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Chapter Text

Sky could only watch as Twilight reached forward, grabbing the limp wrist dangling by the left side of his protégé. Wild glanced at his mentor - not enough for him to see the uncertainty and fear in those blue eyes, but the Rancher had known him longer than the others. Calloused fingers squeezed, maybe a little too tight, but Goddesses knew how much the other hero meant to him. The Hero of Twilight mustered the little courage he could, hoping it would be enough to push down the lump in his throat.

“Come back to us,” Twilight said. His voice was quiet and raspy - too afraid - as the words felt like lead on his tongue. “Safe and sound.” And alive. “You hear, Cub?”

There was a ghost of a smile on the Champion’s lips - the corners never reached his eyes, unlike they always did. “Yeah,” An apology flashed in his eyes - it was not a promise he could easily keep - so he wished they would not wait for him. “I will.”

Too many were left unsaid and actions left untaken, but their time was limited. They had their chance to say their goodbyes, and now it was time to part ways. The blue light of the portal pulsed more urgently this time, and the Rancher’s grip tightened. He had to let go - he knew that - but he was afraid of what awaited Wild on the other side. 

“It’s okay,” Wild whispered. “I’ll be okay.”

The Ordonian faltered at the wavering determination in his protégé’s eyes. Do not be the reason for his self-doubt. His hand slackened and slowly fell away from the man’s wrist. Mutual understanding and farewells passed between them in a silent look, and the Champion turned towards the portal. It had not gone unnoticed to them the slight tremble of his shoulders as he pushed his body forward. A single step was all it took to return to his own time… 

…And when nine became eight.

That was three months ago…or at least, the time within their shared adventure. It was confusing - how asynchronous the time between eras and this nuisance of a quest. The heroes learned to roll with it and not, primarily because they spent more time in unknown eras than their own. There was the persistent fear of being gone for far too long - things might have changed too much every time they went home. It had not happened - Thank Hylia! - but the fear remained constant and unchanging.

Or maybe, they were the ones who changed.

One portal and another was not without apprehension. Would this one lead to Wild’s era? When would Hylia allow them to see their brother? It was without question that Twilight took the Champion’s departure from the team the hardest. The Rancher spent more time as a wolf around and away from the heroes than his Hylian counterpart, constantly watching and waiting patiently for the return of his most beloved cub. No one dared to call him out of it, but there would be nights that the heroes would be curled up in a tight pile as if reassuring themselves that the others had not disappeared… or taken away. Whispers filtered between slumbering bodies - hushed confrontations and consolations often ended in choked silence. 

“I’m fine.” Twilight once told Sky. The soft snores of Wind and Four barely dampened the annoyance in his voice. The two smaller heroes shifted on either side of his bedroll. “I’m fine. I’m just tired, that’s all.”

The Skyloftian opened his mouth only to close it again. The question lingered on the tip of his tongue, but he could not be brave enough to ask it. Did Twilight blame him? It was ironic. He, the first Hero of Courage, was afraid to ask one question - too scared to know the answer. The Chosen Hero should be the one to set an example as the first of them - too many expectations, too many than he could take - but he knew that would not change anything. Wild was taken away from them and thrown again to the den known as Demise’s Curse.

Was one quest not enough?

The Hero of the Skies had wondered that himself. A few of them, including him, had only one adventure. The Champion had suffered and lost so much in his first quest alone. A second one was asking too much at this point. He tried praying and begging Hylia to no avail. The White Goddess had been silent - Sun had never done that before - and so was Fi. Neither was willing to give an answer or hint about their plans for the Hero of the Wild.

It went on like that for three months. There had been too many close calls - too many times that tempers flared quicker than in the months prior. The team was tearing itself apart, and the Chosen Hero had tried, really tried, to keep them together, even if some of them wanted to surrender. He could not give up on them. 

For Wild.

“Stop..! Wars, stop!” Sky swallowed the lump in his throat. His muscles protested from trying to restrain Warriors from lunging at Twilight. The Ordonian was putting up a fierce resistance against the other heroes. “Wild - he wouldn’t want to see us fighting like this!”

Silence as deafening as thunder cut through the shouting and bloodied fists. The Captain’s strength fell away under his and the Traveler’s hold. The Skyloftian could not bring himself to look at the anguish on the Rancher’s face a second time. His tongue tasted bile - the sourness and bitterness inflicting his tongue every time the Champion’s name left his tongue. No one slept by themselves that night. No one except Sky.

The Chosen Hero thought things would not worsen until he woke up with half his body weightless. His eyes landed on the broken edge of a stone floor, and a layer of fluffy clouds nearly blocked the view of the ground below.

“What the fuck?” Sky heard Legend shout somewhere from his right. “WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?”

One by one, the heroes roused and scrambled almost immediately toward the center of the floating island. The Hero of the Skies heard Hyrule yelp and bump at Wind, who clung tightly to Warriors’ arm for dear life. He caught sight of Twilight helping Time up - the island was barely large enough to be occupied by eight people. Familiar questioning eyes seeking confirmation turned in the Skyloftian’s direction. Typically, the hero would be up and beyond the clouds whenever he returned to his home era, but not this time.

“I…” Sky hesitated. “I don’t think this is mine.”

Silence. It was only Four who managed to find his voice. “...What?”

“It’s not my era.” The Chosen Hero stood up and brushed his trousers. “It looks like mine, but it’s not.”

“It’s not yours, but maybe somewhere after your time?”

“I don’t think so.” The Skyloftian frowned. “Everyone should be on the Surface if that’s the case. I doubt it’s before because I don’t recognize those structures.” He gestured at the other islands with ruins settled atop them. “Even if they’re familiar, they shouldn’t be that ancient, I think?”

Wind squinted at him. “Uhh…Sky?”

“Yeah?”

The Sailor pointed behind him. “I think the Master Sword is trying to tell us something.”

Sky had not noticed it earlier, probably because he was immersed in his thoughts, but the Master Sword was glowing brighter than usual. He drew her from her scabbard and had to shield his eyes as the divine blade pulsed with power. No, rather, the Spirit that dwelled within was more active than he had ever seen of her since her slumber.

The Chosen Hero balanced the sword on his free palm, pausing at how warm and alive the sword was in his hands right now. “Fi? What is it?”

The Hero of the Skies could almost make the words out of the chime that responded - Another Master Link. Here - and the Master Sword suddenly moved on her own in the Skyloftian’s hold. The former was turned sharply and nearly stumbled as the divine weapon pointed them in the direction she wanted them to go. 

“Whoa there!” Legend grabbed him by the shoulders before he fell off the edge. “Are you okay?”

“Y-Yeah. Thank you.” Sky tightened his grip on the hilt. He might think the divine blade would fly out of his hold if he did not know better. “I think she wanted us to go find someone. Another Link.”

There was a collective groan from the group. While another hero was no doubt welcome, they had been secretly praying it would be otherwise. A hero’s life was not all about saving the world, glory, and fame. No, none of them wanted that, and their adventures only proved that. It never got easier.

“Another one?” Hyrule asked. “Isn’t it a bit late for that?”

“Yeah, but…” The Chosen Hero glanced at the Master Sword. “What else can we do?”

The Veteran crossed his arms and huffed. “Maybe not go along with it?”

“And trap us here?” Four exclaimed. He waved his hand dismissively. “Yeah, no.”

Time pinched the bridge of his nose. “Let’s just go. It’s our best option right now. We don’t know this era.” He nodded in the Skyloftian’s direction. “You have the sword, Sky. Lead the way.” 

Sky bobbed his head and turned back to the divine blade. “Guide us, Fi.”

The Master Sword flashed and directed the hero’s hand. The Chosen Hero gestured for the others as they grabbed equipment from their packs to get across the floating islands. The place looked like his era, except the platforms were more than just chunks of rock. Some were as big as Skyloft, with ruins and forests atop them. He also glimpsed unfinished buildings resembling houses, but saw no people around. 

“Think there are people around here?” Twilight asked as they approached one. He gestured at the piles of bricks in one corner. “Looks new to me. The materials are still here.”

“Might be a ghost town.” Warriors answered him, kicking a pebble out of the way. His eyes studied the exposed framework of the house. “People are supposed to live here, but they left quickly. Something might have happened. It doesn’t seem that long ago, too. Maybe a week or two.”

“Yeah, and I can guess what it is.” Hyrule lifted a piece of bone from where he was kneeling. The heroes scowled in recognition. There was no way they would not. “Monsters.”

“So, an attack, huh?” The Captain placed a hand on his chin thoughtfully. “But we didn’t see one on our way -”

“HALT!”

The eight heroes tensed and jumped into battle stances at the booming voice. Shadows fell over them, and they looked up to see that they were surrounded. Eight winged creatures flocked to the island they were on, guarding and blocking any exits. The Skyloftian brandished the Master Sword, only to pause. His eyes widened as he recognized the creatures.

“WHAT THE FUCK?” Wind’s astonished voice cut through the flapping of wings. “Are those…Loftwings?”

Sky could only stare as one landed across them. It looked like a Loftwing, except they had a bigger build and sharper features than the gentle-looking ones he lived with. If Loftwings evolved to survive the harsh environment of the Surface, they would look like this - stronger, speedier, and more intelligent. The bird creature met his eyes, and the Chosen Hero felt like his entire being was being judged. The eye contact lasted for three seconds before it broke away and crooned at its rider.

“Hm.” 

The rider, a Hylian woman in her mid-thirties and clad in armor, surveyed them with sharp, calculating eyes. Her gaze lingered longest on the Skyloftian and the divine sword in his hand. She climbed off her ride and signaled to her companions. The rest followed suit and surrounded the eight men but did not leave their birds. The heroes kept their hands on their weapons, watching vigilantly on all sides.

“Identify yourselves.” The woman ordered. She did not seem fazed by their armaments, not even drawing her own. “You’re trespassing on a quarantined site. Tell us the purpose of your presence here. Depending on your answer, we’ll have to arrest you for disobeying a royal order from Her Majesty, Queen Zelda.”

Time studied her suspiciously. She wore an armor emblazoned with the crest of the Royal Hyrulean Family. A knight? It would seem so, but that was not what caught his attention. It was the fact that she had not told them to drop their weapons. Why was that? Was this a test, or…? Still, the Hero of Time decided to play it safe and lowered his greatsword. He raised his empty hands in surrender, and the others reluctantly followed suit. 

“We came in peace. We didn’t know that this place was off-limits.” The Old Man was two heads taller than the woman, yet the latter did not seem intimidated at all. “My name is Time, and these are my companions. We’re travelers from foreign lands.”

The woman’s eyes remained fixed on him even as one of her people leaned in to whisper. “Captain, do you think they’re -”

The so-called captain raised her hand to stop him. “Fly ahead and inform the royal chancellor and the king quickly.” She regarded the heroes. “As for all of you, you will come with us. Unless we validate your identities, we’ll have to hold you in custody for the time being.”

“And if we don’t?” Legend challenged.

“Then, consider your lives forfeit. We do not tolerate impostors, especially those who pretend to be them.”

The heroes exchanged confused looks. “What do you mean? Who’s ‘them’?”

The woman, however, did not answer. Instead, she turned her attention back to her remaining companions. “Take one with you. The two kids will ride with me.”

Wind looked ready to throw hands, while Four scowled, glaring daggers at the captain. “Not a kid.”

Time placed a firm hand on the Smith’s shoulder. “Let’s just do as they say. It will be beneficial for us if we’re going to meet the Zelda of this era.” 

While the group did not want to, the Old Man was right. It was a convenient way to smooth things with the locals and get information about this new hero. Almost too convenient, was left unsaid. It could very well be a trap, but between getting stuck in these floating islands and travelling blind or receiving possible helpful assistance for their quest, the second one was by far the most ideal. 

Stay vigilant. Warriors signed behind him, where only the heroes could see. The others showed no reaction, but the message was clearly received. They had long learned how to keep their expressions cool as a team in front of potential danger.

With the messenger already flown ahead, the knights helped them climb on their Loftwings. The captain led them to a formation as they soared amidst the clouds and sky islands. The heroes took in their changing surroundings, noting ancient ruins, modern buildings, and even people. Bigger areas had different races roaming around - from Zora to Gerudo, and even creatures not often seen by ordinary folks, like the fairies. Loftwings took to the skies, carrying their Hylian counterparts and precious cargo. However, unlike Skyloft, the Surface and the civilizations that flourished across it could be easily seen below.

How far from Sky’s era was this Hyrule?

The woman signaled for them to stop and pressed a hand on one of her earrings. After a few seconds, she glanced at her companions. “His Majesty has sent an order. We’re changing course to the Temple of Time in the Great Sky Island.”

“Yes, Ma’am!”

The heroes glanced questioningly at Time at the mention of a familiar place, but the biologically oldest among them only frowned. The knights redirected their rides, following their captain. It was not long before the biggest sky island they had seen so far appeared on the horizon. Unlike the other islands, this one suffered the most damage. Large swaths of land were burned, and structures, both old and new, were destroyed. More knights and their Loftwings roamed the ground and sky, watching vigilantly as their group descended to the area. Just ahead of them stood a strange inverted pyramid, which was the only undamaged building on the floating island. The Loftwings landed in the courtyard, and the knights assisted them in climbing off the oversized birds. The messenger from earlier greeted them and exchanged hushed words with the captain.

The heroes moved closer together, just enough to be at arm’s length with each other in case it was indeed a trap. Escaping these people would be very difficult - they were at a significant disadvantage being surrounded and watched like this. The best they could do for now was to play along, observe their surroundings, and see how things would pan out.

“Everything okay, Pup?” Time asked when he noticed the other man frowning at their surroundings. 

“I…” The Rancher shook his head. He glanced at the “This place smells familiar, but also not? I don’t know. It’s too much - this place’s also filled with so much divine power. Even more than Sky’s era. You can feel it too, right?”

The Old Man did not answer, glancing at the Chosen Hero. The latter reached for the hilt of the Master Sword, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Fi’s not sensing any danger. If anything,” He slightly drew the sacred sword, showing the pulsing divine light from the blade. Somehow, it had gotten brighter as if the sword spirit herself had woken and would jump out at any moment. “I think this is where she wanted us to go.”

The heroes glanced at each other and then at the building, which they supposed to be the Temple of Time the woman had mentioned earlier. If this was where the Master Sword wanted to lead them to, then that meant the hero of this era was here. It might be wishful thinking - they hoped things would proceed peacefully between them and this era’s locals.

“His Majesty and the Lord Chancellor are waiting inside,” The captain told the heroes after talking to her subordinate. “Follow me.”

The knights surrounded the group from all sides as they followed the woman. They stepped past the temple’s entrance and into a large chamber. The interior was expectedly ancient, made of grayish white stone and painted with copper-gold and green. The high walls were etched with ancient writing - too far to be read. Glowing bulbs of lights shaped like flower buds illuminated the entire room. They climbed a short set of stairs leading to an altar, where a tall, bulky figure with fiery red hair was facing away from them and talking to a group of Sheikah.

“...So far, the attributes of these monsters matched His Majesty’s account from more than a decade ago.” One of the Sheikah was saying. “Empowered abilities, heightened aggression, increased intelligence…While these things weren’t so different from the previous war, the source is different. The black blood is evident to this.”

“I see,” The red-haired man nodded. “While I admit I’m quite relieved to hear that, it doesn’t change the fact that monsters coming back is something we can’t ignore. We’ve sacrificed so much to achieve the peace we’re enjoying now. We can’t let any dark entity ruin that.” 

“Lord Chancellor,” The captain greeted with a bow. “Pardon the intrusion, but we have brought the outsiders.”

Time was prepared - so prepared to humble himself before another era’s high-ranking official for the sake of peaceful communication. He and the other heroes had done it many times before. 

Time was wrong. They were so wrong.

The moment the man turned them to face them, the world seemed to implode into itself. Red hair, golden eyes, and an imposing figure wearing the royal Gerudo garb - only one man could make the heroes feel as if they had returned to the last battles of their adventures. 

“I greet you,” The Gerudo man spoke as he stepped forward and lowered himself to a bow reserved only for royalty. “My name is Ganondorf, royal advisor to Their Majesties, the king and queen of the kingdom of Hyrule. It is an honor to finally meet you, heroes of the old - the reincarnations of the Hero’s Spirit.”

Chapter Text

It was a reflex - a long unused but not forgotten instinct drilled into the very body, mind, and soul of the heroes. Polished metal gleamed against the artificial light, and eight swordpoints dug into the warm, sun-burnt skin - not green or blue - of the Gerudo’s neck. Even those who had only fought the man’s less humanoid forms acted upon the same instinct. 

Despite feeling the trickle of blood drawn, Ganondorf still lifted his head to meet the burning glares of the eight heroes. One was less heated, having no experience fighting the man and his reincarnations, but still responded to his brothers’ alarm. The knights around them drew their weapons and pointed them at the group, but the royal chancellor simply waved his hand dismissively.

“Lower your weapons,” Ganondorf commanded, calm but firm. “They’re honored guests from afar.”

“What -” Time demanded. His usual calm flaked away to reveal the barely restrained fury beneath. “What are you doing here? Why are you alive?”

The Gerudo turned his attention to him. “You’re the Hero of Time, correct?” He gave him a scrutinizing look as the latter’s face morphed to shock at him knowing his identity. “You’re…older than how you appeared in my predecessor’s memories - Ah, I don’t mean it as an offense. Those memories are unreliable, after all. A god’s hatred and curse, all that.”

Sky flinched. His eyes widened at that last sentence. “Curse? How did you -”

“Don’t listen to him!” Warriors warned. “He’s a schemer and a liar. He’s a manipulative bastard who’ll do anything - use anyone - to get what he wants. Don’t listen to anything he says.”

The royal chancellor ran a hand over his face, groaning in immediate defeat. “Of course, of course.” He muttered under his breath. “Who am I kidding? They’re not going to listen to anything I’ll say. Who even thinks this is a good idea? Link’s best suited for this. They’re his reincarnations, not mine.” 

“What’s taking him so long, anyway?” Ganondorf turned to one of the Sheikah researchers. “Can someone get His Majesty -”

“HEY! Don’t ignore us, bastard! We’re still talking to you!” Legend snarled. His knuckles had turned bone-white with how tight he gripped his sword hilt. “Why the fuck are you alive? How did you know who Time is? What did you do to the hero of this era? The king? The queen? Did you brainwash them? Kill them? What tricks are you playing here?”

The Gerudo man pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. “Let me guess…you’re the Hero of Legend? The grumpy reincarnation who went on many adventures? The guy who acts prickly on the outside but is soft on the inside? The one who turns into a pink rabbit?”

“Wha-!”

“Wait.” The royal chancellor paused. His expression changed comically as if he had just spilled the royal family’s most kept secret. “Oh, oh. Oh, right. That…That was supposed to be a secret. Shit.”

The Veteran was beet-red as those who did not know about his animal form turned to him in surprise. Sky and Twilight looked anywhere but at the man. “I’m going to kill you!” He gritted his teeth. “I swear I’ll -”

Ganondorf raised his hands in surrender, backing away slightly as the man’s blade dug deeper into his skin. “O-Okay! That’s my fault! I wasn’t thinking before I said that. Besides, Link didn’t tell me if everyone knows -”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” The Hero of Legend snapped at him. He was three seconds away from murdering the man before him. Screw peaceful negotiations! Screw finding the hero of this era! He would kill this man right now -

“Whoa! Whoa! That scary look on your face - I can tell what you’re thinking right now, but I’ll tell you now, that won’t end well.” The Gerudo said, gesturing at the knights raising their weapons again and closing towards the heroes. “I’m not an enemy, okay? I know it’s strange coming from me, and well, your experiences with my past reincarnations, but you need to calm down and listen.”

“Also, I was kidding earlier, okay? After all, someone as strong and experienced as an adventurer like you can’t be a rabbit. I guess you don’t share this era’s Link’s humor, eh?” The royal chancellor winced, moving his hands awkwardly. “Sorry, that was bad, wasn’t it? I’m usually better than this, but….Goddesses, Link will laugh at me if he’s here right now -”

“Can we just kill him right now?” Warriors asked. “I’ve heard enough evil monologues before a fight for a lifetime. We can just look for the hero of this era ourselves.”

“It’s not a monologue, though -”

“Shut up!” Legend hissed, clearly pissed now. “No one’s asking you, pig!”

Ganondorf looked offended. He pushed away the Veteran’s blade with a finger. “Okay, for one, it’s not a monologue.” He pointed out. “Second, it’s a wild boar, and - Wait, pig refers to both domesticated and wild ones, right? Then -”

“Are we going to fight or what?” 

“Uh, no, we’re not.” The Gerudo huffed, crossing his arms. He was looking at them as if they were children throwing a tantrum. “Besides,” He nodded in Sky’s direction. “The Master Sword you brought with you is now merging with the one in this era. Look.”

True to Ganondorf’s words, the Master Sword in the Chosen Hero’s hand had dissolved into pinpricks of light before disappearing to wherever her current self was. It rarely happened - only when they jumped into a new era for the first time, and the sword was in the possession of a hero. However, their surprise was short-lived, as the realization that the Skyloftian was unarmed sent warning bells in the heroes. They immediately crowded around their brother in a protective circle - their shoulders were taut in anticipation of an ambush. However, neither Ganondorf nor the knights moved from their spots. Instead, the royal chancellor gestured for one of the Sheikah.

“Find the king,” The man told them. “Tell him his flighty, traumatized predecessors are here.” The Sheikah researcher was about to leave, but he called them back. “Oh, before I forget - tell him he owes me a round of Noble Pursuit. Handling a bunch of trigger-happy heroes isn’t part of my job description.”

With the Sheikah gone, the Gerudo turned back to the heroes. He raised an eyebrow at their battle-ready stances. “Are you going to lower your weapons or…?” 

The collective glares from the group were enough of an answer. The royal chancellor simply shrugged. “Suit yourselves. As for the rest of you,” He ordered the knights once again. “Put your weapons down.” 

“With all due respect, Lord Chancellor -”

“Captain Flaxel.” Ganondorf addressed the captain. “We’re not here to fight. Their reactions are justifiable considering our histories. Besides, it’s just a shallow wound.”

Flaxel looked between the man and the heroes. She signaled for her knights to stand down, but it was clear she would not keep her eyes off their ‘guests from afar’ anytime soon. The Gerudo accepted the proffered handkerchief from another member of the Sheikah and pressed it against his neck. “Thank you. I’ll just drink a Hearty Elixir later. Hopefully, before I pass out from blood loss because someone got distracted from meeting his past lives.”

“- Did I just hear you talking shit about me?”  

A voice boomed from somewhere above them. Eyes turned to the opening beyond the three waterwheels as more people stepped into view. The knights immediately straightened into attention as the man at the front leaped gracefully off the platform, ignoring the shouts from his attendants behind him. The heroes could only stare as the figure approached, revealing flowing royal blue and green robes decorated with gold. His long blond hair was tied into a low, loose ponytail with a blue band. A simple golden diadem sat on his forehead, indicating his status as royalty. 

“Badmouthing your king? Are you sure committing lèse-majesté is worth it, huh, Gan?”

King. The heroes stiffened. This was the current Hyrulean King of this era. The man looked relatively young to be king - he looked to be around Warriors or Twilight’s age group. The heroes watched the young king step beside the royal chancellor, glaring at him in mock offense. The Gerudo man simply rolled his eyes at the royal’s shenanigans.

“I believe someone told me we’ll meet his past lives together.” Ganondorf shot back, albeit without malice in his voice. “But that someone just suddenly ran off to Goddess-knows-where and left me to deal with his murderous reincarnations alone. Which, by the way, is never a good idea.”

“Can you blame me? Crim was making a racket. I had to calm him down.”

“You and your Loftwing are the same. What is it this time?”

“A frog.” The king answered as if it held the answers to the world. “The one from the same species Azure showed him.”

The royal chancellor’s pointed ears - not round - twitched. “Ah.”

“Yep.” The royal nodded, popping the letter ‘p’. His eyes drifted toward the bloodstained handkerchief on the other man’s neck. Concern flickered on his face. “What the fuck happened to you? Wait -

The king turned to the heroes, finally noticing them behind the polished armors of the knights surrounding them. His eyes flicked to their drawn weapons and back to Ganondorf. His eyes were wide in realization of what had happened. “Oh, shit.”

“‘Oh, shit’, alright.” The Gerudo snorted in amusement at the man’s brief inattentiveness. “Do you have a Hearty Elixir with you? I didn’t bring my Purah Pad with me - No, no healing magic. The elixir is enough. It’s not that deep.”

The royal mumbled something under his breath as he passed a bottle of the healing liquid to the other man. Once they were certain the wound had closed up, he turned his attention back to the eight heroes, who had slightly lowered their weapons and were watching them in disbelief and confusion. It was understandable - it must be strange seeing a king of Hyrule and their archnemesis chatting and bantering like good friends.

“Not the reunion I imagined, but -”

“- Your fault.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know. I’ll buy you a round of Noble Pursuit later.” The king waved off the other man’s self-satisfied smirk and approached the heroes. The knights parted for him but stayed close enough to protect him. The latter stopped before Time and met the hero’s cautious glare at near eye level.

“Huh.” The royal mused at how they were only a few inches apart in height. “I guess Zelda’s not joking about the very late growth spurt.”

Time did not know what the man meant by that or to whom that was directed. Instead, he planted his weapon on the ground and lowered himself to one knee. Warriors and Sky quickly followed suit; the others hesitantly so. The gesture made the king raise an eyebrow. “We greet His Majesty, the honorable and esteemed ruler of these lands. I believe His Majesty already knows of us, given your subjects’ reception upon our arrival in this era. I beseech His Royal Majesty’s understanding and mercy for any transgressions we may have incurred.”

There was a tense beat of silence. The heroes kept their heads down, despite the urge to lift them, stand up, and stay on guard. Their fingers itched around their weapons as the dread of being in the same room with their eternal enemy crawled beneath their skin. They were vulnerable right now - their napes were exposed for easy decapitation. Their backs were an easy target for a stab. Just one downward stroke would be enough to - 

“Pfft!”

The Hero of Time stiffened, blinking at the unexpected sound. He dared a peek, only to witness the royal shaking, barely holding back a laugh.

“Oh, oh, Hylia! I know I shouldn’t, but this is - this is -!” The king couldn’t resist it any longer and laughed. The rest of the heroes finally looked up, as bewildered as their de facto leader at that reaction. Everyone else gathered in the room either sighed or shook their heads, whether from amusement or relief, the heroes could not tell. If anything, they seemed used to…whatever this was. By the time the last peals of laughter ended, the royal was clutching his stomach and gasping for air. He wiped the tears on the corners of his eyes, uncaring for his un-kingly appearance.

“Man, this is the first time I’ve laughed that hard for a long time. I expected this, but -” The king grinned. “This is something. Honestly, I thought you’d all figure me out immediately. Or, at least, you or Twi, but damn! Have I changed that much for you not to recognize me?”

What…?   

“Look closer.” The royal insisted. Mirth glinted in his eyes at their confusion. “Anything familiar?” 

The heroes could only stare. What was there to look at? The long, blond hair? The striking blue eyes? The scars on his left side? The lopsided grin that knew more than they? The Master Sword strapped to his back?

…Wait. Long, blond hair? Scars? The Master Sword?

The king’s cheeky grin only grew wider as the realization of who he was finally dawned on the eight men before him. “Need a hint? Or do you want me to tell you the answer?” He tapped a finger on the mark on Time’s forehead. “What do you think...Old Man?”

...Oh.

The Old Man could not move or breathe. Only the heroes with him knew and called him by that annoyingly endearing nickname. Only eight other heroes called him that. He had seven with him, the last one was -

Oh.

The body beside him - Twilight - jerked up and before anyone knew it, had collided with the man before them. Bright blue followed suit, then green and a head of brown curls and sun-kissed freckles. More bodies piled up, nearly smothering the joyful laughter rumbling from the royal’s chest. Nothing mattered, not the knights, the Sheikah, or even Ganondorf. Not even the White Goddess and the time that had passed differently between one and eight.

“I’m home.” Their formerly missing, now found member whispered amidst the tears and calls of his nickname. “I’m home, everyone.”

Welcome home, Wild.

Chapter Text

Wild.

Not exactly the Wild the group remembered. This one was older and taller, with an air of maturity and regality, but still retained the adventurous unpredictability and ferality of his younger self. The scars on his left side had lightened over the years, though new ones should be scattered and hidden beneath those clothes. The Master Sword was slung on his back - a sliver of divine light peeked over his shoulder.

Why had they not noticed the signs when he first entered the room? Were they that fixated on Ganondorf to miss that their brother had arrived?

The Champion, to his credit, did not seem slighted about it even a bit. Instead, he was amused, very much so that he might not let them live it down for a long time. Despite that, there was concern in his eyes. He surveyed the eight heroes before him as if searching for something. Injuries? Crippling trauma from their adventures? Shock that their longtime archnemesis was alive and close to their ninth member? Relief that their brother was alive and doing well? All four? Whatever it was, he said nothing and instead opted for a different approach.

“It’s been a long time, huh? How are all of you?”

Someone laughed. They turned to Twilight, who looked like he was about to lose his mind. “‘How are we?’ Hylia, Cub! We should be the ones asking that.” He ran a hand across his hair. “Fuck. If only you knew. We-We’re shit without you. We -”

The Hero of the Wild engulfed his mentor in another tight hug. “It’s okay. I’m okay.” He whispered. “I’m here now, Twi. I’m here.”

The Rancher’s near-hysterical chuckle muffled into a sob. “Why are you - We-We should be comforting you after the…the shit you’ve been through. Why -” A desperate whine involuntarily escaped him as he gripped the other man’s clothes. “C-Cub…Cub…Wild….”

His protégé hushed him gently, rubbing his back as the latter’s body shook. “I’m here.” He murmured, kissing the top of the man’s head. “I’m here. I’m alive. I’m real. It’s not a dream. I’m not going anywhere. Not again.”

The other heroes approached, equally emotional, and the king brought them closer into his arms once again. He let them lean against him for support as their knees buckled, allowed their calloused hands to touch his scarred face, and let them wet his clothes with their tears. They could not care less for the company that kept a respectful distance and watched solemnly - the heroes of legends cared not to be seen in such a vulnerable state. Wild did not cry, yet he was equally relieved and happy at the long-overdue reunion. The others eventually let go but did not move too far away - their fear of their ninth member slipping away from their grasp was evident in their shoulders.

“You all look terrible.” The Hero of the Wild reached out, cupping Wind’s face and wiping his tears. “Like a wolf under the rain. Has Wolfie rubbed that much off you while I was gone?”

The Sailor smacked the older hero’s hands, pouting at being treated like a child. On the other hand, Twilight looked offended, giving his protégé a betrayed look. The king took all these in stride, chuckling and ruffling the youngest’s hair, who squawked in protest. “I know you all have questions -”

“- More than you know.” Despite the red rim around his eyes, Legend managed an impressive scowl, glaring at Ganondorf, who simply shrugged. 

“But that can wait for later.” Wild reached out, squeezing the Veteran’s arm. “When I said you look terrible, I meant it. You need clean clothes, food, and rest. Lots of it. It’s a good thing we’ve prepared in advance.”

The Champion gestured for one of the attendants, who finally climbed down from the upper floor. “Inform the castle that our guests have arrived. I’ll return with them. Have you informed Zelda about this?”

“I already sent out a messenger earlier,” Ganondorf answered in the attendant’s stead. “They should reach Gerudo Town by now. You can leave leading the investigation to me for now. Focus on -” He glanced at the heroes who tensed at his gaze. “- Handling your murder-happy reincarnations.”

The other man snorted. “I think yours are worse.”

“Well, thank Hylia they didn’t have to go to a time-hopping quest. Otherwise, we’re in for a migraine.”

“Can’t say you’re wrong.” The king agreed. “Well then, I’ll leave it to you, Gan. Let’s convene with Zelda and the royal council later tonight.”

Wild patted the Rancher’s shoulder when the man gave him an anxious look. He did not have to ask what that meant. Instead, he flashed him a reassuring smile. “Let’s go.”

The heroes watched as he descended the altar and marched toward the entrance. The latter’s attendants and royal guards stepped into position and trailed behind him. The eight men exchanged looks, clearly hesitant to leave their supposed archnemesis out of sight, but decided to follow their ninth member. They did not sheath their weapons until they were sure that Ganondorf was a good ways away from their backs. The knights and Sheikah researchers looked up from their stations and greeted Wild as they passed by - the latter would return the greeting with a smile and thank them for their hard work.

The heroes watched him as the king interacted with his people. Socializing was natural for the Champion if he was feeling up to it. Most of the time, he preferred the solitude. But right now, the Hero of the Wild seemed so at ease, his smiles bright and genuine, as if he no longer carried the weight of the world. His people, too, were as relaxed - the way they regarded the hero was full of trust and adoration. However, there was also a sharp edge of protectiveness whenever their eyes landed on the eight men trailing behind him. It was as if they were ready to jump to the man’s defense should they dare harm him. 

What happened in this era that brought such a positive shift in its people?

“We’ll ride the Loftwings back to the ground,” Wild told them as they stopped in the courtyard. A few of the large birds were already there, waiting for their riders. “Sky can ride with me. The rest of you will go with the guards.”

The Champion turned and looked up to the sky. He brought his fingers to his lips and whistled - a sharp tune almost similar to the one Sky used to call his Crimson Loftwing. A cry rang somewhere above them, and a large silhouette blocked their view of the sky. A strong gust buffeted them as wings flapped, and a Loftwing landed before the king. 

“That’s-!” 

Its feathers were white and red - the same shade as the Skyloftian’s other half. The ends of its primaries and secondaries were royal purple and gold, similar to his guardian bird. Even the eyes were like the sun. The only difference was its sharper appearance, like the other Loftwings they had seen so far in this era, and the emblazoned Goddess Crest on its beak. A leather belt was wrapped around its breast, acting as a rein for its rider. 

“This is Crim, my Loftwing.” Wild introduced, looking directly in the Chosen Hero’s direction. “And yes, his name came from the colors of his feathers. He’s a Crimson Loftwing. And yes, again, he’s the only one in this era.”

If the Hero of the Skies ignored the obvious differences, it might be the same Crimson Loftwing he had grown up with. His partner, his other half. There was something poetic about it, standing before one of his successors who had formed a bond with the divine birds the others lacked. Why, though? How did this happen? Sky had so many questions, but a few struck him the most. If the Champion had Loftwings, then did that mean they got the timeline wrong? That it was not Four who succeeded him, but Wild? What happened to the Loftwings after his time? 

The Skyloftian desperately wanted to ask, but the look the other hero gave him told him to be patient. The Hero of the Wild reached out a hand, patting his Loftwing’s beak. The bird cooed, nuzzling against him affectionately. The scene made the Chosen Hero’s heart ache with longing.

“Everyone, pick your ride and get settled. We’ll leave in a few.” The king told his fellow heroes. He led Crim toward Sky, his gaze softened into something knowing. “Ready to go?”

“Wild, I….” 

Wild seemed to notice his hesitation. “He’s a bit…wild like his other half,” He said, scratching the side of the bird’s head. “He’s picky about who he’ll allow to ride him. If he doesn’t like you, he’ll fly high and throw you off his back. If he hates you, the beak and talons will do the talking.”

“But he’s surprisingly soft around kids. He also likes cuddling with my horses, especially Epona - my Epona. He probably thinks of horses as wingless birds that need to be protected. Thinks of himself as their protector or something.”

The Champion chuckled as Crim playfully pecked his hair. He gently batted him away, though he made no move to fix the stray strands. “Come here,” He gestured to the Skyloftian. “Let’s introduce you to each other.”

The Hero of the Skies looked at the Crimson Loftwing, who had started eyeing him with interest. Given the invitation, he stepped forward and bowed his torso, slightly shaking his head as he did. The bird glanced at his other half, who nodded encouragingly. He clattered his beak and returned the Chosen Hero’s greeting. The latter’s taut shoulders eased, and he lifted himself, only to have a second of relief before finding his head inside Crim’s beak. Besides them, the Hero of the Wild cackled, drawing everyone’s attention to them.

“Mm! Mmph-!”

Sky’s hands flailed, not knowing what to do without hurting the bird. His Loftwing did nothing like this! Wild decided to grant him mercy and grabbed the edges of the Loftwing’s beak. “Okay, okay, that’s enough!” With a careful force, he managed to pry a space big enough for the Skyloftian to pull his head away. He threw the smug bird a mock-scolding look.

“Sorry,” The Champion handed the other man a handkerchief to dry with. “He does that to people he really likes on the first meeting.”

“Thanks…I guess?” The Chosen Hero blinked as Crim cooed and tried to preen to him, but the other hero stopped him.

“Later,” The king told the large bird. “You can clean your mess later. We have to go.”

At the word ‘go’, the Crimson Loftwing wagged his feathery tail, suddenly excited at the idea of flying with them. He lowered himself as the Hero of the Wild climbed on his back. “We can jump off to the side like you do in your era, but doing it like this is better just in case someone is injured.”

“We’re alright,” The Hero of the Skies reassured him as he climbed behind the other man. “Just a few scratches from a previous fight. Hyrule healed the worst of it. We also took potions for the minor ones.”

“Better safe than sorry,” Wild said, grasping the belt around Crim’s breast as the bird lifted himself. While he knew the other hero had the most experience handling and riding Loftwings, he still felt compelled to say something. “Hold on, alright?”

Sky nodded, maneuvering slightly to avoid hitting his face on the Master Sword. Even as they walked earlier, the blade’s glow had not diminished. It was brighter than he had ever seen when in the hands of the others, comparable to when Fi was still awake. As if she were awake. He could hear humming, and if he moved just a little closer, he might hear words -

The Chosen Hero jolted as the Champion’s Loftwing suddenly launched himself to the sky. Cold wind rushed against his face as they gained altitude. He barely heard the king shout something over the rush of air, and it took a few seconds before the large bird levelled his flight. Ahead of him, Wild huffed, unamused by his partner’s antics.

“You’re such a menace, you know.” Crim cawed that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. The Champion rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Laugh all you want. If we fall off, I’m unleashing all the frogs in my Purah Pad. I’m not joking.”

The king glanced at the Skyloftian over his shoulder. “You doing okay there, Sky?”

Despite the lingering sting on his cheeks, the other hero cracked a smile. “Doing good.” He peered to the side. “He’s like you, you know.”

Wild made a face. “Not you, too! Everyone says that. I think he’s even worse than me.” 

The Hero of the Skies only chuckled. He glanced at the others as they caught up with them and fell into formation. It had not gone unnoticed to him how the other heroes occasionally glanced at them, specifically at the Champion. As if they somehow expected he would disappear again. Sky could not blame them - even he found himself scooting a little closer so he could easily grab on to the other man if that happened. It would be too cruel if that happened again so soon.

“We’re heading to the Great Plateau.” The king called over the wind. “We should arrive before Zelda if she finishes her Gerudo Town visit earlier than expected. Either way, she should have already been informed that you guys are here if Gan is right with his estimation.”

“Wait. Why the Great Plateau? Isn’t the castle north of Hyrule Field?”

“The old one is.” The Hero of the Wild explained. “But it has been abandoned since my second quest. We’ve salvaged everything we can, but it’s still too dangerous to go there, much less live in it. We decided to preserve it as a historic place instead, and hopefully, open it to the people once it is safe. That’ll take years, decades even, since we still have a lot of things to fix and build besides the castle.”

Wild clicked his tongue in annoyance. “Just when the reconstruction efforts had started progressing smoothly, this shit happened. Again. This is what? The third? The fourth time? Damn it, Hylia.”

That last one came out as a grumble, but the Chosen Hero still did not know what to feel upon hearing what happened to the ‘old’ castle. He could tell that the other heroes felt the same with their wide eyes and the myriad of questions written on their faces. There were so many unpack within the last few hours since they arrived in this era, and the Skyloftian was already feeling overwhelmed even without the answers they had been waiting for. He got a nagging feeling that things would get even more hectic from here on out.

The Loftwings gradually descended as they approached their destination. They broke out of the clouds, giving everyone a scenic view of the sprawling landscape below. The Hyrule Field in this era was no longer empty - settlements had taken portions of the green. Most of them were concentrated in the southwest, where the Great Plateau was located. Some of the ruins they had seen before had already been rebuilt as military posts, while a few were still undergoing rehabilitation. Up ahead, the sunlit visage of the new palace dwarfed the Temple of Time and the Eastern Abbey. Scaffolds surrounded the three buildings, indicating that the castle’s construction and the reconstruction of the temple and the abbey were still in progress. 

“The new castle isn’t done yet.” The Champion explained. “Not by a long shot. We had so many delays over the years, but the residential wings were already completed. Most of the staff are already staying there. Zelda and I still live in Hateno, but we do the majority of our royal duties in the castle or in Lookout Landing.”

“I see.” The other hero nodded. “I have to ask. Why build the new castle there? I mean, isn’t there, well, you know?”

“Because that’s where the kingdom was founded.” The king answered. There was not a hint of hesitation or fear in his voice, unlike how Sky remembered the other man would be when talking about that place. “If there’s a better place where the new seat of power can be established, it would be the Great Plateau. That, and Zelda wanted to pay tribute to her ancestors.”

Sky’s eyes widened. “What...What do you mean? The Great Plateau was where-?”

“Zelda’s the best one to tell that story. I wasn’t there at all.” Wild admitted. “What I know is just what she shared with me. You can ask her later. For now, let’s get you all settled in.”

The Loftwings glided past the Temple of Time and the Eastern Abbey and over the beginnings of the castle’s first defensive structures. A high curtain wall with towers lined the outermost perimeter of the palace grounds - the southernmost portions extended to the edge of the plateau. Though yet to be completed, armored knights were already patrolling along its length, their own Loftwings watching over the odd-looking wagons carting even stranger materials in and out of the main gate. The Hero of the Wild led their procession to the royal courtyard, where knights and castle staff were waiting, and guided Crim to land near a huge fountain. Sky climbed off first, just as a well-dressed middle-aged man approached them and bowed.

“Welcome back, Your Majesty.” 

The Champion jumped off his Loftwing and regarded the attendant with a nod. “Has Zelda returned yet?” 

“Not yet, Sire,” The royal steward answered. “However, we have already finished preparations for our esteemed guests as per your instructions.”

“Good job.” The king turned to Crim, patting the side of the latter’s beak. “You, too.”

The guardian bird preened before turning to the Skyloftian, bumping him gently with his beak. The Hero of the Skies chuckled, stroking the Crimson Loftwing’s feathers. Satisfied, Crim cawed and launched himself back to the sky. The other Loftwings accompanying them earlier followed suit after their riders disembarked. The other heroes ambled toward where their two brothers were, gazing at the exterior of the unfinished royal residence. The king did a quick headcount and nodded in satisfaction once everyone was accounted for. 

“Alright, let’s go in.”