "but, for now, I think that can wait."

The two held each other tightly, allowing the warmth of their bodies to calm their hearts. After a few moments though, Zelda's grip slightly tightened.

"Hey… Why did you agree to my request to go to Kakariko?"

"Well, I wouldn't have been able to stop you," he chuckled. "But, I get it, and… I'm tired of living in fear of what could happen. Besides, it's just Kakariko."

Zelda smiled as she ran her fingers through his dirty blonde locks on the back of his head.

"Thank you," she said. "What will you do after I leave?"

Link closed his eyes and hummed in thought before answering.

"I think I'm going to take a nap. A long one."