Link smiled softly as he strolled into the Sheikah Village. He greeted everyone with a smile and a wave. It was surreal in a sense. When he first came here three years ago, he knew only the Old Man and a handful of people at the Dueling Peaks Stable. Now he could put a name to every face, a family to every name. He knew Koko's likes and dislikes, Impa's favorite soup, Yatir's hatred for all turtles.

Everyone in the village treated him like family. And it wasn't just Kakariko—it was all over Hyrule. The Rito, the Gerudo, the Gorons, the Zora, even the average Hylian. The Yiga found it difficult to use their disguises now because he knew everybody. There was hardly a soul in the land Link hadn't at least passed by on his journey. He'd even met the elusive Traci who wrote the rumor mills of Hyrule.

"Link!" Dorian greeted warmly.

"Dorian! Cado!" Link beamed. "Ah, I have something here for you..." He tapped his Slate, pulling out some freshly baked pumpkin bread for the two. The guards grinned in glee as they accepted the treat.

"You spoil us!" Cado laughed. "Here to see lady Impa?"

"Of course. Paya too." Link smiled.

"Well don't forget to come by later and share this bread with us!" Dorian laughed.

"Can't! I'm kidnapping Yatir later." Link chuckled as Fi chimed on his back with a small laugh of her own.

The two snorted in amusement. "Captain ain't gonna be too happy with that." Dorian shook his head.

"Like he'd care if it was Link?" Cado pointed out.

Link ignored their idle chatter as he made his way up the steps. "L-Link!" Paya greeted with a shy smile. "Y-you're here."

"Good morning, Paya." He held out a small cake he'd baked. "I know you love the exotic fruits in the Faron region, so I grabbed some for you and made a cake."

"Y-y-you..." Her face turned almost as red as it had the day he met her, and he held back an amused chuckle as she carefully took the offered gift. "Thank you. I-I'm going to go put this away before something happens." She decided. Link let her make her getaway.

"Impa? I'm here to visit." He carefully pushed open the doors, smiling when he saw the aged Sheikah.

"Link! And the Sword that Seals the Darkness... Always a joy to see you both." She grinned widely as Fi chimed back in greeting. "What brings you here today?"

"Just coming to visit a bit." Link sat down and pulled out his cooking pot. "I wanted to make you some food today. Nothing tastes quite as good as cooking with people."

Impa gave a hearty laugh at that. "You know, I do quite miss pumpkin-carrot soup."

"It's your favorite, right?" Link smirked. "You mentioned it once."

"Your memory is impressive." She seemed to realize that her comment may have been offensive the moment it left her mouth, but Link just shook his head.

"It's okay. I'm... content, now. I think... I'm okay with the person I am today. I don't need to remember who I was to live as who I am." He explained softly as he stirred the pot.

A handful of months ago, he would've flinched at her words. Would've argued the exact opposite of what he'd just said—that he needed to honor the memories of those left behind and he didn't feel whole or complete without that. But ever since he learned that he was dying, it was like all the things that'd bothered him before suddenly no longer mattered as much.

His lost memories didn't matter as much as the people that surrounded him today. Why worry about the memories of a time long past when he could make new memories for the people he was about to leave behind? He wanted to make these fond warm memories not just for them, but for himself. This—the actions he did today—defined who he was. Not the actions of a silent knight that no longer felt like him.

Impa stared at him oddly. "You seem like you've settled something within yourself." She observed.

"I have." Link smiled as he dished out the soup, handing Impa a bowl and sitting beside her. "Fi and I both have."

"Ah... your cooking skills never cease to amaze me." Impa sighed in contentment.

For a long moment they simply ate in companionable silence. "Link... are you not going to lay the Sacred Sword to rest?"

"I will rest together with Master Link. I do not want to sleep my final days away." Fi chimed softly.

"She and I are going to travel around together." Link gently brought up a hand to caress Fi's guard. "I want to show her all of Hyrule, and she wants to stay with me just a little longer."

Impa hummed, but said nothing beyond that. When the soup was gone and their stomachs were pleasantly full, Link finally stood. "Impa. Thank you for guiding me on this journey. I couldn't have done it without your wisdom."

Something flashed in her eyes, but she ultimately nodded her head. "I will always be here when you need me, Link." She paused for a moment as he reached for the doors. "Do come enjoy some soup with me again soon. This was very enjoyable."

"I will." He smiled. He'd make sure to do this with her one last time.

The warm spring air greeted him as he stepped out into the sunlight. He eyed the clouds on the horizon, mulling over if he should change his plans before shaking his head. They'd be fine. A little rain wouldn't hurt much.

That in mind, he snuck off towards the Sheikah's hidden training grounds, spying his friend leading the mid-morning training. Yatir was one of the youngest Sheikah Captains in recent history. At the young age of twenty six he was the head of the Sheikah Attack Force. In other words, if one thought of the Sheikah as their own kingdom, he headed the military force of the Sheikah.

Though calling the small squad of thirty people a military force was a little laughable, Link had sparred with them enough to know they were a force to be reckoned with. All the people of Hyrule were, honestly. Link's skills only stood out because he went after the bigger more dangerous monsters like lynels, hinoxes, and Guardians. But even village children could take down bokoblins and moblins so long as they were red or blue.

"Yatir!" He called out. The Captain whipped about so quickly that his ponytail of white hair whacked him in the eyes.

"OW!" He scrubbed at his face. "Link. You didn't tell me you were coming!" He grinned, aqua eyes sparkling with joy.

"That's right." Link grinned back. "And I also didn't tell you I was kidnapping you."

"Wait, what?!"

Link laughed as he looked at the poor trainees that Yatir was putting through the wringer. "Your training's canceled! I'm stealing your Captain for a few days!"

The cheers almost drowned out Yatir's feeble protests. "H-hey, you can't jus—"

"We're going on a hunting trip." Link beamed. Yatir loved going on long hunting excursions and Link rarely had the time to do so during his journey. He'd always been moving and exploring and just hadn't found the time to set aside a handful of days to slow his pace to someone else's.

He'd gone hunting with Yatir twice before, and while enjoyable it was very slow for Link, who was used to sneaking up behind deer and bears and other wild creatures in a matter of minutes. Yatir could spend days tracking a specific target, and Link just hadn't been able to understand why the deer right in front of them wasn't enough.

This time, however, he was going to enjoy the slower pace. He'd spend time with his friend instead of worrying about the final result. It was interesting... when he'd had nothing but time, he could hardly find time to spend with those he cared about. He'd worried about the silliest things back then, but now... Now that he knew his days were numbered, everything became clear. It wasn't about how much time he did or did not have, it was how he spent it. And this... this was how he wanted to spend it—with people he cherished.

"But... I thought you found my hunting boring?" Yatir narrowed his eyes.

"I've calmed down a bit since Ganon." Link grinned, smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. "Come on! We've got an entire week if you want it!"

"A whole week?" Yatir's eyes glittered. "You're sure? No take-backs!"

Link's grin widened. "No take-backs."

"YES!" Yatir didn't even bother dismissing his men before running off to go pack for the excursion. Link smiled fondly after him, glancing at the warriors that were taking a moment to catch their breath.

"I've handed some stew over to Paya for you guys." He informed. "Should help you get back on your feet. Consider it my thanks for letting me steal your captain for a few days."

"We should be the ones thanking you." Nakira—Yatir's right hand—sighed in relief.

He decided not to point out the obvious fact that Yatir was going to go even harder on them when he got back. For now, he'd simply enjoy the time spent with his friend.

◊◊◊

Link silently bemoaned his luck. They were four days into the hunting trip, but Link had awoken to a soul-piercing agony and a low-grade fever that morning. He'd done his best to hide it from Yatir, who was greatly enjoying their trip, but the Sheikah had noticed something off by mid-morning.

"Link, you look flushed." Yatir frowned. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Master..."

"I'm fine." He smiled. "Just a little tired. I'm not used to such a quaint pace." He teased lightly.

Yatir snorted. "Seriously, though. Tell me if you need to rest."

"I will." He promised, but a crack of thunder had the two flinching. The sky had been clear all week, with the exception of a light drizzle on the first day. But now there was a humidity in the air as storm clouds loomed ominously above them; a chill swept through the wind like Nayru on Hebra. Link shivered hard. "Let's find a cave to bunker down in before that lightning gets us."

"No joke." Yatir agreed, shooting Link another frown before securing his things and dashing about to find shelter.

It hadn't taken them long to find a good cavern. They managed to avoid most of the downpour, but they both still got a little wet. For Yatir, this wasn't a big deal, but for Link—who already had a fever—it was making things much worse.

Though he shucked his wet clothing off the first chance he got, and started a blazing fire to keep the cold away, he still felt a chill creep into his bones.

"Master, you need rest." Fi reprimanded softly. "Unless you would rather fade sooner. There is a 72% chance you will become deathly ill if you push yourself further."

Link couldn't help but mentally snort at that. "Fi, we're already dying."

"That doesn't mean you need to die sooner."

"Link?" Yatir's sharp blue eyes glittered in the firelight as his lips tugged downwards in concern. "You look paler than earlier."

"I'm—"

"I swear if you tell me you're fine while shivering like a leaf in Akkala, I'll smack you." Yatir glared as he pressed a cool hand to Link's forehead. "You're burning up. Why didn't you tell me you were sick?"

"I..." Whatever he was going to say was abruptly cut short by a short violent coughing fit. Each rattling cough sent daggers of pain through his being, like shards of glass being shaken within his soul. Yatir couldn't tear his gaze away from the red that stained Link's glove. "Dindamnit." He cursed softly. He hadn't wanted anyone to find out.

"Link." He'd never heard the Sheikah speak so seriously before. Yatir was typically a very easy going fun loving guy, which was why he and Link got along so well. To see him so serious was jarring. "This isn't because of the trip, is it?"

Link stared at his friend for a long moment before sighing. He let himself lean heavily into the warrior beside him, who wrapped a very warm blanket around his shoulders. "No. It's not." The silence stretched like the string of a bow, quivering in the winds of the storm outside. Even still, Yatir didn't break it. He seemed to understand that which went unspoken. After a moment, he lifted his head to gauge his friend's reaction.

The Sheikah's eyes widened as the gravity of the situation fell upon his shoulders. Link could see exactly when he realized what was going on, because it was in that same moment that his youthful face twisted up into agony. "No... After all you've done... you can't... tell me I'm wrong."

"There's nothing anyone can do." Link let his eyes close again. He didn't want to see the pain he was causing his friend. This was why he didn't want anyone to know. "Please... keep this to yourself."

"You selfish idiot." Yatir whispered softly. Link ignored the warm heavy droplets that fell upon his scalp, and the way the strong shoulders he leaned against trembled and shook. "You were just going to vanish without a word, weren't you? This hunting trip... was it your goodbye to me?"

"You know me too well." Link sighed.

"No one should take their last breath alone." Yatir hugged Link a little tighter. "I don't care if you tell no one else, but I won't let you simply vanish. At least... let me be with you when you walk through the Gates. Let me see you off."

A ghost of a laugh passed through his lips. "You are an amazing friend, you know that?" Link whispered. "All right. Only you. You can see us off."

"Us?" Yatir's gaze fell upon the sword that chimed weakly. "So even the blade of legend..."

"We have lived long enough." Link's face screwed up into pain as a white-hot agony lanced through his body. After a long moment, it passed, leaving him lightly panting. "Our battle is finally over." He finished.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" Yatir looked a little pale himself. Link must not have been able to hide his pain as well as he'd thought.

"Purah and Symin are the only two who know. They've given me elixirs for pain to help me manage, but I've run out for the moment."

"Is it that bad?"

"Only sometimes." Link felt his body relax as the heat of the fire finally started to penetrate the icy chill that'd settled in his bones. His eyes started to feel heavy, and Yatir's arm was nice and warm.

"Get some rest, Link. I'll be here when you wake up."

"Maybe... do you think the Rito will give me a Ceremony of Winds?"

"I'm sure they will." Yatir's voice was strained. "I'll come too."

"Yatir... can you make me a promise?" He paused for a moment. "When I die, can you take my body back to the Rito? I think I want to be sent off with them... into the skies."

Yatir shook a little and there was an odd hitch in his breathing as the warm droplets fell faster. "I promise, Link."

"Thank you." And with that, he let himself drift off to sleep.