#yeah he’s a zillion years old but he’s spent most of it sleeping

[antimnemonic]

also i skipped around a bunch before sitting down to go from The Beginning and Arkanfel hanging around doing normie stuff is killing me. fucking LUCIFER from Da Bible in our house and we’re teaching him to play fighting games

[marveloussupernerd]

Halloween Bash - Jaehee Kang

Hello and welcome to spooky season! For the next week I’m going to post a Halloween one shot every night. I random number generated the post order, prompts, and other little details about it, so I’ll be including those at the beginning of the story

Prompts: RFA party, bobbing for apples, stay all night

Summary: the RFA is throwing a little Halloween bash for its members. You and Jaehee dress to impress

You and Jaehee had put a lot of thought and effort into the RFA Halloween party. Rika had done it once before in the past and you wanted to bring it back and hopefully make it a fun tradition. You planned to have a costume contest, bobbing for apples, and the Monster Mash on repeat.

Jaehee had left the costumes up to you. It took you a while to find good costumes (there were a zillion Hetero couples costumes but you really struggled to find something creative for the two of you), but when you saw it you knew it was perfect. Of course, you couldn’t both win the costume contest, but you definitely wanted to match.

You walked into the coffee shop where Jaehee was hanging a streamers, and plopped the costumes onto the table next to her. “Are those the Scooby Doo characters?” She asked, glancing down at the costumes then focusing her energy back to the task at hand.

“Velma and Daphne! Jaehee, don’t tell me you didn’t know their names,” you sighed, plopping onto the chair next to her.

“I actually did watch Scooby Doo as a kid, but it’s been a while,” she smiled. She stuck one more piece of tape then carefully got off the chair she was standing on to sit next to you. “I think it’ll be quite cute.”

“Oo! I also got this hairspray stuff for you that temporarily dyes it orange. It might be kind of unnatural but-“

“You want me to be Daphne?” She cut you off, her eyebrows raised skeptically.

“Duh! I think you’d look really nice as her. Why? Would you rather be Velma?” You glanced down at the costumes. Fortunately you two were nearly the same size.

“No, I just. I don’t know... I assumed you’d want me to be Velma. I did look a lot like her...”

“Yeah, because Jumin made you. You look so beautiful now and I want you to embrace those changes! Putting on a short wig and glasses would do the exact opposite.”

She leaned across the table to grab your hand. “Thank you. I don’t think you understand how much that means to me.

“Of course. Now if you’re done with the decorations can I help you do the hair?”

“I set one banner up...”

You looked around. Huh. She was right. “Whoops. Got so excited I didn’t even notice that. Let me help you set things up first then.”

The two of you were an excellent team, obviously, and made quick work of setting up the decorations. Jaehee had splurged on some nice decorations. Lots and lots of pumpkins and pumpkin banners (to go with your pumpkin treats you had made ahead of time) and even a very realistic cauldron for the bobbing for apples game. Granted, her decor was very mild and not scary, spare one thing she splurged on. She set up one of those spiders that jump out at you when you walked past it, then put it by the entry.

“Jaehee... I didn’t know you were so diabolical...” you chuckled, putting batteries in the machine to get it running.

“I just want to see Mr. H- I mean Jumin, jump. He has a fear of spiders you know.”

“I’ll be sure to get it on camera,” you winked at her.

The next step was getting all dressed up. You started with the hair dye, which blended surprisingly well with her now-long hair. It wasn’t too neon, but enough that you could tell she was now a redhead. You helped her with some winged eyeliner, as she had never done a wing herself, and some sparkly pink lipgloss. Once she was all dressed, you took a step back to admire your handiwork. “Jaehee, you look kinda hot,” you complimented, suddenly feeling extremely embarrassed.

Her cheeks shot red from the compliment as she worked hard to look anywhere but your eyes. “You don’t think it’s too much?”

“No, I think you look exactly like her. Now will you help me get this wig on?”

Turns out getting a wig on is a two, probably three honestly, person task. Especially with your baby hairs that kept falling out of place. Luckily, Jaehee helped you fix it until it was absolutely perfect. You got all dressed next. “What do you think?” You asked, doing a little spin.

“They really didn’t include the glasses with the costume?” She asked, turning the bag upside-down to ensure you hadn’t missed anything. “Huh. Well, luckily for us I think I still have my old pair.”

Jaehee disappeared to the back. You heard a lot of rustling through drawers before she came back victorious. “No prescription or anything, just regular frames.” She carefully put them on your face. “Perfect. Now you look the part.”

You opened your phone camera to check your outfit. “We look GOOD! Best couples costume ever.” You glanced at the time. “And just in time too. We’ve gotta get to the front so we can see everyone get scared by the spider.

Jumin and Yoosung arrived together, no surprise since Yoosung was still his acting assistant. Jumin jumped slightly at the spider, but it was nowhere close to Yoosung, who backed into Jumin so quickly that he knocked the both of them over. You and Jaehee couldn’t contain your laughter, not making any movement to help them up.

Luckily there were no injuries, as the two got up relatively fast and made their way over to you. “Oh Assistant K- I mean, Jaehee,” Jumin said to you, “Some days I miss you more than others. And this is definitely one of those days.” He obviously did and didn’t mean it at the same time; he was teasing Yoosung. But oh! More pressing matters at hand.

“I’m not Jaehee,” you giggled. Jumin’s mouth fell open in shock. Obviously you were right; your voices were quite different, but you really pulled a fast one on him.

“Forgive me. I just thought... well, what are you two anyways?”

“You don’t know? They’re from Scooby Doo!” Yoosung yelled, very surprised that Jumin didn’t recognize it.

“Scooby huh?”

“Scooby Doo! It’s a kids show. You’re... more hopeless than I thought,” he said sadly.

“You two look nice! Frankenstein and his monster. Very creative.” You complimented them.

The conversation was halted when Zen walked in the room, bumping into the glass door as he jumped away from the spider. You all laughed this time.

Zen was quickly followed by Seven and V, who were not shocked by the spider at all. Figures. Zen was a vampire, V was dressed as a pirate, and Seven was... oh god why was he in his maid costume.

“You all look nice!” Jaehee complimented. “Let me get some music on and then we’ll start everything up.”

“Jaehee, that’s you!?” Zen exclaimed. “You look great!”

“Thanks!” She called. The Monsrer Mash started playing. She made her way back to the group. “Although it wasn’t exactly my idea.”

“I am a genius, I know.” You commented, accepting your praise. Jaehee hit your shoulder playfully and you got the party started.

The activity of the night was bobbing for apples. Was this a good idea? Probably not. But it’d be fun. You got to man the station and time how long it took everyone to get their apples. Jumin took the longest... literally over three minutes because he didn’t want to hurt his teeth. Zen was the quickest, trying to make sure he beat Jumin, which was not challenging to do.

Jaehee finished her turn and got right in the middle of the times. Her lipgloss was smeared down her face. “You know, maybe this idea had a few flaws,” you giggled, grabbing a paper towel to help her dry her face off. You very gently patted her face dry, using your finger to gently wipe the lipgloss away. It was strangely intimate and the two of you were both flushing messes, despite the fact that you were literally dating. No makeup problems for you though! The only issue was that the glasses fell off in the water, traditional Velma style, and the game became bobbing for glasses.

Zen’s prize for winning was a caramel apple designed to look like a pumpkin. Pretty creative from you and Jaehee to be honest. He rubbed it in Jumin’s face nonstop, and you figured he would for the next year until the next contest.

When it came down to voting for the best costume, it was no surprise to read out the results. Everyone had voted for Jaehee. There was one vote for you of course, because Jaehee was a supportive girlfriend and would NEVER vote for herself. Even Seven didn’t vote for himself which was, honestly, quite a relief. You were proud that her costume was so good Seven considered it better than his “Mary Vanderwood III” getup, whatever that meant.

Jaehee’s very special prize was homemade chocolate and pretzel bark the two of you had made the other night. Honestly, you were glad she won because it was so good and she would share it with you.

The two of you stayed all night. You sort of had to, considering it was taking place at your coffee shop. But you had a great time dishing out (non alcoholic) drinks and pumpkin cookies and candy.

You played pin the stem on the pumpkin (which V actually won, which honestly should not surprise anyone) and spent most of the time hearing everyone complaining about the Monster Mash playing for the fiftieth time. It wasn’t your fault. There weren’t that many Halloween songs and this one was Jaehee’s absolute favorite.

Once everyone left, the two of you plopped down on the sofa in the corner of the shop. “I’m so tired,” Jaehee groaned, resting her head on your shoulder and propping her feet up. “You sure we can’t just sleep here tonight?”

You laughed, chest shaking as you giggled, causing Jaehee to shift slightly. “We still have to open tomorrow at 6. And as much fun as it sounds to stay the night here, I’m worried your hair will become permanently orange if we don’t wash it out.”

She let out an exhasperated sigh, standing up and taking your hands to help pull you up. “Okay, but only if you help me wash it out. I’m too tired, and I don’t think I’ll be able to get the back.”

You winked at her. “Sure, whatever you say, Jaehee.”

[shangyang]

what i read this week

mostly rereads this week - my tbr pile is growing by the day and i keep adding to it, so shame on me, lmao. next week: things i've actually read for the first time. promise.

EMERGENCY CONTACT, mary h.k. choi

For Penny Lee, high school was a total nonevent. Her friends were okay, her grades were fine, and while she somehow managed to land a boyfriend, he doesn’t actually know anything about her. When Penny heads to college in Austin, Texas, to learn how to become a writer, it’s seventy-nine miles and a zillion light years away from everything she can’t wait to leave behind. Sam’s stuck. Literally, figuratively, emotionally, financially. He works at a café and sleeps there too, on a mattress on the floor of an empty storage room upstairs. He knows that this is the god-awful chapter of his life that will serve as inspiration for when he’s a famous movie director but right this second the seventeen bucks in his checking account and his dying laptop are really testing him. When Sam and Penny cross paths it’s less meet-cute and more a collision of unbearable awkwardness. Still, they swap numbers and stay in touch—via text—and soon become digitally inseparable, sharing their deepest anxieties and secret dreams without the humiliating weirdness of having to see each other.

still one of my favorite books, ever. penny's voice is so on point and just so personal, and the way these two fall together? ugh. chef's kiss. i particularly love penny's relationship with her mother, and the way penny talks about it. but emergency contact has a special place in my heart for telling one of the first stories that made me realize asian american stories didn't have to revolve around our mythology, or the "homeland". 100000/10, if you haven't read emergency contact, what have you been doing, pick it up right now.

MOONCAKES, author: suzanne walker, illust: wendy xu

A story of love and demons, family and witchcraft. Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers’ bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town. One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any townhome. Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery.

i finally got my hands on a fully-colored version of mooncakes, so this was another reread for me! i'm probably gonna talk in-depth about why i loved mooncakes as much as i did (spoiler: cute romance & witches make me weak lol). my actual copy is a pre-release version of it, which i was super lucky to get during bookcon in...i believe 2019? my copy is signed and i am not the least bit ashamed to admit that i cried when i realized wendy xu was still at her table and i got to meet her. so yeah. mooncakes. don't let yourself be fooled by the pastels, and cutesy art, mooncakes is by no means the most hardcore, or goriest story out there, but it's heavy in it's own way. still, it's schmoopy and cute and both nova and tam are great characters who i am in love with. but the MVP award absolutely goes to nova's kickass grandmas, who run a little shop underneath their home. 10/10 please read mooncakes. it's cute and fun, and you're supporting an asian-american creator.

COMING HOME AGAIN, chang-rae lee

In Coming Home Again, celebrated novelist Chang-rae Lee, author of On Such a Full Sea and Native Speaker, recalls the year he spent living at home, and learning to cook the Korean dishes of his childhood before his mother died of stomach cancer.

i had to read this initially for an assignment for one of my lectures last semester, but it stuck with me. so recently, i went back to properly reread it - out of enjoyment, not just obligation, haha - and yeah. published in the oct 16, 1995, edition of the new yorker, coming home again is a short story more than it is a novel/graphic novel, like the prev. two works i've listed. it's good. it's melancholic, and the last part of the story hurts, and i feel, is especially punchy considering the times we live in. (corona, stop asian hate, the full gamut.) coming home again is free to read on the new yorker's website, so if you're going to read any of these three, let it be this. 10000000/10, this piece hurts so much, but in a really good way. i had to call my grandma and my mom after reading it.

[icarus-suraki]

unusual asks: 4, 14, 37, 79

4. do you like your name? why? Ah ha ha ha, so I'm not going to tell my real name, but I'll say that my first, middle, and (probably obviously) last name are all family names. My first name isn't so bad, except that my mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a number of other relatives all have the same first name. It's really a family name on my mother's side. It's not a bad name, but it doesn't feel like my name because I've been called by my middle name all my life. With so many people with the same first name, it makes sense, right?

My middle name is...different. I mean, I'm a woman (though I'm a bit sloshy on that sometimes) but my middle name is a really old, slightly ugly-sounding name that's usually given to boys. It's a family name, formerly a surname--and since my family is undeniably Southern, we follow the good tradition of giving daughters family surnames that were "lost" in marriages. And that's how I, a girl, ended up going by a name that's basically on par with Cuthbert or Aethelrad or Gruffudd. It did not make my school-years easy, no.

And my last name is a strange spelling of a Dutch name--if it were English, it might be something like the surname "James" being spelled like "Jaymesse." We aren't quite sure how it came to us since we can only trace it back to one person. We know when and who he married, but we have no information about him before or after that. We know he was out of the picture when his wife was pregnant (whether he died or ran off or was kidnapped or something we don't know). His wife, at a loss as for what to do, went to her sister's house and lived with her sister and her sister's husband for a while. And then she named the baby after her sister's husband??? But with her own (now our) last name???? She was an interesting woman. But we just don't know much about the man who gave us our last name. There's some family conjecture that he might have been an Eastern European Jew and, when that came out, that was totally unacceptable to his wife and her family. So either she left him or he left her. Either way, we've still got the name. And now, whenever one of us with the name goes to Europe, we like to confuse the locals. (I think I got more of the British Isles genes, but my brother definitely got the Dutch genes because he looks like a damn Tour de France cyclist.)

Do I like my name? It's not the easiest to live with, but it's got a colorful past. So I don't always like it, but it's interesting, to say the least.

14. if you can live anywhere in the world where would it be? why? This is so hard to answer because it changes based on my mood and the season. Sometimes I'm like "I want to live somewhere tropical and warm in a house that almost doesn't need windows with long sheer curtains where I can be a hippie doing yoga and eating smoothie bowls up in the trees." And other times I'm like "Wouldn't it be interesting to live in Japan? Maybe Tokyo, but more like Kyoto and out in the suburbs. Or maybe out in the country, like a real Studio Ghibli place." France crosses my mind too, sometimes Paris, sometimes Provence, sometimes Normandy...

But I think, and this is probably pretty predictable, that the most aesthetically-comfortable place, to me, would probably be the Lake District in the UK.

Is the UK all that great in ever sense? No, for many reasons (Brexit is only one of them). But in terms of weather, wildlife, scenery, familiarity from children's picture books, I think it's got to be the Lake District (and environs).

It was one of the last places we visited when I did a summer abroad. We'd done London (exciting but such a city), we'd done Scotland (rather craggy and gray), we'd done Bath (I was sick as a dog so I can't make much of a judgement and would like to go back), we'd done Oxford (and I thought I was a snob, fuck me), we'd done Yorkshire (suddenly the grimness of the Bronte sisters makes sense)... And then we took this long bus ride northwards and up into the Lake District and it was such a...relief in a funny sense of the word. Trees! Fields! Foxgloves! Stiles over fences! Walking paths! Lovely cottages!

If I was appallingly rich, I'd find an old cottage to move into and live there and grow a cottage garden and probably have a Patterdale terrier named Toby or Tommy and take lots of walks.

The Cotswolds were a close second, as I recall, but not quite as much of a spiritual(?) relief.

37. do you read a lot? whats your favorite book? The greatest irony of being a librarian is that everyone thinks you read all the time but you often don't have enough time to read at all.

Some librarians manage to pull it off, but I don't. I've gotten picky about books as I've gotten older. I had to lead some book discussions at my libraries, so I've had to read some very boring books (in some cases the book was boring but I did understand why books like it would appeal to some people). And I just don't have the mental capacity to suffer through boring books if I don't have to. So, no, I don't read all that much--

--in terms of books, at least. I've found that I'll read zillions of articles: longform, shortform, magazine, newspaper, online... I've got a few websites for sources and I'll just kind of look around and then suddenly say, "Wait, what?" and find myself reading, say, a GQ article about two Mormon brothers accused of murdering their parents and the whole backstory of the situation. If you drop a longform article about Weird Shit in front of me, yeah, I'll probably read it.

Which actually makes me wonder if I might want to read more nonfiction at the moment. Hmmm........

But favorite book? Favorite favorite book? Fuck, I'm such a sucker for Ulysses. I know, everyone's like "it's dirty!" or "it's too hard to understand!" And that's cool. But for me, it reads rather like poetry to me, dirty bits and all. And I love it and it has saved my life a few times. James Joyce got me through my 20s, okay?

I had hoped to go to Ireland, and Dublin specifically, in the summer or fall of 2020. Obviously that didn't happen, lmao. But part of my idea was to research tattoo shops before I went and to get a line from the "Ithaca" chapter tattooed on me somewhere. The line is:

"The heaventree of stars hung with humid nightblue fruit"

It's got to be one of my favorite lines in all of literature. T. S. Eliot has a couple of lines that are close seconds (it's almost time to read Ash Wednesday again and, hnnnngh, it's so good), but between the Eliot lines and the Joyce lines? Yeah, I'm going with the heaventree of stars.

I am a terrible person with a dirty mind. What can you do?

79. do you believe in ghosts? Most of the time I'm like: "Nah, I don't really believe in ghosts. It’d be kind of cool if they were real, right? But, nah, l don’t."

And then I'll watch some really good “real” ghost videos and it'll be about 11:30 at night and I'm immediately "I have changed my stance re: ghosts and I will be sleeping with the light on. Goodnight."

But generally speaking? As someone who has spent the night in a couple of supposedly haunted places? I guess I'm more in the "I want to believe" category. It'd be cool, wouldn't it? But I don't think it'll happen.

Now that said, I do still wonder about the Gray Man With The Hat that my mother and I have both seen on different occasions. It has to be something about how human brains understand certain things in certain situations (esp. related to light/shadow). We both wonder if it might be kind of like a "collective unconscious" situation, where something unfamiliar is interpreted as something familiar and then the brain puts that familiar "icon" (which is Pete Lorre in M, evidently?) over whatever the image the brain can't compute.

It's not directly related to ghosts in the typical sense, but I do have strong feelings about certain Jungian concepts (I have an aunt who's got some major Jungian background)--sometimes in a mystical way, sometimes in a more rational way. So I guess that's why I feel like I, personally, don't believe in ghosts as ghosts are generally viewed today. But I also think that people who say they've encountered ghosts shouldn't be dismissed immediately as wrong--they experienced something, I absolutely believe that, and it’s not fair or kind to dismiss them out of hand.

[fara-a-way]

GENIE HIKIKOMORI

Kailey Heather Cruz. Logical, reasonable, down to earth hard worker. Doesn’t believe in short cuts. Doesn’t believe in laxness. Remains true to her beliefs.

One of her hobbies includes porcelain and china shopping. One day, she comes across a copper teapot, perfect for boiling tea water. So she buys it. Then when she gets home, clans the map and rubs it free of dirt, she is suddenly faced with a Genie.

Genie eats her snacks, eats her dinner and asks she uses up her 3 wishes as fast as possible so he can get back in his lamp for another 10,000 Years.

Why 10,000 years?

It is the rule, my power requires such time to recover.

Oh, ok. Hey, why don’t you hang around here a bit more? I don’t really have a wish yet so can you wait a bit?

As you wish master. I shall wait for thee three wishes. Then be out of thy life and back safely in my lamp, forever lost in the sands of time.

It’s a tea kettle, but can I use it to boil tea? 

Nay! Thou shall not flood my home! D:

ONE WEEK LATER

I am with nothing to do…

I didn’t ask you to watch over my house all the time. Can’t you chill in your lamp?

I do not know of which you speak.

The way you talk is proper and old. You should watch some dramas on Netflix. Here. This is how you use it…. And all the movies you’d want to watch is all at the tip of your fingertips.

Fascinating. This… this is magnificent! I shall use this to understand the ways of the modern world!

THREE MONTHS LATER

Master! Please MAKE YOUR FIRST WISH ALREADY!!!!

Why are you so desperate for my first wish? I’m not ready yet. (*Blushes shyly because the genie bombards her after she finished her bath and is currently just in her towel.)

Noooo!!!! (breathes. Huffs. Fixes hair.) It’s simple as fuck. Make a wish. Any wish, any thing you desire. I will give it to you. Is there anything at all that you crave for? That you’ve wanted since forever? Anything- At all?

I… I… Damn it! Stop breathing down my neck! Pervert! *smack

FOUR MONTHS LATER

I have finished all there is in your English Netflix.

And are you done overusing the words fuck and shit?

After you’ve told me their meanings, I had decided to no longer to use them.

Very good… So, what did you do today other than eat and sleep?

I watched Asian drama. *Wo xuehuile Zhoungwen Mandarin. (I leanred Chinese Mandarin)

SIX MONTHS LATER

Merry Christmas! Here, I got you a present. Not that you don’t already eat my food and make my bills higher.

You know, you wouldn’t have to deal with me if you just made three wishes.

I know, but I’m saving my wishes, and I’m keeping you in my closet.

Creep!

Loafer.

Thank you, master… I didn’t know if I should get you something… and usually, I don’t have anyone else to spend Christmas with. Funny enough, I only learned about it after watching Home Alone.

You never spent Christmas with anyone before?

Uh… no. 

Then you’re spending Christmas with me this year. C’mon lazy butt, let’s go out.

Where are we going?

To the mall. It’s the best place to be at Christmas!

—

How was your first Christmas Genie?

I hated the mall at Christmas… but I don’t hate the lights.

Yeah… This is the best part of it.

... Hey, Merry Christmas you loafer.

Merry Christmas master.

EIGHT MONTHS LATER

My mom is dying. She... She has stage 3 cancer in the brain.

You want me to heal her then?

No. Humans are meant to die anyway. And my mom lived a relatively happy life with only one regret.

And that regret would be your first wish, I presume?

I need a fiancé . You’re my closest friend that’s a guy so I wish you’d be my fiancé and propose to me with a ring and everything romantic like that Asian drama Goblin, except none of us are dying.

… What did you friggin’ do?

I… wished for a fiance? :/

Why did you make it so specific? Fuck, I didn’t even tell you and you made a perfect wish. :(

Yay! Now, let’s go and I’ll show you to my mom. :D

Wait… Are you sure you’d want me? To play your fiancé?

Well, we’re practically living together. You don’t pay the rent. You feed off of my salary. It’s like I’m your sugar momma.

(Remembers trailer he was watching months ago…) Gross. I’m finding a job.

Wait! I need to show you to my mom first!

Nope! I’m finding a job. Until then, I’m stalling her “illness” and proposing to you properly. Like a decent person, not like Lucifer Morningstar did with Eve or Ross with Rachel on their Vegas wedding.

I’m not a girl in debt nor drunk! And we’re not really- And he’s already out.

NINE MONTHS LATER

Nice to meet you Ms. Cruz. I’m Hailey’s fiancé, Jean. I’m just a humble freelancer (they came in a luxury car)… oh that. It turns out that my father in the Arabs struck oil and gold… He’s an oil tycoon now and he’s hoping I’d move back there to inherit and manage his fortunes… No, I won’t be living back there when the love of my life is right here.

Isn’t he a character mom?

He certainly is… I can rest easy knowing you’re well taken care of.

(When mom turns away, the two high-five. Yes! They fooled the mom!)

TEN MONTHS LATER

Dude, family meeting.

I’m not part of your family!

Yet. You’re my fiancé, remember?

What does your family want now?

My mom. She wants grandkids. (*Jean Spittakes his coffee.)

It’s too early for this.

We don’t have to make grandkids seriously, like the regular way.

Never in my life did I ever think I’d need to do that-…. My god, just, make your two remaining wishes already and send me back in my warm, safe, cozy lamp! Please!!!! You’re life is like a drama rising up to the climax! You’re digging your own grave! Hailey! DX

I know! That’s why I’m gonna wish for a marriage contract which would give you freedom to do whatever you want in the current wish living your own persona for the next 60 years when the kids I’m planning to have with you are all grown up and independent, in addition, in order for you to live a more comfortable life without worrying in your financial, social and economic life, a prenuptial agreement that would state you keep your shit and I keep mine and we have joined custody of our kid’s expenses and only the finances transferred in a shared bank account can be used for them and considered our communal funds. Would- would you accept that?

… You thought this out, didn’t you.

Look, you may be a genie who’d rather live in a lamp than be free; and still calls me master, then steals my bagels and cottage cheese from the fridge.

But they’re so good.

BUT… I need a person I can trust, and you’re the only person I can trust enough to marry.

Because you can control me.

Because I can control you.

.

.

.

*sigh. I understand. 

ELEVEN MONTHS LATER

Why can’t you just wish for a happy life instead of playing with my heart?

What are you talking about?

We’re getting married, Hailey.

I know. I’m arranging it.

You wished us into a contract of sharing communal funds. Just tell me to put in more and you won’t have to be working your day job and a night job. Just…

I don’t want to inconvince you. You even got yourself a job for the ruse.

It’s not a ruse. It’s real. It’s a wish, and the whole point about wishing from a genie is getting what you want in your hands. Tangibe, Visible and REAL. Don’t you get it?!

I KNOW!

Then Why Don’t You Just Wish???

Because Wishes Don’t Come True Just like that… You earn your keep. You work hard for what you deserve. If I don’t work hard I’ll feel like I won’t- like I don’t deserve you.

Hailey, you know… Coming across a genie is a one in a zillion thing. Getting a hold of a genie’s lamp… It’s not something hard work can do… It’s something only fate can decide.

I… know that too… but I still feel like I don’t… I’m not doing something right by you.

Hailey, you’re the most caring master I’ve ever gotten. You let me lay around your apartment for almost a year. You let me eat your food. Let me watch movies. Heck, you even let me use you as a pillow. You’re the best master a genie can ever ask for.

But you want to go back to your lamp… I kept you from that.

I have a few hundred years after to do that. So for now, please just tell me what you need and I promise I’ll do it.

I won’t wish, but you’ll still promise to do my requests.

I promise. I’ll swear and I’ll promise. When we get married, I’ll promise to do everything I can to show you how much you deserve me and I’ll swear it’s because you’ve shown me how much I deserve you.

Haha, you’re confusing. - Thanks. I feel so much better.

So you’ll quit the night job, and spend some time watching movies and shows with me?

Fine. But when I ask for 40,000 in the shared account, I expect it to be there before the next 24 hours.

And Done.

You- didn’t even take out your phone to transfer…

And as I’ve told you. I’m a genie. And you deserve an efficient one.

TWELVE MONTHS LATER (The day of the lamp’s purchase.)

I’m suddenly feeling very sick. I can’t go through with this.

Hunny, relax. It’s your wedding. You look beautiful in your dress, and he’s a lucky guy. 

(*If only you know how unlucky he is to get me. I’m practically forcing him to marry me, and staying another 60 years in the world instead of his lamp.) I- I know…

XXX

Haley, In the years I’ve lived my life, I’d never have thought I’d ever get married. I threw all of that away the moment I suddenly got my dead-end job and I never quite regretted it until you came along. Suddenly, I want to do better, for you- and I want to love you right as you’ve shown your kindness and care for me as the last year I suddenly landed into your life. I swear, I will never let you down. That I’ll do every wish you mean for the next 60 years or more we’ll be together in our lives, without counting them one-by-one, without twisting them wrong and messing them up. I promise to be the best I can be for you, for our future. I swear to be someone you deserve because in my eyes, you deserve the best. I love you.

Jean, I- I love you, you know that. I’m not the type to say that freely, thank you for accepting me. I know I can be strict at times, and hard to get along with at times, and I can never thank you enough on how you can deal with me. You turn my anger and frustrations into a small problem instead of a volcano, you take all the regrets I have and wash them down the drain. You give color to my life. You- You’re my best friend. You go along with my whims, and take me to places outside the path I walked into a trench. I also never expected you’d be in my life. Of all the people in the world who could have found you, sometimes I wonder why me? — But whenever you hold me, whenever I see you and hear you and laugh with you, I don’t question anything anymore. I swear I’ll only ask for things that’ll make us happy. I swear, to make this the best life you’ve ever lived… and when it comes to the end of it all. I promise, I’ll make you as happy as you’ve made me.

-I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.

XXX

So… how exactly are we gonna do this? Magic? Science? Or or…

How about we do it how actual lovers do- mmmph

[chosen-zero-of-the-goddess]

Chapter One: A Zillion Year Old Ghost Is Haunting Me Because We Have The Same Name

Once upon a time this land was blessed by courageous heroes and wise princesses that fought against the power hungry demon king. When darkness crept across the land, the princess would call upon her hero. One day, darkness crept across the land, but there was no princess to call upon a hero. Darkness had consumed her first, sneaking upon her and springing his trap. The princess lay slain at the feet of the demon king. The hero never awoken.

Years have passed. The demon king was replaced with a new ruler, the old bloodline faded away, and the heroes faded to mere legend. Magic has faded, as have belief in the goddesses, but darkness remains.

I feel him creeping, my old foe. This land is in danger again. It’s time for a hero to awaken again.

Groggily Link looked up at the ceiling. He had fallen out of bed, the bump on his head from landing on the floor made him both wake up and feel even more tired.

“Liiiiink!” He heard his little sister call from the other side of the door. “Grandma says it’s time to wake up for school.”

With a groan Link sat up, rubbing his eyes. He looked over to his desk. He had a history project due today, he had spent all night working on it. His best friend was going to help him add the finishing touches to it in the library this morning and look it over to make sure he wasn’t missing anything. He was quite proud of his poster depicting weapons of the first Hylian Civil War.

He threw his blankets off and headed to the door. His sister Aryll was headed to the bathroom. She was two years younger than him. He wasn’t exactly happy to be spending his last year of middle school in the same building as his sister, but the three grades were separated into separate halls. For the most part she stayed in the 6th grade hall, and he stayed in the 8th. They had separate lunch times, his was first, then the 7th graders, and then hers. It was an unwritten rule, they went to school together, separated for the day completely ignoring each other unless he felt like being nice enough to warn her about what was for lunch that day, and then walked home together. He walked downstairs to pour himself a bowl of cereal. His grandmother was there reading a paper.

“Well look at you sleepy head.” She smiled. “So any big plans for today?” Link yawned in response and sat down with a bowl of cereal. She chuckled. “Good luck with your project today.” Link smiled and focused on his cereal.

“Liiiiiink.” Aryll whinned. “You ate all the marshmallows again!” His little sister was holding a box of Lucky Charms, that only had the cereal. Link downed the rest of his cereal and dropped his bowl off in the sink, rushing upstairs to the bathroom. “Link! You do this all the time!” She continued to pester him while he brushed his teeth. “Link!”

“Farore please stop!” He pushed her out of the bathroom and slammed the door. He finished brushing his teeth and splashed cold water on his face, trying to wake up. He dried his face and looked up into the mirror. Staring back was a face other than his… They looked similar… But this face had bright yellow, almost greenish hair and tanned skin, as if he lived in a swimming pool, and black-green cat eyes. Link blinked several times. He was staring back at his face, messy blonde hair in desperate need of a comb and tired blue eyes. He was up too late working on his project. That was it.

“LINK!” Aryl pounded on the door, jolting him back to reality. “Hurry up! You’re the one who wanted to go to school early!”

“Yeah yeah.” Link threw his towel into the sink and returned to his room to change and grab his bag. “Come on twerp.” He grabbed his key from the hook and stuffed it into his pocket, eager to get to school to meet with Zelda.

The two had known each other since kindergarten, but their friendship really took off when they were in 3rd grade. On the bus ride back from a trip to the zoo she had kissed him. It was like a jolt of electricity. She claimed she fell and “No I didn’t kiss you you weirdo!” He knew he liked her, but he wasn’t sure how to tell her. He didn’t know if she felt the same way, and he would rather remain friends with her than take a chance of ruining everything.

Link arrived in the library, the poster sticking out of his bag. Oddly enough Zelda was nowhere to be found, she was usually sitting on the couches reading something… Passing it off as nothing Link plopped down and examined his poster one more time. Before he knew it the first bell rang, and Zelda was still missing. Confused Link took out his phone to check it, she’d have told him if she was missing school. There were no messages, but a library aid scolded him and told him to put his phone away. Hastily Link flipped it closed and stuffed it into his bag and hurried to his locker.

Zelda didn’t show up at all that day.

While waiting for Aryl at the end of the day he decided to text her and see what was going on. No response. Link chewed on the inside of his cheek thoughtfully. Normally she’d text him back right away, especially if she was sick.

“Hey! Wanna ask Grandma if we can go to the ice cream shop?” Aryl asked. Link nodded.

The next day Link was called down to the office to show around a new student. “Hi I’m Sheik, I just moved here from Kakarico.” Sheik was rather soft spoken. His skin was dark, while his hair was just blonde enough to not be white and he had red eyes.

“I’m Link. If you see a girl with blonde hair and pigtails who’s super annoying that’s probably my sister.” Link smiled. “Come on, I’ll show you to the eight grade hall.” Together the two climbed up the stairs. “Your eyes are really cool by the way.” Sheik blinked and then smiled, revealing a set of silver braces.

“Thanks!”

“That’s the library, I usually hang out there in the morning with my friend Zelda. The librarians are really picky about putting books back in their right places.” He pointed down the hall. “All the way down there is the sixth grade hall, that’s where your Goron language class will be. The teacher is from Death Mountain, his accent is really weird. He called me Lank.” Link frowned at the memory.

“Which language do you take?” The middle school offered three basic languages, Korok, Goron, and Zoran. The high school offered three additional languages, Sheikahn, Gerudan, and Ancient Hylian. Link’s ears turned red.

“Korok… It was Zelda’s idea. Why are you taking Goron?” Link tried to change the subject.

It was Sheik’s turn to turn red. “I, kinda know a lot already… like half the people in Kakarico speak it. My aunt wanted me to take Sheikahn but…” Link nodded.

“Come on, let’s get back to homeroom.”

Zelda didn’t show up to school again that day. Nor did she come the day after, and she still wasn’t answering her phone.

That night Link tossed and turned as different scenes flashed before him. The was a tall man on a horse, a room where it rained so hard it seemed like the ocean was crashing in, a talking green hat, someone urging him to wake up.

No that one was real.

“Wake up you lazy child!” Groggily Link rubbed the sleep from his eyes and sat up to turn the light on. Standing in his room was a see through man. Link yelped and hid under the covers. “No. Get out of bed!” The ghost ripped the blankets away. Link’s eyes widened.

“You-you’re…” He was shaking.

“Yes. I am dead. I am a ghost.” The man rolled his eyes. “My name is Link.”

“That’s my name.” Link cocked his head to the side, confused. It’s not like his name was common…

“Yes. I know.” The ghost Link seethed. His patience was running thin…

Link looked around the room. “Is uh… Is that why you’re haunting my room?”

“I am not haunting your room!” The ghost smacked his forehead with his hand. “I am Hylia’s chosen hero, as are you. It is time for your quest to start, you have to save the princess.”

Link blinked. “I’m pretty sure I’m still asleep.”

“She is in danger.” The ghost was frustrated. “Your friend needs to be saved.”

“Zelda?!” Link’s eye’s widened. “But!”

“Hurry up, get dressed. You have to go on a journey to save her!” This kid was moving too slow for the ghost’s taste. Link stayed in the bed, chewing on the inside of his cheek.

“If she’s in trouble… We should get the police…. They can help her…” He said thoughtfully.

“No! That’s not-“ Link was already out of  bed and headed next door. His neighbor Rusl was chief of police. He could help. “Kid! Hylia why this one?”

“Rusl!” Link frantically knocked on the door. A very tired man answered the door.

“Who? What?” He was still half asleep. “Link? Kid what-?”

“Zelda! Zelda’s in trouble!” Link stopped himself. How was he supposed to explain that a ghost told him that his best friend was in trouble…? “At… at least…”

That woke Rusl up. “How did you know?” The disappearance of Zelda Harkanin was supposed to be a secret to everyone.

“She… she hasn’t been in school… or answering her phone… she…” Link stammered. Rusl knew? “What happened to her?”

The man shook his head. “I cannot give you any details Link.” The child’s face fell. “But know this…” He knelt down to his level. “I will do everything in my power to find her. Now, please, keep this a secret to everyone, we don’t want to worry anyone needlessly. I will find her.” Rusl smiled warmly. “Go on back to bed okay? You have school tomorrow morning.” He patted the child’s shoulder and stood up, waiting for the kid to return inside. Slowly Link turned and went back into his grandmother’s house. The trek up the stairs seemed to go on for hours… Finally Link reached his bed and flopped onto it.

“Hardly appropriate behavior from a hero.” Oh great. The ghost was still there.

“I’m not a hero I’m a kid. A kid whose best friend is missing.” Link retorted back.

“Well I agree with you on the hero part.” Oh great. The ghost was still there and he was being insulting. “But she is more than a friend to you.”

Link sat up with a start. “How?!” The ghost chuckled sadly and looked out the window.

“Because. I was in love with her too.” Link stared at the ghost. A ghost? Was in love with his best friend?  

“Erm…”

“When I was alive, she was too. She was not a human though; she was…” The ghost shook his head. “Unimportant. You have to find your friend. That is important.”

“Okay mister, judging by that get up you’ve been dead a really long time.” Seriously, a red cape? “But people don’t go off on quests and save damsels in distress. There are rules, procedures. The police are looking for her, if I get in the way then she may never be found and I’ll get in trouble.”

The old hero was shaking his head. “You have to go find her. You have to bring magic back to Hyrule.”

Link snorted. “Magic? Pfft.” He turned over and tried to sleep, silently praying that he get no more nightmares.

“I am not leaving you. This is exactly what happened before. The princess was killed before the hero could be awoken and Hyrule was cast into darkness. It is why the magic is gone now.” The hero crossed his arms.

Link swallowed harshly. Zelda? Killed? “You can’t follow me to school. People will see you.”

“If you do not start your quest soon Zelda will be killed.” Link bit his lower lip. Could the ghost be on to something?

“What do I need to do?”

“Awaken the magic in this land. There is a temple nearby, in the woods inside of an old mansion.” The ghost tried to quell the rising relief he felt. This kid was still not ready to be a hero.

“That place the high school used as a haunted house for a fundraiser?” Link raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t it get condemned or something last year?”

“I do not understand what that means.” Oh great, the ghost was still there and he was not with the times at all. Link sighed heavily.

“Listen, I’ll figure out a way to get there tomorrow night okay? But I have school in the morning.” The teen looked over at his alarm clock. “Actually I have to get up in two hours…” He groaned.

“What is this “school?””

Link sighed again. “It’s, it’s a place where you go and you learn things. Like tomorrow I have my Korok language class, and science, and mathematics, and history, and lit and lang, and gym class, and geography, and a study hall.”

“History is a good thing to learn. It will help you on your quest.” The ghost nodded. “Yes you must attend that one.”

“Okay, well I’m gonna end up sleeping through my history class if you don’t let me go to sleep.” Link yawned. “Tomorrow night. We’ll go to the haunted house tomorrow night.”

The ghost said something, but Link was too tired to figure out what. It didn’t sound like normal Hylian.

Link awoke to Aryl pounding on his door. “Link wake up!” Sleepily he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and yawned.

“Good morning.” Link screamed. The ghost was still there. “What is this?” He was looking through a comic. “What are these characters?”

“Link are you okay?” Aryl asked.

“Yeah! Just uhm… Leave me alone!” Link shouted to the door. “What are you doing here!?” He hissed to the ghost.

“I am guiding you on your quest. What is this writing, I have never come across it before?”

Link crossed the room and snatched the comic out of the ghost’s hands. “It’s a comic book. And it’s written in plain modern Hylian.”

“The Hylian language has changed?” The ghost furrowed his brow.

“Yeah, it got simpler.” Link shoved the comic into his book bag and began to get dressed. “Are you gonna follow me around all day? What if someone sees you?”

“I am only seen by those who need to see me.” Link guessed that meant the ghost was coming to school with him…

“Okay… Just… don’t cause a scene or anything.”

The moment he stepped into his history class things started going wrong.

“Um….” Sheik was staring at Link as if he had chu chus climbing all over him. “Link are you…?”

“That boy is a Sheikah, he can view the dead.” The ghost said.

“There’s something weird about you today.” Sheik furrowed his brow, something was off, but he couldn’t tell what.

“I just didn’t get much sleep last night.” Link yawned and laid down on the desk. Could Sheik really see the dead hero?

“If he is loyal to the royal family he will be a valuable asset.” The ghost said. Link tried really hard not to roll his eyes.

To his left Midna, a short girl with orange hair, sat down. “Umm?” Link shot her a questioning look. “Don’t you usually only talk to Zelda?”

“Yeah well, Zelda’s been a no show all week and I have a sneaking suspicion that we’re getting a group project and I don’t exactly have great choices in this class.” She tied her hair up into a ponytail. “I looked at the lesson plans.” Link and Sheik groaned. “Three or four people in a group.”

“What is a lesson plan?” Link bit his lower lip, trying to contain a frustrated growl.

“I’ll be right back I gotta pee.” He hurried out of the classroom and into the bathroom. “Please! Shut up! Just don’t talk while I’m in school! There will be plenty of time for that later!”  Link half shouted at the ghost. “Just, hide in my backpack or something!”

“You aren’t alone in here.” The ghost pointed behind Link. With a look of horror Link turned to find Zant standing behind him.

“It’s okay. They talk to me too. Maybe they should hide in my backpack too.” Zant walked out. Link sighed in relief. No one really believed Zant. The bell rang and Link hurried back to his classroom.

Sure enough, they were assigned a group project. “We just got finished with a project. Why are we getting another one?” Link whined.

“Hush.” Midna rolled her eyes. “At least it’s just about the legends.”

“Okay but, there are like a zillion legends in Hyrule, that doesn’t narrow it down at all.” Link pointed out. “And everyone knows like, the same twelve.”

“Well, do we want to do one of the heroes?” Sheik offered. “It’d be easy. There’s so much written about them.”

“Okay the heroes did literally the same thing over and over again.” Midna argued.

“Do the Temple of Hylia.” The ghost suggested to Link.

“What about a place instead of a whole legend?” Link raised an eyebrow. “It’ll narrow things down a bit to make it easier.”

Sheik nodded in agreement. “Yeah I like that idea. Where though?”

“The Temple of Hylia.” “The Twilight Realm.” Midna glared at Link. “Where even is the Temple of Hylia? It only appears in one legend. It’s lost.” Link slumped in his chair. He should have known that listening to the ghost was a bad idea.

“Okay but the Twilight Realm is a made up place to make children feel better about where they sent criminals.” Sheik pointed out. “And it also only appears in one legend.” It was Midna’s turn to slump in her chair.

Link stared off at one of the posters. “The desert…” In the legends the bad guy usually came from the desert. Maybe this project could help him learn more about it?

Sheik shook his head. “No. We are not poking that deku baba. Don’t you know what’s been going on?”

“But there’s always unrest at the border.” Link pointed out.

“Sheik’s right. No.” Midna shook her head. “There’s too much bad blood with the desert.”

“Okay well we need to pick something before we get stuck doing an entire legend.” Link huffed.

The three got stuck doing an entire legend. The legend of the hero of the winds.

“Okay, well my grandma used to tell me and my sister the stories of the hero of winds.” Link leaned back into his chair and stretched.

“My aunt probably has a book that has the legend in it.” Sheik suggested.

“Coolio. I’ll see what I can find online. We should meet up this weekend and figure out how we’re gonna present it and work on the written portion.” The boys nodded in agreement. Link couldn’t help but think about how Zelda would have handed the project. She’d probably do all the research, he’d make the project, and she’d give something to the other two. She’d also hover over them and make sure that what they were doing was right… There was a reason why she had the best grades… She had always said that he could be just as good if he did the work.

“Hello? Earth to Link.” Midna was waving her hand in front of his face. Link blinked and batted her hand away. “Were you even listening?”

“Yes.” Link pouted. “We’re meeting up this weekend to work on the project.”

“Yeah but where? And when?” Sheik raised an eyebrow, grinning. Link stared at him blankly. “My place. Early tomorrow. You can sleep over tonight. I’ll tell my aunt to order pizza.” Midna muttered something about boys and pizza.

“You have to go to the forest.” The spirit reminded. “If his aunt is a Sheikah as well, and if she is trained she will see me. They may have served the goddesses once but much seems to have changed.” Link waved his hand dismissively.

“Yeah yeah I know.” Sheik stared at him. Link blinked and realized he had been talking out loud. “Um…” He reached over and scribbled his number and address onto Sheik’s notebook. “Meet me here after schoolish. That’s my address.”

“How romantic.” Midna rolled her eyes. “But good idea.” She scribbled her number down on a slip of paper and slid it to Sheik. “You still have mine right?” Link nodded.

“I uh.. Don’t have a phone yet.” Sheik clicked his tongue. “And I don’t remember my aunt’s house number. But I will give you a call or shoot you a text as soon as I can.”

The bell rang and the class hurried to collect their things. “Okay so…” Link turned to Sheik. “I will talk with you in gym class and Midna,” he turned to the petite girl. “I’ll see you in science.” He hurried out of the classroom, hoping to get an extra minute or two before his next class to organize his thoughts.

“Is he always that weird?” Sheik asked.

Midna nodded. “He’s always spacing out. Probably thinking about Zelda.”

“Who is she? I’ve heard her name a few times but I haven’t met her.” He followed her into the hall.

“That would be because she’s been absent for a few days.” Midna sighed. “If you were listening earlier you would have heard that. Link said yesterday she hadn’t been answering her phone either.”

Sheik chewed on his lower lip. “Well I hope she’s okay…”

“Yeah.” Midna sighed again and headed down the hallway to her science class with Link. The smell of the room made her gag. Glancing around she saw dissection trays and dead frogs. Link wasn’t at his normal spot. “Oh Link if you make me dissect a frog I will dissect you instead.” She sat down next to his spot and set her stuff down. It wasn’t the dead frogs that bothered her, it was the dead frogs who were dead and preserved so they could be cut up. The bell rang and Link rushed into the class just before it ended.

“Cutting it close there Link.” He muttered a quick apology before sliding into his spot next to Midna.

“So this is the second time you were practically late for class.” Midna raised an eyebrow.

“Actually it’s the umpteenth.” Link covered his nose with his shirt. “Why does it smell so bad?”

“You’re dissecting a frog.” Midna wrinkled her nose.

“Right before Lunch? What?!” Link groaned. “This blows.” The two barely listened to the directions the teacher had given them. Midna refused to do any of the dissection so Link was stuck doing the whole thing. “They could have at least given us gloves.” He muttered.

Midna wrinkled her nose. “We shouldn’t be dissecting frogs at all. They’re endangered.” Link snorted. He was almost positive these frogs weren’t endangered. Just smelly. “Zelda would have warned me that this was happening…” Midna said absentmindedly. “I hope she’s okay…”

“She will be.” Link set the scalpel down. “Look I don’t want to dig around a frog right before lunch, let’s just fill out the worksheet.”

“Good idea.” Minda pushed the tray away with her pencil while Link went to wash his hands.

“I don’t understand, why are you mutilating those frogs?” The spirit asked.

“Later.” Link hissed.

The rest of the day was uneventful. As Link walked home with Aryll he kicked a pebble.

“What’s got you down?” She asked. Link shook his head, unwilling to talk about it. Aryll picked up on the hint and sighed. The walk home was mostly silent.

When they arrived home Link headed straight up to his room and began to pace.

“You have to start your quest tonight.” The spirit reminded. “The longer you wait the more danger she’ll be in.”

“I know.” Link sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “It’s just… This is a lot for me to take in. I’m still a kid.” He looked up at the spirit. “I…” He trailed off and sighed again.

“There are heroes younger than you. The hero you’re studying was your age when his quest started.” The ghost pointed out.

“The hero of winds was thirteen?”

“Eleven.”

Link groaned.

“When is the age of manhood now?” The spirit mused. “You say you’re still a child. Have you not gone through a rite of passage into manhood?” Link rolled his eyes and took his school stuff out of his backpack, replacing them with some clothes.

“That’s not really a thing anymore.” Link paused. “You said you were Hylia’s chosen hero, when did your quest begin?” The spirit’s expression hardened.

“My quest has started many times. I was cursed to be reborn, so while this spirit is that of the first hero, I remember all the lives of all the heroes.”

Link blinked. “I don’t really get it… You’re…? But…?”

“Know that I would not wish any of my lives upon anyone.” The spirit looked out the window. “Your friend is here.” Link spared a glance out the window to see Sheik heading up his path.

“Okay, so here’s the plan.” He turned his attention back to the spirit. “You’re gonna hide in my back pack. When Sheik is asleep I’ll sneak out with you and we’ll go to the forest and do whatever it is you want me to do and then slip back in before he wakes up.”

“You’ll need a weapon.” Link chewed on the inside of his cheek. The heroes always had a weapon…. Or several… He grabbed his slingshot and pouch from inside a shoe box in his closet and stuffed it into his bag.

“Link you have a friend here!” Aryll called. Link slung his bag over his shoulder, happy to see that the spirit had disappeared, and hurried down the stairs.

“Grandma I’m gonna spend the night at a friend’s house, we’re meeting up with a girl from class in the morning to work on a project.” Link waved into the kitchen.

“Which friend?” His grandmother peered up from above her glasses. “And I don’t remember you asking.” She raised an eyebrow.

Link shuffled his bag. “A new kid named Sheik, it was kinda a last second thing.”

“Have I met his mother?”

“He lives with his aunt. They just moved here.” Link winced as the elderly woman stood up, assuming he was about to get a lecture. Instead he found a plate of cookies being pushed into his hands.

“Welcome them to town for me. I’ll have to invite her over for tea sometime.” His grandma smiled warmly. Link smiled in return and turned to leave. “And don’t eat them out of house and home!” She called.

Link closed the door behind him and hurried out to Sheik.

“Since when did Link have a cute friend?” Aryll furrowed her brow.

“Oh you hush Aryll…” Her grandma shook her head.

“Can I invite Romani for a sleep over?” Aryll asked. “Since Link’s away at a friend’s house?”

“Is your room cleaned?” The elderly woman raised an eyebrow.

“It will be?” She asked. If granny was gonna say no there was no point in cleaning it.

“Clean it first then ask again.” She chuckled.