"If I fall in battle again," he said quietly, his voice grave as he leaned in, "I don't want to forget you. I don't want to forget what you've done."

That's what he'd said to me, only moments ago. And he was still waiting on my response, even now, because I still could not quite sort through the words in my head and figure out something good, something fitting, to say. It was awful - there was so much I wanted to say. I just couldn't figure out what order to put them in.

All I could think to say, at first, was his name, once more.

"Link," I murmured, still holding him in my arms. More words were quick to follow: "What have I done?"

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"You said you don't want to forget what I've done," I reminded him. "That's what you told me."

"Oh," he said, amused. "That." He paused, clearly thinking it over - and I could hear more than see his smile, for I refused to lift my head from his shoulder. "You help keep my head above water, (Y/n). You should know that by now."

I hummed happily, content with his answer - but he wasn't done.

"You've become very important to me, you know," he continued. "I don't know where I'd be or what I'd be doing if not for you."

"Oh, Link," I said quietly. "I think that's pretty obvious. You'd still be saving Hyrule."

"Maybe," he agreed, "but not in the same way. With no one to care for me, tend to my injuries, cook me wonderful food..." He shook his head, and I lifted my own so I could meet his gaze. "You mean so much to me, (Y/n). I don't want to forget you or anything we've done together. That's what I mean."

Link, I love you.

Oh, it'd be so easy to say, wouldn't it? The words were there on the tip of my tongue. All I had to do was grant them the breath, and speak them aloud, and let him know the truth that my heart wanted.

But I didn't. Maybe I couldn't.

"I can't believe how much you mean to me," I said, reaching down to take his hand in my own. "I hadn't expected it."

"I don't think there was any way to," he said, smiling, and I did, too.

"No, you're probably right," I said in agreement. "I can't see myself traveling with anyone else. Not ever. Even if I could, there's no one else I'd rather travel with than you."

"Yeah? Good, then," he said, and suddenly we were looking deep into each other's eyes, and I was watching the way his eyes were catching the light filtering into our little cove, and his eyes seemed to be searching my eyes for something and-

And then he was glancing down at my lips and, suddenly enticed to, I was glancing down at his own and...

"I don't think anyone else would have inspired you to travel, no?"

His words made me laugh lightly, and I nodded. "Yeah," I said. "Yeah, I think you're right. There's hardly anyone more inspiring than you, Link."

Emboldened by my words, the slight teasing nature and all, he laughed, his eyes sparkling. "Saving you at that beach was the best thing I've ever done."

"Mm-hm," I hummed, meeting his eyes once more; I couldn't think of anything appropriate to say at that moment.

"Saving you," he reiterated, and he nodded so surely it was as though he was really, truly thinking it over. "Saving you might be the most worthwhile thing I've ever saved."

"Oh, Link," I said softly, "don't say that. Not when you've saved the Rito, and the Gerudo, now. Not when you're saving all of Hyrule."

"I mean it," he said, and then he was caressing my cheek, his fingertips gentle against my skin. "I really do."

"You can't, not really," I tried to argue, but he shook his head, smiling brighter, as though overjoyed to try to prove me wrong. "Link, come on."

"Of anyone I've saved," he said, "this has meant the most. No one I've saved has traveled with me. No one's offered. No one's wanted to thank me with anything more than a handful of loose change or a meal and a couple of beetles, or something like that. No one but you. You've traveled with me. You've wanted to thank me. You didn't want to let me accept money, or a favor." He smirked a little, then. "The favor was you. I saved you, and my reward was you."

"I..."

Hylia help me, please.

I held Link's hand against my cheek; my eyes were watering and my bottom lip was trembling and I couldn't think. It was a damned miracle that I could even breathe.

Overwhelmed, I looked away and, overjoyed, I laughed lightly. "I know exactly where I'd be if not for you," I said quietly, and met Link's sure, patient gaze. I'm sure I didn't need to explain it, but I did anyway. "Hateno. Wasting my life away. Wasting time."

"Wasting potential," Link added, or perhaps corrected, and I nodded. "You're an incredible fighter and damn good adventurer, (Y/n). I'm happy to have you by my side."

"And I, you," I assured him. I bit my lip then - a rather troubling thought popping up into my head. "Link, I'm sure you remember our fight with Kohga well."

"I do," he said, almost regretfully - though regretfully or not, it was obvious he was upset about something. "You nearly got hurt."

"Maybe so," I said, "I had a thought. A really bad one."

Clearly interested and obviously concerned, his brows furrowed and he offered me his full attention. "Yeah? What is it?" When I didn't answer after one moment, and then another, he frowned. "(Y/n)? Oh, it must be really bad. You can tell me anything, you know that."

"Yeah, I do," I said. "That's not the problem, but..."

Suddenly, it became too difficult to meet his gaze, so I looked away. Suddenly, the thought that'd been tormenting me was too difficult to bear, and I desperately wanted it to flee from my mind and never return. Suddenly... Link was holding both my hands in his, stepping away slightly, granting me more space to breathe, more time to think. I closed my eyes because suddenly, I was overwhelmed by how perfect he was.

And then I was struck once more by how ghastly the thought I'd had was.

But he deserved to know.

"Link," I began unsurely, opening my eyes but continuing to look away, "have you ever taken a life?"

He knew I wasn't talking about monsters. He knew exactly what I meant, and he didn't answer for a long, almost painful moment.

"Yes," he answered. I knew it was a possible answer - one of two - and yet I hadn't been expecting it. It caught me off-guard, as though the odds of an even coin toss were instead swayed in head's favor and somehow tails won out. I didn't understand, not at first.

"You have?"

I met his eyes, but he didn't meet mine. Suddenly it was my time to comfort him, not that I'd been anticipating it. Not at all. But anything he needed, I would provide. Always.

"It wasn't... It wasn't planned," he said, his voice soft, a murmur I could hardly hear. I could see the memories in his eyes, replaying in his mind's eye as vividly as when it had happened. "I try not to... not even the Yiga, you know that. But someone went after the princess and... and all I saw was red."

"Did she know?"

"No," he said, knowing exactly who I was talking about. "At least, I didn't tell her. I don't know if she ever caught wind or not. If she ever figured it out, you know." He huffed, a great exhalation of air that had lots of emotion tucked away into it. "I... it wasn't like I wasn't in control of myself. I knew exactly what I was doing."

"Did it scare you?"

"Yes," he answered, his eyes intense yet hesitant as they recaptured my own. "It did. I was terrified. But I was more terrified about what would've happened to the princess if I hadn't, you know? She'd have been killed and that was something I couldn't stand. When the dust settled, and I had to face myself and what I'd done..." He shook his head. "I was horrified by who I'd become."

"I'm sorry," I murmured. "I didn't mean to bring up something so difficult to talk about."

"No, don't apologize," he replied right away. "Please, don't. I probably would have told you eventually." That... caught me off guard, admittedly. How couldn't it? That it was something so difficult to talk about but was so important for him that he would have told me anyway, somehow... That's about when his eyes sought out mine, searching them for something. "(Y/n)? Why did you ask?"

Just say it. Don't lose your nerve.

"Because I had a thought, just the other day," I admitted, "and it scared me."

I didn't say much, and yet he understood.

"The Yiga," he mentioned softly, and I nodded.

Hylia, I was so grateful he understood.

And yet, I felt I should elaborate anyway. It was only fair.

"It was just one thought," I said quietly, "and it was over in a moment. But when we were fighting Kohga I... I thought he deserved death." I looked away. "Before he'd even done anything to me, before the fight had even really begun, I... I couldn't believe myself. It was awful, Link."

"I know the feeling," he said. "That feeling... it's not an easy one to face. It's not easy to look at yourself, knowing that you thought of something like that, consciously or not."

"Right," I agreed, still looking away, but noticing as Link reached out tentatively for me. I looked up at him then, my eyes watering.

"I felt it too," Link admitted, his hand finding my shoulder and landing upon it gently, like a bird perching atop a branch. "That very same battle. When Kohga turned on you, wanting to go after you to get you out of the way... I got scared. And I felt that if anyone should die, it should be him. But, (Y/n)..." He paused, sighing lightly. "It seems so simple to say, and I know it won't start feeling better right away, but you should know that something like that, it changes you. I'm glad you didn't go through with it."

"I'm glad too," I admitted. "Hylia... it was scary. I didn't know what came over me."

"I think I do," he said, his voice soft, and I glanced up at him, almost afraid to, though I wasn't sure why. When I met his gaze, his eyes were gentle, and there was a smile on his lips, one both rueful and almost hesitant. "When someone you really, truly care about is in danger... you forget everything else."

I get it, I thought. Absolutely, I do. When someone you love is in danger... you forget everything else.

I couldn't say it aloud. I couldn't, but I wanted to. Or did I? Oh, goodness... did I? Could I?

"Link," I murmured instead, "I get it now." I wrapped my arms around him and pulled myself close, my eyes watering and my heart thumping loudly as I pressed my cheek to his shoulder. "I always thought it was just a romantic thought - to want to die for someone, to give your life, and to take a life, too... I thought it was just something for storybooks and the old legends."

"And now?"

"It scares me," I told him, "but I get it. Because in that moment... I felt it. I felt the desire to protect you." I watched the dappled sunlight dance across the water, the leaves, sending shimmering refractions of emerald and gold across the stone walls of the ruins. The words I spoke hung in the air for one moment, and then another.

"I don't want to put you in that situation again," he said, and over his words I could so clearly hear the thumping of his heart in his chest. "I don't want to do that to you again."

"It wasn't your fault," I assured him. "It wasn't. Please don't think that it was, Link. More than being scared of actually thinking what I did, I was scared of losing you."

He chuckled warmly, holding me a little tighter. "Yeah. I don't ever want to lose you, either. Not now, and not ever, firefly." I smiled, closing my eyes and willing myself not to cry.

Hylia, help me. I love him.

—

We'd decided to go hunting - we were starting to run low on dried meats and needed to replenish our supply for the road ahead - but perhaps we'd been spoiled by our little oasis, that incredible hideaway we'd stumbled upon accidentally. Perhaps we'd been spoiled, because now the air outside of it no longer seemed so fresh, the wilds nearly so alluring, the landscapes quite so extraordinary.

Maybe it was just me. Maybe I was just being dramatic.

Ah, well. Link had at least marked the spot on the map so we could return whenever we found the time which, of course, probably would not be until well after our journey was complete. Oh, and I'd at least want to grant Link some time to rest and relax because defeating Ganon was no small thing, obviously, and I didn't want to rush him into another journey quite so soon and...

I'm getting far too ahead of myself.

I realized it, yes, but what really pulled me out of my thoughts was this horrible, foul stench, one that had my nose wrinkling up and my eyes watering. It seemed that Link noticed it too, because he physically reacted to it - slamming his palm to his nose, staggering back a few steps, and groaning lowly.

"That's awful," he said, lifting his hand away from his nose only to pinch the bridge of it, trying to keep more of the smell from getting into his nose. "Oh, goddesses. Yeah, that's awful."

"Mm-hm," I hum, only for the purpose of not having to remove my own hand from my face. "What do you think it is? Some weird consequence of the calamity?"

Oh, wouldn't that be awful? Like a plague of legend - the plants rotting and the animals dying, the air fouling and the earth beneath our feet crumbling. That wouldn't happen, would it?

...would it?

"I've got some idea," Link said, his voice low. Lifting his undershirt to cover his nose and mouth, he pressed on and, after doing the same, I followed suit. We soon came upon a clearing, the stench growing stronger and stronger. It was a perfectly normal forest clearing - if not for the Hinox sleeping in the center of it.

"Oh, joy," I muttered. "That's just perfect." This Hinox in particular had darkened skin, letting us know that it wasn't a normal one. Link had told me before about their different colors and this one, a darkened blue, was tougher than others. Probably much tougher. Though not Link's, this was my first time seeing one in person, and if Link wanted to fight it, it'd be our first time fighting something so large.

...or was the Talus larger? Heavier, probably. It was made of rock, obviously. But damn, if this thing wasn't hefty.

"These things always look so goofy," was Link's first comment on the beast.

"They always have treasure on them," I reminded him quietly. "They're massive hoarders, right? That's what you told me. Whenever they kill someone they take the shiniest things they own and wear them around their necks."

"Right," he affirmed. "We have lots of shiny weapons, so let's not get killed."

"Good idea," I agreed. "We should go in with a plan, if we decide to engage."

"I want that treasure," he noted, "so let's plan. Let's see..." After a moment, he smiled. "Their legs are very weak, but this one is wearing armor. If we could maybe attack the armor, and break it, we would have a chance get at its legs and render it immobile."

"Is that the only way?"

"It's the easiest," he told me. "One of us could pick at it with arrows. That'd be you, firefly. You're a better shot than I am, and to be honest, I don't need you getting too close to that thing."

"My, aren't you sweet," I said, well-intentioned and teasing as the beast continued to snore away.

"Its eye is also a weak point," Link told me. "If I shoot at its eye, you can come up and help me attack its legs, then run back when it gets back up."

"That's a good plan," I said quietly. "Ok, so let's get into position." I started to move, but hesitated, because Link had stayed put. I glanced back at him, noting first the steely and determined look in his eyes.

"But maybe," he said softly, "maybe we don't have to kill it at all."

I was just about to ask what he meant, but he crouched down and began creeping out onto the clearing. Goddesses, I couldn't even react. I just stood there, motionless and dumbfounded.

What is he planning?

Link crept closer, taking it slower as he got closer to the beast. Still, it slept away. I watched, almost in awe, as Link bravely walked right up the monster and stepped onto its hand which just so happened to be coincidentally laying flat on the ground. My mouth dropped open in shock as the monster lifted its hand and Link was delivered right onto its stomach.

"Are you kidding me? You've gotta be kidding me," I mumbled. "Of all the stupid things..."

I continued to watch silently as Link steadied himself atop the belly of the beast and... took out the slate for a picture?! I nearly laughed aloud, but I managed to bite it back, smiling instead. Link held the slate up and pointed it down at himself, taking a picture. As soon as the shot was taken, he looped the slate back onto his belt with one fluid motion then began inching down the slope of the Hinox's stomach towards its neck. I could only stand by and watch as Link undid the straps that held the treasures to its necklace and then slid off of its stomach.

Link was on his way back, various golden weapons in his hands, when out of the tall grass flew a small grouping of squawking, frightened birds that he startled by walking by. Link scrunched his eyes shut as they flew right over the Hinox, effectively making enough noise to wake it up.

Great.

Spooked out of its slumber, the Hinox sat up, startled, before rubbing its single eye and gathering its feet beneath it. It stood, and by the time it did, Link and I were already prepared to fight, the treasures tossed over into the ring of underbrush just outside the clearing. My bow in hand, I was already pulling an arrow back when the creature caught sight on us and by the time it registered that we were threats, Link had a heavy, two-handed sword drawn. He ran towards the Hinox, and because it was focusing on him, I decided to make my presence known by pinning it directly in the pupil with my arrow.

The monster stumbled a step or two before falling onto its butt, leaving it wide open to Link's attacks. He swung at it with the blade, and I could hear the cracking of its wooden armor as it was hit. While Link focused on that leg, you took a bomb arrow, lit it, and shot it into the Hinox's face where it blew up on impact, earning Link a few more seconds.

Then the Hinox stood up, and Link wisely leapt out of its way. The Hinox looked at me, an unnerving sort of gaze, and stepped right over Link towards you when you shot it again, right in the eye. Link attacked its legs again, breaking the leg's armor clean off while I took to dashing around it to the other side of the clearing to get away from it.

We did it all again - but on this next time as the Hinox approached me from across the clearing, it hid its eye behind its hand.

"Asshole," I muttered, narrowing my eyes at it. I grabbed another bomb arrow and shot it in the face, but it didn't even flinch at the explosion. I gasped and leapt to the side as it swung its other arm towards me. Link was hacking away at its feet, and I... I didn't know what to do. And that's about when Link summoned up a bomb and, after winking at me, rolled it towards me.

I knew a cue when I saw one, so I ran past the Hinox and grabbed the bomb as I dashed past. When it turned around to face me, I chucked the bomb - Link blew it up right on time and the Hinox stumbled back once more. I beamed, unable to keep from doing so as it roared in pain.

"(Y/n)," Link called out to me. Once we met eyes he grinned and crouched down in front of the Hinox. Another cue, another swift action from me: I took a running start, planted my right foot into his back, then leapt up, reaching up and grasping its forearm. I scrambled up its fingers and climbed to the top of its head. I took my sword in hand and stabbed it clean through its hardened skin.

The monster stood up, swatting its hands in messy, ill-timed and poorly aimed attacks that never quite reached me. It swayed back and forth, not at all in control of its own limbs but doing its damnedest before its legs collapsed from under it. Satisfied, I took my sword from its head and jumped into the air as the monster fell out from under you. I landed atop its stomach in a crouch, its large stomach a perfect landing pad.

Snap.

...?!

I didn't even have to say anything. Oh, but I did anyway. "Link," I said dryly. "Come on."

"You can't blame me for that one," Link said with a laugh, approaching the Hinox and reaching up towards me. "Come on down here, and I'll show you. It's a good one."

"You're ridiculous," I said with a laugh, crouching down. I began to slide off the monster's belly, and when I was close enough Link took me into his arms, catching me against his chest gently. He set me down gently but was in no hurry to step away. He just smiled down at me simply, almost mischievously. As the monster disappeared in a puff of black smoke behind me, a rush of air brushing past us, I did nothing more but continue to gaze fondly down at him.

"Yeah, yeah," he said. "If I'm ridiculous, then so are you."

I chuckled affectionately and shook my head. "Let's head back to camp," I said softly. "Then you can show me all the pictures you took. How's that sound?"

In that moment, he looked incredibly proud of himself, and I knew he'd gotten exactly what he wanted. "And maybe we can have a snack? And-"

"And take a nap," I finished for him. "Yes, Link. We can take a nap."

Yes, he'd gotten exactly what he wanted.

But, like always... I didn't mind. Of course I didn't.

—

Ok, let me be clear: this journey is one on which I experienced a lot of firsts, so far, with many more to come, certainly. This one in particular might be the most surprising of them all so far.

It was the most surprising of them all, if only because I found myself face to face with a giant. Well, she wasn't technically a giant, not by classification, but she was physically giant.

She'd emerged from a giant flower, one that bloomed up as the sound of her voice. The petals had peeled away, revealing the being that had slumbered within. How'd we get here, a curious reader may ask. Well, I'll tell you.

Link had caught sight of a glimmer of something sparkling off in the distance while we'd been traveling along a well-traveled road and it had commanded his full attention, practically. He had, as we had drawn nearer, been roused from his reverie long enough to tell me that it was a fairy fountain and though I'd heard of them before, I'd never seen one.

Well, I was certainly seeing one up close and personal now.

This time a year ago, I was safe at Hateno. Fairy fountains were little more than a myth to me. Dragons were the stuff of legends. The world as I knew it was Hateno, and anything past the woods were a blank slate of nothing - just markings on a map I'd resigned myself to never be able to see. Hylia, the hero of Hyrule was just the unfortunate victim of history.

But now...

Now, I was a traveler. I had seen a dragon, and now stood before a fairy fountain, now bloomed and glittering, and the hero of Hyrule was a close partner, a confidant, a friend of mine.

"Taxing on your wallet," Link had told me, "but they can yield incredible rewards." Because I didn't know any better, all I could do was believe him: and so I did. I'd be finding out soon enough for myself, at any rate.

Small fairies - those motelike spots of light - flew lazily around the large plant, weaving through area, ducking beneath leaves and curling around petals. It was nighttime when we reached it, so the glow of the orange steps of fungi and the soft, ambient light of the fairies cast a very magical and alluring mood to the surrounding area.

I glanced sidelong at Link briefly; his blue eyes looked gorgeous in this light. There was that orange glow from beneath us, dramatically illuminating his face. His eyes caught the dancing, wavering light of the fairies, and I watched one drift up to him. He smiled, his gaze softening as he lifted a hand. It perched atop his finger lightly, resting its wings for just a moment before fluttering them and taking off once more.

"Pretty, isn't it?" He asked, his eyes flickering towards my own. He began to look away but he seemed to do a double take, and that brought my own attention right back to him, too. Our eyes met and he beamed, his eyes searching my face. "This place suits you, firefly," he said softly, and I felt my cheeks warm - but I didn't look away.

"Thank you," I murmured.

Goodness, we were so lost in each other at that moment that we hadn't noticed the large woman gradually emerge from somewhere deep within the flower. We didn't notice it, but she emerged anyway, and soon enough, she made her presence known.

"Excuse me," called a feminine and booming, authoritative voice. "I hate to interrupt, but you must be here for a reason. However, my magic is far too weak to do anything for you right now."

Oh, I thought, wheeling around to face her and blanching at her size and her immense presence, she's sarcastic. Good. I eyed her skeptically. She had pale skin and bright green hair that sat at the top of her head in a large, neat bun. Aren't fairies supposed to be gracious and kind? And...small?

"I'm sure you've visited my sisters," she continued, "so you should know what I'm waiting for."

That is the most shit-eating smirks of all shit-eating smirks.

She was lazing about, resting her cheek in her hand, and her smirk morphed into a smile as Link took out his wallet. "How much?"

"1000," she said, then added, "if you don't mind. Tips and gratuities are accepted too."

"I mind," I grumbled. Sure, she was a large woman in a huge spiny plant, but why did she need all that money? She couldn't possibly have taxes to pay; she lived in the middle of nowhere. Unless there were fairy taxes? Maybe the plant expects rent every month. Either way, it was a bit much.

Even if Link minded, he did as instructed anyway; he counted out the Rupees and held them out towards her. She snatched them up, nearly knocking Link over in the process. I was there to help steady him right away, and we both watched as she meticulously counted the money. I ket my hands on his shoulders and peeked around him, wondering what would happen next.

...no, I was not hiding behind him. I just had no idea what she'd do next, so I found it far safer to be behind him rather than out in the open.

"I am Naju," the fairy finally said in introduction, pocketing the money with a bored drawl to her voice. "You'd probably guessed it by now, but I'm the fairy of these parts." She lowered her green eyes to Link. When they happened upon his small figure (to her, anyway), her eyes widened and her lips slid into a mischievous little smile. "Ooh, aren't you a cute one," she cooed. "I'm certainly very glad you chose to visit me today. I had been getting quite bored, being here all by myself. It gets lonely."

...

...?!

My eyes narrowed, almost instinctively. Words were just bubbling up in my stomach when the fairy reached out and grabbed Link around the torso, lifting him up. My words died in my throat just as my hands fell uselessly to my sides, and Link was lifted up and away.

Maybe having magic makes you think that you can take whatever you want, I thought. He doesn't belong to you. ...At that, I flushed bright red, but did my best to ignore it. He doesn't belong to me either, the more rational part of my mind argued. But still, that doesn't make it right!

At the very least, it seemed like LInk didn't exactly like the position he was in. The fairy brought him right up close to her face for what I supposed was a closer look.

"I think you should live with me," the fairy said. Right away, Link shook his head frantically, his cheeks flushing with pink. "Aw, but why not? You're so cute, even when you blush like that; I'd never tire of looking at you."

Link flushed bright red and, clearly rendered speechless, looked down at me for support. The fairy followed his gaze and I suddenly found myself the sudden focus of her gaze. Her green eyes bore into me as I stood alone, feeling tiny and inconsequential there on the small fungi platform. I shifted a bit under her stare, a bit uncomfortable, but she smiled.

"It's because of you, isn't it? You're hooked on her, aren't you, my little fairy boy?"

Fairy boy?

Link didn't answer the fairy's question, so she lowered him back down to the platform beside me. I reached for him again, setting a steadying hand on his back if he needed it. He glanced at me gratefully before looking back up at Naju.

"Alright, alright," she said, clearly prompted. "Stop looking at me like that, fairy boy. Just tell me what you want me to enhance."

Link evidently knew what she was talking about so he reached into his pack and took out his Sheikah set of clothing. Naju inspected them closely, nodding and mumbling to herself.

"I'll need a few items in return," she said simply. Link nodded and set his pack on the ground, ready to get whatever she asked for once more. After getting a few sets of armor upgraded magically, Link had some of my own enhanced as well. Once all of that was said and done, Naju sighed. She sighed again when Link had his pack closed up and we readied ourselves to leave. I took a step down, as did Link, when she sighed once more. In tandem, we looked at her incredulously.

"What?" Link asked as he waited for an answer.

"You're sure about traveling with her? I mean you could stay here and live with me. You'll be safe and warm for all of eternity."

"That's a daunting prospect," Link said, his ears ticking downward for a beat. "I don't think I'll particularly enjoy that; an eternity with you."

"Well, now," she frowned. "Is this girl really that important to you?"

Link, eyes still narrowed at the fairy, reached out and grabbed my hand. I was too shocked to say anything but at least my cheeks thankfully remembered to react.

...The fairy smiled.

"Be sure to visit again sometime," she told us. She spoke to Link directly then: "Feel free to come by yourself. I'm sure I can convince you to stay somehow."

"Fat chance," Link muttered, then squeezed my hand. "Come on," he said to me. And the two of us walked away in silence, hand in hand.

—

Later that night, as Link tended to the fire, I looked over at him and smiled. He noticed this and looked down at the fire, cheeks turning red as he did so. "What's up, (Y/n)? What's that smile for?"

"You know," I said, leaning back on my hands, "when you defeat Ganon, you really ought to consider moving in with her. I'm sure there's plenty of room with her in that plant."

Link frowned and poked at the fire. "I-I don't think so," Link muttered, his cheeks only burning brighter - or maybe it was just because of the fire's glow.

Ha. As if.

"Aw, she was right," I said with a laugh. "You are cute when you blush like that."

—

The next day on your journey to the Lost Woods brought, somehow, even more excitement. For the day, we were resting at a stable because Link desperately wanted to sleep in a bed and really, I couldn't find a single reason not to. So here we were, as the afternoon hours bled away, and we had nothing to do. I decided to just rest for a few hours before I had to start making dinner for my glutton of a traveling partner.

As I sat on a log reading a book the stable had onsite, Nayru grazing lazily in the pasture behind me with Epona not too far away from my mare, I saw Link creeping towards one of the animal pens out of the corner of my eyes, his bright blue tunic stunning even in my periphery.

"Link," I called without looking up, knowing he was up to mischief.

He stopped, dead in his tracks, clearly caught red-handed, and yet still he said so sweetly and so innocently: "Yes, (Y/n)?"

"What are you doing?"

"I'm gonna... uh... Well, you know..."

"Don't you even think about lying to me, Link."

"...I was gonna go mess with the chickens."

Oh. That was a dangerous game.

I looked up at him and he grinned as soon as our eyes met. "Are you crazy?"

"I don't think so," he said.

"Can't you stay out of trouble for longer than ten minutes?"

"I don't think so," he said again.

"I suppose I can't stop you," I relented. "When they attack you, I'll patch you up, but I won't be happy about it."

"But you will patch me up though?"

"..."

"Sweet! Thanks, (Y/n)!"

—

It didn't even take ten minutes for him to start being chased. By the time I finished patching him up and helped soothe all the birds, it was about time for dinner - so as he searched for something new to do and I started preparing my ingredients, I thought I'd have some peace and quiet but that was not the case. Instead, he brought to me the fun thing he'd found to do.

And what he found was a ball.

A small, horribly chewed-up and slobbery ball that clearly belonged to the stable's dogs.

Link ran up to me, asking if I wanted to play catch as if he didn't see me preparing dinner. My polite declination of his offer was ignored, and he began to pester me.

"Throw it," he said. "Let's play catch or something!"

"There's a dog right there. Why don't you play fetch with him?"

"I don't wanna play fetch with him. I wanna play catch with you."

"That's sweet, but I'm doing something right now."

Link frowned before kneeling down beside the dog. Link began to pet it, offering the dog all of his attention. "Aw, boy, I'm sorry I said I didn't want to play fetch with you. I thought that it'd be a clever way to convince her to play catch with me. I know, I know; she's so mean. But you're a good boy." Link then got an idea and looked up at me. He wrapped his arms around the dog. "I love this dog," he said. "Can we keep him?"

"That's not my decision to make," I told him without even looking at him, instead continuing to work. "He's not mine. And he is probably a very hard-working dog whose skills would be wasted on our adventure. We don't need a sheepdog. What we need is a hunter, and he looks far too sweet to be a hunter."

"Well, I'm far too sweet to look like a proper hunter, but here I am," Link protested.

"Someday, Link, we can get a dog," I said indulgently and without thinking. "Someday, but not today."

"I told you she's mean," Link said to the dog. "Alright," he said decidedly as he stood. "Fetch!"

—

The next morning I was looking over a paper map with one of the stable hands. It was laid flat on a box and we were going over routes from here that headed north along with points of interest along the way. I rested your elbows on the box, leaning on it, as watched the worker run his finger along one of the roads, explaining the ruins it wound through and their significance to Hyrule's history.

I was paying attention - or I was trying to, anyway.

But Link had found that ball again. And he was bugging me again to play catch with him. The stable worker looked up at me with a knowing smile. I sent him an apologetic smile before sending a stern look at Link. The worker pointed out a different road than the one I had planned, tracing it with his finger and telling me that it was far less likely to be covered with monsters though there were a few isolated cases of monsters being seen along that road on horseback, but these were far and few between. I nodded and prepared another question as I marked the road on my own map. Link continued to whine, so I finally gave in and took the ball from Link's hands and threw the ball as far and as hard as I possibly could.

The dogs also saw this, and Link had to compete with the stable's many dogs as they all ran for the ball at the same time. I could only hope that it would keep him busy.

It worked, but only for a few minutes. Link soon returned the ball to me... and I threw it again - this time, right to one of the dogs, who Link had to chase in his mad attempt to retrieve the ball.

—

After leaving the stable, we figured that we'd reach the forest by late afternoon, and so we pressed the horses into an easy gallop and set off down the road. We took the road that the worker had suggested and fortunately didn't encounter any monsters or any other distractions: it was just a scenic, calming ride through the lands of Hyrule. The forest grew closer and closer, and looked to me like a giant, foreboding wall of darkness, with sunlight blotted out like ink, but Link seemed to grow more excited as we grew closer.

Once the road turned a corner and ran straight into the darkened woods, we slowed the horses to a stop. I looked up towards the top of the towering trees, just starting to wonder what could possibly be waiting inside - meanwhile, Link kicked Epona's sides, guiding her off the road.

"Let's hitch them around here somewhere," Link said. "The woods are dark and the roads through it are narrow, and I don't want to push the horses too much."

"Makes sense to me," I said, following his lead. I followed Link as he hitched Epona to the ruins of an old fence.

"We won't be gone too long," he said, not just to Epona but to reassure me as well. I tethered my own mare and they immediately relished in the feeling of being saddleless. After leaving them plenty of food and snacks, and pressing kisses to their cheeks, Link grabbed my hand and guided me to the entrance of the forest.

Just as I took my first step onto the rocky, overgrown trail, darkness enveloped us - and every shadow seemed like a threat, and a mournful howl passed between the trees towards us. A shiver ran down my spine.

"Are you alright?" Link asked, noticing my anticipation. I looked at him and wondered if I looked as nervous as I felt or if it was clearer through my body language. There was just something odd about these woods and I just didn't like it.

"I'm fine," I said, though even I didn't buy that.

"You can go and wait with the horses, if you want," he offered.

"No, I don't want to do that," I told him right away. "It's just... there's something off here. It just doesn't feel right."

"But you still want to come with me? It's alright if you just want to go back," he assured me. "I can go on by myself."

"No, Link," I pressed. "I'm coming too."

"You're sure?" I nodded surely, trying to appear confident. Link looked conflicted but relented and grabbed my hand. "Alright, then. Just stay close."

He led us bravely forth, and at a brisk pace. We soon came upon a lit torch and oddly enough, though there was no wind or breeze blowing through the trees, the air being sickeningly still, the embers and ashes were blowing off to one side. Link looked in the direction the embers fell in, and seemed to be beckoned that way, because he led us in that direction. Link continued to follow the torches, and the voices seemed to intensify, drawing him further into the forest.

As we traveled deeper, I felt brave enough to look around. There were odd, broken-down ruins and arches, large trees with twisting roots and branches that looked oddly like hands and fingers, and large crows peered down at us from their perches. Mist drifted on the edges of my vision, wafting in and out of view. There was a certain chill to the forest, not a pleasant one like the kind I'd appreciate on a warm day but the kind I'd expect on a cold autumn day. This one chilled me to the bone and I savored the brief wave of warmth from each torch we passed and the steady presence of Link at my side.

I wasn't sure how long we were wandering around, following the fallen embers of torches and retreating away from corporeal walls of mist, but eventually, we found ourselves back on a road that followed a linear path through a line of trees and walls of rock. Link continued to lead me forward until we came to a large archway made of the bark of a very old tree.

"Link," I said softly, "are you alright?" No answer. "Is this the entrance to the Kokiri Forest?" No answer, which in itself was an answer. "Don't get cold feet now," I told him. "The Master Sword is in there waiting for you, isn't it?" Finally, an answer; it was a nod, but it was an answer. I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze and smiled up at him. He met my gaze uncertainly at first, then seemed to melt into it. He took a deep breath and must have found his resolve to keep going, because he started walking again. I fell into step easily alongside him, my confidence bolstered somehow.

Once through the arch, the gloominess of the Lost Woods seemed to fade away and it was replaced with bright greens and a golden glow, almost blinding but definitely welcome. The mood here, in the Koroki Forest, was the complete opposite of the Lost Woods. The grass was green and plentiful unlike the dark, damp stuff of the woods. The scent here was fresh and of new spring growth, not of death and rot. The trees were healthier looking, and the whole area just looked more inviting, as breaks in the canopy above let in the golden light of the setting sun.

We looked around in awe. This was not what I'd been expecting, that was for sure.

"Let's go find the sword," Link said determinedly. When he began to walk, he meant for me to follow - but I hesitated, letting my hand slip from his.

The Master Sword was the thing of legends and it was found in so many stories that I had heard from as far back in my memory as I could possibly remember. Once, it had sat in the Temple of Time and allowed the ancient Hero of Time to go back and forth between two time periods so that he could save the world. In another story, it was used by a young hero who set out to save his sister, boldly going out across the seas. In another, a boy who turned into a Beast of Twilight had wield it. In another story the hero who took to the skies to save Hyrule held the sword in his own left hand.

In all of the ancient legends, whether the hero could control the winds or had beastial forms, could traverse time, or travel through different worlds, the Master Sword was constant between them. I... I admittedly didn't feel like I'd be allowed to be there when he received it, so I elected to stay behind.

"I'll stay here," I told him. "Go get the sword, and then we'll head back."

Link was visibly confused but didn't push you to come along.

"Alright," he said. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

I smiled at him and he turned and walked into the glowing forest. I watched him go, and once he disappeared into the forest, I leaned against the ancient bark and let out a breath, already anxiously awaiting his return.

Meanwhile, Link was walking down the path through the forest. He looked around cautiously; ready for an attack that he was sure was to come. He was quite surprised, of course, when he reached a small platform. In the center of the slightly-raised platform was a sword, waiting patiently for the hero it chose a century ago. Just as he stepped up onto the platform, he was startled by a deep voice.

He looked up to see a large tree - a tree - smiling at him before it continued to speak. This had not been what Link was expecting.

—

"(Y/n)," I heard, drawing me out of my thoughts.

I pushed away from the bark and stepped forward a few paces, watching a figure - clearly Link - emerge from the forest. He was emerging rather quickly, actually; he was running towards me, and skidded to a stop just before me, kicking up dirt and leaf litter unintentionally.

"Look, look," he said excitedly. "See? I got the sword!"

Yes, he certainly had. He reached behind him and unsheathed it from its scabbard. Link presented it proudly, a wide smile on his face as he eyed the blade. The blade was long and impeccably smooth, and aI felt the urge to reach out and touch it; instead, my eyes ran along the blade, and I could just see how sharp it was, how lethal it could be, how perfectly maintained. The sword was an exact embodiment of all that was good and, quite obviously, was the perfect fit for Link.

"...May I hold it?"

Link nodded, and I took the sword into my hands gingerly. It was a bit heavy for my taste as far as a one-handed sword went, but I figured that for Link it was the perfect weight. It had to be. He was the chosen hero, after all. It was made for him.

I took a step back and twirled it a few times, surprised at how easily it seemed to work with me and my movements, as if it knew what I was doing. Holding it out in front of me, I could feel the energy flowing through it, thrumming against my palm; I could so distinctly feel the history it had seen. A hundred different eras and dozens of heroes, altogether and all at once...

It was so much, and yet it was so clear.

It was too much.

I handed the sword back to Link, who accepted it gratefully, stepping away to show off a bit. With a series of intricate movements twirls and even one move in which it fell across his wrist, only to end up neatly back in his hand like a perfect fit, he was proving the sword was his and his alone. Link went through the movements so easily that it seemed only natural for him to be doing so. He seemed to be in a trance as he sliced through the air.

Just... wow. It was clear that the sword had picked Link and that Link was the only one that would be able to properly wield it. This was the blade of evil's bane, and with it, Link would save Hyrule. When he finished, Link sheathed the sword and smiled my way. Smiling back, I said, "You look good with it, Link. You look like a proper hero with that."

He beamed, his happiness not only showing in his smile, but in his eyes - oh, they were sparkling, and he was smiling so earnestly...

"Now we just need to find a forest with a sword for you in it," he told me.

"Oh, please," I said, rolling my eyes with a laugh. "I'm no hero; I'm just the hero's helper."

"That makes you, by extension, a hero," he argued. "I wonder if Impa has another outfit like mine that we can give to you."

"I wouldn't dare take away from your spotlight, Link," I said with another laugh. "Come on, you're ridi-"

"Ridiculous, I know," he said. "But still, you're my partner. You've been so, so incredibly helpful for this whole journey, so you should get recognized for it. I'm sure Impa and everyone in Hyrule will agree. But it really doesn't matter what they think, because I think you're a hero."

"You... I... well..."

Link chuckled good-naturedly. "Come on," he said, easing up. "The tree dude wants to meet you." Link began to walk, and though I fell into step alongside him, his words made no sense. Absolutely none.

"The...tree dude?"

"Yes, the tree dude."

"Is it a dude or it is a tree?"

"It's a tree that is also a dude."

"Link, you're making no sense. Who exactly wants to meet me?"

"A giant tree, alright?" With one glance down into my incredulous face, he sighed. "See? See why I didn't want to come out and say that? 'Tree dude' sounded better than saying 'the giant tree with a face.' He wants to meet you, though, so let's just see him, ok? I can't explain it any better than that."

I couldn't even protest. I couldn't find the words.

Life was just... so weird with him. Unpredictable. Strange.

And yet... wholly wonderful.

And oh, how incredible it was to be at his side.

Someday, I thought, I'll tell him how I feel.

...but not today.

There were no words to be had. Just the feeling of how wonderful it was to be his, for so long as I'd had, and for however long he would have me. Just me, as I am, and the hero of the wilds, the Hylian Champion of Hyrule, the hero clad in blue... and he who I love.