A/N: Before this chapter starts, I've got some stuff to say.

First, a quick shout-out to the person who reviewed chapter 4 and only said 'LIZARD'

I appreciate you. Rusty the lizard will eventually return to the story.

Also, a quick warning for this chapter.

There is an f-bomb in the third portion of this chapter, for anyone uncomfortable with that.

This chapter ended up being a lot different than I expected- and I'm happy with the way it turned out. I hope you enjoy it as well.

"...Ah. The desert."

Link glanced questioningly at Linebeck. He sat in the sand, running his gloved hand through it. They'd been waiting for almost thirty minutes, now, and clouds covered the sun.

"Link." With a bemused squint, Link turned his full attention to Linebeck. "Count how much sand is here. That's your first-"

"Linebeck, for the love of Hylia, do not," Midna called from inside the wagon. "If you're bored, come back into the wagon and read or something." The engineer glared indignantly at her and sighed.

The crowd of Yiga in front of Gerudo Town did nothing as time passed. Little had changed since they showed up- Urbosa, Nabooru, and Ganondorf were still talking. Midna had briefly joined their meeting but didn't tell the others what they were talking about. Link stood with his back to the wagons, his arms crossed. He barely twitched as Linebeck walked by him and climbed back into the wagon.

The sight of the Yiga enraged Link. He thought back to his quick talk with Daruk and Darunia; how they'd told him to give the Yiga a chance. It was true- a lot of Link's hatred towards them was founded on nothing but things that Zelda had said, and his own simple anger. Plus, they had attacked Link and his friends a number of times- they'd jumped Linebeck and Midna at the city, then again after the tournament. Then was the attack in Kakariko Village, the siege on Hyrule City, and then the meeting at the shrine.

Link clawed restlessly at his sleeves. He wanted to make them pay for being such a nuisance.

And then there was Damien- he knew much about Midna, Ghirahim, and Linebeck, but Damien remained an enigma. Link felt a degree of peace in knowing that Damien would never do anything to harm Linebeck, but he couldn't help but feel suspicious. Damien wasn't lying about his love for Linebeck. That much was obvious in how he talked and behaved. But there was his sympathy for the Yiga, and scrutinization of Zelda and the Sheikah. For all Link knew, Damien might as well be a member of the Yiga. He then grimaced. Damien hadn't left the group's sight since the siege on Hyrule City started, and people kept an eye on him whenever he was left behind at a town. But... his and Linebeck's whispering, how he had a knowing air about him... it made Link uneasy.

With a heavy sigh, he rejoined everyone else in the wagon. Link quickly spotted Damien, working on a small woodcarving. He considered going up to Damien and demanding answers, but chased the idea away as Linebeck sat next to him and struck up conversation. Instead, he decided to talk with Midna. "You know Urbosa?"

"I met her when visiting a bunch of different shops that taught ways to fight. She works part-time at one of those, while Nabooru, her attendant, works part-time as a city guard. They go to the city when Riju, the girl said to be chief after Urbosa, has to work at her own job. She works as a vet in the city," Midna added. "At first, Urbosa and Nabooru can be intimidating and almost unfriendly, but once you get to know them, they're great."

"Urbosa and I sparred once," Ghirahim mumbled. "Actually, we faced off in a past sword fighting tournament. She wiped the floor with me. We faced off a second time in the tournament when I got my sword, but she actually let me win. Said something about how she thought that the sword would suit me. I guess she was right."

"I'd like to spar with her," Link decided. "What about Nabooru?"

"She can fight with pretty much anything, but she's not as skilled with magic as Urbosa."

Link tilted his head at Midna. "Urbosa can use magic?"

"Oh, yeah. She can control lightning magic at will. Very powerful. There's a reason that the Yiga and all who oppose the Gerudo are cautious in their actions." Midna paused. "I'm not sure what the Yiga wants, but Urbosa said that she was allowing them to parley with her."

"You're kidding me," Link said. "Aren't the Yiga and the Gerudo, like, mortal enemies or something?"

"They were in the past," Damien piped up, surprising them. "But things have slowly gotten better. The Yiga haven't actually attacked the Gerudo in years now."

"How do you know that?" Link asked, narrowing his eyes at Damien.

Damien met his hostile gaze with one of exasperation. "Everyone knows that." Link felt his face redden. "Oh, damn! You can blush? I didn't think you could blush... then again, you do have a heart. Not like you act like it."

Link nearly lunged at Damien out of anger, but a Gerudo guard showed up in time to distract him. "Midna, Lady Urbosa can now talk to you and your companions." The guard wore a cloak like the other Gerudo that Link had seen and was armed with a beautifully decorated spear.

"Thank you," Midna murmured.

"I'll lead you to Lady Urbosa, if you'd like."

"Thank you. Give us a moment." The Gerudo dipped her head and backed away, and Midna shot a withering glare at Link. "What's wrong with you?"

Link bit back a fiery response and only kept quiet, gazing down at his feet. "...Sorry. The appearance of the Yiga has me on edge."

Midna only sniffed. "That's fine and all, but don't attack us. Let's go."

The trudge through the sand took longer than Link expected- the clouds had long disappeared, and though he was able to keep cool, he could tell that his companions were having more difficulty. Linebeck was the only one who hadn't removed any clothing, but even he looked uncomfortable in the heat.

On the other hand, the tall Gerudo woman leading them didn't seem bothered in the least. Her skin was dark, as was all other Gerudo's, and she had long red hair tied up in a high ponytail. Her success in past battles was obvious from her muscular build and the scars that decorated whatever bare skin Link got a glimpse at when the cloak shifted. Gerudo clothing typically seemed created with the desert sun in mind, made to cover as much as possible while keeping the sun from burning the skin. Link wondered if he should get a cloak himself, feeling the sunlight beating down on his pale synthetic skin.

The Yiga stared as the group passed by. Link felt his skin prickle as the three present Yiga generals grouped up and stared at the group... they didn't seem to be looking at Link, however. He didn't have enough time to figure out who they were looking at before finding himself face-to-face with Urbosa and Nabooru. The Gerudo chief regarded the five of them for a moment, then said something to the guard in the Gerudo language. The guard briefly responded and left them alone.

"Well, then. I've heard quite a lot about you, Link," Urbosa said, smiling down at Link. The robot stiffened beneath her gaze. "Oh, don't look so scared. I won't hurt you as long as you don't threaten us." Besides Urbosa, Nabooru shifted her grip on her spear. "Now, then... We'll have some more privacy if we talk in one of the battlements," she said, indicating one at the corner of the town.

"But men aren't allowed in the town!" Link blurted out.

Nabooru laughed. "At least you're aware of our traditions. Yes, men are not allowed in Gerudo Town, but the battlements hardly count as part of the town." Link nodded stiffly.

"Come, then. It'll be much cooler once we're in the battlement," Urbosa invited, walking through the gates that the guards opened. She turned and walked into a doorway in the right wall, and the group found themselves in the cool innards of the town walls.

Aside from small windows, the narrow hall was unlit. The staircase up into the battlement was made of reinforced wood, and Link led his friends up the stairs after Urbosa and Nabooru. The battlement room was large enough for a table in the middle, and a few racks of bows and arrows against the walls. Urbosa invited the five of them to sit at the table. As Link sat, he saw that Linebeck was talking to Bellum in an undertone, nervously staying close to Damien.

Nabooru stood by the door, and Urbosa peered out a window at the crowd of Yiga. After a moment, Urbosa said, "Us Gerudo have quarreled with the Yiga for generations, but I'd say that it was a bit over 200 years ago when they drastically changed into what they are today."

Link twitched. Always two-hundred years ago. Everything big seemed to happen two-hundred years ago. "What do you mean when you say that they drastically changed?"

Urbosa shrugged. "Apparently, after a few years of seemingly having disbanded, a new leader showed up with the news that the Yiga were no longer going to be a band of assassins, but more like a rebellion-type team that would show up every so often. They still caused problems, but when they hurt someone, it helped someone else. It seems that they're staying that way, despite now trying to kill Zelda."

"What did Ganondorf want to talk with you about?" Midna asked. "Why is most of the Yiga clan camped outside the town?"

Urbosa pushed off the wall and strode over to the table. "Well, it seems that Ganondorf wishes to make peace with us- to stop all the fighting and become allies. He explained that, despite that they were besieging Hyrule City, they didn't want to start a war, only to kill Zelda and her faction of the Sheikah. He refused why that was their goal, but I'm giving it some thought. He... has a good point, as I can't think of the last time a Yiga killed an innocent person... besides, a band of travelers who'd been lost in the desert got saved by them a few days ago. It's very strange."

"The Yiga have occasionally helped me out," Damien said. "Had my life saved by them a few times."

"They saved me, too," Linebeck added. "Back at Lurelin- we got separated and I got jumped, and some Yiga guys showed up and drove them off."

"You neglected to tell us this?" Ghirahim asked, his voice strained.

"I forgot, okay? Didn't... really seem important at the time."

Midna crossed her arms. "Well, they've never saved me." She looked back over at Urbosa. "Well, are the Yiga going to stay camped out outside the town?"

"No, it looks like they'll stay for today until they get supplies until they leave."

Link frowned. "Supplies?"

"Yeah, that's one of the things Ganondorf talked about. They need supplies- food and clothing. He said that some of they had people who needed it."

Link scowled, but Ghirahim quickly cut him off. "People who needed it? Can't they just steal that stuff if they need it?" He paused, then muttered, "Are they sheltering people with nowhere to go?"

"That's what we assume," Nabooru confirmed. "Ganondorf was vague, but we could tell he was being honest. For now, we'll cooperate, but we'll remain suspicious, for our own sake."

"Our... faith in Zelda has faltered," Urbosa admitted. "Things surrounding her are too murky to risk it, and now that we know that a hero has risen, it's certainly an omen of bad things to come. Around here, monsters have become more frequent-" Urbosa paused, catching the excited glint in Link's eyes, "-but it's nothing we can't handle. You have come here to try and find the Master Sword?"

"Yes. We've heard rumors that it may sleep somewhere in the desert," Link said. "You'll let us search?"

"Of course. Nearby is a small town that would gladly house you five. I'd recommend being wary of the Yiga at the least, but I won't stop you if you decide to ally with them." Urbosa sighed. "That's all. You may leave if you wish. I recommend resting before you search, though. We can't afford to give you any healing supplies since we're currently dealing with our own injured warriors, but if the Yiga decides to help us..." She trailed off, lost in thought.

Midna stood up, pushing her chair in. "Thank you for your hospitality, and we'll try and stay out of your way during our search. Come on, guys, we'd better find a place to stay."

Despite the questions still running through his mind, Link left the battlement with the others and trudged back through the sand. He took another long look at the Yiga that he passed. There were less of them than he had initially expected, all in ragged crimson clothing, all wearing the same mask. From pictures in the history books, Link knew that they used to have a uniform of sorts, and different levels of warrior, but now, they were just a band of people in red clothing and masks, planning to kill a monarch.

He had a new sympathy for the standard soldiers, he supposed, but the five leaders were still the objects of his hatred. The black-scarfed Yiga were nowhere to be seen while Link made his way to the wagons.

"I hope this'll be the last inn room we have to stay in," Ghirahim muttered as he dropped his things on a bed.

"Well, this place seems nice," Link mused, peering around the spacious room. "It was kind of the innkeeper to lower the price for us, even if it's just because we're looking for the Master Sword." He walked over and pushed the window curtains to the side, glancing out at the street. "This town is a lot smaller than I thought, though."

"Well, it's mostly just for people who can't go into Gerudo Town," Midna explained. "It's bound to be small."

Gerudo Town was visible in the distance. Link closed the curtains and found that Linebeck had pulled out the map slate. "Looks like all of the towns in the desert are bunched up around Gerudo Town," he mused. "Monster dens are further out."

"Any interesting ruins?" Ghirahim asked, peering over his shoulder.

"Nothing nearby. I'll be sure to keep an eye on the map while we look around the desert, though."

"For now, let's just take the day off," Damien decided, falling onto a bed. "My leg's feeling better, but I'm not up to traversing the desert like this. We don't have the right clothes, either, so we'll need to buy some."

Linebeck shut off the map and dropped it back in his bag. "What time is it?"

"Thirty after two," Link answered. "Why?"

"We should get all of our shopping and preparing done today, and we might as well start now. Damien and I can go and see if we can find any maps of the desert."

Damien yawned and sat up. "And here I thought I would be able to get some more rest." He stood up and stretched, glancing over at Link. "Are you going to head out and get supplies, too?"

Link frowned. "Yeah, we all are. You two aren't getting everything."

"Right, right. Just making sure."

Midna and Ghirahim got tasked with collecting the right clothes and rations, and Link was sent to a small market to collect miscellaneous materials. Mostly for Midna's potions. His skin prickled every time a Yiga solider passed by. None of them walked around without their masks, so he couldn't help but be impressed by how firm they were in protecting their identities.

Either way, Link kept a hand near his sword whenever he spotted any Yiga.

He hadn't been given very much money to shop with, but the meager amount turned out to be all that he needed to buy what was on the list. The woven basket that a vendor had given him was appreciated as well, and it was large enough to hold all that he'd bought. Since it was a small town, Link didn't have to go far from the inn to the market.

About halfway to the inn, Link found himself stopped in the middle of the street. Off to the side of the street, Ganondorf and his four generals were talking, huddled close together. Even the axe-wielder was now present. Very carefully, Link set his basket of materials on a nearby bench and drew his sword, activating it without a second thought. "What are you five doing here?" he shouted, successfully catching their attention.

"Looking for you," Ganondorf responded. His generals whipped around, hands on their weapons, but they didn't move any further. "We wanted to talk... but I'll leave that up to you."

Link scowled. "What do you think you're doing, allying with the Gorons and vying for an agreement with the Gerudo? I thought you wanted to kill Zelda and take over Hyrule."

Ganondorf scoffed. "You grossly misunderstand our goals, then. I don't understand why the gods would've chosen a short-tempered and narrow-minded scrap of metal like you to be the hero."

Fury blazed through Link's mind. He immediately dropped into a fighting stance, his limbs stiff with anger. "You dare-"

Ganondorf laughed. "Just try to stop and think for a moment. I knew that Zelda had you successfully wrapped around her finger, but I didn't know you were so easily brainwashed. What have we done besides attack a group that has been kidnapping innocent people and cutting cities off from others? You're a fool for thinking we're the enemy here." He sighed. "I can clearly see that you won't come with us on your own." Ganondorf lifted and hand and snapped his fingers, and his generals ripped their weapons from where they were stowed and lunged at Link.

Link barely had time to react; the sword wielding Yiga was upon him within moments. Their swords met, and Link was surprised to find that his didn't melt right through the Yiga's. The swordfighter pushed off of him and allowed space for the spear-user to aim a thrust at Link's throat- he dodged out of the way but then blocked an attack from the axe-wielder. Just before he retaliated, he spotted the archer out of the corner of his eye, nocking an arrow.

Link leapt to the side to avoid the arrow that was aimed at his neck, but the serrated blade of the axe sank into his leg. It was not an attack that would maim him, but pain flashed through Link's body all the same. Link slashed at the Yiga, but they teleported away a moment before. Link stumbled a few steps before both the spear and sword wielding Yiga rushed at him from either side. Suddenly regretting having left his shield behind, Link opted to focus on the sword fighter as he managed to duck under the spearhead and block the sword.

Link realized far too late that he was fighting a losing battle as the axe-user joined his allies. An arrow sprouted from Link's shoulder and he cried out in pain but managed to score a cut on the swordfighter's arm. Not even a moment later, the spear-wielder thrust their spearhead deep into Link's side. They had him properly cornered in a matter of seconds- Link was forced to do nothing but defend against attack after attack. The only times he got to retaliate were short periods when all four Yiga were winding up for more attacks.

Luckily, Link would tire slower than the Yiga, so he could only hope that it would end up being a war of attrition. Another arrow dug into his shoulder, and Link managed to stab the spear fighter in the hip. Blood rushed from the wound, and the Yiga stumbled back. While any attacks that Link sustained wouldn't affect his ability to fight, the Yiga were alive and susceptible to losing blood. A dark smile crossed Link's face.

The passerby on the street had long run off, deciding not to stick around for the fight, so Link knew he had the space as he tackled the swordfighter. Without the spear fighter, Link had more openings to retaliate. He easily shoved the sword fighter to the ground and aimed to thrust his sword through their heart, an unfamiliar bloodlust taking hold of his thoughts.

Then another body slammed into Link, knocking him off the sword fighter and throwing his own sword from his hand. Link tried to force himself up, and the blade of an axe was pressed against his neck, the axe wielder straddling him around the waist. Link growled in discomfort as the blade tore at his skin and found that he could kick his legs and move his arms if he wanted; Link chose to reach up and try to push the axe away, finding an impressive amount of resistance from the Yiga. They were much stronger than Link anticipated.

Forcing his arms straight and locking his joints, Link managed to shove the axe away and disorient an astonished Yiga. Link threw him off and pinned them to the ground, glad to be on top again. He landed a punch in the middle of the mask- he didn't even crack it. The Yiga easily tossed him off again, and the archer scored a shot to the back of Link's neck. The spear fighter had backed off and was nursing the gash in their leg, while the sword fighter was cautiously circling Link. Ganondorf simply watched from afar.

The axe wielder tackled Link again. As the robot tumbled onto the ground, he saw the Yiga withdraw a length of rope- weren't they trying to kill him? Without thinking, Link tore the arrow from his neck, flipped it around, and shoved the arrowhead into the Yiga's lower stomach. Quickly, Link tightened his grip on the arrow shaft and forced it down, opening a tear in the Yiga's abdomen from their stomach down to the pelvis.

For the first time, Link heard the black scarfed Yiga shouting. The archer dropped his bow and cried out, stumbling away. All he heard from the sword fighter was a light gasp, while the spear fighter shouted something in coherent. The axe wielder coughed and tried to shove Link away, gripping the robot tightly by the shoulders. Link pressed against the Yiga as much as he could, driving the arrow deeper.

A cold blade sank into Link's neck with a sizable amount of force behind it. Link felt it sever wires, and all feeling in his right arm was lost. His hand slipped off the arrow while the other felt for the knife that had been thrown at him, stumbling back and trying to speak. He moved his mouth and his synthetic tongue, but not a single noise emanated from his throat. His vision started to go blurry as he saw a familiar shape run up to the axe wielder and help them lay down as the spear fighter neared them.

The figure turned to Link and staggered towards him as the robot's vision cleared up, but only for a few seconds. It was still enough to recognize the person reaching for the knife as Linebeck, and, as Link's vision blurred again, rage overtook his thoughts.

The engineer got close, and Link lashed out, swinging his good arm. His vision was too blurry to know where, but his fist collided with some part of Linebeck's shoulder and broke a bone.

Refusing to back off, Linebeck's hand closed around the knife lodged in Link's neck, and Link retaliated by grabbing his wrist with an iron grip. He heard the engineer's breath catch and he stomped a foot on his left knee. Something gave away beneath Link's foot. Linebeck cried out in pain, but Link kept his grip on his wrist, refusing to let him fall away as he swayed. Link tightened his grip as much as he could, even when Linebeck tried to pry him away with his free hand. Metal bent beneath Link's hand. He kicked his foot again, connecting with the same place that gave away. His hearing fluctuated, and he only got snippets of louder shouting, rapid shuffling of feet, and Linebeck's terrified whines and shallow breathing.

Pain and immense pressure exploded in Link's arm and he fall back, dimly away that he no longer had a left hand. His hearing continued to fluctuate while he lay on the dusty ground, listening to choked and frantic sobs along with heavy footsteps. Barely a few seconds had passed, and two people forced Link up, tying a thick rope around him and binding his arms to his sides. Link kicked his legs and let out a soundless scream, but another rope was tied around his ankles, leaving him only able to thrash his head about.

The knife was torn form his neck, and Link's vision was slightly improved. He spotted Linebeck laying on the ground a few paces away, curled up and tembling. His left leg was bent the wrong way, blood staining the leg of his pants and seeping onto the ground. The rage-induced fog was immediately lifted from Link's mind upon seeing him, and overwhelming guilt was the last thing Link felt before everything went dark.

"It's not my fault."

A woman laughed harshly. "You're an idiot, then."

Another dream, and Link once again felt like he was in an unfamiliar body. His surroundings were blurry, but he could tell that he was looking at a woman. His voice was strained when he spoke again. "How am I an idiot?"

"Because you refuse to take responsibility," the woman responded, humor in her voice. "The princess tasked me with this, so let me help you."

"...Help me with what?"

The woman let out an exasperated sigh. She sounded like the same woman from the other dreams. "Your temper, dumbass. The only reason I've decided not to beat the understanding into you is because you haven't hurt anyone yet. No one you shouldn't be hurting, at least."

Link frowned indignantly but said nothing in response. He found that he was very aware of the sword on his back, of the clothing he was wearing, and of the rest of the empty room he was in. After a few moments, he asked, "Why are we here?"

"Because if I piss you off, I'd prefer that you take it out on a training dummy rather than me."

"But you could fend me off if you wanted."

"The whole point is that I don't want to have to fend you off," the woman responded, now sounding exasperated. "Listen, you're in a lot of hot water for how you yelled at us. You almost attacked us, okay? If you continue like this, then people will lose faith in their chosen hero. For Hylia's sake, you almost made- -have a panic attack."

Another garbled noise- another name. Link was thoughtfully quiet, and he could feel hot guilt in his chest. "...I lost control."

"Obviously."

"...Why did I lose control?"

"You tell me. I'm not sure. Things were fine until you started shouting at us."

Link frowned. "...He said something. I think... something that- -said set me off. I flew off the handle and started yelling. ...I should apologize to- -if he did almost have a panic attack. He wasn't even talking that much."

The woman nodded slowly. "Yeah. He still doesn't trust us very much, and you're not helping."

"How do you think we can fix my temper?"

The woman blinked. "Wow, you're being a lot more compliant than I thought. Well... You can try to do that counting trick. My job was just to confront you. I mean, I can ask the princess to find you a therapist or something. I'm just glad that you're willing to admit that you screwed up."

Link grimaced. "I've really just let my anger issues fester and grow these past few years. It would be best if you had the princess help me find help. I don't trust myself at the moment."

The woman walked up to him and peered down at him. "...Let's just hope that you can fix this. If you snap badly enough, we're all worried that you might injure someone you're close too."

The dream faded, but the burning feeling of guilt remained.

Link never truly woke up, but he was dimly aware of being moved, and of voices. It wasn't unlike the state he was in when Linebeck first found him- his senses just barely hanging on while his power slowly drained away. Oh, goddesses, Link never realized just how much that fight with the Yiga had drained him. The amount of damage he took must've correlated directly to how much power he had left.

He was carried a long way. Carried by two people, while two other people following close by. They periodically spoke. For some reason, Link recognized all of their voices. He couldn't place any of them. In the beginning, he heard Damien's voice, distant and strained, and that was it. After being carried for a long time, Link felt like he was floating for a few seconds, then was carried around in a colder location. After what felt like hours, he heard Ghirahim and Midna's voices.

Around the end of his time, he heard Damien's voice at the very end, periodically heard the Yiga's voices, and heard Ghirahim and Midna. Not once did Linebeck or Bellum's voices join them. All through the time, guilt weighed heavily on Link's chest.

Up until the knife severed wires in his neck, Link had a perfect recollection of the fight with the Yiga. The longer he thought about it, the worse he felt. After Linebeck inexplicably got involved, the details became hazy, and Link's guilt made him want to scream and claw himself apart.

When- If- he woke up, Link was afraid of what Ghirahim and Midna and Damien might do to him. Plus, he was unable to speak. Soon after he'd woken in his odd state, silent messages in Link's mind warned of a broken voice box, and of how wires critical to the usage of his right arm had been severed. All things considered; Link was impressed that Linebeck knew exactly where to throw the knife in order to hinder Link. Providing that was his intent in the first place.

At one point, he was set down somewhere and left alone with his thoughts. He checked the time that had elapsed from the Yiga capturing him to his being set down and was surprised to discover that it hadn't even been an hour. He allowed himself to drift off in the hopes that, after some rest, he would have more power. Fatigue was not something he was used to.

A jarring noise woke Link. He jerked upright, eyes wide open, and it took him a few moments to realized that he was sitting in a chair in front of a table. He was in a small, cold room with a single lantern hanging from the ceiling. Based off the dull aches across his body, none of Link's injuries had been attended to. The guilt returned. It was his own fault that Linebeck wasn't well enough to do repairs.

Midna and Ghirahim were in the room with him, glaring at him with looks of such hatred that Link was worried that he might combust under their fiery gazes. He tried to speak and apologize, but, of course, no sound came out. He wanted to try and move his hands to indicate something, but his left hand was missing, and his right arm wouldn't respond. He was practically at their mercy.

For a long moment, neither of them said a single word. Finally, Midna slowly hissed, "What the hell were you thinking? Do you even know what you've done?"

Link rapidly tried to think up some way to response and decided to point to the gash in his neck with his ruined arm. Ghirahim scowled. "Oh, right. You can't talk." He turned back to Midna. "We should stick with yes or no questions."

Midna nodded and repeated, "Do you know what you've done?"

Link almost nodded but remembered his hazy recollection. He wasn't sure about the aftermath, either. He shook his head. Ghirahim sighed and rubbed at his face. Midna remained stone-faced. "I guess I should explain where we are. We're at the Yiga's hideout."

Link's eyes widened in surprised. Ghirahim continued for Midna. "Yup. After you screwed everything up, they showed up and said that they had a lot of explaining to do, that they would take us to their hideout. Where we are in Hyrule I don't know, but we're underground somewhere. It's a facility of some kind, made with Sheikah tech- the Yiga claims that Zelda doesn't even know that this facility still exists, since it was rumored to have been destroyed 200 years ago."

"...They took Linebeck somewhere else in the facility, but they've given all of us rooms. We haven't seen too much of this place, but it almost seems like a haven for the Yiga and for people seeking asylum," Midna murmured. "But that's not important right now. What's more important is the fact that you nearly killed Linebeck."

Link flinched. Ghirahim narrowed his eyes at him. Midna shifted uncomfortably and continued. "...You bent his prosthetic arm pretty badly. You snapped his right collarbone, and a good portion around it is bruised very badly and was bleeding at some point. You..." She took a breath. "You broke his left leg in half. You shattered his kneecap, tore tendons... his femur and tibia are disconnected. Broken. They're going to see how much of it can be healed on its own before using magic to perfectly fix it." Midna fixed Link with an icy stare. "The only reason he's not going to suffer any permanent damage is because the Yiga have very skilled healers and very advanced medical tools. Also, according to Damien, you triggered a pretty bad panic attack, so I'm sure Linebeck doesn't want to see your face for a few days."

Link stared at the table. He didn't move. He didn't want to see the looks he was being given. If Midna and Ghirahim weren't going to kill him, Damien certainly was. His own questions were washed away by the new torrent of guilt, adding to the reserve already boiling in his chest. Link looked up and desperately mouthed that he was sorry. That he would try and make amends, that he would try and fix this temper of his, anything to redeem himself. He wasn't sure if they could read his lips, but he didn't care.

The door behind Midna and Ghirahim swung open. They stepped out of the way as the axe wielding black scarfed Yiga stepped through and gently shut the door. They wore all of their Yiga equipment sans the axe, and they stopped in front of the table. Link couldn't tell if the wound in their abdomen had been treated yet, but he highly doubted it. The Yiga peered at all three of them in turn, and then sighed heavily. "I wish Ganondorf had given the others permission to speak with you, but things are a bit too messy right now."

Link jolted in his head, instantly recognizing the voice, and the Yiga removed his mask and hood before Ghirahim or Midna could shout his name. Damien looked extraordinarily tired as he set his mask down and crossed his arms. "We've got a lot to talk about, but I can't explain everything."

"You're Yiga?" Midna asked, staring at him. "You're one of Ganondorf's generals! How... how long-"

"For a few years," he answered. "The Yiga helped me pay for my home and helped me start my shop and helped me get my top surgery." Damien swung his gaze over to Ghirahim. "I've been acting as a spy of sorts for the Yiga, and asides from our little 'test' in Kakariko Village, I've had no intention of hurting you. We never have. We've just wanted to get you over to our side, away from Zelda, but..." He sighed and glared at Link. "It seems that she's already turned you against us. Without having to try very hard, too."

Damien took something from one of his pockets and tossed it at Link. "...This is an extra voice box that Linebeck made a few weeks back, just in case yours got destroyed and couldn't be immediately fixed." Link nodded and picked up the little cube, turning it over in his hands. He refused to make eye contact with Damien. "You just need to press the button on top of it, and it'll connect to your databases and your voice will come from it."

Link numbly nodded. He didn't want to test it out. Midna, thankfully, gave him more time to think. "...Does Linebeck know that you're Yiga?" she quietly asked.

Looking up, Link caught the softening of Damien's expression. "I told him back in Lurelin. I... didn't plan to tell him until I told you guys, but I discovered a group of Sheikah that had been tailing us, and while they jumped us, I had to reveal to Linebeck that I'm Yiga. He took it better than I expected. He has no hand in anything we're doing- the only thing he knows is that I'm one of Ganondorf's generals, and I've made a habit of telling him when I enact any Yiga-related actions. I told him about the deal with the Yiga at Goron City and all that."

"Why weren't you with the other Yiga when we showed up at Gerudo Town?"

Damien shrugged. "I didn't know about that until we got there, and I asked them about it earlier. It was just because there would be no easy way to get me away from you guys without making it obvious that something was going on."

Link fumbled with the button on the voice box and said, "So you're a traitor." His voice was rather quiet when it came from the voice box, but it was loud enough to work.

Damien's expression hardened back up as he glanced at Link. "I'm not a traitor if I was never on your side to begin with. I was a spy who had no ill intent towards you. Although I wouldn't mind the opportunity to get some revenge for what you did to Linebeck."

Link pressed the button again. "Go ahead. I deserve it. Give me some way to atone. I'm sorry for everything. Zelda got into my head with her stories of you Yiga being the bad guys in this situation."

Damien narrowed his eyes at Link and reached across the table and grabbed the front of his shirt. "At least you regret it," he hissed. "You've set Linebeck's progress on getting used to human contact a few months back. I hope you're god damned regretful."

"I am-" Damien knocked the box from Link's hand and socked him in the face. Link felt his nose break, the thin metal beams crumpling. Link groped for the box and found it. "You know Linebeck's gonna have to fix me, right?"

"He likes fixing damaged robots," Damien growled, slamming Link's face down onto the table. "He'll have a fucking field day repairing your face."

"Damien," Midna loudly interjected. "As much as we all want to beat Link up right now, I don't think it's the most satisfying when he's lost usage of his arms and voice. Besides, I doubt Linebeck wants you ripping Link apart."

Damien let go of Link and stepped back. "R-right," he muttered, his voice trembling. "I'm just used to getting revenge on people who hurt Linebeck."

"I take it he's aware of that?" Ghirahim asked.

"Yeah, I told him. He's completely fine with it." Damien wiped at his eyes, glancing down at the floor. "Well, uh, Link." The robot peered up in mild surprise. "I do have something to thank you for." Damien laughed. "Our, uh, best healer took a look at that wound you gave me and it's safe to say that you gave me the perfect excuse to get all that crap removed. Full bottom surgery is next on the list."

Link hesitated before gingerly pressing the button. "...Congratulations. Did you tell Linebeck?"

"No, I haven't had the time. I need to report back to Ganondorf," Damien muttered. "Any Yiga soldier can lead you to your rooms. Ganondorf wants to talk to you all at noon tomorrow."

Without another word, Damien put his mask back on and exited the room. Link pressed the button on the voice box. "He's looking pretty good, considering that I tore a hole in his lower stomach."

"They've apparently got a really skill healer on staff," Midna explained. "She numbed the pain for him, from what I heard. Come on, let's find our rooms."

She and Ghirahim left before Link had a chance to stand up, shutting the door. Link stood, but didn't move. There was no point in trying to follow them. What he'd done had created a rift that wasn't going to be fixed any time soon.

Link waited roughly a whole minute before exiting the room, finding a large, auditorium like room with tables, lanterns, and people strewn about. Most of the people in the room didn't even look Yiga. It took Link some time to actually find a Yiga soldier to take him to his room. The Yiga regarded him for a long moment, and Link got the sickening feeling that the news of what he'd done had been spread among them.

The Yiga showed him out of the room and though a few smaller rooms- Link recognized one as a training room, then an armory, a kitchen, a living area. It was much more like a large community home than Link expected. Yiga decals were scattered around the walls, and when Link asked about it, the Yiga leading him explained that they were used to set up protective spells around the facility. The Yiga refused to talk to him any further until they reached a long hallway of doors. Link's room was among the last few doors.

Link locked the door behind him and peered around at the small room. It was nice and cozy, with a bed, desk, another room off to the side. With a heavy sigh, Link set the voice box on the desk and laid down on the bed to sulk in his misery and guilt.

It was past midnight, the clock on the countertop told Damien. He watched the seconds tick by as he made the tea, pouring it into a mug once it was finished. He sniffed it, finding it to be rather tempting. Chamomile was always his favorite. Damien held the mug away from himself to avoid taking a sip. He wasn't the one who needed something to help him sleep; the tea was for Linebeck, after all.

A few Yiga that he passed on the way to the medical wing greeted him, getting no response other than a nod. Not many people were out that late at night, so Damien was able to quickly make his way to the medical wing without anyone stopping him. A few healers, most of them Zora, only nodded to Damien as he passed.

Most of the rooms in the medical wing could house up to five people, but, at Damien's request, Linebeck was left alone in his own room. Bellum alone would give him plenty of company. Damien made sure to gently knock on the door, five staccato knocks, in order to let Linebeck know that it was him. He shut the door behind him once inside. Only the lantern at Linebeck's bedside was alight, but it was bright enough to reach the corners of the room.

"Kinda dark in here," Damien mused, peering around.

"It's not that bad," Linebeck rasped. "Not for me, at least. I can see a bit better in the dark, so low light is alright." He closed the book he was reading, setting it on the bedside table. He attempted to sit up, but winced and gave up on it. His leg was propped up on a few pillows, while bandages were bound around his right shoulder. "Awww, you brought me tea."

"You did ask me," Damien murmured, grabbing a chair and setting it at Linebeck's bedside. He set the mug next to the book. "...How're you holding up?"

Linebeck's smile faded. "I mean... I'm in pain... a bit paranoid... But hey, you're here, so that makes my day better. They can fix my leg, right? Li- he did a lot of damage."

Damien nodded. "Yes, they can fix it, they first just want to see how much your body can naturally heal before magic is needed. So, you'll be fine. Same for your collarbone. Do you need your tools to get to work on your wrist? I saw that he bent that as well."

Linebeck held up his prosthetic arm, tugging his sleeve back. His coat was at the foot of the bed along with his vest, and his boots were set on the floor beneath them. His scarf was on the bedside table- Damien had carefully brushed it aside to set the tea down.

The bend in Linebeck's wrist wasn't too bad, only being a slight bend. "There's a delay," Linebeck explained. "I'll try to move my fingers or move anything past the bend, and there's a slight delay. It's pissing me off." He wiggled his fingers, but, of course, he couldn't properly prove the delay. After a moment, Linebeck took the mug and took a sip. "I take it you want me to get some sleep."

"They want to get started on the magic to at least reassemble your kneecap. I'm not going to get any sleep, though, since I want to be able to fall asleep sometime tomorrow."

Linebeck frowned. "Why?"

"Well, the arrow getting torn through my stomach happened to damage the organs down there so badly that the healers decided that we might as well remove it."

"Free bottom surgery," Linebeck whispered.

"Free bottom surgery," Damien confirmed with a slow nod.

"Who knew that getting attacked by a rabid robot would lead to something like that."

Damien nodded. "Yeah. Uh. I also may have broken his nose."

"I can fix that. He deserved it." Linebeck took a long sip of his tea, settling down against his pillows. "...This bed is nice. It's a bit hard to get the blankets up... though." He kicked his good leg, only managing to jostle the blankets. Damien sighed and grabbed the edge of the blankets, tugging it up to Linebeck's elbows, taking care not to actually touch him. Linebeck smiled and shifted contently. "Aw, thanks."

"What would you do without me?"

"Die, probably."

Damien let out a short, loud laugh. "Oh, goddesses, you're probably right." He crossed his arms on the mattress and set his chin on them. "I wonder what I'd be doing without you."

Linebeck shrugged, taking another long drink from his tea. "Who knows? I doubt much would be different. You'd still be Yiga, you'd still have your shop..."

"I'd probably just be a cold killer at this point," Damien mused. Upon seeing Linebeck's stunned expression, he awkwardly laughed. "Yeah, uh, I was on a bit of a slippery slope when we met, where I was starting to enjoy killing the people we were sent to kill because I just had a lot of pent-up hate, mostly since I grew up around some cruel people. Meeting you was what really made me realize that not everyone outside of the Yiga were horrible. Things at that point were a bit rough, anyways, since I just felt isolated from the rest of the world, and I was mostly just working for the money, nothing else." Damien smiled fondly and tilted his head to the side. "I guess I could say that you gave my life proper meaning."

"If you get that cliché again, I will break my leg again so I can pass out from the pain and escape having to hear such sappy bullshit." Linebeck mockingly gagged, then chuckled. "That's fair, though. I guess, when it comes to romance, the most cliché stuff can be rather commonplace when compared to other things."

"Or not," Damien said, shrugging. "We're probably a special case. A highly-ranked Yiga assassin who works part-time as a carpenter and then a highly-skilled engineer with prosthetic limbs and a personal AI and dreams of traversing the sea. Hah. Since I collect my own lumber and therefore go into forests a lot, I've found myself enjoying nature. And you're very interested in the sea. That's an interesting combination." Damien stood, stretching. He yawned. "Oh, who knows, maybe we're soulmates or star-crossed-lovers or something like that."

Linebeck only grunted in response and drank the last of his tea, leaving the mug on the bedside table. Damien started to leave, but Linebeck blurted out, "Wait, no. Stay with me for a few hours. Unless you're busy. Are you busy?"

"I'm not busy," Damien murmured, turning back and returning to his chair. "I can stay until you fall asleep."

"...Thanks. I get the feeling that sleep might be a bit hard to find tonight, so I'm sure that having you around will help me feel safe enough," Linebeck breathed, relaxing and shutting his eyes now that Damien was beside him. Damien left his hand near Linebeck's, palm up, but didn't move any more than that.

After a few silent minutes, Linebeck maneuvered his hand onto Damien's.