Chapter Text
Wind and Legend stand face to face in the arena, not quite in battle stance yet as everyone else is still getting their seats, which consist of fallen trees and its stump. The arena itself is an oval shape with smaller rocks marking its outlines.
Green stands proud on a nice tall rock where he can oversee the fighting. “Alright! So one last time. You are to go all out. As safety nets, we have Wild’s stasis and Hyrule on med duty. Because of that, Hyrule won’t be fighting, as we’ve agreed. Me and the rest of me also won’t be fighting as that’ll cause this to last too long. Twilight is also exempt for obvious reasons!”
Cue the agreeable sounds.
“To win, you will either have to inflict enough damage, as judged by me, or knock them out of the arena! You are allowed your usual sword and shield or whatever you prefer and two extra items of your choice, but no explosives or fire! When either Wild uses status, Hyrule uses shield, or one of me calls, the match is over!”
“So if I’m correct in my judgement, we’re supposed to go all out?” Legend quirks a brow, swift to let a smirk form on his face. “Can I change equipment then?”
“I don't see why not.” Warriors’ face scrunches up, unsure of what exactly the veteran could possibly use that isn't a magical golden sword and mirror shield. But no matter what the captain thinks, Legend pops a squat and opens his pouch.
Legend reaches deep into his magic pouch, pulling out the metallic silvery rapier. There's some oohs and aahs from the rest of the group as the blade's owner holds it up, making a proud display of the blade's beauty. Warriors admits it's a spectacular blade. Swooping carvings cover the knuckle guard of the blade, the design intricate but not overdone as to hinder movement. There's a fine balance to it, but there's also dents, signs of use – nothing so bad as to render the blade at risk of breaking though. A dark tinted leather is wound around the hilt, visible intentions for each individual finger from years and years of usage. The pommel is simple and round, a disk-like shape with the royal sigil engraved upon it, strangely enough.
“While I use the standard sword and shield for its practicality and reliability, my true skill lies in the rapier.” Legend’s voice is softer than usual as his fingers firmly wrap around the hilt, digits perfectly slotting into the indented leather. “And if I'm going to go against our fastest hero, I think I'll need the extra speed.”
Warriors take a glance at Wind, seeing anxiety ramp up in his face. The kid is as talented and skillful as he is anxious and worried. Not for the lack of courage, but comparative to it.
He knows Wind can win this.
“Fighters ready..?” Green raises his hand. “On your marks…”
As Green’s hand cuts the air, Wind makes quick movement with the conductor in his right, causing a backwind to flurry at Legend with abrupt force. The veteran shields his eyes from the onslaught as hair cuts into his eyesight, giving Wind the perfect opportunity to make the first opening slash. And just as instructed, Wind aimed to kill with a slash threatening to cut open Legend’s abdomen.
Warriors forgot Wind has killed before.
There was no split second of hesitation from a green soldier, no chance for redemption or changing tides that grace Legend’s corner of the battlefield. Wind knew his arsenal, and he knew it well. Distraction is his ally and his size an advantage as he conducts the currents of the breeze into a tremendous tornado.
But Legend doesn’t need split seconds of hesitation. As Warriors dares to blink, assuming the fight is won by his little brother, the metallic blade on blade sound rings out in a reverberating clash. Eyes once again open, now Wind is on the defensive as Legend is pushing forward with precision lunges, playing a game of zoning and distance with his rapier and shaping the battlefield to his advantage all the while red begins to paint the ground and mark the sailor’s tan skin.
Warriors notice the look of shallowness, glazed over and tired. Adrenaline that rushes in Legends veins much like Wind.
The same eyes as Wind; of someone who’s killed.
The air currents change direction again, but Legend has wisened up to Wind's tricks, unrelenting as he squints at his smaller opponent. Further he lunges, his body stretching forward with a strike Warriors is almost sure would connect. But it doesn't. Wind parries with a dagger procured from behind his back, Windwaker now slotted into place along his belt, revealing his prior redirection of the wind as a ruse. Wind, now in control of Legend’s blade for a split second, swings from the side with his shortsword aiming for the waist. The vet rolls out of the way, retracting his forward push as he lands upwards on one knee – unable to get up before Wind starts to rush him again.
Legend is now relying on his footwork to stay unharmed, his blade being parries every which way and sharp threatening his limbs and body, leaving shallow red ribbons across cut cloth and tan skin. Both sides are starting to get a little too close to taking a limb for Warriors’ comfort.
Again, Legend's blade is caught in Wind’s dagger, but unlike the last few times, Legend pushes into the blade, spinning the sword as well as the boy’s arm clockwise. Wind’s whole arm is twisted, causing him to loosen his grip on the dagger and drop it. In the time it takes for Wind to recover his stance, Legend pushes in, charging with his pegasus boots and primed for the kill until–
Shnnk– tick… tick…
Warriors’ eyes must betray him, he believes, as he stares at the golden figure of Legend before him, chains that fade into existence wrap around his body and keep him in place. Wind is cowering, his face that of a man about to be met with death.
Wild walks onto the field, grabbing the sailor’s arm and gently moving him out of the way of Legend’s frozen blade. The poor boy is still in shock, patting himself down as Wild taps on the screen of his slate.
The golden hue and chains around Legend disperse in an instant as he continues the path he was in before, losing no momentum. Skidding to a stop – kicking up grass and dirt –the hero stops and turns in a panic. “Wind?! Wait- shit!” Legend drops his weapon as he runs back to Wind (currently kneeling on the ground) and wraps his arms around him in a hug. “I’m so fuckin’ sorry! You're okay, right? I didn't hurt you?"
Hyrule steps forward with his hands already glistening in magic, purposefully stepping around and away from Wild, Warriors notes. The traveler kneels down next to the rather touching scene, if it wasn't for the fact it's very out of character for Legend, and begins to start carefully healing individual bloody openings from the both of them as the fussing continues.
“Time,” Warriors begins with a whisper, leaning closer to the man in question. “You noticed how Hyrule avoided Wild, right?”
“It seems I wasn't the only one,” the old man confirms in a low tone of his own. “I’ve only seen him react in a similar way to any mentions of Dark. Why is he not alerting the others?”
“My question is why the others aren’t noticing.” He rubs his thumb over the back of his other hand, tracing a circle as he concentrates on the worried glances Hyrule is throwing while attempting to pry Legend off a fusing Wind. “Legend and Four have all said themselves they can sense his presence. So why is Hyrule…”
A small silence laps the two as Legend finally lets go of Wind, who proceeds to loudly grumble about losing and bruising his teenage pride. A chorus of laughter breaks out, including from Wild, who does so in spirit with the exhaling motion of it.
“They’re in the next fight against Sky.” Time turns to look at Warriors.
“I know.” Warrior’s circling thumb speeds up. They really don’t know what they're up against. If Hyrule senses Dark, why isn't he speaking up? Is Dark disguised as Wild? No, then Legend and Colors would notice. Is it Shadow? Has he gone against Vio? No, the Colors would speak up if he had. Has Hyrule been coarse into staying silent? Why Wild? There's too many questions.
It’s too much. He-
The captain closes his eyes and shakes his head. “What do we do, Time?”
“You’re asking me?” Time asks as a confirmation more as a question.
“Yes, just, help me.” Weakness laces his tone, forgetting any form of reputation to uphold, or keeping a grasp on any control he has. “Please help me.”
Time hums. “We should go ahead with the next match. I believe the moral loss if we cancel it and confront Wild now would be… extreme. I could fracture our chain.” A small pause as the two observe the younger Links. Playfighting, cooking, whittling, arguing. “We should also talk to Hyrule. I have some other lighter questions for him as well.”
“It’s a nice plan.” Warriors nods slightly, feeling a weight lifting off his shoulders.