Chapter Text
Floorboards creaked beneath soft feet tiptoeing down the basement's hallways. Shadows flickering off the walls, threatening to jump out at every twist and turn Sun led you down with the low torch light held in her hands. Dot was right at her heels, ears twitching and eyes on a constant swivel as though examining each and every stone cemented into the wall.
No one spoke, the only sound being the occasional muffled whine pulled from you when your bad leg snagged on an uneven step or crack in the floor as it dragged behind you uselessly. Had it not been for Aurora keeping a hold of your waist, supporting you with every wobbly step, getting out of the dungeon would have been impossible, instead it was merely agonizingly difficult.
Fucking Farore, finding a potion couldn’t happen fast enough.
Another stumble sent the two of you to the ground, catching yourselves at the last minute on your hands and knees which slammed into the ground with a loud thud . Clenching your jaw shut, you hold back the scream poised in your lungs, fisting the fabric of Aurora's dress to stop from letting it out; Even its deep red fabric couldn't hide your blood that now stained its skirts, partially dried and splotch-y much like how you looked at the moment.
“One of ya is gonna get hurt if we keep going the way we are.” Malon whispers, a firm hand grabbing your other arm to help you back onto your feet once more. “Ya sure you don't want me to carry ya?”
All you can manage is to shake your head, knowing if you opened your mouth you’d be on her back and passed out within the next minute. You may not be able to do much in your current state but you weren't about to be completely useless until everyone was out safe and sound. Then you'd be more than happy to let anyone carry you for as long as necessary. Preferably someone tall and who was known to sneak you a few sweets from time to time when you weren’t feeling your best.
Or Wars, he could carry you too you supposed.
Malon didn't press the issue, much like how you didn't comment on how much closer she seemed to walk behind you as you all continued on. If convincing yourself it'd be fine had gotten you this far, surely it would carry you a bit longer.
Until you saw the stairs.
Double doors burst open, slamming into the walls behind them with a loud crack that silenced the meeting’s unruly debate.
“Your Royal Highness! I fear something is terribly wrong!”
At the far end of the table, Zelda looked up from the various maps and documents laid out before her, pushing away from it all to stand on her feet. Impa was at her side in an instant, arms folded and her typical scowl now directed towards the unexpected intruder.
“Lana? What are you doing here?” Zelda's voice is stern, but not unkind as Lana rushes further into the room, ignoring the handful of nobles and generals sat around the long rectangular table.
“Links gone missing! I can't find him anywhere and I think he might be in trouble!”
“The Captain has already written and informed us of his current situation.” Impa stated flatly, eyeing the counsel members with wariness, determining how much to share so openly. “It's true we are unaware of his exact location at the moment, however-”
“That's just it, though! I've been keeping an eye on their journey whenever possible, and I usually have a general understanding of where they all are, but yesterday, it's like they all just vanished! I tried looking into it and came up with nothing! The only time this has happened before was during the war when… well when Link was taken.” Lana whispers, leaning in closer to Impa who still stood between her and the Queen. “I'm worried-”
“Are you suggesting Cia has interfered somehow?” Zelda asks bluntly, hands splayed on the table in front of her with deadly focus towards the blue haired girl who nods rapidly. Zelda immediately straightens, her long legs carrying her towards the door Lana had come through barely a minute ago. “Apologies gentlemen, we will have to continue this conversation at another time. Impa?” Impa was right on her heels with Lana scurrying after them, mumbling apologies over her shoulder towards the others as the three of them strode out of the large meeting room. “Stay here and hold down the fort. I'm going with Lana to investigate.”
Impa simply nodded, running off in a different direction to leave Lana alone with Zelda, unsure of where they were currently headed.
“Lana, how quickly can you get us to the Temple of Souls?”
“Put me down” you whine from where your forehead was currently pressed into Sun’s shoulder. No attempt to shove away or wiggle free was made despite your protests, your body far past its ability to keep function after butchering the first four attempts at getting up the narrow staircase. Sun had stepped in when the wound on your leg started bleeding again, handing the torch over to Malon and doing her best to quickly rewrap it before practically throwing you over her shoulder and calling it a day. By Aurora’s swift thinking, you were placed on the other girl's back instead of her shoulder, hoping that way you would be more comfortable.
Regrettably, you were more comfortable. The sharp pains began to dwell down to an uncomfortable ache, mind able to focus more on what laid ahead of you rather than whatever was shifting and hurting inside of you. That didn't stop you from protesting the help however.
“You've done enough (y/n), let us handle finding the boys for now. Try and get some rest.”
That was simultaneously the first and last thing you wanted right now. Forcing your eyes to remain open, you peel your face up enough to look ahead. You've reached the main floor, a few of the rooms looking vaguely familiar from when you first wandered into the building.
“Well these are…interesting.” Malon muttered, eyeing the life sized portraits on the walls. The others oddly enough seemed less phased, likely used to being surrounded by portraits such as this within the castle walls or actively choosing to not pay them any attention.
“Are there some of each of them?” Dot asks, scanning over one of what you guess would be a much younger Legend, given the bright pink hair atop his head and some colorful looking staff you're pretty sure you've seen sticking out of his bag now and again. (So that's what he'd look like if he ever actually smiled.)
“There's a second floor” you mumbled, pointing to the archway coming up on the left. “Stairs should be that way…I think.”
Even with you now on her back, Sun continued to lead the way, following in the direction you had pointed out. Passing through two more rooms, the familiar entrance with accompanying grand staircase came into view. Along with the portraits of Wars that you still considered bringing home with you, or at least destroying so Cia could no longer enjoy them. Making quick work of ascending the stairs, seeing as they didn't have to worry about you tripping and falling, the five of you gathered around at the top of the landing, now faced with 3 different directions you could possibly travel down. Each hallway was lined with multiple doors, similar to the hallway of larger inns or the sleeping wings within Hyrule Castle.
“Do we split up? Try to cover more ground?”
“No” You spit out a tad too harshly from pressing your forehead down on Sun's shoulder. The jolty motion of going up the stairs once more aggravating the headache you had finally begun to suppress. Splitting up would only mean having to find each other later on, and after everything that has happened, the last thing any of you needed was to get caught off guard, and on your own. “Stick together.”
The real question was which way you should go from here. Each hallway looked to branch off into who knows how many other directions along the way, and the longer you all wandered around in this maze of doors and hallways, the more likely it would be that you would get caught by something.
“Let's…maybe we should head that way first.” Sun suggests, taking a step to the right. “Let's try the doors and see-”
“Hold on, did you guys hear that?” Dot asks, taking a small step towards the hallway directly ahead. Everyone paused, ears now trained in that direction as you tried to listen for some sort of noise that would guide you.
Please don't be a monster please don't be a monster please don't be a monster….
“.. gotta be…KIDDING me !”
It was quiet, barely there and more of an echo bouncing through the empty corridor like a ghost floating through walls. But Four’s voice was clearly shouting from somewhere down that hallway; loud, angry, and in distress
You all took down the hallway, trying to follow the random shouts of anger from Four and another one that was even higher in pitch that suggested Wind was close by as well. It wasn't till you stood just before a door with his voice directly behind that you stopped running. Malon grabbed the handle, Dot pulling out the pin from her hair, ready to use it once more if necessary. The knob turned smoothly, clicking and pushing the door open with barely more than a creak of its hinges.
“Fuck you Sailor! I know you're cheating somehow!”
“I am not! It's not MY fault you suck at this!”
The younger two were sat cross legged on the twin sized mattress shoved into a far corner of the room. Four, furiously shouting his accusations at the Hero of Winds, was red in the face and eye blazing a bright blue. Wind in contrast was leaned back, a smug smile on his lips and glint in his eyes that even though you had no clue what they were referring to, he likely was cheating.
“Link!” Dot yelled, pushing her way into the room towards her hero. Maybe you had scrambled your brain more than realized as you watched the two boys whip their heads towards the door. For just a moment, your vision must have blurred, creating multiple Fours at once that you swore each wore a color of their own. Four Smithy's, four colors, four times the bigger headache. You put your head back down, rubbing at your eyes before looking up again at him. Lone and behold there was only one of him, wearing his multicolored tunic like always, though now it was being squeezed in Dot's tight hug.
The minute you were out of here you were going to take a longer nap than Sky.
“Dot!? What are you- How- Did Cia-!?!” Four stuttered in disbelief, pulling away to look at her.
“Oh stop your worrying, I'm alright thanks to my new friends!” She reassured him, gesturing over to the rest of you before trailing off into their own side conversation you couldn't hear if your life depended on it.
“(Y/n)!! Are you okay? Have you seen the others? We've been stuck in this room forever!” Wind rushes towards you, stretching up to make himself taller so he can look you directly in the face. Hearing his usual higher pitched tone helps begin to calm your nerves since first waking up, seeing that these two at least are alright. But you can clearly see the worry in his face, eyebrows furrowing further with every unhealed injury he spots on you.
“We’re gonna go find em right now Sailor.” You reach out to him, ruffling his hair a bit the same way you’ve seen Wars do to the others when they're nervous. Wind pouts but doesn’t pull away, only meekly refixing his hair with a soft huff. “Think you and Smithy could take the lead on this one?”
“Hell yeah! Smithy, stop yapping and get over here!” Four popped out from behind Dot, the two of them rejoining the rest of you still lingering by the door. He scans over you, violet eyes turning a deep red as they land on the wrapping on your leg.
“Caps gonna be pissed if we don’t get you a potion soon.” Four says, trying to lighten the heavy mood surrounding you all. It doesn’t really work, but you appreciate the sentiment. “Don’t suppose you’ve seen any of our stuff around?”
“Not yet, but it all has to be round here somewhere. We’ll keep an eye out while we look for the others.” Malon says, leaning out into the hallway to make sure the coast was clear. Wind takes the lead, slipping out the door first and plastering himself to the wall as everyone files out after him.
“How the hell does anyone get around this place without a map?” Four asks after a few minutes, leading down a much smaller hallway that turned into a dead end. “I think I know why Wars hates this place so much.”
“You mean besides the psycho witch who trapped us, hurt (y/n), and has creepy ass pictures of us hanging up everywhere?” The sarcasm is Wind's voice is thick and you’ve never agreed more with him.
“Look I'm just saying a map would be really nice right about now okay?”
Sun failed to suppress the small giggle as the two boys bicker lightly back and forth. The shake in her shoulders making your head bounce along with them.
“Sorry,” she whispered to you as some of the others scatter to check the next group of doors up ahead. Each declaring the room empty before moving on to the next one. “Are you doing alright? We can stop for a minute if-”
“I'm fine” You lied, knowing it wouldn't do anyone any good to admit how much pain you were currently in. Hylia it was a good thing-
“Guys over here!”
Wind shouts out from down the hallway. Your knee jerk reaction to shoosh him stifled by the hope of finding more of your lost companions— or a potion. For the love of Nayru please let there be a potion in that room.
Sun carries you over into the room Wind shouted from, this one aesthetically similar to the one you had found the two of them in but without any of the furniture. This room however, had a child sized hole where the wall met the ceiling, similar to vents and other crawlspaces you'd seen before in some of the other's eras. Wind is pointing to it, a wide grin on his face as he boldly says-
“There's a crawlspace up there! I'm gonna go check it out!”
“Are we sure that's wise?” Aurora asks, looking between the young hero and up towards the hole. “Shouldn't we stay together?”
“It'll be fine! I do this all the time back in my era!” Wind says, rubbing his hands together eagerly. “Besides I’ll only be gone for a minute.”
“And how exactly do ya plan on gettin up there?”
Wind's face falls for only a second before he grabs Four’s shoulder, yanking him closer and asking him to help toss him up there.
“I am not tossing you” Four says flatly, arms crossing over his chest.
“Oh come on Smithy! It's for the greater good! It might help us find our stuff!”
The two boys stared at each other in silence. One of them with narrowed blue and violet eyes, bordering on a glare while the others were wide and pleading. A fake whimper to the younger’s lower lip and the poor blacksmith never stood a chance.
“Ughhh fine.”
Gravel crunched beneath footsteps. Light scents of floral, fresh grass and heavy magic filling Zelda’s senses till her eyes watered. The chill like a ghost, prickling her skin as she climbed the steps up towards the ominous building.
The Temple of Souls.
She hated being back here. Despised with every fiber of her being that it was under similar circumstances too.
“Well?” She asks, turning to look at Lana. The young girl studied her surroundings, hands reaching out with a slight glow before lowering them solemnly
“He's here.” She announces, pulling a large book out from the small pouch on her hip. “They're all here…” her voice trailed off, eyes narrowing to the ground, deep in thought. Zelda knew that look, having seen it many times during their time at war together.
“What is it?” She asked, patting her shoulder lightly to pull the girl out of her thoughts. Lana’s face only furrowed further, stepping closer to the doors cautiously like they would turn to life and kill her where she stood.
“Link isn’t the only one here. There's others too.”
“Based on the letters we have gotten, Link is traveling with nine companions. Are all of them here as well?”
“Im not positive. I feel traces of a few of the eras that we have encountered before. But there are new ones as well, ones I'm not as familiar with.”
“Do you have an exact number?” Zelda asks, resting her hand on the hilt of her sword strapped to her hip.
“14.” Lana says after a minute, flipping through pages of her book. “10 heroes, and 4 others who I am unsure about.”
“Well, it seems like we better go introduce ourselves.” Shoving the large door open and strolling inside. Just like during the war, the large portraits of her Captain were strung up on the wall, maybe this time she would tear them down before she left. Not a soul was in sight, the entryway dark and eerily quiet as they walked inside.
They only made it to the base of the stairs before the shadows made themselves known.
“Go right!” Wind directed, gesturing to the turn up ahead.
The damn crawlspace had worked.
Miraculously, and only after he had finally gotten up there in the first place, Wind had managed to not only get a better idea of where you all were, but he had managed to find two more of your friends. Or so he said. The details were as fuzzy as your brain but it seemed like he hadn't actually seen them, but rather heard something that sounded close enough to Twilight's voice before hightailing it back to your small group and leading the charge down to the room it had come from.
“He should be right around here! Check the doors over this way first!”
Everyone scattered, checking doors left and right, the few that were locked easily picked at by Four or Dot till the room could be checked.
“I think they're in here!” Malon said, waving everyone over to the door she was trying to open. Four slides up, picking the lock quickly before swinging the door open to reveal none other than the Rancher.
Twilight is leaned back on the far wall, sat on the floor beside Hyrule with a protective arm draped over the other's shoulder that were hunched and shaking. The mop of curly brown hair was the only thing you could see of the Traveler’s head, his face buried in his arms that were loosely resting on his knees.
“Link?” Aurora calls out gently, crossing over the threshold and into the room.
Hyrule's head whips up, honey golden eyes now red and puffy, but wide with shock as they meet the gentle smile of his princess. He's up and crossing the room faster than a lightning strike, which by the looks of the room and smell of burnt wood seemed to not be far off. The moment he is in reach he pulls Aurora securely to his chest with a choked out sob of her name, arms wrapping around her as she does the same. The two of the melting into the others embrace. .
It's a sweet moment, one that you can't help but smile at till Twilight walks up to you, blocking your view of the sweet couple from your sight. The look he gives you somehow looks more like Malon’s than it ever has Time’s, even after all of the months and months of the kind rancher trying to mimic the older, stoic leader. Though Twilight’s forced disappointment isn't nearly to the same level of internal dread that seems to be speared into your soul when Malon does it. Not that you would complain considering having already been given a lecture by the fiery red head not even an hour ago.
“Tongue thing? Really? You couldn't think of any other distraction that maybe wouldn't have pissed her off so much?”
“In my defense– … no.”
“Oh don't worry, we've already had a chat about that decision.” Malon said, sliding up beside Twilight. “Though it seems like I was right about some of the details being conveniently left out hmm?”
They both stare at you from where you are now hiding yourself behind Sun, eyes pleading with them to hopefully wait until after a healing item to give you the lecture of a lifetime. Twilight is unsurprisingly the one to break first, his gaze softening into a light chuckle as he reaches about and ruffles your hair. It's the same motion you had done to Wind earlier, and somehow you get just as much comfort by it that the sailor does.
“I’ll kill her.” Hyrule's voice rings out as cold and dark as a winter storm.
“I told you it's okay!” Aurora assures with him, cupping his face, trying to soothe Hyrule's rage that has static thrumming through the air. “Im okay I promise.”
“Then whose blood is this?” He asks, gesturing to the blood stains and tear in the skirt of her dress.
“That would be mine.” Hyrule's gaze meets yours, clearly confused and trying to stifle his rage. You couldn't help but give him a small, sloppy wave in return. “To her credit thoug, she did a hell of a job making sure I didn’t bleed out.”
He looks you up and down, expression immediately relaxing into relief as his worries about Aurora seem to melt away. Giving her a quick kiss to her forehead, he takes her hand and strolls up closer to you.
“Sorry, but dang Cia really did a number on you.” Hyrule mutters, his spare hand beginning to glow a light green from his healing magic.
“Hold on now, yer in no condition to be doing any more magic.” Twilight scolds him. “We're already down one and right now those spells of yours are our only weapon. The last thing we need is you passin’ out on us cause ya over did it on yer magic.”
Hyrule looks like he wants to protest, but one narrowed glance from the Rancher and Hyrule backs down, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “I…may have overdone it a bit. Sorry (y/n)”
The only response you give him is a groan, resting your forehead on Sun's shoulder once more, arms hanging useless by your side in a defeated flop. Malon steps up beside you, rubbing a soothing line along your spine. Your ribs jolt at the touch, but even the bruised bones can't help but melt at the soft touch.
“I'm sorry dear, we're gonna get ya something soon okay? Just a bit longer “
“Seriously though,” Four says “she needs a potion before she bleeds out.” The bandage on your leg has been holding strong this far, but the blood is beginning to soak through, blotching the torn fabric that was your wrappings. “We need to find out stuff.”
“I could use the crawlspace again!” Wind offers, rushing towards the door. Twilight grabs the back of his tunic, pulling his back with a raised eyebrow.
“Crawlspace?”
“Yeah! That's how we found ya guys! I bet I could use it to find our stuff too!”
“Uhh guys?” Hyrule says, grabbing everyone's attention. “I think I know where our stuff is.”
All of you just stared at him, waiting for further explanation. Hyrule just stared back, hand in hand with Aurora who also gives him a curious look.
“Well it's either our stuff or the Vet. He has so much powerful stuff it's actually kinda hard to tell between the two sometimes. But either way there's a lot of his magic coming from–” Hyrule steps into the hallways, looking up and down the corridor before pointing to the left. “-that way.”
“Lead the way Hyrule!”
He does, never letting go of Aurora's hand for a second while leading the group down towards where he is sensing the Vet’s magic. Wind and Malon have settled behind them along with Dot and Four, the youngest still gloating about something that Four looked less than pleased about. That left you and Sun with Twilight right behind you, his head constantly checking over his shoulder as you walked.
“Something doesn't feel right” Sun whispers after a while, “I don't want to jinx it but, how have we encountered a single obstacle? This all feels a bit too easy ya know?”
“The faster we get out of here the better.” Twilight responds, hands rubbing over his chest where his Twili-shard typically resides around his neck. “With how big this place is, that witch might not know anyone's gone yet.”
“Or we could be walking right into a trap,” Sun suggests.
She had a point. This entire time there hadn’t been any signs of Cia or even a monster roaming the halls. It was too easy, the atmosphere too light and inconspicuous for things to keep going the way they were. It made the hair on the back of your neck stand up, the same feeling of a shark circling its prey beneath the surface, waiting for the perfect chance to attack before you had been dropped through the floor. But without your things, and with half your party still missing, all you could do was keep going, and pray you weren’t walking right into a trap.
Which, if this place has taught you anything.
You probably were.