"Sloppy," Fox announced, making Nana's heart drop.

"But I've been training nonstop for two days!"

Fox sighed, shutting his communications down. "Nana, training for only two days won't significantly increase your battle skill. It takes months, years even." He took a seat next to the sweating girl and for a moment, with his elbows on his knees, he watched Donkey Kong bellow something that sounded foul towards Yoshi, his training partner. Then he grabbed a hand towel next to the bench and tossed it to Nana who barely managed to catch it. "It's hard to adjust to a different set of battle skills. Before, you were dependent on Popo, and he was on you. Now that you both are independently fighting..." He trailed off.

Nana wiped at her face, pushing back the sweat-soaked hair from her face. She had recruited Fox, one of the best fighters who also had similar moves to Falco, in the hopes of winning her match against the avian but it seemed like she'd barely made a dent in practices. What was more was that she felt sore all over her body. I've worked so much that it's going to be counterproductive at the actual match... Nana thought to herself. Her legs ached with every step and whenever she sat down, it would take all her willpower not to scream in pain.

"What about one more match?" Fox asked, watching her expression. He could see that her lips were turned down slightly and thought that maybe all she needed was to gain some confidence. Maybe if he just let her win one practice match...

Nana stood up with some difficulty, wincing at the way her muscles burned. "Sorry, but Lola's dragged me into shopping with her," she said, rolling her eyes. The feminine Ice Climber had made a bet with Nana saying that Nana probably didn't even know how to apply mascara properly and that, if she couldn't, she would be forced to go ball gown hunting with Lola.

Fox made a face. "I don't envy you," he said.

"Yeah," Nana said. "Tell me about it."

X.X.X

The place was called Outset Island and Young Link was having difficulty getting used to it. Actually, that wasn't quite right. Everything felt familiar even though he was staring at it for the first time. Young Link had never seen the sea before yet somehow he felt as though he was greeting an old friend when he first laid his eyes on the tiny island. There were long cliffs, and tiny hut-like houses scattered throughout the place. Pigs ran everywhere and it seemed like the island had been split into two. The only thing that joined the two tiny pieces of land were two bridges; one that connected the two cliffs and one that lay just above the water.

He stared at the note in his hand.

Dear Link

I'm writing to you as a reminder. You promised that you would come back or would write but you didn't and that makes me sad. Have you forgotten about us?

Love your sister,

Aryll

At first, Young Link had thought it was a joke. But he realized that Master Hand would not pass this information along to Young Link if it were merely a joke. It had to be authentic. He had even ran to Master Hand who had confirmed that the note was indeed his family and informed him that if he'd like to, he could visit them.

It only took a day for Young Link to decide. If anything, he could always return to Smash Mansion if he decided that he didn't like him. He stared at what she'd written. Us... There had to be more of his family. For the first time, Young Link felt a great tug at his chest. He had a real mother and a real father. His hands shook just thinking about it. He had never imagined how they would look like and now he might even be meeting them!

"Yo Link?" Tetra asked, her face looking sly as she regarded him. The pirate was a friend of Master Hand's and had agreed to let him come aboard the vessel.

Startled, Young Link looked up at the weatherbeaten face of the ship's captain. She was slightly taller than him, with baggy off-white pants, and her blond hair pulled up in a knot. "Y-yes?"

"We jus' finished docking. You're free to come out anytime." Tetra's nose wrinkled, as she studied the way Young Link's eyes drifted to the floor at her words. He seemed to shrink and her posture softened as she took a seat next to him. "Hey, don' be scared. They're your family an' if there's one thing I know 'bout family it's that they'll never leave you." She looked down at a chain that was tucked into the bright red handkerchief and a small smile appeared on her face.

It was all very well and easy for her to say. She probably grew up knowing her parents. Young Link stole a glance at her, and was surprised to see that her features had softened as her fingers touched the chain. He couldn't see what was at the end of it but whatever was hidden was obviously very precious to her. It was strange really, he thought to himself. With that expression she almost looked like Princess Zelda...

...But that was absurd. There was no way a pirate could be a princess. Link snorted, drawing Tetra's attention towards him. She frowned, the tender expression on her face melting away. "What're you laughin' 'bout?"

Yeah, there was no way. Young Link stood up quickly. "Nothing. I guess you're right." He began to climb up the ladder to the outdoors so that he could greet his family.

X.X.X

"I still don't understand your aversion towards the dance," Lola said as she stalked down the hallway of Nintendo Mall. She sniffed. "It will be fun."

No it won't... But Nana didn't say that. She was tired of trying to convince Lola that she did not like dresses and dances and make up.

"At least try on a few dresses... Oh look!" Lola squealed suddenly stopping short in front of a rather dark, yet large boutique. "It's Elesa's Electric Fashion! It must have opened while we were on vacation. Come on!" And without waiting for Nana's approval, she grabbed her hand and directed her into the shop.

Electric poppy music blared from within the dark store that was full of dresses. Posters of a model with piercing blue eyes and jet black hair in elaborate poses with zebstrikas as well as cute little emolgas were tacked onto the walls. The other girls who were in the store were clamoring to get any and every dress they could get their hands on.

"I suppose I could go for a dress in here... Yes, perhaps go for something more modern rather than vintage," Lola said. Nana had to strain her ears to hear what she was saying over the loud music. Lola grabbed a slinky black dress that looked more like a long, tight shirt and held it against her. "What about this, Nan?" she yelled over the music.

"Er... very nice," Nana responded.

But Lola jammed it back onto the racks and pulled out a slinky yellow dress, this time one that ended at her knees. "Be right back, I'm going to try this on!"

And with that, she disappeared, leaving Nana alone in the darkness with the strobing music. "Yeah," she said wearily to Lola's retreating back. For a moment, she leaned heavily against the clothing rack, trying to to feel stiff and sore. She wished she had stayed behind for another practice match with Fox.

She glanced at all the harried mothers, bratty teenagers and bored boyfriends and wondered how much Lola would hate her if she decided to leave. Absentmindedly, she took an electric blue dress out that was covered in zippers and winced.

"Like it?" a voice asked and for one heart-stopping moment, Nana thought it was Young Link and dropped the dress. She whirled around, mind blank, and blinked, letting out a sigh of relief.

It was only Pit.

"What are you doing here?" they both demanded at the same time.

"Shopping," they both responded.

"You? Shop here?" they both scoffed at the same time.

Pit started to laugh and in relief, Nana began to laugh too. Why did I think Pit was Link? They look nothing alike and they don't even sound alike! Come to think of it, Nana had not seen the Hylian in awhile and for some reason that bothered her.

"Well, not exactly," Pit said. "I came to buy something for a ah... friend of mine. It's her birthday."

The way he said friend made Nana ask, "A friend?" She waggled her eyebrows suggestively. "Or a friend?"

Pit's eyes widened and he held his hands up in protest. "Ew, not like that! Viridi and me? Never! Nana, that's disgusting!" Nana began to laugh. She'd seen Viridi in school a couple of times, and even though she wasn't very close to the girl, she didn't think she was as bad as Pit apparently thought she was.

Pit shuddered and in a not so obvious attempt to change the conversation he asked, "So why are you here? You're not actually considering going to the ball, are you?"

Nana shrugged. "I wasn't planning on it, but Lola thinks she can convince me."

Pit blinked at her curiously with his sky blue eyes. "Why don't you want to go?"

She shrugged again. "Dresses and make up and dancing aren't really for me," she muttered.

Pit raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that?"

"I just know!"

"You've tried?"

"No," Nana admitted hesitantly. "But that stuff just seems so boring."

"How can you write something off that you've never even tried? If you're as adventurous and spirited as people say you are, then wouldn't you want to go? Besides, the theme's masquerade, right? Nobody would really even know you were going if you have a reputation to uphold."

"That's assuming I want to go," Nana reminded him.

Pit smiled. "Just try it."

Nana pressed her lips together. "I'll think about it."

X.X.X

Young Link stared at the squat, old woman who was supposed to be his grandmother and his sister who was supposed to be Aryll. They in turn stared back at him. Nobody knew what to say.

"Aryll, go fetch some pumpkins from the garden so we can make some soup for your brother," Grandmother said.

Aryll looked like she wanted to protest, but she nodded and a moment later she had slipped out quietly leaving Young Link to look around the house. The place was simple, clean and it smelled like home. He just wasn't sure if it smelled like his home.

"So," Grandmother began.

"This is a nice home," Young Link said.

"Link, I already know you are not yourself," the wrinkly old woman said patiently. With some difficulty she got up and headed towards the tiny kitchen. She set a pot filled with water on top of the fire that had been going on.

"What?" he asked, startled.

"You do not remember me or your sister. In fact, it does seem as if you've changed a remarkable deal despite your appearance being the same," she said, her back turned to him as she sprinkled some spices into the water that had begun to simmer. "However," she said and she sounded puzzled when she said this. "Your soul seems the same as it was before. I can't explain it."

Link bit his lip. It took him only a second before he decided to tell her the truth. "I might as well tell you what happened..." And he began his story. The story of how went to Icicle Mountian and almost died. The whole time, his new grandmother listened with rapt attention.

"And so now I'm like this and I don't know who I am anymore!" Link concluded throwing his hands up uselessly.

Grandmother smiled. "So you are just like everybody else then, my grandson."

Young Link flushed at the way she had said that. My grandson. My family. He tried to tell himself that it didn't matter, not really. That the way his grandmother said it so casually did not make his heart beat so painfully he thought it would break. He tried not to let it show, but she somehow seemed to understand what he was feeling because her beady eyes turned soft.

"What do you mean, like everybody else? Nobody else has transformed..."

She smiled. "You don't think people transform every day, Link? You see it all around you. Every day we grow closer to finding out who we are, but do you think anybody ever finds out what that is? Is there even one part to finding yourself? Because every person thinks of you differently. A girl that loves you or that you love might see you differently than your mother or your sister or your grandmother."

Link thought about Nana and his blush deepened.

"Every person in this world is struggling to find themselves. Who are you to think you are any different?"

X.X.X

"I'd call today successful, wouldn't you, Nana?" Lola said as they laid their purchases on their beds.

Nana sighed. She couldn't believe she'd been roped into this. "Yeah, I guess." But her voice sounded defeated. "Hey, do you think Popo's going to the ball too?"

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lola stiffen, her back hunched over her purchases. "How should I know?" she snapped.

Nana raised an eyebrow. "Woah, okay calm down, princess. I was just wondering. You guys are close after all." Come to think of it, Nana thought frowning, she hadn't seen Lola and Popo together these days lately. Almost like they were avoiding each other.

Lola turned around to face Nana and squeezed her eyes shut. "You're going to hate me for what I'm about to tell you."

"What is it?" Nana asked, growing wary. Lola never told her any of the mistakes she had committed, but when she did, Nana realized it was probably a real cause of alarm. "Lola?"

Lola opened her eyes to study Nana for one second. She took a seat on the bed and said it very fast. "Popo and I kissed."

Nana didn't know why she found herself smiling - the truth was, she found Lola and her brother positively repulsive. But she could see how confused and anguished Lola felt about it so she decided to refrain from any comments. Instead, her first comment was, "I thought you were taking Pit to the ball?"

Suddenly it all made sense. Popo's coldness, the way Lola turned awkward and clumsy whenever he was around. Something had happened between them.

To Nana's horror, tears began to spring up in Lola's eyes and she stared at her wistfully. "Oh Nana!" And without warning, she threw herself at Nana and began to sob hysterically.

Great, Nana thought dully. She had not signed up for this. After a moment, she awkwardly patted Lola on the head and said, "There, there, I'm sure everything will be fine."

"No it won't! Popo's such a nice guy and I just said some mean things about him and our friendship will never be the same again! What do I do?"

"Well, why did you say mean things about him?"

"Because he's not boyfriend material!"

"Why isn't he boyfriend material?" Nana asked curiously.

"Because he's Popo! And I got scared when we kissed. We went too far!" Lola exclaimed through hiccups. Her face had turned red and when she lifted her face up to look at Nana, Nana saw all the mascara and eyeliner running down her cheeks.

Nana raised her eyebrows. "You were scared when you kissed him? Doesn't that mean you like him?"

Lola shrugged. "That's what scares me."

Nana flung her hands up in frustration. "I can't believe I'm even saying this, but if you like him then doesn't that make him boyfriend material?" She thought about Popo being boyfriend material and nearly gagged at the thought. Even nastier was Lola being with him. Disgusting.

Lola stared at Nana. "You're right," Lola said. "It would. But I'd be dating under my league!"

Nana felt her insides turn to ice at Lola's words. She knew that Lola was superficial, but in her whole thirteen years of knowing Lola, she had never expected her friend to say something that shallow. She pushed Lola off. "Or maybe," she said. "He's out of your league."

Lola seemed to understand what she had just said and grabbed at Nana's elbow. "Nana, I didn't mean it!" Nana shrugged Lola off and continued on to the door. "Please, I didn't mean it!"

Nana turned around. "This is the last time I'm putting up with your crap, Lola. Your my friend and all, but sometimes I wonder if you know how to filter your words. Does that mean I'm out of your league too?"

"Of course not!"

Nana opened the door but before she left she turned around. "You know, the day I had to rescue you and we made up after everything happened, I thought you changed. But I guess you haven't. You're still the shallow, stupid person I knew you as before. You just never care about anybody but yourself, do you?"

And with that, she slammed the door shut, leaving Lola alone.

X.X.X

Dun, dun, dun! Oh noes! More drama! Do you think Nana was being too harsh on Lola? Do you hate Lola? Are you even reading the author's note? And lastly, why am I asking all these questions?! Sorry for a super late chapter. I figure we have about two or three more chapters before the end.

Also, again I apologize for the quality of this chapter (LOLOL YAY FOR NOT PROOFREADING BEFORE SUBMITTING). It felt too rushed and again I felt like not a lot happened compared to the stuff that happened before, but I'm on another deadline and besides I needed to wrap up a few things before the final ball scene. I can tell you though that the big Masquerade Ball is in the next chapter! Whether it'll span two chapters who knows XD

Thanks for reading, guys! Please leave any sort of feedback you desire.