Work Text:
The Shield
Linkeduniverse fic
Wild let’s slip to Riju and Buliara how Time go into Gerudo town in his Hyrule, and now has to watch the painful results.
Wild’s face twisted into a grimace as Liana collided with the sand in the Oasis. The Link’s had been resting in the Gerudo desert, while Wild and Hyrule went into Gerudo Town to gather supplies and restock on ammunition. Hyrule had been waylaid by a stand selling roasted meats, so Wild had made his way to meet with Riju and Buliara and made idle small talk with the two.
“Did the Hero of Time ever visit the Gerudo?” Wild remembered asking, making Buliara lean on her claymore.
“A few times, according to legend” Said the Chieftain’s bodyguard, “Worked with the Exalted Nabooru to defeat Ganon when it first turned up.”
Wild was quiet, making Riju and Buliara look at him.
“Why do you ask?” Riju questioned, making Wild look at her.
“I’m travelling with a group of men, other Heroes, believe it or not,” Said Wild, looking between the two, “One came with me to restock, the others are at the Oasis. One got into a Gerudo settlement by defeating all the guards. Well, I say defeated, he says humiliated, but he was given a token to prove his worth to the Gerudo from where he’s from.”
Wild didn’t notice how quiet everything had become until he had finished talking. Riju had a look of horror, making Wild turn and face Buliara, who was gripping her sword so tightly that Wild would see her knuckles slowly turning white.
“Oh really?” Said Buliara, “I’d very much like to meet this Voe.”
Wild and Hyrule slowly lead the best Gerudo warriors to the Oasis, each one decked out in their best gear, while Hyrule seared holes into Wild’s head.
“He’s going to kill us.” Whispered Hyrule, shaking his leg every two steps.
“I hope not.” Said Wild, as Riju looked between the two.
“What’s so bad about this Voe?” Riju asked, noting how tense the two became.
“Well, he’s not bad, per say,” Said Hyrule, scratching the back of his head, “It’s just that he’s really, what’s the word? Stern?”
Wild shrugged, making Hyrule continue, “He seems really difficult to please, the only one who’s come close to beating him is Twilight, and even then, he still lost to Time.”
As soon as the group entered the Oasis, someone let out a loud wolf whistle, followed by a smack. Wild and Hyrule looked over towards the water, where Warrior stood rubbing the back of his head, while the newest addition to the group stood a foot behind him, shaking her hand to get rid of the stinging sensation.
The group had stumbled across Linkle in the middle of Faron, with the girl looking down at her compass, when the girl had power walked into Time, falling back onto her butt after the collision took place. The group had set up camp while Time questioned the girl, before calling Sky over and had her attempt to draw the Master Sword. The group didn’t expect her to be able to draw the Sword.
Until she did. Wild snickered at the memory of Warrior fainting. The rest of the group had quickly brought Linkle up to speed with their quest. Wild was brought from his musings by the sound of Time’s voice breaking the silence.
“Please tell me you two haven’t been arrested.” Said Time, the war paint on his face slightly smeared and the bags under his eyes the only tell of the trick that the War god had played on the Hero of Time, giving him a realistic vision of Time killing the other members of the party. Time had kept his distance from the group, until Linkle turned up.
Buliara strode forwards, “Which one of you is the one known at ‘Time’?”
Time sighed, before he got to his feet, “Alright, what is it?”
Buliara glared at him, Time simply raised an eyebrow.
“You told your party members that you managed to get into Gerudo settlement by humiliating the guards.” Said Buliara, “I intend to see you put your rupees where your mouth is.”
Time was silent, before he slowly turned and glared at Wild and Hyrule. Hyrule simply pointed at Wild and slowly edged away.
Wild was rooted to his place as Time’s eyes boar into him. Time slowly pulled his gaze from Wild, his gaze returning to the Gerudo.
“Let me guess,” Said Time, his tone dryer than the desert, “you want me to fight some Iron Knuckles.”
Buliara’s face curled into a sneer, “I intend to subject you to the full might of the Gerudo.” Buliara slammed the point of her sword into the ground.
Time’s other eye brow rose, before he looked at the sky, “Not tonight, surely, you’ve just travelled across several yards of Sand and the sun is setting, and if I remember correctly, the desert is a terrible place after dark.” Said Time, as Wind and Twilight came up behind him, “Perhaps you should rest for the night and have the challenge tomorrow morning.”
“We have food.” Said Wind, quickly drawing level with Time and the Gerudo, “Legend is teaching us a new game, but he thinks Four is cheating.” Wind grabbed Riju’s arm and quickly dragged the girl over to the small circle, Wild quickly stepping in front of Buliara, before she could bring her claymore down on the boy’s head.
“Don’t worry,” Said Wild, hoping to placate the woman, “Wind wouldn’t hurt anyone, he just hasn’t been around anyone his own age in a while.”
Everyone was on edge, until Buliara lowered her sword and turned a fierce glare towards Time.
“Fine, we will fight tomorrow.” Said Buliara, her eyes narrowing at Time, “I trust you won’t run off in the middle of the night.”
Time’s expression went cold, “The only thing that would send me fleeing, is no longer alive.”
Wild looked at the other hero, only to flinch when he was on the receiving end of Time’s glare and Twilight’s hand cuffing him on the back of the head.
The night passed quickly, almost too quickly for Wild’s liking, and by that time a large crowd had gathered to witness The Gerudo guards fighting an old man in some form of battle armour.
The first one to be sent into the area where they were to fight Time was Barta, which lasted the grand total of five seconds, before Time had kicked Barta out of the ring with a swift kick to the chest.
“I thought you said the Voe was ninety.” Said a Gerudo standing behind Wild.
“That’s what I was told, I didn’t realise that he was younger than that.” Said another, as Kotta was knocked to the ground, after Time had grabbed the shaft of her spear and used it against her.
Leena opted for a more aggressive approach, charging at Time with that full force of a stampeding buffalo. Time simply side stepped her, before grabbing her arm and spinning around, Leena attempted to knock Time off balance, before she was punched in the face and thrown into Kotta and Barta.
Babi’s approach to the fight was vastly different to Leena’s, opting to play a game of Cucco, to see who would break first. Neither moved, until Babi thrust her spear forwards, in an attempt to skewer the Hylian onto the end. Again, Time side stepped and grabbed her arm, before throwing her onto the growing pile of beaten warriors.
Marta threw her spear at Time, before she grabbed one from the floor. For a brief moment, Time was caught off guard and was nearly knocked over. Luckily for him, he was able to knock Marta to the ground and place his foot between her shoulder blades.
“I have no idea what you were trying to accomplish.” Said Time, speaking for the first time during the battles.
Smaude tried to sneak up behind Time, only for him to grab her arm and throw her at her fellow Guards. Liana stepped forwards, unsheathing her sword and shield and charging at Time. Time and Liana exchanged blows and parried each other’s attacks, until Time knocked her sword from her hand and gave a firm kick to the chest. Wild’s face twisted into a grimace as Liana hit the sand.
Liana quietly conceded defeat, before Teake stepped forwards, following Liana’s example, with the exception that Teake was dodging most of Time’s attacks, before she was knocked onto her back, as the flat side of Time’s sword hit her.
Buliara stepped forwards, before she charged at Time. Time, who looked as if he wasn’t even breaking a sweat, charged at Buliara as well. Both blades clashed against each other, Time and Buliara somehow predicting each other’s attacks as they happened. Buliara lasted longer than the others before her, until Time knocked her legs out from underneath her.
Buliara hit the sand, everything quiet. A lot of emotions passed through Buliara’s head, shame, anger, fear. None of them pleasant. Time looked down at her, before offering her and hand up. Time looked up into the sky, noticing that it would be dark soon.
“Anyone else wish to try their luck before the day ends?” Questioned Time, as a small Gerudo, no more that five-foot-tall, marched into the ring.
Wild’s and Buliara’s eyes bugged, as Riju stood before Time, hands on her hips and a sword and shield on her back.
“I wish to try.” Said Riju, looking up at Time, trying not to feel intimidated at his imposing stature.
“I don’t fight children.” Said Time, turning away from the girl.
“Why. Because you’re scared one might actually beat you?” Snarked Riju, making Time stop in his tracks, before he spun around and marched up towards Riju.
“Fine, but the first time you hit the ground, its over.” Said Time, readying his sword, Riju doing the same.
Riju charged forwards, ducking under Time’s sword, before implanting her foot into Time’s groin. The next thing anyone knew was Time was kneeling down, with his face the painting picture of silent pain. Everyone was silent, trying to process the fact that a teenaged five-foot-tall girl had taken down an adult seven-eight-foot-tall man.
Time took a deep breath in, before looking at Riju.
“Well done, my lady.” Said Time, as he picked up his sword and looked down at the girl.
“So, is there a prize?” Riju joked, making Time look upwards, before he walked over to his pack.
“Well, I’ve been carrying this for years,” Said Time, walking towards Riju with a bundle of items wrapped in a cloth, “they once belonged to a friend of mine, I believe she wouldn’t object to you having these.”
Time handed the bundle to Riju, who placed it on the floor and unwrapped the bundle, her eyes going wide at the sight of two beautiful looking scimitars, each with the name Nabooru inscribed onto the blade. The second part of the bundle was a mirror shield with the Gerudo symbol inscribed onto the mirror part of the shield.
Riju looked up at Time, who smiled and said, “May the old pass to the new.”
Riju leapt to her feet and grabbed Time in a strong hug, before taking the swords and shield to Buliara, who still seemed to be in shock of Time beating her. Riju showed Buliara the arms, making her jaw drop open, before she slowly turned her head to look at Time.
“Got everything?” Asked Time, looking at his group. Twilight nodded and the rest of the group got to their feet.
“Where are we going? I could navigate!” Said Linkle, making everyone wince. Time only laughed.
Before Wild could depart, he heard a Gerudo say something to their friend, “Just imagine having his children.”
Warrior laughed, making them look at him, “I wouldn’t try it, he’s a married man and is very loyal to his wife.”
The Gerudo pulled a ‘fair-enough’ face, before she turned to her friend again. Wild felt a hand on his shoulder.
Wild looked up and saw Buliara, who was frowning, “You could’ve warned us that we were going to fight the Hero of Time.”
“Would you have believed me?” Asked Wild, looking up at the Gerudo.
“Fair point.” Said Buliara, before giving Wild a small shove, “Your party is leaving you behind.”
Wild spun around and quickly took off after them, shouting about how they could’ve told him they were leaving.
Riju was quiet, before Buliara looked down at her, “I’m in trouble, aren’t I?”
“Ducking under a blade and kicking someone in the crotch is not a viable battle practice.” Said Buliara, “But no, you’re not in trouble. In fact, I think it’s time you learnt how to fight properly.”
Riju suddenly grinned, clutching the bundle closer to her chest.
The party of Heroes stopped for a rest at Outskirt Stable, Time having made them walk to the Stable after the Gerudo Stable, Warriors thought that Time was cradling his wounded pride.
Time took a deep breath in, looking down at the Stable from the cliff behind it, as a familiar presence appeared behind him.
“You know, kid,” Said Nabooru, the ghostly flames surrounding her, “if I knew you were that easy to take down, I would’ve tried it myself.”
Time snorted, making the Spirit grin, before she exhaled.
“It happens soon, doesn’t it?” Nabooru questioned.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Retorted Time, his hand folding together behind his back.
“You and I both know that is a lie, Link.” Said Nabooru, “You have gazed into the darkness of time and worlds, you saw your own future, your own past, all the times you could’ve died, and all the timelines created from them. You know when you’re going to die, and die properly, not get saved at the last minute by a fairy or have just enough red potion to survive the battle. You have a literal God residing within you, a massive dick, both figuratively and literally, but someone who would never cause permanent damage. You knew, that when you started this mission it would be one of your last. I can only tell because I’m a sage. Zelda knew, but given how she’s been acting as of recent, I’m not sure she would care.”
“She does,” Said Time, looking down at the stable, “She can’t show how concerned she is due to her position, her father’s death is still fresh with her and the splintering of the Gerudo, one side that wishes war, is causing peace problems and the council is trying to hinder her at every turn.”
Nabooru was silent, before saying, “It’s okay, to admit when you’re afraid, Link. No one will judge you for it.”
Time was quiet, “I’m not afraid of dying. I’m afraid of the children I will leave behind. I’m afraid of my wife, who is hoping to see me home. I’m afraid of how Ganondorf will take the news that one of his greatest obstacles is gone.”
Nabooru pulled a strange frowning face, “Well, that went deep awfully quickly.”
Time smiled, before looking at Nabooru, “Don’t you have some guards to annoy?”
“Thanks for reminding me.” Said Nabooru, before she vanished into thin air.
Time sighed, as he looked down upon his future as they slept, before he too walked down and took a rest, as their journey, while a bit long lasting, would not end soon.