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The fireplace might have been cozier, if it weren’t for the raging storm outside.
BOOM! Lightning struck, and thunder followed right behind. Even with his back resolutely to the rain-battered windows, Ravio squeaked, jumped, and covered his ears (the real ones, beneath his purple rabbit hood). For hours, all of Hyrule had felt the fury of this terrible squall, and, based on his fuzzy brain and his eyes constantly threatening to close on their own, Ravio guessed it was finally nightfall.
BOOM!
He squeaked again. It was no use. Sleep wouldn’t come, no matter how tired he felt. But to go a whole night without it? He could hardly bear the thought.
“I sh-should make some tea,” he stammered to Sheerow, who was nestled so deeply into the side of Ravio’s neck, he was starting to lose circulation. “Yes…yes, that’ll work. Nothing like a nice, calming cup of te-EEE!!” he shrieked as thunder struck again, rattling the whole house. Sheerow darted under his hood, burying itself in his hair. “Owie! Sheerow! Not so hard!”
Sheerow didn’t budge. Rubbing his head, Ravio gave up and shuffled over to the firewood pile beside the fireplace, pulled out the biggest piece he could find, and pushed it into the flames, sending up a shower of embers like scattering fireflies. Within minutes, the house warmed, giving him energy to haul out the heavy, iron kettle, add water, and hang it above the open flame.
All that was left to do was sit quietly and wait. The leaping, spitting tongues dancing across the blackened wood were hypnotizing. Now would have been the perfect time to sleep, except that little bit of exercise had woken him up, leaving his brain plenty of time to think.
He tried to think anything but the storm. Things that made him happy, like Rupees, Sheerow, paying customers, Rupees, staying in this cozy cottage instead of the dilapidated house rotting back in Lorule, Rupees…
…Princess Hilda.
The wind howled, whistling over the chimney funnels outside. Ravio shivered and wrapped his scarf tighter around his neck. Thinking of her used to make him happy. The two of them were once so close. As her loyal servant, he devoted himself to both her and Lorule’s well-being. After all, that’s why you abandoned her, wasn’t it?
Abandoned?! He shook his head so vigorously, he dislodged Sheerow. No, no! I left Lorule to search for a hero!
Is that the only reason you left? the snide voice in his head challenged.
We— we need a hero. Someone who could help her see through Yuga’s foolish plan. We need a Triforce, but can’t she see leaving Hyrule in same state of decay as our kingdom is wrong? He retreated deeper into his hood, letting it shadow his eyes. Why? Why couldn’t I make her see that? Why couldn’t I stop her, or talk to her, or do anything besides running away like a coward? He gripped his robe tightly, digging in his nails as a lump formed in his throat. I am a coward, and a useless one at that. I’m no hero. I’m nothing like Link.
He stiffened. Link.
Yes, the boy who, had they not hailed from different kingdoms, could be his twin. When he first saw him, Ravio couldn’t believe his eyes. They looked so much alike; yet, they could not be more different. Link was as adventurous as Ravio was reclusive, as selfless as he was greedy, and above all, braver than all the knights in Hyrule Castle put together.
He was quiet, too. Plenty expressive, but in a way that required fewer words— unlike Ravio, who always used too many. However, bit by bit, the more Link returned to rent items, the more he opened up.
“What’s that?! You’ve already had several adventures?” Ravio’s elbow nearly slipped off the counter, where Link was examining his rental Boomerang.
“I traveled to other lands,” Link explained, without so much as a hint of boastfulness. “They each had troubles of their own, so I helped out.”
“Baffling! Utterly baffling!” Ravio gave an impatient bunny hop. “All you’ve ever talked to me about is your boring old smithing—” Link side-eyed him, “—and here you were, holding out on me with the good stories this whole time!”
“There isn’t much to say,” was Link’s simple reply. “How much for this?”
“Fifty Rupees.” Ravio bowed with a flourish after receiving the money, and raised his head. “Now, about these other—”
But Link had already left.
“—places.” Ravio clicked his tongue. “Your business is appreciated as always, Mr. Hero,” he muttered, and returned to straightening his merchandise.
Each time Link returned, Ravio would pester him with questions. But the hero was as deft at dodging them as he was wielding a blade. After numerous failed attempts, the Lorulean decided to take matters into his own hands.
Naturally, he found the worst way possible to do so.
As soon as the front door creaked shut, Ravio dropped to his hands and knees and began crawling to the walls, where he’d pushed all of Link’s furniture and various belongings when he cleared space for own his beloved items. Surely, Mr. Hero kept some souvenirs from his travels? Perhaps there were even rare treasures tucked away! No matter what, Ravio was determined to see the evidence himself.
It was Sheerow who found the chest first. Formerly hidden under the bed, Ravio’s hasty renovation had swept it into a corner, where it remained unnoticed in the shadows, gathering dust. A clear sign Link had not touched it for a long time.
It was much smaller than Ravio expected— not even long enough to store a sword, let alone mountains of treasure. Its lock was cracked. Ravio felt a tiny twinge of guilt, but it vanished as soon as he spotted a shiny gleam within. He pulled it close and, heart pounding, lifted the lid.
His heart sank. Well, the gleam came from a small bag of lovely Rupees— an emergency store, he guessed— but the rest of the chest was full of paper. Maps, books, scrolls, all of them hastily shoved in as if Link never wanted to look at them again.
But why? Ravio wondered as he unfolded a map.
“Holodrum,” one corner was titled, and depicted a lavish landscape with bold colors that boasted of natural beauty and wonder. Ravio was awed at the artist’s prowess— he suddenly, desperately wished to be there, frolicking through its green woods and rolling hills, experiencing the wonder of its seasons—
—And there, another gorgeous map, this one of the land of Labrynna, a curious marvel for the ages— oh, how inviting those gorgeous blue rivers looked—
Snap out of it! Shaking himself, Ravio tossed the maps aside. This couldn’t be it. Surely, there was more to Link’s heroic secret than boring old paper! He dug into the chest, tossing aside more maps, scrolls of various sizes, and books with covers ranging from extravagant to plain, hoping the rarest, shiniest treasure lay buried beneath it all, where almost no one would take the time to look.
Save for one determined merchant, that is.
Alas, Ravio’s efforts proved in vain. At the very bottom lay yet another book, bound in simple, dark leather— the plainest and dirtiest of them all.
Well, he might as well look. Just lifting it caused a dust cloud to fly up Ravio’s nose, making both him and Sheerow sneeze. Delicately, he turned the cover.
There were no words, only pictures. Pages upon pages of pictures. Some were of animals Ravio had never seen before. A few were of tropical plants and flowers. The majority were of people— dozens of faces, young and old, every single one them hand-sketched with fervent, loving detail.
One face kept appearing— that of a lovely young woman wearing a flower in her long, tangled hair. Ravio pushed his hood up for a better look. No matter which angle she was drawn from, she was always smiling, a cheerful shine in her charcoaled eyes. Ravio was entranced— not just by her beauty, but at how much warmth and life he felt from these lifeless pieces of paper.
The door opened. Footsteps.
“Sorry. Forgot my…” Link peered about, expecting Ravio to be at the counters, and froze at the sight of him on the floor, kneeling in front of the open chest with all of its contents haphazardly surrounding him. “…wallet.”
Ravio looked up, grinned, and waved. “Welcome back, Mr. Hero! Man, you were holding out on me, buddy!” He held up the sketchbook. “These are really somethin’ else! I didn’t figure you for the artsy type!”
Link sucked in a huge breath. He’d gone pale as a ghost. No matter how much his mouth twitched, no words formed. Then, his face went from pink to red. His whole body began to shake. Crossing the room in two seconds, he snatched the book out of Ravio’s hand, spluttering uncontrollably. “H-how—? You— you!”
Ravio continued as if he didn’t hear. “Here I thought the princess was your special someone!” he mused. “Really, you needn’t be so embarrassed, unless she doesn’t know. Hey, maybe you oughta let her—”
“This isn’t yours!” Link exploded with such force, the whole house seemed to dim. Ravio shrank back. “Just because you’re staying here, it doesn’t give you the right to go through my things! This chest was hidden for a reason!”
“But why?” Ravio managed to say. “I don’t see why a great hero like yourself wants to hide all the evidence! You helped so many people, like you’re helping the princess! Aren’t you proud of your adventures?”
“Not all of them!” As soon as the words flew out, Link’s mouth snapped shut, and his eyes widened in horror.
Ravio stared at him, shock rendering him, for the first time, completely silent. A myriad of emotions crossed Link’s face. One moment, Ravio thought he was going to grab him by the robes and toss him out. The next, the mask of anger cracked.
“I…I-I…” Link stepped back, fumbled for the doorknob, and fled.
Ravio didn’t move for a long time, staying still amidst the mess that moments ago was boring. Now, it was poisoned, too cursed to even glance at. His eyes lingered on the door.
By the Triforce, what have I done? he thought.
A few days had passed since this exchange, and Link had yet to return. Presumably, he’d traveled to another dungeon to free another Sage.
Ravio was worried. No, scratch that. He was absolutely freaking out.
Forget all ideas of scary monsters. Forget any notions of Link, the hero of Hyrule, failing in his quest.
Ravio did not worry about his success. He worried about what came after.
When Link came home.
The hero had never, ever raised his voice like that. Except for in battle, he was so soft-spoken. Ravio could only imagine how long his anger had been simmering, how many dungeon monsters he’d cut down to stave off his rage, like Yuga did when things didn’t go his way. Once, he’d witnessed the sorcerer rake his private chamber’s walls with magic lightning when he thought he was alone. The very memory of his furious screeching made Ravio tremble.
Shrill whistling roused his attention. Ravio groaned as he picked himself off the wooden floor, rubbing his backside before using his sleeves to grip the kettle’s handle.
Perhaps the storm was a blessing in disguise, he told himself as he carried it to the table, where an empty mug stood. Perhaps it would keep Link at bay, even cool him off, so to speak. Perhaps—
BOOM!
Bang!
Barely audible above the thunder, the house door slammed open. At the threshold, hunched over like a petrified statue, stood none other than Link.
“M-M-Mr. Hero!” Ravio nearly dropped the kettle. “You’re back!”
The wind was gusting hard, sweeping sheets of cold rain inside. But Link made no effort to move. Fear for himself evaporated; Ravio set the hot kettle on the table, hurried over, and grabbed him by the arm to yank him inside, flinching as he did. His blue tunic was sopping wet, not to mention freezing to the touch.
“Buddy, what gives? You’re absolutely soaked!” Ravio scolded as he pulled him to the fireplace, clearing his merchandise off the counter first, lest it get dripped on. Getting him to cooperate was hard. It wasn’t that he was unwilling, per se; he kept stumbling. All over the place. He took one step sideways and nearly collided with the table. He would have fallen over, too, if Ravio hadn’t hauled him up. “Did you forget about that broomstick you always hitch a ride on?”
Link mumbled something unintelligible.
“What’s that?”
“…I’f’ll ’ff,” Link repeated.
“W-what? You fell off?” He swung his head round to gawk at him. “And you decided to just walk the rest of the way back?! How in the name of— ohhhh, great golden triangles, you’re sick.”
Weakly, Link shook his head no, eyes dull and glassy.
“Oh, yes you are!” To prove his point, Ravio pressed his free hand to Link’s forehead, making him flinch. “Geez, I could’ve boiled the kettle over your face! Speaking of—” He dashed to the table and finally poured some steaming hot water into the mug. Whoops. The kettle had burnt a ring into the wood. Yet another thing for Link to yell at him for. Luckily, he was in no capacity to notice.
“You stay right there,” Ravio ordered with more authority than he felt, but Link obeyed, albeit swaying on his feet. Pouring a second mug, he found the tea leaves and dropped them in. “It’ll be ready in just a—”
Whump. Link hit the floor like a sack of wet flour.
“Hey, now!” Now Ravio had to set the mugs down to haul him up. “Stay awake, y’hear?”
“Mmmph…” Link slurred, eyes half-closed.
“C’mon, buddy, sleep after you put on some dry clothes. You have spares, right?”
Link gave a shambling, Gibdo-esque semblance of a shrug and flopped back down on the rug, on which his dripping clothes had already formed a Hylian-shaped puddle.
“Don’t give me that! Say, that’s a new tunic, isn’t it? Where’s your old green one?”
With the sluggish grace of a half-frozen Moblin, Link raised the arm he wasn’t lying on, fumbled in the magic pouch attached to his belt, and pulled it out. The pouch, too, was drenched, but miraculously, the tunic was dry. Hauling himself up with a groan, Link waved Ravio away— he could manage by himself.
Ravio hastily returned to the table, keeping his back to Link and occupying himself by watching the tea steep. He tried not to grin. He felt sorry Link was sick— really, he did— but this was great! No way in Hyrule or Lorule would the hero feel like screaming at him, now! An unfortunate way to avoid his wrath, but hey, a lucky break was a lucky break. Ravio was not one to refuse the universe’s gifts.
“Ready for some nice, hot tea?” he called in a falsely cheerful tone that he hoped sounded more false than cheerful.
No response.
“Buddy?” The mugs clinked as he loaded them onto a small tray. “Can I turn around now?”
Silence.
“Look, I don’t mean to rush you, but ‘hot tea’ kind of implies it needs to be drunk before it starts tasting like my Ice Rod, so I’m just gonna…” He spun around, and his face fell.
Link had, in fact, managed to change into the dry clothes, only to promptly curl back up on the rug. He was not moving.
“Hey, you okay?” Ravio crept closer. “Hey!”
Link started and raised his head, bleary-eyed as he looked around for who spoke.
“Sheesh, you’re starting to scare me a bit.” Ravio shoved a mug into his trembling hands. “Drink up! I worked hard on it, y’know!” To prove his point, he raised his own cup to his lips and took a hearty gulp. It was boiling and horribly bitter. After several failed attempts, he managed to swallow, then glanced sideways at Link, who took one sip, choked, and sprayed it all over the purple rug, coughing like mad.
He looked more miserable than ever, which made Ravio feel awful. That giddy relief bubbling in his stomach was now dead flat. As Link gazed down into his mug apprehensively, Ravio set his own aside and got to his feet.
Link didn’t even glance up until Ravio was back in front of him moments later, pillow and blankets bundled in his arms. Setting the pillow down, he took Link by the shoulders and pressed him down so his head rested on it. It so easy, like laying down a limp, sick puppy.
That…was not good.
“There. Nice and cozy,” Ravio said, pulling the blankets up to his neck. “Gotta make sure my best customer can keep adventuring!” He glanced nervously at the window as lightning flashed. A strong gust of wind rattled the rooftop, then died down. “Though, maybe you should wait a bit, hm?”
Link let out a dry rasp that could have been a laugh, which then dissolved into a harsh coughing fit.
Not good at all. “More tea,” he offered, to which Link shook his head a bit too quickly. “I wasn’t asking, buddy. C’mon, take just a bit more, okay?”
It took a lot of coaxing, but Link managed to drink about half of the mug before finally pushing it away, spluttering and coughing some more before settling back on his pillow. He closed his red-rimmed eyes and, after a few false starts, drifted off.
How Ravio wished that were the end of it.
As the night crawled on, both the storm and Link worsened by the hour. Ravio had given up on sleeping entirely, having instead parked himself beside the hero, a bucket of cool water and a rag in his hand, dabbing sweat off his burning forehead. Link drifted in and out of consciousness. While he slept, he’d cry out incomprehensibly as he dreamed. While awake, he’d cough and hack until he was gasping for breath. And each time, just when Ravio thought he’d finally, properly fallen asleep, it would start all over again. A vicious cycle with no end in sight.
“Can’t understand for the life of me why you got yourself into this mess,” Ravio murmured as he plunged the rag back in the bucket. “I know you’re Hyrule’s hero, but you can’t swordfight nature! What were you thinking?”
Link groaned, flinching as the cold cloth was laid across his forehead.
“No, wait, I get it. You were too busy imagining all the ways you could skewer and roast me alive when you got back!” Ravio half-teased, trying his hardest to keep things light. “Guess a wrench got thrown in your plans, huh?” He tried to laugh, but it got stuck in his throat.
If Link tried to laugh back, Ravio couldn’t tell— it just became another hacking fit that left him doubled over on his side and wheezing. As Link lay still, chest heaving, Ravio helped him sip some water before easing his head back onto his pillow.
“Look…about that business earlier…” Ravio shifted uncomfortably. “I didn’t realize it was personal. I mean, even though you kept it locked up in a chest and stashed out of sight, and you’ve clearly never shown it to anyone because boy, is it filthy— mypointis—!” he cut himself off. “I just wanted to see treasure. Real treasure. The kind heroes bring back from their adventures.
“Back in Lo— back where I’m from, we…we don’t have any heroes, y’know? Just loads of people out for themselves. Everyone grabbing anything they can, not caring who gets hurt.” Ravio bit his lip as images of Yuga flashed in his brain, of everyone running amok in the Thieves’ Town, and of the princess herself, after Hyrule’s Triforce… He shook himself and tried again for a lighter tone. “I mean, I love shiny stuff as much as the next guy, but nothing compares to holding shiny stuff you actually earned!”
Ravio removed the warmed cloth from Link’s face and dunked it. “Guess that’s the nice thing about owning a shop folks wanna buy from. Not only do I get my own store of treasure, but my items also help you, and you use ’em to help others, so…so, maybe, in a way, I’m saving the kingdoms, too! Ha ha!” He laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah. Stupid, right?”
He looked down, half-expecting Link to agree, but the hero had dozed off. Delicately, Ravio placed the cloth on his head. At least this time, he actually seemed asleep. Perhaps now, Ravio could close his eyes for a moment…
Yes, only a moment…
A moment was all a sinister voice needed to slither into his formless dreams.
“Yes… Sleep, you worthless fool. Slumber away while I take care of the kingdoms, as I claim them for my own.”
No! Not here. Not here! He couldn’t possibly know where I am!
“Oh, but I do. I do. As unsightly as you are, even a sniveling worm like you can’t escape my gaze forever.”
Ravio felt himself shaking uncontrollably.
“Soon, even our dear Princess Hilda will be nothing more than a flattering stain on the castle wall,” taunted the voice. “Why am I telling you this, you ask? It isn’t like you’re going to stop me. Are you, little rabbit?” He cackled, high and wicked and echoing over and over in Ravio’s head until he could no longer tell up from down.
“Princess!” Ravio yelled and bolted upright as lightning illuminated the room stark white. Thunder crashed like a deafening drum. Panting, he looking around wildly. Night still ruled; the house was dim, leaving the dwindling fire the only indicator any time had passed, perhaps an hour or two. Wiping drool from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, he hastened to toss another log in.
He stood before the flames, warming his hands and taking deep breaths. Again. No matter how brief his sleep, dreams of Yuga, Princess Hilda, and Lorule in flames filled them. Except now, Hyrule was there, and Link, as well.
I’ve gotta go back. Right away. I’ve gotta warn her! Before he realized it, he was halfway to the door. Lightning flashed through the cracks, freezing him mid-step.
The night he fled Lorule was just like this. He thought he’d forgotten it— or at least tried to— but he remembered now. All of it. He could still see himself running from the castle as the rain beat down on him, Sheerow tucked under his hood, tearing through the broken plains, skirting the leering eyes of monsters, until at last, he found it. A tiny tear in the world he’d discovered just days earlier.
How he shook with fear! Guilt tore his heart in two. He couldn’t breathe; the only thing grounding him was his old bracelet. The last thing he recalled was its glow as he stepped into the glowing crack. He did not know the land this tear led to, but he would not stay here.
He couldn’t.
“Nn…”
A weak groan caught his ear, breaking him out of his reverie. Ravio spun around. There lay Link, tossing and turning in his sleep.
“Mr. Hero?” he called cautiously, moving to his side. Link only groaned again, brow furrowed as if in pain.
Was he dreaming? Ravio touched his forehead and found it still hot. The rag, of course, was no longer cold and now damp with sweat. Refilling the bucket with fresh, cool water, Ravio once again dipped the rag in and set it on Link, who groaned again at its touch. “’M sorry,” he mumbled. “I’m s…sorry…”
“Shh. Don’t talk,” Ravio scolded gently.
“’S’all my fault…” His eyes were squeezed shut in distress. “All my…my…”
Ravio got the sneaking suspicion Link wasn’t exactly talking to him, but he tucked the blanket back under his chin and tried for a soothing tone. “Buddy, it’s okay. What’s done is done. Just sleep, all right?”
“Sleep… Even there, ’s so far…”
Maybe talking would calm him down. “What is?” he asked.
“Th’ island…’S gone…all gone. Their names, their faces…all of them, on my hands, I…!”
What…? Ravio’s blood ran cold. A million thoughts blazed through his head. What was he saying? An entire island of people… Had he…? No, he— he didn’t. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t!
How do you know? the little voice in his head challenged. You don’t actually know him that well, do you?
I…I… His brain was short-circuiting. Ravio realized he had no answer.
“I’m sorry…” Link murmured as he drifted off. “I’m so sorry…”
Lightning lit the room. Thunder crashed. Now he knew why Link had hidden the artifacts from his adventures. On his end, by all accounts, Ravio had never left Lorule Castle, and he trembled from head to toe as he edged back from yet another source of primal fear. This time, it came from a sick, bedridden hero.
If he could even call him that.
When morning came, the worst of the storm had passed. Only the rain and heavy gray clouds remained.
Ravio hadn’t slept a wink, and was still up when Link stirred.
The boy awoke in a haze, hair disheveled and eyes half-open as he sat up and looked around. To his surprise, he spotted Ravio once again by the fireplace, bent over his largest cooking pot with a long, wooden spoon. “R…Ravio?” he rasped.
The merchant jumped, but didn’t turn around. “Y-You’re awake,” he stammered. “The stew’s almost done.”
“Stew?” Link’s stomach rumbled a bit, but he wasn’t sure he had much of an appetite.
“Call it a parting gift.” Ravio faced him, expression unreadable thanks to his hood. “Although, I— I think it’s more than you deserve.”
“Deserve? I don’t…” Link spotted it beside the merchant. The huge, white sack he was sure Ravio had stuffed full of every Rupee he had ever given him. But there was something else— all of the items Link hadn’t rented were gone, wiped from the counters. “What’s going on?”
“You talked in your sleep last night. I heard you. A whole bunch of islanders gone because of you. Is that— is that true?”
“Islanders…?” Link’s eyes widened in horror. “No! I mean— oh, by the Triforce, Ravio—!” He stumbled to his feet.
“Stay back!” Ravio leveled the spoon at him, clutching it with both hands. He was trembling all over, Sheerow cowering behind his shoulder. “The stew should last you a few days until you feel better, okay? That should be enough. I won’t say anything, just— please— let me take my things and go. It’s all I’ve got.” He reached down for his sack and slung it over his shoulder. Still pointing the spoon, he edged around Link toward the door.
“Let me explain—”
“There’s nothin’ to explain.” Words were exploding out of Ravio as he tried to keep Link distracted, but it was also like he had to get it all out before he lost his nerve. “Y-You—you’re just like him. Like Yuga. You don’t care who gets in your way; you just—” The hand holding the sack let go and fumbled for the doorknob. “Well, buddy, I want no part of—!”
“They weren’t real!”
Ravio’s hand stopped mid-turn. He stared at Link, incredulous. “What?”
“The islanders…they weren’t real.” The outburst drained what little energy Link had regained; he slumped to his knees. “It was a dream, Ravio. A…A nightmare I was trapped inside.”
Ravio’s brow furrowed under the hood. “I…I don’t understand.”
Link remained silent for several moments as he gathered his words. “On my way back to Hyrule, I was shipwrecked in a storm and washed ashore on a mysterious island. A local girl found me and nursed me back to health.” He caught Ravio’s gaze and hesitantly nodded.
The girl in his sketchbook, Ravio confirmed privately.
“She was beautiful, but more than that… She was the kindest soul I’d ever met. And her voice…it could make you forget about your troubles. Forget about everything, really.” Amazingly, the tiniest of smiles wormed its way onto Link’s pale face. It struck Ravio it was the first time he saw him smile…ever. Then, just as quickly, it vanished. “I wanted to stay. More than anything in the world, I wanted to live with them. With her. Forever.”
“So,” Ravio said softly, “why didn’t you?”
“Because I learned the truth— the whole island was the product of a great spirit’s dream. The beaches, the mountains, the animals, the villagers… So long as he slept, I could never leave. And the living Nightmares plaguing the island did everything in their power to ensure that. And the longer I stayed, the more powerful they became.” Link bowed his head. “I had to wake the dreamer, but doing so meant destroying them all.” A sharp breath hissed between his teeth. “I could’ve kept fighting them, but I was a coward. I called it duty, when I was actually running away.”
“You can’t mean that!” Ravio protested. “You saved that great spirit, didn’t you?”
“Yes, but—”
“He would’ve been trapped in that nightmare for the rest of his life if it weren’t for you, right?”
“You don’t understand—”
“Then how—”
“I left them!” Link snapped. “Don’t you see? Look—” Rising up, he found his pouch, rummaged through, and pulled out the plain leather book, safe and untouched by the rain. Opening it, he began flipping through page after page after page. “They had names, Ravio. Names and faces and personalities and lives! Lives that weren’t mine to sacrifice!” His eyes fell on the smiling face of the beautiful girl, and his voice grew brittle as glass. “I didn’t want to forget them. I never want to forget what I did, or forgive, and I… I-I…”
Slowly, Link raised his eyes to Ravio’s, overcome by anguish and misery. “She wasn’t real. None of them ever were. I know that,” he choked out. “So why do I feel so guilty?”
When Ravio gazed back, he realized something. Like a single drop of water rippling a pond, a single bead of clarity entered his mind. He did not see Link, the hero of Hyrule— he saw himself. Fleeing Lorule Castle, running from Yuga and Princess Hilda, berating himself for not acting, when this was the only action he could take…
He blinked, and there again was Link, as lost and desperate as he. He realized, much like he wore his rabbit hood to hide his face, Link, too, wore a mask. Invisible to the world, but a mask, nonetheless.
Taking a deep breath, Ravio placed his hand on his shoulder and murmured, “You were a prisoner. You got out…she didn’t.”
Swallowing hard against the lump in his throat, Link nodded. He felt like ice— cold and ready to crack at the slightest pressure. Slowly, with utmost care, Ravio pulled him into a hug. Neither one moved for a long time.
It was impossible to tell which one of them needed it more.