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Chapter Text

The Chain had been travelling this new era of Hyrule for what seemed to be weeks. The paths were worn, yellowed grass and rumbled rocks and an endless sea of trees had greeted them when they fell through one of many portals.

At first, no one recognised anything. The land was green and lush and wild, untamed and uncharted. The grass alone practically swallows the poor sailor up to his hips as they roam in search of a town.

The only thing that seems to be persistent we're the raging red beams across the skies. They came from things deep in the distance; hulking beasts at various points in the land, Gerudo, Eldin, Hebra and further out of Necluda.

"I think I see smoke." Wind calls out, his sister's spyglass in hand as he gazes a top a tree. "Could be a settlement..." He says with a shrug.

"Could be a monster camp." Legend mutters, unimpressed with the landscape that has him walking for miles on end. "We should keep on our toes but lets be optimistic." The captain sighs out, trying to keep himself together as much as he can but even he's getting annoyed at the great hills and endless plains. With a grumble, the veteran brushes out his tunic and rolls his shoulders that have grown stiff.

Wind leaps from his perch, smiling bright as usual with shining blue eyes that dart around their surroundings in a mixture of awe and a buzzing need to explore.

"The captain is right. We'll make for the smoke ahead but be ready for anything. Less we find ourselves in a predicament... I trust for you all to watch another's back." Tim's voice rings out firm bit wary, the hero of Time had never seen the likes of this era and is advancing on with trepidation.

There's obvious signs of this era having a hero. The giant beast's perching their beams of ...whatever it is, at the castle that seems to be enshrouded with a darkness none of them could quite place. All they know is that something was severely wrong.

Dusk was upon them as they spot their first sign of life anywhere aside from the foxes and bugs and monsters. A Gerudo woman, tall with firey red hair and tanned skin. Golden jewellery glint in the last embers of sunlight, catching her belt and heels that sound like she knew where she was headed.

"Excuse me, may I speak with you kindly for a moment?" The captain holds up his hand gently to get her attention and she makes a pleasnt humming noise.

"You may. What is a Hylian knight doing in these parts, I should warn you that the roads aren't as safe as they should be." She answers curtly, crossing her arms. Upon her back lay travel supplies, a bedroll and a cloth bag that seems heavy.

Warriors' cocks a brow at her words, realising that this era of Hyrule still seems to depend on the knights he supposes though he hadn't seen many. The garrisons lay in ruins, or at least the ones they've stumbled upon outside a great crumbling wall.

"Myself and my squad are looking for a place to restock our items and perhaps a place to sleep." Warriors' answers, hearing Legend scoff behind him about the word he used to describe the group. "We're not your little soldiers, soldier boy." Comes Legend's remark but he's promptly elbowed by their fairy boy.

"Ah, I see. Hanteno village is likely closer than Kakariko ... Well, we currently stand in Midla Woods so follow this path till it splits. Take the right path and it'll lead you past Ginner Woods, follow it straight up into Hanteno village. There's a lovely Inn there, the Great Ton Pu Inn, 20 rupees per person for one bed." The Geurdo woman smiles and gives a curt nod at the knight before clasping her hand on her hip.

"Thank you, lovely to speak with you." Warriors' grins ear to ear, a charming smile that has the Geurdo lady mumbling to herself about wishing she took better lessons in Voe and Me. After parting ways, Wars returns to the chain with the information of which Legend makes a teasing remark of, "smirk any wider and your face will stay like that."

"Shut up, you wish you could have my charming good looks," Wars teases back before straightening himself. "We're close to a settlement, Hanteno village is think she called it. We keep ok this path and then at the end of it turn right. She even gave me the name of an Inn," she voices proudly of which Twilight arches a brow.

"20 rupees isn't bad but, we all have enough for each other?" The blue eyed beast asks and a few of the heroes nod.

"I've got enough to cover anyone who
doesn't, traveller?" Time offers gently and Hyrule shakes his head. "I can manage 20." The hero in green answers smoothly whilst digging around in his pouch mentally counting each rupee he finds.

"Right then, to this mystery village." Sky chirps up, the chosen hero has an excited edge to his voice as he makes his way alongside Wars and the old man who seems calm enough.

"What do we think he's like?" Sky adds after a moment, thinking aloud.

"Who?" Comes Four voice from behind him, fixing their bandana to keep their hair in place.

"The hero of his era, dummy," Wind chirps back, smiling as he skips along the path beside Legend who looks towards the piercing red beams of light overhead.

"Think he's got connections to the royal family, a knight maybe? Or an adventurer? Hell, he could young like Wind,"

"Oi!" Wind scowls at the captain who chuckles under his breath at home firey Wind's reaction is to being called a young hero.

"Whoever he is, I'm sure we'll find out soon. Though, from the looks of it we seem to be in the middle of something power hungry and malevolent." Twilight sighs, he feels as though every blade of grass is familiar. Every stream with countless assortments of fish and crab smell familiar. The skies and the views of those towers and mountain peaks makes him feel small and yet important. He doesnt quite understand why.

By the time they enter the quaint village it's mid afternoon, a few children run loops up and down the village center and a few shops are bustling. A general store worker waves at the group as they arrive, her chirping "hey there!" Is welcoming.

"Come in come in! We have the finest ingredients all from our local farmers here today!" She encourages not only to them but to other villagers and locals.

"Chirpy." Legend mutters to himself as Time thanks the young lady but tells the woman that they will settle at the inn and then come back.

"Prima will be delighted to have many customers," the storefront lady smiles, brushing dust off her shoulder as Time thanks her and guides the group onwards through the village.

As they continue walking, they spot an clothing shop and a type of clothing dye shop too with a rather exhausted looking door covered in paint. "Colourful and cheery ... Reminds me of home in a way," the Skyloftian knight comments as they cross the small bridge to come to a small stable hand and then the inn.

After some time of payments, all eight heroes settle into their rooms. The beds are wide but comfy with fresh smelling sheets and flickering lantern.

"I'm gonna check out the store see if there's anything worth picking up, anyone joining me?" Twilight offers, ending up with Sky and Wind and Four scrambling towards the doors in a chorus of "I'm coming with you!" And "me!" From an excitable Wind.

"Keep them out of trouble, pup," Twilight's ancestor calls out from over his shoulder before stepping into his own room to change our of his heavy armour.

Entering the East Wind general store, the heroes are smacked in the face with an aroma of fresh wheat and hearty mushrooms. The manager of the sore, a man named Pruce, greets them at the counter and lists off various discounts for first time buyers.

"You sell arrows? How much?" Twilight asks, hand brushing over the hand crafted fletchings. His eyes narrow, he's seen these arrows before, he swears it.

"30 rupees for a bunch of 5. We have about four bunches left after that boy came in and took half me stock!" Pruce laughs cheerily making Twilight's ears ever so slightly twitch.

"A boy...took most of your arrows?"

"Well, he ain't so much a boy now I'd say. More a man than any knight these days, you know he looks a lot like you. Same untamable expression and wild hair." Pruce acknowledges making the three hero halt their movements and share a glance with each other.

"I see. Does he come here often?" Sky adds gently, taking a glass bottle of milk and frowning at the recognisable words.

"Link? He does yes, he actually lives just round the corner on the outskirts of the village. He might not be there though, he's always running from one place to the next." Pruce says, accepting Sky's 12 rupees for the milk.

"His name's Link?" Wind can't help but gasp, his arms full of crunchy carrots and a single brown mushroom.

"Mhm, think it's a family name of his. Long long time ago there was this young man who was appointed as our princess Zelda's protector. He was named Link too I believe,"

Twilight stops as he sets down two sets of arrows on the counter after Wind hands over his rupees. "A long time ago?" He repeats, puzzled.

"Why of course! 100 years ago I believe it is now. See the state of the castle? That is the monster that destroyed our lands, the king tried his best or so they say but it was devastating. Most of Hyrule Town was obliterated on the spot! Those poor souls didn't know what happened before it was too late." Pruce's lips turn down in a sad frown, the eyes of the man who seemed to be so cheery holds deep fear.

"Where was the hero?" Wind asks softly after a moment, the three of them speechless.

"Well, apparently from what folks think, he and the princess gathered as many as they could and fled to Fort Hanteno to get survivors here. Though ...that brave boy ... No one ever saw him again, and the princess neither, both lost on the battlefield."

The air seems to get sucked out of the heroes lungs as the words settle deep in their chest.

"But then ...who's this Link you talk of taking your stock?" Sky presses, confused with wide eyes.

"Likely, a very lucky descendant." Pruce shrugs a little, broad shoulders stretching up to his neck. The twin dark hairs under his nose moves as Pruce sighs, shaking his head with a scowl.

"60 rupees."

Twilight takes a moment before he slaps down the payment, shovelling the arrows into his pouch before nodding.

Opposite East Wind general store lays the Ventest Clothing Boutique with various blue banners depicting a shirt. Inside, Warriors is eyeballing the silver set of knight wear.

"...why does a village like this sell knight armour? I've never seen it made like this before." The captain mutters, tapping his chin as he stares at the uniform.

"For 250 rupees, just for the chest guard? Jeez ... 200 for the greaves?! What a rip off -" He exclaims, shaking his head with a frown before Time rests his hand on the young leader's shoulders.

"May I ask why so cheap? This armour looks to be the real deal, Hylian armour." The one eyed man asks the feeble lady cowering in the corner since they got here. Sophie clutches the hem of her cream under shirt, nervously looking at the travellers.

"We get a lot of soldiers to come by here. Though, many no longer wear the armour after the calamity. It is ... Decorative though." She admits, drawing Wars' attention.

"Armour is not -"

"Apologies, my brother is just upset. He wears his armour proudly, seeing it here simply because it is decorative is ...upsetting." Time quickly raises his hand to halt Wars' outburst. The young woman shyly nods, refusing to make eye contact with the captain and his swishy blue cloak.

"I see... Well, there was one boy who bought a set from me a few months ago. He claimed to be a royal knight though he didn't sound so sure."

That catches the heroes' attentions quickly. Time arches a brow, crossing his arms slightly as he focuses on Sophie's words. She seemed nervous but flustered to talk about this boy.

"He claimed to be a royal knight? That isn't something to joke about, being that high up in the rank puts me to shame." Wars mutters, blond eyebrows knitted together.

"Like I said, he didn't seem so confident when he said those words. But his actions speak it, he and Clavia spoke about some mystical shrine up on the snow peaks of Lanayru. Within the week he took off! He said he found the shrine, heeding Clavia's words about the three thin trees and even showed her the treasure there - climbing boots of all things. Though ...Link was almost frostbitten if I may say so." Sophie fiddles with her fingers as the two men give each other a knowing look.

"...Link? Is that his name?" Time asks, lifting his chin as a mixture of dread and childish excitement bubbles inside him. Another hero, another Link to add to the chain, another boy for the hero of Time to fret over.

"Why yes, Link is his name. He's a lovely man, always helping others, always doing the things we struggle to do. He's rather ...kind and friendly. Though he seems lonely... Maybe I'm just thinking too hard ... Is there anything you'd like to purchase? I must say the Hylian hood is going for a fair price of 60 rupees!"

The two heroes politely decline, leaving the boutique in thought. They step outside to pouring rain, a few children giggling as they rush under cover of their homes and Time grimaces at the downpour. A handful of crops, wheat and carrots it seems, grow lush and plentiful towards his right and a handful of apple trees sway in the growing wind.

"Think that's out hero of the hour?" Wars' asks, manipulating his scarf slightly to keep himself warm.

"Most likely. Let us see what the other have found." Time answers, walking and veering left back towards the inn.

With a heavy feeling in his chest, Time glances upwards to where the red beam of light is concentrated powerfully from a large beast perched far away on a mountain of seemingly glowy purple and blue crystals. Through the mist and haze and rain lashing down from the heavens, he wonders just what the hero may be facing alone.

Chapter Text

The days after are mediocre. The Chain busy themselves with work around the village for a good two days; Twilight and Time eagerly lend their ranch knowledge to the small Hanteno ranch filled with Hanteno cows, Four is happy to spend time working on a few horse shoes, Legend and Sky put use in their items to rescue a stray cat up in a wide oak tree up the hill trail.

"You look like you've been dragged through a hedge face first. What, pick a fight with the chickens again?" Legend scoffs out, crossing his arms with a feline friend purring loudly against his chest as he looks at Wars and Wind who comes back through the archway.

"Two red bokos actually," Wars answers, swiping a leaf from his hair, stretching his broad shoulders out whereas Wind is panting beside him. The young sailor's tunic is dirty with muck and twigs intertwined with the stitching that Legend knows he'll have to mend tonight.

"They're not like anything I've fought before. They're...wild." Wind rasps out, coughing and spluttering as the Captain slaps his back approvingly.

"We handled it pretty quickly between us, but Sailors right. These monsters, they're intelligent enough to use any thing they can get their hands on - even making their own clubs and shields." Warriors' shakes his head slightly with a frown. He's fought hordes of monsters, commanded soldiers into battle but these monsters aren't like what he's seen before.

"Now that you say that, We've seen even a few lizalfos' welding more than just spears. Boomaranges, even." Wind adds once he can catch his breath. "It's crazy to think they might be more than just monsters, you know? If they're intelligent enough to forge weapons then surely they build families and things?"

"Don't even start to think that, Wind. They're monsters, they hurt people and sometimes even kill. They're not like us." Legend interjects harshly, eyes narrowing at the young Link who straightens up and looks away for a moment.

"I was just saying -"

"Go clean up." Legend mutters, turning his back to give the cat back to it's owner politely before heading to find Hyrule at East Wind.

Twilight is perched by the fence, biting into a fresh apple as he gazes across the land quietly. The occasional cute moo of the cows reminds him of home in a way and it makes an unsettling feeling of homesickness dwell in his gut. He takes another bite from the apple, crisp and juicy, his eyes following one of the red beams in the skies.

All four aim to Hyrule castle. A place that is so devoid of life now it seems impossible. They all had been told of the great calamity that took place 100 years ago, how Ganon had been cunning and sprung upon the land with fire and malice and hatred. How the princess had never awoken her power, how she still fought on despite her appointed knight falling in battle.

It still shook Twilight to know that the hero has supposedly fallen 100 years ago. A mere boy of 17, the apple suddenly taste bitter as Twilight chews. From what the villagers say, the boy used to lived here with his father before coming home one day with a sword in hand. There were arguments between Pruce and a few others over the age of this boy who's fate was sealed the day he waddled back into the village with a glowing blue sword.

Twilight sighs, swinging his legs down and tossing his apple core into one of the farmers compost bins before strolling into village center. Between two apple trees lay a board of notes and village requests, today he notices Kochi's dye shop is asking for a hand in collecting various foraging herbs to make green and red dyes. The rancher hums to himself and makes a mental note to drag Sky along with him.

A grumbling Legend walks towards him and Twilight tilts his head curious at the reason as to why the red clad hero is in such a mood. Cocking a brow, Twilight releases a breath before turning his body towards Legend.

“Not a word.” The veteran holds up a finger warningly before stalking off back towards the inn where he's promptly stopped by Time. The hero of Time is carrying two wooden crates of glass milk, each carefully wrapped in a blue strip of fabric with the painted image of a cow. Beside the image reads the words ‘Lon Lon’ and Twilight can't help but grin.

“Give me a hand, Vet, if you'd be so kind.”

“...fine.”

Legend reaches to take the wooden crates gently making the glass bottles jingle and clink. He blows a piece of pink hair from his brow and Twilight gives a curt nod in greeting at his ancestor.

“Seems like Lon Lon is still around. We should ask around, see if we can find it.” Twilight suggests walking with the two of them towards the East Wind where he holds open the door.

“Maybe. But I'd have a hard time thinking it's the same one, no doubt it wouldn't be a family ranch any more. 100 years is a long time, anything could've happened.” Time answers with a soft thoughtful hum as he sets down his crate beside Legend's.

“Ah! Just who I wanted to see. Thank you so much for helping milking our herd, it seems like you've got some experience.” Pruce smiles and begins to label each one with a small tag reading ‘12 rupees per bottle’ and adding it to the counter.

“I suppose you can say that.” Time muses out, relaxed and in his simple cream tunic with his belt tied tight along his hips. Legend gives the second crate and dusts off his hands before taking a bottle.

“Mm, do you mind?” He asks, sliding 15 rupees across the counter and popping the cork off. Pruce smirks, handing back 3 before nodding.

“We'll likely be moving on soon. Anything in particular that raises concern?” Twilight asks, adjusting his pelt as Legend swigs the milk from the glass and licking his lip.

“Well, I suppose you could head out of the village and follow the trail back to the Dueling Peaks. If you cross Fort Hanteno then just be aware of guardians in the area.” Pruce answers, stocking his shop as he speaks.

“Guardians?” Time is curious, eager to learn about such creatures especially if there are lots of them.

“Autonomous creatures, made of a material so dense and strong that it was once told that only a legendary blade could pierce it.”

That makes everyone's eyes widen slightly.

The mastersword.

“...however, Link often gives travellers tips if they didn't themselves in a situation with one. Apparently, their eyes are very sensitive and easy targets. Blind it, and go for the legs, is what he says.” Pruce hums softly with nimble fingers tying tags on the milk glasses.

“Right. That's easy enough, we're all very capable fighters so you don't have to worry. A lot of us have a selection of arrows as well,” Twilight nods gesturing to the rack of arrows to his right.

Legend wipes his mouth with his sleeve and keeps hold of the glass bottle mumbling about fairies when Pruce speaks up again.

“Good, you'll need them. Now then, can I offer you some hearty truffles for your journey?”

Before any of them could answer, the door swings wide open with a crash. A nearby shelf rattled and a frame almost fell from the wall as an elderly man stumbled in panting with eyes wide.

“You must - … you must come with me, to the hill. Now. Purah has only just caught wind of your band of heroes. Come, come at once!”

The silver haired man turns and begins to jog through the village leaving the three experienced heroes with their mouths agape.

“...Purah ? I'm sorry, what the -”

Time slaps his hand on Legend’s shoulder to silence a curse from falling the others lips.

“How odd, Purah has taken interest in you lot. Well, don't keep the woman waiting, she can be rather … pensive.” Pruce grumbles out as if he knew the woman himself. “You'll find the lab sitting on the top of the hill, can't miss it.” He waves them away when another customer enters chatting to him about the new stock of milk that has just been brought.

With a shared look between them all, one by one they exit the East Wind store and slowly split up to find the others. After a grueling, winding walk up yellowed grass and steep hillsides lit by multiple plinths holding blue flames, they reach the peak.

The lab is … a busy looking building to say the least. A bright glowing blue circle is laid out in front of two wide blue stained wood doors where the eye of the Sheikah tribe is painted on in white chalk or perhaps its paint, Time isn't sure.

The runes on the ground ebb and flow as if alive when Time walks over it and pushes on the heavy doors. Once inside; papers litter the door, desks covered in books and scraps and items that are mostly foreign to them all. In the middle of the room lies a long table where a young girl is standing atop a stool peering down at papers in golden goggles.

Books line the floor and as Sky steps further inside from the back of the group, the smell of old books and dust hits him hard making him cough slightly.

“Oh! Hello there. I'm the director of Hanteno village tech lab!” A shrill almost girlish voice echoes around in Time's skull for a moment and Wind even looks puzzled.

“You're … the director? Sorry, I believe we are looking for a … Purah?” Warriors’ says though questioningly as the small girl sighs and plants her hands on her hips.

“... That's right, I'm Purah of the tech lab. Now, there's something I wasn't aware of until merely this morning and I have been dying! Dying to speak with you all.” She smirks, pushing her goggles up into her white mess of hair that is tied into a bun.

“... You're - but you're -”

“An experiment gone wrong, turns out I found a way to reverse my aging to the maximum! But now I'm stuck looking like this, until I figure out how to reverse and speed up the process again … I wonder if I could -” Purah snaps her fingers at the group who seem almost dazed as they take in the information.

“ - that doesn't actually matter right now. What does matter is you lot! You're not from around here, are you?” She says, pointing a finger at Sky and then at Warriors’ as if to accuse him of something in particular.

“I heard about your little discussions regarding the Hylian armour in the boutique a day or so ago. Which is surprising since you call yourself a captain and yet … I see nothing that proves this. A captain of the guard. Of Hylian knights … there has been no one to give such a rank out to someone. So either you are of the Yiga clan … or you are something else.”

There's a deafening silence that fills the space of the building making Warriors’ fist clench. A brief moment is all it takes before it's Sky who steps up from the back.

“Excuse me … miss… miss Purah. But I can see why you think we may be …unlikely people. But I assure you, we have good intentions here. In fact, I think we ought to explain a bit more about our situation.” The godslayer raises his hands in a surrendering gesture of which Time nods with an exasperated sigh.

“Pray tell.” Purah crosses her arms, scowling across them from her short stature.

“We came here through … what we think are portals opened by the goddess.” Hyrule speaks up, hands flexing by his sides where his gloves itch at his wrists.

“We all came together through these portals without much explanation other than a vague idea that something is happening across time and it's affecting the Hyrule kingdom throughout history.” Four adds his own piece before Wind smiles beside Time.

“We're the Links of other eras! My name's Link and so’s his and his and -” Time rests a hand on the young sailor’s shoulder to calm him as Purah’s eyes grow wide.

“Link’s … of other eras…across time? Across Hyrule kingdom …history?” She repeats slowly with a slight twitch of her eyebrow.

“We believe we came here by the Goddess' hand to find the Link of this era and either aid him or for him to join us in our quest to halt the Shadow.” Time finishes firmly making everyone stand to attention properly even Legend who looks more interested in the notes on the table.

“The Shadow …? What, like, a dark entity?” Purah cups her chin and taps her bottom lip in thought.

“To a degree, yes. It's been appearing all throughout Hyrule’s time and we keep getting sent there to follow and apprehend it. So far, we have no leads but we ended up here.” Time nods and tilts his head at the young scientist who opens her mouth to speak her part when the ground beneath their feet rumbles and quakes.

An ear splintering noise booms around them making the heroes jerk into action. Stepping outside, the red beams of power have burst across the skies in an agony of glory.

Purah rushes as fast as her little legs will carry her to the edge of the hill where they all stand and gaze outwards across Hyrule kingdom. The red beams concentrate into a thick blue hue, morphing against the dark clouds rolling in, all aimed at Hyrule castle itself.

“He did it…they did it.” Purah’s small voice watches in awe as the beams shoot out in an unexpected woosh, all four of the giant beasts flooding the castle with their power before a sound of an explosion shatters the earth.

A shockwave almost knocks Purah and Wind off their feet if Warriors’ and Time hadn't grasped their shoulders finely. A rush of hot air pulses around them as the beams of light flick and die into the sky and as the smoke clears from the heart of the kingdom, Time watches with a heavy heart as the castle seemingly remains standing.

“What was that?” Legend huffs out, his hair pushed back from the gush of wind as he stares ahead.

“...the great battle is coming to an end…100 years in the making …four divine beasts and a champion who rose from the dead. Calamity Ganon’s end is near.” Purah breathes out a sigh of relief though her small shoulders are tense before she looks at them with wide eyes.

“...well, what are you all standing around for? Go, go! If you truly are the heroes of old legend … make sure Link comes back alive this time.”

Chapter Text

Within 30 minutes the group had bundled down the hillside and darted towards the Inn where they hastily began stuffing their supplies into pouches and buckling up armour. Time is aided by Warriors’ who is adjusting the man’s shoulder piece before pulling on his own chainmail when Time waves him away.

Sky and Twilight pick up their equipment, mastersword strapped against the knight’s back and the Ordon’s blade sheathed and ready on the shapeshifter. Twilight adjusts his wolf pelt, the heavy black crystal thuds against his chest and a stroke of familiarity hits him in the gut when he gazes out the window.

“Earth to Twi! Oi! Come on!” Wind’s hand grabs at the Ordonian’s wrist, tugging before Twilight hums and fixes his expression. He follows the sailor out with Four pushing back his strip of cloth to keep his hair from falling in his eyes that shimmer in the candle light.

“Right. We'll head out along the trail, Pruce said something about a place called a fort yes?” Warriors’ speaks his mind casually as they all trot down stairs and exit without much further notice. The eight of them take their regular formation, courtesy of the captain, with Time and himself up front and Hyrule and Four at the back.

“would be faster on horse back.” Twilight mutters, missing Epona who when they left his era hadn't been able to follow them. He hopes Ilia isn't too angry with him for leaving the poor mare outside his home in Ordon.

“We've seen horses around but we don't have time to tame one, let's just see how far we can get before making camp.” Time answers, clapping his descendant’s shoulder whilst walking past him to settle at the front with the captain. There's a tightness in the air, as if something is to snap at any moment.

The nighttime of this era is daunting even for the heroes who tread carefully down the path leading away from the village. As they walk the curl in the road, two sleeping red bokos snore loudly in the forest making Warriors’ scan the treeline to spot the two monsters sleeping on their backs with their clubs within reach.

“...keep moving, quietly.” The captain orders in a hushed tone, keeping to the middle of the path. The skies are painted a deep ebony, a falling star catches Four’s gaze and he watches it trail downwards before crashing upon the earth in a blaze of yellow light. Beautiful, but that isn't what they're here for. They're here for a champion in blue.

“Something doesn't add up. Purah said that the final battle is taking place right now, but we've been told clearly that this champion fell in battle 100 years prior.” Four stares down at his feet as he walks, mind running so many questions it begins to cause stress knotting the muscles of his shoulders.

“Perhaps he took a nap like our little old man here.” Legend perks up with a playful jab.

“Maybe so.” Time answers as he steadies his one eyed gaze on the horizon. Further down the track of yellow grass, Time believes that this is the edge of Ginner Woods leading into Campbor Pond that sits adjacent to Ovli Plain. The names were given to them by Purah who scribbled out a daft map of which is currently in the sailor's hands.

“Wow… the land is huge…” Wind mutters to himself, occasionally walking into Sky with his eyes glued to the hastily drawn map. He follows the crude wobbly drawn line with his eyes, glancing up a few times to make note of their surroundings.

“We just stay on this road -”

The ground shakes once more, but isn't from those giant beasts this time.

“Stalfos!” Warriors' call out makes the sailor jerk, stuffing the map into his pocket as three boney creatures pull themselves free from the ground. Their snarls and bone jittering jaws makes for an unsettling sight but Wind can't help but smirk as one begins to toss pebbles at them.

“... is this a joke?” Legend scoffs, easily brandishing his sword before one of the monsters crawls up holding a thick wooden club. It swings the weapon blindly, red beady eyes zeroing on a few of them before Time easily steps forwards with his two handed biggoron sword glinting in the moonlight.

The two clash, Time shifts his weight and pushes back as the club splits in two, his heavy sword slicing the skeleton remains of the boko cleanly. The other two squeak, the one throwing pebbles charges forwards only to be met with Legend’s shield where from there, the veteran smirks as the skeleton boko collapses into a pile of bones. He stabs the skull firmly making the pieces of bone dissolve into wispy purple mists.

An arrow embedded itself in the ground by his feet making him look up. The last stalfos boko is backing up whilst welding a flimsy wooden bow, its aim a little rough as Warriors’ is easily able to charge forwards and cut it down within moments.

The squeaking dies down, all that's left are a few teeth and a wiggling bone of an arm on the ground. Legend nudges it, the fingers flexing and he yelps as it latches onto his ankle.

“What the fuck!?”

He hops for a moment, fruitlessly kicking his leg out to get the skeleton remains off him. Behind him, a few of the heroes begin to giggle and laugh before Time reaches down with a strong hand and yanks it clean off. He stomps on the squirming bone hard as Legend furiously scowls at the group.

“That was not -”.

“Absolutely hilarious, vet, oh you squeak like a woman!” Warriors’ laughs out before being elbowed by Sky hard.

“Ow… alright. Sorry, Legde.”

“I don't accept your apologies.” Legend quibs back, huffing as he turns to continue walking ahead. Twilight sighs deeply, letting go of the pommel of his sword as shares a knowing glance with his ancestor.
The road ahead is going to be another long one.

“... Let's keep it moving,” Twilight breathes out with a heavy rumble in his chest when they head off again. Following an angry Legend isn't a good idea but as they walk along the road, they each slowly start to feel it.

A twinge. A pull. A thread being pulled taut in their souls as they begin to pick up the pace. A feeling of danger and as they finally come through at Fort Hanteno, they know why.

Decayed beings lay rotting in the ground. Half sunken in wet grass and muck as they walk past a battlefield. Warriors’ feels something creeping up his spine into his throat at the sight of it all. There's still the worn path beside lush tall grass, swords and spears left broken and embedded into the earth.

It’s silent as they walk through, giving solace to the souls who left their bodies so many years ago. Warriors’ is especially glum as he walks on, putting under his breath about something no one can hear.

“...there's the peaks.” Wind says softly, pointing to the two towering mountains that seem to have been split down the middle, forging the new path and a rushing river. He looks down at the map seeing the line drawn showing them to walk through the peaks. Scribbled off to the side are the words “dueling peaks stable” and Wind hums.

“Looks like we might be able to get a horse after all.” Hyrule voices out, pointing at the horse head shaped building across the field. Twilight’s eyes lighten up slightly as they all make their ways towards it.

As they approach, a small herd of horses scatter into the grass and the smell of tack soap and hay and smoke fills their noses. A man is standing outside the building, hand above his brows as if scouring the skies for something.

“Tonight…” the man mumbles out to himself, making Time frown.

“Excuse me. What do you mean by that?” Time walks over slowly, seeing the young man stand straighter.

“Oh … it looks like the moon has already disappeared today.” the man says leaving Time puzzled.

“Tonight’s moon?”

“Tonight is a new moon… evening though we can't see it, isn't it great just knowing it's there?”

Time frowns, glancing to the clouds for a moment before nodding and stepping aside for a second.

“We're looking to go to Hyrule Castle.” Sky speaks up, hair slightly tousled by the wind.

The man jabs his finger behind his back. “Speak to Rensa. He'll give directions. Though, I hope you know what you're doing, going there at this time of time…”

Sky meets his gaze Time and breaks off to speak to another man standing outside the stable waving him over rather excitedly.

“Where you heading then?” Rensa smirks, hands by his sides before fixing his hat.

“Hyrule castle. We're … meeting someone there.” Sky says calmly and he watches as Rensa looks him over head to toe before crossing his arms with a nod.

“Well, follow the path through the Dueling Peaks, along the Squabble River - watch out for the lizalfos' in the water - continue over Proxim bridge and you'll wanna keep going past East Post Ruins and the Outpost Ruins till you get to Gatepost Town. From there, keep on that one road, once you get to the crossroads head left and stay on that road.”

Sky swallows, making mental notes and acting like he knew of those ruins and such, nodding respectfully.

“How long does that route take?”

“Mhm…perhaps a week on foot?” Ransa answers, making Sky grimace. They needed to be quick and it's already midnight, the group won't be able to keep going for much longer without resting.

“Okay thank you.”

Walking back to the group he relays as much as he can to them before sighing. He wishes he had his loftwing, travelling could be easier if they could fly.

“Okay. How are we all feeling right now?” Time calls out to the group and he catches Wind yawning into his sleeve.

“Fine.”.
“Could go a little more.”
“My feet are killing me…”
“I think everyone’s feet are hurting, Vet.”

Time sighs, steadying himself before speaking.

“We'll find a place to camp once we're outside the Peaks, deal?”

A chorus sounds and a few grumbles from Legend and Four before Time thanks the stable hand with a wave of his hand.

By the time they get through the other side of the Dueling Peaks, even Twilight was beginning to feel fatigued now with his boots dragging along the path with deep sighs. As they scout an area to make camp, they find a small boko camp close by and Time mutters that the stable hand should've warned them about such before finding a good enough spot for now inside a fallen great tree.

Close enough to the water but there's a big enough space from any immediate threats. He lets Wind and Sky collapse in a heap onto each other, the chosen knight passing out easily than the sailor who squirms and whines about being hungry under his breath.

“...I'll see if the fish bite.” Time offers simply, letting Hyrule and Four fix a camp fire as Warriors’ and Legend do a small perimeter check.

“I'll come with you, think I have bait somewhere…” Twilight mumbles, digging around into his bag before blindly stumbling after the old man who settles at the edge of the sandy river bank.

Upon grabbing his jar of bait, Twilight steps out to meet Time by the river bank where he promptly squats down into a crouch. Laying down his Ordon sword and shield in the sand as he unscrews the lid of the bait jar and holding it out to Time who fixes the wiggling thing onto the rod.

Watching the river flow rather quickly, Twilight can smell Hyrule Bass’ in the waters though it must be a different variety. These ones smell hearty almost, like they could be cooked to ease one's weary body.

“You're quieter than usual.” Time’s voice cuts through the rushing current making Twilight jerk slightly. He runs a hand through his tousled hair, tugging a few strands to feel something else other than the pulsing rhythm of his heart.

“...yeah. I just … got a lot on my mind.” He answers gruffly, sighing as he picks up a pebble to inspect before hearing the unsaid words from his ancestor.

“I just feel like I've been here before.” He finally admits slowly, the words tumbling from his mouth.

“In what way?”

“It feels familiar. The scents and the views. I feel …like I'm so close to finding something, I don't know what it is though.” Twilight perches at a rock, his thighs aching slightly from his squat position. He flicks his gaze back to Time, the hero of legend gazing back at him with a curious yet kind eye.

“I don't mind if you need a moment or two with yourself, Twilight.”

The shapeshifter knows immediately what the old man is suggesting but he shakes his head. He can't transform right now, it'll cause more harm than good he thinks, being in a new open world with threats they don't even understand would be stupid.

“No, no. It's fine. I don't … I don't need to. Besides -”

Redness blooms in the corner of Twilight’s vision, his gaze snapping to the skies where the clouds twist and darken before their eyes. A red sky splashes across the clouds, the moon seems to throb and for a second he notices Time’s body tensing as if waiting for something to crash down upon the land.

“What the hell…? Oi! What the fuck is that!?”

Twilight hears Legend’s curse and stands up with their leader, tense with apprehension as something begins to morph into being far north . Where the castle stands enshrouded with darkness and red pulsing power.

The thing bellows loudly, shaking the ground making the bird flock to the blood skies.

“...a boar. That's -” Hyrule seems shaken, the fairy hero’s eyes bright with terror Twilight’s never seen before as the boar-like creature comes into being. It towers over everything; gigantic tusks skimming the land as it twists and even from the river bank of Dueling Peaks, Time can see it twitch its mighty snout.

“You're telling me, he's fighting that thing?!” The shrill squeak of Wind’s voice is enough to shake the chosen hero awake, jerking to alertness with a dazzling blue shine to his eyes as Sky sets his gaze on Ganondorf’s enraged body.

“There's no way we can get there fast enough -” Warriors’ chimes out against the howling wind screeching into his ears and Time makes a decision.

The captain is correct, there's no way any of them could get there quick enough to lend any kind of support against this foe and Time glances at Twilight who's still staring wide eyed at the beast roaring to life.

A dazzling golden light flashes hot and cold across the land, something akin to a star twinkles far above the ground and from this angle no one can see for certain what is taking place. The golden lights flash, like coordinated attacks of a sacred weapon. Too golden to be a …

Sky almost bolts upwards, his sail cloth whipping around and hitting poor Four in the face when the young hero stands too.

“...I can feel her. Hylia!…She's here -”

Another brilliant flash of pure golden light and the beast roars, a deafening sound that makes every hero clutch their ears to avoid bursting their eardrums. Time moves quickly, armour clanking as he yanks Twilight by the back of his pelt to join the others in the meek safety of the fallen tree trunk they're currently making their camp.

With an ear popping crack, the skies whoosh together firmly making the boar lose its quaking form. As he watches, Twilight feels a deep rooted pit of dread bubbling up out of his chest. Something is screaming at him, yanking at his soul to go forwards, to chase and bite and defend something he still can't place.

A couple of words come to mind that shake his horizon as they all watch the mighty evil tunnel skyward before being swallowed by a giant golden light. Two words bang into his skull as Twilight watches the skies then to a faded grey and the dawn begins to break upon the north of the castle.

His cub.

Chapter Text

“Do you really remember me?”

The words echoed around the burnt grassy Hyrule field as the skies shriveled into a gorgeous sight of dawn breaking behind the ruins of the castle. A guardian or two collapses and their red glow softens into an empty husk.

Link dismounts his stallion, feet hitting the ground in a soft almost reverent way as he steps towards the glowing embers of that golden light. A lady dressed in white. Gold locks swaying in the breeze and that warm smile gracing her perfect face.

His heart feels heavy as he gazes upon her at last. The voice of all of this, a guide during his long aching journey. It seemed like it would never end and still, despite being at the supposed finish line, Link knows there's something else afoot.

“...I think so.”

His hands move fluidly, signing the words like he's done a thousand times during his quest. His fingers feel cold, bruised even by the weight of the Master Sword that now hands sheathed on his back. The Bow of Light is warm too, comforting but he feels nothing but bitterness and grief.

Zelda smiles with hands clasped together before she slowly steps towards her knight, the hero in blue. How he's changed over these many months. How different he seemed, less focused and more jittery. Upon coming face to face with Link, she sees the torment of battle and the burnt yet healed skin across his cheek stretching over his ear that hasn't fully healed. The cross cross of scars disappearing under his tunic and underclothes makes her heart lurch to her throat.

Hands trembling, she reaches for him. Embraces him tightly as her golden half falls like a waterfall across her back. Tears fall down her rosy cheeks, wet and cold as she cries into his shoulder.

Link feels the weight of her, the princess’ body is cold and he doesn't think twice as he swiftly draws his Hylian cloak around her shaking shoulders. He embraces her with hesitant hands, Zelda’s knees give way and he catches her like all the times before.

Half kneeling in the burnt grass, he holds her close finally. The voice, the guiding golden flutters of warmth through his journey, is finally in his arms.

There's a cold stinging reminder though as he manages to cast his gaze to the far west, catching a glimpse of Vah Ruta in its glory no longer aiming for the castle. His heart squeezes so hard in his chest he fears it would stop.

He draws back slowly once the princess apologizes, his scarred hands cupping her face gently to wipe dirt from her cheek. Emerald meets Lapis Lazuli, sharing a million different words and meanings as they marvel at each other in this moment of stillness.

Retreating from their close embrace, Link stands on aching feet and tight thighs from riding into battle merely seconds prior. His stallion nickers, reaching to nibble on the sleeve of his champion tunic affectionately knowing the hero has apples somewhere. The action makes Zelda’s rosy cheeks lift in a smile once more as she stands to attention.

Turning her back momentarily to survey the broken castle, she watches as the giant pillars quake and begin to collapse into the crust. Spirals of inky red wisps curl into the skies and fade into nothing and the pillars make the land tumble. Rocks and fallen debris fill the four holes, she immediately thinks of how to begin fixing the land before her.

“... The calamity is over.” She announces to but the dead, small fists trembling at her sides as the past brews in her mind. All those people, she thinks, who lost their lives that night.

Link rests a warm hand on her bare shoulder and gently turns her back to him. With hands slightly more steady than before, he signs.

‘Morning rises, you and I travel, see Impa.’ Link spells out Impa's name with his fingers and the princess takes a moment before nodding.

“Of course, I'm sure she will be beside herself with concern for the both of us.” She agrees lightly before adding, “Are you more comfortable like this, Link?”

At first Link doesn't quite follow before looking at his hands. He swallows, smiling sheepishly and scratching the back of his head with a shrug.

He slowly opens his mouth, tongue feeling like lead as he finally murmurs out a soft, “I … am still your knight.” He says with a shaky voice that croaks half way through his words making him rub the tender spot on his throat. He doesn't recall much of his first death, but he knows for certain that even the Shrine couldn't heal everything.

Zelda’s smile faults for a moment. “You are more than just a knight, Link. I - …nevermind.” She trails off, her cheeks rosy red as she tucks golden strands of her hair back from her face.

“Come.” Link offers his hand suddenly, his own cheeks slightly pink as he feels her cool hand against his own. He leads her towards his stallion, petting the liver chestnut horse’s sturdy neck before holding the reins.

At first, Zelda isn't sure what Link wants her to do till he slowly aids her up and into the comfortable saddle. She sits, poised as a princess should be on her mount before Link mounts up as well. Her arms immediately lock around his waist, squeezing him gently before heading him wince.

Recoiling slightly, she realises why. Her finger tips come back slightly red and Link covers them with his own.

“Scratch.” Is all the hero says before squeezing his thighs and encouraging his stallion to move. With a chuff, the horse moves on along Hyrule field and Link’s eyes sweep across the land in search of dangers. At least on horseback he knows he can actually out-run a lot of monsters but it's the guardians he's petrified of.

“We'll get you checked by Impa’s healers at once.” Zelda’s voice is like honey dripping into his pierced ears where the amber earrings glint in the rising sunlight. He hums, nodding stiffly before letting his horse follow the yellowed dirt road so he can scout the rolling hills and trees.

He taps his Sheikah slate a few times, adjusting some of his weaponry to find a spear or a bow just in case they run into any hiding bokos. He knows Zelda is watching over his shoulder and he smiles a little to himself. He did what was asked of him. He saved her.

He just couldn't save the others.

Link whistles a few times when he knows from experience there aren't monsters around, waiting for the fluff of greenish grey fur to come barreling through the grass. The wolf does not come and he grows concerned.

The wolf creature Link swears is a lost maybe even a guiding soul who he found on the great Plateau many months ago. Nicknamed Wolfie just because it was the first thing Link thought of when he woke, he had been the only company Link knew of in those first weeks. The mutt has been about to sniff out shrines, hunt and even aid during battles. Link’s heart always felt heavy whenever he had to board the divine beasts for the wolf could never follow.

But now, after entering the castle the stocky wolf had disappeared completely. Perhaps he truly was a spirit, Link thinks to himself though hiding his concern and sadness that he never got to say goodbye to the lovable fur bag before fighting Ganon.

He sighs deeply, gently reaching to pat Zelda’s thigh to keep her steady against his back as they ride on out of Hyrule field. The guardians that would swarm this place are deactivated it seems, most are slumped over without the hum and squeals of their gears turning.

They pass Mabe Prairie and then the Ranch Ruins where Link gently kicks his stallion into a soft trot to avoid the red and blue bokos hiding in the ruins. They come down to Whistling Hill and Link guides his horse right towards Owlan Bridge but keeps going up and towards Kolomo Garrison.

“The world has changed so much.” Zelda voices softly from behind him, taking in their surroundings slowly from her 100 year battle with Ganon. He knows she must be exhausted …

Midday strikes and Link guides the stallion to some water before swinging down to the ground. He helps Zelda off modestly. Glancing around, he knows they're safe right now in the cross roads of Gatepost Town. He gives an apple or two to Blackjack before taking off his cloak to wrap around Zelda’s shoulders.

“Rest.” He signs out, taking the Sheikah Slate from his hip to find something light for the princess to eat. He feels her gaze on him, soft but nurturing. Her hand reaches out, looking at the state of his tunic.

“I'm glad it was repaired, however, it seems I will have to do so again,” she says with a tilt of her head making her blonde hair tumble along her shoulders. Her white dress is dirty, trailing just above her ankles that are wrapped in golden sandals.

“...forgive me,” Link signs out with an embarrassing expression of the state of himself. Though he tried to keep himself clean, when fighting almost daily it became almost impossible.

“No no, it is okay, Link.”

After sharing some fresh hearty skewers and some light conversations about Link’s travels, the hero goes quiet. The reminder stings as he looks up at the skies to see nothing but bright blue and a few white clouds above them. A perfect day he thinks to himself. A perfect day of which the champions won't feel or experience again.

“I see you've gotten a new skill,” Zelda breaks the silence with her honeyed voice and Link looks at his hands where he holds a now empty skewer.

“Cooking … is comfort.” He signs awkwardly with a meek smile and the princess sets down her own wooden skewer on the cooking pot after finishing her own.

“Tender and cooked to perfection.” She notes happily, stretching her arms to the skies before there's the sound of voices.

Link is on his feet immediately. He steps in front of her with eyes narrowed at the trees and the cross roads. He knows Yiga often come here to fake needing aid, hiding in the flesh of simple merchants or travellers. However, he knows the two travellers who often come to the spot at Gatepost Town and those voices do not match.

Too many, Link’s brain picks out at least five distinct voices he has never heard of before. Strangers. Enemies. Potential threats to his princess.

“...calm down Link, surely it is just travellers.” Zelda’s voice wavers slightly as she stands from her spot on the ruined wall to see Link shake his head firmly.

Maybe they are just travellers, but still, one can't be so curious. He sees the first stranger and immediately is on edge. Armoured and a large two handed sword of the likes he's never seen before nestled on their back. A thin jagged scar cuts down the man’s face, blinding his right eye permanently.

The second; wearing chainmail and a blue scarf, almost knightly in posture and yet with a sharp angular jaw and lush blond hair all neat and tidy. A sword and shield hangs on the man’s back as well, these aren't just travellers Link murmurs to himself.

The man with one eye steps forwards after looking back at his group and for a few moments, Link can count them. Eight. His breath stills in his throat but he still doesn't fault.

Two young ones are towards the back with another man dressed with a white cloak with the royal insignia printed in blue. He scoffs, not only are they not just mere travellers but impersonating the royal knights is something Link doesn't take kindly to.

He can deal with the young ones easily, they won't be much of a threat. The big one in the center with a fur pelt might be an issue as he takes in the size and strength of the man but with Daruk’s protection it should be easy. The pink one seems harmless, as does the brown haired traveller who looks so skinny Link bets he could snap him up in no time.

Without further action, Link turns and guides Zelda to her feet and gently calls Blackjack over.

“Ride on without me. Follow the road north, past Dueling Peaks. I will meet you in Kakariko.” He signs quickly, helping her to mount despite the princess fretting. He brings up the hood of his cloak over Zelda's soft hair, hiding her face enough.

“Link, if they are not just travellers -”

“I am still your knight. Please, trust me.” Link mutters before urging the stallion onwards just as he sees the group come around the bend in the road. Blackjack takes off into a canter, the stallion almost barreling through the group who jerk to the sides in surprise.

Now’s his chance. Take on the leader, the armoured one first and they all should realise they're not a match for him.

Link flexes his wrists, bringing his fists together slightly to test Daruk's protection power that zings against his skin. He takes a deep breath, crouching low and channeling Revali's gale down into his feet.

They haven't seen him yet, good.

Revali's spirit greets him once he's lifted into the air, the Rito makes a mockery out of a salute before Link draws his bow and sets his aim for the one eyed man instantaneously.

He won't lose her again. He'll make sure of it now more than ever that no one will ever come close enough to destroy his kingdom, his friends, his own life. He'll ask questions later when he gets them down on bended knees.

Drawing his aim right, the air still and for a split second time stops, he releases the string and three arrows loose into the air at dazzling speed.

There's a moment of dulled groaning, a scream somewhere else when Link lands and darts forwards with all his stamina. Teeth gritting, jaw clenched, Link reaches back for the mastersword in its sheath and draws it upon the so-called traveller. For a moment, a burning smell engulfs his nose but he thinks nothing of it as his sword meets another in a breathtaking clash.

The other one, the fake knight meets him before he can deal the blow, their eyes ablaze. Link pushes down, his right glove smoldering against the pommel of the mastersword that rings out loud in a desperate chime.

“Time!” Someone shouts, there's a fury of colour and Link side steps to avoid another sword cutting into his side.

“We're not going to hurt you -” someone else calls from the side, the white cloaked guy is unarmed with hands up right as if to surrender. Link scoffs and jerks backwards when a pink haired guy lurches forwards in fury.

“Get back here you little runt!”

Link has half a second before Daruk’s protection ignites and the shield parries the pink one’s sword making him stagger back in a huff.

Link smirks slightly, running forwards with a burning palm as he clashes with the pink one’s sword. They clash and clang, a dance of feet before Link backpedals and time slows enough for him to follow through only this time, his so called bullet time is halted by searing agony.

He jerks, stumbling with a pained yell. His right arm is killing him, agony of fire rushing through his skin and for a split second he thinks a Guardian has snuck up on him somehow.

“Hey hey ! Hey, shh it's okay, just … drop your sword.”

Another voice echoes in his skull, he shakes his head and refuses.

“Legend! Stop, calm down.” The same voice calls out amongst the sizzling of skin and Link stumbles onto one knee digging the tip of the blade into the dirt to lean on. There's hands on his shoulders and then on his arm trailing down to fish the scorching pommel from his hand.

“No!”

He rips away, scowling at the kind face staring at him with bright azure eyes and lightning freckles.

“Shh … Link, right? We've been asked to look for you … from Purah. She told us about you.”

He looks around confused as the pain strikes again. The mastersword sings, chiming and ebbing in blue waves. Purah sent these guys, why and how? Thoughts dance in his mind. Zelda is ahead to Kakariko, safe.

“How do you … know my name?” Link demands as he focuses on one thing at a time. Right now, answers are more important than fighting.

“Take a good long look,” the pink guy scoffs out only to be elbowed by a young boy in blue.

“We're not going to hurt you.” The white cloaked guy murmurs again and there's something in the guy's eyes that makes Link stop in his tracks.

These weren't just travellers. He sees that now as he squints at the group once more before a heady fuzz takes over his head. The smell of burnt skin and sweat fills the air alongside a painful groan. He looks down, his hands trembling and he sees the burnt flesh of his right hand gripping the mastersword.

“She doesn't like it when we raise our blades towards each other.”

Those words shatter Link’s foundations, splintering them across the lands as he meets azure eyes in a moment of familiarity.

The blade chimes again and the guy in front of him smiles sadly as if looking at a long lost friend. Link shakily grips the handle again, before his left hand grasps his slate. Someone’s sword is unsheathed as he puts the mastersword away for now. Strings of blue light twirl and float before the sword fades into a blue hue leaving behind red blisters on his palm and fingers.

“Look, I'm sorry, we must've startled you -”

Link springs up to his feet again as he feels hands on his shoulders. He jerks back, scowling, eyes landing on the armoured man clutching his side where three arrows are embedded. The guy with fluffy brown hair is leaning over with a soft pale green light pulsing from his hands.

“Startled? He shot Time! Three times too many!” The pink one points accusingly.

“Do we remember when we met you, Legend?” A stocky young man with a dulled quartered tunic mutters back and Link finds himself stuck between everything.

“Enough… let's talk this out properly, man to man.” The fake knight steps forwards, eyes cruel and calculated, ready to slit his throat.

Link isn't sure but there's a wave of something golden pulsing between them all like strings of fate. And he dislikes that to a whole other level.

That means Hylia is involved and that means, this won't end well …

Chapter Text

∆ Moments prior∆

“We've been walking for hours -”

“Everyone’s feet hurt, just deal with it.”

“Oh shut it, you're the one who practically begged Sky to carry you -”

Twilight sighs hard, raking a hand through his hair as he listens to Wind and Legend bicker back and forth. They're all tired and achy, it's true. The road towards the castle is long and winding making every step tug at the poor heroes’ feet.

“Enough!” He finally snaps out, shoulders up to his ears in stress and exhaustion. The two go quiet, blinking like deers caught on the tip of an arrow.

“Sheesh…”

“That's quite enough, I can see smoke ahead. Perhaps we can ask the travellers if we can rest with them.” Time’s voice cuts through the group as a breeze ruffles the grass making Warriors' scarf swing upwards in the gust.

“Ya, or it's a moblin's camp. Let's walk right into the pit,” Legend scoffs out and Hyrule sighs with his hand on his forehead. The traveller picks at the skin around his nails, the magic here feels powerful and yet light as if a dusting of regal power has sprinkled over them.

“That strange glow in the sky is gone now.” He comments, looking ahead where the red moon had finally shrunk. The now midday sun beats down upon them all and he notices Four lagging behind looking in the grass at something.

“Found something?” He offers to hang back slightly when Four rises and brushes off their knees. “No, I thought I saw something familiar.” comes the hero of fourswords as they stand and continue onwards with Hyrule frowning.

“Whatever happened, we're too late. That beast is gone and looks, the pillars are too-”

Warriors' faults as they finally turn towards the crossroad where the sound of galloping hooves crunch over dead grass and dirt. He gasps as a stallion with its rider comes around the corner at lightning speed. They all spring back, making way for the horse and its rider who seems distressed.

“Whoa!”

“They're in a hurry -” Twilight says mostly to himself before the air around them thins and pulls tight. For a short moment, it could've only been a second, Twilight felt the air was pulled from his lungs.

The sound of a bowstring thwaps loudly and the whoosh of air as the arrows come speeding down makes Twilight turn on his heels.

Time's pained groan meets their ears. Someone is attacking them -

∆Present hour∆

Eyes dart here and there, Time’s mutters of “I'm fine, save your strength” reaches Sky’s ears and he glances over to see Hyrule methodically taking out the arrows and healing the wounds.

“Enough…let's talk this out properly, man to man.” The captain’s voice rings across the cross roads, sharp and commanding, making Link flinch. With the mastersword seemingly stored elsewhere, something Sky would ask about later, the tension slowly dies.

“Purah sent you? Why?" Link suddenly stands on weak knees, most of his right sleeve is burnt along with the oozing of flesh and the blisters popping along his fingers but the champion doesn't seem to care. What's one more scare, he thinks to himself as he scowls across the group.

The captain, the fake knight as Link nicknames him, steps forwards and pierces his sword into the ground to rest his hands on the pommel. Blue eyes meet blue, for a split second Link feels an itch in the back of his head. A woozy feeling, hazy and thick with flashes of images. He can't have another memory lapse right now, it's foolish, he's in danger.

He shoves the feeling down thick and hard, in turn his head throbs like a mighty heart.

“Purah sent us to find and aid you. Though it seems you didn't need any aid."

Seeing the stiffness of the boy, the captain tilts his head as he takes a long look at Link. The poor thing could be no less than 16 he’d say, slightly older than their smithy. But the burns…

"We're not going to harm you or Zelda …speaking of, where is she? You …saved her, correct?” Sky asks gently, feeling a wash of dread filling his bones.

" I did. I sent her ahead thinking you were -” Link stops with a grimace. Another stupid mistake, he never should've sent her away. At least he can travel to the Ta’Loh Naeg shrine and paraglide down to Impa’s house. That'll take about a minute, he supposes.

"You thought we were enemies." Someone else speaks up, the small one with their tunic split in four colours. He's never seen such stitch making before.

“I thought you were Yiga soldiers, yes." Link answers finally with shoulders beginning to relax as he peers towards the armoured one who is standing with one dark blue eye trained on him. But not unlikely.

“Yiga?" That man speaks, a tone that makes Link frown. Did these guys not know the Yiga clan? What, are they stupid, he figures.

“Traitors to the crown." Link answers and immediately the captain’s face twists in both humiliation and anger.

“You think we'd betray -"

“Wars, this isn't your era. Calm down." Sky reaches out and pushes Warriors' back slightly before the captain can explode.

“The Yiga clan follow Ganondorf’s demon tribe, they seek to revive him and worship him. They've been more active recently after I bested their leader in combat …more like he took care of himself,” Link finally explains and the group frown at the relaxed way the champion speaks.

"He still shot Time.” The pink one scoffs, clearly holding a grudge as he crosses his arms and sneers at the ground before puffing out his chest when the old man waves the veteran off.

"A simple misunderstanding. We all kept our guard up when we met, this is no different.” Time rests a hand on Hyrule’s shoulder before leaning to whisper about Link’s hand.

"Okay enough. Who are you and what are you doing here?” Link snaps out, getting frustrated and impatient as he sets a hand on his belt to pick up the bulky looking thing on his hip.

" We are … well … it's difficult -”

"We're you. Sorry, more like, heroes from the past and legends of old. Does the hero of Time ring a bell?” Wind bounds up to the front of the group, staring wide eyed at Link with hands on his hips. " Everyone knows the hero of Time, right? That's him -” Wind jabs a thumb behind him at Time making Link frown and his eyebrows knit together.

"...I am aware of the legends. But that's just a fairytale for mothers to scare their kids into behaving.” Link replies with a confused expression growing on his scarred face.

“Nuh ah! We've all fought against Ganon. Sky! You're better at this than me, can you tell him?" Wind shakes his head and looks back at the chosen hero who grimaces.

“We are the chosen hero, all of us, chosen by the goddess Hylia when the Hyrule kingdom is threatened by evil. Each one of us carry an unbreakable spirit of the hero who can wield the triforce of courage and the Mastersword…in fact, I am the one who tempered the sword and blessed it with Hylia's light."

Silence rings for a short moment before Link scoffs.

“Well, the goddess seems to mistake her agents greatly."

“Excuse me?" Sky’s wishful expression falls deeply.

Link clenches his fists, hissing as he digs his fingers into the blistering skin of his palm making him see white spots in his eyes. He seemed to be fighting back an urge to tell Sky he was wrong.

“Link … you don't truly think that -” Sky starts, eyes creasing at the blasphemous words.

"The only thing that stopped the calamity this time was the Sheikah tech and a boy who didn't know any better.” Link is tense, he sees the group with wide eyes and concerns but he’s too wrapped up with adrenaline and stress and guilt. The entire journey was nothing but pain and dread and the shame of somehow surviving when everyone else had fallen.

For a split second, he sees Mipha's face in his mind’s eye. The gentle expression and the cooling feeling of her power washing over him but he knows she's gone. Hylia didn't answer Zelda’s plea and because of that, Link will never forgive.

“Hylia can never intervene with destiny.” Twilight speaks up suddenly, walking towards the hero with careful steps. The board shoulders and the markings across the man’s face makes Link’s expression lift slightly. He knows those markings… and Twilight recognises those eyes.

“She can only guide you in certain ways. Lift you up when needed and place you down again. Believe me, I thought Hylia abandoned me the moment I was taken to the Twili realm… but your anger towards her …is understandable, cub.”

Twilight stands in front of Link finally, a few inches shorter than the other as he looks at him. Link swallows, his heart in his throat and his head is pounding.

"She did guide you, correct?” Twilight presses on gently and Link finds himself nodding.

"I suppose … she did. But that's beside everything else-” Link struggles to articulate his feelings, his emotions attached to the destruction 100 years prior. He feels ashamed -

"Never mind the past now, cub. It's over and gone. What matters is keeping the peace in the present. Right now, let me look at your hand." Twilight says finally, one hand turned over palm up waiting for Link to give him his burnt hand.

In doing so, Link feels static filling his head. The heady fuzz of a memory filling every space as his eyes draw to Twilight’s careful fingers plucking bits of his glove free from the wound. Silence engulfs him, Twilight’s words sounding like they're underwater as he calls for Hyrule or for anyone to hand him some of their healing potions and bandages.

The sting of a potion being delivered over his hand in small splashes makes Link recoil, snapping out of his daze only for Twilight's grip to tighten.

“Stay."

Link grimaces as he watches the other hero bandage his hand tight and secure before another of them comes over to perch on one knee. The one he shot earlier. Up close, Link notices the red and blue marks on his face and the thick scar running from forehead to cheek straight through the guy’s eye.

"I understand you have suffered, we all have. But right now, you've got a choice to make.”

Link isn't sure if he likes where this is going.

"Take us to your Zelda. I'm certain she'll be able to right a few things.” Time knows what he means, the Zelda’s across time itself always understands and sees the golden goddess’ plan. The threads that bind them together as the Chain and the battle they must face.

Link closes his eyes tightly and sighs. “Fine. We go to Kakariko then, perhaps Impa …has a few words as well.”

Twilight shifts from his crouched position and sighs as he finishes up bandaging Link’s hand. He hears Legend mumble out about another long walk.

“I don't know how or if it'll work but I can get myself there quickly using shrines."

“Shrines?" Time inquires gently, almost fatherly, that makes Link’s heart lurch.

“I can travel between them and towers. It's ancient Sheikah technology.”

"We can give it a go. If not, directions?”

" You said you came from Hanteno? Follow the road north between the Peaks and head left across Kakariko bridge. Follow that road and don't stray.” Link answers confidently, making Time clap him on the back gently before nodding.

After a moment of brief shambling, the group stands close to one enough as Link handles the slate a little wonky. He struggles for a moment before hovering over the Ta’Loh Naeg shrine locator and nods.

With a firm press, the warp motion kicks into gear with Link's body fading to blue particles. He faintly hears a gasp before things go white for a brief moment in time.

He lurches as he’s spat out at the shrine looking over Kakariko village. The blue light fades into strands, thin threads of light wafting towards the mid afternoon sun. Glancing around, he's alone.

He sighs, thinking to himself with eyes drifting towards the horizon where the castle sits glum and empty. He should've known it wouldn't work, he can't even travel like that with Blackjack.

“Great…” he shakes his head, making his way slowly down the path into Kakariko village where the chimes of the painted metals hanging from the archways knock against each other in the breeze.

He isn't sure how long it'll take that group to get here and he isn't sure if he even wants them to. The Goddess' chosen hero, Link scoffs, so much for that.

“Master Link! The princess is inside, she's been concerned about you. She said you were fighting a group -” Dorian's voice floods his ears making Link blink and stare at the man for a moment.

He smirks awkwardly, making a handful of sign gestures before the doors to Impa’s house fly open with a thud.

“There you are, I've been worried sick! Are you - you're injured -"

Within moments, he's ushered inside and made to sit before the chief of the Sheikah who opens her eyes down at him. His hand is taken into the careful hands of Zelda who frets over the bandage and blood seeping around the edges.

He points with his left hand, then offers a gentle smile. "Healing, I'm okay.” He signs out, his tongue heavy with the weight of the conversation merely moments prior.

Zelda is no longer dressed in her white dress and golden jewellery but in regal Sheikah clothes that make her look as if she hasn't passed a day over 18 which she hasn't. Her long blonde hair is tied back into two braids and then braided again to make one long and thick one. Her green eyes shine with worry and tiredness and Link is reminded of his own weary body.

"I see but …what happened? Were they truly -"

Link sighs and shakes his head, slowly beginning to tell both Zelda and Impa what had taken place. He used their words. Their own unique characteristics that makes even Zelda drown in curiosity at best.

“Purah has given me her insights as well. They say they are from …other eras of Hyrule." Impa butts in, her tone one of the kinds that makes Link sigh. He knows exactly what she's going to say -

“We might find out more, the reason as to why they are here remains a mystery."

Link signs awkwardly with one hand before giving up.

“You mean to understand them. This could be interesting, different champions from the ages of long ago. And you say you ‘felt’ something, and the Mastersword reacted to their presence?” Zelda finishes for him, eyes questioning him for a short while.

" How could a blade - oh … it was written in the scriptures, the sacred blade withholds a spirit inside, a voice only the hero can hear. Did it …say anything, Link?” Zelda asks, reaching to touch Link’s knee where they both sit before the Sheikah chief.

Taking a deep breath, Link answers with a heavy weight in his chest.

"It just said, ‘Master’.”

Chapter Text

“Well, that went perfectly."

Legend grumbles out from the side, the click of his sword being sheathed lightly echoes around the group and he rakes a hand through his hair in mild frustration. The Link of this era was mental, in his own words.

"Look, things could've gone better, we all know that. Maybe we should cut the guy some slack, we don't know the full story here, especially from his point of view." Four is the one to speak up, hands their hips firmly as they scour at the veteran who seems stressed enough to be tapping his foot.

“I know that. But still, he shot the old man!"

“The old man in question is fine." Hyrule quibs back, dusting off his gloves as Time lets out a deep breath. He won't admit it but things don't look splendid.

“I think we all owe him an apology in fairness." Time holds his hand up to silence Legend’s incoming jabbering. “We all reacted differently. It will take time for Link to see us as friends and not mystic foes.”

Whilst the group understands this, they each can't shake the anxiety brewing between them. While they all reacted badly at first, they know the cons of being a hero. But the weight seen in Link’s eyes made each of them stop and realise something deeper; this Link is both wild and uncertain.

“I've never seen the Mastersword so …angry. The way he kept holding her even though she …"

Time reaches to place a comforting hand on their Skyloftian knight’s shoulder, a frown etched into his face.

“She tried her best to get him to understand. I think he knows now."

“Still …she was calling out, warning him and yet …still comforting him that he was safe. Could he not hear her?” Sky rambles under his breath, mutterings of questions and no answers.

“We'll figure this out. Right now we should head the way Link pointed us to." Twilight sighs and gets up from his crouched position and stretches slightly. His eyes are worried, his chest feels tight almost as he stares at the spot where Link was before he vanished into blue streaks of light.

As he lifts his gaze to the horizon, a stirring feeling swells and bursts from his mind...

Camp fire warmth, a rustle in the bushes and roasting fish on sticks. Salt, pepper and herbs. A boy crochet by the flames looking lost and vulnerable beneath the towering debris of the Temple of Time

Paws on old dirt, mud clinging to his greenish grey fur, snout sniffing a saddened scent. The sound of chewing and a sudden startled yelp from the scarred boy makes the beast back up and whine with tail between his hindlegs

Confusion. Stress. Hurt. Blood

The boy drops a fresh roasted bass on the ground and the beast feeds. Inch by inch they curl around each other. The beast’s head, marked with white, lays close and keen. Ears flick at the sound of newts. Buzzing insects against the green glow of sunset flies

Heavy breathing, salt and tears dripping along his fur, a shaking body of stress and exhaustion against him. Pressing close, heavy body weighing on the boy with tail sweeping the ground

He knows not of his name but knows he is kin, his own, a brother in arms in need of protection and a warm embrace

He will be the divine guardian of this hero

“Twilight? Oi! We're moving out."

Twilight jerks as his vision comes to where he sees the captain clapping his shoulder and getting him to move. He rubs his eyes with a hand, sighing at the confused emotions within. It is like a whirlpool of memories he can try and grasp at but they fall through his fingertips like water. Catching rain within your palm, sure it works but only for a short time.

"Let's move out.” Time’s warm voice sends a comforting thrill through Twilight’s body, that's family and familiar. Yet, he drags his feet on the pale dirt as he walks with the group.

Back in Kakariko village, Link rests in one of the beds in Impa’s loft. The smell of herbs and slices and the left over warm fresh bread wakes him from a slumber. Beside him, kneeling on a plush red cushion towards the small table is Paya who clasps her hands over her book in either prayer or simply because it is comfortable.

Link winces at the dull injury in his hand. His bandages have been changed since they were first wrapped by the guy with the markings. It must've been a good day and a half now and he wonders if that group was just a figment of his scarred mind. A madness erupting from the stress.

“Master Link! Um - … You-you are awake, shall I send for the princess?" Paya’s stuttered voice is reassuring to hear. Familiar at least as Link slowly sits himself up. A patch of blue is neatly draped over Paya’s lap and now the hero realises that the great grand daughter of Impa wasn't praying but rather sewing.

An expression graces her Sheikah marked face as she looks down at the fabric and smiles awkwardly. "... Princess Zelda requested me to mend it for you since…s-she has been aiding the village,” Paya explains softly and Link simply nods from his position.

Paya’s cheeks grow warm as the blanket falls away, shyly looking down at the blue tunic and continuing to thread the needle through the torn fabric again to avoid looking further at the hero.

Link says nothing as usual, swinging his legs out from the blanket and he inhales sharply at the throb in his hand. Looking upon the bandaged mess, the healing potion has helped a lot but he knows he'll likely have a few more burns to add to the rest.

Getting up, Link staggers for a short moment and thus catches Paya’s careful attention.

“Master Link, please you should be resting -"

Catching himself with a hand on the low bed, Link offers a meek gesture that he is fine and rights himself. He's just lethargic, he supposes. Paya goes to stand but Link placates her with a hand up gently and offers a little smile down at the great grand daughter of Impa.

He finds his way downstairs, his boots left in the corner of the staircase as he descends and stretches his arms above his head. Impa is seated as usual, cross legged on a stack of pillows with her wide hat tilted down. This makes her expression void to Link who makes his way around the chief’s house.

He taps his hip finding the Sheikah slate no longer on his person and immediately is met with a gasp pulling free from his chest.

"Princess Zelda has got the sacred item, need not to worry, Champion." Impa’s old weary voice comes to him making the hero turn and shakily exhale in relief that the slate is not missing or damaged.

“Where is Zelda?" He signs awkwardly with one hand, coming to terms that he may have to use his voice box properly in order to convey his words.

But Impa seems to understand.

“I believe she is with Dorian paying respect in the graveyard."

A gloom of anxiety and sorrow meets Link’s eyes. No doubt the princess is grieving those lost during the Calamity, as did he. But for her it must be tenfold. A chosen golden princess denied her birth right of power to vanquish evil and one who fought the very beast for all those years …

“I will join her." He voices out though it is meek and his voice is scratchy. Insecurity takes hold fast making him look away from the Sheikah chief.

"I believe she would be in need of your presence.”

Link nods stiffly and makes his way back up the steps to find something he can wear or if Paya will let him have his tunic just yet.

As it seems, Paya has indeed finished stitching and shyly handed his tunic to him with a rather sweet pattern of rose across her face. Link takes the item of clothing with a gentle hand, tapping his fingers against his chin in a sign of thanks.

Paya rushes free from the room, her lingering gaze doesn't fret Link as he adjusts himself in his freshly stitched up blue tunic. Once he deemed himself suitable, his eyes snare it. The Master Sword lays over the desk, how had not seen it earlier is beyond him but now it settles in his vision. The sheath is gleaming, untouched again as Link reaches with awkward hands before hesitating.

This blade burnt him. It seared his skin. It sounds angry as he grasps the handle, heat flooding his hand but not in a burning way. The anger fizzles into comfort faster than Link can comprehend. The word it spoke during the fight is burnt into his mind, “Master." But it wasn't as though the sword was calling him master but rather someone else.

The guy in the white cloth. Images flash in his head of the scene, of the short battle and the revelation. There was another hero, but …that guy surely isn't the ancient hero 10 thousand years ago like the legend perceived? He doesn't look anything like the mighty hero in the tapestry downstairs. That hero wore green, or maybe it was blue, but with fiery hair.

Link sighs and rubs his thumb over the pommel of the Master Sword again before moving slowly.

He swears he hears it chime again as he lifts the sheath and blade onto his back where it's supposed to be. Resting upon the leg of the bed is the Hylian sheikh and he realises that Zelda must've left these items here for him when he woke up. If only the same had been done 100 years prior though Link reckons the blade would have rejected him wholeheartedly.

He makes the short trek out of Impa’s house, shuffling down the steps and turning left towards the graveyard in slow cautious steps. He spots Dorian resting a hand on Zelda’s shoulder as they look out upon the castle and of Hyrule from here. It's a picture of glumness, of grieving and yet Link can only find a small part of him glowing for hope.

“Ah, I shall leave you in the care of your knight, your grace."

Zelda is dressed still in the Sheikah tribe clothes, reds and whites and beige colours fitting her well however Link would rather she was in blue. A glimpse of a scene comes to mind, of tangled limbs in his home in Hanteno. Of a tunic draped over slim shoulders and decorated collarbones with love kisses -

“Oh, Link! You are awake," Zelda’s graceful voice makes him jolt slightly as if a Poe had grasped his shoulders.

He nods gently before immediately dropping to one knee like all knights should in the face of royalty.

“Come, I would like to …watch this view with you, Link.” Her golden hair swishes in the breeze and Link has a sudden desire to gather it away from her face. Instead, he stands and makes his way to her as Dorian leaves them alone. Under the lone oak tree that casts its shadows upon their bodies, Zelda breathes out softly.

"Are you healing well? If not, I thought of travelling to Zora’s domain…I'm certain Sidon would be able to fix you right up,” she smiles at him gently and the mention of the Zora prince makes the hero smile too.

"Potions work wonders.” is all he admits whilst flexing his hand, letting Zelda bring his bandaged right hand to her sight. She handles the bandages carefully, unwrapping them herself to find what she hopes is healed skin. Nevertheless, she finds the remains of the burn scarring splashed in his palm and thumb.

“Link … why would the Master Sword harm you?” She breathes out as if suddenly offended at the sight of the blade.

Before he can answer what he thinks is why, there's footsteps sounding behind them.

"I believe I have the answer to that.” a voice comes through the breeze and Link turns sharply to come face to face with a man he finds awfully familiar.

Chapter Text

For a split second, Link tenses firm with an expression akin to pure strength before it crumbles at the sight of the other hero. Twilight, Link believes, is the name of the man before him, enshrouded by an air of excitement yet steadfast nervousness is a good few feet away from them.

After arriving in the village, the Chain had split up in order to cover a few bases - supplies, potions which they realised Kakariko had none but ingredients for food, clothes and even a moment where Sky loiters by the statue of Hylia in the center of the village. He commented, saying how lovely it is.

Twilight therefore, had gone with Time to search the area where Link may have gone and immediately felt drawn to the big house with a handful of steps. However, the guard there Cado had refused them to enter till they requested to speak with Link. From there, they had been pointed to the graveyard.

“Are you who Link clashed with some days ago?” the princess asks, lowering her hand from Link’s own to face Twilight and then Time whose steps were heavy with armour and yet he seemed stoic - he reminded her of Link in ways. The markings on both their faces are unique and not ones Zelda recognises.

“Indeed. However, I feel as though we all got off on the wrong foot." Twilight answers, keeping a respectable distance between himself and the princess and her guard who seems on edge.

“I believe we should speak about this …suddenness, at once. Impa may have sole insight as to why you are here." Zelda says, clasping her hands behind her back and inhaling the fresh dew on the grass.

“How many are you?"

“Eight so far." Time answers and swiftly, Zelda gives him a puzzled expression.

“We believe the goddess is responsible for our meeting. In fact, the way we came to this era wasn't intentional on our part but could perhaps be the work of the goddess."

Link finds it hard to not scoff, his jaw set angrily at the mention of the goddess who damned him and his beloved kingdom to ash and ruin.

"... I see. So you were …transported here by other worldly forces?" Zelda asks, curiosity getting the best together and Link finds it endearing how easily she fawns over new information. He remembers that much.

" Portals, they look like … well, they look like archways, they seem to pop up randomly and we are drawn towards it. Sky, our um …he figures it is the hero’s spirit that makes us draw to enter the archways.” Twilight sighs, he knows how stupid and weird it all sounds. He has trouble not talking about it in a way that would make him seem like he is connecting the archways to the Twili portals. That isn't a can of worms he wants open just yet.

"You said that before; the hero’s spirit. What even is that?” Link suddenly asks, he had grown so quiet that Twilight jerks when the young hero spoke.

“...it's not something even we understand to be honest with you." Twilight breathes out, glancing at Time for aid who steps forwards resting a hand on Twilight’s shoulder.

“I believe it would sound better in the tones of our Skyloftian." Time admits with a gentle tone of …pride? Or maybe it was just nerves, Link couldn't tell.

"Sky - a Sky what?” Zelda questions with green eyes trailing over the two heroes who nod a tiny bit. Twilight glances over his shoulder and sighs.

“I believe he's with the …flock of cucco's."

“Oh, Cado’s cucco’s are always getting into places they shouldn't be, if it isn't any bother could you aid him?” Zelda is too easy to trust, Link thinks to himself - he thought that back when his memories were still flooding back about Revali. How the princess saw the arrogant Rito warrior was beyond Link’s current mental state.

“Link can help you find them, I'm sure."

That jerks him from his thoughts and he looks between Zelda and Twilight again before rolling his shoulders. “...sure." he says flatly before casting one look over Zelda again as if to prove that she is safe.

"Come on, before the evening comes.” Link murmurs, flexing his still hurting hand before breaking away from his duty for a moment to wander back into the village with Twilight at his heel. Time however, lingers in the graveyard with Zelda.

"He's been through a lot, hasn't he?” Time breaks the silence gently and Zelda nods with an expression akin to heartache.

"Indeed. He won't say it but sometimes we all need a little guidance.” Zelda smiles stiffly, turning to face the castle in the distance. Time inhales deeply, keeping a respectable distance between them as he thinks about the young hero of this era.

"There is something I wish to discuss with you, and perhaps Impa, if I may?”

There's something almost somber in Time's voice that catches Zelda off guard, as though the hero of Time had wanted to speak of something strange or even impending.

With a subtle nod, Zelda guides Time back through the ways into the main village where she can see Link and Twilight climbing up the east hill together with a cucco in their grasp. Time merely spares a glance at his descendant before following the princess into Impa’s house.

Meanwhile, Twilight struggles with the flailing cucco. Its round body and blue feathers and white belly is warm in the shapeshifter’s hands as it squawks and flaps its wing to freedom. As per Link’s guidance, Twilight doesn't let go.

“You can chuck him over the fence, it'll glide a little so don't aim too far," Link says as he tossed his own cucco into the pen where Cado immediately fawns over the animal. Twilight adjusts his grip and lightly throws his own into the small gathering crowd of blue feathered friends.

"How many’s that?”

" 8, there's two more. Check by the blossom trees and I'll go find the one up by the entrance of the village.” Link nods his head to the other side of the Hylia statue and Twilight slowly makes his way there.

On the way, he bumps into Legend and Warriors’ who had been asked to help with the carrot and pumpkin farms - Twilight had to take a moment to savour the aroma of fresh grown pumpkins for a second.

"Oi, how's the little rascal?” Legend barks out, smirking as he leans on his pitchfork with a few dirty lines on his hands. The veteran’s hands were clean but bare, the hero’s rings must've been taken off prior to getting to work.

"Watch your mouth, he's fine. Since when do you do farm work?” Twilight retorts, getting a glare from the pink haired rabbit. Warriors’ on the other hand swiped a hand through his tousled blond locks and sighs. The captain had stripped down to his under tunic and pants, his scarf likely placed back in the inn for safekeeping.

“He seems full of himself in my opinion. Though I'll admit, he can wield a sword with a good arm, makes me wonder if he was a knight too," Wars murmurs out. The captain can see similarities with himself and Link, but there's too many major differences too. Link is quiet and reserved and stoic if anything.

“Just let me handle him okay? I'm sure he'll come around soon, I mean, this is a lot to take in." Twilight answers with a heavy sigh. “Oh sure, what's his deal anyway - he acts like he's got it worse than any of us.”

Twilight frowns at Legend who seems to realise what he said and sighs, resting his chin on his hands that lean on the pitch fork.

" Look, all I mean is …he's different from what we expected, yes? He's obviously going through something he won't tell us, I don't blame him either but …come on, he can't hide it for much longer, his journey is plastered across his skin for crying out loud.”

Twilight knows where Legend is coming from, Link’s scars are many and intriguing. A part of him worries about the thing that was able to do so much damage to him - on that note, even Twilight starts to ask the question of how someone could survive such a fatal looking injury.

"He'll talk to us when he deems it necessary. Remember when Sky finally told us he's the first of the chosen heroes? It was a bombshell and a half, maybe Link has his own secrets he’d rather keep to himself." This time, Twilight looks at the captain with an arched brow. He's never heard War’s talk that way before.

“What? You act like I've never given speeches of my own?"

“Oh brother… spare me." Legend scoffs and gets back to work digging up a new patch of soil whilst Twilight leaves them be for now to find the last cucco bird. Warriors' words play on his mind though, what could Link be hiding from them?

As he makes his way through the village, he finds one of the birds but it isn't in the blossom pen. It squawks and flutters before Twilight can grasp it firmly but soon enough he's walking back towards Cado’s cucco pen where he spots Link crouched speaking to a small Sheikah child.

“Thank you for playing with me, mister!” The sweet voice chirps out before hurrying along with what seems to be her sister. Twilight tilts his head before placing down the cucco into the pen.

"What was that about?”

"...I play hide and seek with Cottla sometimes, she's rather excited whenever I come back from my travels.” Link explains, dusting off his trousers. "She likes hiding behind Impa's house but I keep saying to her how dangerous it is,”

Twilight glances at the large house, seeing why Link would say that as the house is against a rushing waterfall and a steep riverbank.

"Reminds me of home.” Twilight murmurs to himself but Link turns to meet his gaze briefly.

"Home?”

"...yeah, home is …very far away.” Twilight nods with a half smile.

"Right, because you're not from here.” Link mutters as if he still doesn't believe him. The back and forth was getting tiring and Twilight wanted to find Sky quickly, or that he could maybe find a way to earn Link’s trust.

“No I'm not. But I do come from a small village called Ordon, in my Hyrule, that's located in Faron Woods," Twilight decides to press on, however, walking with Link down to the main area of the village just below Impa’s house.

“Faron? Faron Woods is …hot, it's where most of the storms begin here.” Link mumbles, adjusting the Master Sword on his back that catches Twilight’s attention. The blade is pristine, as if it had been cleaned moments prior by careful hands. But there's an air of excitement around the blade, as if it can sense its masters around.

"Storms, eh?” Twilight tries to ask with a tilt of his head, wanting to listen to Link.

" Thunder and lightning mostly. I…can't use any metal gear out there, it's down to what I find around. Most wood items are good but they're weaker, break easily." Link hums out, making Twilight’s eyes widen.

Breakable weapons?

"Your weapons …break?” Twilight asks, concern suddenly sprouts from his chest and out towards the younger scarred hero who looks up at him with such azure eyes it makes Twilight’s gut lurch. He knows those eyes.

Blue tunic, blue eyes and a blue sword that shatters against the silver bokoblin in a rain of light. A jerk of limbs and huffing anger echoing scores the valley

He had sprung into action. Fangs latching around the scrawny enemy's forearm and a sickening crack stems from where the wolf rips limb from body. Black blood spews from the wound, staining the yellow sand

He leaps back, growling snarling with paws ready

Another flash of blue. A shield breaks into splitters. Unprotected, vulnerable. A body lays in the sand and the wolf barrels into the screaming silver body, dislodging the club in its hand

Hunched over the body of blue, eyes bluer than the skies above, he growls and barks aggressively, charging again to protect his cub. There's blood on the ground. The stretch of death

And then turquoise. Blooming turquoise burning at a body, a figure and a voice.

“It is my pleasure."

But the enemy is down, torn and fed to the dying sands where he stands over it, blood dripping from his maw. The boy staggers to his feet, a bloody patch of ripped tunic from his navel to his chest. A scar glints, tauntingly

The first time he failed to protect his cub. The time where weapons break and vulnerability shines

For a moment, the two simply stare at each other before Twilight staggers. Rubbing the back of his head, he tries to make sense of what he recalls. The taste of blood in his mouth is potent, as if he bit his own tongue.

Link on the other hand, sighs and begins to jog up the steps to Impa’s house with eyebrows furrowed.

He knows exactly who Twilight is now.