Chapter Text
Mythra was training in the courtyard, locked in a sword duel with Link, giving it her all without holding back.
The two exchanged blows at incredible speed, the flashes of light from the Aegis and the Master Sword creating a spectacle worthy of the finest battles. Mythra wasn’t pulling any punches, and Link could tell—not just from the force behind each strike, but from the look on her face: focused, intense… and clearly irritated.
"You're... more aggressive today," Link commented between breaths, stepping back to block another quick slash.
"Yeah? Didn't notice," Mythra replied with a scowl, her blade glowing with light, ready to strike again.
Link dodged the attack without much trouble and threw his boomerang at her. Mythra sliced it in two, only realizing too late that it was a distraction—Link used the opportunity to kick her and force her back a little.
"Don't lose focus, Mythra," the Hylian said, twirling the Master Sword once. "Training or not, you should never leave yourself open."
Mythra wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand and took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. Link was right—not just tactically, but emotionally. She was clearly letting her feelings get in the way. Damn it.
"I know," she muttered, adjusting her stance. "I just... my head’s somewhere else."
Link lowered his sword slightly—not enough to drop his guard, but enough to show he wasn’t just there to spar. "Sonic?"
That hit Mythra harder than any sword swing. Not physically—but right in her pride. She clenched her jaw. "Why does everyone assume my problems have to do with him?"
Link shrugged. "I don’t assume. I notice. And trust me—if I can tell, others can too. You’ve been tense for days, and every time someone mentions his name, you shoot glares that could make Ganondorf cry."
Mythra looked away, her eyes fixed on the clear sky. Her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths—more from emotional frustration than physical effort.
"That damn hedgehog gets under my skin so easily," she confessed, dissolving her sword to show she wasn’t in the mood to keep training. "It’s like he enjoys pissing me off. Like it’s entertainment to him..."
"Sonic messes with everyone for fun," Link said, sheathing the Master Sword across his back. "The problem is he latches onto easy targets."
Mythra glared daggers at him the second she heard that.
"Did you just call me an easy target?" she asked, her tone sharp as a blade.
"I’m just stating facts," the Hylian replied without flinching. "Sonic knows he can get under your skin with minimal effort. That’s why he keeps at it. If you ignored him, he’d move on to someone else. That’s just how he operates. Still, he doesn’t tease you only because it’s fun. It’s also how he shows he cares. He’s just more comfortable acting like a smartass than, you know, saying it like a normal person."
Mythra crossed her arms, clearly annoyed, but unable to deny what Link was saying. Deep down, she knew it. Sonic wasn’t cruel. He wasn’t heartless. He was just... unbearable. In a very specific way. A way that, to her dismay, was starting to feel less unpleasant.
"So that’s his way of saying he cares... annoying me like I’m part of some constant joke," she muttered with a grimace. "What a stupid way to show it."
"And you?" Link asked, raising an eyebrow. "How do you show that you care?"
"I don’t...!" Mythra stopped mid-sentence, but it was already too late.
Link’s expression didn’t change. He didn’t need to say anything. She’d walked right into it.
"Tch," she clicked her tongue, looking off to the side, uncomfortable. "I’m not like my sister. If I care about someone, I don’t tell them. I just... act like myself. Insulting, hitting, pushing... Unlike Pyra, I show affection in a more explosive way. I can’t help it."
Link raised an eyebrow again, but before he could say anything, Pyra appeared and walked up to them.
"Um... Mythra?" the redhead called to her sister. "Do you have a minute?"
Mythra tensed as soon as she heard Pyra’s voice. For a second, she hoped it was about anything else. Any topic but that. But her sister’s tone… said it all.
"Yeah, sure," she replied, without much enthusiasm.
She nodded briefly to Link and walked with Pyra to one of the quieter corners of the courtyard. The redhead didn’t speak until she was sure they were alone and out of earshot.
"What is it?" Mythra asked at last, folding her arms. "Here to tell me I should be nicer? Or giving me sisterly advice on how to deal with idiots?"
Pyra let out a soft sigh, wearing that endlessly patient expression that never failed to exasperate Mythra. "It’s not that. It’s about... what happened with Sonic."
Mythra’s heart skipped a beat. "Which part?" she asked, though she already had a feeling.
"The part where you fell asleep hugging him," Pyra said bluntly. "Someone found out, and... the rumor’s already spread all over the mansion."
Mythra felt her stomach drop. Her face went pale, and the surge of fury that followed was almost volcanic. "WHAT?! Who told?! I’m going to rip their tongue out and make them eat their own boots!"
"Mythra," Pyra said calmly, raising a hand. "It’s too late for that. The rumor’s already out... and with a lot of details."
"DETAILS?!" she repeated, horrified. "How the hell are there details?! Only Sonic and I...!"
She stopped cold.
Pyra tilted her head, one eyebrow raised. "Mario?"
"That overalled idiot is gonna get a taste of his own fire flower," Mythra growled, clenching her fists tight. "I should’ve known Sonic wasn’t joking when he said—Ugh... And what exactly are they saying?! Because if they made anything up, I swear I’ll burn this whole mansion down!"
"They didn’t exaggerate," Pyra said. "They’re saying they saw you asleep on the couch with him, hugging, like... a cuddled-up couple."
Mythra wanted to scream. She wanted to scream so loud it would shatter every window in the mansion.
"We’re not a couple! And we weren’t cuddling! It was an accident! I WAS ASLEEP! HE WAS TOO! IT MEANS NOTHING!"
"I'm not saying otherwise, Mythra," said Pyra, still calm. "But you know how people are: once a rumor starts, they won’t shut up about it until something else grabs their attention."
"Then they should get a hobby or a job!" shouted the blonde Aegis, her Core Crystal and tiara glowing brighter and brighter. "Do they really think they can talk behind my back, twisting something that was just a mistake?!"
"Mythra," her sister said gently, placing her hands on her shoulders. Back when they shared the same body, Pyra couldn’t do much when Mythra was on the verge of losing control—but now that they were separate, she could finally get through to her other half. "Breathe. Burning everything down to prove a point won’t help you."
Mythra gritted her teeth, trembling with frustration. Her body buzzed with restrained energy, and tiny sparks of light began to flicker in the air around her. But Pyra’s voice—steady and serene—managed to cut through the wall of fury that had built up.
"So what am I supposed to do, Pyra?" she finally asked, her voice lower now but tense like a wire about to snap. "Just stay quiet? Let everyone think I’m in love with that... that hedgehog-headed moron?"
Pyra didn’t answer right away. She looked at her with compassion—but also with resolve. "No. I’m not saying ignore it. Just... don’t let your pride do the talking. You can set the record straight if you want, but don’t do it out of anger. And more importantly, don’t lie to yourself in the process."
Mythra looked down. Inside, she was a storm of emotions: rage, shame, confusion... and something else she didn’t want to name. Something that had started as a dumb, harmless spark, but was now growing at an alarming pace.
"I’m not in love with Sonic," she whispered, as if trying to convince both herself and Pyra. "He’s just... annoying. Is it too much to ask for him to shut up for once?"
"It’s Sonic, Mythra. You already know the answer," Pyra replied with a slightly sheepish smile. "Look, I know you won’t like this, but just wait a few days, okay? The rumor will die off eventually, and everyone will forget. Just pretend it doesn’t bother you until then. If they see it doesn’t affect you, they’ll get bored and drop it."
Mythra wanted to argue, to say she had to shut it down before it got worse... but in the end, she just sighed. Her Core Crystal and tiara stopped glowing, a sign she’d finally calmed down.
"Fine... but if the rumor’s still alive by the end of the week, Sonic is a dead man."
Pyra let out a soft chuckle—one of those that said "You mean it, but I don’t fully believe you." She patted her sister’s shoulder and nodded.
"Fair deal," she replied with a soothing smile. "But please, try not to make it a literal firestorm. At least not indoors."
Mythra rolled her eyes, but her breathing had settled. As always, her sister’s words had managed to pierce her emotional armor. Reluctantly, sure—but they got through.
"I’ll try," she muttered, though in her mind she was already planning a thousand ways to make Sonic pay... the moment she got the chance.
The problem was, ignoring everyone’s whispers and snide comments about the rumor was easier said than done.
Mythra sat at the common dining hall table with a breakfast tray of fruit, bread, and strong coffee. Next to her, Palutena was flipping through a random magazine, pretending not to be watching her.
"Sleep well last night?" she asked in a tone far too casual.
Mythra didn’t even look up. "Perfectly. Any problem?"
"No, none at all. I just imagine resting with company must warm the heart... and the back," she added before sipping her juice.
Mythra’s spoon bent slightly between her fingers. "It was a nap. Unintentional. End of story."
"Oh, of course. Naturally." Palutena smiled like she knew something no one else did. And maybe she did.
Mythra was practicing precise strikes against a holographic target, trying to channel her frustration into something productive. But Samus, training nearby, soon approached her.
"Nice hit," she commented, after watching Mythra slice clean through the image of a robot with her light sword.
"Thanks," Mythra replied curtly.
Samus studied her for a moment before saying: "Does it bother you more that there’s a rumor... or that it’s him?"
Mythra turned sharply. "You too?"
"Just asking," said Samus, raising her hands. "No one’s seriously making fun of you, Mythra. But it’s weird seeing you like this. Tense. Irritated... more than usual."
"I’m not irritated," Mythra snapped, clearly irritated. "I’m just sick of it. Everyone acting like they know what I feel or what’s going on between Sonic and me. There isn’t a 'between Sonic and me'!"
Samus smirked. "Then don’t let it get to you. But if it didn’t get to you... why are you still talking about it?"
Mythra narrowed her eyes at her, then turned and hurled her sword at another target with explosive force, making the hologram disintegrate into shards of light.
"Good morning, Mythra," greeted Zelda with the poise of a princess.
"Hey..." Mythra replied without enthusiasm.
"Nice hairstyle today," added Lucina with a barely contained grin. "Did Sonic do it while you two were snuggled up asleep?"
Mythra froze, turning so fast her tiara flashed with a sharp gleam. "Want me to do your hair? With my sword?"
Lucina laughed lightly, unbothered. "Just teasing. Relax. Although... Sonic does seem to have a calming effect on you. Maybe we should let him nap by your side more often."
Zelda sighed in a mix of scolding and amusement. "Lucina..."
"I don’t need anyone to calm me!" Mythra roared, stomping off so loudly the hallway practically shook.
Mythra sat on a bench, trying to find a bit of peace. Isabelle, who had been watering some nearby flowers, trotted over with her tail wagging cheerfully.
"Hi, Mythra! I heard you and Sonic are dating!"
Mythra stared at her, stunned. "NO!"
"Oh... I’m sorry," said Isabelle, her ears drooping slightly. "I just thought it was cute. It seemed sweet that you two were cuddling while you slept. You reminded me of Tom Nook and his wife when they’re tired..."
Mythra felt like her soul left her body through her eyes. She buried her face in both hands. "I don’t know how much more of this I can take..."
"Do you want me to tell everyone it’s not true?" Isabelle asked, genuinely concerned.
"No..." Mythra sighed in resignation. "Just... let me know when there’s another stupid news story they can focus on instead."
"Got it!" the cheerful pup replied with a bright smile.
Just then, Sonic was walking down the hallway, and the moment he saw Mythra sitting on a bench with her face in her hands, he frowned.
He’d been dealing with everyone teasing him about the whole "Mythra cuddled with you in her sleep" thing for the past few days—and Sonic just ignored them. Sometimes he’d roll his eyes or let out a sigh, his patience clearly tested, but he never responded. He just tuned it out and went on with his day. Rumors didn’t bother him because he gave them zero attention. Simple as that.
But Mythra didn’t think like him, and it was obvious this was getting to her. He knew from the start she wouldn’t take it well once she found out, but now things were clearly going too far.
It was time to shut this down once and for all.
The problem was, he couldn’t just tell people to stop talking. That would only make the rumors worse. He had to make them forget by shifting their attention somewhere else... and that’s when an idea hit him—one that made him smile with his usual cocky confidence.
"Alright... time to fight fire with fire."
Sonic walked up to Mythra. He knew he was the last person she wanted to see right now, but sooner or later, they were going to have to face the situation—whether they liked it or not.
"Hiding from the world, or just waiting for someone to bring you a bigger sword to use on everyone?" he asked with his usual teasing tone as he stopped in front of her.
Mythra slowly raised her head, her eyes glowing with a mix of exhaustion, fury, and suspicion. "What do you want, hedgehog? If you’re here to make more jokes, I’m not promising you’ll walk away from it."
Sonic raised both hands in peace, but didn’t drop his grin. "Hey, relax. I’m not here to tease you. Well... maybe a little. But only because I’m worried about you."
Mythra blinked, confused. "You... worried?"
"It’s not that weird," he said, shrugging. "You’re going gray faster than Shadow, and that’s saying something. I don’t like seeing you like this. If you’re gonna hit me, it should be for fun, not because you’re having an existential meltdown. I like getting on your nerves, but if it’s actually hurting you, it’s time to put a stop to it."
Mythra shot him a glare, but something in her expression softened. "And what exactly are you gonna do about it? Make a public announcement that it was all a joke? Rewrite history? Dance on a table to distract everyone?"
Sonic tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Hm... the table-dancing thing’s tempting, but nah. I’ve got a better plan. A classic move. One of those that hijacks all the attention in a single brilliant stroke."
Mythra narrowed her eyes. "I don’t like the sound of that."
"Listen, all we have to do is throw out a bigger, juicier rumor—something so outrageous they’ll forget all about us," the hedgehog explained. "Once their attention’s on something else, they’ll leave us alone."
"Uh-huh. And what could you possibly do to make them forget about us?" Mythra asked with a bored expression.
Sonic started thinking, tapping one foot as he crossed his arms and rubbed his chin... then his eyes lit up. He pulled out his phone and began scrolling quickly.
When he found what he was looking for, he grinned wickedly. "What do you think about this?" he asked, showing Mythra the screen.
Mythra’s eyes widened as she looked at it, then at Sonic, then back at the photo... before a similar mischievous smile spread across her face.
"Not bad, hedgehog..." Mythra murmured, half surprised, half amused. "Not bad at all."
On the screen, Sonic was showing her a perfectly timed photo: Captain Falcon and Bayonetta, standing very close, laughing, their body language suspiciously intimate—almost like they were about to kiss. It could’ve meant nothing... but with the right words, the rumor mill would do the rest.
"This might actually work," Mythra said, still eyeing the picture. "You gonna post it?"
"Nah," Sonic said as he tucked the phone away, his grin saying "trust me." "All I need to do is whisper it in the right place, at the right time. The gossip ecosystem in this mansion will take care of the rest."
Mythra stared at him for a few seconds in silence, then let out a soft, short, almost disbelieving laugh.
"I can’t believe I’m about to trust your twisted logic to get out of this mess."
"What can I say?" He shrugged. "I’m a chaotic genius."
"That, or a lucky idiot," Mythra muttered, though with less venom than usual. "But if this works... I might consider not incinerating you this week."
"Good enough for me."
Later, the two of them were in the living room—the very place where it had all started, though now in different spots and positions. Mythra was sitting in an armchair with her legs crossed, filing her nails, while Sonic was sprawled across the coffee table, holding a book that looked like it might fall on his face if he moved the wrong way.
Just then, Inkling and Daisy walked in, chatting excitedly, until Daisy stopped dead in her tracks upon seeing Sonic and Mythra together again.
"Oh no, not in the same room again!" the flower princess exclaimed with a sly smile. "What, planning a sequel to the romantic nap?"
Mythra didn’t even glance up from her nails. "Only if you want to show up as a side character this time... incinerated."
Sonic chuckled without taking his eyes off his book. "Come on, Daisy. You love a good drama, don’t you? Well, you’re about to witness one hell of a plot twist."
Inkling blinked, a literal question mark appearing above her head, while Daisy raised an intrigued eyebrow.
"What are you talking about?"
Sonic sat up with a casual air, stretched as if he didn’t have a single care in the world, and then said just loud enough for them to hear:
"I heard something... interesting in the gym this morning. Falcon and Bayonetta. Real close. Too close, if you ask me."
The reactions were immediate. Inkling let out a high-pitched squeal of excitement that no one could understand, but clearly meant "Whaaaaat?!" in squid language. Daisy put a hand to her chest, torn between horror and fascination.
"Falcon and Bayonetta? No way! But... but she always treats him like an old toy!"
"Or a gym accessory on steroids," added Mythra, still not looking up. "The weird part is she hasn’t thrown him down the stairs yet."
Inkling started chattering rapidly in her own language, clearly trying to spread the gossip through a group message, while Daisy was already pulling out her phone.
"I have to confirm this! Rosalina needs to know!"
"Boom," Sonic murmured, winking at Mythra as the two girls bolted out of the room like living gossip missiles.
Mythra glanced sideways at him and allowed herself a smile. "I can’t believe it worked that fast."
"Don’t celebrate just yet, Myth," Sonic replied with a grin. "Tomorrow morning, we’ll see if it all paid off..."
The next day at breakfast, the stares were no longer aimed at Mythra and Sonic. Now, it was Falcon and Bayonetta who were soaking up all the attention and whispers. Sonic had managed to share the photo anonymously, and that had done all the work.
The gossip machine had a new target.
Mythra, sitting on the same bench where days earlier she’d wished to vanish from existence, now ate an apple with calm satisfaction. Sonic appeared beside her with a bottle of water in hand and a smug smile.
They looked at each other, smiled, and bumped fists without a word. Everything had gone perfectly for both of them.
Unbeknownst to them, Mario and Pyra were watching from another table, both wearing knowing smiles.
"You think we should tell them we saw the whole thing from the gym window?" Mario asked quietly as he stirred his coffee.
Pyra shook her head, holding back a laugh.
"Not yet. They look so proud of their little victory... let them enjoy it. Besides," she added, glancing at Mythra with a mix of fondness and resignation, "she needed this."
End of Chapter 48.