Living With Myself

Chapter 28

"Is there anything else I should be aware of?" asked Link, entering the house and adjusting his gloves.

At the table, Sheik and Impa startled, but he paid them no mind as he picked up his backpack, sword and shield.

Oni shrugged. "I am aware of everything. I know of every beating heart of every person in this village. You will have to be more specific," he said, entering the house after him while carrying Dark in his arms, who started to stir back to consciousness.

Link rubbed at his eyes. "For being a god, you sure are dense."

"He's a god?" asked Impa.

"Whut happen'd?" mumbled Dark. Oni set him down on a chair.

Sheik whispered to Impa that he would explain later, and stood up. "Link? Is something wrong?" he asked.

"I need to go see Zelda right now. I'm taking Dark with me, but I need you to stay here with Impa and Oni."

"We're going where?" asked Dark, trying to stand up and failing. He almost tripped on his own two feet, but Oni held him up.

"Link what happened? You're worrying me," said Sheik, standing in front of Link.

"I don't know what happened," said Link, trying to appear calm, and failing. "But there is a huge crack in the sky. You can't see it, but trust me, it's there."

"The sky?" asked Sheik, rushing out to look at it, but found only clouds.

"It will be visible to mortal eyes by dawn," said Oni with perfect calm.

"That is exactly the kind of stuff I want to be aware of," said Link, throwing his arms in the air. "Feel free to send any more useful information straight to my brain while I'm gone. And I trust you will keep Sheik and Impa safe if anyone, especially any other sages, come to look for them. Dark, let's go."

"Separating would weaken us," warned Oni, but made no move to follow him, and Link knew he would stay and do as he had asked.

"We can't separate. We share the same mind," said Link, looking back as he left. Dark trailed in after him with wobbly steps, as if in a daze.

Sheik ran after them. "I'll go with you. I need to see Zelda too," he said.

"No, not right now. I can't afford to...Look Sheik, I have a rough idea of what happened, but without knowing the full story, I don't want you near Zelda or near any of the other sages. Much less for you to be in a place where we can be ambushed," said Link.

"Do you think they might try to...attack us?" asked Sheik.

"Do I believe they would try to attack us out of the blue and take you back to the shield? No. Not at all. But it is a possibility, and with the uncertainty of everything, and...that," he said, waving at the sky. "I don't want to take any chances where you might be in danger."

"Hero, you do remember that I am not really princess Zelda waiting for you save me?" said Sheik, lifting an eyebrow at him.

Link laughed. "No, you made that really clear."

"I can defend myself."

"Can't we just blame my childhood crush for my desire to protect you?"

"We could, but that would be very stupid."

"He wants you to have time with your mom," said Dark, rubbing at his eyes. "You know, in case the sky breaks apart and the world is suddenly destroyed."