Hey, Mr. Hero! 8

Chapter 8

Advice

---

"Alright," Link said to himself, staring down the entry room to the Ice Ruins. "Got my fire rod, for my new clothes, bottle of potion..." He took a deep breath. "I've got it this time!" He shouted determinedly at the cold air, only to immediately slip and fall on his face. "Maybe!"

The trek up the mountain was easier this time for the blond, as his new tunic protected him from the harsh, cold wind. He was prepared this time for the chill, having gone to talk to the Potions Maker, or Irene's grandmother. He requested a bottle of red potion, and a way to infuse it with something to help him stay warm.

He glanced down at it with a soft hum, having found a patch of ground that was clear of ice. He wasn't sure if he trusted it... Of course it'd make him feel better, but warm...? He shook his head. He was delving into it too far, and he decided the best option...

...Lay behind the giant door in front of him.

He took a deep, excited breath. Everything had gone well so far, and he had his hopes up. He pulled the rented fire rod from its pouch, and started forward confidently.

---

Back in Hyrule, Ravio was sprawled out awkwardly on the rug of his shop. Sheerow was nestled up into his scarf, getting gentle, affectionate scratches from the other. Signs for everything he had once owned were set up around the shop, saying they were either rented or bought. His giant bag of rupees still sat in the corner where that... eccentric mask hung.

He let out a long sigh before propping his arm behind his head, looking down to his friend. "So what do you think, Sheerow buddy? About Mr. Hero?"

The bird opened its eyes to look up at him, shaking its feathers before stretching, having been asleep.

"Yeah, he's pretty laid back," he murmured, looking to the ceiling. "But I think he's better now, don't you?"

Sheerow let out a quiet chirp.

"Those few days were really, really bad but I think it paid off." He giggled, blushing as he looked to the side, and his hand curled into his robe softly.

The bird pecked his hand with a squawk, not pleased with the lull in scratches.

"Mmm... Now don't be getting jealous, you here?" The merchant looked down again. "We're still close, and the way he and I are close-" He was interrupted by a knock at the door. "...Isn't the same," he finished softly, letting the other fly into the air as he stood.

He opened the door hesitantly as he spoke. "I'm sorry, but for once I don't have anything to sell-" He abruptly shut his mouth... seeing the floating broom outside. "Hello?"

"Heya," Irene called out to him. "I don't have means of buying anything, but are you just going to stand there or let me in?"

Confused and rather befuddled, the merchant stepped aside. The broom flew past him before falling to the ground with a clatter. He shook his head softly, starting to recognize it. "Aren't you supposed to help Mr. Hero?" he asked nervously.

"Oh pfftt he's already in that place again. Ice Ruins? Either way, I came to talk to you about him."

"Really, now," he muttered, not sure where the topic was about to go. He turned towards where her voice emanated from the stick, and bit his lip as Sheerow landed on it, investigating the fibers on the end.

"Yeah. Hmm... I don't want to sound bossy, but you can't do the naughty with him before a big day. Grams said it makes ya weak. You do know what I mean by that, right?"

Taken entirely by surprise, Ravio sputtered and recoiled, backing into the door. He coughed a little, hiding his now completely flushed face under his hood. He could hear the other's cackle, and if anything it made him blush more. "Y-yeah," he squeaked, sounding pitiful.

Back in the Chamber of the Sages, Irene grinned from ear to ear, completely pleased with herself. "That was straight to the point, wasn't it?" At the other's nod, she let out a small sigh. "I'm not here to give any kind of romantic advice or anything, bunny boy. But whatever's happened worked, because Greenie's been easier to work with now."

"Easier to work with?" he murmured softly, and his eyes flicked down to his bird again. It'd completely taken advantage of the bristles of the broom, deciding it was a new toy.

"Yup! He's no longer all frowns and groans. It just got worse as time went on, y'know? Now he's all blushing and happy." She giggled again, only to let out a nervous sound. "Now listen, I'm sorry but doing this is a huge toll on my magic, so... Um..."

"Thank you for the advice?" he said quietly, not sure what he thought of it, and his blush returned. He completely understood, however, the mention of magic. Hers was stronger than his already, as she was able to hold it out for so long.

"Hee hee, anytime! And for the record, I had to take the chance to make you flustered. But... that doesn't mean my words aren't true." She paused, letting him take that in. "Anyways, I'll see you around! Maybe after all this is done and over, I won't have to talk through my broom to you."

Ravio swallowed hard. "Y-yeah." Surely his face would melt his hood off at any moment. She knew of their relationship. He used her help to save Link once, and the hero had been wearing his scarf, so it was a pretty clear sign, more than likely.

"Well, see you around!" she called out gleefully, and her broom disappeared with a poof. Sheerow, taken by surprise, let out a loud squawk and flew to its cage, panicking at the disappearance of the "toy."

Letting out a long breath, Ravio slid down to the ground, his back to the door. "Hyrule... seems like a nice place, doesn't it, Sheerow?" he spoke gently, snapping his fingers for his friend. As the bird landed on his hand, he pushed his hood up to see it better, gently rubbing the tip of his finger to its head in a gentle attempt to calm it. "They... don't seem to mind if we're in this kind of relationship."

He smiled softly to himself with a giggle. "I think I like this place more and more every day, Sheerow buddy."

---

There was a loud and victorious cry that echoed over Lorule's mountain. After freeing the last sage, Link was transported out to the front of the ruins. He fell forward into the snow and let out a long sigh before flipping onto his back. "I love snow," he murmured to himself with a grin.

Rosso, the miner from Hyrule, had turned out to be the last sage. He'd given the hero thanks before the platforms they stood on rose into the air, creating a spiralling staircase up to the golden power. They had been protecting the Triforce of Courage, and now that the seven were saved...

Link pulled the glove on his left hand off, breathing hard. The cold didn't bother him with his new tunic, and the inclusion on the shining triangle on the back of his hand. He was proud of himself, and had every right to be.

He looked at it for a moment longer before Ravio's words drifted into his mind. He grinned wider. "I'm going to save the princess," he said to himself, laughing softly. He sat up, then made his way to the side of the drop off. The tips of the castle's towers were hardly visible. "I should stock up first," he muttered, speaking the thought as it popped into his mind.

The weight of the items he was carrying came to mind. With a glance down, he saw the top of one of the miniature purple hats stuck on the fire rod. Knowing the road ahead was going to be harder, and Ravio likely wasn't going to let up on his no re-rentals special, he decided he needed to buy the items. And this time, he wouldn't gamble it away.

A moment passed as he debated on how to come up with the large sum of money, then he let his gaze drift... Letting it land on the Treacherous Tower. "I can handle this," he said confidently, his smile returning as he put his glove back on.

---

The merchant was sound asleep on the rug, with his face in his arms as he was on his stomach. He didn't hear the door open, but immediately jerked awake with the loud thump next to his head. The hero's bag of rupees sat beside him, and he looked up in surprise, attempting to wake up.

"Mr. Hero?" he whispered sleepily.

"I have a question for you, Ravio."

Oh no. "Y-yes?"

Link sat in front of him, covered in bruises and cuts. He had a noticeable limp and a gap in his teeth where it seemed a tooth was knocked loose. Despite his injuries, he grinned at the other. "If I completely buy you out, you'll stay, right?"

"Wh-what?" Ravio stuttered softly, not awake enough for this. With what Irene had said earlier, he certainly didn't know which way was up. His face flushed. "Buy... me out...?"

"You know. All the stuff I rented. You won't leave me, right?"

There was a gentle shake of the head, before a wide grin made its way onto the merchant's face. He abruptly jumped to his feet and bowed. "Not at all, Mr. Hero!" Link leaned back in surprise at the display. "Such a generous offer and great friend!"

"Whoa hey, calm down," Link laughed. "I didn't even buy anything yet-" He gasped softly as the other wasted no time in abruptly hugging him.

"I know everything's going to be okay, Link," Ravio said quietly, hugging him a little tighter. "If you can be as brave and strong as you have been, there's no way you can't save the princess."

"Hey," the blond whispered, feeling his ears droop at the sad undertones in the other's voice. He reached up and hugged him back, patting him softly. "I'll save the princess. Zelda will be safe from Yuga. Besides," he pushed the other back slowly, then pulled his glove off. He held his hand out to where the other could see it, now knowing the restrictions of his sight. "I finally got it."

Ravio reached out nervously to take the hero's hand in his. He traced a finger along the edges of the triangle, memories he had pushed to the back of his mind coming forward again.

"You need to get their Triforce of Courage, you as well as Yuga have mastered the magic in the bracelet; That's the only means of transportation over to their world."

Link watched the expression behind the hood, and his smile faded slowly. Pain, as well as fear, seemed to radiate out to him. "Ravs?" he asked nervously, closing his hand around the other's.

The merchant swallowed hard before looking up at him, snapping out of it. "H-huh?"

"You alright there?"

"...Irene stopped by with her broom," Ravio sighed, hoping that particular distraction would be good enough for the both of them.

"Oh, she did?"

"She told me we can't 'do the naughty' before your fight with Yuga," he muttered. They both blushed hard.

"Oh," Link squeaked. They sat in an awkward silence before he spoke up again. "Guess that means I'm not doing anything tomorrow."

Ravio recoiled away from him with a loud whine, causing Sheerow to go nuts in its cage. "What?!" he shouted, and if possible his face took on a darker hue of red. "Y-you're kidding, right?"

"What, don't want to?" Link grinned at him, only to laugh at the absolutely pitiful sound the other made. "I'm joking," he said with another laugh.

Ravio pouted at him. "If you're sure."

There was a snicker from the hero. "Not at all. Now then," he leaned in to look at him, trying to see past the hood. "How much for everything?"