Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Tick…  Tick… Tick…

Rain starts to slowly fall on the skylight in Link’s house. It was the first rainfall after a long heatwave, much to the relief of both him and Ravio. The apples in his orchard would soon ripen, with the summer coming to a close. The Lorulian always preferred Autumn, refusing to let go of his multiple layers of clothing until he was ready to pass out from the heat.

But rain after a drought always brings a storm. 

“Rav!” Link calls from the windowsill in the kitchen. There’s a distant noise of acknowledgement from the old living room. It wasn’t much of a living room anymore, just Ravio’s shop. Link started building a second one as soon as Ravio settled in Hyrule. “It’s going to storm! You’ll want to call Sheerow inside!”

Ravio shouts back. “Got it!”

A sharp whistle follows. It doesn’t take long before a blue winged bird frantically flaps through the window, straight into Link’s face. 

"Dammit!"

He hears Ravio let out a laugh as he enters the kitchen, his long sleeve doing a bad job of hiding the grin on his face. 

“Would you look at that! Record time.”

Link plucks a small blue feather from his faded pink hair. Sheerow perches on Ravio’s shoulder, picking at his ear, trying to get his attention. The merchant turns his attention to the bird’s foot, starting to unwrap a message tied up with a tiny blue bow. The rainfall on the skylight starts to increase, going from a slow ticking to a constant one. 

“He can fly all over Hyrule and retrieve your Items, but you couldn’t train him to look out when he flies in somewhere? 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about” Ravio starts picking at the tiny bow, unwinding it. 

“Of course not.”

Link only ends up having a tiny scratch on his face. It will heal. Like the many other tiny scratches caused by Sheerow’s bullet time entrances. “What’s that about?”

“Maybe you should give him more treats?”

“No, not that. The letter.”

"Oh! Right." He squints his eyes to read it. “It’s from Zelda!”

The hero isn’t sure how to react. It’s not that he did not want letters from his sister, but most of them did not bring good news. His partner hands it over to him. If Zelda wanted a letter, she could have sent a proper one. One with all the royal extras that could have been delivered to him personally by a royal guard. Instead she chose a tiny note to tie around Sheerow’s foot. 

The note was concerning. The princess mentioned monsters, which was not unusual. Link had made a habit of going out into the more remote and dangerous parts of Hyrule to rid of any remaining monsters. The part that was concerning is that there was an increase of them, in areas that were populated, on roads and places he made sure all traces of monsters were gone. Stronger, smarter. A moblin nearly killing a large group of travelers and a goddamn Lynel appearing. Just great. 

This wasn’t his first time. Link could easily see the formula of the start of another damned adventure. He was wondering if he would have to kill Ganon for a 5th time. He wasn’t liking this, the frown on his face not being subtle. 

“...Link?” 

He lets out a groan. 

“It’s nothing major… yet. Seems I didn’t get all the monsters in Hyrule because of course not! I’ll send a letter back to Zel. But I’m going tomorrow, I’m not going in the rain.”

“Of course not, Mr. Hero .”

“Ravio!”

The merchant cackles.

“You can get all your stuff together later. I see that look on your face, you’re a worse hoarder than me, Link. Go get the blankets already, we’re getting cozy with this weather.”

“Blankets? I’m going to collapse if I have any more layers!”

Ravio doesn’t listen to him, getting a treat for Sheerow before collecting a large pile of pillows and blankets as he moves into the living room. The rain continues to fall, a faster rhythm, dark clouds collecting in the sky. Summer storms were always harsh, unexpected. Threatening to overwater all his plants.

But he complies, leaving the letter on the counter to join Ravio on the couch. He grabs a book on his way, and settles between the large pile of pillows and blankets his partner had thrown onto the couch. 

The second he sits down, a deep anxiety settles in his stomach. 

Fuck

He shoots up, reaching for the bracelet Ravio gave him that was resting on the coffee table. 

“Something’s wrong.”

“No kidding!” Ravio was fidgeting with his hands. “What is that? Even magic from Lorule doesn’t feel that dark.” He shoots up off the couch, moving carefully around all their stuff to reach the window. It’s difficult for him to see outside, the sky clouded, almost seeming like it was night already. The rain was not helping. 

“Magic?” 

“You don’t feel that?”
“Well- not like magic!” The hero frantically goes around the house grabbing his bags, pouches, putting on his rings before clumsily putting on his cap. 

Ravio pulls his hood over his head. “Now hold on Mr Hero! If you’re going out there I’m coming with you.”
Link is climbing on one of the high shelves, reaching for his firerod. “Wait, what?"

“Well it’s just that- I wasn’t kidding when you gave me courage, you know? 

“That’s- Okay” Link struggles to balance, the shelf threatening to tip. “That’s really sweet, thank you Rav but I’m not sure this is smart.”

“Wasn’t really asking, you know?”

"Okay, fine! Get your boots on already!”

The merchant does just that, readying himself and going for one of his own items that Link had bought from him, choosing the hammer.

He holds the door open while Link runs through the kitchen a last time, hopping on one foot as he puts his pegasus boots on. Then he runs through the door outside, through the pouring rain. 

Link lets Ravio guide him, the bunny hood disguising his face as he tries to navigate through the rain by the single sign of magic. 

It doesn’t take very long. Ravio goes straight ahead, and when Link tries to get a head start, using his pegasus boots, he almost collides into something.

Well, not collided. Gone through. Because in front of him is a portal. Dark, swirling. 

Pulling. 

He stares it in the face for a moment, expecting something to come through. It doesn’t. 

Ravio moves his gaze to him. 

Link turns around. 

“No. Nope. Actually? Hell no. One adventure was already enough. Six? Sure! Why not! That’s all done. But seven? No! I’m not doing it!”

“Link-”

“I swear to Lolia if I have to kill that pig one more time!”

“Link!”

Link finally turns to him. His expression filled with both anger and anguish. The rain starts to soak his clothes. For the first time in a long summer, Link feels cold. 

“I don’t want to leave, Rav.”

“Of course not." 

They stand there, for a moment. Ravio grabs Link’s hands, squeezing them a little. 

“How about we go back home? Not every sign of adventure needs to be yours, Mr. Hero. And standing here staring at it won’t do much. We can visit Zelda tomorrow morning and figure things out, okay?”

He didn’t want to. The anxiety didn’t settle, but he did not want to leave Ravio behind, or his home at all.

 “We aren’t going through the main entrance of the castle.”

“Why would we ever? No main entrance, promise.”

Link nods, taking Ravio’s hand as he leads him away, back to their home.

“I think those blankets are a good idea. I'm soaked.”

“Zelda might send you out of the palace if you come smelling like a wet dog.”

“Maybe. Anything to annoy the guards, really.”

Ravio snickers. “Poor Zel!” He laughs, before he quiets down and lets go of Link’s hand, turning more nervous.

“Link?” Ravio is looking in the woods they just came from. “The… The portal is gone.”

“What?” He spins around to look in the same direction. When he does, the ground disappears from under his feet, seeing Ravio frantically trying to grab his arm, pulling on his sleeve. 

His feet land on something. It’s metal, and he slips, the last thing he sees is Ravio with a frantic face. He falls through. Link hears yelling as his head promptly smashes against something. 

He falls into unconsciousness.

Chapter Text

It is warm. A heavy weight covers Link. The smell of summer is still outside. Straw. It reminded him of of Mabe Village, of Koholint-

Link shoots up, his first instinct is to pinch himself in the arm. Blankets fall off of him as he lets out a hiss against the pain. He isn’t dreaming. Not in his own sleep, atleast. 

He takes in his surroundings. He seems to be in a house, not his own. He was sitting up in a bed, in a tunic too big for him, but it is warm. Warmer than the soaked clothes he was in. Next to him is a nightstand. A warm glass of milk rests upon it. 

The room was nicely decorated. This home felt like it was truly lived in. On a chair are his clothes, dried and folded nicely, along with his equipment. 

Link was getting real sick of starting his adventures by waking up. Atleast he still had all his stuff with him. 

Someone is cooking downstairs, he can smell it. It smells delicious, far more delicious than anything he or Ravio could cook up. He hears a muted conversation. 

He decides that before he wants to see or speak to anyone telling him about a certain evil coming to kill them all, he wants his own clothes. 

He changes into it, muttering to himself about ‘Goddess damned adventures’ and deciding from which point he’s going to kill the person who is responsible for all this. He puts the last ring in place before he wildly swings the door open.

He didn’t expect someone to be there. 

In front of him is a woman, bright red hair, a yellow sash around her neckline. 

She looks so much like Marin. She seems older, but he’s convinced he is in a dream again. He feels like crying. 

"Oh!" She didn’t seem to expect Link to stand in the doorway. “You’re awake! My name is Malon, honey. How are you feeling?”

He isn’t sure how to answer that. He feels extremely out of it, confused, and has no idea where he is. But physically?

“Uhm- I’m fine.” He continues staring at her for a moment, looking for resemblances. 

 “...I’m Link.”

“You don’t say! Quite a common name ‘round these parts, you know?” She lets out a small laugh, like there is an inside joke Link isn’t quite getting. 

“How about you come down? We’re making breakfast, and I’m sure we both could use an explanation, huh?” 

The understatement of the century. Though he isn’t sure he wants to hear the explanation. If there’s another windfish, if Ganon is reborn again, or a goddess’ damned old lady is having another fashion crisis, he isn’t sure he wants to hear it. Because he will go at it again anyway.

“Right.”

She turns back around, going down the stairs. There are pictures on the wall of what seems like a big family. There are some with an older man, perhaps Malon’s father. It doesn’t help that he carries the same resemblances as Tarin. 

“I’m not sure if you’re allergic to anything, but anything Wild makes is delicious. I’m sure you’ll like it.” 

What kind of name is Wild? Sure, he had used some fake names before. He wasn’t particularly proud of ‘Smeef’ and ‘Loafus’. But ‘Wild’ as an actual name? 

The smell however proves Malon right. Downstairs somehow smells even more delicious now. It reminds him of one of the royal dinners Zelda had tried inviting him to, ones he quickly departed from. And this was breakfast? Did this farm produce gold or something? 

When he steps into the room, two people that are sitting at the table are immediately looking at him. Malon must feel that he is nervous, because she settles her hand on his shoulder. 

“Link, this is my husband, Link and the cap, Link. 

He chokes on air and coughs. 

Malon’s husband, who is apparently also Link, Is looking at him with his one eye. The markings on the side of his face are only making him look a little intimidating, but he seems to be making an effort to take a more relaxed attitude as he holds a glass of… Milk?

The Link on the other side of the table is sipping on a cup of coffee, his clothes neat, and everything from his hair to the way he holds himself screams posh to him. There are symbols of the royal army all over him.

A knight. Great.  

“Couldn’t be any more blunt, Malon?” The knight asks.

A head pokes out of the kitchen, blond, messy hair, and scarring on the side of their face. They’re holding a bowl, quickly mixing something with a whisk. He lets go of the whisk for a short moment to give a wave before getting back into the kitchen. 

Link considers walking out right then and there. How is he supposed to respond to that? 

“That’s Wild, also Link.” Malon is being way too calm about this situation for his liking. He sure as hell is freaking out. She guides him to the table, pulling a chair back. 

“Would you like some coffee?”

“Thank you ma’am.”
“Nonsense! Just call me Malon, honey.”

“Thank you Malon.”

“Now Link,” He perks up, but notices she is pointing a finger at her husband. “I don’t care if it runs in the Hero’s spirit and all that, but could you be any less talkative?” She doesn’t give him a chance to talk back, going into the kitchen.

Now it’s the old man’s turn to let out a small cough, the knight letting out a laugh, not shutting up when the elder gives him a slightly disappointed look. 

“Well,” he starts. “for the past couple months we and some other boys have been-”

“It’s another adventure, isn’t it?” Link says once he makes sure Malon is out of earshot. “I wake up, something is ruining the world again, I’m not home anymore since I’ve never met any of you, and you need me to fix something, right? 

The old man is giving him a sad look. 

He despises it.

He slams his head into the table. 

“Well not exactly.” The knight speaks up, making a bad attempt of lightening the mood while Link is still staring at the wood of the table.  “This isn’t exactly new for me, but we are with more of us. More Link’s, a chain if you will.” He gives a small smile at his own joke. “Most of them are out on the farm right now. We’ve been using nicknames to keep each other apart.”

“Oh isn’t that just great!” He doesn’t bother to hide his anger. It’s not them. The goddesses must be making some sick joke. The break he had with Ravio had been the longest in between his previous adventures. 5 months. That’s all the rest he got before being thrown in another quest the second he steps foot outside of his house. Now he is stuck with who knows how many people that are also Heroes.  

He thinks about the Fallen kid hero before him, and wonders if somehow, he could be here too. 

Malon walks back in with a cup of coffee. He tries to give something of a smile while thanking her with a low mutter. She returns the smile, walking back to the kitchen while giving her husband a more stern look. 

He takes that as his que. “We have been traveling through time-”

“Fuck me.”

“Language.” The knight chimes in.

“-And you probably went through a portal before coming here, right?”

Link frowns. “More like I saw it and then it decided it wanted to vanish from the ground from under my feet.”

“Yeah, I noticed.” The captain speaks up. Link now notices he has some scratches and bruises. So that’s what he landed on.

He doesn’t feel like apologizing. 

“Most of the time we return to our own times, like we do now.” Malon’s husband continues. “That is when we are lucky.”

“Wait where and when are we now?” Link asks. 

“My era, but I do not think that says much. Still, we are in Hyrule. Hyrule field to be exact, on my wife and I’s farm.”

“Which is one of the best places to portal to, in my opinion.” the captain laughs, a teasing look towards the other. “We’re still figuring out who is where on the timeline, but that’s for another time.” He sets down his coffee “So about nicknames, they call me Warriors, or captain”

The names were only getting worse it seemed. 

That was not what he was focussed on however. If they were travelling through fucked up portals, portals that were leading them to their own times, he could get back home. He could see Ravio again and he could write back to Zelda to let her know he wasn’t dead. Zelda was going to kill him if something else didn’t. 

“I’m called Time.” The old man- Time, says. “We have been using our Hero titles. Sky chose his own name however. Is there any title you want to use, or something else you can come up with?”

If there is anything Link has plenty of, it’s titles. He tried by going by all of them. He supposed he was the Hero of Oracle and Ages, but he wasn’t quite keen on that being his name. Hero of Koholtin? Hell no. Hero of Hytopia? No, those fashion disasters were between Green, Red and Blue. What happened in Hytopia stays in Hytopia. He had been called many things, but wasn’t sure they were really considered official titles. 

He does remember that in the gallery of the palace, he was named the Hero of Legend. 

It was a little much, sure, but it was his official title. If the captain got away with being called Warriors, how bad could his title be? 

"Legend." He settles. “The Hero of Legend. I guess.”

“Well Legend,” Time smiles. “Welcome. Let’s hope for your sake we’ll go around your era anytime soon. The other boys can introduce themselves, just prepare yourself.They can get chaotic.”
Link- no, Legend now, could’ve guessed that.

Warriors however seemed to be looking over him, getting a little closer.

“What are you looking at?” Legend challenges.

“Seeing if you’re hurt at all.” the captain replies. “You have been unconscious since last evening, completely drenched. Honestly surprised you don’t have something of a head injury. You do have scratches on your faces, you might as well have landed in the cucco coop.”

“Bird.” Legend decided he is not going to give any context.

“Sounds about right.” Time chimes in. 

Malon comes out of the kitchen, a large stack of plates in her hand as she settles them onto the table. “If that’s all settled, will you boys help me set the table?”

Time nods, getting up from the table. Legend can hear multiple voices outside, and as he looks out of the window, he can see it is a beautiful, sunny day. 

“Time?”

“Yes?”

“What season is it?”

“Well, summer has just started.”

Legend stares out of the window with a disappointed look. 

“Fuck!”

Chapter Text

“So how old are you, actually?” Legend asks.

“You are not even part of the bet and you are already asking?” Time gives a jokingly disappointing look. 

“There’s a bet?”

Warriors and Wild snicker as they collect various things from the cabinets. Wild starts signing to him. “We know he isn’t 60, atleast.”

“And…?” Legend looks over to Malon.

“You’re not getting it out of me, either!” Malon laughs. “The boys have already tried bribing me with rupees. My lips are sealed.”

“I was just…” Legend tries figuring out what he wanted to say. “I’ve heard of past heroes and all that but never them being…”

“Older? Able to grow up and marry?” Time asks. 

“Something like that.”

Time hums. “The other boys asked the same question. It’s been a while since my last ‘adventure’, if you could call it that.” He grabs a stack of cups out of a cabinet. “I can still swing a sword plenty, though-”

Time is promptly cut off by a door being slammed open, and some footsteps coming through. Malon doesn’t need to turn around to understand what’s going on. “Take off your boots! You’re going to get the house all dirty! You will clean up!”

Legend looks behind him and sees a kid in a blue tunic pass by, limping on one of his feet to take off his boots. “Sorry Malon!”

He pays no mind to everyone in the kitchen as he runs through the living room and sprints up the stairs. Legend wonders what that was about. 

“Wind I swear to Hylia!”

Someone else storms in the house, a handful of scratches on his hands and face.

“Ohhhhhhh’ Wild lets out the noise. “Someone’s in trouble.”

"Four?" Time seems to be eyeing the carpet underneath the newcomer. “Care to explain?”

‘Four’ stops looking around the living room to find Wind and turns his attention to Time. “He goes on about ‘being scared of the cucco’s’ and that I needed to help him! Then he betrayed me!”

Malon had cucco’s on this farm? Legend was starting to consider escaping.

“How so?” Time asks. 

“Because he picked one up and it panicked and threw it over to me! Like I would be able to handle it! And he totally left me for dead! That pirate is dead to me.”

Four takes a few breaths and seems to finally notice Legend standing there as he calms down. "Oh! Hi there. You gave Wars a bruise.”

“Smith!” 

Four snorts. He comes up to Legend and makes a motion to shake his hand. “I’m Four!” He says smiling, a stark contrast to when he just entered the house. His eyes are an unusual red. “So uhh… did you have the talk yet or?” He looks over to Time and Warriors 

Legend answers for them. 

“Yes yes, new adventure stuff, I know.” He still goes to shake Four’s hand.  “I’m Legend, I guess.”

“Oh great! Glad we have that covered. Anyway, where did Wind go?”

Warriors points to upstairs. 

“Thanks!” And with that, he runs to and up the stairs with alarming speed. 

“I’m pretty sure Sky had the cucco’s handled, didn’t he?” Malon looks out of the window.

“He did.” Time answers. “Which means Wind didn’t just panic, but that was intentional, and I think Four knows that.”

“Oh Wind is really dead.” Warriors gives a fake somber look, but can’t hide the little grin on his face. 

“The way you’re still keeping count of everytime the sailor pulls something on you is only slightly concerning, captain.” Time playfully bumps into his shoulder.

“I’m still keeping count of yours, too.”

“I’m terrified.” He shoots back in the most sarcastic way possible. 

Legend feels like he is intruding. He doesn’t know how long the other heroes have done this adventure for. They feel like family and he came between it all too late, it seems. His adventures were done mostly alone, with the occasional merchant ripping his rupees off his body. He takes the stuff he has gathered and moves to set the table. He only now notices that his legs hurt. He must have strained them yesterday. 

There is yelling upstairs. If he didn’t wake up himself, he was sure Wind’s fear would have.

The edges of his vision feel blurry. He pinches himself again for good measure. He looks around the house, looking for imperfections. Malon doesn’t let him.

She pushes down on his shoulder, forcing him to sit down. It takes a moment before he registers what she is saying.

“-should sit down now Honey, they can get the rest.”

She goes over to the door, opening it. Warm summer air enters the house as she lingers. 

“Boys! Breakfast!”

Legend was wondering how many past and or future versions of himself he would have to meet. If they were even real at all. 

Malon goes to sit down herself with a cup of tea. Legend finishes the cup of coffee he left on the table in one long sip. 

First, a boy a little younger than Legend enters the house. He enters in old green clothes, not too different from his own old adventuring outfit. His wild brown hair is scattered, most likely from being out on the farm. 

The boy looks at him, and then looks a bit panicked at Malon as he goes to sit down. 

“How’d it go?” He asks. Malon hands him tea. He proceeds to put an inhuman amount of sugar cubes in it. 

“No murder attempts like a certain someone, ‘Rule.” Warriors goes to sit down next to Legend after putting down the cutlery, positioning them precisely. He still doesn’t trust him.

“Hey, that's not fair! If you were from my Hyrule you would do the same!” He drinks from his tea as soon as the sugar dissolved somewhat. “Anyway, I’m the traveler. Or Hyrule.”

“Hyrule? As in-”

“Yes, as in the kingdom, thank you.”

“You’re all wonderful with names."

“Then what’s yours, great name haver?"

“Legend.”

Hyrule chokes on his tea.

“I know it's bad but it can’t be that bad.” Legend glares. 

“As in the Hero of Legend? ”

“Yes?”

“Well fuck me I guess!”

“Hyrule!” “Language!” Came from multiple voices in the room. 

“Was that the traveler's first swear!?” Legend hears from upstairs. He isn’t quite sure who said it.

Legend was unsure how to respond. In his Hyrule, not everyone was just as appreciative of all the times he had to kill Ganon. Especially knights. He didn’t know from what time Hyrule was, but he had heard of Legend. 

“You’re after me, then?” He settled on. 

He had hoped that he was the furthest in the future. If he joined last, perhaps he was the last hero, and he had done his job properly. Ganon didn’t revive again, and the pig stayed dead. Sadly that wasn’t the case. Maybe it was better if this was a dream. 

“Uhm, yeah.” Hyrule’s attitude is more nervous. “It’s been a while since the golden age, but it was the Hero of Legend that came before me. Or that’s what Aurora told me.”

The awkward conversation luckily didn’t have to continue, because two more people, older than Legend, walked in the room. One with markings on his face, a lot dirtier than the other, patting the dirt off of himself. The presumably other hero next to him is wearing a white cape, still clean, but has some cucco feathers poking out of his hair which he’s picking at. That must be Sky. Their gazes turn to Legend. 

At the same time, ‘Wind’ comes downstairs, looking a little rougher than he did before, Four trailing behind him with proud blue eyes. Then he finally notices Legend, and comes to the same halt as the other two. 

“So…” The one with the markings draws out. "Are we good?”

“We had the talk.” Warriors and Time say at the same time. Time helps Wild bring out all the food, it looks amazing. 

“That must be the first time any of our meetings went smoothly, besides for the captain's face.”

“All of you! Traitors!" 

Legend still did not apologize. 

Everyone started sitting by the table. They were with too many, enough seats but no space for 10 people. Chairs were shoved to the corner of the table, Wild’s food filling most of the table as the cook went to sit on the other side of Legend. The one with the markings follows his lead, sitting next to Wild. Legend notices the absence of a younger kid hero.

“Twilight, by the way.” He offers. He has a thick accent.

Sky settles as well, seemingly happy to sit down. “Sky.” He smiles. Legend had guessed correctly. Time goes to sit down next to his wife. 

Wind ruffled his own hair to tidy it up a little, squeezing his chair at one of the corners of the table. “I’m Wind! The sailor, pirate, wind waker-”

“I’m going to start eating now.” Four chimes in. 

Wind tries to look offended for good humor. He fails as others start to laugh, and he joins in. 

“Legend.” He says for what feels like the tenth time that day. Probably because it was. 

Everyone starts to grab some of Wild’s food, thanking the cook for breakfast. Legend makes sure he grabs last. 

There is an awkward silence. He feels like he is intruding all over again. This is a home, but it is so different from his own. He does not belong here. He misses Ravio. 

“So, Legend.” Twilight breaks the silence. “How old are you?”

“Why do you ask?” Legend adds a bit of bite to it, even if it was not intentional. He did just ask Time the same question. 

“Just wanted to know where on the age hierarchy you are.” Twilight grins. 

“Oh like you even respect the age hierarchy !” Wild signs quickly. “I’m the oldest one here! And what do I get for it? Nothing!” 

Wild certainly did not look the oldest. The scarring helped a long way, but compared to Time, or even Twilight and Sky?

“We still don’t know how old Time is!” Hyrule says from the opposite side of the table. 

“So, Legend? Or are we going to bet on you too?” Warriors asks.

“No, no.” He was not going to be betted on. “I’m 18.”

Time gives him that sad look again, hoping he had been older, regardless of his answer. Legend feels like smashing his head on the table again, but Wild’s food is in the way, and it looks like the best food he’s had in ages. 

“Oh c'mon!” Wind shouts. 

“Were you really expecting him to be younger, sailor?” Sky laughs. 

“Anything to not be the youngest, really.” Wind says disappointed. 

The rest of the chain laughs along Sky, and Legend even found himself laughing along. 

For now this would be alright.

Chapter Text

Wild’s food had been delicious, the whole table was grabbing seconds. It seemed that Wild had catered to everyone’s preferences, sweet pastries filling Hyrule’s plate, while Wind had something that reminded him more of breakfast on Koholint. Sky had pancakes on his plate, coating it with syrup. Him and Wild were talking about a recipe for pumpkin soup as everyone was tidying up the small space.

It felt weird. Everyone moved on, as if Legend was a part of it from the start. But he was not participating in it. While everyone made eye contact with him while having conversations, he was not talking with them. He wasn’t getting the inside jokes Time and Warriors seemed to have. Hyrule seemed out of place, looking over Legend. Legend sends glares back, investigating his ‘successor’ all the same. 

He had stayed silent during all of breakfast. 

Malon was talking about chores on the farm, she didn’t seem to be trying to give any to Legend, but he wanted to help her out all the same. He could have just thrown him out the second he woke up, like they did in Lorule. 

Imagine Legend’s delight when he found out Time and Malon had recently planted an apple orchard. He could pretend for a little while longer that there wasn’t anything to be done. There was no time limit, no people currently in danger, that he knew of here. 

He ignores Zelda’s letter gnawing at the back of his mind. Here is to hoping Ravio doesn’t get up to anything stupid while he is gone.

“I’ll help out there, Malon.”

Malon turned in surprise. 

“You sure honey? You don’t have to do anything, you know. Eight pairs of hands is plenty more than what I normally have already.”

“I have an apple orchard at home.” Legend ignores the looks he gets from the other heroes. “I’ll gladly do it.”

Malon’s uncertainty quickly turns around. “Would you look at that! Well, if you insist!” She pats him on the back, he flinches forward a bit, not expecting it to be that strong. 

“Twilight, if I can ask you to herd?”

“‘Course!” The rancher gives a reassuring smile. 

“Do you think we could get Wolfie to do it?” Wind asks with a wide smile on his face. 

Wild gives a grin, looking at Twilight. The rancher gives a disappointing stare back. 

“Probably.” Twilight eventually says. “I’ll go take a look for ‘im.” 

With that, Twilight is out the door. 

“Wolfie?” Legend questions. “Is that your herding dog or something?”

“Something like that,” Warriors says. “You’ll see.” 

Not suspicious at all. Legend decides he’ll leave it, taking his opportunity to get away. 

Outside it is just as warm as it had been at home. The sun was shining harshly onto him. It doesn’t take long for him to find the young apple orchard.

He takes a bucket along his way, filling it with water with the nearby well. Heaving it up, he carries it over to the small orchard.

He felt kind of bad for not immediately getting to work, but he thinks he deserves it. He sits down against the steep hill surrounding the sides of the farm, admiring the view for a while. Legend then promptly clasped both of his hands over his mouth, letting out a frustrated scream. 

All the frustration, all the anger, he lets out at once. He pulls his hair and kicks the earth, as if it had personally beaten him up. It might as well have. 

He takes a deep breath. Another, before continuing the promise he had made to Malon, and checks the soil before watering the young trees. He is so, so angry. Time must have thought that was an appropriate time to talk.

“Legend?”

“Hm?” Legend doesn’t hide the frown he still has on his face, his back to Time as he continues to check over the apple trees. 

Time comes to sit down nearby, admiring the view of the farm as well. In the distance, the rest of the chain got back to work on the farm. 

“Thank you for helping out.” He eventually says.

Legend lets out a sigh. "It's alright. I enjoy it.” He forces out, his tone as normal as he can bring it. 

“You’re allowed to be angry, son.”

A branch snaps under his feet. 

“Don’t call me that.” Legend scowls. He doesn’t face him. He takes a deep breath.

Time looks at him, observing. “My point still stands.”
“I am angry." He grits out. “I’m so fucking pissed, Time. I had what, a couple months? And here I am, on some stupid fucking quest, again. And it is what-” He snaps off a sick branch. “-my seventh one? Tell me, old man. What does it take for Hylia to let us fucking retire?”

Time has that look of pity on his face again. Legend stares at him until he changes his expression. “I would not be able to tell you. I’m here all the same.” He admits. “And I thought I was done a while ago.”

It’s no comfort, but it is the truth. It is what Legend preferred.

“But,” He carries on. “It seems that you have had the most of any of us. Who knows, after this you might be able to retire.”

Just his luck. So much for being Hylia’s ‘favorite’.

It was a little comfort that the others did not have to do this as much as him.

Legend tosses the bucket away once it’s empty and sits back down, still keeping a good distance from Time. 

“We haven’t gotten to the part yet where you tell me what thing is ending the world.” 

Time reflects a moment, surprised by the comment. “Well, we aren’t sure yet.”
“How’s that?” Legend answers, annoyed. 

Time wonders how to explain. “There have been the portals. It’s the way we have been traveling across eras.” He says a bit too casually. “As you have noticed, they’re impatient. we can’t avoid them.” 

Legend grimaces.

Time continues. “We have been encountering monsters that are stronger, smarter. You can identify them by their black blood. Does that sound familiar?”

Legend nods. “Got a letter from my sister about it.” He decides to leave out her name, even though Time does not know her. “Was going to investigate it next morning, but that apparently was not fast enough.” 

Time hums. “A shadow is in the middle of all of it.” His tone turns more serious.

“Twilight nearly died not too long ago because of it.”

Legend decides to face Time at that moment. Time looks down on him, eyes serious, sad, angry. Mourning a boy who is still alive. He can't help but feel that somehow, that is also directed at him.

“All eight of us fought. We thought we had killed it. Yet we are still here, and here you are.

Time softens. “The last thing I want for any of you boys is to carry the same burden as I have. But by all means, I am glad we got to meet, Link. So I say it again, thank you for helping.”

Legend looks to the ground, avoiding eye contact with the older hero. Sometimes, Ravio thanks him again just for the sake of it. He never is sure what to say in response, often choosing to crash into his partner instead. He keeps his distance from Time. 

There is a bark coming from somewhere on the farm. In the distance, Legend can make out Wild feeding the horses apples. A figure of black fur comes charging at him, and knocks him over, sweeping him off his feet. Wild lets out a yell, and the animal quickly runs away again, now charging towards Legend and Time. 

That is not a herding dog. True to its name, that is an actual wolf. A wolf is charging right at him. 

Legend’s rabbit heart beats fast in his chest, twice as fast than it should be able to. He quickly scrambles to his feet and starts looking for an escape. He backs up, his back colliding with the hill. He looks around him, scared. He would not be able to run fast enough to get away. 

Just run just run just run!

“Wolfie .” Time warns, noticing Legend’s panic.

The wolf tries coming to a halt, but it barely slows in speed as it calms down from his sprint. Wolfie doesn’t stop by the time he reaches Legend.

Legend yelps and without thinking about it, Ravio’s bracelet lights up and he merges with the wall.

The wolf finally comes to a halt, seemingly confused as it looks at the stone where there is now a painting of Legend, unmoving except for the panicked eyes. It is also the first time Legend sees Time being caught off guard, his calm demeanor replaced by confusion. 

“ Wolfie.” Time repeats. “This is not a good time. Go apologize to Wild.”

The wolf turns around, its tail tucked between the legs as it hurries back over to Wild, who is also staring in their direction in confusion. The wolf guides Wild away from the area. 

Eventually Legend’s magic runs out, and he is spat back out, his ears tipped red as he eats dirt. As he goes to get up, Time grabs him by the arm to help him get up. He flinches a little. Time backs off as he acts that didn’t just happen.  

“It’s nothing weird, Legend.” Time says as he notices his embarrassment. “We all have our abilities, you will find that out along the way.” 

It wasn’t where Legend’s embarrassment was coming from.

Together with Time they pretended that he, the hero of Legend, wasn’t scared of wolves. 

Which was a totally rational fear since there was a wolf on a farm. He was allowed to panic about that, he told himself. 

“That must’ve been quite a good tool for dungeons.” The old man gives a little chuckle as Legend straightens up. 

“Oh you wouldn’t believe.” Legend manages a small smile. “Shame it was on the second last adventure though. Could’ve really used it on literally every single one.” He fidgets with the bracelet. 

It is quiet for a moment, as he and Time look over the farm, the rest of the chain working on various chores. It’s too peaceful. 

There is a familiar, anxious, dreading pull.

Next to him, Time sighs. In the distance, Legend can hear Four cussing loud enough for the entirety of Hyrule to hear. He also hears various “Language!” coming from around the farm. He was getting really sick of hearing that. 

Everyone seems to be giving up what they’re doing. 

“There goes the peace.” Time says begrudgingly.

“Collect your stuff if there’s still anything in the room. We’re going.”

Time doesn’t wait for a response, quickly heading over to the house. Malon is already waiting for him outside the door. Everyone is quick to act as well, walking into the house to gather their things. Legend stands still for a moment, anxious. As if a portal was going to open under him any second. When that doesn’t come, he heads over to the rest of the heroes. He had already gathered his things the moment he had woken up, he was already prepared. Being prepared is the reason he was still alive, after all. 

At the farm gate entrance was the portal. Exactly the same as he had seen it the first time, although now more clear. It wasn’t dark or raining. It stood imposing, blocking their way if they wanted to avoid it and leave the farm. There was no avoiding it. 

Four was next to come up to him, staring at the portal as if it was the thing he hated most in the world. Legend could relate. Now that he is taking a closer look at the small hero, he could almost swear he looks a little familiar. Four looks back at him.

“I always get sick going through portals, nauseous mostly. Not looking forward to it.” He is pulling on the fabric of his tunic.

“I can imagine.” Legend responds. “Is it always like this?”
“Like what, exactly? Four asks”

“I’m anxious.” He admits. “Like going through this portal is going to kill me, even though I know it won’t.” 

Four looks at him, as if searching for something. “Everyone has their thing with these portals. I get sick, Sky gets exhausted, Hyrule’s magic gets depleted and so on. Maybe it will go away, maybe it stays. Sometimes it’s worse than other times. 

“Great.”

"Exactly."

The next person to join them is Wild, Twilight is quick to follow. Twilight seems to be almost watching him, until he notices that Legend caught on. 

“Are you alright?” Twilight asks. 

“Just peachy.”

He doesn’t notice Warriors come up to Four. He nearly flinches because of the knight. 

Wars wraps an arm around the smith, reassuring him. Wind is quick to run by the captain, poking him in the side causing him to give out a yell. Four laughs along with the rest of the chain and the mood is lightened a little. 

Sky and Hyrule are the last to join them, except for Time. He is still giving his goodbyes to Malon. The anxiety in Legend’s stomach grows. 

His gaze moves over to Sky. He notes a familiar sheath on his back.

Is that the master sword? 

He looks to the master sword on the other hero’s back, and then to his own. 

Huh.

Eventually Time and Malon separate, and Malon moves to the rest of them. 

She goes by the rest of the boys to give everyone a hug, making them promise to return safely. Legend does not expect Malon to give him a hug too.

“Now don’t let these boys push you around, okay? Link isn’t as scary as he looks.” She winks. “And you come back safe, alright?”

He looks at her, stunned for a moment. “Uhm, yeah, of course Malon.”

Time lets Legend take his time to compose himself for a moment.

“Alright,” Time addresses everyone. “Twilight and Wild go first, followed by Wind, Hyrule and Sky. Four and Warriors go next. Me and Legend will go last.”

Twilight nods and before he can turn around, Wild is already going through the portal. He is quick to follow, chasing the cook. 

The rest of them give a quick last wave to Malon and step into the portal as well. 

Warriors gives Four one more reassuring squeeze on his shoulder when the smith is reluctant to walk through. He steels his nerves and together, they walk through. 

Legend can see Time is about to say something. Probably something important, or emotional. Maybe kiss Malon again. 

He pretends he doesn’t know any better and walks through the portal immediately.

Chapter Text

Legend very quickly learns that going through a portal does not mean ending up in a safe location. 

When he arrives on the other side, he isn't able to dodge a sword meant for Warriors neck. On its way down, it slashes by Legend’s arm instead. Hyrule is in full action already, stabbing the monster in its back and pushing it aside.

“Monster camp!” The traveler yells at Legend, who is still grabbing his sword in the action. 

Hyrule doesn’t pay the other much mind as he hunches over to Four, who Legend only just noticed hunched over on the ground, and starts pulling him out of the fight. 

Twilight and Wild are already in full action in the middle of the battlefield. The cook throws his sword at something that looks like a Moblin. It works, the monster stumbling back, a deep wound in its chest spouting a black liquid. Wild’s blade also shatters on impact.

What the fuck.

By the time Legend has his sword and shield in hand a monster he doesn’t recognise is already coming to his side, quick. He doesn’t hesitate to swing for its head. The blade goes clean through it. It takes more effort than the hero had expected. It bleeds the same black liquid, and suddenly he remembers Zelda’s letter. 

Finally, Time comes through the portal behind him. With Four out of the fight, Warriors moves to Time’s right side, the two of them quickly getting into a rhythm as monsters approach. 

With that covered, Legend decides to go to the outer edges of the battlefield as he sees more monsters approaching. An arrow flies past him from Wild’s direction, pinning a keese to the ground. 

Everything around them looks dead, from the ground to the trees to the very air. With nothing in danger around him but a swarm of monsters, he takes out his firerod. 

Sometimes, he is glad about how much rupees he spent on Ravio’s items. 

He charges his firerod, lighting up the dead area. He makes sure none of the other heroes are in his path before firing a deadly blast into the oncoming monsters.

The hot air flies by him on the impact, the fire in front of him slightly blinding him. There is a last attempt of a monster to throw its weapon, which Legend easily avoids by taking a step back. 

When the fire disperses, there is not much left. Nothing stays on fire, either. The sounds of monsters screeching and blades digging into flesh and metal are quieter by the time he is finished. 

Behind him, Wind seems to be finishing off the last bokoblin, while Twilight and Wild shoot at the remaining keese.

For landing in the middle of a monster camp, they made quick work. Legend takes a final look of the surroundings, listens closer to the dead land, before putting away his firerod. 

“Any Injuries?” Warriors is quick to call. 

Legend looks around, inspecting the others. He forgets to mention his wound as he sees Four still hunched on the ground. Sky is already by his side, wrapping his sailcloth around the smaller hero. 

He looks the captain dead in the eye as he pulls his sleeve further over his wound. He’ll take a look over it once they are settled. No way in hell was he going to let the soldier look over his wounds. Besides, Four needed more attention right now.

No one else seems to be injured at least. Wind runs over to Legend and wipes black blood off him in the same movement. 

“That was so cool!” The sailor moves around Legend, going to grab for his fire rod. 

“Hey! No touching!”
“Where did you even get that? That’s so much better than fire arrows!”

The two circle each other for a moment until Wind gives a disappointed face and gives up. He hurries over to the captain instead, talking about the monsters they had just fought. 

The land reminded Legend of the dark world, maybe Lorule in the worst parts of it. They still didn’t quite match this. In the opposite worlds, the earth was dead like it would be in winter or autumn. Here there was no life at all, nothing to grow back for when spring would come.

The air smelled toxic, even as he took a step away from the burnt monster remains. 

“It’s my Hyrule.” The traveler broke the news solemnly. 

Ha, Hyrule’s Hyrule, that’s ironic- 

Wait a second, didn’t Hyrule say he was after him? 

Legend looks around him again. The barren wasteland. There wasn't a single sign of life anywhere. Dead trees and bushes, old, dried wood. 

What a cruel joke. Legend was before Hyrule, how could it have ended up like this? 

“We need to move fast, stay quiet.” Hyrule whisper yells. His anxiety radiates off of him. The portal, the way back to safe Lon-Lon Ranch, closes.

“Four needs a moment.” Sky whispers back. 

“Where is the closest place we can shelter, Hyrule?” Time asks. 

Hyrule doesn’t face Time as he speaks, only keeping an eye on their surroundings, listening for something. “There should be a cave nearby, enough time for Four to recover. Too little time to get a full rest of sleep. If we come across something, maybe we portal out of here as soon as possible.”

Twilight walks over to Four, moving the smith onto his back to carry him. Four mutters something unintelligible, almost passing out. His nausea doesn’t let him rest however.

Hyrule is already moving, leading the rest of the chain. Legend notices that he did not sheathe his sword. He is quick to follow, but confused nonetheless. 

Wild comes up to him. ‘Nice work out there, my arrows burned straight through it.’

Legend would have thought the cook was being sarcastic, but he had a big smile on his face as he signed. 

‘This Era is definitely the worst, no offense to Hyrule of course.’ Wild smiles. ‘ Everytime we’ve been here, we had to ration our food. Watch your water, too, it is toxic here.’

That certainly is nice to know. He doesn’t say that however, not daring to break the silence. He nods instead. 

Legend wouldn’t say he is the most attuned to magic. He was no mage. It doesn’t take that to notice that this place is devoid of magic, however. As Legend walks, he feels a little sick. He does not let that distract him from keeping his guard up. He takes out his bow and knocks an arrow on it, just in case. 

Hyrule was right. Eventually they reach a cave. Legend isn’t sure how much time has passed, or how far they have walked. The only thing that matters is that they have walked far enough from their fight. 

Sky goes into it together with Hyrule first, investigating the cave in case of danger. When nothing is to be found, they signal to the rest of the chain. Everyone moves in, Twilight settling Four down and positioning the smith against himself.

“How long do we have until we have to move again?”  Time breaks the silence. 

“3 hours, at most.” Hyrule answers. Four groans. 

“How far are we from the castle?” The old man asks instead.

“Two days, less maybe. If we want to actually get into the castle? We’ll need to go around the back, that will take even longer.”

Time hums. “Any objections to go to the castle?” When no one offers a no, he settles down as well. He takes a polishing cloth from Warriors, getting rid of the remaining black blood on his face and armour before passing it around.

Time looks over to the cook. “Wild, can you get food ready? Anything for stamina would be great.” 

Wild gives a thumbs up, and Legend sees him grab for a strange device at his hip. 

“Why the castle?” Legend asks. “Do we have business there? Isn’t there anywhere closer, a town or something?”

Hyrule grimaces, almost seeming embarrassed. “Towns aren’t safe. Anywhere outside of towns isn’t safe, either.” He says. “The queen will let us stay for a moment, I’m sure.”

“Traveling for that long means no sleep.” Time explains “We won’t know how many options for safety we will get along the way. We will eat and recover now, and hope for the best.”

That was fine. Legend could run days without sleep if he was running on adrenaline. “Okay.”

He should take that chance to recover. With Wild making food, that leaves him plenty of time to do anything else, starting with the gash in his arm. 

Looking around him he looks for privacy, somewhere to ignore the fact he was hiding his injury. But the cave was small, not leaving much room for an extended check-up. Based on everyone’s cautiousness, outside wasn’t an option either. 

So he settles against a corner, navigating the old man’s blind spot. He is close to Wild, but he is busy getting the cooking pot settled. The others seem busy as well, either trying to get some rest or recovering from the fight. 

With his sleeve still pulled down, Legend reaches bandages in his bag. He moves them under his sleeves, picking at it until it becomes loose. 

He makes an awkward movement trying to wrap the bandage around. While eyeing the cook, he doesn’t focus, lets out a hiss from pushing the bandage against the wound and-

He didn’t account for Wind. 

“Holy shit Legend are you okay?!” The sailor yells out. 

Time’s gaze is immediately on him, and so is Warriors. Sky murmurs out a sleepy “Language.” as he is still falling asleep. 

“I’m fine, kid!” He quickly says, hoping no one has seen anything yet. Wind is still making an offended face at the name. 

Time gives him a disappointed look. Oh by Din that is awful. 

“Ordona not another one.” Twilight says, careful not to stir Four as he tries to hide his chuckling.

“I’m taking care of it already.” Legend bites out. 

Warriors raises an eyebrow. “Did you even disinfect it?”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Time asks. It doesn’t feel like much of a question. It feels like he wants Legend to admit his guilt.

Legend hesitates. “We had bigger concerns, so-” He struggles to find his words.

“I’m taking care of it now, okay?” He throws his hands up. The sleeves roll down with it, showing the full length of the wound.

“Wind, potion.” Warriors says. Warriors orders.

The cave seems to be getting more claustrophobic. 

Wind is quick to go through his bag.

“I don’t need a potion for this! We need to be conserving those right now if anything.” Legend argues. 

“This is exactly what potions are for, don’t undermine your injuries.” Twilight speaks in a more calm manner than everyone else. “You’re not wasting anything, we have more than enough.

“What matters right now,” Time continues “Is that you are in proper condition to make the journey. That way we hopefully will not need any potions, or healing.”

When Wind finally finds a red potion at the bottom of his bag, he is unsure to hold it out to Legend. Hyrule takes it instead, settling down in front of the wounded hero, nonchalantly removing the cork from the bottle. He retrieves a small towel from his own bag, and starts pouring some of the potion onto it. 

Hyrule stares at him.

Legend stares back. 

It takes a couple moments of uncomfortable eye contact to have Legend reach out his arm. 

“This needs stitching.” Hyrule comments.

“I’m doing it.”
“Sure.”

The rest of the chain is almost surprised at the compliance. As Hyrule continues to disinfect the wound, Wild continues simmering the food. Four seems to be more conscious as well, sitting up.

“Careful now.” Twilight puts a hand on the smithy’s chest, stopping him from sitting up right too quickly. “Don’t need you puking.”

Four groans, laying back down. It’s difficult to make out what he’s saying next. 

“Not… Awful.” He mutters out. “...Nap.”

Twilight gives a lighthearted chuckle, taking the wolf pelt from his shoulders and pulling it over the two of them. “Wars will wake us up for food, no worries.”

“Really, Twi?” Warriors asks, an offended look on his face until he gives a chuckle as well. 

“I reckon I’ll be taking a nap too.” The rancher already has his eyes closed. 

“Sleep already, you old dog!” 

Wild snorts at that as he is stirring the pot. He hums along while Legend feels the disinfectant sting on his arm.

“Fuck this sucks.” He curses. 

“All wounds do, even if you had them many times before.” Time notes. 

No shit. Legend thinks. But it wasn’t just the stinging disinfectant. It was this whole situation. He was cold, a stark contrast to the warm summer back at Lon-Lon ranch. This cave was ragged, barely comfortable to sit in. He is reminded of how relaxed he had gotten, how comfortable his home was. Anger seeps as he is reminded of how he was pulled away from his home. 

At some point Hyrule is finished and Warriors hands him a handful of supplies, including a needle. As promised, the traveler lets Legend do the stitching, careful and precise. 

The wound was treated well. If he is lucky, the scar would fade eventually. Even if that would take a very long time. 

When Wild finishes the food a moment later, Legend thanks him. It’s just as delicious as breakfast. 

He’ll manage.

Chapter Text

When Hyrule’s anxiety grew and he announced that they should leave, the chain was quick to comply. Besides Wild’s cooking pot there was not much to gather, everything ready to go. 

Four was looking a little better. As promised, Warriors woke up him and Twilight. The rancher gave a sarcastic protest before helping up the smaller hero. Sky still looked tired, but had benefited greatly from his nap. With Legend’s wound cleaned and taken care of, his anxiety lowered, too. 

It didn’t make the situation any less worse.

Hyrule is looking around the corners of the exit of the cave. When he deems it safe, he gives a hand signal for the rest of the chain to move with him. As he leads, Time joins him at the front. 

Everyone gets into what seems a familiar formation. Wild starts joining Twilight at the back and the rest are pairing up as well. Legend walks awkwardly in the middle of it. 

It is a quiet walk. Hyrule takes them through the cold, dead forest. He takes strange twists and turns, seemingly practiced and second nature. His pace is quick, constant.

It is a long walk. Legend starts counting the pair of footsteps in their group. He is not distracted by any extra noise. There are no signs of animals or other life here. The wind only goes through dead branches with no leaves. 

It is a tiring walk. Legend notices Wind is struggling to keep up. His pace is uneven, taking small sprints every time he starts falling behind. Warriors shoots him a glance. The sailor ignores it. Legend´s feet ache.

It is a painful walk. Legend´s stomach churns painfully when they still do not stop after a full day of walking. He is sure the others are growing blisters on their feet as well. Hyrule´s face is tired, but stays alert. Warriors offers to carry Wind. The sailor kindly whispers to him to piss off. 

Eventually, they can spot the castle in the far distance. He can audibly hear exhales.

It was suspicious. Hyrule had warned them of restless days, constant monster attacks, being worn, wounded and exhausted by the end of it. They haven't been attacked a single time yet in the entire day. No sign of monsters. Only a constant quiet, The cold wind clashing against them atop of the rocky hill. He could ask questions later.

Legend stays behind with Twilight as everyone scales their way down the hill, watching their backs. The strong wind is almost too much, threatening to push him over the edge. Twilight gives him a look, expecting him to go next. 

Legend gives the same look back.

The rancher doesn't waver however. 

"Go ahead."

"If you slip, you better aim to fall on the old man or something." Legend says begrudgingly, stepping in front of the rancher.

An extra pair of footsteps from behind them-

Legend doesn't fully register what happens. He feels a sharp pain in his ankle and loses his balance, toppling over the jagged edge. He can hear yelling from below him, but also a yelp of pain from above. That doesn't matter now. He pulls his arms over his head and prays he doesn't get a concussion.

He tumbles down, the rocks piercing and scratching his skin. One moment the pain in his ankles spikes, going deeper. The sound of wood snapping. 

Somewhere, halfway down, Sky catches him. He falls down with him, feets sliding along the hill as he tries to lessen the fall. 

With a hard thump, they reach the ground. 

"Legend!" Sky says hurriedly. "Are you alright?"

He pulls his hands away. He is dizzy, but still there. He inspects the source of the shooting pain.

A broken off arrow is lodged into his ankle. It stings and in every other situation he should treat it immediately. 

Not important right now. 

He tries to stand up, and fails very quickly.

Sky unsheathes the master sword besides him, and slashes at a bokoblin coming from behind them he failed to notice. 

Stuck to the ground, he pulls out his bow instead. Above him, he can see Hyrule reaching the ground, quickly followed by Time. 

The others pick up speed going down, under the fire of multiple arrows.

Wild is scaling back up the hill. Twilight is fighting up above, an arrow lodged into his shoulder, a lizalfos in front of him. 

Legend notches an arrow and points upwards, trying to focus as the world spins. He really hopes He doesn't hit the rancher. He pulls and lets loose. 

He hits the lizalfos from under the jaw through the top of its mouth, screwing it shut. It drops its sword, Giving Wild the time to finish climbing up and finishing it off for him. 

There are more monsters coming behind him. Sky raises his sword skyward, charging up an attack Legend hasn't seen before. It takes too long for Legend's liking. 

"Cover me!" Sky yells out, not telling someone particular.

He notches three arrows on his bow this time, less worried about precision this time around. He shoots the monsters closest to them, until finally, Sky slashes down. 

A bright light comes down and races down the pathway in front of them. All monsters that were coming from that direction were quickly eradicated. Legend can't help but laugh in astonishment.

With that covered, he grabs for his fire rod and points it in the opposite direction.

A black scaled lizalfos is charging right at him. Not for Sky, who is the biggest threat here, but him, who is prone on the ground. Shit

There are heavy footsteps behind him. Time is running towards them, no doubt. 

"Hold!" Legend yells out, holding out one arm to hopefully stop the old man from running into his range.

"Sky, stay behind me!"

"What are you doing?" He whips around, finally taking in the rest of the situation.

"Just do it!"

Legend decides that was sufficient enough warning, and starts pouring a large portion of his magic into the fire rod. He waits. The lizalfos keeps charging at him, sword ready. 

He can hear Time moving again. Doesn't matter. He can probably handle some burns. 

The Lizafalos swings its sword dangerously close, and when it is right in front of his firerod, he shoots. 

The power of his fire rod never ceases to amaze him. The cold wind is replaced by a blast of fire. The Lizafalos is hit at point-blank range, forced back. Legend shields his eyes with his other arm.

The fire dissipates. The monster is a good distance away now, holding its own face, fully covered in burns. The air smells like rotten flesh.

Suddenly Warriors is in front of him, his cape clattering against the wind, annoyingly obstructing his view. The captain takes a stance in front of him, expecting the monster to attack again. 

It doesn't. Its gaze is towards the ground in pain, and it flees, back into the forest.

"What the hell?" Legend blurts out.

The fighting behind him is getting quieter. He turns around to see everyone on the ground, safe for Wild and Twilight, but not unharmed. Eventually, everything stops. The last of the monster weapons fall. Everything smells rotten, and the ground is stained by dark blood. 

Legend is heaving, the adrenaline wearing off. He looks around him. Everyone seems to have something of a wound, at least a scratch. He couldn't keep an eye on the sailor during everything, but he is unconscious, Four standing over him.

He finds Hyrule, and somehow, he doesn't have a scratch on him. 

He can't bring himself to continue worrying about others. The adrenaline is gone, and all the pain builds up and comes back. His entire body stings. He quickly pulls up his sleeve and bites down. 

Time is in front of him in a moment, his hands ragged and hurt as he tries to get Legend's attention. He's saying something, Legend's sure, but his heart is still pounding in his ears and everyone around him is making noise. He doesn't care to listen, even if he could. 

Time starts making big movements, trying to get him to breathe. Legend goes along with it, attempting to breathe. He coughs instead. Time doesn't waver, continuing to breathe, in and out. 

Legend breathes in.

He breathes out. 

He breathes in, 

He pulls out the broken arrow in his ankle. 

The noise is back.

"Breathe- Legend!"

Time pulls out a cloth of some kind. He pulls at Legend’s boot and quickly starts wrapping the fabric around his foot to prevent bleeding. He accidentally touches the wound while making the knot. Legend hisses. 

"I got it- I got it!" He protests.

"Breathe, Link. Why did you do that?" Time questions. 

"Rather did it with a bit of adrenaline than without." He argues. "Is Twilight okay?"

"The rancher is-" He stops for a moment. "He'll manage. Calm down. Focus on yourself for a moment, Vet."

"Hypocrite." Legend responds. "And did you really just call me that?"

Time ignores both comments, giving a little smile while surveying the rest of the Chain. 

Legend lays down. He can wash out the black blood in his hair later. 

"Don't sleep." Time says. He fishes a red potion from his bag and hands it to him.

"Wouldn't dream of it." He takes the potion without protest this time, and takes a couple sips. He wasn't sure how many of those the rest had stocked up. 

In the corner of his vision, Wild is helping Twilight pull the arrow in his shoulder. Hyrule is right beside him, readying something. Twilight is complaining about something, He can't exactly hear what. Hyrule tells him off really quick, followed by Wild pulling the arrow out. 

He may be getting a little more afraid of his protégé.

Warriors has the sailor on back as he and Four approach. 

"He's alright for now. I'll check for a concussion as soon as he is awake."

Time hums. 

Hyrule is already up and running. 

“We need to keep going.”

“We have wounded, ‘Rule.” Warrior comments. 

“The cave is on this cliffside, captain. I don’t have any other options where to go.” Hyrule, 

“Can we manage 15 minutes?” He negotiates.

Hyrule seems like he wants to object. Normally Legend would agree but walking is not an option right now. He needs to have a better look at his ankle before he can continue. Besides that, if Wind did have a concussion, he can’t stay on the captain's shoulder too long being jostled around. 

“Sure. Hurry.” The traveler quickly says instead. 

Time is by his side again. An offer of carrying Legend goes unsaid as he looks from the badly treated wound, to him.

“I’m not being carried.” Legend says before the old man can say anything. “Just let me get up. I already had the red potion.”

Time’s look tells him that he doesn’t agree. That’s fine. The rest of the heroes may look at him as a leader, but he isn’t his. Legend met the man this morning. Yesterday? Didn’t matter. 

Some minutes pass. When he manages to get some strength in his arms, he pushes himself up and tries to stabilize himself. It hurts, the stinging pain protesting loudly as he leans on his other foot. The potion might’ve healed the wound. Nonetheless the pain from the initial hit remained. 

He grabs his boot from the blood stained ground. He can do this. Time looks at him expectantly. Legend tries to make a face that is anything but filled with pain and settles on a very grumpy face instead. 

He takes a couple steps. Where was this cave again? Hylia, this hurts. 

Hyrule is already coming to a halt somewhere, calling over Wild to help investigate before entering. Couple more steps. 

The captain is looking at him. He isn’t sure he can read the expression. He pretends to ignore it and walks to the entrance of the cave.

“Seems clear.” Hyrule eventually calls “There is a small water source here. I don’t trust it to be safe, so don’t drink it.”

Legend takes that as his sign to get in and immediately sit down. The rest of the chain follows. He quickly wonders how he was going to repair his boot. These were his pegasus boots! Could he even use normal material? 

He steps over to the water. The water wasn’t too dirty, he could see his own reflection in it. Definitely not suitable for drinking however. Legend takes a look at his face. His hair looked really dark, like it was almost soaked into the blood. He looked really pale, too. Surely he wasn’t looking that bad from one day, right? He wonders how-

That isn’t his face. 

“W-What?”

A portal opens underneath him, and he falls.

Chapter Text

As Legend falls through, It is almost as if he falls into the water in front of him. All he sees is a vast blue as he falls into an ocean. Waves crash against him harshly, almost pulling him down. He starts swimming at a steady pace. Above him, the portal hangs in the air. He quickly starts swimming in another direction before anyone falls on top of him. 

No one comes, for a while. 

He pulls his head above water properly and looks in front of him. The water seems to stretch on forever, safe for a small amount of islands in the distance. He considers changing into his mer-form. He might be able to swim a far distance like that until he gets exhausted. He doesn’t trust the others can. 

Time still had his armour equipped. He won’t be able to swim in that. Wind was unconscious, will the captain be able to keep his head above water with him on his back? 

With all the water being toxic in the travelers Hyrule, can he swim at all? 

Shit. 

Still, no one comes through the portal. 

This adventure was starting to feel awfully familiar. 

Suddenly, the waves start to differ in their movement. The sound of sails aggressively fluttering against the wind behind him. 

“Oi!” An unfamiliar voice calls. 

Behind him, a ship starts to lower in speed as it passes by. A girl with blond hair put up comes running down from the quarter deck. “Gonzo! Get me a rope!”

Someone on the deck starts doing exactly that. 

“You’re one of Link’s land lubbers, Arentcha!?” She says as she goes to sit down, feet dangling off the edge of the ship. She has a big grin on her face. 

“Haven’t seen you before though, pinkie!”

What.

“Uh- I guess?” He answers. “You know the sailor?” 

“Can you really call him much of a sailor when he keeps going into tornados? A headless chicken he is! But sure, just said his name was Link, didn’t I?”

Eventually a rope is tossed into the water for Legend to grab. He holds on, putting his legs against the hull of the ship, pulling himself up. Soaked, he gets on the ship. Legend takes the cap from his head and wrings it out. What was it with this quest and getting him cold and soaked? 

“Can you position the ship above the portal?” He directs to the person behind the wheel. “Wind- Link, was unconscious before I fell through.”  

The blond girl laughs as she hauls herself up. “Of course he was!” She extends her hand. “The name’s Tetra!”

Legend, still drenched, returns the favour. “Legend.”

Soon enough, he can hear a yell above him, and a thunk against the wood. Warriors is behind Legend, crashing onto the ship. 

“I would advise ya move, cap!” Tetra yells out.

The captain is soothing his shoulder, until he looks above him.

Twilight.

Twilight who is very quickly descending.

“Ranche- Oof!”

Twilight lands onto the captain with a surprised yelp, tumbling onto the ship. When he finally realizes the situation, he starts laughing. 

“Twice- That’s twice now!” Warriors yells out.

“Maybe you shouldn’t stand under portals, captain!” Twilight says, laughing so much he can’t bother to get off the other. 

“Wasn’t Time coming in next with Wind?”

“Oh fuck!”

The two scrambled off of each other, getting out of the way just in time for Time to come falling down, with Wind, luckily awake, in tow. The old man steadily lands with both feet onto the deck. Wind manages to grab a rope as he comes down, swinging further away with a big smile on his face, landing in front of Tetra.

“It’s my Hyrule!” 

“Oh wow I couldn’t guess, sailor! Sure you don’t have a concussion?” 

“Are you okay, Legend? The portals seem to have a habit of opening right under you.” Wind tries to console him with something of a happy demeanor. Legend still looks rather rough himself, covered in the dirt of the travelers Hyrule. He must look really pissed off. 

“I’m fine, sailor. Just took a swim.” He grumbles. 

He was, to an extent. The red potion had healed most of his wounds and scratches. The adrenaline he was running on had worn off. As the rest of the chain was coming through the portal, the anxiety in his stomach slowly went away too. 

Eventually, everyone settled onto the ship. Exchanges were held with the crew like old friends as Legend got the last bit of water wringed out of his cap. He was cold and the wet clothes stuck to his skin uncomfortably.

Besides all that, they got to sailing. 

It was weird, finding his feet on a ship again. Even with the portal gone he was anxious of tipping over. He would manage fine, but wasn’t really looking forward to falling in. 

Sky however, did not seem to find his balance on the ship. 

“You sure you’ve still got feet, Sky?” Four asks, just as nauseous as he sits against a barrel. Sky is tumbling over the ship as he walks to the door inside, laughing just as much as the smaller hero at the smaller situation. The waves rock against the ship, picking up both strength and pace. The cold wind flew through them, drying Legend’s clothes a little 

“I’m guessing that was it for my Hyrule then?” Hyrule wonders out loud. “Guess those monsters were the ones we were looking for?”

“Could be.” Time reasons. “Any Ideas, vet?”

Legend looks up. “Are you asking me?”

“Did anything look strange to you?” He asks.

He perks up at the nickname. “Didn’t you say we would get ambushed all day, ‘Rule?” Legend mentions. “Nothing like that happened until we were attacked. Was expecting a lot worse, to be honest.”

“It is, normally. Especially traveling in big groups. I don’t know why we weren’t attacked. We weren’t the most quiet, you know?” Hyrule says. “No offense Time, but your armour doesn’t help a lot.”

“None taken.”

“Then it was a calculated attack.” Legend says. “We were in the perfect location to be ambushed and were already surrounded, at the end of the day where we were exhausted. You already said they were smarter, right?”

“Yes.” Time responds. “The monster that attacked you, vet, was the shadow.”

“It was leading the attack.” Legend says, not really guessing anymore.

“It was.” Time confirms. 

“I think it was targeting me.” Legend theorizes. “Sky was killing nearly every monster there, but it went for me.”

A rumble in the sky distracts him. The clouds above him are suddenly dark and heavy, casting the bright blue sea in a dark shadow. With fear pulling at his stomach, Legend is just again reminded of how much he hates being on the open sea. 

“Alright everyone that isn’t going to help get inside! We’re sailing through the storm!” Tetra yells out at the crew. “We’re visiting grandma!”

The crew gives a yell to that, seemingly excited. Even the chain looks happy. Wind is practically jumping. 

"....Grandma?" Legend asks. 

“And Aryll!” Wind says excitedly. “My little sister. We haven’t been back in my era for ages now.” He’s smiling as he gets out something of a baton. A magic item, maybe? 

“You were here just last week, Link!” Tetra complains sarcastically. “Think I'd be rid of you on this little adventure, you know?” 

“Wasn’t last week for me!”

Besides Wind and Wild, everyone of the chain seemed to be making their ways inside of the ship. Wind took position next to Tetra by the steering wheel. Legend stares up at the dark clouds above him, and he can’t help but feel afraid. 

“Can you sail, Vet?” Wind yells from higher up. 

“No.” He lies, and makes his way to the inside of the ship as well. “Don’t have us drown, sailor.” 

“Wouldn’t dare to!”

The ship sways as he makes his way down. The sails up above go down and soon enough Legend is walking in a weird angle, planting his feet steadily so he doesn’t topple over. 

Hyrule isn’t as successful, grabbing at the nearest pole as he trips. 

Twilight, Time and Warriors are settled in the main area of the ship. Time still seems to be looking over the rancher. Twilight had taken off his wolf pelt and the outer layer of his tunic, while Warriors got out a mending set. Besides the holes in his clothes and dirt on his face, he seemed fine. Hyrule throws him a towel before retreating into another room, following Four. 

“Didn’t get to check Tune for a concussion.” Warriors says absent-mindedly as he pulls a green thread through a needle. “I don’t trust he isn’t going to throw himself off the ship.”

“He’ll be fine, cap. Let the boy sail us to his home. He hasn’t got the chance to in a long while.” Time responds, then directing his attention to Legend. “How are you looking? Still need a check-up?”

“I’m just fine, anywhere where I can sleep?” He grumbles, exhausted. 

“Honestly not that sure that’s true.” Warriors argues. “Nothing wrong with checking your wounds, there’s no need to avoid them around us.”

Sure there wasn’t. 

“I’m Fine, Warriors.” He bites out instead. “I just fell through a portal and got thrown into the sea and I’m cold. I just want the nearest spot where I can pass out. 

Warriors gives him a hard stare, trying to look somewhat intimidating. 

“Any of the first rooms have cots you can use.” Twilight directs him instead. “I’m sure the crew won’t mind, we’ll wake up by the time we’re on Outset Island, won’t we?”

Legend gives a nod and carefully walks on as he balances against the swaying ship.

Unstable. Unsafe. Tipping over at any second, now. 

He makes sure to go in a different room than Four and Hyrule and closes the door behind him. There is nothing, for a moment. It is silent in the room besides the wind pushing against the creaking wood. 

He drops all his stuff besides one of the cots and drops down. His hair is still wet against the pillow, but he enjoys the comfort of a bed instead of the jagged rocks of the traveler’s Hyrule. Everything around him creaks as the boat sways. He is safe inside this small room, hoping no one will bother him. Legend pushes down the bad memories, pinches himself in the arm, and ignores his unsteady breathing. He pulls his hands over his ears instead. 

Because of course one of the other era’s is in an ocean. Of course the goddess would drop him in an era that is the proof of all of his failures, then throw him in an ocean with one of his greatest fears looming above him. Just fine. 

Legend continues swaying in the bed. 

There is silence. He squeezes his eyes shut as there is a flash that shines through the planks of wood.

The hands over his ears are little comfort as lightning strikes down on the ocean, a deafening sound, too nearby, too much. 

“Fuck!” Legend can’t help but yell out. The sound out his throat that follows is a scared whine, and Legend can’t but help but feel pathetic. Another flash hits by the time he dares to open his eyes. 

Why the hell did they have to sail through a storm? They could get out of it why-

Thunder strikes once more.

Legend lets out a cry for the first time in a very long time. This is just great, just awful. 

Knuckles softly knock softly against the door of the cabin. A stark contrast to everything that clashes and soars outside. He focuses. Tetra is yelling commands up on the deck. He can’t understand a word she is saying.

Even though he gives no response, the door opens. Sky comes through, quietly shutting the door behind him.

“Legend?” 

Now, of all times? 

He can’t bring himself to give a response.

Sky settles on the floor next to him. He takes the master sword off of his back and places it on his lap. 

“Thunderstorms suck, don’t they?” 

Legend opens his eyes a little more. He can see now that Sky is bouncing his leg. The other hero has his attention on Legend. He seems to be gripping the master sword tightly. 

Another flash, another thunderstrike.

Legend keeps whatever noise he was about to make in his throat, choosing to close his eyes instead. He just nods. 

When he opens them again he expects an expression from Sky. Anything, whether it be pity, disappointment or disgust. Instead Sky is looking in the other direction, fidgeting with one hand, smiling. 

Both of them stay quiet as the storm rages on.

Chapter Text

The storm calmed. Wind and Tetra made quick work of sailing to Outset island. Not without difficulties, however. Legend and Sky were still occupying the room. No one else came in or knocked on the door for the remaining time.

The both of them stayed quiet until the last of the raindrops hit the deck. The wind was less harsh now. Sunlight shined through the creaks of the wood. 

When that time finally came, Sky returned the master sword to the hilt on his back. 

“I think it’s over, now.” Sky says reassuringly. 

Legend hums. He still fidgets with his fingers. Sky looks at him expectantly as he stands up, waiting for him to move as well. 

“Do you need some more time alone?” Sky asks. “Maybe want to talk about it?”

“No.” He says dismissively. “I…” Legend considers his answer. His body doesn’t want to move, but he forces it to. “I’m fine.” He throws his legs out of the bed and grabs his equipment. His whole body feels as if it was asleep from not moving, his nerves sending spikes through his entire body.  “Let’s go.”

Sky’s expression says very clearly that he doubts the answer. He watches carefully as Legend stands up and smiles, holding open the door as the two of them leave the cabin. 

There are footsteps running above on the deck. 

Twilight is sleeping against Time’s shoulder. He honestly can’t believe he couldn’t hear the loud snores coming from the rancher above the storm. It certainly seems to annoy Warriors who seems to be finishing mending Twilight’s tunic. 

The captain carefully puts away the sewing needle.

“Watch out, sprite.”

With some unspoken communication, the old man ducks his head. Twilight’s balance shifts as Time moves. Warriors then puts the tunic into a ball and punts Twilight in the head with it. 

“I’m awake- Ow!” Twilight shoots up, accent thick, sleep still in his eyes. “What the hell?” 

"Good Morning rancher!” Warriors grins. “Fixed your tunic.”

Twilight wants to shoot back some retort, it wasn't even morning, but the footsteps from above deck come running down the steep stairs. Wind nearly races by them as he runs through the ship. 

“We’re here!” Wind yells excitedly. “Get up here already!” He doesn’t wait for an answer, going above deck again.

When everyone gets up to move, Time stays sat for a while longer. Legend can see the old man staring at him from the corner of his eye. He pretends to ignore it as he makes his way through the ship. He would really like to see land right now. 

The island they have docked on is beautiful. Smaller than Koholint island, but the smell of salt water hits the same.

He can hear a yell in the distance. When Legend looks over, he notices a girl on an outlook post, tan, with the same blond hair as Wind. She races down the ladder of the outpost with practiced ease, skipping a few steps, nearly falling. By the time her feet reach the ground, Wind is already tackling her, pulling her into a hug. 

“Link! You’re back!” She grins from ear to ear. 

“I am!” Wind has an identical smile on his face. 

Tetra lets out a playful scoff as she smiles. The whole chain gets off the ship eventually. Legend can already feel the sand going through the hole in his pegasus boots, and he knows he will never get it out again. He won’t be home for a while, but Legend can already feel it in his bed for the remainder of his life. 

They catch up to Wind eventually. Tetra holds up her hand for a high five as Wind’s sister jumps to reach it.

 “Aryll!” Wind is suddenly behind Legend, pushing him. 

“Sailor-”

“Meet Legend!” 

Legend, stunned, stays still as Aryll runs up to him, nearly out of breath.

“Are you a hero too? Why is your sword yellow? Can I see it? Cyclos your hair is pink! What did you do to get it like that? Can I get pink hair?”

Legend stands there, unresponsive, unsure how to respond as Aryll continues to shoot rapid fire questions at him. He can hear the rancher letting out a laugh behind him. Wind isn’t any help either, the bastard is just smiling at him. He knows what he’s doing. 

“I- uhm.”

Before Legend can respond, Aryll is already moving on to the others. “I haven’t seen you guys in ages! What was the hold up?”

She taps Twilight on the shoulders. The rancher gets the hint, kneeling down while Aryll works on getting on his shoulders. Once she’s sat, Twilight launches up with quick speed, earning a laugh from her. 

Twilight gives Legend a wink. The vet grimaces at him as soon as he’s sure Aryll won’t see.

Legend notices he actually relaxes a little. That feels wrong, here. But even Hyrule, who was so tense, so stressed not too long ago, seems calm here. 

“I can smell grandma’s soup from here!” Wind calls to everyone as he is at the front of the group, together with Twilight and Aryll. “She always makes enough for the whole island to have 3 rounds. You’ll love it!”

They cross a bridge to walk up to one of the houses. It’s not very big, nothing like the ranch of Time’s hyrule. Yet, as they walk in, it feels just as much like home. It takes a while to get all of them through the door. As Legend comes through, Wind comes up to him. 

“Don’t tell my grandma about anything too extreme, got it, Vet?” He whispers.

“Got it, got it. I know about it plenty.” Legend whispers back. 

“Link!” an older voice barely shouts. “Look who finally decided to visit home.”

It kept being weird hearing his own name when it was not meant for him. It made sense, Legend supposed. There was no reason for this lady to call her grandson by a nickname. 

Wait. How much does Wind’s grandmother know? 

Does time travel count as too extreme? 

Surely, in a woven chair, a blanket over her lap, is Wind’s grandmother. She leans over a large cauldron of some of the best soup Legend has ever smelled. It seemed that across every era, he came across people that are chefs. 

Aryll and Wind bring out pillows for everyone to sit on. They’re lucky Tetra’s crew didn’t come along as well.

Everyone greets Wind’s grandma, settling on the pillows laid out for them. Time, and warriors work on loosening their armour as they get comfortable. 

When it’s Legend’s turn, Wind’s grandma squints her eyes.

“Well… Can’t say I have seen you before. Are you from the far lands too, boy?”

At that point both Tetra and Wind are looking, no, staring at Legend. And Legend knows he is going to have to lie to this poor lady. 

“Yes, I’m…” 

He’s not using one of his fake names. 

“Legend.” A few disappointed looks, but nothing too major. “I’m from…”

Just pick anywhere, dammit! 

“Labrynna. Very far from here. I travel.”

He looks back at the rest of the room. It seems that might have been the right answer. 

“I see!” Wind’s grandma pipes up. “Sit down, sit down. You all must be hungry.”

And so they get to eating. It is the same artificial feeling of home, one that is not his. Legend sits in between Sky and Hyrule, opposite of Time and Warriors. Wild is trying to pry for the soup’s secret ingredients, none of which he can decipher.

Wind tells stories of their journey, a softened version for his grandmother, all of which he hasn’t been present for.

It’s the third time he has been lured into this false sense of security. Everytime he settles, Everytime he is able to calm down, he gets thrown again.

Everything about the journey counters what he is used to. He is sick of being unable to predict what will happen. And maybe that is just it. The goddess having fun throwing him through another quest, so different from the countless ones he had already been through. Having to see Wind, young as he had been, going through the same thing. It’s so incredibly unfair. Legend can’t bring himself to not scowl at the thought. 

“Don’t you have a story to tell, Legend? I don’t think Time calls you ‘vet’ for ‘nothing, does he?” Four pulls him out of the spiral he was descending in. 

“Plenty, just…” Ones safe enough to tell in front of Wind’s grandma? Ones he isn’t embarrassed about? He thinks for a moment, and realizes he doesn’t have a proper one to tell. 

“So how did you get your hair pink like that?” Aryll asks him again, quickly eating the soup as she talks. Wind snickers.

“Always had since I was younger.” He responds. “Never quite goes away. Sorry, I don’t really dye it. I’m sure I could find out how though.” Legend makes a mental note to remember that. If Aryll wanted her hair pink, he would find it out. Wind be damned for laughing at him. 

“Really?” Aryll gasps. “I’m going to get pink hair!” She yells through the room. 

Legend smiles. He also realizes he is starting to get a headache, and that he hasn’t properly slept since starting this journey. The others seem to mirror him, half closed eyes and yawning. Except for Wild, apparently. 

Even Wind, with all the excitement, couldn’t help but look tired. 

When everyone finishes their bowls, they thank Wind’s grandmother. There isn’t enough room for them inside the house to sleep, but there is no need to. It is warm and Legend has rarely seen the sky so clear. Tetra retreats to her ship while the chain sets up camp not too far away from Wind’s house. 

Behind them, he can see Tetra's crew knocking on the door, saying hello to Wind's grandmother.

Legend takes that cue to get some much needed alone time.
“Where are you going?” Time asks. 

“Don’t know. Somewhere. The Island isn’t that big.” Legend states bluntly. “No need for watch, is there? I’ll be back by morning.”

Warriors looks like he has something to say about that, but Legend doesn’t let him. He's out of reach before he can say anything.

He walks along the beach as he looks out on the sea. It isn’t very long until he is met with rocky hills and remaining palm trees, providing shade from the sunset on the horizon. He notices he can’t hear the camp anymore, or anyone on the island for that matter.

A much needed, long, sigh.

He settles down in a more grassy area and gets to work. He pulls off his boots and looks at the sewing horror waiting before him. At least the hole in his ankle seemed to have healed seamlessly. 

“Din damned archers…”

It is dark by the time he gets anywhere. Legend lights his lantern. A lot of stabbing himself with a sewing needle later, the damage seems to have disappeared. It doesn’t look as good as new, but it would do. There is still sand in it. 

That could be a problem for tomorrow. 

Legend falls onto the soft grass, using his bag as a pillow as he looks up at the clear stars, and falls asleep. 

Chapter Text

It is warm, on Outset Island. Warriors makes sure to treasure the warmth of every era that they come by. Where it is so scarce in the traveler’s Hyrule, or with the rainstorms of Wild’s, he can always appreciate the sun rays of the sailor’s era. You make sure you do when you’ve spent winters in the barracks. 

It is dark, a little colder than before, a soft breeze flowing over the chain. Most of them, even Wind now, are fast asleep. There is no need for watch, but Warriors pretends he is on it for the sake of it. Time doesn’t believe it for a second.

“You should sleep, Sprite.” Warriors whispers. Time stands over him, awake from his short rest. 

“I could say the same to you.” Time shoots back. “There is no need for watch here, ‘Cap.”

“Just for extra good measure.” Warriors lies through his teeth. 

“Are you going to keep that good measure up all night? Don’t think you planned on waking anyone.” 

Time is smiling at him as he says that. “Are you not exhausted?”

“I’m restless.” Warriors answers truthfully for the first time. His body is exhausted, sure. His muscles have been aching since working on Time’s farm, and the caves of the travelers Hyrule offered poor stone to lay on.

The old man does not ask for an explanation. Instead, he carefully steps around the rest of the chain and makes his way to the edge of camp. There is a silent conversation in both of their eyes. It is an offer Warriors has extended to the sprite many times before. 

The captain gets up with careful precision, except for a purely accidental step on the rancher’s pillow he had been offered, even upon the soft grass. Twilight rouses in his sleep, muttering something, but does not wake. Not many of the chain were light sleepers. 

With that, Time and Warriors walk along the pristine beach of Outset island. Warriors expects him to say something, but the sprite uses the same tactics as he had done years before. He looks up at the night sky, admiring the clear sky of this era. Time doesn’t say anything. 

The waves ebbs and flows against the soft beach, an everlasting white noise. 

When they are out of earshot, Wars speaks. 

“Really, old man?”

“Have I really gotten that old?” Time flashes a smile. “Fess up, captain.”

“Just worried about the battles, I suppose. Could have gone different. I could have acted differently. Better.” Warriors wonders out loud. 

“Good attempt.” Time calls him out. “Try again.”

“You are horrible, Sprite.” Warriors groans. “I’m not liking what I’m thinking.”

“What is it?” 

“...Legend.”

The corner of time’s mouth turns up. The bastard had guessed it already, he was sure. 

“He can have some space for himself, Wars.” Time attempts to fill it in for him. “Can’t say his experience has been very great this far, has it? It is our first real chance to sleep tonight. I’m surprised you’re not taking it.”

“Not that." Warriors sighs. “Of course he can. Well… I wanted to talk with him. It can wait a bit longer, I guess. He obviously doesn’t seem to like me, so-”

“Don’t you think he looks like Ravio?” Time interrupts.

…

“What?” 

“Not even a little?”

“No, more as in.” He cuts himself off, trying to find his words  “You actually had a good look at Ravio’s face?”

“You didn’t?” Time frowns. “I’m pretty sure me and Toon did.”

Warriors is completely thrown off by the shift of the conversation. “Might have gotten a glimpse on the battlefield. But no. He always had kept his hood up. Even with how comfortable he was getting selling those potions.”

There were barely enough ingredients in those watered down potions. No wonder the merchant took up his hammer to fight instead. 

He suddenly gets a realisation. “You don’t think…?”

“Think what?” Time’s face looks genuinely confused for the first time. 

“Is Legend.” Wars stands still. “... Mister Hero ?”

Time comes to a halt, taking his eye off the night sky. He stares ahead of him.

A snicker. A laugh

Time is bursting into full laughter. 

“Oh Hylia!” He heaves. Only a little overdramatic. “He absolutely is! He-” Time cuts himself off, a desperate attempt to keep his voice down on the small island.

Warriors ruins that. 

“He! No way, right?” The captain laughs. “Sorry but, he doesn’t quite fit the description of 

‘Sweet !’" He snickers, putting his hands in the air to mimic the merchant. “‘ Oh how worried Mr. Hero must be! Me leaving without a word !’” A heave. “He talked about him every day!”

“A bit quieter, captain.” Time says, barely keeping a straight face himself, a hand clasped over his mouth. “It makes sense, too. Legend came through the portal the exact same way Ravio had. Drenched, from the sky and leaving you with a bruise.”

“Unfair, Sprite” Warriors says with a smirk.

“Always have been.”

“Though to actually be fair.” Warriors continues the line of thought. “Ravio has never been the best fighter, squeamish. He improved so much, but Legend…”

“fights amazingly, while he is dangerously negligent of the scars he is collecting.” Time finishes. “It’s what you all do.”

“It is what you do too, Old man.”

“That is different.” Time argues. 

“I told you the exact same thing a couple years ago, but you didn’t believe me then either, did you?” Warriors teases him.

Time chooses to ignore it, deciding on a smile. Without the restraint of his armour, he drops down onto the sand with ease and settles. 

“I missed Ravio. I’m glad we will see him again.”

"I'm glad, too. Though I don’t like the circumstances.” Warriors goes to sit beside Time. “Any of you never seeing my face again was supposed to be a good thing.” 

“Too bad captain.” The old man bumps his fist lightly against his shoulder. “Really thought you’d get rid of us, just like that? I don’t think so.” 

They both appreciate the lighter mood. Warriors can feel himself getting more relaxed, more tired. 

“I don’t think he doesn’t like you just because of who you are, captain.” Time continues over Warriors’ worries. “He has a lot behind his back. We’ll support him through it. He just needs to realize that.”

“Did he tell you?” The captain barely dares to ask the question. “ ...How much, Time?” 

“Nearly lost count.” He responds. “Six adventures, before this one.”

“Hylia, Wind already scared the shit out of me.” Warriors speaks in a much more serious tone. “Maybe there was a reason he didn’t join us at first, then.”

“I hope so.” Time responds. “I really hope that this was really a case of a last resort, but I don’t think so. There is not much we can do about it. We can try to make it as comfortable for him, as well for all the others, as well for you , too, as we can. Give him time.”

“What, do I need to deliver you to him?”

“By the goddesses, captain-”

The two erupt into laughter once more, with Time threatening to put sand in Warriors’ bag. 

“What are you two talking about?”

They both turn in unison in shock, faced with the sailor. He got way too close without them noticing anything. 

“Goddess, Sailor!” Warriors says. “Give a warning next time, will you?”

“Oh like you’re being subtle, you’re not being quiet, you know?. Stalking off in the night and Blah blah blah , you always do this! Spill the beans!” Wind protests. “I used to be the older one too, Sprite!” 

Warriors does not have the energy to explain everything again. 

“It’s nothing-”

“We’re thinking Legend is Mister Hero.” Time butts in. 

Wind looks at them, stunned for a moment, processing. 

“ Bunny is Legend!?”

“Bunny!?” Warriors can’t stop himself from interrupting. “That’s even worse!”

“No, no- Time you’re right, but just. Wow!” Wind falls in rhythm with the captain’s laugh. “That actually makes so much sense. Ravio had all these pink trinkets. Legend has purple ones.”

“He does?” Wars asks. “I’ve never noticed, how?” Realization settles on his face. “Sailor.”

“Well, uhm-”

“Whatever you stole, Sailor, you better put it back before he notices it’s gone, or you’re fessing up.” Time tells Wind.

“The treachery! How could you accuse me of such a thing!” Wind dramatically falls to the ground, pretending to faint, the beach softening his fall. As he pulls his hand away from his forehead, he flashes a smile, revealing an assortment of purple jewelry in his palm. “No worries, he won’t ever notice it was missing in the first place, you have my word.”

“He better not.” Time says. He notices the captain trying to hide a yawn. 

“And that is where we are all going to sleep. We need it.”

Wind actually does not give much protest. Instead he is quick to stand up, pulling on Wars’ arm. “Stand up ‘Cap, you don’t want sand in your ears when you wake up. Atleast get on the grass!”

“Fine, fine.” he groggily gets up, rubbing his eyes as he starts walking back to the rest of the chain. He even catches Wind yawning. Something that had been dubbed a rare sight, or rare in the sense that the sailor would never admit it.

When they get back, Wind decides to sleep in the house. He couldn’t agree more with the younger hero, Warriors can dream of the comfort of his own bed. 

Twilight is awake, somewhat. The rancher’s eyes follow him as he settles down next to him in his own sleeping bag. Twilight squeezes his arm. 

“You alright?" 

“Quite alright.” He whispers back. He considers trying to find Legend, but if the other hero is smart, he would definitely be sleeping by now. 

“Goodnight, Rancher.”

“About time, ‘Cap’n,”

“Sleep you old dog.”

Chapter Text

Legend had kept his promise. He is back at the camp, bright and early, just in time for Wild to start with breakfast. Their food was the one thing Legend could get accustomed to on this journey.

Most of the chain was still sleeping. All except for Wind. The vet could see him and Tetra up in the lookout tower. He could imagine Wind wanted to savour every moment he had here on the island. 

He can imagine he would do the same. If they arrived in his Hyrule, no, when. Would he be able to make it in time to Ravio or Zelda at all? Would Rav be waiting for him?

He doesn’t even know how much time is passing at all, back at home. He had heard Tetra calling that Wind had been gone for only a week. For the chain it hadn’t been. 

What if it went the other way? Those monsters could have attacked the castle a long time ago by now. 

Wild waves, signing as not to wake the rest of the chain. 

‘Morning, sleep well? ’

Legend goes to sit with him, next to the cooking pot. He makes a so-so movement with his hands. ‘Are you not tired?’ 

Wild perks up at the vet signing back. ‘I’m not the one who got shot.’ They smile. Legend has to sarcastically roll his eyes at that. 

‘Just kidding. ’ Wild continues. ‘Trust me, I've slept enough for an entire lifetime.’ He chuckles, another joke Legend isn’t quite getting. 

Legend gives up on attempting to persuade the cook any further. 

Twilight is awake next, joining him and Wild. There almost wasn’t a need to stay quiet anymore, the smell of the delicious food filling the air. 

“Good job on the sewing there, vet.” Twilight whispers over the fire. He points to his pegasus boots, then to his fingers with many, many tiny stabwounds in them from the needle. “A little more practice, and you might start to rival the captain.”

“Thank you so much, Rancher.” He draws out sarcastically. “Who knows, practice brushing your hair a little more and you might start to rival the captain as well.” Legend points to the absolute mess that is Twilight’s hair at the moment.

“Ha ha.” Twilight says in the most monotone voice. “Very funny, Legend.”

Wild isn’t helping him. The cook snickers, holding a hand over his mouth. When Twilight looks over, Wild pulls the most serious face, as if he wasn't listening at all. He shoots Legend a playful glance as the rancher looks away again. 

In any other place, at any other time, Legend would have slept in. 

Aryll doesn’t seem to mirror his thoughts however. Wind’s little sister is already out of the door, running to the outlook tower. 

Twilight actually starts doing some work on his hair as the cook throws some vegetables in the cooking pot. 

‘ I’ve been meaning to ask .’ Wild signs to Legend. ‘ Are you allergic to anything, any preferences? ’ 

Legend considers for a moment. 

No, he didn’t really have any allergies. If he did, he probably just considered it to be poisonous when he was a kid. 

But he did have some boundaries. 

“No rabbit meat.” He states matter of fact. “And in general… just nothing from seagulls either.”

Twilight perks up at that. “Not that we’ve been hunting seagulls at any time. If we have to restock here we’ll get fish.”

Legend hums. He thinks about mentioning some of the stuff Ravio had tried feeding him. He just hopes Wild doesn’t know anything about Lorulian meals. 

‘Got it. ’ Wild smiles, stirring the contents of the cooking pot. ‘Big fan of apples? ’

“Guess you could say that.” His farm was just one of his only normal hobbies besides adventuring. 

‘Take a look at this.’

Wild hands him this weird device he has been carrying. Legend can’t say it didn’t peak his interest already. A blue, glowing eye, a symbol he had seen before on stones. 

‘No, no. Look at the screen.’ Wild flips it around. ‘It’s a Sheikah slate. Or a new version of it, my friend calls it the P-U-R-A-H pad.’

They press a button, and the entire thing lights up. The result is a weird static. 

‘I can store all of my stuff in here, including yours, if you want. I keep all my ingredients in here too, it perseveres perfectly.’

“No wonder you always have a buffet full of food ready. How does that even work?” Having potions be in perfect conditions forever sounded too good to be true. It wasn’t cursed was it?

Wild presses the screen a couple times until there seems to be an overview of all the items he was carrying in it. Monster parts to bomb flowers and- is that a dragon's horn? 

‘Anyway, this is what I wanted to show you.’ He points to the top left corner. 

Those were apples. A lot of apples. The number next to it read 67. 

“...And you are telling me we had to ration our food in the traveller’s Hyrule!?” Legend whisper yells. He might have woken someone up because of that. He doesn’t really care at the moment. 

‘Hey! That is low on supply I’ll have you know. Normally I have like… five times that, atleast. I need to save some for my horses too. And Twi’s Horse. And Time’s Horse.”

“Are you kidding me, Wild.”

“They aren’t.” Twilight answers for the cook. “And you can’t just survive off of apples.”

‘Sure you can.’

“Sure you can.”

Twilight looks at  the both of them, nearly disappointed. 

“It’s true.” Time defends. Apparently he had woken up too, Legend should have noticed that. “If you throw some roasted nuts in the mix.”

“Don’t listen to him.” Warriors says from the comfort of his bedroll. “He keeps saying he was raised by a tree. He’s senile.”

“I was raised by a tree.” Time says with the most serious expression on his face. 

“I was engaged to a tree.” Legend mentions casually.

“...”

Now that breaks the old man’s face. 

As well as for the sleep of everyone at camp. 

The things he could say when he wasn’t in front of Wind’s grandma. 

“ Excuse me ?” Time says. The tone almost sounds like he’s in trouble. He should probably backpedal.

They can freak out just a little bit longer for now though. 

“Scratch Time being raised by a tree.” Four, his violet eyes staring daggers into the vet. “What do you mean you were engaged?”

“Is that so much weirder than being raised by one?” Legend counters. He had to put a lot of effort in to keep his face straight. 

“Yes!” Four argues. “Because that means you didn’t grow up with one, no- you just went up to a tree and got engaged to it? How does that even work?” 

“This tree is sentient, right?” Hyrule asks.

Warriors gives up trying to stay calm and collected. “What do you mean sentient trees-”

“I know plenty of sentient trees, I’ll have you know.” Legend cuts him off. 

“Wind is so lucky he isn’t here right now.” Twilight sighs. “Wild, your vegetables are burning.”

All of this chaos can only be matched by the expression of true horror that is on the old man's face. 

“In my defence.” Legend starts explaining. “I was unwilling.”

“Oh thank Hylia.” He hears Time almost yell out in an exasperated sigh. 

“Kind of had to work along with her to save Labrynna. Never said yes.”

“At least you give some context.” Four frowns. “The old man doesn’t care to explain anything.”

“For good reason.” Time says.

“Anything else outrageous you would like to share with the class?” Twilight asks.

“No.” Legend says. He can almost see the relief wash over the older heroes. “For now.”

“Hylia sake.”

Legend can hear quick steps in the sand approaching. Aryll is running in their direction, so he decides to keep his mouth shut. In the distance he can see Tetra and Wind on the beach talking to a… bird person? They have a beak and wings for arms, atleast. 

Aryll comes to a sudden halt as she approaches the camp. “There’s mail! Link said there is for some of you, too!”

The chain almost lights up the mention of it. 

“Tell Link to get over here once he’s ready, Wild has made breakfast.” Time tells her. 

She’s off before Time even finishes his sentence. 

“What does she mean, you have mail? How?” Legend questions. 

“The postman!” Sky shoots up from his bed roll. “Did we miss him again?”

“What?”

“Let’s just say…” Twilight bothers to explain. “The postman is very, very determined. So determined that he somehow manages to also travel across time? We’ve seen him go through portals as well. Or at least Sky has.”

“How the hell?”

Wind is back with Tetra and Aryll soon enough. He has a handful of letters in his arms. He drops them all in the middle. “Alright! Everyone look for your alphabet. I still can’t read any of them.”

Sky is the first one to fish out his letter, and also the first one to start reading it. Legend can imagine the contents, because he starts smiling and blushing. 

Legend doesn’t really want to hope. He waits for everyone to pick theirs, and only then dares to look at the pile.

There is nothing left. 

He should have expected that. Ravio wouldn’t send anything to him, to their own home. Anything Zelda would send would get to their home too and there was no way Sheerow could find him. 

He is still disappointed. 

“Nothing from Malon, Time?” Wind asks.

“We’ve barely been gone sailor, no.” Time answers, but even he looks a little bummed out. 

“Wars, can you help me write a letter again later?” Hyrule calls, a letter in his hand. 

“Of course.” The captain answers. “Are you reading it alright?”

“I think so. I think I’m getting better at it.”

Hyrule can barely read, Legend realises. He nearly feels responsible for it. It’s certainly not a good thought to have at the back of his mind.  

Legend looks over. “It looks a lot like my Hylian, actually. I could probably help you out.” he mentions. “If you want.”

Hyrule perks up, then smiles. “That’d be great! I’m going to keep trying myself first, though.”

Legend nods, giving silent encouragement as he sees the traveller’s eyes scan over the words.

Four however, is frowning at the tiniest piece of parchment in his hand, accompanied by a way more formal letter. 

“What is it, smithy?” Time looks concerned. 

“It’s Dot, and the minish?” Four calls, a little louder for the rest of the chain to hear. “She says…” He keeps reading, comparing the two letters. The frown only gets darker.

“The Minish Forest, it’s crawling with black blood. It’s almost been poisoned.”

“We just fought an ambush in Rulie’s Hyrule, what!?” Wind goes to stand behind Four, watching over his shoulder, almost as if he could read along.

Aryll seems a little confused at the situation. Sky ushers her over to his side, distracting her. He starts talking about the letter he received, although it seems he is just as happy to share it with someone. 

“Guess you found your next clue, huh?” Tetra calls. “Knew you wouldn’t stay long.” 

“Hey, we’re not going yet!” Wind protests. “Not until a portal forces us to, anyway.”

Four keeps staring at the tiny piece of parchment. It seems to be signed off with tiny paw prints. “Honestly? I’m hoping we get there as soon as possible now.” 

“Going into a portal now or later won’t change much.” Warriors puts a hand on the smith’s shoulder. “Try and relax for now, alright? We’ll fix it, sooner or later.”

There is protest in Four's eyes, but he knows he can’t do anything about it. Reluctantly. He pockets the letters.

A bitter silence falls over the chain. Aryll breaks it. 

“Soo… Breakfast?”

Chapter Text

Legend expects a portal that evening. To continue with the same, fast pace as they have been. Yet, it still hasn’t 

The days continue on Outset Island, to the point that Tetra and her crew choose to go around islands to investigate for this black blood themselves. He expects the chain to go with them. They don’t. 

The old man talks about taking all the time in peace they have. That seems to be entirely the wrong option for Four. Because he couldn’t sit still. He also couldn’t get up. He needs fresh air and he wants to stay inside and it honestly is a confusing sight for Legend to see. 

Twilight tries reminding him that they will get there all the same, at the same time. Four agrees, but keeps rambling and pacing all the same. Logically, he knows it. But he can’t push his emotions down. 

He should probably try to help him out. His kaleidoscope eyes almost seem to go in spirals. Whether it’s his magic or something else, it can’t be good. 

He should try to get through to him. Still, Legend has barely known Four for a couple days now. He watches as each member of the chain shoot their shot at calming the smith. When he sees Wild try last, he almost thinks they managed it. With how long their conversation goes, it must have.

Only for Four to start fidgeting again as soon as the cook goes away. 

Not having a goal right now isn’t doing them any favours. 

Legend tries to act as if it isn’t affecting him either. He could stay still for a while, sure. Just not on this goddesses forsaken island. He isn’t sleeping well, either. dreams that are not quite nightmares. Dreams promising everything of Koholint, only to be ripped away.

Everything was the same here. The soft sand felt the same underneath his boots, the warmth, even the smell of the food the inhabitants of the island were cooking.

It doesn’t take long for Wind proposes to go swimming. 

He easily denies it. Not everyone in the chain ends up swimming anyway, a smooth lie about how he doesn’t want to put in the effort to get dry again rolls off of his tongue.

It’s so warm on the island, so, so warm. It’s nothing he isn’t accustomed to ignoring. 

So he retreats to the hills of the island, the parts with shade and far, far away from the beach. He looks towards the trees, blocking the sight of the bright blue of the ocean that stretches on forever. 

Another day passes. Aryll joins in on the fun. When Legend doesn’t, he has the misfortune of her asking him personally.

“Don’t you want to come swimming?”

It perks the attention of Time as well, as he pays attention to the both of them. The angle from which he is looking almost makes it seem as if he wasn’t watching it all, with his eye closed. Legend knows better. 

If he didn’t want to swim he wouldn’t have to. But Aryll is looking at him like it’s the only thing she wants in the world and the Din damned gaze of Time feels like daggers in his side.

“You go ahead, I’ll join you in a bit.”

Aryll seemed to accept that answer. She convinces Four next.

Legend tried, he really did. It really shouldn’t be so difficult. It wasn’t any different from swimming in a pond, or a river. 

He pulls off his boots, and inches towards the water. It’s nice and cold, the exact opposite of the uncomfortable warmth that didn’t seem to bother the sailor or his little sister. 

He looks ahead. Wind looks at him expectantly as the others swim carefree. Aryll and Twilight seem to be playing a sort of game that consisted of Aryll climbing up his shoulder, only for the rancher to throw her into the water. Dammit, even Hyrule is swimming. He still isn’t very good at it, but he is getting better. Legend had seen him improve over the last couple days. Turns out Legend didn’t have to worry about his protége drowning at all. 

A soft wave clashes against him. 

The bright, vast, blue ocean stares back at him. The sand falls away under his feet as he takes another step. It feels as if the ocean is swallowing him whole. He must have still been running on adrenaline when he was first thrown in the ocean, because he cannot understand how he didn’t panic then. 

Legend steps out of the water. 

He can feel the gaze of Wind in his back, he tries not to look at it. Ahead of him is the gaze of Time. 

He pretends to ignore both. He pulls his boots back on, and retreats to the further parts of the island, far away from the beach. 

The next day finally brings a portal. 

It is the first one he doesn’t complain about. He was more than glad to move on. Legend could only hope the next place they would end up in also wasn’t made for the sole purpose of upsetting him. 

Atleast the portal doesn’t show up from underneath him. 

Four doesn’t complain either. Legend can imagine he has waited for long enough. 

If anyone is upset, it’s Wind. 

Tetra and her crew aren't back by the time they are leaving. He does get to say goodbye to his sister and grandmother, a little thing he gets to be happy about. 

Wind isn’t sure when he will get to be home again.

“I’ll be right back, don’t you even worry about it.” The sailor promises to Aryll.

The portal pulls. 

Time was calling the marching order. Legend wasn’t surprised when he was put right in the middle. They step through. 

Legend has no idea how it could get any hotter. The wave of heat hit him as soon as he stepped out of the portal. Different from Wind’s Hyrule. Was it even Hyrule? No, no. He remembers Wind calling it the Great Sea. 

The wind was dry. There is sand, in every direction that he looks. If it weren’t for the warmth, there was nothing with the sailor’s era that was alike. Time looked incredibly uncomfortable with how much armour he was wearing in the sun. Twilight was taking off his wolf pelt. 

“Are you kidding me!?”

Four was ahead of him, frustrated. Legend was honestly expecting him to heave on the ground by now, the heat can’t be well for the accompanying nausea. 

There is a sigh from Twilight’s direction. “...Wild?”

“Mine!” Wild calls out. ‘We are in the Gerudo desert. Not too far off from the oasis, actually.’

He starts pulling an amount of jewelry, magic items, surely, to some of the chain. ‘ We can wait for the night to walk, but it won’t be too long. The heat is just obscuring the view.’

“We’ll walk now.” Time decides. “If everyone is alright to go?” 

Everyone nods, even Four, reluctantly. 

“Of course we don’t get sent to o- mine. Even if we did, I bet it would be on the other side of Hyrule!”

“We’ll get there, no need to worry, smithy.” Warriors tries to comfort him. “Even if we arrive a little late, it also means we can be there earlier, doesn’t it? I’m sure Dot is handling it perfectly fine.”

Four is looking at the captain as if he was stupid. “Of course Dot is handling it.” He scoffs. “Fine, fine.”

There is a quick change in equipment around the chain, adjusting to the desert. Wild has an unnatural amount of items in that slate of his that he shares.

Legend pulls out his sandrod, just in case.

Wild mentions that It could have been way hotter, Legend believes it. It is nearly sundown now. He doesn’t want to find out what it’s like being out here in the middle of the day. 

Wild guides them, carefully observing his map everytime they take a new direction. The closer they get, the less empty the desert gets. Abandoned monster camps, skulls and skeletons, big enough for creatures he doesn’t even want to think about. And worst of all, sinkholes. 

‘Sorry for all this, don’t want to come across a Molduga. I’m honestly not sure which ones I killed anymore before… all this’ They wave their slate around. 

“What’s a molduga?” Legend asks. 

“You don’t want to know.” Twilight says. “Had to deal with them when I first was thrown into this whole mess.” The rancher looks like he has a headache from thinking about it. “You don’t run well in sand.”

‘Or maybe you should've stood still and it wouldn’t have noticed you!’ Wild struggles to sign with the slate dangling from one of his fingers. ‘You’re lucky you were quick enough and I had a bomb arrow ready.’

“Giant monster under the sand.” Wind cuts through their bickering. “They suck!”

“Everything in this dessert sucks.” Legend comments.

‘Not everything.’ Wild smiles. ‘ Look in the distance.’

Sure enough, behind all the skulls and mess that was in the desert, Legend started seeing a building, palm trees and water. 

Now he could use a swim, alright. 

Wild said it wasn’t a long walk but the sand sure wasn’t making it any faster. It was getting frustrating, going so slow with the oasis in sight. 

They get there, eventually, and Legend already feels cooler. Wild doesn’t hesitate to go over to the market to buy them fresh fruits and cold water. No one waits to get settled by the water. 

There are too little people here, Legend notices. The desert was vast and from what he’s seen, this had been the only oasis for a good while. Still, the amount of people that were here kept the oasis busy. 

There aren’t any questions or comments. The chain sets up their spot in familiarity and Legend realizes that they must have been here before. Twilight and Warriors start talking about getting a drink and somehow manage to pull Sky along. Wind goes with them, whether the captain likes it or not. They almost manage to convince Time, but the old man starts talking about his creaking bones and they quickly leave him be. 

‘I just realized something.’ Wild gets Legend’s attention. ‘I got everyone this jewelry from Gerudo town, it helps with the heat and all.’ They explain. ‘ We should get a pair for you, too.’

That was… weirdly considerate. It shouldn’t come across like that to Legend. If he noticed one thing, it’s that the cook has an eye for everyone when it comes to the little things.

“Oh, yeah. That would be nice. There’s no need, though, really.”

“We wanted to go to Gerudo town anyway.” Hyrule says absentmindedly. “And Wild has more rupees than the entirety of the royal family.”

“Well, if we’re all going, I guess?” 

‘Oh! Well, actually…’ Wild looks a bit awkward. 

“Gerudo town doesn’t let in men.” Time responds for them. “In my era, they don’t really let in any outsiders. Except for me of course.”

“I’m still wondering how you did that.” Four questions, staring at the old man in a weak attempt to get something out of him. He doesn’t get anything.

“Oh.” Legend huffs out. “Don’t tell me you break in anyway?” 

‘What?’ Wild looks at him confused. ‘No, no. Legend, I’m not a man.’

“Wait, What?”

Wild, Hyrule and Four all look at him curiously. Is he missing something here? They’re all looking at him, even Time is now, and he starts to feel stupid. Wild would’ve said something, right? Legend would have addressed him wrongly this whole time. 

“You do know that’s a thing, right?” Four asks. 

“What thing ? what are you talking about?”

“Oh Hylia.” Time exclaims. “Get Warriors over here.”

“No!” Legend is quick to call out. “Don’t call him over here, what do you mean?”

“Legend.” Four tries explaining instead. “You know you could… how do I say this. Not be a boy, if you wanted to?”

“You can?” Legend blurts out. Wild and Hyrule are grinning. “What the hell?”

“No, no it makes sense.” Hyrule intervenes. “Where I’m from, we’ll get back to that another time, gender isn’t really… a thing?”

“Oh.” Legend exclaims. “I never really thought that could be an option, I guess?” He can feel the frown on his face. 

Hyrule makes a noise of confirmation. “It’s only when I got to towns and the castle that I started being called a boy. It’s fine, I don’t go there often anyway, but I’m not really anything at all. If that makes sense?”

Legend thinks about it, for a moment. It does, actually. 

“I see. Sorry, I didn’t know.” Is all he can settle on. “Do I still use ‘him’ for you, or?”

“Yeah, that’s fine, and no worries.” Hyrule smiles. “There isn’t really a correct way of calling what I am in Hylian.”

Legend wants to ask about the implications of that, but Hyrule already told him that was for another time. He hums instead, and looks over to Wild. 

‘It changes, for me.’ Wild smiles as he signs. ‘I’m fine with anything, most of the time. But especially now, I’m a-” Wild says something Legend does not recognise.

“I’m sorry, what was that last part?”

‘V-A-I’ Wild finger spells. ‘It’s the gerudo word for woman.’ She explains. 

“And no one in my Hyrule bothered to tell me that’s a thing?” Legend nearly yells out. ”I went across all the lands and, this is what I missed?”

“Dungeons don’t really leave much room for thinking about things like that. There’s no shame in it.” Time comments. 

“What about you, then?” Legend asks. 

“I will not be coming along.” Time states. “About the same situation as Hyrule, but you’re not getting any more than that.”

Legend shuts his eyes tight. “Really, could you be cryptic about any other topic?” 

“I could.”

“Don’t.”

Legend sighs. “Well, anyone else I’m missing?”

“Yes,” Four grabs his attention back. “I’ll get to the how and what another time though. Point is, I’m going. Maybe Twilight and Sky too if they’re up for it.”

“Point is, Legend.” Time starts slicing the hydromelon Wild got, giving the first piece to Hyrule. “What do you think about it, for yourself? 

“I don’t…” 

Wait, could he be? By all accounts he has always been called a boy. Hyrule and Time had reasons, atleast. The rest of them all had solid reasons probably. 

There was no reason he would be. 

Was there? 

“...Think I can.”

“It isn’t a matter of whether you can, Legend. It is whether you want to be.” Four states, a smile on his face. “Nothing has to change you know? If you decide that you are, that’s it. Then it has simply always been there.” Four presses his hand on his chest, at the middle of the four-coloured tunic. “And if you do , that’s great!”

It makes. A lot of sense actually. He has thought a lot about what other people would say on his adventure to Hytopia. He still had some of the outfits, some even Ravio didn’t know about. He felt nice in them. Atleast Blue, Red and Green did. Did he?

Don’t even get him started on the comments of the knights in Zelda’s court about his hair and tunic. 

“Right, right.” Legend thinks about it. He must be getting worse at hiding his expressions. “How would you go on changing that?”

The group around him brightens up at the question. 

‘Well…’ Wild has a bright smile on her face. ‘How do you feel about going to Gerudo town with us? ’ 

“Are the Gerudo going to be okay with that?” Legend asks. “I don’t want you to get in shit because I’m coming along.”

‘No need to worry! They’ll understand’ Wild is already standing up, ready to go. ‘The Gerudo don’t think about gender the same way Hylians do. They know me, and the others too by now. You’ll be perfectly fine!’

“Even if I’m not completely sure yet?”

“Well, are you completely sure you are a man?” Hyrule asks. 

It’s a question he doesn’t know how to answer. It confronts him so directly and why are they asking him this they barely know him-

“I… Uhm…”

‘Good enough!’ Wild grins. ‘I’m going to get changed, and we could get going then?’

Legend is so confused at the situation. 

“I’ll ask the others for you guys.” Time stands up, flashing a smile, a rare thing to see on the old man’s face. “Make sure to stock up on food and supplies while you’re there.’”

All Wild does as he goes off is give a thumbs up. Time goes inside the inn after the rest of the chain.

Legend needed to do a lot of thinking in the few minutes the both of them were gone.

Chapter Text

Twilight did end up joining them. Legend doesn’t know why he was anxious when the plan was announced, Wind and Warriors following behind the rancher out of the oasis tavern. 

He was expecting some judgement. He’s not sure why. Warriors was looking too similar to the knights back at home. A comment, an insult, anything. Ridicule him for trying something out. He can bite back just as easy. 

It doesn’t come. 

Wind perks up at the realisation, and gives a bright smile. Warriors is about to say something. Time catches his attention instead. 

“Be sure to pass by the chief for information too. Stay together.”

“Got it, old man! No need to worry here.” Twilight wraps one arm around Four, bringing him close. “We’ll be just fine, right smithy? 

“For the love of everything take off the wolf pelt rancher! It’s too warm for this!” Four peels himself off the older hero.

Eventually, Wild comes back, changed in different clothes. It honestly looks like something he would have worn in Hytopia. A blue top with an open back, a headpiece reminiscent of the cold, high, mountains. It was getting only a little darker, but he could see it give off a faint glow. 

That was definitely magic. 

‘That should be more comfortable for when it gets colder.’ Wild grins. ‘There shouldn’t be any sandstorms where we are walking, and the Gerudo are cleaning the path nicely as well.’  

“See?” Twilight pats Four on the back, finally letting the smith go. “Let’s go already, shall we? We’ll want to be back here before it gets too cold.”

Wild guides them along the path to Gerudo town. It is not as messy as the rest of the desert. It’s so much easier to walk on the road, instead of the hot sand his legs kept dragging along. They come across Gerudo merchants, Wild giving a short greeting to each of them, Twilight not letting her stop. 

When they reach the entrance of Gerudo town, nervousness kicks in. Two guards stand ready for them at the entrance, enjoying the shade the walls offer. Both of them wielding spears longer than themselves, they turn their attention to the group of heroes. 

Legend was starting to reconsider Wild’s offer. 

The cook doesn’t show any doubt however, casually walking up to the entrance.

“Sav’saaba!” Wild exclaims. 

“If it isn’t our favourite vai!” One of the guards shouts. “We haven’t seen you around in ages!”

“Brought friends again, I see?” The other questions. 

‘Sorry, Sorry!’ Wild waves apologetically. ‘I wasn’t able to come sooner. I’m glad to be back, though.’

“You don’t mind us visiting again, do you?” Twilight asks with a smile on his face. 

“We wouldn’t if you atleast brought some ice on the way here! We’re off duty soon, you know? We’re pretty sure Furosa’s running out again soon.” 

‘Maybe if you bought me a noble pursuit once again!’ Wild teases. 

Legend finds himself standing behind Hyrule. Really, in any other situation it should be switched, but he’s completely off of his element here. 

‘Now really, I have a friend who’s figuring some stuff out, and we need restock. Sorry for the rush.’

The two guards turn their attention to Legend. Hyrule, the bastard, steps aside for him to be in their view. All the traveller does is give a thumbs up. 

He really wants to disappear right now. 

“I see!” One of the guards beams. “Get going then, don’t forget to say hi to everyone. Got it, little vai?” 

Wild nods, waving goodbye to the two of them. 

When they enter the city, a coolness waves over the five of them, the walls giving a comfortable shade. The inside of the city was colourful, more than Legend had thought it could be here, in the middle of nowhere. 

Wild already looks like she is ready to walk off, if it weren’t for Four stopping her. 

“So, what are we actually looking for, champ?” The smith asks. 

‘Right, so we were getting the jewellery, if you wanted?’ Wild points to Legend. ‘ Next to that we need to restock on arrows and other supplies. I’ll be saying hi to some more people and stopping by Riju.’

“Right.” Four adjusts their hairband, a desperate attempt to keep their hair back. “‘Rule and I can get supplies, I don’t want to hear a word from the captain about time-management again.” 

“Don’t get me started.” Twilight huffs. “We’ll meet up back here, alright?”

They split off, then. Legend watches as Four and Hyrule head over to the coloured stalls in the middle of the town’s square. Wild’s destination is actually not too far. The decoration above the jewellery shop shined brightly against the setting sun, the reflection cast onto the sandstone pavement. 

Wild easily gets ahead of both him and Twilight. The cook steps through the entrance with a small jump, turning the corner. 

“Isha!”

By the time Legend takes a look into the store, Wild is being hugged who Legend guesses must be Isha.

“Little Vai!” Isha holds Wild strongly by the shoulders as she notices Legend and Twilight standing by the entrance. “And vasaaq to you too! I see you have brought business to me, Link?”

‘Something like that .’ Wild smiles

“I take it you're still happy with my jewellery, dear?” She signals to Twilight as she hurriedly walks over to the both of them. 

“More than happy, Isha, Thank you.” Twilight grins.

“Now you, however!” Isha is quick to pass by Twilight, grabbing Legend by the elbow.

“Hey-!” 

She raises and inspects the rings on Legend's hand as she drags him along. “Now this is what I like to see in my customers! Really, I thought I couldn’t be the only jeweler in Hyrule!”  

She pulls a chair back, signalling Legend to sit. He can almost hear Zelda laughing at the back of his mind. 

“A little old-fashioned, sure.” Isha continues, inspecting his bracelet. “I don’t even want to know where you got this from.” 

“It was a gift-”

“But all powerful nonetheless! And that is what I like to see.” She goes to grab a circlet off of one of the podiums of her display. 

“Now I have done this a handful of times before, Link.” She places the circlet, a sapphire woven beautifully into the cold silver. 

It was nice when magic items were pretty, he supposed. 

“A heat-resistance circlet, for your travels.” Isha continues. “But, we could customise it into something else too, if you’d like?”

Wild looks at him expectantly. 

“Uhh… no, this is great, really.” Legend responds. “I was actually wondering if you had something extra, for protection?”

“Am I to believe none of those rings are more powerful than anything I have?”

“It’s for a gift, actually, something matching?”

“Really subtle, vet.” Twilight calls from the other side of the room. 

“Shut it, rancher.”

“Anything in particular you’re looking for?”

“Do you have anything with pink and purple?”

“Now…” Isha starts wandering around her store. “Those are not colours I sell often here, but I do not disappoint.”

She goes for one of the lower drawers. From it she pulls two stones, raw morganite and amethyst, she walks back and places them on the table with a bright smile on her face. 

“I suppose this will do, little vai?”

Legend stills at the name for a moment. “That is perfect, actually.”

“Let’s get into the details then, shall we?”

Isha helps Legend amazingly. They end up designing two single earrings, one in gold and one with silver. During the process, Wild is off to meet with Riju. 

After a long while, Isha promises to get to it immediately, Knowing their time is limited, she promises to mail them to Wild as soon as she’s done. 

Twilight grins as the two of them leave the shop. 

“Someone special then, Vet?”

“I really don’t want to hear it from you, Rancher.”

“Trust me, I am one of the last ones to judge, if it weren’t for Time.”

Legend checks the entrance of the town. Wild was not there yet, neither were Four and Hyrule. 

“Now I have an idea, Legend. I think we need to try the drinks we heard the guards talking about.”

“Really?” Legend looks at Twilight with a frown on his face. “You want to go drinking now?”

“The next best place for a drink is the captain’s Hyrule. Way too busy for my liking.”

Legend rolls his eyes, but follows after the rancher anyway. 

The bar they end up in is nice. A lounge, if anything. A woman stands behind the bar. Legend remembers she’s gotta be Furosa. 

“Hylians.” Furosa calls. “Travellers and tourists only come here for one thing, and that is my speciality. Two noble pursuits, I’m guessing?”

“Right on.” Twilight puts down some rupees. Legend is already sitting down, glad to be on anything that isn’t sand. 

Twilight returns with two drinks in hand. Legend is quick to take it, almost downing it in one go before-

“Din, that is strong! How can a sweet drink be that strong?”

“Maybe if you didn’t try drinking it in one go. Or you are just a lightweight.”

“You want to prove that?”

“You want to come back to Time, or even Sky and Warriors being carried? After all the horseshit you’ve pulled so far?”

Legend grumbles. Twilight can’t help the ugly laugh that comes out of him. 

“Maybe Time and Warriors should back off, for once.”

“And they say I’m horrible with you kids.”

“ Fuck off , Rancher.”

“Is there a reason you hate the captain so much, Ledge?”

“Did you just call me Ledge, like a cliff ?”

“Stop avoiding the question.”

Legend throws his head against the board of the sofa.

“I know he can be a pretentious prick at times but he isn’t that bad, he has his reasons.” Twilight continues. “If anyone had the same humour as him, it would be you.”

“Just..” Legend groans. “Not a big fan of royal knights.”

“That’s one thing we have in common then. It’s a good thing Wars’ hates knights too.”

“What?” Legend looks back at the rancher. 

Twilight only has that stupid grin on his face. 

“Can you stop that!” Legend almost yells through the canteen. 

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Twilight apologises in his accent, taking a sip from his drink. “No really, the knights in his Hyrule are awful in a different way than mine. He might have one of the highest positions, but he is the hero, vet, it’s customs. I think he’d give everything up to be from the sailor’s era, where the royal family isn’t a thing.”

“Oh.” is all Legend manages to say at first. 

“I’m sure the captain gets it. We all have something, Legend. You don’t want to know how long it took for Hyrule to settle-”

“Don’t start, Twilight.” Legend takes another large sip of his drink. “You don’t know anything. I’m doing this damned quest and we are all going home, got it?”

“Of course we are. I’m just saying, you should talk to him. Or at least try to let him talk to you. The cap’n can be great when you get past all the customs that were trained into him. I’m not telling you to ignore everything that is bothering you, though. Take your time.”

“...Right.”

Twilight finishes his drink, a clank of the glass against the table as he stands up. “About time we get back before it gets too cold. 

When they get back into the town square, they see Wild, Four and Hyrule walking out of the palace, a short woman, a crown on her head, the chief no doubt. She waves goodbye as the three of them come down the stairs. 

“Did you actually get any information, or did you just talk about sand seals all evening?” Twilight asks. 

“Like you didn’t just get drinks just now?” Hyrule shoots back. 

“Fair.”

“I think we deserved to talk about sand seals after getting all the supplies.” Four huffs. 

‘And we got sewing thread for your clothes that keep mysteriously ripping, Twi’ Wild signs, punching the rancher’s shoulder. 

“Alright, enough, enough!” Twilight puts his hand up. “We’re going back to the oasis.”

The others laugh, and Legend can’t help but laugh along at the Rancher’s misery.

Chapter Text

Legend, equipped with a brand new sapphire circlet, walks leisurely behind the rest of the group as they depart from Gerudo Town. 

He kind of misses it. 

Well, he could miss anything when walking through this cursed dessert. But overall?

He had a lot to think about. Being in Gerudo Town felt nice. Not worrying about how to present himself felt nice. 

What was he going to do with that? 

…Should he tell Ravio? 

Twilight slows down his pace, falling back with Legend. The rancher starts taking quicking steps again to try and move Legend along.

Like a goddess-damned herding dog.

Typical.

“There is even less light pollution here than in Wind’s era.” Twilight starts rambling. 

“You should see what it’s like up in the sky islands.”

“Sky islands?”

Twilight points up, and it takes some effort to see what the rancher means. But surely, right above them, there is something of a platform up in the sky. There are even more Legend can vaguely make out in the distance.

“How are you even supposed to get up there? 

“A whole lot of trying to kill yourself, from what I’ve heard.” Twilight makes sure to speak a bit louder.

Wild gives a disappointed stare to the rancher. 

“Sky is actually from one of those!” Hyrule calls. “Hope you’re not afraid of heights, because one way or another you are jumping off of Skyloft.”

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t get me started.” Four groans. “It gets more fun as you get used to it, though.”

Wild slows down his pace as well, just to give Twilight a light punch to his arm.

“Hey!”

‘Deserved.’ Wild moves to walk in front of Twilight, getting Legend’s attention. ‘I can teleport to a few shrines up there, actually. As well as for other shrines all across Hyrule.’ They hold up the Purah Pad. ‘I’m actually going to visit Flora tonight, along with some other people. She’s probably on the other side of Hyrule right now.’

“Right.” That is certainly more convenient than waiting on a witches’ broom. “Who’s Flora again?”

‘My Zelda.’ Wild smiles. ‘On that account, we should probably make up a name for yours!’

“What about Myth? Lore?” Twilight attempts.

“Now hold on-” Legend puts up his hand. “I’m not making up a nickname for her. I’ll never hear the end of it. You can ask her and she can make one up herself.”

The others laugh at that. 

“If I know one thing is that all of you are terrible at names!”

“Really?” Four challenges. “Glad to know that’s the one thing you think of us these past two weeks.”

“Smithy, you can’t say that you aren’t the worst of them all.”

“I’m saying nothing!” Four grins. “You can find out about my hero title all on your own and we’ll see then!”

Legend can’t help but audibly sigh. 

“How much longer is this walk, Wild?” 

The cook ignores him, of course, as the collective group finds Legend’s misery very entertaining. His eyes go elsewhere, to the mountains surrounding the vast desert. 

It’s the ordinary. Sandstone, something that must be a passage of sorts, a couple of small constructions and- “What is that?”

Wild looks at him in confusion. Legend points to something he sees resting on top of a mountain plateau. He thought it was some sort of building at first but-

“Oh, that’s Vah Naboris!” Wild smiles brightly, like Legend is supposed to know what that means. ‘A divine beast,’ they start explaining. ‘A titanic animal of sorts- built by the Sheikah. They can move! They were a big part of my first journey, actually. Now they act as divine guardians of the regions.'

“They? There’s more of them?”

Wild makes a confirming sound. ‘Five of them, in total. Wolfie is one of them, actually!’

Hyrule and Four snort. 

“You mean to tell me that Wolfie, the din-damned wolf on Time’s farm, is the same thing as Vah Naboris?” Legend looks at the cook like he’s insane.

Hyrule has a hand over his mouth trying to keep his laugh in. “Oh, Wolfie actually follows us around, you know?”

“What.” Legend stands still. 

“Yeah, you have no idea how close he can be sometimes!” Hyrule is still laughing. “It’s almost like he’s right h-” Twilight’s hand slaps over the traveller’s mouth. 

“ Wolfie- ” Twilight cuts him off. “Is a big push over if anything. He only comes when it's necessary.”

‘Or for pets.’ Wild grins. The rancher stares at Wild with disappointment. 

Hyrule pulls the hand away from his mouth with a sour expression on his face. 

Legend forces himself to keep walking along with the rest of the group. 

You’ve got to be kidding me! 

He notices Twilight keeping an eye on him. Legend glares back as they approach the oasis. 

Legend manages to walk off quick enough, catching the sight of the rest of the chain by the water around a fire. Nights in the desert would get cold terrifyingly quick. The inn certainly didn’t seem to be able to accommodate nine people on top of the other travellers and merchants. 

“And?” Time asks as Legend as he drops in equipment. “How was it?”

“It was… fine.”  He responds absentmindedly. “The town is really nice.”

“That’s all?” Warriors asks. 

Legend only gives a confirmative hum. He would ignore the captain, if possible, but decides against it. He just doesn’t feel like talking to either him or Time right now. He’s tired.

He settles his bed roll near a palm tree instead. 

The remainder of the chain approaches, and Warriors starts conversation with them instead. 

“Any news from Riju?”

‘Nothing in the desert, but there are some strange reports from Sheikah investigators about the depths. We can travel out of the desert if a portal doesn’t come to pick us up first, but I’ll go to the lookout landing for now.’ Wild reports.

“Don’t do anything too brash, okay?” Time asks the cook. 

‘Do you even know me, old man?’ 

Wild taps on the slate before he can even answer, floating up in blue light with a smirk on their face. Time can only look at them with a disappointed gaze. 

Legend wished Wild would’ve taken him with them. But he can’t blame them for anything after that exit. 

The sun sets, a still cold air falling over the chain. Still, Legend settles in the shadow of the palm tree, ensuring he´ll be comfortable come morning. 

A clear view of what is in front of him. 

Hidden from whatever may be behind him. 

The chain settles into the comfortable evening. The oasis is empty, save for them. The merchants take their leave for the night. Time works on polishing his armour, the best he can with all the sand surrounding him. Four starts making their rounds, checking everyone's weapons. 

Legend is about to turn the smithy down, he had been an apprentice himself for a short time, after all. 

Four settles down next to him instead.

“You’re on edge.” They note. 

The comment stops Legend in his thoughts. The answer he had ready to roll off of his tongue dies in his mouth. 

“I’m-” He forces out a sigh. “I’m perfectly fine, thank you.”

“Really?” Four questions him, keeping his voice low so as to not accidentally grab the attention of the others. “You don’t have to talk to me about it, you know. But there is no need to deny it.”

It is then that recognition sparks again. Legend looks at Four, a hero of centuries before him, or in the future, he wouldn’t know. And he knows him. He just can’t place from what. 

Logically, he shouldn’t be able to at all. If it makes his mind rest, that is what he will think.

Legend doesn’t respond, only falling into the routine of setting up his bedroll. 

Four decides to change the subject. 

“So… Did you get to think about our trip to Gerudo town?”

“About what?”

“Well, about you maybe not being a man?”

Legend sighs.

“It’s…” He tries to find the words. To place this unknown feeling. 

“I felt nice." He gets out first. “Walking into the town and everyone just, immediately stops assuming you’re a man. I mean. I don’t know, it’s not a thing in my era so it’s probably nothing-”

“No, no!” Four remains lighthearted, a laugh on their face as they cut the vet off. “You didn’t feel off about it, did you? Or uncomfortable?”

“No, not at all-” Legend picks at his skin as he thinks of what to say. “It felt more comfortable if anything. It’s like, the opposite of castle town, sort of?” He frowns at the memory of the judging knights. “The Gerudo just don’t seem to care, but in a good way?”

Four just nods, crossing their legs. 

“I travelled to this other city once, it was like the opposite.” Legend starts fidgeting with the tri-colored wrapped fabric around his left wrist, a little memento. “Everybody cared so much about how you looked there, but honestly? You would never see the outfits I pulled off there back in Hyrule.”

“And you enjoyed it?” Four asks.

“Well yeah! After a while. First I was just convincing myself it was for the magical properties they gave me, but… I got used to them, I guess. I have way too many of those outfits back at home. I didn’t take that adventure nearly as seriously.”

“I’m guessing that has to do with it?” Four points to the green, red and blue fabrics Legend is fidgeting with. 

“Ah yeah, it’s a little reminiscent, I guess. Something I can’t go back to. But I like to remember it.”

Legend looks over the rest of the chain. A fire has been started, a soft orange glow falling over them. He can see Warriors spectating their conversation, even if he can’t fully hear it. The captain has a small smile on his face. Wind is opposite of him, trying to grab his and the others’ attention as he explains the rules of a card game. 

“But don’t get sappy or anything now.” Legend crosses his arms as he leans back on the palm tree. “That’s all you’re going to get out of me until you return the favour, smithy.”

“You’ll get that soon, I’m sure” Four smirks. “I just need to feel up for it. Don’t want to get too sappy now, do we?”

Legend laughs at the comment, an honest laugh that doesn’t feel strained, or with lingering anxiety at the back of his mind. “You prick .”

“You never answered my question.” Four shoots back. “Why were you so on edge?”

“Well I am again now, thanks, you bastard.” Legend groans. 

“Surely you’re not that scared of Wind’s card games, right?” Four laughs. “I mean he’s a massive cheat, and Time is even worse-”

“Of course not!” Legend cuts them off. “It’s nothing big, It’s stupid even.”

“I think I can confidently say, nothing is considered stupid here. It’s not about telling about how you feel about yourself to the rest of us, right? Because trust me, no one has had a ‘normal’ experience. Even Wars, if not especially him.”

“No… it’s.” Legend groans. “You were talking about the the wolf and how it just- shows up and-”

“Wolfie?” 

“Like, what if it just shows up in the middle of the night and-” Legend tightens the grip on his sleeves and-

Four is holding in a laugh. 

Legend blanks. 

“You said nothing would be stupid!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Four snorts. “I get it! But out of every animal, Wolfie is like the biggest push-over ever! I ride on his back sometimes!”

“What? Okay you’re short but-”

“Story for another time.” Four grins. “We should have phrased it differently, I’m sorry. He only comes when Twilight wants him to. I can’t really explain, but I’m sure Twilight will soon. The least he will do is give you a heads-up if he does, no worries.”

Legend has to just sit there and take it as Four calms down from his laughing. Now he thinks about it, the wolf had looked a little stupid when being told off by Time.

He would be fine. He just needs that rabbit heart of his to pipe down. 

“Okay, that’s enough- I get it. That kind of helps, I guess.”

Wind calls them over before Legend can get any revenge on the smith. 

“Oi! Are you joining or not? We got Cap’ to bet!”

“How much?” Four calls back. 

“20 rupees!”
“I’m in!” 

Four gets up to join them, Legend falling behind to join the warmth of the campfire. 

“You joining too, vet?” Wind performs all kinds of tricks as he shuffles the cards.

“I’m not that stupid, no.” Legend denies. “I’m watching a few rounds, then I’m playing.”

“That’s the spirit!”

The game is between Four, Time, Wind and Warriors while the others are idly spectating. The smithy gets second place in the first game, then decides to quit for the night. He spends the rest of the evening sharpening up the other’s equipment next to Legend as he remarks on all the cheats all three of them are doing. 

“It’s like one big cheating contest with those three. Warriors always tries to compete with Wind and Time, but never wins. He tries to anyway.” Four whispers.

“Wind I expected, but the old man?” Legend holds the polish for the smith as they work.

“I have no idea either. See that flicker he just did with the left card?”

A couple more rounds go on, and just when he thinks he picks up all the tricks of the sailor, he deals a hand so outlandish he doesn’t even know what to say. Warriors insist on shuffling the cards the next round. 

The game ends with the old man winning, dealing a hand that even the sailor hadn’t expected, but with Warriors ending in last place. The captain groans as he gets up. “That’s it, I’m done.”

Time gladly takes the red rupees placed in the middle. 

“Well I’m not! Get back here!” Wind yells.

The sailor is interrupted by the placing of another red rupee in the middle. 

“Seems I will be taking his place then.” Legend smirks. “You weren’t done yet, were you old man?”

Time’s eyebrow raises. He puts the rupees back in the middle and hands the cards to him.

Warriors turns back around, intrigued. 

Legend deals the cards. He’s thankful of Ravio teaching him a few tricks now. Really, he had only ever played against him and it was not fun. The only one that seemed to rival his partner was Zelda. 

He only barely understood this game that the sailor had made up, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to chicken out. 

Wind shows his hand early in the first round, barely giving time for him to get accustomed. The sailor grins as he wins the round. So much for playing nice, he guessed. 

Wind allows Legend to shuffle the stack again.

The cards go around only once before Legend shows his hand.

Legend wins the round. 

The sailor is so confident when he puts his hand down, only really watching for Time. The early victory is broken by the smirk on Legend’s face as he looks up. Wind isn’t even second, he’s last.

“Wait- hold on-”

Twilight straight up cackles. 

“Oh! ohohohoh! Looks like you’ve got a new enemy sailor!”

Suddenly, Warriors is fully back spectating the game. 

“Don’t disappoint me now, vet.” He leans over Legend’s shoulder. “I’m sure you’ve noticed, but he does the most tricks with the hand closets to you, and the one in Time’s blindspot-”

“Shut it, Cap!”

Legend had never seen Warriors so competitive. 

Legend mixes it up a little in the next round, Wind now glaring at his hands instead as he shuffles again. Between Legend’s and Time’s eyes, they form a little agreement.

He wins again. 

“Okay now how the fu-” Warriors slaps a hand over the sailor’s mouth, cheering over the sound of the younger’s mumbled yelling. Wind almost bites it before the captain pulls away. 

“I’ve only had two people beat me before! That’s Time, and the second isn’t even Wars!”

“Well, sadly for you sailor, I know the biggest cheat in the entire history of Hyrule, and it isn’t you.” Legend grins as he takes the rupees. “I think that’s enough for today.”

“Oh no you don’t-”

“It is, actually.” Time stands up from the game. “I’ve had quite enough for tonight, we should sleep before we start disturbing the rest of the people here.” A mischievous expression paints the old man’s face. 

“I barely know what I’m doing, sailor, I know when to call quits.” Legend hands the cards back to him in a neat stack.

“Oh like hell you do!”

All Wind gets is a freshly polished shield by Four.

“Goodnight, Sailor!”

Chapter Text

If Legend had slept a little closer to the camp than normal that night, nobody was saying anything about it. The veteran had helped Four finish polishing the chain’s weapons, much like the smith's apprentice he once had been. 

The sailor had done his best to get under his skin as he worked. Wind had to give up at some point. There was no way he was sharing the tricks Ravio had taught him. Four waved him away when he started to notice Legend was working less precisely as he laughed at the sailor. 

When he finished, there wasn’t a point moving his bedroll back in the shade of the palm tree. There was no need for cover, either from the sun or the din-damned wolf that seemed to be following him. With the others close by, it wouldn’t be able to reach him without notice. 

He’d be safe.

It’s quiet at the camp. Twilight and Time talk in hushed voices that he is too tired for to try to understand. The campfire gives a comfortable warmth, the crackling of the firewood lulling him to sleep.

He expects to wake up back in the uncomfortable heat. To peel himself out of his bedroll and put on the circlet Wild had given him. 

He opened his eyes to a cold clouded sky instead.

Pushing his hands onto the ground, he was met with grass instead of sand. A nice, steady temperature instead of heat. A dry tongue replaced by a sweet smell.

Of apples.

The camp is in the same state as before, nothing had changed at all, so much that the entire chain was still asleep. 

A portal must’ve opened from under all of them. A switch so careful that none of them had noticed at all.

They were safe, now. Legend doesn’t like thinking how dangerous it could have been, had they been put anywhere else. 

The environment catches up to him, as he assesses the situation. The familiar ground, the smell of an apple orchard-

He is home.

He is out of his bedroll before he knows it, not even grabbing his equipment as he runs in the direction of his house. 

The other’s would get the hint, surely. He wasn’t going to wait for them to wake up now. He is home and he is running and his house is in sight.  

His home is there. Ravio would be there. He could explain everything then and he would fight tooth and nail against the next portal trying to take him away. 

He activates his pegasus boots, running through the apple orchard, absent of the fruits of their labour. Summer had passed already, how long had he been gone?

He aims for the back door, his pegasus boots not slowing down, making him pretty much slam into the thick wood. He pulls on the cold handle, slamming the door open. 

“Ravio!”

Link yells his name through the entire house. There is no sight of him in the narrow hall. It’s messy like it had always been, filled to the brim with shelves stocked with items.

Link runs through all of it, roughly going around the corner, turning his head to all directions of the living space.

The front door was left open.

“Ravio!?” He yells again. “Rav!? Are you home?” 

He runs into the kitchen, looking into Sheerow’s cage. The bird was not there. The cage was empty except for a single blue feather on its base. 

The windows were shut tight, kitchen cabinets left open.

He’s wasting time. He needs to find him, someone, before he gets swept up again. 

“Shit, Shit shit-” 

Link almost activates his pegasus boots again. He would run to the castle, straight through the main entrance if he had to, he would go to any guard that tried to stop him.

There was no need to. 

“Link?” A voice calls from upstairs.

“Ravio!”

Link turns the corner of the kitchen. Ravio is right there, rushing towards the bottom of the stairs. Link meets him there, running into a hug, holding the warm fabric of his partner’s hood tight. 

“Link- slow down! Are you alright?” The merchant takes a short moment before returning the hug.

“Rav- I’m home!” Is all he manages, a heavy breath leaving his mouth. 

“You are! Calm down, you’re alright.” Ravio rubs circles over his back. “You’ve been gone for months! What happened?”

“Months?” Link opens his eyes, looking up at the merchant. “No- No. I’ve been gone a few weeks at most, the black-blooded monsters, Ravio. What happened, why did you leave the front door open now of all times?”

He goes to shut it, but Ravio holds him tight. 

“It’s alright, Bunny.” He giggles a little. “Princess Zelda took care of it, there is nothing to worry about. Sit down for a second, will you? You don’t just get to walk away now, after being away for so long.”

A chill runs over Link as Ravio lets go, grabbing a few blankets before tossing them onto the couch.

“It’s cold. Join me by the fire, will you?”

“My firerod, It’s still back at camp.” He looks at the dark clouded sky through the windows.

“It’s going rain, everyone is still back there, I should take them in-”

“Everyone?” Ravio cuts him off. “Who are you talking about?”

“I got thrown into another adventure, but it’s fine. I’m doing it with more people now, and not like Hytopia this time.” He grabs Ravio’s sleeves as he takes him back with him to the hall, towards the back door.

“It’s going to be a little claustrophobic, but that’s fine. Just don’t let anyone touch anything. Oh, you’re going to love ‘Rule-”

“Mr. Hero.” Ravio stops him as Link already has his hand on the door handle. “What are you talking about?”

“What?” Link looks back at Ravio. 

He looks the merchant right in the eyes. Ravio looks back at him, and it feels wrong.

The usual spark of recognition in Ravio’s eyes is absent.

“Ravio?”

“Link.” The merchant grabs his hand. It’s cold. “I need you to slow down for a second, think.”

“This isn’t real.”

“Of course it’s not, bunny. You haven’t seen me in weeks.”

Link’s- Legend’s breath picks up pace. He can hear his heart beating in his chest.

“Don’t- I’m dreaming. I’m stuck again, I’m-”

He looks up at Ravio. He needs something right now, comfort, help, something.

Ravio just looks back at him with no remorse. 

It shatters him. 

He goes to open the door, but the merchant’s nails dig into his skin.

“Ravio, let go, you’re hurting me.”

“Slow down, Link, please.” He attempts to grab his attention as Legend starts pulling at the own fabric of his clothes.  “Just stop, alright? Just look at what’s right in front of you. You’ll find me, won’t you?”

“I-” Legend can all but stare back at him in confusion. “Of course, I just need to wake up-”

Ravio shoots a mischievous grin back at him, before pulling him back into a hug, stopping the young boy with the rabbit heart dead in his tracks. He holds onto the wandering travellers clothes, his own giving the feeling of the deep sea that overwhelms him. Link feels stuck, struggling, unable to move as his mind splits .

“I do look forward to seeing you again, Hero of Legend.” 

A sharp pain flares up in Legend’s back, white spikes shooting over his vision as he finally feels his eyes opening. 

His mouth is dry. His body is exhausted as he trashes towards the ground. The blaring heat meets him, a headache spiking through his head.

Legend can hear something in the background. It’s muddled, confusing him even more as he pulls his hands over his eyes. The headache spikes again, inducing a ringing in his ear. It’s all so loud, too incomprehensible to hear. 

“Shut up! Shut up shut up shut up!” He heaves a dry cough. 

It gets quieter, then. It feels less overwhelming. It was still so hot. Everything felt stuck and he couldn’t breathe properly. Why can’t his body just work along? 

Legend opens his eyes. Everything is bright and he struggles to slowly open them further. 

It gets a bit darker. Someone’s standing over him, he’s unsure who. Their voice starts filtering between all the muddle. 

“-end? Legend. Link.”

“Don’t, it’s not. It’s not, you’re not-”

“Slow down, Link. Take a breath.”

“Stop saying that!”

“Legend. Breathe. Can you look at me?”

Legend looks up, and he almost expects to see an unremorseful Ravio to be looking back at him. It’s Time instead. 

“Good, breathe with me, okay?” Time starts taking in deep breaths, exaggerating his movements.

“Oh fuck you -” A heave, followed by another dry couch. “Stop trying to keep me stuck! Stop it! Stop pretending this is all real!”

Time looks back at him in concern. He continues to deeply breathe in and out, desperately trying to have Legend repeat the motion.

“You’re here, Legend. How can I help to convince you this is real?”

“Oh screw you, of course you would like to know! Go away already! Leave me alone!” 

He forces out another series of coughs, forcing him back down to the ground. He shuts his eyes tight and bites his tongue. Whatever this was, whatever was keeping him stuck here, it wouldn’t get anything else. 

There’s shuffling. Hushed voices speak over one another. Legend pulls his arms over his head and curls into himself as much as he can.

Time- it- doesn’t overshadow him anymore. A smaller one take’s its place, and Legend can feel a hand grabbing his.

He tries to pull away. Nails would dig into his flesh again. He isn’t able to move his hand away, stuck in the small space he made up for himself. Another hand clasps over it.

“Legend.” 

Four.

That’s not Four. 

“You can feel my hands, right?” A squeeze.

Legend offers him no response.
“Can you squeeze back?”

He doesn’t want to. He just wants to get out of here and they’re not letting him. 

Everything is so much. He needs to focus. He needs to get out of this so he can escape. 

Legend puts all his attention in his hand, squeezing as hard as he can. It would have had to hurt the smith. 

Four doesn’t pull away. 

“Good. Legend, where are you right now?”

“I’m not here. I’m asleep, let me go-”

“You are right here and awake, Legend. You know where you are, right?”

“It is so warm.” He heaves out.

“It is. So we can only be in one place, can’t we?

“...The desert.”

“Exactly. You’ve got it, Can you try to open your eyes now?”

He unfurls himself, creating more room, more space to breathe. He looks ahead of him as he gasps for air and sees Four in front of him, in a purple tunic. 

“That’s it.” The smith goes on. “We’re in the oasis. You helped me polish everyone's weapons, remember?”

“Yes, but. It was fake. I’m, you’re not-”
“This is very real, Legend. You are real. Focus on squeezing my hand. You had a nightmare, but you’re here now. I’m going to put the circlet on you now, okay? It’s way too warm for you to be taking short breaths like this.”

Legend can’t do much but try to sit up. A cool sensation washes over him as he feels Four place the circlet around his head. 

It feels much better. A tightness in his chest he hadn’t noticed before fades. Legend takes his first actual breath since he woke up. 

…He woke up.

“There you go. Breathe.” Four lightly squeezes back. 

Legend repeats after the smith, taking longer and longer breaths. 

“...I hate this so much.”

A heart lighted chuckle. “I can imagine. I know what it feels like when things don’t feel real, Legend. But I promise you, that everything, including you and me, is real. You are awake.”

“It didn’t feel like waking up. Something took me again. I’m trapped, again.”

Twilight comes into view. Legend tries to put in effort to hear what is going on around him, although he refuses to look back at the rest of the chain. He can hear them talking, about him, surely. He can hear the soft sound of an ocarina in the distance.

“You’re right here, vet.” Twilight crouches down. 

“You don’ t know, rancher. It’s all so real. It can go on for days, there would be nothing out of place and I would never notice.” Legend sits up, a difficult expression on his face. “I’m still not sure this is real.”

Twilight squeezes Four’s shoulder. The smith gets up, leaving his limited view and hearing. 

“Right now, you need to focus on collecting yourself. These nightmares might show you things, but right now, you are here.”

Legend feels exhausted, even though he had just woken up. The sleep in his eyes and dizziness makes it hard to focus on anything, especially with the bright sun reflecting on the yellow sand. 

“This sucks so fucking much.” He groans out. 

Wild enters the corner of his view. He has a bowl in hand, fresh fruits from yesterday’s merchants cut into smaller pieces. The cook holds it out to Legend. 

It takes a moment for him to accept it, whether it be the slowness of his mind or body right now. He’s not sure. 

Slowly, he starts eating the pieces of fruit. The freshness of them helps the chalky dryness of his mouth. He didn’t know how much he needed that. 

“It’s good, right?” Legend hears Wild say as his eyes are focused on the bowl in his hands. He looks up. 

‘You have no idea how much of this I ate when I first came. Water didn’t seem to help at all, especially at the furthest end of the desert.’ Wild signs. 

“I thought-” Legend cuts himself off, struggling to bring a word out. He raises his hands instead. ‘I thought you went to see Flora.’

‘I did’ Wild smiles. ‘She just happens to be as much as a night owl as me. I’ll spend more time with her soon enough, I’m sure.’

All Legend does is bring out a confirmative hum. That made sense, probably. Or whatever was keeping him trapped was just straight up lying now. 

He doesn’t like thinking about it anymore. 

Wild continues to talk as Legend eats, at a too agonisingly slow pace for the vet’s liking. Wild doesn’t seem to mind in the slightest, talking about their surroundings, the stories behind them, the details. 

When Legend seemed to drift off at times, Wild would ask his opinion on his questions, and would ask if he’d notice a small thing about it. 

Twilight would occasionally chime in, but chose to watch over the Vet for smaller signs as he came back into reality. By the time the vet seemed to be improving, he took a look behind the vet. He can see Time, at a distance with Warriors curiously eyeing them.

Very discreet, old man. 

Twilight gets up, entrusting Wild to remain with the Vet. He walks past the remainder of the chain, all of them carrying on as normal while they pretend not to be concerned. 

All of them had nightmares. It had become a bit too normal very quickly. Even Time had them, even though he would not like to admit it. 

No one had been quite out of it afterwards as much as Legend, though. It reminded him more of when Wild would come out of a memory. But even that was something the cook had been accustomed to. 

It was the very reason he was the one sitting with the vet right now. 

The colours are at more of a distance. Twilight could hear them talking about merging back, as Legend seemed to be getting more focussed on his surroundings, as much as he seemed to deny he would have to face the rest of the chain eventually. 

The colours would have to explain their situation when the vet seemed more… lucid. Legend didn’t seem to notice too much of a difference about Vio, for now.

Vio seemed to be informing them of a couple more things, absentmindedly grabbing for his sword as he wrapped things up. Twilight was honestly not sure of why the colour seemed to be the first one to know how to talk to Legend, but it had helped. 

He reaches Time and Warriors before long. He can’t help but see a flash of concern on ‘Rule’s face before Time grabs his attention. 

“And?”

“Seems to be doing better. Not sure if we were going to pull him out of it before he went unconscious again, though. But he’s here.” Twilight answers. 

“We need to get out of the desert.”  Warriors informs. “It’s already bad enough when we’re all perfectly fine.”

“You can say you’re worried too, Cap’n.” Twilight teases. 

“Of course I’m-!” Warriors huffs as he cuts himself off, lowering his voice. “Out of all the people that Legend needs right now, it’s not me. And to Hylia, I hope any of us aren’t his first options either, but we’re all he’s got right now. Of course I’m worried.”

“We’re getting out here.” Time decides. “When Legend is fit for-”

Time moves his gaze over to Legend, and is surprised that the vet is looking back at him, with an almost uncanny stare. 

Or rather, looking behind him.

Time turns around, to see what the vet might be spotting.

It is a portal. 

Chapter Text

Warriors was getting really sick of the portals coming in at the most inconvenient times. 

Whenever they did seem to show up, it was always at the wrong moment. Too early, too late. This seemed only to occur more as Legend joined the chain. 

The veteran seemed to be uncomfortable since the moment he was forced on this adventure with the rest of them. They had come so far since then. Legend wouldn’t immediately shut any conversation down anymore besides what he thought was necessary to know. He kept less distance. Legend had seemed riddled with anxiety for every breath he took. Yesterday evening he was happy, and seemed unburdened.

They were back to zero as soon as the veteran woke up. 

Warriors wouldn’t it say like that if it weren’t for the fact how much Legend looked like when he had first woken up at Lon Lon ranch. Even then he was angry, overwhelmed. Looking into the distance, unfocussed at times. 

It’s like Legend wasn’t even noticing him or the others as he looked at the portal behind them. 

It reminded him too much of when Time would wake up from nightmares, sometimes. Unlike Wind, who would suddenly trash violently in his sleep until he woke himself up, Time lingered in his dreams far longer. Like reality was the dream itself. It was far worse during the war of era’s, when the sprite had been distant and refused to believe the captain on anything, especially when trying to convince him he was awake. 

His mumblings had made his statement about fighting the moon just a little more believable. 

Everyone seemed to be getting their bearings, getting their supplies. Wild seems to be trying to get Legend to stand up, trying to divert his attention from the portal. Hyrule walks over, joining in on the effort. It seems to work eventually, because the veteran is quick to get up and collect himself. 

It wasn’t very convincing. 

Four, re-merged, interrupts his thoughts. 

“Ready, captain?” They ask. “There’s a chance we’re ending up in some dangerous part of my Hyrule, I need you to focus.”

“Yeah, yeah. Got it. Let’s go when everyone is ready.”

When Legend is ready, goes unsaid. 

When Time calls a marching order, the veteran ends up right in the middle of it. Legend doesn’t protest. He doesn’t say much at all, actually. Just clenching his fist around his sword in anticipation as he inspects each and single one of them. 

Going through a portal had always pulled something out of Wars. Not as much anxiety as it was paranoia. He was quick to learn to push that feeling down, when a portal came around. Not knowing what was on the other side never helped that feeling. 

He goes through, a spike of paranoia travelling through his mind as the portal swirls and pulls. 

Warriors’ dirty boots are met with a silk rug. 

The portals didn’t teleport them anywhere inside often. Luckily for all of them the castle of his Hyrule had more than spacious enough hallways.

Great .

This definitely didn’t look good for the guards at the end of the hallway, who had more than enough experiences with portals just a few years ago. How the hell was he going to explain this? 

The chain had all come through. Four and Sky looked as exhausted as ever, but managing. The smith was cursing something, or rather someone, under his breath. Legend seemed more alert than anything, but a grey tone shadowed his face. 

“Captain Link!”

Around the corner was the only person who could possibly diffuse this situation, General Impa. On the contrary, she was also the worst person to have to deal with after exiting a portal. Half the chain was unwell. He needed some guest rooms for them to calm down in, not to have to attend an official breakfast or- it might as well be dinner time by now. 

“Where…?” Came a silent question from Legend’s direction. 

“General Impa, a pleasure to see you!” Warriors quickly take to the front of the group, making an effort to stand straight. “I hope you do not mind the intrusion? We did not have much of a choice, afterall.” The portal snaps shut behind them. 

“I can see that. For the love of Hylia, soldier, take a shower? I expect you to be in your best condition to see her majesty.”

“Nice to see you too, General.” Time says in the most flat tone he can muster. 

“That counts for you too, Mask. Don’t think that armour intimidates me now in the slightest.” Impa matches Time in height as she stands in front of him. Some of the chain grin at that.

 If Warriors could only pull the same kind of moves on Impa with soldiers in the vicinity. 

The scene is so familiar that it slips his mind that Impa had not met Legend before. 

Impa raises her eyebrow at the vet. “It seems like an official meeting is in order.”

“General, I will come by fine, but they need a moment-”

“Are you challenging my orders, soldier?” Impa’s gaze turns serious. 

He can only gather all his strength to not let a sigh escape from his mouth. “Of course not.”
“Great. I’ll see all of you in the eastern salon in an hour.” 

With that, Impa is off, a hidden lingering gaze on the veteran as she turns to leave. 

Warriors gladly starts walking in the other direction as fast as possible.  

The soldiers he passes by make no effort to hide their looks as they pass by. 

At Least the portal brought the comfort of not putting them on the opposite side of the castle. There was a reason he didn’t like staying here as much. Way too long walks to get from one place to another. Screw getting guest rooms arranged right now. He’ll take them to his own. 

He marches on, ignoring the looks he is getting from the guards. Had he been outside of the palace, they would have stopped him for sure. Eventually, they find privacy in a hall assigned to him and clutches the familiar, now cold, door handle as he swings the heavy door open.

Everyone steps in, two paces behind him still, as he slams the door shut. 

“Hylia’s sake-”

Four is ahead of him. 

“I’m going to throw something I swear to all three goddesses-”

“Don’t.” Time stops him. “Calm down, sort yourself out, Four. Let’s make sure everyone recollects themselves before we get thrown into etiquette.”

“Oh you’ve got to be kidding me. I’m not changing.” Warriors hears Legend groan from the other side of the room, already seated in one of his chairs. 

“You won’t have to.” Warriors speaks up. “I, however…”

“We get to do Wars’ make up again!” Wind practically cheers. “Wild, you’ve still got eyeliner right?”

“...What?” Legend asks, bewildered. 

Warriors is more focused on stopping Wind. “You are not doing my eyeliner again. I nearly came with a red eye last time. Twi’s doing it.”

“You wear makeup for meetings with your Zelda?” Legend asks instead. 

“I have to. Going to Zelda means presenting before the court as well. Once we get past that I can actually relax.” Warriors sighs. “Sorry to break it to you vet, but my era seems to be at its height with royalty.”

Legend looks like he wants to protest, but stays quiet. Not against him, if he had to guess. The vet did seem to have a problem taking orders. Now that Wars thinks about it, it might as well have to do something with the royal family as a whole. 

Oh, Legend wasn’t going to enjoy this. 

Warriors would advocate that he could stay behind. He would go alone if he could, but Impa spotting Legend was the whole reason they were called upon. There wasn’t going to be an option to have him rest up instead. 

He remembers presenting Sprite and Toon to the court for the very first time. He had been bruised and wounded, all covered by foundation and concealer that barely held it together. He was barely staying awake. 

Neither of them had learned any type of etiquette before. It was also the first time a certain nobleman got cussed out so much he was left speechless. 

Warriors really hoped that particular nobleman wasn’t present for Wind’s sake. 

Not mentioning having to introduce the whole chain when it came to it. All of them had basic manners at least, but nearly none of them had learned anything of the rules that came with presenting yourself before royalty. 

He was very afraid he was going to have to apologise to another stuck-up noble today. 

“Can everyone at least freshen up, please?”

“Yeah yeah, not our first time, ‘Cap!” Wind grins, pulling out a handful of make-up brushes as he rips open one of the antique drawers. 

Wars can only sigh in defeat, retreating to the bathroom for the first proper bath he has had in weeks. He could only hope Legend wasn’t going to recreate Wind’s first time in court.

…Legend is honestly not sure what to do in this situation. 

He was still taking in his surroundings, reality even, by the time that Impa- there were more Impa’s across time now, too? -was staring at him like she was a new problem for him to handle. 

That sure was a warm welcome. 

He feels his body walking, blindly following behind the fast-paced steps. By the time he could really focus, he seemed to be in Wars’ room.

It’s not too different from his room in the palace. Too big, for sure. The walls were decorated with different weapons, ones that didn’t seem like weapons the captain would use in the slightest. This room was unused, up until this point it seems. 

Legend still took the liberty of putting some personalization in his own room, but that was under the circumstance that no one else was going to enter, even staff. It was in the same wing as Zelda’s after all. 

Another thing. This palace was way too big. 

If he had to guess, these palace grounds might have been two times the size of his. Like they stacked both Hyrule and Lorule castle on top of one another.

And that wasn’t even counting the castle town. A city, if anything else. Legend looked out of the tall windows, through the creaks of the heavy curtains. Stone roads and houses as far as the eye could see. 

“Legend?” Hyrule is sitting on the floor, Wind and Wild joining him. In the middle there are a bunch of make-up supplies. Twilight is pulling up a less heavy chair. “We’re doing make-up, if you want to put some on?”

He is tempted. He is also tempted to go to sleep, but Sky and Four are already ahead of him, taking a nap in Warriors’ bed. It definitely had way too many pillows.

“Is that…?”

Actually, you know what? No, he isn't going to deal with any of this. It’s fine, he’ll just feel uncomfortable for a couple hours. 

“Actually. Wild, do you have any extra pants I can borrow?”

‘Sure,’ Wild grabs a hold of his slate. ‘Why though?’

“I’ve decided I don't want to deal with any comments about how my tunic is basically a dress from nobles or the court or- whatever.”

“You won’t be getting any comments at all, Legend.” Time cuts in. “I’ll make sure of it If I have to. You don’t have to change clothes, really.”

“Yeah but that’s not going to stop them from looking anyway-”

“We’ll get Impa to look at them instead!” Wind laughs. “We’ve been dealing with this court for ages. Warriors might still be all stressed about it, but they don’t know you!”

“Well- I mean.”

“Now get over here already, because unless you’ve got your own make-up with you, we need to sort some stuff out.” Wind points at him with a thin brush. 

Legend stares at the sailor, unimpressed, but he doesn’t back down. Soon enough, Legend is dragged to the floor as well. Wild pulls out some additional jewellery from her slate.

“Now you’re not doing anything sailor-” Legend calls out before Wind can try anything.

“Why does no one trust me in this!?”

“Because.” Hyrule intervenes, “You are worse than me at it. And I didn’t even know make-up was a thing until too long ago.”

“Now that’s just exaggerating-”

“I got it, I got it.” Twi sits down with them, grabbing a powder puff, way too extravagant looking, starting to try and match Legend’s shade. “We’re going to need to cover everyone’s eye bags, first.” Twilight chuckles. “Ya’ sure you don’t want to join Sky and Four for a nap, Ledge?”

“I’m fine- give it here already I know how this works.” 

“Sit still, vet, for Ordana’s sake-”

And just like that, he’s stuck in the middle of all these heroes across time, doing his make-up. 

He would find it embarrassing if the others didn’t seem to be enjoying it so much. It almost seems to be distracting him from having to face the horror that is the royal court in about an hour. 

Everyone gets to do a little something, even Wind.

“That’s way too much highlighter, ‘Rulie” Twilight intervenes.
“It’s not though!”

‘I swear only great fairies have that much glitter-’ Wild grins.

“Why are you putting glitter on me!?” Legend protests. 

Okay he might feel pretty. And this felt really nice but hold on now- 

“It comes with the highlighter okay!” Hyrule nearly shouts. “I think.”

“You’re kidding me-”

“The golden eyeshadow already has some glitter in it as well, Ledge, you’re going to have to deal with it.”

“Since when are we doing eye shadow?”

“Since it fits nicely with the embroidery on your tunic. It’s subtle, really, just in the corner of your eyes. Now keep your eyes closed, I’m doing your eyeliner after this. 

Legend shoots a look at Time, to urge him to do anything to stop his protége. The old man just grins back at him.

Bastard. 

By the time they’re done with him, Warriors emerges from his bathroom, all freshened up and make up done. He nearly collapses into the bed himself as he leans over Four and Sky to freshen up. 

“Hey! We were going to do your makeup!” Wind calls out. 

“Calm down, I didn’t do the eyeliner yet. We need to pick up pace a little though.” The captain pulls up another chair, in front of Twilight. “Just the outlines, for now.”

With the other heroes finally being done with him, Legend gets to take a look in the gigantic mirror, positioned above the fireplace. And honestly?

Legend looked a lot healthier than he had been for a while now. The make-up had worked wonders. It complimented his tunic nicely, just as Twi had said. 

He restrains himself from letting out a small laugh at the sight, but he can’t help but smile. 

Legend tries to focus on freshening himself up as he restrains his hands from fidgeting. The rest of the chain finishes up as well, with some help from Wars constantly urging them to hurry up. 

It doesn’t take too long for there to be a knock at the door. There goes all the enjoyment he got out of this. 

Legend sees Warriors take the biggest sigh he thinks the captain can muster. 

He opens the door. Instead of what Legend expects, like a footman, Impa is there personally instead. 

“Are you ready for this mess?”

Chapter Text

Legend takes in the halls of this era’s castle with more detail, now. Being able to focus, next to Impa throwing the occasional glance at him, he takes in the giant, tall hallways. There’s a set of guards at every corner. They straighten up at the sigh of Impa at every turn, and it’s honestly funny to see. 

Legend hangs at the back of the marching order, becoming more and more uncomfortable about facing a court in the amount of glitter Hyrule put on him. Especially with Warrior’s in such high attention. 

It’s as if Legend took all the preconceived notions he had about the Captain when he had first set his eyes on him, and Warriors took that role in the most stereotypical way. Head held up tall, shoulders straight, all the royal pendants shining on his tunic. The type of pendants Legend only made an effort of putting on for Zelda. 

They walk in uncomfortable silence for a long time, all the way to the eastern wing of the castle. Warriors only has this mask of an expression plastered on his face. Wind is actively keeping the soldiers on their toes, doing everything to break the guard’s front. He falls at the back of the group with Legend to avoid the watchful gaze of Time. 

“This can be very boring.” Wind half-whispers, “I’m sure we can sneak out at some point, though.”

“Oh trust me sailor, I know.” Legend groans. “I just don’t know the layout of this castle yet.”

“Well, I do. ” Wind snickers. “Just give me the sign when we’re going to bounce.”

Legend lets out a snort. Time offers a glance to the back at the noise, and sees the plans they’re making right in front of him. All the old man gives in support is a small raise of the corner of his mouth. 

Legend can’t help but smile. “Count me in.”

Their planning is interrupted by Impa knocking on one of the doors in the hallway.

Din’s hell, give a bit of a warning before throwing him in. 

The door swings open from the inside. He struggles a little to see inside with the rest still in front of him. 

Impa is quick to dismiss a footman that is about to announce their entrance. Legend is very glad she did. Announcing all ten of them would take forever, and would only bring standing around uncomfortably while waiting for the footman to finish. 

Deep breath in, deep breath out. 

Here he goes. 

This wasn’t his court after all. 

The salon they stepped into was very spacious, filled to the brim with furniture and decorations half of the chain might think of as antique. 

His eyes land on a woman in the centre of the room.

It is weird, seeing Zelda’s face on somebody entirely different. 

At the centre of the salon, Legend’s eyes land on this era’s Zelda, as the others had explained before. He was used to Zelda and him having similar features, their violet eyes unique in the royal court. He found some of these features back in this era’s Zelda, the nose, the sharper ears, the shape of her eyes holding a faint familiar spark. 

More sets of eyes land on Legend as he passes through the crowd and stands at the beginning of the salon. Nobles, no doubt. Hylia, was he glad they were more separated from his and Zelda’s court. 

There’s a slight smile on this Zelda’s face.

Impa takes a bow, two steps away, presenting the chain for the small audience. The others took short bows themselves, all different in posé and decorum. It was honestly very messy. Instead, Legend takes in the details of the bow Warriors preforms. Legend had some hints in what would be appropriate, like this Zelda’s title, but he had no idea what time period this actually was. 

“Your Majesty.” Warriors rises from the bow. “I have reports, if you would like to hear them.”

“Very much so.” Zelda speaks out, a cold sharpness, yet comfort, in her voice. A perfect fit for a leader. “Although I imagine introductions are in order?” A keen eye meets Legend. 

Warriors might think he can hide his emotions well, but spending as much time around everyone constantly, the whole day? That mask Twilight had spoken of got more and more obvious. Legend could see just a twinge of uncertainty in the captain's eyes as he looked at him.

Legend only had to ask one question between their eyes.

How much can he tell? 

Warrior’s doesn’t seem to intervene, doesn’t seem to stop him from telling anything. He hadn’t  said anything back in the room, either. The captain only returns a question with another question.

Are you alright with this?

Legend doesn’t give away any uncertainty of his own, only takes a few confident steps, fake but practised, forward in front of the others.

He takes his bow, bending the knees, ever thankful it hadn't been outside in the rain for the sake of cracking joints. Legend makes sure of the placing of his feet, restrains to grab at his tunic and slightly lift it in courtesy as if it were a dress.

He bows his head, final. Lingering for a moment on his bent knees.

“Hero of Legend, of the royal court of Hyrule, Your Majesty. I will not bother you with my many unofficial titles.” He starts, putting on a practised voice, one fit to speak in a room filled with people.

There it was, what he always expects from nobles as he raises his head. Disapproval. A badly hidden laugh. 

He didn’t need to look to hear Time’s armour moving.

Have a little trust old man, would you?

“Although I am unsure of our good Lords in the room with us, if that is the proper title?”

He can see Wind get a grin on his face in the corner of his vision, and he swear Warriors’ is in on it too, although surprised.

The nobles, interrupted in their soft and hidden discussions, barely manage to get in a word of response themselves. They must have done this seven times already. 

Zelda speaks for them, and it’s honestly quite pathetic to see the nobles notice their error.

“These are the dukes of our lands surrounding castle town, from north, south, east and west respectively, Hero of Legend. My court is happy to make your acquaintance.”

Legend spots one of the nobles, a younger man, who seemed quite adamant on making Legend feel like he was stupid. He has this look of expectancy on his face, as if he were a child who had just spilled something in front of him. And there he gets his shot.

“I see, your graces.” A soft snort from the back, unmistakingly Hyrule. “Although if I may ask, it is uncommon for more younger people to ascend through those ranks where I am from.”

“I have inherited the grounds after the war of Era’s, good sir.” The nobleman responds, Legend doesn’t bother inquiring for his name, he honestly couldn’t care. 

What mattered is he spotted the white lie in an instance. Sure, you could inherit parts of grounds from a nobleman-

“But not the title?” He asked with a twinge of fake sympathy.

A badly hidden fury on the noble’s face. A glint of amusement on Zelda’s. A cast out line.

“I see, my apologies for the mistake, honourable.”

Legend sparks the exact reaction he wanted out of the man. This race, a contest of who can send the other out of this court in shame first. A contest Legend had won many times.

The man nearly stands up to meet him the second he utters the lower title to the noble, his fellow court members secretly ridiculing him with their eyes. 

Zelda intervenes.

“We’ve let you stand there long enough now. Let’s get seated shall we? We can discuss things further until time comes for brunch.”

No one could argue with that, and Legend was happy to comply as he walked past the sofa’s. Impa made sure to be at Zelda’s side. In both her and the court’s blindspot, Legend sneaked in a glance back at the rest of the chain. It was nothing short of total surprise and baffled curiosity. And ofcourse, the grinning at a noble getting metaphorically slapped in the face.

All that with the exception of Warriors, who was not only surprised, but amazed at the performance Legend was putting up. 

The others must have set a terrible standard, hadn’t they?

They take their seat at the long table at the end of the room, Zelda sitting at the head of the table. Impa takes her place beside her, while the other side of the court makes an effort to sit at the other side of the table. 

Legend ends up sitting in between Time and Twilight, with Warriors in front of him. He almost sighs at how the three of them try to act like that isn’t on purpose. 

As Warriors starts with his report, Legend refrains to start tuning it out immediately, like a royal guard captain giving their reports of not being able to remove the paint on the castle walls. Except it was almost exactly like that. 

The captain continues to report about a few days before Legend had joined. They had been wandering a Hyrule unknown to them and pulled back to Lon Lon Ranch before they knew it. 

And well… 

Let’s just say Warriors was very careful to leave out the part of how Legend had exactly come through the portal, leaving the captain with a bruise, and him with a concussion.

“Since then…” The captain continues. “The rate of these portals we’ve been going through has increased, and the predictability wavered.”

“We’re glad to trade that for Legend, though.” Twilight says fondly, his accent pressing through it. Legend struggles to hide his surprise at the comment, and only can stare at the rancher in near self-stupidity. 

Zelda takes the comment to heart, giving the same fond gaze as- Hylia they really did need these nicknames. -his sister to him, and it all feels so familiar.

It’s all broken by an ugly snort from the other end of the table. 

“Please do inform us of your delightful discussion, Honourable.” Legend interrupts their gazes, not even looking at them before making the comment, a slight indication of addressing the whole of them as a group with the lower title. 

“Nothing of the sort, good sir.” An older duke intervenes. “It is just that we struggle to understand the farmer's hand here.” An underlying insult. Twilight turns his gaze away as he grimaces.

Sometimes, Legend really wants to reveal he’s a prince and see how quick the nobles backpedal. He will savour that moment for another time, though. 

“If i’m quite right, you are the Duke of the south, correct?” Legend asks instead.

A hint of curiosity from the chain comes at the question. A look from Warriors, both amusement and warning. 

“As was mentioned mere moments ago, Hero.” the Duke responds. 

Legend offers a short glance to the captain.

“Then if Hyrule has stayed much the same, I remember that the south of the kingdom is ripe for farm land, but not only that, animal keeping. Is that correct, good sir?”

“I remind you of my title, you-”

“I was asking the question to the Hero of Warriors, your grace.”

Wind is leaning behind Time to stifle the laugh coming out of his mouth. Impa is giving the smallest indication of a smile to the vet. Warriors gives nothing away, instead playing into Legend’s question perfectly. 

“That is correct, to the far south, to be exact”

“Then your Grace could have noticed on the indents and scars on the Hero of Twilight’s hands and the absence of an almost permanent dirt under his fingernails that he is in fact a rancher, not a farmer. Hands capable of stopping goats twice his size, in fact, who would kill him the second the goats trample a little further.” Legend's explanation rolls off his tongue. It’s as if Twilight’s ears perk up. 

“A most respectable occupation to the south, not to mention his other titles that I’ve failed to hear you respect. If you do have the experience that comes with your title, I do not understand how you fail to grasp a simple accent.”

“What was your position in the royal court again?” The duke asks with an angry frown on his face, while trying to save his composure.

“I am merely an advisor. Which begs the question as to why I pick up on these details, compared to the very own duke of the lands?”

The slamming of a fist on the table. Hook.

Just a little more. It really didn’t take much to get a rise out of these nobles, did they? 

“Are you questioning our capability to reign?” The Duke of the east interrupts. “You, an advisor, a position gained by friendly politics at best? What would you know of our business in the south? 

Legend manages to wash off the comment in a mere second. 

“I never addressed you, especially not to insult you, your Grace. Although the Duke of the East did mention ‘our’ capability to reign. So, unless you reign over the south together?”

“Nothing that you would understand! Are you accusing us of-!”

“Merely a question, your Grace. Is it socially accepted in this time period for Dukes to collectively reign together over an area, unbeknownst to their Queen?”

Sinker. 

The duke yells insults across the room, directed at him, at Warriors, at Twilight and the whole chain even. All Legend had to do was watch, and thank the server pouring a drink into his glass. 

If he was correct, it would only take a moment for- 

“That is enough!” Impa orders, stilling the room in an instant, a shock going through the noblemen, chain and servants alike. She passes the quiet to her Majesty.

“Thank you, Impa.” Zelda raises a hand. “An interesting statement, I shall discuss it internally. Now I think it is time for everyone to continue with their day, as I will have brunch with these heroes.”

“Your Majesty-!” A last effort of one of the nobles.

“That will be all.”

There was nothing left to say, nothing allowed to say. All the nobles could do was stare, although not too long, before stumbling out of the salon with clenched fists. 

The door slams after the last one leaves the room, servants following suit upon Impa’s request.

It is dead silent, for a second. Zelda takes a sip of the tea she was offered, the clinking of her cup against the saucer being the only sound in the room. Her lips curl up. 

And she lets out the ugliest snort in all of Hyrule’s history. 

Warriors is the next one to break down, followed suit by Time and Wind not too soon after. Twilight is just staring at Legend.

“Oh Hylia-! That was!” Zelda’s laugh beams through the room. “The best performance of royal etiquette in a while now!”

Wind is already climbing over the table, however badly Sky tries to refrain him from doing so as he jumps over to Legend’s side to congratulate him.

All the vet can do is laugh along. Warriors only looks at him in amazement. “You didn’t tell me you were in court, Vet! And you were nervous?” Warriors heaves after he lets out an uncontrolled, ugly laugh. “I’ve been trying to pull some shit on them for the what, past seven years now?”

“Six years, 7 months and 13 days.” Time corrects. “It still counts, though. He grins.

Even Impa is laughing along with the chain, taking her own seat. Legend has to be careful to take breaths and actually breathe . 

“Thank you, vet.” Twilight says in a lower voice besides him, under the joy of everyone else, seeing a few nobles getting humbled for the first times in their lives. “You didn’t need to do that.”

“I did anyway.” Legend calms himself down. “Don’t mention it. You could’ve easily beat the shit out of them, but royal courts are stupid like that.” He groans.

“It looked beautiful with the eyeliner, by the way.” Twilight picks up a smile of his own. All Legend can do is give a stupid grin back. 

“Now.” Zelda continues, a few stray laughs escaping her still. “Your name is Legend, isn’t it?” She asks him. 

“Any shorter version is fine too, your Majesty.” He offers. 

“Oh quit it with the formalities!” Zelda smiles at him. “It is Artemis, here.”

A couple servants entered the room, with trays of sandwiches, sweets and more steaming hot pots of tea. 

Almost every single one of the chain made their comment on Legend’s performance, his words, until it very quickly became laughing about Legend acting like that. 

Which started by Wind copying him.

“Oh, sailor for the love of Din, don’t.”

“Oh but your Grace, whatever am I doing wrong?” Wind shoots back in a ridiculous voice and a cheap bow, and the table roars. At some point Artemis starts saying her cheeks are hurting from all the laughing.

“You can clearly see at this table who didn’t have to deal with royal customs, don’t you Wind?” Four laughs from the other side of the table. “Not that mine is this bad either, but-”

“Oh shush! I dealt with it more than enough.” Wind calls out. 

“Wind nearly ridiculed me every night for stuff like this, you know?” The captain says with annoyance, but also a hint of fondness. 

“Don’t forget Sprite here!” The sailor points to Time. 

“I’m sorry, Sprite-?” Legend interrupts, the old man put on the spot. “Are you going to explain that, or?”

Time only hides his hands in his face to stifle his laughter. “No- no I don’t think-”

“It’s okay, I will.” Warriors smirks. “Not that much of a secret anymore right? But I do think it’s time to get onto-”

“What you are actually here for?” Impa questions the captain.

“That.”

Artemis takes a couple more breaths, calming down from the laughing.

“Well, it’s nice to actually meet you, Legend.” Artemis beams. “That was the best afternoon I’ve had in a while now.”

“Glad to deliver.” Legend replies. 

“...But we do have some issues, sorry to ruin the mood.” Artemis is given a file of papers by Impa. Reports. 

The room calms down, occupied by attentive listening and absentminded eating. The sweets particularly, by Hyrule. Legend makes a mental note of that. 

“There have been reports of both black blooded monsters and remnants, far away still thankfully.” Artemis begins. “By the old ruins atop of the sleeping death mountain.”

Groans and sighs. They were willing to do a lot, pretty much anything actually. Still, climbing death mountain always kept being a chore. 

“I would go with a patrolling squad myself, but instead I am stuck between meetings of the many nobles requests every other hour. I was nearly about to clear my schedule, but it seems you shall be taking the position for me.” Artemis can’t stop letting out a sigh herself. 

“Very well, we will depart by morning.” Warriors states. “We can take today to recover and actually get some rest. I’d like to take that rare opportunity.”

Impa gives the captain a look, questioning the decision. But she must also have noticed the bags under Legend’s eyes. The tiredness in both Four’s and Sky’s voice, ‘Rule tuning out from the conversation every few moments. 

Some time passes comfortably, yet tired, over brunch. 

When formalities are over, they decide to retreat to Wars’ room, or at least for now, as Zelda would arrange rooms for all of them. The captain tells them not to wreck his room as he stays behind to talk some more with Zelda, to catch up. 

The door into Wars’ clicks quietly behind them this time, much to the pleasure of Legend’s head. He hadn’t noticed it until he stepped out of the salon, but he was definitely overstimulated. It was weird to think that he woke up in the Gerudo desert just this morning. He hadn’t processed anything properly at all from the moment he stepped through the portal.

As much as he enjoys bullying entitled nobility, the noise that came with it, the things he had to keep track of, all the cheering in the end had only made him more tired. So he stands in Warriors’ room, standing still in the middle of the room, staring at the bed. 

Ah, fuck it. 

Legend crashes face first into the stack of pillows, and by Farore the mattress is soft. He only sinks further as he lays there. 

Hyrule does the exact same, crashing on the other side of the bed, and Four somehow manages to still find a spot against the footboard between them. 

The rest of the chain don’t think to move to their own rooms, just taking a spot on the soft carpet floor instead.

Legend doesn’t have enough energy for his mind to think that he shouldn’t be getting attached. He just closes his eyes, knowing he is safe, surrounded by people that he guesses are fine, and falls asleep unburdened by dreams.

If Twilight puts the soft pelt over the sleeping hero, no one says anything. 

Warriors gives a sigh of relief when he is left alone with Zelda, sinking his head down onto the table as Impa clicks the door softly behind her.

“How lucky you are.” Zelda sips from her tea, a grin on her face. “Someone well-versed in etiquette! Too bad for you it was the very last one.”

The captain just gives a groan. “Trust me, you wouldn’t think so in every other situation. I’m pretty sure he has a personal vendetta against anything related to royalty and nobility.”

“A good outlet, then?”

“I suppose.”

Zelda puts the cup back down in turn for a strawberry jam muffin. “How did the first meeting go, with the Hero of Legend?”

Wars’ perks up. “As in…?”

“Well…” She eats a piece of the muffin, taking a moment to consider her answer with a hand in front of her mouth as she chews. “You’ve met Mask and Toon before, of course. But was it like meeting Sky? I remember you being-” A small laugh. “Quite amazed at the sight of him!”

“Don’t-!” Wars’ laughs along. “-Remind me! But why would you compare him with Legend?”

“Are you serious?” Zelda asks. “I know I’ve been picking up your international duties, but surely you’ve noticed at least one of the, what, dozens statues? In Labrynna, maybe?”

Zelda can see the cogs in Warriors’ head turning, and after a moment, can see it click. 

“Ledge is the Hero of Oracle’s ?” He asks, more to himself than to Zelda. 

“And of Seasons, and many other places, too.” Zelda comments. “I spoke to Lana about this not too long ago, actually. How he was missing from your group, even as Wild had joined you for months. When Hyrule came by, I thought for a moment that would be him.”

Warriors remembers Time telling him that Legend had seven adventures, before this one. He hadn’t questioned the where or how’s. He had only thought about how unfair the very thought of it even was. 

Of course Legend was the vet- He wouldn’t be if he was only the hero of Hyrule. 

“I’m disappointed in myself for not even thinking about it-”

“It is quite a common thing with you, actually.”

Warriors gawks, Zelda laughing to her heart's content, echoing through the salon.

“It is almost as funny as when you found out Mask was the Hero of Time.” Zelda says quickly with a short breath, laughing again by the time she finishes the sentence. 

“It’s not like he just would’ve told me- Actually he didn’t!” The captain protests. “Toon did! And I’m honestly getting kind of sick of having to deal ominous kids across time-”

“You don’t mean that.”

“You don’t have to travel with them. No, I don’t- fine. But I’m saying you would find Toon a lot less nice if you were the victim of his pranks, for once. It’s even worse when the Sprite gets involved.” Warriors sinks his head back on the table. 

He lies there a bit longer, in only partial shame. Listening to Zelda ridiculing him a bit further. 

Warriors can live with it a little longer before he’ll head to his room, though. 

Chapter Text

Warriors comes back to his room in the castle much later. Conversation had stretched out the whole afternoon, as dinner came for the evening, and Athena was insistent on clearing her schedule for the day in favour of court gossip and the latest problem a nobleman had shoved onto her.

Now, Warriors was going to crash into his bed, away from the eyes of the many palace guards, noblemen and other court members. 

It seems that he won’t be able to do that. Considering ‘Rule, Four and surprisingly Legend, have already decided on that. 

He’s sure the rancher is going to pretend that he isn't sleeping against the bedside by the vet when he wakes up. Likewise, Legend will pretend the wolf-pelt isn’t the softest thing in the world. 

He steps quietly, although he barely needs to make an effort. There wasn’t a single creaky floorboard here, and the carpet muffled his footsteps against steel-toed boots. 

Time sits on the sofa, head leaned back, but awake. Wind is taking the rest of the space, or rather all of it, as he sleeps with his head against Time and his legs poured over the sofa's side.

Wars carefully steps around Sky and Wild, both unsurprisingly and surprisingly asleep on the floor with the extra comfort of their bedrolls. He idly sits down on the chair next to the sofa with a huff. 

“Still awake, Captain?” Time asks, whispering as not to wake the sailor.

“Mhmm, still here.” He responds with closed eyes. “Was planning not too, but well.”

“You and I both know you can sleep anywhere if you’re desperate enough.” Time lets out a low chuckle. 

“Okay now, I’m sorry I'd rather sleep in a bed than a tree-” Warriors cuts himself off before becoming too loud. “Besides, If I sleep now, I won’t be able to tonight. And that’s going to make one hell of a march tomorrow.” He whispers. “Though I doubt they’ll have trouble sleeping for a couple more hours.”

Time hums in agreement, but both of them are proven wrong as Legend rouses in his sleep. 

All the captain can hope for is that it isn’t another nightmare.

The vet moves little, causing a slight reaction from Hyrule, who still sleeps on anyway. Legend stairs up at the ceiling for a moment as he wakes up. Twilight’s pelt falls to his side on the blanket.

His violet eyes move to the both of them, almost unsettlingly as he stares off into the distance.

“Good Evening, Legend.” Time whispers, trying to make himself clear from the side of the room. “Sleep well?”

It takes the younger hero a little more to take in his surroundings. “...Yeah.”

Legend gets up, careful not to wake up either Hyrule or Four, or anyone for that matter, as he finds out he is surrounded by sleeping heroes. 

Maybe it wasn’t just a trait of Sky’s afterall. 

He gets up, rubbing the sand from his eyes. “I’m going for some air.” He eventually says. “Out of the castle.”

“Are you sure?” Wars asks. “The town at this time is barely a place for air.” The captain laughs a little. “But if you’re sure, I’ll go with you.”

Time looks back at him, questioning his choice. Warriors has had more than enough bad experiences in castle town, and the Sprite knows this. 

And if Wars knows anything about Legend, that combo isn’t going to end well if the vet’s alone. The royal knights might behave here, but they do not care when they’re out of the sight of their generals.

This might turn out to be a very shitty night, but Legend is going whether he is coming along or not. So he just hopes-

“Sure.” Legend grabs some of his equipment, despite only ‘going for fresh air’. “That’s fine. Come along already.”

Time’s gaze lingers on the captain as he gets up to hurry after Legend. All Warriors can do is keep a smile on his face, despite his tiredness, and close the door quietly behind him. The last thing he sees of the room is Time going to wake up the rancher.

Legend was going to regret promising to Twilight he was going to talk with Warriors. Or at least let him try to.

So when he wakes up, discerning yet another dream from the living, he’s barely even there for the first few minutes. So yeah, he agrees to the captain coming along. He had no actual idea where he was going anyway. He wouldn’t get lost now, at least. 

Starting with getting out of the castle. 

“You’ll want to go right, that stairway is closer.” Warriors speaks up from a pace behind. Legend was ahead of him, aimed for the exit, any exit. 

‘...Right.” Legend heads that way, finding the wide staircase, the same carpet laid out on it. The steps are broad but not high. He hops over multiple steps at once as the captain struggles to keep up. 

“If you need to get some energy out we could’ve gone to the training grounds instead, vet!” Warriors laughs from the top of the stairs. 

“Hurry up! Don’t want to match the old man do you?” Legend yells back, already in the next hallway. Sure enough, He finds an exit, away from the tall windows in the halls but rather a servant’s exit.

He pulls on the metal handle, and is met with a steady wind blowing through an alleyway. An alleyway still within castle grounds, anyway. 

How big was this castle again? 

He can see the walls towering over the multiple buildings he is met with. As Legend waits for the captain to catch up, he feels around in his bag. His fingers are eventually met with soft feathers. He pulls them out of the mess that’s his bag. 

“What’s the hurry?” The captain lets out an exasperated breath as he catches up. “The exit is the other way, Ledge-”

Legend just pushes a Roc’s feather into Warrior's hand. 

“You go through the main entrance?” Legend keeps on walking, looking up. Surprisingly there are no guards marching on the high walls. 

“What’s this? There’s not an exit on this side for a few yards, Legend, what are you-”

There it is, the end of the alleway that meets the outer wall. Without warning, Legend runs up to it, getting a little leverage from pushing his foot up a loose brick. He then clenches the feather in his palm, and it almost seems to glow in his hand. 

He gets pushed up in the air, and it almost feels like he soars. 

It’s short met by the fact that he has to grab on the ledge now or he’s going to fall back down. 

Legend grabs onto the stone, using all his upper body strength to haul himself up. He lets out a small sigh as he turns around to sit himself down, and sees Warriors, still at the bottom, looking up at him in disbelief.

“What the hell, Vet!?”

“Never scaled a wall before, Cap?” Legend laughs, kicking his feet over the ledge. Now that he thinks about it, that’s really ironic-

“Not when the main entrance of the castle is right there!” 

“Are you coming up here or not?”

Warriors says something under his breath, curses most likely, that he disguises by keeping his head down, blocking Legend’s view. He wonders for a moment if the captain is going to walk back to his room.

Legend is just as surprised when Warriors takes a view paces back, only to start sprinting right at the wall. 

“Don’t forget to actually use the feather!” 

Sure enough, although a little clumsy, the captain manages to place his foot up the wall and jump. The timing of the feather is a little off, but his height makes up for it as he grabs onto the ledge of the wall. 

“There you go, not that hard is it?” Legend teases. Warriors grunts as he pulls himself up, turning himself around and laying flat on his back. While the captain takes his time recovering, Legend overlooks the town, a dark sky covering it like a blanket, but yet there are lights everywhere.

“We really couldn’t-” a short breath, “-take an easier exit?” Warriors tries taking controlled breaths. 

“Nope. We haven’t even gotten down yet.”

“Hylia you are just like-”

“Like what, Warriors?” He challenges.

“-Nothing! Forget it.” It’s the captain who’s impatient now, hauling himself up before grabbing back onto the cold stone, ready to scale back down. “Let’s just do this already.”

Legend allows himself to be guided this time, because to be quite honest, as soon as he hits the ground again he has no Idea where he is. The buildings are high, the streets narrow and the further they go into town, the busier it gets. 

“Well?” Warriors looks at him expectantly. “We’re here, anything in particular you’re looking for?”

Legend can barely hear the captain over the noise. 

“I’m honestly not sure. I just wanted some air but this is worse-” He answers through the crowd, claustrophobic.

Legend can hear the captain say “I did warn you!” Vaguely above the townsfolk as they walk.

Someone bumps into him as he tries to get closer to the captain. It was not helping the situation. 

The man, two heads taller than him, looks at him for a moment like Legend standing there was a personal offence. He then notices that this man is clearly drunk.

The man is also dawned from head to toe in military medals. The same blouse with all his achievements is also covered in beer stains.

And for Hylia’s sake he stank.

Warriors pulls on the back of his tunic before either of them can get a word in. 

“Don’t- what was that for!?” He turns to the captain. 

“Just keep walking, best to not give people like that any of your time.” Warriors already has his back turned to march on. 

Well he knew that, thank you very much. He wasn’t going to pick a fight, although he really wanted to. It’s just very nice to say something straight to their face than to have to metaphorically dance with your words. 

So he just sighs as he continues following Warriors through the crowd. It only starts feeling worse.

You almost couldn’t say that it was night with how bright it got the closer they got to the hospitality district. 

Lanterns were hanging low over the street, it was bright inside every building, the windows reflecting the luminescence back onto the pavement. 

And it was Loud. He found himself staying closer and closer to the captain as the number of people increased. How could there be so many people in one place? People were yelling, cheering, shouting. Legend refrains from putting his hands to his ears.

Did these people have a single ounce of respect for personal space? 

Warriors’ gaze turns to him. After what seems like an eternity of uncomfortable eye contact while Legend can only look down, the captain moves to the side of the road.

“Are you alright, Legend?”

“Yeah- Yeah I’m fine- can we sit down somewhere? Go inside or something?”

There’s a moment of hesitation, a disagreement on the captain’s lips for just a second. 

“Yeah, of course.” He says instead. “There’s a bar near here that’s a bit more quiet, we can do that.”

The captain leads him to a tavern- or a bar, he’s honestly not too sure. It’s not too far away. The push door swings open as the captain enters, holding it open for Legend to walk through.

It’s a lot colder, in a more refreshing way. It might just be the fact that he has his personal space again.

“Din’s hell that is so much better.” The vet calls out. “How the hell can so many people be in one place, Wars?”

“Must be the weekend.” The captain thinks out loud. 

As Legend turns the corner, he can take a proper look at the place. The bar wasn’t too busy. There were no musicians to fill the room, although that wasn’t needed. People were still having a good enough time to fill the bar with noise.

While Warriors waves towards the barkeep, an older man. Legend picks a place in an empty booth. Not too secluded, but near the entrance.

“You are old enough to be here, aren’t you?” Warriors teases. 

“Unless the drinking age has gone up, I think I’ve earned the right to punch you in the face.”

It’s refreshing that Warriors actually takes the joke. Or whether it still was a joke or not, Legend was still considering. Had he said it a few weeks ago, well. The entire chain might’ve taken that to heart. 

Warriors sits down himself. By that time the barkeep has two pints ready, and sets them with a sturdy clank onto the table.

Legend doesn’t even like beer. 

He just waits for the foam to dissipate while he looks outside, avoiding the conversation he needs to have with the captain. 

Twilight’s definitely going to bully him if he doesn’t. Now’s a better chance than ever. 

He can just jump out the window if it gets really bad. 

There goes, now or never.

“I-”

“Now’s a better time than ever to explain the ‘sprite’ thing.” Warriors laughs, taking a drink, as if they were still on the much more luxurious table of the castle. The vet can only look disappointed in his mind, because he couldn’t have the conversation going wrong already.

“...I guess? I was wondering what was going on with that. Everyone has their nicknames, but really- Sprite? For Time? With his armour?”

“That’s-” A grin. “-Exactly it!”

“Not Wind? Or even Hyrule?”

“You are still the youngest after them, vet, don’t get too cocky now.”

“Hey!” Legend wants to laugh at it, but it was true wasn’t it? He wasn’t sure, but he supposes he is younger than both Four and Wild too. Huh.

Legend takes a sip from his beer. 

“So you just call Time the most opposite nickname for fun, or?”

“Okay, no. The thing that my first- and my only ‘actual’ adventure as Wind likes to remind me, I already had a little help.” Warriors grimaces a little as he takes another sip of his drink, as if it were bitter. “...As in I had the two worst possible heroes to help me out.”

“...Time?”

“Time. Twelve year old Time- or however old he was. Believe it or not he was already being ominous about his age.”

Legend snorts at the thought of a very tiny Time, covered in armour. 

“You’re kidding!”

“I’m not! And for all that the old man likes to correct us now, he was the worst thing to ever enter a military camp, I swear on the entire Triforce.”
“That’s a very big statement to make. Who rivalled him?” Legend asks. 

“Toon.” Warriors frowns at the thought, taking a moment. “I mean Wind.”

“Oh Hylia-”

“Exactly. And the kid had no problem reminding me he had a bigger resume than me.”

“Sounds like a fun adventure.”

“It most definitely wasn’t.” Another long sip. A laugh, the clank of the glass on the table. “But I cut you off, you were going to say something?”

Ah, dammit Wars. 

“Yeah, I.” He doesn’t actually want to do this. The mood was fine, now. “...Wanted to apologise.”

“Oh? You out of all people?” The corner of Warrior’s mouth lifts for just a moment, until he notices his sincerity. 

“Don’t do that.” Legend warns. “It’s just- I have some shit knights back in my era, okay? I judged you too early because of that. I’m sorry.”

“Legend, you don’t have to apologise for that.” Warrior’s tone is immediately more serious. “I thought it might be something like that, and trust me, Four judged all of us for weeks on end. Vi-”

“I told you don’t do that!” Legend says over the booth a bit too loudly. “Nothing’s changing, okay? Don’t make it sad, or pity me. I was being a dick, okay? That’s it.”

“That’s not what I’m doing.” Warriors replies, a little stern. “You weren’t-” A sigh. “Maybe we should go, I don’t feel too good to get another drink anyway. Trust me, both me and Zelda aren’t happy with the knights here either. Sky is more of a knight than me anyway, but he didn’t even know what a castle was until coming here.”

“You’re kidding, that’s.” Legend takes a breath in. “And no- we can stay. It’s fine. Just- talk a bit more about the horror that Wind must have been his first time in court, or something.”

Now that Legend diverts his gaze from the captain, he can notice someone, or rather multiple people, looking back at them. A couple of knights, sitting together at a table.

Maybe it was time to get out of here.

“Oh, no, I think I have a story that’ll interest you much more.” Warriors continues, 

“Actually, Wars. Maybe we should-”

“About a certain merchant that somehow stole more rupees out of me than Toon did.”

“...What.” No. “Do you know-”

“Ravio! Yeah!” Warriors shouts only a little too loudly around the bar. “I swear he gave me more work than Mask and Toon combined sometimes, I’m really glad he just took to the battlefield instead when he noticed soldiers didn’t have a single spare rupee to spend.” The captain rants on.

“No.” Legend denies. “What do you mean you know Rav?”

“I mean he accidentally hit me with a hammer too many times in battle.” Warriors snorts. “You didn’t know?”

“No!” Its his turn to to shout now. It comes out more mad than he intends, but- “No, no. Ravio hasn’t done anything close to fighting ever.” Legend frowns. “What the hell, Warriors?”

The captain doesn’t answer him for a second. In fact, the captain doesn’t look like he hears him at all in the slightest. 

“Warriors?”
Heavy boots walk towards them.

“Yeah, okay fine.” Legend gets up from the table, hoping the captain gets the hint. “I’m not ignoring this, but we’re going.”

The captain complies, only letting out a low hum and raising his hand to his mouth. He slowly gets up from the booth.

Legend just pulls on the captain’s wrist to get them out of there as soon as possible. 

He pushes open the door as fast as he can, pulling the captain with him. Ignore the sound of steel-toed boots following behind them. 

He can see the castle in the distance, but he has no idea where the entrance is. He isn’t getting Wars over the wall like this. 

He can’t manage to walk into the crowd, as much as he wants to lose the knights trailing them. 

“Captain, you better clear the hell up, okay?” Legend doesn’t look at him as he talks, only continues to drag him along down the too busy street. “I don’t know where to go, so you- just say something, please.”

Warriors looks at him with this far off stare, but says nothing. 

“Dammit!”

There’s a turn into an alley he can make. If it runs through, he just might be able to avoid them. It was dark enough that they could probably hide somewhere.

Legend takes the sharp turn into the alley, swerving around boxes and waiting staff taking their break at the back of the establishments. 

There’s yelling, far off. 

The captain stumbles as they turn more corners.

Eventually Warriors’ body stops to keep up with him. 

“Shit-” The vet curses. He pulls himself and the captain behind a crate. He can hear shouting in the distance coming closer. There are no lights in the alleway, but there wasn’t anything to cover them with either. 

Legend tightens his wrist bracer. He can hear them now. 

“They went here!” A hoarse voice. “He’s gone, that stuff works wonders!”

They knights turn the corner. Warriors isn’t responding, and-

Legend gets up, and throws a fist right into the face of one of the soldiers. 

The little victory doesn’t last long. 

A fist clocks him right back, and sends him to the stone brick path. He can feel a wound at the  back of his head bleeding through his hair.

“You want to fight, huh?” Someone asks him, he’s not sure who, Legend doesn’t manage to get off the ground just yet. “Well that’s perfectly fine!”

He feels a kick in his stomach, somehow even more painful. Legend lets out half the scream he can muster. 

“Just more fun for us, right?” He hears.
Legend tries to get back up, pushing his wrists onto the stone to lift himself. He can see Warriors in the corner of his vision, hung over himself, still. The captain’s breathing consists of short gasps as he tries not to puke. 

“Wars!” Legend yells out. He tries to get up, but there’s another kick, to his back this time. There’s too many of them and the bastards aren’t letting him move- 

Legend clings his boot around the back of one of the soldier’s heels, and places the other on the front of the man's knee, and kicks as hard as he can. 

He can hear an ugly snap, and if he could Legend would’ve put his hands to his ears to avoid it. But it does its job, as the man in front of him collapses, screaming in pain and clutching onto his knee. 

Legend is Immediately picked up in retaliation by someone else, and pushed up against the wall harshly. There’s a spike running through his head as he hits brick, his shoulders aching as he shouts.

“You fucker!” The soldier holding him up cusses. “You want to be difficult? We can do that.”

A hand is placed on his throat. Shit, shit shit- 

He cannot feel his feet touching the ground anymore. He’s being held up by only his throat, and the pressure is suffocating on itself. The vet tries to get gasps of air in, but there’s only a sick sound at each and every attempt.

Warriors wasn’t moving. Someone was walking up to him. 

Please, please do something. 

He can feel himself getting tired as hangs, kicking his feet desperately. He wasn’t hitting anything. 

There’s running, yelling in the street.

A fist comes into the corner of his view.

Legend gets dropped when he hears something, bones, breaking.

 A sword is pulled out of a sheath with a sharp sound, and steel meets flesh before the soldier gets another word out. 

There’s another set of footsteps, the clinking of armour. Legend can hear the fight that surrounds him, but the noise of it all only spikes the headache forming in his head, forcing him to cling to the ground. Someone steps on his hand during it all. 

Legend pulls his hand in, and-

It’s quiet. The voices of the streets in the hospitality district vaguely come back.

“Legend? Legend!” 

“...Twi?” He replies in a raspy voice. 

Someone’s by Wars. Legend wants to get up, but turning himself on his back, he can see the set of armour belongs to Time instead. 

“Ordana’s sake- We’re getting you two back to Hyrule, okay?” Twilight crouches down next to him. He can see the rancher blocking his view to the unconscious soldiers. “What happened?”

“We…” Legend savours the air he can breathe. “I don’t know- we went to a bar and-” 

“Wars’ drink got poisoned.” Time answers for him. The old man seems to be trying to get a reaction from the captain. 

Legend hums. He can’t bother moving, but Twilight’s already made that decision for him. 

The rancher picks him up, although Legend can’t seem to be bothered. His head falls onto the soft pelt. 

He thinks Time picks up Warriors as well. He knows they start walking towards the castle, because with every step that they take it feels like a hammer is slammed into his head. 

He can hear Time and Twilight talking. They sound concerned. Legend could vaguely see the captain in Time’s arms, but he can’t make out whether he is alright or not. 

Legend’s body feels like it’s collapsing in on itself. 

He tries to ignore the noise, the pain. He’s alright. Warriors is alright. Time and Twilight had both of them, and they would be fine. They would be going back to the palace, with the mattress that is too soft with too many pillows. 

Legend gives himself to tiredness. 

Chapter Text

Link’s mind feels fuzzy, is the first thing he notices. Everything around him is- his head is crashed onto something soft, and he’s unsure of what it is. The fuzziness is normal, most of the time. Although the vet feels as if something is missing, as if he should be worried about something. Everytime he thinks too hard about it, he only feels more tired. He sinks back into whatever is supporting him.

“-end?” 

Where is he? 

He opens his eyes. His eyelids are heavy, and he finds that one doesn’t seem to open. The side of his face ached in protest at the effort.

His view is blocked. There’s faint hints of a warm light in the corner of his vision. It’s not cold, so at least he doesn’t have to worry about that. Everything is very mellow, actually. There are hushed voices in the background. 

“-end. Link?”

“-wake?”

Something is wrong. 

It is far too comfortable to be moving, but instinct forces himself to anyway. He can hear his bones cracking as he moves, his body reacting a bit too slowly than to his liking. 

His eyes are met with a low fire, a hearth, and soft carpet. This wasn’t his home, but the room was familiar. Which meant- 

“Legend?”

Right. 

Legend looks in the corner of his vision, not wanting to make the effort of moving, his own body shouting at him with every joint and muscle that turns. 

Time enters his view, shed of any armour. It was almost a little weird to not see the old man in it.

His view was limited, he noticed. His other eye wouldn’t open. 

Legend simply groans in response.

“He’s awake.” Time states. Legend is unsure who he’s talking to, but the old man doesn’t keep him guessing for long. Hyrule comes to sit beside him, one hand holding a red potion, the other flowing with magic. 

“You need to sit up.” ‘Rule doesn’t really wait for the vet to respond, only coaxing him to follow his direction by pushing at the base of his neck. “However comfortable Twilight may be.”

Oh, that’s what was so soft.

…Twilight was holding him- 

Legend has no problem sitting up as quickly as he can, pulling his head off the rather gigantic wolf pelt the rancher had draped over his shoulders. His bones cracked again at the motion. 

“Are we sure Time’s the old man here?” Legend can hear another voice call out from behind him. Wild, presumably trying to lighten the mood. Legend didn’t quite notice how silent it was besides the firewood crackling. 

Legend opens his mouth for a retaliation but-

One side of his face doesn’t work along. His mouth hangs open as he tries to speak, his tongue going numb in his mouth. 

He desperately goes to reach a hand to his face, which is rapidly grabbed and pulled back down by Hyrule. 

“Don’t-” The traveller warns. “The left side of your face is entirely bruised. You somehow wouldn’t even let me heal you when you were asleep, and I couldn’t quite get a whole potion down your throat, we needed Wars’ for that. So work along with me here.”

Legend can only stare back a little annoyed, unable to say anything. He gives up to the mercy of his predecessor. 

He kind of wishes they did manage to get in a red potion before he woke up. A small comfort he wouldn’t get travelling alone, but it sure as hell made his sick days easier back home with Rav to take care of him.

…Hyrule mentioned Warriors. 

Where was Wars? 

Legend whips his head around, Hyrule moving his hand with a yelp, as he looks around to find the captain. 

“Hey- sit still!” ‘Rule protests. 

His neck feels awful. Legend’s eyes scan over everyone vaguely- he recognises everyone, a little blurred with only half his vision. He might sympathise with the old man a little more now. 

Right behind him, in the protective grasp at the rancher’s side, is Warriors. There’s a vacant spot on the other side of Twilight, where he had been sleeping.

The captain’s chest falls and rises slowly, although sometimes there’s a hitch in his breath. A raspiness seems to be present in Wars’ throat. Neither him or Twilight rouse in their sleep. 

“He’s alright.” Time assures, trying to get his attention back on the traveller instead so he could heal his black-eye. “He’s already been looked over by the physician, we got the poison out of his system.” 

There’s a tension in Legend’s shoulder that he hadn’t noticed before. They fall, releasing the strain on his back, and finding another source of pain. He already had horrible bones. He didn’t need fractured ones. 

Hyrule’s magic always seemed to work wonders. Legend doesn’t want his own predecessor to heal him- to see him in this state at all. He could just shove a red potion down his throat, but even that was bruised and swollen. 

A faint feeling of a hand around his neck, grasping it tightly. The fingers had pushed onto his windpipes. Everything rushing through his head-

‘Rule takes his hand away from his eye.

“Is that better?” The traveller asks. 

Legend nods in response, giving a silent thanks. ‘Rule continues his work down to his throat, and he has to refrain from flinching at touch. There’s a sudden pop as Legend can suddenly breath more clearly and the first thing coming out of his mouth is a raspy cough. 

He’s handed a glass of water by Time. The vet takes it gratefully, chugging it in one go.

“There we go. Can you say something, Legend?”

“I feel fucking awful.” The vet responds, and he almost cannot recognise his own voice. It’s quiet, barely above a whisper, and raspy. It hurt, for a short moment, until ‘Rule’s magic worked again. 

He was only facing Hyrule and Time, but he knew the rest of the chain must be staring daggers into their back. There wasn’t anything to hide behind. Wild couldn’t disguise his worry behind his cooking pot, or Four behind one of their swords. 

Wind didn’t see the point in trying to hide what he thought. 

“I can imagine. Lay back down, Legend. Your body needs-”

“You can stop, Hyrule.” Legend interjects before Time can say much more. “I can just take a red potion from here.”

The old man sighs. 

“As if!” ‘Rule cuts through. “I’ll chug another green potion if I have to, a red potion is only going to make the process slower.”

“Another?” Legend voice cracks at the increase in volume. “No- You healed my throat, so I can drink a potion. That’s it.” He could notice the traveller’s eyes drooping, now. 

“You have fractured ribs, Ledge, don’t you dare-”

“Legend is right.” Time decides. Both Legend and Hyrule question the decision immediately. 

“What?”

“What?”

“You’ve been overworking yourself. You’re not drinking another green potion. What you need is sleep.” The old man insists. “But, you need to be able to breathe without it hurting.” Time’s attention shifts to Legend. 

“Your ribs need to be healed, we’re not arguing about that. I’ll get you a blue potion instead of a red one. Is that clear?”

That’s final. Time leaves no room for discussion, something Legend would still have challenged, if he had the energy. He wonders when it happened that he was listening to the older hero at all.

Hyrule seems to be the one more up for protest, even with his own tiredness. The traveller seemed awake, determined if anything, but the magic exhaustion was dragging him down.

“Fine.” Legend complies.

‘Rule wastes no time, already having identified what ribs needed healing a long time ago, before Time goes to fetch a blue potion from Wild. Legend can see them signing in the corner of his vision.

“You don’t need to.” Legend whispers to Hyrule. “A blue potion is more than enough-”

“Wouldn’t you do the same for me?” The traveller asks abruptly, whispering as well.

“...What?”

“Let’s say, Twilight comes running into the palace as if he is running out of time- with me over his shoulder, or any of us for that matter. Wouldn’t you do everything you could?” Hyrule breaks his focus to look him in the eyes. 

“Of course-” Legend immediately answers. “Of course I would. But I’m safe now. I’m fine. Warriors is fine.” He says that, but is honestly unsure of the final statement himself. 

“Yeah, okay.” Hyrule lets out a breath he might as well have been holding the whole night. “Just- stop with the thing where you try to avoid me healing your injuries because you feel responsible or older- or whatever. Time tried that. Wars did. Hell, even Wind.” A small laugh escapes the traveller. “It’s not going to work. Deal?”

“Okay, deal.” Legend grins back. 

Time comes back, a blue potion in hand, and Legend wastes no time to drink the entire thing. They can probably get one back from the palace, anyway. 

“Okay, I think I’m going to sleep now.” A yawn betrays the traveller. “Be careful.” 

Hyrule goes to lay down on one of the bedrolls, most likely not even his own. It isn’t long before his breathing becomes steady.

Legend goes to stand up “...I need some fresh air.” 

“Legend-” Time immediately goes to stop him.

“On the balcony- for Hylia’s sake old man, calm down.”

He needs some actual air- not the smell of antique furniture, or the suffocating crowd. Or the eyes of the chain, for that matter. 

There’s a balcony, one devoid of any other furniture that Warriors was yet to place, if ever. 

He finds the feeling back in his legs as he grasps onto the handle of the double glass door. 

The air felt slightly colder than it had been before, if he wasn’t mistaken by the suffocating air of the hospitality district. There’s an empty bottle hidden in the balcony corner to remind him. 

Before the door can close itself behind him, Time pushes it back open. 

Legend can only sigh in defeat as he sits down against the wall, looking over the town as more and more lights start to snuff out. He doesn’t face the old man. 

Time joins him in the quiet. Sitting down next to him, his blind eye turned to the vet, overlooking the same scene.

“Are you alright, Legend?” He says in a somewhat hushed voice. It's unnecessary, the closest person who might be able to hear them would be fast asleep. 

“Of course I am- ‘Rule healed me perfectly. Not to mention the blue potion.” He gives in a more clear voice now. 

“Not what I’m talking about, vet.” 

“...I know that.” 

Maybe he wants to avoid thinking about last night. How it was so familiar, how it was too close. He, the Hero of Legend could’ve died right there in an alleyway to rot, and take another hero with him. 

The chain would’ve never been able to forgive him for letting Warriors die there. 

He should’ve been able to do something- anything. Should’ve been more cautious. He can’t believe he had let his guard down, and here Time was to judge him for it. 

How he and Twilight had to pick up his slack. 

“You know, I’m probably the worst person for this.” Time mentions so casually, the surprise of the sentence registers a little later. “Talking and processing about things like this. Warriors had always been way better at it. Wind is, if you would let him. You should’ve seen the both of them during Wars’ adventure.”

“You already met him”

It’s not a question, but a statement. He vaguely recalls Warriors ridiculing Time.

“I did.”

“You met Ravio.”

“...I did.”

Legend looks in the old man’s eyes for anything- a question maybe. ‘How do you know him?’, something to feign his innocence. But Time says nothing at all, only sitting in strained silence. 

“You knew-” He accuses. “And you said nothing at all. Ravio’s never been on an adventure, Time! I settled because I wanted to keep him out of things like that! So he still has to go, and when we come to my era he might not even be there.”

The uncertainty of it all brings the flooding anxiety back. 

“I fell through that portal, and the forest might as well have been soaked in black blood. I have no idea if he’s alright. Were you going to tell me? Did it really have to take Wars being poisoned, barely lucid?”
“Legend-”

“-No! Do you have any idea what he means to me?”

“I do.” Time responds in a much calmer voice than him. “It’s kind of hard not to, considering he mentioned you nearly every day.”

His face must look priceless to the old man. “Wh-What?”

“It was hard to get him to talk about much else. I’m guessing Mr. Hero sounds familiar?”

“No- No! I swear don’t bring that up again-”

Time laughs, there’s a twinge of something so playful to it. So childlike. 

“I had hoped we would’ve ended up in your Era by now.” The old man explains. “To visit your home and see that there wasn’t any reason to worry. I stretched it out for too long.” He faces him. “I’m sorry.”

The howling breeze is all that fills the air for a moment.

“It’s…” Legend tries finding his words. “I’m not sure how to feel. I just feel like something is going to go wrong any second now. Like everything is just my first adventure all over again.” 

He buries himself in his hands. 

“I don’t think Hyrule even knows this. I don’t think he would be able to.” 

He’s not sure why he is telling this to Time. Maybe he’s just talking to the air instead. 

“There was a hero before me. Not Four- at least I think he’s my predecessor. Don’t tell him that yet, he’s going to feel all responsible about me and stuff.”

“Too Late. V… Four already had that long figured out.” Time says with a smile on his face. “Honestly surprised you didn’t think they were acting like it already.”

“Din’s hell.” Legend huffs. “But that’s what I’m concerned about.”

“Which one of us do you think was before you, then?” 

“That’s the thing.” His breath rises to his chest. “The hero before me died, Time. Didn’t even get the chance of being one. It’s none of you.”

“What?” Time stares at him in disbelief. “No, we would’ve known. Either through Lana or ‘Rule’s history.”

“He’s pretty much already a folktale by my era.” He scowls at the unfairness of it all. “A boy from the forest that went to stop Ganondorf, a child, Time.”

 The very thought of it made him even sicker to his stomach now. seeing the nine of them, alive and well, knowing fully that there was one of them missing. 

Time looks at Legend as if he were a ghost, staring straight through him. 

“...That’s-”

“He was my age, when I started my first adventure. Well, that’s how the tale goes.” Legend forces himself to continue the story. “Did you know how afraid I was? On my way to face Ganon, knowing the previous hero who had tried before me died?”

It’s as if he is telling a confession. As he says it out loud, it brings both the relief and horrible dread of one. As he has gained the title of veteran amongst these heroes, and yet he was always still afraid. Because who is to say he has to die on his first adventure? 

“And I know something is going to go wrong, I’m going to do something wrong.” Tears are welling at the corner of his eyes. Why does that happen now? “-Because look at what comes after me. How ‘Rule is left with nothing!”

“No, no, Legend.” Time hushes him. “None of that is your fault. None of it.” He places a steadying hand on his shoulder. 

“But you don’t know that.” Legend says to both Time and himself. 

“...I think I do.” Time reassures him. “I think I have an explanation, if you want to listen. My adventure involved some travelling through time, just not the portals yet.”

Legend laughs weakly at the irony. “That doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.”

Time tries laughing with him. “I’m trusting you with this alright? I don’t tell the others about my adventures for a reason, and I don’t want you knowing this as something you can keep above their heads.”

“Yeah. …Yeah of course.”

“For my first adventure, after I fought Ganondorf, I was sent back in time to the beginning with this.” The old man pulls something from a pouch hanging onto his belt. It’s a pristine blue ocarina. 

“I was able to warn everyone before it was too late, and it was like nothing happened at all. No one knew what I had done, or what could happen if they didn’t listen to me.”

“...I know the feeling.”

Time nods, there is no questioning if Legend actually does. 

“I thought that was it. Everyone was safe.” Time looks back through the window door, able to get a glimpse of the sleeping chain around the corner. “...And then I met Wind.”

“...He’s your protegé?” Legend asks. “I thought it might’ve been Twilight.”

The expression on the old man’s face is difficult. It wasn’t a yes or no answer.

“When I met Wind for the first time, he told me of the great sea. It took a long while for him to admit that under those seas, there was the kingdom of Hyrule. Warriors might’ve told you- but he was older than me, then.”

“Mask, was it?”

He nods again. “...Wind didn’t know my title, then. I had barely wanted to admit I had it at all. So we sit around the campfire, and he starts telling me and Wars a story, of the Hero of Time .”

Legend can imagine the scene in front of him. “Well look at you, you still made it in history after all.” 

“I did, but…” The words sit still on Time’s tongue. “He told me that the Hero of Time had defeated Ganondorf. No one was supposed to remember that, Legend. He told me when he rose again, there was no one to fight him.”

A deep breath. 

“You left, but it still kept going.” Legend states.

“Twilight is my next in line, but so is Wind. Legend… I remember when I was fighting, I nearly died. Zelda had looked at me with so much fear in her eyes, as if I had died right there. I think I actually might’ve.”

The realisation hits him.

“...No, You’re not saying that.” Legend denies. “That couldn’t have been you. I couldn’t have been afraid for nothing , Time. don’t say that-”

Time just looks at him with remorse, and Legend knows he isn’t going to lie to him. Even if that’s easier, or would give him comfort. He’s not sure what would be more reassuring in this situation. 

“I’m sorry, Legend.” Time admits. “I’m sorry that you had to carry what was my burden in the first place.”

The door behind them creaks ever so slightly. 

Warriors, still looking horrible, shuts the door back behind him. His tunic is covered in wolf hair. 

“Warriors, what the hell-” Is the first thing Legend can think of saying. “What are you thinking- why did you get up?”

“Sit down, ‘Cap.” Time pretty much orders.

Warriors all but grumbles as he sits on the same cold marble. It’s hard to make out what comes out of the captain's mouth. “Ev’ryones… sleeping. Except Toon. Said I should take a look.”

“Ofcourse, dammit sailor.” Time swears. Warriors comfortably collapses against the older hero.

“What happened to ‘Language’, huh?” Legend retaliates. 

“I think enough stuff has happened.” Time simply states. “...We should get back inside.”

There’s a silent noise of protest from Warriors.

“Yeah, I agree.” Legend voices. “I don’t think we’re moving. I need to think, anyway.” The vet promptly goes to join Time and Warriors, leaning over ever so slightly to put his weight on Time’s side. 

If there’s a look of surprise, Legend can’t see it. He tries focusing on the sky line ahead. 

“30 minutes.” The old man says. “Then we’re going inside.”

Warriors’ voice is muffled, but Legend can vaguely make out a ‘Good luck.’

…Everyone was alright.

Things were going to be alright.

Chapter Text

Starting up the next morning had been slow. With the broken sleep the entire chain had all gotten in some way or another, waking up was not a fun ordeal. 

So much in fact, that Warriors and Legend had been ordered to rest another day, and that they would set off for death mountain the day after. 

Which was fine, by Legend’s standards. What wasn’t fine is that the entire chain was starting to treat the both of them like they were made out of glass. Legend caught a couple of Wind’s smirks as he went through the ordeal. 

Sure, he was exhausted, his muscles acted up. But he was alright. 

The others didn’t seem too convinced about it. 

It’s really not that subtle anymore when Wild comes back from the kitchen with another bowl of soup he had insisted on making himself, much to the dismay of the castle’s head chef. 

Hyrule keeps checking on him, from a distance. The traveller tries to be subtle about it, not wanting to cross his predecessor's boundaries, but it’s almost like he can’t help himself. 

Warriors is forced to drink probably at least two litres of water by the time he’s fully awake the next day. With a visit to the physician, another check from Hyrule, and the endless reassurance of the captain himself- they finally were okay to set out. 

The rancher Is there every step of Wars’ way, quite literally. He’s there as he gets up from his bed, out the room and past the royal guard. The captain's muscles are tired from resting as long as he had, but there was no struggle in pretending to be in pristine condition in front of his palace’s guard a little longer. 

Twilight didn’t like seeing that. Legend didn’t either, now that he could notice it. They throw in a couple glares at the judging gazes of the ‘knights’ for good measure. 

Stepping outside the town’s walls had been the first real breath of fresh air since they had gotten to Wars’ Era. The captain’s shoulders seem to sink more and more into relaxation the further away they get, and all of them are on the main road towards death mountain. 

The roads were in better condition than Legend had expected. A road towards death mountain at all was something of a blessing. It was easy enough to navigate their way, no obstacles until the mountains itself.

Legend had forgotten how much of this journey was meant to be just travelling. That all of his journey’s had been filled to the brim with it. They were lucky to have a goal to follow in the first place, this time around. 

Death lingers in Warriors’ Hyrule in a way similar to the traveller’s. Here, it didn’t take as long for things to come back, while the latter might not grow a proper tree for another decade. 

There were patches of black grass, as they continued to travel. Burned off tree trunks and scorched remnants of buildings scattered amongst the fields. 

It had been a war, Legend recalls. Not an adventure, one kid against Ganon, but something large enough in scale that it had taken all the towns and people with them. Castle town stands in a stark contrast to the collapsed brick walls by their path. 

Warriors is leading the group, the assigned navigator this time around. Time remains by his side the entire journey. Legend also really needs to talk to Wars in private. Because no, he wasn’t avoiding to this time around. But with the entire chain keeping an eye on the both of them constantly, there aren’t many opportunities for him to. 

So the broken off conversation lingers in the air, waiting to continue at a more unfortunate moment. 

Legend marches on in the middle, with Wind at his side, telling about the first time he ran into a ‘big octo’. 

“-Scared the shit out of me! I just got bombs too. Probably would’ve been dead without them.” The sailor rants on. “It had like, a good ten eyes, too! And the next one only had three!”

“The next one?” Legend frowns. “...This wasn’t in a dungeon or anything?”

“Nope!” Wind throws his hands up. “Just! In the open water! I killed all of them. I think.”

“You’re telling me I could’ve fallen right in the mouth of one of those things!?” 

“I’m saying they might’ve been deeper down!” The sailor counters. “I sail over the great sea all the time, and I haven’t spotted any in a while. You were fine, vet.”

Sure, he would’ve been. It would’ve only taken a very uncomfortable transformation and revealing an ability he wasn’t exactly… proud to show. Yeah, “Sure.”

There’s something playful about the sailor’s confidence. He had the experience to back it up however. Wind seemed to carry enough items to, anyway.

Legend is reminded of how many adventures he had been on, at Wind's age. Three. The sailor hadn’t told him directly, but he had no trouble reminding anyone he had just as much as soon as he was losing an argument, or a bet for that matter. Especially compared to Warriors, who only seemed to have one. 

Legend recalls himself, on his fourth adventure, filled with the confidence from his third, dangerously so. Wind carries all the same nonchalance now. 

Wind is a kid, as much as he would like to deny it. Legend doesn’t look down on it, or pity him, like the others did. How they are with him, now. Especially over the last few days it has been horrible. How they’ve been treating both him and Warriors like something vulnerable, something about to break at any moment.

Because Wind is responsible, and just as if not more independent than the rest of the chain. He kept an eye on everything, and paid attention to very small details. Legend was yet to actually get a look at his fighting style in battle. The worst thing to underestimate is someone who is desperate, determined, even at this young of an age. 

A certain someone would know plenty about that. 

A more important note that was way clearer now, was that Wind felt like Time’s older brother. It was noticeable on Outset and even right now as they marched. 

No wonder the sailor got away with as much shit as he did. 

It was a weird view. Wind didn’t know what Legend and Wars had talked about in that tavern. But just as they did, Wind had met Ravio. The sailor most likely knew more than he was letting on. If he did know anything about it, he wasn’t giving it away.

But here, somehow, Wind is both a kid and an adult. A younger and an older brother, and a little shit.

“I see you trying to grab my fire rod, don't you dare.”

“Or you could just let me see it!” Wind counters. “That thing is crazy! How about I lend it to fight the black-bloods up ahead? See what I can do?”

“ No. You’re a menace enough on your own. Don’t you have your own tools?”

“Well yeah, but I’ve been using those for ages.” Wind bemoans . “If you let me use it, I’ll see if I can arrange something with Time for one of his masks. Unless you’ve got a weirdly massive mask collection as well.”

“That’s what he got his name from?” 

“Yeah! Carries them on him too all the time- Wait.” Wind then realises that according to his intel, Legend wasn’t supposed to know anything about the war of the eras yet. “Wars’ told you?”

Legend hums. Not too excited to have this conversation again, especially if it takes more of a serious turn. He was pretty sure Twilight was listening in, even from where he was marching at the front. Volcanic gravel crunches under their boots. 

“Oh, well that makes this a lot easier! It isn’t really a secret, so I’m not sure why Time was waiting to tell you that. Well, I guess he’s a lot older now.” Wind grins. “So. Deal?”

“No deal. Maybe try asking politely next time.”

“And then you’ll give me the firerod?”

“No.”

Wind’s mouth hangs open as his eyebrows scrunch up, and wow- it was really hard to keep a straight face at the sight. 

“Besides,” Legend averts his eyes from the very offended sailor. “I refuse to believe you do not have an item you can start a forest fire with yourself.”

“I’ve got fire arrows, but so do the others!” Wind complains. “I wouldn’t be asking if I had it, would I?”

Wind is so focused on trying to convince him, that he doesn’t notice the rest of the chain has come to a halt. They had arrived at the base of the mountain, steep paths and rocky climbs ahead of them. Legend remembers having to go up and down death mountain too many times during his adventures. Was it still active? 

“We'll take a short rest here.” Time calls. “We can get ready for some of the harder climbs coming up.”

There were no protests, everyone looking up against the climb ahead of them. No one is quite comfortable to shed their armour just yet, however.

As they get settled down, Wind is rummaging through his bag. Pulling out a few bottles, absentmindedly putting them aside, he looks for something. 

The design had quite an odd design, actually. A purple bag with an open mouth and yellow eyes. Legend wondered how the sailor could even keep all his stuff in the tiny thing. 

Wind pulls out a bundle of actively burning arrows. 

“...”
“Wind- What the f-”

“It’s magic, it's fine!” The sailor pulls out another bundle of arrows, ones with heavy blocks of ice, so cold that the magic emitted from them. “They won’t do anything until I shoot them, and I can’t shoot three at once like Wild can. So?”

“The answer’s still no!”

“Stay strong vet! You’ll lose something before you know it.” Warriors’ calls. “He had to learn the hard way. I didn't have anything to his interest either.”

“Your Items are boring! They haven’t got a cool design or anything!” Wind counters the captain. His arm almost seems to disappear in the bag, before clutching on to something. The boy points something at him- he can’t recognise what, but there’s a flash. Legend goes to cover his eyes before he can even see what the item is. He expects something, a spell, an effect-

There’s a soft buzzing sound. Legend cautiously opens his eyes. 

“I got you!” Wind celebrates. There’s a small piece of paper coming out of the box, and now that he can see it properly, there’s a glass lens on the box Wind is holding. The sailor grabs a hold of the slip of paper as he waves it around. 

“First Legend picture!” Wild comes over to both of them. The flash had caught most of the chain’s attention. 

“Picture? Wind- What?”

Sure enough, When Wind is done shaking the parchment, he shows it to the vet. Legend is in the picture in all his glory, eyes halfway closed and a blurry motion of his arm. 

Wind pulls his hand back in a hurry before Legend can snatch it from him. 

“You’re kidding me!” Legend is already standing back up, ready to chase the sailor. Wind yelps, ready to dodge, scrambling backwards while laughing at the same time. 

“Wild!” Wind pushes the picture into the cook’s hand, who is equally as fast on his feet. He holds the picture high in the air. 

“Give that here!” Legend goes to grab Wild’s arm, pulling it down. The cook laughs, giving up without much trouble, much to Wind’s dismay. 

With their hands free, Wild tries to explain. ‘There are plenty of pictures of everyone, including of Wind that you can laugh at too.’ A mischievous grin. ‘We can see about everyone’s items in the meantime, maybe?’

A tempting offer.

“Sure, but I barely got most of my stuff with me. Most of it is back home.” Legend huffs, although it is nothing too serious. “But you’re not touching that either, got it?”

“Aye aye.” Wind says with less spirit than a flat pufferfish. “That means you too, Twi!” Wind yells over, not paying much mind to the rancher agreeing or not. “He’s got a bunch of weird stuff.”

It starts with Legend pulling out a handful of his items. The fire rod, although it never leaves his sight. A box with magic rings, a hookshot, boomerang, the basics. It would take something in return to show something actually of interest. 

Wind’s face scrunches up, but pulls out a good amount of items himself. A telescope, well taken care of. He shoves forward the box from before, a picto-box, he called it. And at last another hookshot of his own. 

It’s a standstill. Neither of them gave up any items just yet. 

Twilight drops a ball and chain in the middle of them. 

Legend nearly flinches, but he knows why now. He might never have been fully comfortable around the rancher, but he still felt uncomfortable now. There was no reason why the vet should still fear him, so he comes to a conclusion. He was most likely carrying an item with dark magic. 

But Legend would be a hypocrite if he commented on that. 

“Rancher, careful! You nearly snapped my boomerang in half! Where do you even carry that thing?”

“Do you want me to break that crossbow of yours?” Wind threatens. 

“I’m sorry, I’m hearing a lot of complaining and not any of you raising a better item. You fightin’ a darknut with that boomerang, vet?” Twilight smirks. 

“Oh oh oh-”  Legend laughs at the challenge. “You’re on.”

“Refrain from any items that make a lot of noise.” Time warns. “I’m not keen on drawing any monsters to us just yet.”

Twilight gives a thumbs up, but Legend is already digging through his bag again for something to show off. 

Power bracelets are brought up. Wind raises two, but Legend easily can find more out of his pouch. Twilight continues to explain that he doesn’t need any power bracelets. 

“Sounds like an excuse to me.” Wind taunts the rancher, putting his power bracelets back on. 

“Sounds to me you need some extra chores back in Ordon.” Twi shoots back. 

“I said nothing!” 

Everyone is already wearing their power bracelets if they have it, so there is no further opposition.

Fine. No power bracelets? Sure. 

Legend slips his hands into the titans mitts while it still rests in his bag, pulling it out already equipped, the golden gloves shining in the sun. He grabs a hold of the chain attached to the spiked ball, and proceeds to toss it a good distance away. 

Twilight’s eyes stay on him, disappointed, as the weapon flies through the air. 

“Really?” Twilight raises his eyebrows.

“You don’t have a problem lifting it, right?” Legend offers. “Go catch.”

Twilight stares at him for a moment, unimpressed. The rancher walks away to grab the weapon. 

As he disappears from view, Legend can take a look at what was happening behind them. Shields had been put out, all under the critical judgement of Four, complaining about that he was going to need to do all this by himself, ‘now’. 

Wild seems to be immensely focused on the screen of his slate, pulling out weapons, all in some kind of rough condition, one by one. Legend turns back to his own bag by the time he can hear Four yell “Are you kidding me!?”

Even Sky was starting to take care of some tools of his, both looking ancient and brand new at the same time. With some things, Legend doesn’t even know what he’s looking at. 

Now that Legend looks in his bag- all of this was a huge mess. He doesn’t have much to show anymore that wasn’t home anyway. 

“Okay, hold on, I need to organise all of this.” The vet holds up his hand. He starts putting all his items onto the ground, organising them. He even went as far as putting all the rings neatly in their place in the box. 

While he is organising, Legend can see Twilight dragging back the ball and chain. He was going to see how the rancher was going to put it back in his bag, but instead, Twilight starts organising his bag as well across from him. Which only means he starts pulling out even more concerningly big items.

Legend is pretty sure he can spot a rod of sorts made out of heavy stone, rusted. It didn’t look like it was used anymore. Why was he even carrying it? 

Both of them pull out a fishing rod at the same time. Wind pulls out a concerning amount of bait in his bag in response. 

“I should take the both of you fishing in my era sometime.” Twilight grins. “There is a beautiful place near Zora domain, if we get the chance. Especially in spring, you should see it.”

“The fish there don’t talk, do they?” Wind asks a tad too nonchalantly. 

“What?” Twilight blanks. “Do you mean Zora? I know you don’t have Zora in your era, Wind, but-”

“I think he means normal fish, sailor.” Legend clarifies. “Bet he never even met a talking fish, huh?”

“I am right here, Legend.” The rancher deadpans. 

Wind waves over to Sky to get his attention. “Sky!”

“Yeah?” Sky turns around, in the middle of being pulled in all directions. The smithy was inspecting his shield, while Warriors was critiquing a tear in his clothes dangerously close to his sailcloth. 

“You ever talked to a talking’ fish?” Wind says, holding eye contact with the rancher as he does.

“If a sky fish counts, sure?” Sky responds, not able to get a follow up on the conversation as Wars catches back his attention.

“See? Seems like you’re the one out of the loop, Twi.” Wind scoops even more bait out of his bag, and some miserable looking pears. “Besides, these aren’t for fishing. This is just for the fish to eat.”

Okay, now that was just unnecessary. It doesn’t matter though, because it gets Twilight’s face just a tad more sour anyway. 

“Scratch fishing, actually.” The rancher grumbles. “I’m taking you both to the mountains instead, you can go beg Yeto for some of his soup instead.”

Wind’s eyebrows scrunch as he organises his bottles.  “Who’s Yeto?” 

“You’ll find out when we stop in my era again.” Twilight continues sorting his own items.

…With that vague threat out of the way, it seems that the entire chain is more focussed on sorting their bags than actually setting up camp. Four calls Legend over to his side soon enough, and he gets it now. You didn’t need to be a smith’s apprentice to cringe at the state of Wilds swords. 

“Wild, kindly, what the fuck.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying!” Four raised his arms above his head. “Can you believe we told them to take proper care of their stuff for months now? And he’s still throwing his swords!” 

Legend isn’t even going to ask who ‘we’ is, because by the look of disapproval of Time’s face, he can probably guess. The old man’s Biggoron sword was taken care of very well after all. 

“Some blades,” Time starts, ‘-Are simply destined to break.” The old man frowns at the sight of around twenty or so swords laying in front of him, and Wild had even put a stick in the middle of them. Legend was sure he could even spot one with a Lynel horn stuck to the hilt. Which… How did that happen? 

“But this is just unethical.”

“Tell me about it.” Four pours a little water over his whetstone. Wild is trying to hide behind Wind’s and Twilight’s squabble somewhat, but desperately fails as the rancher gets up. 

“I’m surveying the area.” He announces. "I’m sure I’ll be back by the time we actually start setting up camp."

With a nod from Warriors, Twilight starts to walk off. This is actually a little unfortunate. He wasn’t going to be a hypocrite, but instead of Warriors, Legend now needs to talk to Twi, too. The rancher is carrying a dark item, one strong enough for the vet to notice. He didn’t want to discredit Twilight, but he had one adventure, and did not seem to have the greatest interest in actually researching forms of magic.

Anxiety eats away at him as he considers walking after Twi.

He shouldn’t be a hypocrite. 

Legend doesn’t hold out long. His patience is even tested more as he attempts to help out Four in their efforts. 

…He repacks his bag, and starts trailing after the rancher.

Chapter Text

Twilight couldn’t have been more than a couple dozen paces away, and it was already getting difficult to track the rancher. 

The basalt soil under Legend’s pegasus’ boots crunched, dry and unwilling to give anything of a track away. If Twilight was going to scout the area, he was already far from their vicinity for it to be of any use. Not that Legend was going to give up that easily, though. 

There wasn’t much noise, save for the wind blowing gently across his ears and the ragged rock formations along the sides of the mountain. The landscape was less fertile the higher it went, and with it, less things to distract the vet as he strains his hearing for more.

With the difficult terrain, it wasn’t as easy as seeing across an empty grass plain to find anyone. So Legend marches a little further, in the hope that the rancher hadn’t gotten it into his head to take up a climb already. 

After another five minutes of not finding him, Legend starts growing anxious. Screw being discreet, they were well out of earshot anyway. 

“Twi!?” His yell echoes through the air. “You here!?”

…

Nothing yells back. 

There wasn’t much of another direction Twilight could have gone. Unless he had taken up sprinting, he couldn’t be this much far ahead. 

He reconsiders walking back to camp. Legend is more than sure that the rancher can handle himself perfectly fine, but not having found him, now? It starts to get worrying. 

“Twilight!” He tries again. “Rancher, where the hell are you!?” 

Legend strains his ears, waiting for something, anything. 

Then, somewhere in the distance- a yelp. Deep, gurgling.

He puts his feet up on the sharp rock formations, to the ground above him, looking for a better view at the scene ahead of him. A large, spiked club is tossed to the side, as a moblin collapses onto the ground.

Legend can’t quite see more without climbing a couple steps first. Which, curse Legend’s knees at this moment. They loudly ached in protest as he strains his feet up another foothold. The chain was going to find out about that on another rainy day, he was sure. 

He could see the smoke wafting through the air more clearly now. The smell hits him first if anything else- rotting, as if an animal had died and aired out with its guts spilled out, with a tinge of bitterness. Legend remembered the smell well, although he had mistaken it for the burnt lizalfos the first time around. Now, he could tell it was the black blood itself. Black magic hinted in the back of the vet’s mind as the blood spilled and flowed in paths through the gravel. 

A monster camp, and a large one at that, stood ready for him. And of course Twilight wasn’t anywhere to be seen. So that leaves the question, what just ripped apart this moblin? 

Logically, Legend should retreat, absolutely. He should get the rest of the chain and return with a proper plan, a proper meal. But he doesn’t know if these monsters are going to follow him, or move out at all while they’re sleeping. Was he going to be able to convince the heroes, if the monsters were still this far away?

It would also be a proper way of letting out some good-natured anger that had been building up the past few weeks. Fight freely, running on pure adrenaline.

Legend reaches for his firerod.

Leaping over the rocks, he sees in front of him a dozen bokoblins or so, and a handful of moblins, busy with something Legend is too preoccupied to notice. With the accompanied swinging motion of his arm, the fire rod charges, heating the very metal Legend holds it with in a rapid pace. 

The monsters don’t get a chance to turn and see what is coming their way. The blaze lights the area in quick succession, lighting fire to the weak excuse of a camp and the first line of bokoblins. Legend doesn’t give them time to recover, switching out his firerod for his sword. 

Metal meets the baggy flesh in the back of a moblin that faces him next. It doesn’t look like one of his era, it’s way bigger, armed with a poorly made  spear and a giant shield, beckoning over him.

The monster goes to bash the shield against the vet, but pressing himself against it before doing too much harm, he merges into it. His bracelet still glows with magic by the time he is a painting, leaving the moblin confused. 

It was definitely one of his favourite tricks to do. The moblin, and surrounding bokoblins look around as if he disappeared. When it leaves itself open, his sword emerges from the surface first, aiming for the back of his neck. The shield being swung around in a confused manner is just what Legend needed to get him up the moblins back, piercing it clean through the neck.

Legend’s nose scrunches up as his sword staggers back out with resistance, covered in black blood. The monster topples over, giving him the leverage over another unsuspecting bokoblin’s back. It sliced through it with stubborn chucks. The body splits, bit by gory bit. 

What he doesn’t expect is the moblin he had just slit the neck of to stand back up.

“What the-”

A club is slammed against his side, hitting the ribs, sending Legend back to the unforgiving ground a short distance away. He can hear the monsters approaching again already, not giving him a chance to think about what just happened. 

A nearby bokoblin leaps to attack him. Too slow to get the shield off his back that is pressing to the ground, he points his sword upwards, aiming for the softest part of the body. It is impaled, slowly sliding onto the weapon, stuck between its ribs, as Legend gasps against the searing pain of his own. He nearly risks letting go of his sword to clutch onto his stomach. 

Shifting the weight off of him, Legend finds himself checking if it's still going to move, get up somehow and stab him in the back. He’s not allowed that conformation, eyes back to the fight. 

His bones ache against the pressure he puts on them to get back up. The adrenaline pushed him further, ignoring the pain shooting through him. He puts the thought of the injury aside, takes a breath despite the shortness of it, and continues.

He rushes forward, shield in hand, scratched by the gravel underneath him, and sword in the other. Something rushes past him in a quick blur, coming from the other side of the camp. Something he should have heard- should have noticed before. 

A blur of dark grey moves under his arm as Legend strains it to sever the windpipes of another monster. He can’t get a clear view on it, but that’s not what mattered. It didn’t come to attack him, so his priority remained to kill the monster closest to him. 

Legend slashes his sword wide, putting in extra force in his slashes as he keeps going through the camp, careful to not let himself get surrounded. Another parry with his shield, another sword nearly in his chest, and then, he can get a clear view as more bokoblins fall to the ground. 

A wolf is mauling the moblin that had thrown Legend to the side. Of course, a wolf- ready to maul him next  if he lets it. He can see it biting into the monster, until eventually, it stops moving. 

The anxiety that is fitting for this fight finally settles into him. The vet barely dodges a stab aimed for his face, and he is forced to stumble back. He guards himself behind his shield as it is met by another club. 

He can see even more monsters approaching from behind the spires of stone.

“Just what I needed!” He yells out to particularly no one, maybe the wolf. Its ears do seem to perk up. “Just- shit!”

Another hit to his shield reverberates through his body. Legend desperately looks around for options.

He backs up, reviewing the scene for anything that might look like a proper strategy. If he runs back to the chain, the entire camp could follow them. Some of the others might have taken off their armour, all their weapons would be by Four, all their items laid out in the open that definitely should not end up in the hands of a monster. 

He now remembers Zelda’s letter, how groups of travellers struggled on the roads because of these types of monsters, how she had mentioned a Lynel. 

That was going to be so much worse.

But then, he sees something. 

He couldn’t use the fire rod in too close range. There were too many flammable things surrounding him. But as he backs up, stepping further and further away from the camp-

The monsters don’t follow him. 

Sure, the wolf must be keeping them occupied, but even then, monsters were huddling around one point. An opening between two jagged rocks that meet against the mountain side, yet still leading into somewhere. A cave.

They were protecting something. A blockade of monsters, unmoving, only watching to block the way to something Legend was yet to find. 

He’s sure he could jump over them. 

Legend reaches for a Roc’s feather in his bag, a hand through a bag much more empty, until his hand brushes against something soft. Another bokoblin rushes to him. With one hand occupied, he raises his shield, doing his best to get some force in slamming it against its face. With some luck, it is knocked to the ground.

There's a higher pitched yelp. It is distinguished from the growling and yelling on a battlefield stained with black blood. Legend turns his head to the sound, searching for its source.

It seems that the wolf is getting overwhelmed. Taken up a hunt too great for its size, desperately biting into the arm of a moblin, which drops its club. 

Legend hasn't got time for it, doesn’t consider to aid it. It made the right opening for him, enough monsters distracted for him to consider leaping over the rest of them.

He doesn't wait, doesn't look, only runs ahead. The vet's boot splashes in a small puddle of black blood as he aims steadfast for what's ahead of him. It isn't much more than the castle's walls, or a climb. 

His bones ache as he puts pressure on his foot, the magic in the feather springing to live as he starts to soar, getting a headstart on the edge of a monster's shield-

His stomach sinks, as the presence of dark magic seems to douse the platform. Legend loses his footing, as a familiar voice calls his name-

“Legend!” A desperate scream, one he only has heard from the injured.

He doesn't need to turn his head, straining his view to the corner of his eyes, he can see Twilight, on the ground with his shield above his head. 

Time itself seems to slow as he realises everything at once. The wolf was gone, Twilight was here, and he couldn't imagine how he'd been so blind. How'd it had been so obvious, how Legend was hanging In the air above a spear, aiming for him. 

His vision becomes white for the shortest moment, as a spear goes cleanly through his shoulder. He hangs suspended In the air for a moment, muscles straining.

Legend isn't sure if he screams or not, he cannot hear it. It is silent except for the shrieking ringing in his ear. His eyes meet the ones of the monster holding him up, he doesn't recognise it. Its mouth opens up with a disgusting stench.

It shifts the weight of the spear, Legend ripping off of it back onto the ground a short distance away. Sound comes back to him as his head hits the ground. There is more noise of steel meeting flesh.

He swings his sword in instinct, his shield dropped down somewhere in between the hoard. He hits something, he’s sure. Pain spikes through his entire body.

He gags, but he can’t stop. Legend clumsily reaches for his fire rod, and comes up with probably the most stupid plan while he runs over to the rancher. His entire body seems to fight against him while Legend ignores the wound that’s only becoming worse as he moves.

Twilight is trying to get up, ambushed by monsters, trying to defend himself. His Ordon sword stabbing through red flesh, his shield parrying blows. The rancher kicks at anything that tries to enter out of his line of sight. 

Legend runs through it all, pushing and pulling between the hoard as it doesn’t pay attention to him, putting all his magic into the fire rod, his legs drained out of energy rapidly. He digs his nails into poor armour, throwing himself forward, reaching for Twilight.

Legend latches on to the rancher, holding up his weapon above his head, arm hanging loosely while he does his best to cover the older hero. 

“Legend?” Twilight speaks with a raspy voice. “What are you-?”

“Close your eyes!” He yells back, voice just as ruined. “Now!”

Twilight doesn’t hesitate to listen, closing his eyes and latching back onto the vet, covering the other’s head and pulling him close. 

The fire rod sparks, Legends magic pulled from his body in one single tug. It is all put into the fire starting to form around them, a shield bursting out from all sides, setting alight the entire camp. 

Even behind Legend’s eyelids he can still see white. The heat threatens to scorch them both. He can smell the effect before he sees anything, smoke hits his nostrils, clogging his throat, the black blood on both the ground and still in the monster's bodies burnt up. The vet resists the urge to gag again, but his body gives up on him by the time his magic has run out.

Twilight is in action before him, holding him up. 

“Shit- What were you thinking!” Twilight reaches for a big, or atleast Legend thinks he does, he can softly hear the clinking of bottles. A cold potion is pushed into his hand. 

“Rancher, I swear to Hylia, I did not even think of the day I would hear you swear.” Legend’s voice hacks as he opens his eyes. Which was a bad idea, because he is incredibly dizzy and immediately feels like throwing up. 

“Take the green potion Ledge. You are severely magic drained.”

Legend doesn’t object, despite Twilight heavily dodging the comment. He downs the green potion in one go, and switches back to his sword. Feet planted back on the ground, he gets a dizzy view of what remains.

“Vet, slow down.”

The green potion doesn’t do too much for him. Monsters had been turned to ash, fire seemingly more effective than metal. It might be magic in its entirety. Legend made sure to keep that at the back of his mind. 

The camp was on fire, and burning out quickly. Even at the outskirts, monsters were still suffering from the damage, until even they collapsed. Anything from wooden weapons to fabrics were on fire, and ash stained Legend’s clothes. 

Legend reaches for a red potion in his own bag, swatting off dirt and ash. The potion smells old, but he drinks it anyway. 

“You’re going to get even more nauseous like that.” Twilight comments. 

“You.” Legend starts before the rancher can continue. “Really? No wonder I felt dark magic, it came from you the whole time!” 

He pops his shoulder back in place while he is still thriving off of the last bit of adrenaline. Twilight winces. at the sigh of it. 

“Slow down. Ledge, please.”

“No!” Legend bites his teeth to ignore the pain.. “I’m honestly surprised I couldn’t tell sooner. You know, I’m not a hypocrite, Twilight, but maybe it would have been fine if I wasn’t the only one who didn’t know!” The vet steps over the bodies of monsters, faces burnt off to bone. Twilight follows after him. 

“I guess all those jokes were pretty funny keeping me out of the loop, huh?” 

“I was going to tell you, vet.” Twilight tries explaining. “I wanted for you to get more… accustomed to us.” 

Boots begin to be covered in ash as Legend wanders to the previous blockade of monsters, walking past the spear that had previously held him up.

 “Where are you going? We should get back to camp. You need some proper treatment before we go anywhere.”

“No. They were guarding something, I’m getting it.” 

Twilight’s expression turns slightly more sour. 

“And that seems to be a common theme with all of you, doesn’t it? Not telling me anything because you worry? Well stop it. I want things up front, rancher. Because honestly? This is a lot more shit.”

“You were horrified of me, Ledge. How could I?” Twilight counters. “Did you want me to tell you back on Time’s farm? Would you still have wanted to talk with me then?” The rancher takes his steps quicker, trying to meet his eyes. 

“I wouldn’t have tried anything here had I known it was you!” Legend stops. “I saw you as a distraction, bait- a threat, Twi! I would’ve left you for dead hadn’t you said anything!” 

He’s frustrated, he needs some time alone, he needs to think this over. Twilight doesn’t allow him that distance as he tries to take a step away again and again. He finds his shield among the smouldered bodies.

“You can’t just go and leave things like that a secret while we’re trying to help you. Especially when you’re going alone!”

There’s silence, as Legend meets the rancher’s eyes, challenging him. He dares him to start this, to argue.

Twilight sighs. “No, no. You’re right” He rubs his eyes. “I’m sorry I had you worried. You shouldn’t need to.”

Legend, taken aback, fixates his eyes to the ground, heading for the rock spires that seem to lead into a cave. “It’s hard not to be with all of you, I swear.”

“I thought you weren’t a hypocrite.”

“Shut it.”

Legend deflects the comment, trying severely to ignore it. Because despite the fact he had taken the red potion, his shoulder still ached, and he could feel his skin still mending. 

That’s why he prefers to drink them during fights. He would’ve run on enough adrenaline to ignore the feeling of immense pain and how uncomfortable it felt feeling your body mend it.

He isn’t keen on heading in without seeing anything, so he lights a lantern. Twilight seems to be following his actions. At first he expects the result to be up front. Some type of treasure, or a chest. Instead, the cave leads deeper with no clear end in sight. 

“We’re stopping if this goes too deep.” Twilight comments. “I don’t hear anything, but I’m not keen on cave exploring like Wild and Hyrule. I’m sure they’ll navigate this better.”

Anxiety settles in the entirety of the vet once more, and he is unsure of its source. “Just a little while more, there’s gotta be a reason they were all protecting this.”

Twilight is incredibly bad about hiding how he feels about something. The fact that he is unsure about all of this is very obvious.

“Legend.” Twilight halts. “Something’s here. I can’t hear it, but there is.”

The rancher holds up his lantern, and in vague waves in the air, he notices it. 

Blending in with the darkness of the cave, waits a portal. Legend had nearly walked right into it, standing right in front of it. 

They stand for a moment, in silent anger and annoyance. 

“...We can still get the others, right?” Legend turns. “They must’ve seen the blast, or heard something.”

Twilight nods, not waiting for chances, grabbing onto Legend and walking back in the opposite direction with swift steps. 

There is no end to the cave, no returning to the entrance. A copy of the same portal waits for them, beckoning. Slivers of light from outside still slip through. Still, there was no going around it.

Legend kicks the nearest rock. 

It doesn’t matter if they wait it out. It will be waiting for them to step through, or drag them in a more painful way. 

“We can take our time, Vet.” Twilight reasons. “Have you got everything? Are you feeling okay?”
“We might find the others again on the other side. There’s no point drawing it out.” He admits, as much as he hates it. 

Twilight nods, trying to dismay the angry frown on his face while trying to reassure the younger hero simultaneously. 

It doesn’t help much.

Letting dark magic engulf him, Legend steps through.

Something snaps as he comes out the other side.

Chapter Text

Legend didn’t only have a pitfall in his stomach while stepping through the portal. It was as if someone was attempting to pull him apart by every muscle. 

Everything felt strained, stretched out. There’s a faint pop of a bone sliding in and out of place through the blur this portal was. 

The vet would compare it to the disorienting portals to Lorule, with the exception that he couldn’t feel his body as it would on a wall. 

He hears a soft hum, a magic item of his shining through darkness as the scene before him is revealed. The white glow is unmistakably the moon pearl, and Legend realises where he has ended up before he can even see it. 

There is dark grass underneath his boots. Foul air and muted colours extend across all he can see. The lack of smell hits him, as if he had caught a cold. Only then does he realise he smells the same blood and sulphur from the battle.  

Everything about the area screamed of the dark world. But it wasn’t his, or it had been, once.

Legend looks up to the mirrored death mountain. The tower of Hera was missing. It must’ve collapsed, or been destroyed completely. He never forgot the imposing sight of it, with every climb. 

They also seemed much farther from it than they had been. Legend’s eyes were met with the base of the mountain, instead of where they had been. 

The sound of his muscles falling into place was contested with the ripping of another’s. 

Legend turns, looking behind him. Twilight is allowed two steps at most until he lunges forward. The rancher clutches his jaw as he falls over, magic beginning to engulf him. The vet would call it pure, dark magic if it hadn’t been for the fact that he was clutching onto the rancher, and it didn’t hurt him in response. 

For the first time, he wasn’t sure what it even could be. 

“Hey-! Careful-”

Legend is pushed back himself, despite his best attempts to hold up the rancher. The magic falls over Twilight, and practically starts spilling over him as well. He would be repulsed by it, if it weren’t for Twi collapsing onto the ground. 

They take a bit of a hard fall, his shield on his back not helping to be comfortable. There are more sounds of muscles being ripped and twisted, and had he not heard it so many times before, he might’ve gagged. It is more concerning that Legend cannot see the scene himself. 

Black particles fly in the air. Leaving the form of a wolf, with the same markings as Twilights, on the ground. Panic spikes through Legend for the smallest moment, and remains lingering at the back of his mind. Although he wasn’t transformed, his heart was still beating as fast as one of a rabbit. 

“Shit. Shit shit shit.” Legend keeps repeating himself. Twilight seems dazed, but alright. He seemed to be more concerned about telling Legend off not to cuss than to, you know, the fact his body just ripped apart. 

Legend stands up, swatting dirt off of himself. Rain was falling, although lightly, onto the soil. 

“You’re telling me that you, the one person fixated on using transformation magic, doesn’t have a moon pearl on him!?”

The wolf looks back at him with confused eyes. Legend glares back at him. 

“Do you even know what that is? Oh we’re so screwed.” He throws his hands in the air, looking at his surroundings. 

 “Sure! Why not!” The vet lowers his volume the second he collects himself. That was much too loud. Monsters could hear them, they were most likely already on their way. 

“We need to move.” He whispers instead. “You don’t recognise the place, do you?”

The wolf- no, he needs to stop thinking like that. Twilight shook his head. It was honestly kind of disturbing to see an animal acting so… human. 

Twilight promptly shakes his entire body, dirt flying off his fur all around him. Unfortunately for Legend, he is in that zone. 

“Uah- Gross! Really?”

The noise that leaves the rancher’s mouth can only be described as a laugh, if you could call it that. 

“...You can’t talk, can you.” Legend didn’t actually ask.

 Sure, because why would he, as a rabbit, be allowed to talk, but the rancher as a fully grown wolf couldn’t? That made perfect sense, of course. He loved the dark world. So much. 

Legend resists the urge to scream into a pillow. 

“The others got to be around somewhere. We’re in the same place, technically. Just also… The opposite. We’re about where we were this morning. But I don’t think we want to scale death mountain here. ”

Twilight seemed to understand what the vet was trying to convey. 

Yeah, no. He definitely wasn’t looking up to the climb, swarms of monsters would easily overwhelm them while they tired themselves moving up. Especially if they were black-blooded. 

Legend wanted to move, desperately. But every option that did come to mind was as an terrible idea as the next. That was what he hated about the dark world. There were no true safe places, not for long. He could navigate his own, but this dark world mirrored the captain’s.

Not to mention that they were split up, and Twilight and him were at a huge disadvantage. The chain was split 7 to 2. And the only person who could navigate this place was not in their midst. If Warriors had even been to the dark world in the first place. 

For the sake of his sanity, Legend decides not to think too much about that. 

“Okay, okay.” He takes a breath. “Has this happened before? Getting split up? Do you all have some… plan for this?”

Twilight looks back at him from looking around, seeming to wonder for a moment. He seems to be searching for something. 

“...A place?” Legend asks, getting frustrated. It was fine, breathe. 

The rancher bobs his head. Most likely figuring out how he was going to convey his idea. His nose turns to all directions

He does a couple turns before his gaze lands on a familiar sight. 

The pyramid of power.

“That is arguably the worst location to go to.” Legend says aloud before thinking otherwise. Twilight stares back at him with a sour expression. 

“Yes, yes. I get it. The castle. Well, sadly for us, there is no castle.” He bites on his lip. “But the others are going there, aren’t they?”  

It's more a question for himself than Twilight. The tower of Hera seemed destroyed, here. Or now. It didn't even seem that there were any ruins of it left. The vet wasn't sure if they were in a completely different era just yet. It seemed like the captain’s…?

With that not being an option, the chain has no reason to go there. So the next option would become a rendez-vous point Legend can only hope they properly set up. Which, unfortunately for all of them, was the castle. In the dark world's case, the pyramid. 

This was really, really awful. 

Twilight does come with a better idea, and that is to move. A cold snout is pushed against the palm of the vet's hand, gently pushing him forward as the wolf starts walking. 

As they are marching away from the mountain, Legend realises he has been lucky for an awful while. 

The raindrops get heavier, the make-shift path turning into mud. His boots sink into it, and pain shoots through Legend’s wrists and ankles, causing him to halt.

His joints stiffen, and a familiar, burning pain sears through him. Twilight stops, noticing the younger hero in his discomfort. 

He just needs a moment. His bones seem to grate against his skin but it's fine, just fine. Could the rancher just stop looking at him?

Legend forces his feet to move. It would get better with movement. It did, sometimes. He could only hope that now is sometime. 

Twilight seems to disagree with him moving on. 

“It's fine.”

Another disappointed glare.

“Do you think you look like Time doing that? Because the puppy face really isn't helping.” 

The sound that comes out of Twilight's throat sounds as a dramatic whine or gawk.

“Oh now who's hurting?” Legend calls. “Not a word. I said I'm fine. Let's keep going.”

Legend trudges forward. The pain may spike through him with every step, but it is nothing he hasn't experienced before. They just needed to keep moving. 

The rancher doesn’t continue, though. Legend looks back at him, ready to snap some remarks to get them to move on. However, it seems that Twilight is focussed on something entirely else. 

The wolf ears stand high in alert. Legend can only imagine how he had looked in his bunny form like that. He really, really is glad that he doesn’t have to deal with that right now. 

Twi stays entirely still. 

Legend strains his ears. He couldn’t hear as well as when he would be in his dark form, but listening carefully…

There is noise in the distance. Footsteps. Heavy and lumbering.

What was more important, is that the sound of chainmail was missing. 

Legend can feel his heart beating faster in his chest. There wasn’t a need to. He had everything under control, everything was fine. 

But magic pulled on his nerves. Everything in his body screamed to run, hide, move!

Legend eyes a ditch, not hesitating to get dirty for the sake of safety. His boots splash in a puddle of water, and he makes himself as small as possible. His ankles burn in pain with the pressure he puts on them.

Thank the gods, Twilight follows him. Although there is a confused expression on his face, and an unwillingness to lay down in the mud.

“There's tons of monsters here. If we're fighting every one of them, we'll tire ourselves out.” The vet whispers with a sharp tone. “So for our sake. Get. Down.”

The wolf’s ears go flat. The rancher has no issue with hiding himself, the dark fur blending in the dead and dark nature of this place. Legend pulls off his blue cap, gripping it tightly, if it were only something to distract him. He gets as close to Twilight as possible, hoping to hide somewhat. 

He knows it barely does anything additional. He knows that if the hoard of monsters peak over, they will spot them. But he can fight. Legend’s mind doesn’t allow him that peace. This place does not allow it. 

The sound of his heartbeat resounds in his ears. 

Footsteps and grunts get louder. The vet takes a deep breath, and holds still. 

Everything burns. It would be fine. He could apply something cold later, massage the joints. He just needs to listen. To focus. 

Tuning everything out, squeezing his eyes shut, he concludes the following. 

One. These monsters are definitely not of his era. He doesn’t need to look over to notice that. His monsters didn’t move in coordinated groups, less they had been brought together in one room. His monsters do not march like that. They didn’t march synchronised. Human like. 

Legend wonders if they were meant to mistake them for travellers. 

Two. The dark world was taking much more of a toll on him than it should. 

His body does not keep up with how fast his heart is beating. It is as if his body is convinced it has been transformed, screaming at him to comply with it. He wants to run, to hide, to freeze up and never move again. 

Everything reeks of dark blood. 

Three. The group of monsters don’t stop in their march. Legend cannot hear a single one of them fall out of rhythm, stopping to notice them. 

Even with that conformation, Legend refuses to even twitch as they move further and further away. He waits until it is dead silent again before removing his hand from his mouth. 

The breath of air he takes feels like the best thing he has had in ages.
Screw the fact that as soon as he moved everything hurt again. His mind was starting to calm down. He can trust his own judgement again. 

“Ha!” Legend lets out a relieved noise. Climbing out the ditching, he lays down on the same grass. Rain continues to fall on his face as Twi starts climbing out the same trench. 

“Fuck. Yeah. Alright.” He heaves. “For our sake, let’s hope that doesn’t happen again.”

There’s a sneeze. If you can even call it that. Hearing a wolf sneeze sounds hilarious, in fact. 

“There’s no way you’re running up a cold already.” Legend deadpans. He looks ahead, seeing the river separating them from the pyramid of power. 

“Can you swim like that? It will save us hours of travel, and scars if we’re unlucky.”

Twilight has the audacity to yawn. 

“...I’m talking that as a yes, I can, but I’m lazy.”

The gaze he gives the vet is very disappointing. Maybe upset. Twilight manages to convey his emotions quite well in his wolf form. But! There aren’t any noises of protest. 

Saves Legend the arguing.

“Great, let’s see then.” The vet trudges on. Just a bit further. That’s it. 

Approaching the pyramid of power from the backside was a little strange. Not his usual strategy, but much preferred over more black blooded monsters.

Legend rummages through his bag. Was there anything he could use to avoid getting drenched? 

Preferably something that kept Twilight dry, too. Legend isn’t too excited to get water shaken onto him again. 

The solution he comes to is good enough. 

He pulls out his ice rod. Twilight perks up, seeming to recognise it from its counterpart.

Casting it onto the water, a platform is created. Legend steps onto it very carefully, testing its stability. 

“Great news. No wet dog smell, but only if you don’t slip.” Legend calls out. He takes another step, and when he doesn’t hear the ice cracking, he walks on. His feet threaten to betray him, muscles still burning against the cold, ready to slip any minute. 

The platform shakes a little as Twilight gets on, creating ripples in the water. He has surprisingly good grip on the ice, but nevertheless remains careful.

It’s quite a funny sight, seeing the wolf trying to balance. Legend must look a little stupid himself, too, arms outstretched to keep balance. 

They do reach the other side of the river dry, eventually. 

“Phew- yeah. I’m actually not sure how safe this water is, in terms of toxicity.”

A bark pierces his ears. Something probably across the lines of, ‘Would’ve been great if you said that sooner!’. But he can only guess. Not like Twilight can say much about it. 

“Not ‘Rule’s level of poison! Jeez. You just shouldn’t drink it. Which you didn’t.” 

There’s the sound of grinding as he climbs up the small hill where the pyramid rests on. 

Twilight’s ears perk up, but he can’t comment much more on that. 

“So- “ Moving on! “ We can go to the entrance, and spot the others from there if they didn’t get here before us.” 

With no sounds of protests, they do just that. Legend does spot some darknuts on the higher levels of the pyramid, but they don’t seem to pay them any mind. Still, he presses himself against the wall, signalling the rancher to do the same. They never went down the lower levels to attack him, but he doubts their tactics are still the same. 

When Legend turns the corner of the pyramid, he hopes, he really hopes, that the chain is there waiting for them. 

They aren’t. There isn’t anyone in sight. 

“Okay.” He groans. “The first central room should be safe. We can rest there.”

The entrance is dark. Legend reaches for his lantern, lighting it. There are two dry torches by the entry which after lighting reveal a good amount of the hall.

It all seemed the same. 

When Twilight doesn’t seem to hear anything, he takes that as a clear. He proceeds into the rest of the room.

It was the same room, the same path. Somehow, barely anything had changed. The land had been destroyed. The mountains toppled. The monsters changed. But inside here, it was almost untouched. 

Nothing seemed to want to enter here. 

Safe for one. 

Legend swears it’s simply the lantern, at first. The flame flickers unsteadily, as if the very air were dead. It is just when he is about to get settled. He turns his back, ready to sit down with Twilight.

His shadow, cast upon the wall, does not follow. 

The vet’s first instinct is to grab his sword. The hilt glints against the firelight, the tempered steel pointing to his own shadow’s head.

…Nothing happens, for a moment.

And then the shadow waves.

Chapter Text

For the first time in a while, Legend is not sure what to do. 

Because there isn’t anything to do. He expects his shadow self to pop out of the wall, sword in hand, ready to attack him. 

It doesn’t. The end of his sword is still pointed to the shadow’s head. 

His own shadow only halts, and waves again. 

There’s nothing to hit, to defend. 

Wolfie’s fur- Oh, Legend was really starting to think of the rancher like that now -is raised high, a low growl emitting from his throat. 

They stand there, stupidly, for about 30 seconds. 

Legend's arm is getting tired. 

“Din’s hell- alright, what is this?” He lowers his sword, still taking a single step back in caution. 

Twilight is definitely still tense, but even he didn’t seem to know what to make of the situation. 

He seems to be almost circling it, taking a look at it from different spots.

Although the shadow didn’t have any visible eyes, it followed the wolf all the same. 

“So, this is what. Some joke the dark is pulling?”

The shadow seems to focus back on him, quick to raise his, or Legend’s own arms to make a large cross. Even then, it halted for a moment, seeming to consider the question. 

Raising its arms beside its shoulders, throwing them around in a frustrated manner, much like the vet would. 

The being was most likely trying to convey something along the lines of; ‘I don’t know, you tell me!”

“Hylia really likes putting me in these situations, doesn’t she.” He mutters to himself. “It would be helpful if anyone could talk to me, you know.”

Technically, there was a solution to that. It involved giving Twilight the moon pearl and… him having a lot more pink in his hair by the end of this. So that was not happening. 

Besides, out of the two of them, he was probably the most equipped to solve these kinds of problems. He was the vet after all. 

This just happened to be something entirely else. 

Legend jumps a little bit as the shadow seems to move. Granted, his actual shadow was back to where it belonged, but this room was still overly dark, safe for a few light sources. 

Its form… changes. It twists and turns wildly until it settles on an appearance. 

It mirrors wolfie’s. 

Twilight jumps in the air slightly, while his shadow seems to very much enjoy the surprise. 

It was laughing, Legend was sure of it. It just lacked any sound. 

Twilight grumbles, trying to pretend that it didn’t scare him just now. 

Legend takes a step towards it. With his lantern swaying, the shadow takes an opportunity to shift its form again. The shape it takes is decided quickly. 

It… They? This seemed like an actual person. They took the resemblance that could be… any of them. The only thing that Legend could distinctly make out was a cap. Despite the fact that Legend was the only one to wear it, he had seen it in the bags of multiple members of the chain. 

He could understand taking it off. But hey, his gave a little extra magical protection. So he might as well. 

The shadow was distinctly short. Too short to be any of them, really, but comparable to Four. Even with that, Legend was the same height on his first adventure. It could be any of them at any point. With some movements, sharp hair would stick out. 

“Done playing?” He refuses to let his guard down, not now, not here. “Because unless you’re here to help, we really have other things to worry about.” He sighs. “ We’re looking for some people. Has anyone else passed through here yet?”

The shadow throws their head to the side, most likely to accentuate rolling their eyes. They then shake their head clearly from one side to the other. 

It walks out of sight, into the darkness, down the hall. Following them with his lantern, Legend can make out the shadow whisping away, until it halts at the end of the passage.

“...The dungeon.” Legend says outright. 

The shadow nods. 

“The people we’re searching for, they’re there?” 

The shadow seems to hesitate. They wanted to say more, it was clear. It would be left unsaid. 

They nod again. 

This could easily be a trap. It had to be. Legend could see Twilight thinking it too, all too unhappy about going along with this. 

All Legend knows is that this was new. The shadow hadn’t been here before when he had, and it didn’t seem to resemble the dark being that had fought them. 

Not to mention, if the chain was actually here, why? Why go into the dungeon? No amount of time could’ve passed yet for them to abandon him and Twilight. 

Who was he kidding, they probably didn’t even know this was a dungeon. 

Uncertainty be damned. 

He was going in there. And it was going to suck. 

Twilight appeared to be in the same train of thought. If there was one thing he was willing to do, it was to get in stupid situations for the safety of the rest of the chain. He was well familiar with it. 

So there wasn’t much of a discussion to be had. 

To the surprise of the shadow, Legend goes to push against the heavy door they are casted on. They move out of the way, with some dismay in their demeanour, just before the vet’s hand can push against their shoulder. 

He remembers this place well. The name of it is carved into the wall above him as the door creaks and screeches against stone. It was in a form of Hylian he had tried to decode since he had first been here. 

Legend never managed to fully translate it. The only word he could get out of it was ‘Palace’, or ‘Castle.’

“These puzzles better still be solved, or I’m throwing something.”

—

The colours were having a great time. 

Because that’s how they feel every time they are forcefully thrown into a portal with too little time to prepare. 

The portal came when Twilight was still patrolling. Not only that, Legend had gone after him a good while ago. While they didn’t expect them to be, they weren’t back yet.

And the portal wasn’t waiting. 

The entire chain had their items laid out, almost everything pulled out of their bags, much to their inconvenience. So not only was their food break cut short, they had to pack everything twice as fast. That wasn’t to mention their missing members.

So they go through, because they always end up together somehow. Everything is bright, and Vio is desperately trying to make sense of the sound around them. Red is trying to make it seem as if Four isn’t breaking down. Green is focussing on trying to breathe while Blue forces the body to stay together. 

Everything was great. 

Some sound filtered through. It was Warriors and Time, they think. They didn’t seem too happy about something. Whatever that was, it wasn’t the colour’s priority right now. 

Sky was at their side, offering a waterskin. Their reaction is a little delayed, Red notices, but Green puts in the effort to thank the older hero.

Bit by bit, their thoughts are sewn back together. 

“Do you feel better?” Sky asks. “I’m sure Wild can get you some of that tea for your headaches.”
“That would be great, thanks.” Four responds. “I’m getting there, what’s going on…?”

“Twi and Legend aren’t here.” Sky bites his lip as he looks up to Time and the captain arguing. “But we’ll find them soon.”

“...Right.” The smithy moves, first one limb at a time, until they stand up straight. 

Something wasn’t right. They should be good by now, but they were taking longer and longer for their thoughts to become one

They were barely staying together.

Vio voices these thoughts in their head all too well, but they were all too out of it to try and do something about it. 

“-our, Four?” Sky filters through. 

“We’re- I’m… Sorry. We’ll need a bit longer.”

Sky settles down beside them, holding out his hand. Four takes it, squeezing his hand in an attempt to ground themselves. 

“Take your time.” 

Green points out they could start with taking in their surroundings, so they do exactly that. 

The grass was bright. Magic flowed by, ever present, in the breeze. The sky was a bright blue, barely any clouds covering the sunlight that filtered through tree leaves above them. 

“Smithy, do you know where we are?” Someone asks. Focussing back on sound, they can see Warriors coming into vision. 

They do, he does. Focussing a bit more, he can feel that the magic is something he is distinctly familiar with.

“It’s my Hyrule. Just…”

Looking around, Four can see the field they were standing in. They were close to the base of Death mountain. The difference was that Hyrule castle was much closer than it was in the captain’s Hyrule. The smith lets go of Sky’s hand. 

“Same place, different time.”

“Then Legend and Twilight have to be close by.” Time states. “It’s safe here, correct?”

“Should be. It can get more dangerous up the mountain from time to time though.”  There he is. “We should be able to rest here, or I’m sure they should be able to navigate their way to the castle. Kind of hard to miss it.”

“That’s if Legend found Twi, not Wolfie.” Wild brings up. “And he doesn’t know we’ll be going to the castle.”

Ah. 

Four had forgotten about that. Vio mentally pinches himself for it.

There’s a sigh from the captain.

“A couple of us can stay here, while the others check the perimeter for either of them. Try to avoid any monsters that you can, and stay together. Does that sound alright, Four?”

“Yeah.” He really needs that tea. “That’s alright.”

“Aye aye!” Wind calls. “We’re sleeping in a house again tonight!”

Four really hopes so. 

—

“How the hell- I’ve solved these already, how are there more? ”

The Dark world sucked, Legend decided. He already decided that a long time ago, but he hated it even more now. 

Because somehow, he didn’t just have to do puzzles, there were even more! 

Opposed to him and Twilight, mostly just him though, the shadow seemed to be having a great time. They didn’t care to hide it very much. 

“Quit laughing if you don’t have the solution either!” 

There was one thing he was eternally grateful for. There weren’t any monsters. The dungeon seemed entirely devoid of them. 

First, they had tried all the rooms that could be accessed freely. Which weren’t many. He had called and yelled, but the chain was nowhere in sight. 

It was a trap, it had to be. Legend had done multiple double takes of every room, even the hall they first came through. To no avail, it remained silent. The only noise that filled the room were his and Twilight’s footsteps, and the flickering of the flame in his lantern. 

There were no bosses to fight, which meant there was no entry to the rooms behind them. He remembered picking up swords from there, he needed them.

So here he was, desperately trying to find some solution to getting past this door.

He would go onto the wall if there was a slit to go through. Despite him really wishing there was. There was merely an inch under the gate. 

They hadn’t even gotten to the worst parts of the dungeon yet. There would be traps, arrows, spikes, all dangerous enough in their own right. 

“We’re done! If nobody is here, we’re leaving.” Legend yells. He doesn’t remember the last time he had been so frustrated before. There was nothing . Legend doesn’t believe the others could be here either. 

Nothing was solved, or unlocked. There were no solutions. But there would be in some time and place, in his past, and he has solved it then. 

They were wasting their time for a trap. 

The shadow’s laughter halted immediately. They straightened up, waving their arms. Legend didn’t want to spend anymore time here, but Twilight seemed hesitant. The wolf seemed to be smelling… something.

“Have you got something?” Leaning his hands on his knees, Legend looks for the thing in the ground Twilight might be finding. Although he isn’t able to see anything, the rancher sure does. 

The wolf starts following the scent of something, both to the curiosity of Legend and the shadow. The being looks over to the vet’s direction, intrigued. 

The both of them follow in Twilight’s steps, the shade falling into the wolf’s shadow. 

Twilight leads them back to the main room. They end up by the gate at the end of the hall, an electrical barrier blocking their way. One they couldn’t get past without those swords. 

“I know we need to go there, but we can’t-”

Wolfie barks, sharp and short, cutting him off.

His nose turns to the shadow, emerging back out from his silhouette, onto the wall, and passing through the gate.

Unbothered by the barrier in front of them. 

Oh, Legend is an idiot. And Twilight knew exactly what idea just came up in his mind. 

He had been scared onto the wall because of Twilight back on Time’s farm. God dammit-

“Well I can, but we’ll be leaving you behind. You’re sure you smell them?”

Twilight nods, well, more bobbing his head up and down to try and convey nodding. It still looked very silly for a wolf to do it. 

Everything in Legend’s mind screamed that this was a trap. He was going to die on the other side of that room. 

Not like that stopped him before. 

He fumbles his hand around in his bag, checking the fact that he did have potions on hand. If he did have to fight anything in there, or the shadow tried tricking him, he’d have a back-up. 

Although something at the back of his mind tells him that is extremely unlikely. The shade was still looking at them, no idea of the Idea he had ready. 

“You can start getting worried if I’m not back within 30 minutes. Should only be two rooms past this.” He takes a couple steps towards the wall. Twilight huffs, sitting down. 

“Okay, I’m following.” Legend directs towards the shadow. “Let’s go.”

He didn’t have Ravio’s bracelet the first time he was here. His brain had automatically put away the idea of passing the barrier in another way because he couldn’t before. 

With the bracelet glowing, his hand starts to merge into the wall, much to the surprise of the shade. 

It’s as uncomfortable as it looks. When he isn’t rushed by adrenaline, Legend is always much more aware of how it feels for his skin to turn to paint. 

Nonetheless, his magic is going to run out soon, and if he doesn’t get going It’s going to spit him back out onto the electrical barrier. 

The shadow follows after him to the other side, into the immense dark room waiting for them. 

Reaching out, Legend feels his body form, his feet planting on the path. 

It is just as imposing as he remembers it. The path stretched over a seemingly bottomless pit, not a single ounce of light helping to see what was below. It was harder to see where the shade was, sticking to remain visible on the dimly lit pathway. 

Ahead of him, the path cut abruptly, or so it seemed. Legend had found out it was an invisible path during his first adventure, much to his dismay. He didn’t have any of his medallions on him right now, but he knew that if he walked straight ahead, the path continued.

He just couldn’t take a single stray step. 

Taking the first step, he almost expects his foot to fall through. But it is steady, on invisible ground. The shadow disappears as he continues, all while trying to focus as much as possible so that he won’t plummet to his death at any second. 

He might’ve rushed the couple last paces. Not that anyone could say anything about it. 

The gate to the final room stood wide open, light pouring out. Legend doesn’t halt, doesn’t waver. The shade slowly fades in the luminescence. Legend unsheathes his sword, the golden steel glinting against the fire of torches. 

The four pedestals that were supposed to hold the swords are empty. For a moment, Legend is on guard, expecting the same fight he had when he was 11. 

It doesn’t come. 

His attention is instead grabbed by what stands in the middle. 

A giant mirror is propped up, covered in dust. The glass is dark, and the frame consists of intricate golden patterns. A horned face was at the top, with claws reaching over the glass. 

The mirror had been cracked before, it seemed. As if every single small piece had been carefully placed back together. It was most definitely cursed. 

The shadow stands in it, taking the place of his own reflection. 

It reaches its hand out, and Legend can hear a touch on the other side of the glass. 

The chain was not there. 

“This is it, then?” Legend’s grip tightens on his hilt. “Come on then, I’m ready.”

There’s another tap on the glass. The hand of the shadow was looking to reach out, trying to get closer.

“Are you serious?” Legend laughs, baffled. “You’d really think I’ll-” He cuts himself off. “They aren’t here- you’ve wasted your time. You’ll remain stuck here, you shadow.”

The shadow seems to freeze, in any way their body is able to convey. Legend lowers his sword, turning around to return to the rancher.

There’s the sound of a crack .

He whips back around, fingerprints left behind on the other side of the dark glass. Something shivers along Legend’s spine as he can see the condensation of someone's breath on the opposite side. 

The shadow raises its shaking hand to be visible above themselves, holding up his fingers. 

Four, to be exact. 

They appear to be extremely desperate. The sound of fingernails tapping against glass increases in pace, growing more and more distressed. 

Legend can only stare, knowing the options going through his mind are only going to end up causing him more pain. 

“...Four.”

The shadow nods aggressively. 

Legend doesn’t like this, not one bit. Thoughts race through his head faster than he can manage, remembering what he had fought here, a distant memory, disfigured by the adrenaline at the time. Anything to stay alive. Four’s face goes through his mind again and again.

He had nearly died here. 

Sheathing his sword, Legend takes a couple paces forward, coming to stand face to face with his reflection. 

All he can think about- 

“Don’t make me regret this.” He bites out. Without pause, his bracelet glows, and his hand starts to reach into the mirror, instead of being plastered onto it. 

He strains his fingers, trying to reach anything, anything that he can feel.

A hand grabs his. 

Legend clutches onto it, planting his feet firmly into the ground, to not fall into the mirror himself. He pulls, and it is heavy, as if the reflection on the other side was submerged in the deepest of waters. 

The Mirror cracks around his arm, bit by bit. His muscles burn, pulling as they are tugged further than his body can manage.

The glass shatters before Legend can raise his hand to protect himself. Momentum sends him to the ground, and he can feel the weight of someone pulled along with him. He can hear a gasp for air and the sound of glass shattering under pressure. 

A series of coughs that follow sound sharp and ragged. When the vet is sure he cannot hear anymore glass falling, he pulls his arm away from his face. He could definitely feel some pieces stuck to his skin. Although they were stinging, they would be more of a pain to pull out later.

The figure next to him is…

It’s Four face. It is the only way Legend can describe them. 

Anxiety pulls away at the vet.

They have dark, purple hair, matched with a classic rendition of the hero’s tunic, dyed black. Hands still covered their face, shielding their eyes, but he could see slightly darker skin than the smithy’s, although it was a grey-ish shade. 

A crack between their fingers reveals a set of piercing eyes. They weren’t just coated in dark magic, they were it, through and through, and it ate away at Legend. 

He remembered. This is what he had fought here, although the tunic was different, it was the same face, the same feeling, and the same thought kept racing through his head. 

Had he battled Four here? 

Legend feels his hand sinking through the floor. Knocked on his back, he feels the weight of a portal pulling on him, sending him into a spike of panic. 

The shadow, shade- Four? They claw their hands onto the ground, pulling themselves up, and latch onto the vet’s other arm. Sharp nails dig into his skin, dragged across the length of his arm as Legend is pulled further in. 

“Link!” Their voice growls, rough as though it hadn’t been used in a long time. “Warn Link, they can’t!-”

Nails barb across his arm, Legend’s ears sinking into the portal, and soon his eyes are engulfed by all the magic, the tight grip on him is let go. 

There’s a feeling of vertigo as he falls through, a stinging feeling forcing him to close his eyes. The scene in front of him is swept away, in place, Legend feels himself falling. 

He crashes onto the ground, hard. Sound filters through albeit it is vague, too many things overlapping. Legend can hear something, someone? Collapsing to the ground next to him. 

Everything is bright, and it takes a moment for him to open his eyes. At one point, his eyes become less sensitive, something shadowing over him. 

Legend opens his eyes. 

Four stares back.

Chapter Text

Four stares back at him, and recognition strikes him. 

He now knows why the hero had seemed so familiar, when he’d first met him. 

He had fought Four on his first adventure. 

It had been an extra challenge, past even Ganon. The dungeon inside the pyramid had been gruesome, and Legend is all too thankful that there weren’t any monsters during his recent visit. 

Legend knew it for sure when he was met with the face of the shadow. They appeared slightly younger, but had the same grey-toned skin, angry scowl on their face. There was just one thing that did not add up. 

He remembered four, of Four. All in different coloured tunics. The shadow matched none of them. 

And the hero above him was, in fact, one person. 

He had nearly died there. 

But he didn’t. He had won. He had killed them. 

“Are you feeling alright?” The smithy asks, kneeling down beside him. “You always take the harshest ways of travelling through the portals, you know?” He jokes, trying to ease the tension he has most likely spotted on Legend’s face. “We’ve been waiting here for a little while now.”

Hyrule is by his side before the vet can croak out an answer. He’s not sure he has one in the first place, his eyes are just fixed on Four’s face. Secretly hoping to find a flaw, something. Anything to prove it couldn’t have been him. 

“Are you hurt anywhere-?” The traveller trips over his own words. 

“I’m fine, I’m okay.” Legend forces out. He can spot Twilight, a small distance away, back in his own body. The rancher appears to be holding his jaw with a death grip. “Help Twilight instead, he’s gone through a forced transformation.”

“What?” Hyrule stops. “So you-”

“Yes, talk later, please.” Legend cuts him off. “I can berate him after my head stops killing me.”

Hyrule seems hesitant, but complies, nodding before taking off to the other hero. Legend can already see Time ahead of him, speaking to the rancher. 

Legend focuses on steadying his breath. It was definitely taking longer than it was supposed to. Anxiety still ran through his body, his heart pounding in his chest. He wasn’t being subtle, either.

“Where are we?” 

“My Hyrule.” Four offers out his hand, sitting beside him. Legend takes it, squeezing tight. It’s real, it is real. The smith is alive. It doesn’t do a lot, but his senses slowly return. “Me, Time and Hyrule stayed here while the others went patrolling to search for the both of you. What happened back in the captain’s era?”

“Nothing.” Legend blanks. “We ended up somewhere entirely different first. You didn’t?”

“No?” The smith questions. “I don’t think we’ve ever split up like that before.” He stares off in the distance, contemplating. “Where were the both of you?”

“The dark world, I don’t know if…” Legend trails off, frowning.. “Please tell me that any of you do have a moon pearl.” 

“I do, multiple in fact.” Four states. “Are you telling me that Twilight doesn’t?” 

“He doesn’t!” He yells, loud enough for the rancher to hear. “The one guy who-”

“I already heard!” Twilight yells back from his crouched position on the ground. “Stop nagging me about it! 

While Legend's face remains somewhat annoyed, Four snorts, which eventually turns into laughing. He hadn’t been laughing in the fight, his expression was stone cold-

“Well, good to know that you are both well enough to argue.” Four stands up. With some help, Legend does as well, taking in the view around him. 

“Four.” Legend starts in a more hushed tone, other hand shaking. “We need to talk.” 

The smith’s face perks up. “Of course, what is it?”

Legend looks behind him, seeing the rancher standing up as well. His body still seems to be cramping up in multiple places, uncomfortably trying to keep his limbs moving.

The vet was all too happy for his joints that it wasn’t raining. 

“In private.” Legend ends the conversation there. 

Twilight approaches, a strained expression on his face. “So you weren’t in the dungeon after all, I could’ve sworn I could smell you.”

“Weird, that doesn’t help, Twi.” Four deadpans. “Context?”

“We ended up in the Dark world.” Legend starts. When some confused faces perk up, he reconsiders his reply. “It’s… A mirrored version of Hyrule, or the entire world, really. Worse, most of the time. We can wait for the others and explain then. “ 

He seems to have explained it more to Time and Hyrule than Four. The smith nods in understanding, even scowling a little at the mention of the place.

Legend drops his bags, an aching tension released from his shoulders. 

“Are you two okay to walk, when the others get back?” Four directs to both him and Twilight. “My forge isn’t too far from here.”

“We can carry you, if it isn’t the case. I’d prefer we can discuss things properly later, and you get your proper rest.” Time mentions. 

The vet shakes his head, averting his gaze to Time, in favour of having to look at the smith. “I can walk.” 

Twilight nods as well, and with that, they are left to wait for the rest of the chain to return. The old man puts his fingers to his lips, a whistle resounding through dry land. 

Legend can’t bring himself to look at Four for much more than a few seconds. Similarities strike him each time, and his mind is only brought back to his 10 year old self, fighting for his life. 

The smith smiles, reassures them that the forge will be warm for tonight, and the vet can only see his sword running through his chest, his back, his shoulder and his neck.

The vet can see some of the chain in the distance, he can’t quite distinguish who yet.

“Legend.” Hyrule is by his side, unexpectedly. “You’re bleeding through your sleeves.”

He looks, confused. Sure enough, on his right arm his sleeves were bloody, ripped. Pulling at the dark green fabric, claw-like wounds are drawn across his forearm. 

The shadow had grabbed him with all they could, yet Legend still fell. 

Twilight frowns. “When did that happen?” 

Legend stills, unsure what to say. A lie sits at the tip of his tongue, no one needed to know but Four-

“There you are!” Legend’s head whips around to see Wind, accompanied by Warriors. Wild and Sky are still a slight distance away, approaching from the other direction. 

Hyrule is already healing the scratches before Legend can protest. He would, but for now, he let the conversation turn to another topic. 

Violet eyes stare at the back of his head. 

Warriors playfully punches against the rancher’s shoulder. “So I’m guessing the patrol went well?”

“Shut it.” Twilight grumbles, although there is an undertone to assure the captain. “We got portalled somewhere else. We can talk about what we found when we have a roof over our heads.”

Warriors seems hesitant, but Time already gives him a nod, reassuring him. His attention turns to Legend. No words are said between either of them. Legend can’t bring himself to, he is simply exhausted. 

Still, he forces himself to walk as they set out to the forge. There is some casual conversation, which Legend tunes out, even if he doesn’t mean it. He can faintly hear Wind trying to get some information out of Twilight about what they’ve been up to. The sailor tries with him as well, but when there’s no answer, Wild goes to take Wind’s attention instead. 

Legend must be looking how he feels, because no one else goes to speak with him during their track. 

There’s a twinge of magic everywhere, as they walk. Four’s Hyrule felt alive in a way that could only be described as prosperous. Nothing was hidden or made an effort to be out of the way. The plants and flowers carried bright colours, and the animals roamed freely in the distance. 

The path to the smithy’s forge is in a forested clearing. A town bordered close to it, another past version of castle town if the vet had to guess. A couple of the heroes pick up pace at the sight for a place to rest. 

Four impatiently swings the door open. 

“We’re home!” The smithy calls through the house. “Grandpa!?”

He halts, straining his ears. After a few moments, Four does a circle around the house, checking around the corners of the stairs and in the forge. His expression drops, slightly. 

“He’s probably just out in town.” They offer. “You can all get settled, and then we can figure out what is going on.”

Legend does not need to be told that twice. Four’s, (or rather his grandfather’s-) house was spacious. It wasn’t as luxurious as Warrior’s room in the castle, or different in architecture as Wind’s. It felt strangely like home. 

He kind of misses working as a blacksmith, even if he didn’t do it for very long. 

The vet drops his bags by the door, tension releasing from his hands. Settling down, he can feel his body relax ever so slightly, and sense all the little pains his body has gone through. 

There’s a twitching in his ears, a buzzing behind his eyes. He feels as if he has been keeping himself too alert for too long. 

It all comes crashing down the second he is standing still. 

Legend feels as if his limbs are made out of the heaviest of metals. His eyelids have more weight to them. Every tiny little sound, from Hyrule’s bags being put down to Time’s armour being taken off sounds as if it is being screamed in his ear. 

“You might want to take a stamina potion, Twi.” The captain already has one in his hand, standing over an equally exhausted rancher, who took a seat by the couch. “I know you’ve got your transformations under control, but I heard what happened. I know those can take a lot of energy out of you.”

A glance is thrown at the old man. 

Twilight takes it, head down, not giving much of an answer. He only looks expectantly to Legend, as if waiting for something. The rest of the chain seems to be expecting the same thing. 

The wooden chair by the table scrapes as Legend pulls it back, sitting down. “I’ve already berated you plenty.” He settles. Everything, even his own voice, feels too loud. “So if you can all stop looking at me, I would appreciate it.”

While the chain seems to immediately avoid their gazes, Twilight actually perks up. Legend goes to settle his head onto his arms, looking down onto the table, only to hiss at the pain of his right arm. 

He needs to talk with the smith. Alone. Before the others ask too many questions. 

Four emerges from the forge, putting the same potion in front of the vet. 

“Actually, you could use one of these as well. Transformation or not, the dark world still tries to pull on you the same way mentally.” 

“Dark world?” Wild perks up. ‘Is that where you went? What’s that?’ 

“What do you mean, mentally?” Time follows up. 

There’s a brief moment where the smith waits for either Legend or Twilight to respond, but neither seem very up to it. 

“The dark world mirrors Hyrule. It is the same place, but in my opinion, just a lot worse.” Four continues. He reaches into his bag, finding a moon pearl, and setting it down on the table in front of him. 

“Normally, It would transform you. In my case, into a minish.” Four sighs as they themselves can start to relax. “But any form will do, magical or animal. For example, Wolfie. Now with the help of these pearls, you won’t be transformed, which is a massive help.”

“But…?” Sky asks for everybody. 

“It will still try to convince you you’ve transformed, mentally.” Four goes to touch Legend’s shoulder, who is happy to be lying head-down on the table. With only a hand, the vet shoots up, face white and ears alert at the unexpected touch.

“Like that.” The smith settles down next to Legend. 

Legend clocks back to reality in a few moments. Covering his head in his arms, he puts his face back down on the table, muttering a “Don’t remind me.” in his sleeves, eyes cast away from the chain. The others only look shocked, save for the rancher. 

“It was nothing like this in my Hyrule.” Twilight frowns, making room on the couch for Wild to sit next to him. “This is different. I’m exhausted and it feels like my jaw won’t pop into place.” 

“Why would we suddenly be split up in the first place, or portal at all?” Warriors questions. “We finally had an objective, a rather urgent one might I add, and now we’re here. It makes no sense.”

There’s a moment of defeated silence. No one quite had the answer for it. They could blame Hylia all they liked, or Sky could reassure them there would be a purpose for it, but in the end it resulted in the same answer. 

They didn’t know. 

Legend doesn’t like that in the slightest. He can’t plan like this. Whatever force was at work could be 10 steps ahead of them, and he couldn’t even see the first one. 

Why was he brought here, again? 

“Let’s discuss what we can figure out, first.” Time resolves. “Four mentioned the dark world mirrors Hyrule. Who’s?” 

The rancher looks towards Legend for that answer. Rubbing his eyes, he mustered the energy to speak. “It was similar to mine, but I don’t think it could be. It missed too many details.”

“It’s something.” The old man sighs. “What happened?”

The rancher goes to open his mouth, but catches Legend’s glance.

He really, really needs to speak to Four first. 

He can’t start this conversation now. Not if he has to admit why he knew how to navigate the palace. How he is alive to tell the story. 

Can he even talk to Four? 

“Actually-”

There’s a knock at the door. Everyone turns their heads at the noise, quick and urgent.

Four’s gaze lingers on Legend just a moment longer, until he goes to answer it. 

Legend can faintly see past the smithy as the door swings open. In front of Four stands a girl in a dress, jewellery glinting in the sunlight-

It’s Zelda’s face. 

“Link, You’re home!” She exclaims. She quickly notices the charade behind the smith, all equally confused, frustrated and dumb-founded in their expressions. 

“Well, this is convenient.” Zelda shows herself into the house. “I was hoping we could speak?”

Chapter Text

When Four’s Zelda walked into the house, quite frankly as if she owned the place, Legend found himself looking for features on her face. Even though he had never met her, he could recognise her in his sister, in the same way he had with Athena.

What the hero and the princess of this time did comically have in common, was that they were both rather short. 

“Not to mention, you haven’t been here for ages! Was wondering if you’d ever come around at all anymore, you know?” Zelda playfully shoves Four’s shoulder. The smith halts for a moment, before picking themselves back up. 

“We’ve just come back, actually.” They allow themselves to relax slightly, with an exasperated sigh. “It’s just- It’s been a lot.”

“Talk about an understatement.” Wind speaks up from the couch. 

“Now, either you or I am rude, because it seems you haven’t even introduced me to your new member here?” Zelda mentions. 

“Oh!” Four perks up. “Wait. How’d you…?”

“-You all carry similarities, he has an ungodly amount of equipment, he wears the same cap you all used to wear-” Zelda doesn’t stop in her rant. There’s a snort from Sky’s direction.

“Hey!” The smithy shouts. 

“Hey!” Legend follows after them, taking a look at the other heroes. “...All?”

“-Not to mention the mark of the triforce on his hand, Link. Really.” She goes to approach him. Legend forces himself to make it at least look like his body isn’t going to collapse any second. “Zelda, by the way. But you can call Dot.”

“...Legend.” He shortly greets. Whether it was his temper, patience, or well-being, the chain would never know. Dot strangely seems to mirror in behaviour a bit more he sees in his sister, compared to Athena or Tetra. “Four-”

Legend can feel Four jolting through the wood of the table. “How much time has passed since our last letter?” The smith suddenly shoots up, cursing under his breath. “Minish forest! I can’t believe I forgot!” Four darts, going to grab his equipment again. 

“Right.” Warriors takes it up to explain. “The letter you got, back on Outset Island?”

Four seems to be less listening, more panicking, taking up his sword again as Legend starts to struggle keeping his eyes on him. Time goes to try to slow him down, but the smithy just pushes past him. 

“The woods could be ruined already, the Minish-!”

“Are alright.” Dot reassures a bit more forcefully, pushing at their shoulder. “They evacuated from the forest a while ago.” Even as she says that, a twinge of worry is in her eyes. “However, the threat of black blood is still there.”

Four halts, going through too many thoughts at once. His hand is raised to his forehead, eyes screwed shut. 

Dot’s hand, steady on Four’s shoulder, pushes through the silence that is cast over the rest of the chain. “Link. You need to spl-”

“I know.” Four cuts her off with some dismay. “I… I’ll be outside.” 

The smith carefully pushes past her with some hurry. The door slams just slightly, leaving the princess alone with the foreign heroes. 

“Please, take your time to actually rest.” Dot reassures. “I’m sure you need it.”

“We should check on him.” Sky gets up. “He shouldn’t feel like this is only his responsibility.”

“They’ll figure it out, take some time.” Dot raises a hand. “Focus on yourselves too, please. I almost feel out of place being not covered in wounds or dirt.” 

And she is more than correct. Now that Legend focussed not only on hiding his own wounds, he could see the others covered in their own sweat, dirt and scratches. 

There’s a slight tension, glances thrown at Time, almost looking for permission to attempt to relax. The older hero doesn’t hesitate on the advice, nodding. 

The princess seems to know Four’s home better than any of them. She shows the way to different rooms, places to sleep, and after a moment of going outside, comes back with buckets of water to wash themselves. 

After helping carry the many buckets, Twilight makes the most use out of them. 

Legend takes the moment to be alone in a different room, even if it is just for a moment. He can’t tell the last moment he had some time to himself. There would always be noise, some presence, something to be cautious of. 

He takes a long moment staring ahead of himself, thinking. 

He needs to talk to Four. Four needs time for himself. He needs to get out and do something. If anyone gets the chance to talk to him first, he might mess up. 

He needs. To do. Something. 

His foot taps against the ground in impatience.

The vet hurries through the house, tuning out his surroundings and going out to the garden, to the well, to gather his own water. He dunks a rag in the bucket, squeezing out the water, and pushes it against his face.

He runs it over his neck, his arms. He picks at the scab that the wound in his ankle left. Massaging his joints from the stagnant position they were in. Every pain, every tiny ache, is a reminder of the constant stress he has been under for the past few weeks. 

He never noticed how much he needed to be alone at times, even for just a short moment. He had gone through life that way, through his adventures. As much as he appreciated the support for this one, he also needed to be truly alone, if just for a day. He needed to recharge. 

Legend realises that all he wants, is to be home. 

The swing of a door catches his attention. Sky walks out, headed in the opposite direction of him. Followed shortly after however, is Twilight. 

There’s a silence where the rancher walks over to him, sitting down besides the vet. Both seemingly clean, and free of grime. Legend knows exactly what question is about to follow.

“Legend… What happened there?” Twilight keeps his voice low. “When you left?”

The vet wants to keep his mouth shut more than anything. He also really needs to talk to someone. He needs to let this go, in some way. 

“I really, really should talk to Four first, Twi.”
“Why?” Twilight’s gaze shifts, concerned. “What could’ve happened that we can’t know?” A glance is thrown at the scars on his arm. The vet could almost still feel the shards of glass stuck in them. 

Legend shouldn’t need to have an excuse. Had he just met Twilight, he would’ve stuck to that. There’s no reason Twi owes him this. He remains silent looking for an answer anyway, all the while the rancher looks for something to find for him. 

“Why did I think they were there, Legend?” The rancher tries again. “Was Four there? How could you have gotten those wounds?”

“I- I don’t-” Legend’s lips seal shut, knowing full well the next thing out of his mouth isn’t going to sound too nice. There’s too much on his mind right now.

Instead, he averts his eyes, getting up from the ground. 

“I’ll find Four.” The vet reassures. “It’s… not immediately dangerous. Four should just know first.”

There’s doubt on Twilight’s face. The rancher wants to trust him, he really does, but it is difficult when Legend seems to doubt himself just as much. His posture, his expression, everything gives it away. When did he start letting himself slip up like that?  

Twilight gives him a nod of conformation, something Legend didn’t think he was looking for before. 

Still, it gives the tiniest bit of encouragement for him to go ahead, the fear of confronting the smith pushed deep, deep down. It’s something he can deal with later. 

He can deal with it when he’s home. 

Legend has no clue where he’s going, he can only assume that Four is nearby somewhere. The woods bordering his house were unknown to him, but rather easy to navigate, and easy to find his way back to the smith’s house if he needed to. 

The magic that surrounded this Hyrule was difficult to ignore, even if he wanted to. It is clear that Four had been one of the first of them, that his Hyrule had been one of the first of theirs. Legend doesn’t want to think what Sky’s had in store, compared to this. 

There were the tiniest signs of destruction, if you looked closely. Certain plants being a bit too young, toppled trees, bare, dry patches of ground amidst the lively grass. But most importantly, they were growing, living again. Hiding what had happened before. His own Hyrule was yet to cover some of these marks. 

A sound perks up in his ears, the falling of boots against the earth. Legend considers turning back then and there, but just as well his curiosity forces him to turn his head. 

“Four?” He calls out. “Smithy, I’m sorry, but I really need to-”

“Legend?” 

Behind the obscurity of the bushes and the trees, it is not the smith he sees, but Sky, instead. 

“Ah, sorry.” He catches himself already looking past the knight. “You, have you seen-”

“No. I can’t find him anywhere.” Sky fills in the question for him, an expression that seems to be looking around just as much. “No sign of them?”

“No.” Legend responds all too quickly. “You don’t think…?” Trailing off, he answers his own question. “He wouldn’t have gone off on his own, right?”

Legend only seems to be confirming Sky’s thoughts. 

“They would.” 

In an exhale, the knight goes to guide Legend back in the direction they both came from. 

“Where are you-”

“We’re gathering the rest. We might not know the way, but Twi must be able to find him.” Sky states. “I’m worried this might be more concerning than it already sounds.”

There’s only a slight touch, but it is as if Sky is dragging him along, face steady and determined, with the slightest twinge of fear. Legend is not sure if has seen him this way before. He finds himself falling in pace with the knight. 

Twilight is still outside by the time they get back. The rancher seems to immediately catch their concern, and with a yell from Sky to the chain to gather their bags, everything comes into motion. 

A feeling of dark magic falls over them, the rancher shifting into Wolfie, sprinting ahead the second he gets a hold of the situation. Time steps outside with only half his armour on, but the biggoron’s sword is secure in the scabbard on his back. 

It’s only when Legend goes to activate his pegasus boots, trailing behind Twilight, that he realizes what an enormous head start Four must’ve gotten. He doesn’t like the possibilities of what could have happened in that window of time. 

There are no complaints, no objections, only worry at every step. Legend knows he can’t judge the smith for going ahead. He would have done the same in his position. The vet knows the others would have too. 

You don’t need Wolfie’s nose to notice the foul air they’re sprinting towards. Him and the rancher are creating quite a distance between the group, gaining sight on the situation. 

Their surroundings become more and more dark. He can smell the four air before he sees much else. The sound of their sprinting starts to sound less like heavy steps on solid ground, but rather as if the plain had been drenched. 

Legend looks down to a black liquid, hidden within the blades of grass, staining his boots. It only seemed to rise in intensity the deeper they ran into the forest. Roots of trees crumpled up, stained, vines dried out and crumpling under their own weight. 

It definitely hadn’t shown itself like this before. It was only meant to stain monsters, but it was changing the very landscape around them.

An arrow flies by, nearly hitting the vet in the shoulder. A bark catches his attention to monsters hidden in the trees, ones he does not recognise, already notching another arrow on their bows. The wolf barely gets the chance to hide behind the shield Legend yanks from his back, another bolt reflecting off the shield. 

Familiar dark magic blocks Legend’s view for just a moment, the rancher transforming, raising a crossbow from his side. He positions it carefully to rest just above the shield, the arrow loosening with great speed, hitting a bokoblin like creature straight in the eye. 

“Shit–” Legend curses, hand reaching for his boomerang. “Where’s Four?”
Twilight pulls the trigger, loosening another bolt onto the archers attacking them before responding. “Somewhere straight ahead! I can’t make out anything with this smell.” The rancher grimaces.

An arrow gets dangerously close to his forearm as Legend throws the boomerang. With succession, it knocks one of the monsters in the head, throwing them off the branch they were positioned on. 

If he strains his ears, he can hear the remainder of the heroes behind them. He digs his heel into the ground. “Cover me!”

The rancher pulls out his own shield, holding it above the both of them. Three electrical arrows whisk above them, Wild approaching the scene. The thumps of monsters falling to the ground is all the signal Legend needs for him to activate his pegasus boots, and run deeper into the woods. 

Exchanging his shield for the cane of Byrna, he struggles a moment to pull it out, but just in time it conjures it starts spinning around him to knock back an emerging chuchu. He wants to note it being a way darker shade than normal, but he doesn’t have the time to think– 

“Four!” He calls across the woods. “Where are you!?”

If there is an answer, the vet doesn’t hear it. A swarm of keese emerge from the tall trees above him, all too eager to scratch him up as they block Legend’s sight, swarming past him. One gets caught on his sword, inking the familiar vile liquid as it splatters onto his tunic. 

“Smith!” Getting more and more impatient, more stressed. “Link! Where are you!?”

The woods become more dark, more tight, the sun struggling to shine through the leaves above him. 

The sound of swords clashing, ahead of him instead of behind, catches his attention. It’s faint, but it is all that is needed to convince Legend he has some kind of lead. The water that he runs by still, black blood mixed in with the stream, tainting it. 

Following the noise, he ignores the monsters flying over him, unsure what they are, only hoping that the chain following him can back him up. A figure moves in the distance, the sounds of a sword clashing on a shield. 

Branches sharply scratch at him as he fights his way over bushes blocking his path. Four stands there, shield raised over his head, a winged lizalfos-like creature ambushing him from above. The smith turns around, red eyes meet Legend’s, and- 

Four stands in a red tunic. 

There were more differences. His hair was slightly more curly, having more volume. And where the smith’s eyes might’ve changed colours at times, it was now a consistent red.

His sword stabs through the back of the capped knight. Link was already one fairy down, the seemingly corrupted knight only looking back at him with a smile and bright, red eyes. He hadn’t before, he had been steadfast, slashing his sword right by his neck. This was the second one. Link had two fairies left. Two for each sword left.

The young hero pulls the sword out of the unknown knight’s back, frantically grabbing a blue potion from his back in the few seconds he has to recover.

Another sword unsheathes in the opposite corner of the room.

Both heroes seemingly freeze, leaving a quite distracted smithy open to a claw aiming for his back. Nails drag across their back briefly until the shield is smashed against the monster’s face. 

Legend finds himself still frozen, as the other hero comes back into motion.

“...Four?”

“Legend!” The other hero calls out, a smile still on his face as he faces the flying lizalfos. The monster creates some distance again, going high up in the air, readying its next strike. 

“I could really use some help, if you want to!”

A sword brushing past his neck-

Now that he focuses on the monster properly, he can recognise it. An Aeralfos, one he had encountered on his last adventure, more than dangerous in their own right. This one’s colours were more muted, and if Legend had to guess, black-blooded.

A bright red spot on its shield gives the vet an idea. 

The Aeralfos rushes down again, sword slashing wildly on the smith’s shield again, causing him to become unsteady on his feet. Legend seizes the opportunity where the monster’s defenses are left open, pointing his hookshot to the sky. 

He lets it loose, the end of the hookshot grappling unto the golden shield. Legend’s shoulder nearly pops out of place as it pulls him along, the Aeralfos screeching in surprise. 

The smith lets out a noise that sounds just as surprised as Legend clutches onto the shield, doing everything he can to not drop to the ground. The vet unsheathes his sword, and before the monster can try to shake him off, buries his sword deep through its other shoulder. 

The poorly maintained sword drops to the ground, black-blood falling along with it. The Aeralfos flaps its wings wildly to stay up in the air. Legend pulls his weight down, pulling out his sword for another slash across its back, causing it to fall down with him. 

The other hero is ready for them when they come crashing down, his own sword running through the monster’s neck by the time Legend hits the ground. 

Both of them wait, for the smallest moment, for it to move again.

The smith pulls out his sword.

It lays unmoving on the tainted ground. 

“Phew-!” The smith sighs out in relief. “Thank you, Ledge. Not sure if I would’ve come up with that idea myself-”

“You’re not Four.” 

The smith stops in his rambling, freezing as though caught in an act of some kind. 

“We should really find the oth-”

“Please.” Legends pleads instead. “...Who are you?”

There's an impatience, the smith’s legs shaking with adrenaline, ready to run off at any moment.

He takes a step forward to the vet instead. 

Of course there was more. Link had just buried a sword through the chest of a knight, dawning a green tunic and cap not too unlike what he wore just a few weeks ago. He got dangerously close to having to use a fairy, and he isn’t sure if this boss rush is done just yet. 

He wonders when all this is over, how he will manage to return home. 

Another step hitting the tile floor resounds in the room. Flames brush past him. A sword is unsheathed. 

The smith reaches out an open hand. 

“Red.” They settle, smile still lingering on their face. 

They give Legend a moment, taking longer than the vet would like to admit. He nods, taking the hand, because that is all he can manage. Red carries all the similarities, all the features, and unmistakingly is one of the knights he fought on his first adventure. 

They carry all the similarities of a doppel of him on his last adventure, of Red, but Blue as well.

The faint noises of combat can be heard over the trees, forcing both heroes to move. 

“I’m sorry, Legend. We didn’t want you meeting us like this.” Red explains signalling the vet to continue on with him. “It’s something we wanted to do once we got home, so I guess that worked out?”

“The others…?”

“Green, Blue, and Vio.” Red clarifies. “Blue went ahead of all of us, so we followed.”

A sword runs through the shoulders of the third knight as he has him cornered. Both of his remaining fairies were gone. The room had been ice-cold, his hands shaking. He was sure he was going to die right then and there. His assailant had been merciless, hitting hard with every opening. He was forced in the corner with his shield on the other side of the room, and in a last act of desperation, held out his sword. 

The knight stares back at him in a dumb-founded expression, and as they start to disperse, Link can’t fail but notice a detail he had missed before. The blood the master sword was coated by was a shade of black. 

Link hears another sword being unsheathed and knows, he will be dying there. 

Legend forces himself to snap out of it. Red is right in front of him, the others are alive. He could still do something about this. They weren’t dead yet. He’s not going to be the one wounded again in another fight, he needs to focus. 

An explosion is heard nearby, and off they go.

Chapter Text

Falling in pace with Red was no different than fighting with Four. He carried the same sword, the same shield. Running the same stride.

The explosion in the distance didn’t bear much good news either. Or it could- that would depend on how much fun Wild was having. 

Legend resists activating his pegasus boots to remain in pace with the smithy. Their feet land on desecrated ground, the foul stench of black blood surrounding them. They dodge around crumpled up trees and bushes, devoid of life. The vet resists the urge to put his hand over his face, a slight stinging in his eye as he approaches the area with a thick, low-hanging mist. 

Where’d he expect the cook to stand, a stranger in another blue tunic stands instead.

He doesn’t look very happy. 

“Blue!” Red calls, the tone a little too happy for the situation. “Found you!”

Blue, the stranger yet friend, registered the both of them briefly before dragging his sword across the chest of an incoming bokoblin. 

“So are we actually fighting now-!?” He calls from a distance, eyes focused on the fight. “Or is Vio still trying to find a middle-ground that doesn’t exist?” 

A bomb is pulled from their bag, and with it being lit with quick succession, thrown into the sidelines of the clearing both Legend and Red are just stepping into. The feeling reverberates through the ground.

“Fighting, definitely fighting!” Red yells, protecting his brother’s back. “Ledge knows, by the way-!”

“I didn’t notice!” The other smith’s voice laced with sarcasm. 

“Yeah yeah, save it!” Legend centers himself, taking in the battle surrounding them. “You can thank me once you’ve got Time off your back for getting it into your thick skull to go alone.” 

It is difficult to see, but the vet raises his sword just in time to bury it into a moblin. It doesn’t fall just yet. 

“Says you?” Blue counters, taking a slash at the same moblin’s legs, followed by Red mirroring the movement. “I recall you running off, when, again? Oh yeah!” Blue’s sword cuts through muscle. “This afternoon!” 

That little grudge is enough for Legend to deliver a final stab between the moblin’s face. 

“Heard you, loud and clear smithy. I have potions and a fairy, sweet Hylia. Where are the others?”

“Green was right on my heels, as far as I remember.” Blue states. “Headed to the heart of the forest if I had to guess!” Another bomb is thrown ahead, clearing the way between a group of bokoblins in the distance, some infected, some seemingly not. 

Blue switches his blade for a hammer, and recklessly runs ahead. 

Red is behind the other before the vet has much to say about it. 

Which is why it’s a saving grace when Hyrule turns the corner. 

With a quick signal, Legend manages to get his protégé in tow, both of them running after the smiths. 

“Any clue what's going on yet?” ‘Rule questions, out of breath. He has a shocked expression as he looks back from the vet to the others. 

“Green’s ahead.” Legend calls back, just as out of breath. 

“Green?” Hyrule’s frown deepens. His eye is caught by a monster hiding in the tree ahead of them. Legend nearly throws his boomerang at the same time as him, ‘Rule’s boomerang hitting the bird-like monster square in the face before it can attack the brothers. 

Legend jumps over the armour of the knocked down creature, refusing to split up with the others for the sake of it. 

The ground shakes beneath them. The vet can spot Time in the distance, thank Farore, but that is not the source of the tremors. 

He can see it towering above the trees before they get closer, and Legend starts to fear the situation they’re about to run into. 

Blue is showing no signs of stopping. 

Something’s flying through the air, Red jumps just out of the way-

An entire tree flies by Legend’s face.

“What the-!”

“Hinox! One of Wild’s!” ‘Rule yells amongst the chaos.

“That cannot be just a Hinox!” He yells back, more concerned with the fact he was also missing his head. 

“It never is, probably infected too!” Hyrule almost laughs at the irony of it, sweat gathering on his forehead. “If we’re lucky, Wild will be here soon.”  

With that being the only thing Legend can rely on, he follows the smiths into the clearing. He struggles to see the environment, fog rising to meet their waist, the foliage making it harder to move through it. 

As he comes to meet the giant monster, the first thing Legend clocks is its giant eye. And if he had learned one thing from his journeys, that’s what he would need to stab. It was only metres high up. He now understood why they were going to need the cook.

Pulling out his bow, his muscles straining as he pulls back an arrow. Blue was pulling the attention to themselves, yelling out curses and taunts for the sake of the forest. Or maybe himself. 

The Hinox moves wildly, although having little room to, trees cracking and falling down as it lashes out. There’s a small moment, focussed on bringing down its fist upon the smithy, that the vet gains an opening. 

He loosens the arrow, and just flies above its shoulder, piercing its eye. There is the sound of crackling besides Legend watches the monster cries out, raising its hand to its face. A tremble travels through the ground as it collapses onto the ruined grass. 

Hyrule stands ready, lightning crackling around his arm, travelling towards his sword.

“Stand clear!” 

It is as if an explosion goes off besides him. A flash of light temporarily blinding them all, but landing right on the hands of the Hinox. Black blood starts pouring from them, flowing down onto the ground, incapacitating its hands. 

None of them have any time for respite as it already starts moving again. Time, approaching from the other side, trying to move the Biggorron sword in between its fingers, hoping for another hit. The monster lashes out, standing back up, and the sheer force of the being sends Time across the open plain. 

“Shit-!” The vet curses. Putting away his bow to run towards the old man. 

“I got it, back me up, okay?” Hyrule instructs instead. 

“Can somebody help us over here already!” Blue yells, narrowly dodging a tree the Hinox slams into the ground. “This forest is going to be bare before we kill it like this!” 

Repeating in his head that Hyrule and Time would be fine, Legend forces himself to get closer to the combat. It wouldn’t do much to hit its legs. He could try to shoot another arrow, but its arms were raised above its face. The only thing the vet could think of effectively hitting would be with his blade clean through the neck. He only needed to reach it. 

Blue and Red, slashing at one leg each in an attempt to incapacitate the monster. With the two of them dancing around the Hinox, Legend takes advantage, reaching for his bomb bag. He just needed to throw it high enough, the weight drags on his arm, he just needs the smiths to stand clear-! 

The Hinox turns to him. The turn causes Blue to be knocked into its knee, Red narrowly dodging under it. Where Legend expected a yell, a long string of curses is placed instead. 

The bomb in the vet’s hand, still unlit, sits hesitantly in his palm. The giant was rushing towards him, he wasn’t going to hit him in any effective way, it reaches for another tree. Legend steadies himself, ready to dodge, or get his head bashed in. 

An arrow pierces its eye, followed by an electric shock within it. There is a flash where its nerves are temporarily visible behind its pupil. It roars, echoing over the forest, damaged hands raised to its face once more as it collapses to the ground. 

Legend looks towards the source of the arrow, seeing Wild emerging from the trees, and he almost forgets what he was supposed to be doing. 

There is a gory, dragged-out sound of a sword digging into flesh. It takes a moment for the vet to register it, to see that the fight is over. The smith, in a violet tunic, pulls their blood-soaked sword from the neck of the monster. 

Legend stares, caught in another round of recognition, while Red yells in celebration. 

The last foe, the last sword, pulled Link so deeply into fear, he wasn’t sure how he was still breathing. It wasn’t the most surprising, the fastest, or the strongest. But it was cunning. And the soon-to-be hero wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep this up. He used his last fairies ages ago.

It- They, they were all so human, so much like him, he couldn’t put away the thought. They were cunning, skilled. Every opening Link took advantage of, they mimicked his movement, and every defense, they found a gap within it. 

And they were patient. 

There was no rush in the fight, only the one Link felt in his head. He was being exhausted. And they seemed to know that, retorting to petty attacks. They were not slowing down. At one point, Legend thinks for sure he is dead, the violet knight having an opening for a slash at his side. He is knocked down to the ground instead, the end of their sword jabbed into his ribs. 

They stand over him, over-confident, violet eyes piercing into his. Link doesn’t hesitate for another weak attempt. His sword is heavy, his movement slow. 

The master sword pierces the last knight’s neck. 

…Link remains on the stone cold tiles, watching the light leave their eyes. 

The swords clank on the ground, echoing across silence. 

“Vio!”

Vio, the smithy, stands on top of the Hinox, stoicism plastered on his face. Pulling out the sword in gory chunks, as Red cheers in victory.

“Way to steal the kill, Vio!” Blue yells, more frustrated, but just as relieved. 

“Wouldn’t have if it weren’t for Wild.” Vio grabs a hold of some of the fabric still clinging to the monster, making his way down. The cook smiles, fastening his bow to his back. 

“Or Legend for that matter.” The attention turns to him.

The vet just nods, their glances speaking all there is to know about the situation. It lingers just a moment longer, and Vio catches something Legend didn’t know he was showing.

Fear. 

But that wouldn’t be important now. Hyrule was still on the edge of the battle field, Time sat up against a tree. Legend runs over to the pair, avoiding the piercing eyes of the smith. 

“‘Rule!” The vet kneels down next to them, assessing the elder hero. Time had blood, barely dried, running down the side of his face. The armour that had been taken off had nasty scratches and dents in it. The old man’s tunic is raised up, revealing nasty bruising by his ribs, while Hyrule works his magic.

“Does anyone have a potion with them?” The traveller calls out to no one in particular. 

Realizing they had all come in a hurry, Legend was the only volunteer. Time’s eyes are scrunched up, most likely dealing with a nasty headache. The vet pulls off the cork, pushing the potion in Time’s hands. 

There’s a small moment of hesitation, where Legend thinks he might have to berate the old man for his hypocrisy, but the bottle is raised to his lips, taking large swigs of the potion.

It does seem to help, because Time opens both his eyes, and Legend is momentarily met with a stare he hadn't seen before, markings matching with a white eye, a soft glow to it.

“How many fingers am I holding up?” Legend raises his hand instead. 

“Vet…” The older hero coughs a few times.

“Answer me, Time.”

“You sound just like Cap’n.” 

“Are you getting deaf, too?” 

“Four. No, I do not have a concussion.” Time reaches for the Biggoron sword at his side. “Besides, I do not think we’re fully done yet.”

“Actually, I went to check the perimeter while Green checked for any remaining Minish. If he actually listened to me, he would have kept himself out of any fights without back-up.” Vio approaches. “And I can’t pick up anything anymore, so I suppose we are in the clear”

“What he’s saying is stay down , Old man.” Blue calls. “I’ll say it because ‘Rule won’t. Just because it might not hurt now doesn’t mean it won’t affect the healing process later on.” 

“How awfully considerate of you, smithy.” Time sighs. “I’ll keep my distance if it comes to it, but I’m more than fine to walk.”

The group turn their heads as the noise of more footsteps filter through the destroyed forest. 

Warriors and Twilight run through, both equally covered in black blood. 

“What the hell happened here?” Warriors questions, holding his nose at the stench of a rotting Hinox. 

“Could ask you the same.” Legend deadpans. 

“Fighting all the monsters you all left behind running right past them.” Twilight wipes his sleeve across his mouth, doing little to get rid of the grime surrounding it. “A bit too many, too. Really, I do not want any more of these between my jaws.” 

“Which wasn’t necessary in the slightest!” The captain steps over the foliage, keeping his distance from the carcass as he goes to check in with Time.

“Then swing your sword correctly at a Wolfos next time.” Twi jokes, yet his expression is still grim. 

Time stands up with some of Wars’ support, picking up the dented armour. It was still well enough to wear, and better something damaged than nothing at all. Red was already deep in discussion with Vio about how they would be mending it. 

“We need to find Green then, right?”

 The chain turns silent at the Vet’s request. But Vio answers by leading him in another direction. The two of them take the front of marching order as the others fall shortly behind, traversing deeper into the mist. Several of them, including Legend, bring out their lanterns.

“What is it, Legend?” Vio asks, a whispering tone just out range of the rest as his eyes are focussed in front of themselves. 

“What do you think?” The vet retorts. 

“I think it’s not just what I think. You can’t be this upset for meeting us like this. I get it, but really? Our father did not even react like that.” 

Legend’s eyes squeeze shut every time he glances over at Vio, or the other smiths for that matter. The sword he wields in his hand starts feeling heavy. 

“I told Four we needed to talk in private.”
“Do we, really? Or are you just avoiding the topic altogether?” Vio questions. 

“We do.” Legend frowns. “I can’t…” He pauses. “I think I’ve met you before, Vio. All of you.” 

Vio stops, although not in his march, Legend can spot the instant where their face goes blank. 

“I’m not sure that’s possible, not from what we know, at least.” A frown. “How did that even happen…?” Vio mutters more to themselves.

“That’s exactly the problem-”

“I think I spotted Green!” Red calls from behind, picking up pace. Blue follows close behind, and Vio’s, although going along, lingers a little while on the vet until falling in stride with his brothers. 

There wasn't the sound of swords clashing, or explosions for that matter. There only sat an aerie silence. Only light, falling through the torn leaves, reflecting upon the mist. 

The last of the four smiths stands by a large oak tree. He seems frozen, sword clenched in his hand, while the rest of the group approaches. Legend can spot Wind and Sky, not too far away, seemingly just as confused as the rest of them. 

Getting closer, the remaining colours freeze at the sight Legend had seen not too long ago. 

A grand, un-shattered mirror, adorned by a golden frame.

“Green?” Time pushes himself to the front. The smith seems to acknowledge the elder hero, but his eyes don’t leave his reflection. 

“What’s going o-” 

“Are you kidding me!?” Blue yells out. 

“Smith, calm down-” Time tries.

“Calm down? Calm down!?” Blue looks furious. There is an attempt where Red tries to quiet him down, but it is in vain. “No! This must be hilarious to you, isn’t it?” He yells out to no one in particular, into the mist covering the sidelines. 

“Get out here, you coward!” 

Legend can see the instance where Time tries to seek answers, utterly confused, eyes landing on Vio. Even when Green turns, coming back to his senses, Vio’s eyes are searching for something. 

Legend realises he has no clue what he has gotten himself into. 

Twilight unsheathed his sword, In a chain reaction, everyone follows, ears and eyes strained for danger. 

A spear flies across the field. Both Blue and Green duck, barely in time, for it to get stuck just above the broken mirror into dead wood. 

A familiar, silver and black Lizalfos with red eyes emerges from the trees. 

Green is moving once the spear is stuck in the oak tree, pulling it back out with strained force, sending it right back at the monster by the time it gets to attack Blue. It dodges just out of the way, the spear scraping by the armoured shoulder.

Everything springs into action.

Blue, struck by rage, surprisingly gets the first hit immediately. The four-sword races across its maw, halting the Dark’s attack to his shoulder. 

Legend races to the battle, his golden sword reflecting on silver flesh. Time is ahead of him, striking from behind, a wide slash aimed for its head with no room for mercy. The Dark ducks, Time’s sword narrowly flying by the vet’s neck.

There would undoubtedly be more monsters to follow, but Legend would have to trust the others to protect his back, parrying a blow aimed for the bottom of his jaw as the Lizalfos shoots back up. He refused to stay back for this fight. He’ll gladly burn that face off again. 

With some dismay, Blue is pulled back by Green in chaos, an arrow flying by and piercing in the Dark’s side, accuracy that could only belong to Wild. Time and the vet remain in this exchange, circling and attacking the creature from both sides. Its tail races across the ground, something Legend barely jumps over.

Time is not as lucky, still injured, he is slow, something noticed long ago by Warriors only a short distance away. A swipe at his ankle throws the old man out of balance, a missed slash flying by his throat, only for the captain to take his position immediately. 

With the Dark shocked, Legend manages a stab cleanly between its shoulder blades. Black blood immediately starts flowing out of the creature. The vet’s sword is barely out of its back by the time he has to parry another blow. 

In the corner of his vision, something he really shouldn’t be paying attention to, Legend can spot Green pulling the other colours together, or rather, asking something to Vio, feet still planted in the same spot. 

Warriors bashes his shield in the back of the head of the Lizalfos, offering a little distraction, another opening, for Legend to get a free slash across its throat. But even with that, even with all the damage they were doing, it was still moving. 

A small flash of light can be seen from where Legend and Warriors are circling the Dark. Instead of the colours, Four now stands. There’s the smallest moment of eye contact before all of them fall back into combat. 

A Slash, a stab, piercing metal. The captain and the vet repeatedly keep narrowly missing their own deaths, all the while getting clean hits on their enemy. It just. Won’t. Fall. 

Legend can pick up on more noise in the background, when sound filters through above his own panting, each attack feeling more heavy than the last. Screeching of monsters travelled above the treeline, the sound of arrows loosening from string. The mist, with the short distance that Legend still could see, hid the others save for the faint glow of lanterns. 

He couldn’t see anything beyond a couple of metres, and the uncertainty of the situation was going to kill him.

Four joins them in the dance that they are in, giving both him and Wars a little more pause in the rhythm they had created. The only solution Legend can think of is slicing its head off entirely, because every attempt for the heart so far had been in vain. 

A parry from Four, a stab from Wars, stepping aside for the tail and when it turns-

A clean, precise slash, across its throat.

His sword stays there, stuck, in the last piece of flesh still attaching the Dark’s head to its body. But even then, it halts. 

A horrible, gurgling sound emits from the throat as the tainted blood runs out of it. Limbs go limp, its sword falling out of the Dark’s grip. Legend is nearly dragged to the ground with it as it collapses, the tempered Master sword begrudgingly ripping away at its skin.

…Was that it? 

The blood almost seems to boil on the ground. There was still a battle going on around them, Legend could hear it, but if this being was the source. 

Then it was over, right there.  

Nothing happened. The mist doesn’t fade, the stench still lingers, there was no reward waiting for them. 

“Legend, Legend!” Warriors catches his attention. “Back-up! This wasn’t the end last time either!”

He does exactly that. The vet has no idea what the captain's comment might entail, but along the silver mist, Legend can see a red glow coming from the dropped blade.

And then it shifts. 

Legend can hear an arrow pierce skin, and then choking. Barely out of sight, the faint glow of a lantern illuminating the figure of Time, collapses.

Everything keeps going all at once. 

“NO!”

“Time!” Twilight’s voice filters above it all. “Hyrule, get over here, NOW!”

The Dark, and with it, its sword, swings back up. It commits to a wide slash, aimed for both him, and Wars, creating distance. Four takes his chance, hoping only that the others had Time covered, ridden with doubt. But for the first time, instead of taking the hit, the Lizalfos parries. 

With its open claws, it clings to Four’s tunic, staining it with blood as the four-sword pierces through it in a desperate attempt to let the smith go. It grip only tightens, before starting to run and dragging the Smith with him. 

“Shit-!” Four tries planting his feet into the ground, their sword dropping from their hands in favour of pushing back at its claws. 

It's running towards the mirror. All Legend can try to do is get in its way. He thinks of grabbing his firerod, but it would be too slow. Readying his bow would take too long. The vet clenches his sword. 

“We need a fairy!” Hyrule’s voice calls above the battle. 

Instead of stopping to meet him, the Dark recklessly holds its sword out forward, all the while Four trashes, dragged behind it. He leaves a swing clear for its chest, he could parry its blow on the way- 

The sword aims higher than he expects. Warriors yells in the distance. He can see the captain vaguely on the other side of the blade that meets his eye.

His own scream falls over the clearing. 

Pain shoots through his entire being, Legend lets go of his golden sword immediately, pulling his hands to cover face. Blood filters through his fingers, spikes of pain shooting through his head, all the while struggling to keep standing. A sharp ringing is in both his ears, but with the pain of opening his other eye, he turns to the sound of Four gasping for air. 

The dark reaches out, and the once flat surface of dark glass ripples, and it steps through. 

Legend jumps forward, ignoring the pain, ignoring his steps are irregular, desperately grasping at the smithy’s wrists. 

The two of them resist for a while, feet planted in the high grass, but bit by bit, Four’s hand slips in Legend’s blood filled palm. 

The smith's eyes go wide, the Dark disappearing in the reflection of the mirror.

And then so do they. 

Legend is left with only his reflection. He rushes forwards, his bracelet glowing brightly as he reaches in, searching for his hand to find something. His face meets the mirror, his arm getting stuck by the shoulder, straining for anything. 

Nothing reaches back. 

“Legend, Legend!” Wars rushes to his side. 

“No, nononono.” The vet keeps pushing himself forward, but the captain forces him to turn around. A rag is pressed to his bleeding eye, and Legend realises that he isn’t simply covered in blood, but truly can’t see anymore with it. 

Warriors looks horrified. 

“Four-” He tries. 

“I know, I know.” The captain falls into procedure, checking up on Legend, but even then the Vet is convinced Warriors doesn’t know what to do. 

Wind runs up to the both of them, quickly processing the sight in front of him. 

“Quick, quick- Please tell me one of you has a fairy-!” He pleads. 

Time! 

“My bag, my bag.” Legend reaches into it. He feels like he is searching for an eternity before he finds the bottle with a fairy, giving it to Wind. The sailor gives a quick nod before running back into the mist. The captain has never looked more conflicted. 

“I need Hyrule over here as quickly as possible!” He calls after the younger hero as he runs.

Warriors swallows. He searches the Vet’s bag for a potion, unscrewing the cork and pushing it in his hand. There is no protest as he swallows the entire thing in one go.

“Tell me about Ravio.” Warriors starts. “We’ve nearly not talked enough the bastard in an actual positive light.”

“Wars-”

“And your home. You had an apple orchard, right?” He continues. “I faintly recall you telling Malon, back at the ranch.”

“I’m not dying from a scratch to my eye, Wars.” Legend argues, the rag becoming soaked. Warriors pulls out a clean one. 

“Maybe we should be more concerned, because that’s not what I asked.” The captain tries to smile. “It may not feel like it yet, but please, listen to me. We’ve been horrified after this happened with Twilight.”

“But the smith-”

“Is capable. We’ll find him, as soon as we can all walk again.”

Legend sighs. Trying to look in front of him, he can see the mist actually lowering, the sound of battle gone. Only a gasp for air. 

“Help me get over to Time.”

The captain looks as if Legend had handed him a blessing. 

Warriors offers him support, accounting for the hand that is raised to his eye. The both of them get closer to a scene of slain Stalfos, Lizalfos and Bokoblins. Not a single one with the chance of raising back up again. 

Both them, and the others, are met with a very concerning sight. 

The old man on the ground, his head laying on Hyrule’s knees to offer support. A freshly pulled out arrow sits in Twilight’s hand, a fairy circling around Time’s neck.

The old man breathes in gasps, and with the help of Hyrule’s magic, a wound on the center of his throat closes up. 

“Din’s hell…” Legend groans. The others seem to follow, sighs of relief and frustration.

None of the heroes looked unscathed. Each of them were at least covered in scratches, if not worse. The vet spots Sky, injured a few steps away, Wild tending to him.

“Legend’s been stabbed by the Dark.” The captain reports.

“What!?” Hyrule reacts. Carefully helping up the old man with Twilight, his protégé is to his side in an instant. 

Legend removes the stained fabric from his eye to reveal the gory sight. 

It wasn’t looking pretty. The slash to his eye went outward, taking the side of his face with it. The eye is clenched shut, and the vet is unsure if he’ll open it any time soon. The bleeding was stopping, as well for the spikes of pain at the back of his head, thanks to the potion.

The traveller brings them both down to the ground. 

“Do you feel like you’re about to collapse?”

“I really want to.” Legend responds. 

A blue-ish glow comes up to the Vet’s face, it stings, and he has to resist not to pull away. The traveller stays determined. The others give space, but Warriors is right over his shoulder. 

After a while, the hand pulls away. 

“The scar healed.” Hyrule sighs out in relief. Warriors, and many others to the same. 

“What-” Legend’s eye is still closed. “Why were you so convinced…?”

“Twilight.” Time speaks up, followed by a cough. Rather than feeling addressed, the rancher looks away. “That weapon the dark carries is tainted. Healing those wounds is not an option.”

“It’s a constant fight, instead. Sickness pulling at your body.” Twilight puts out.   

“Congrats Time, Vet,” Wind says in a more careless voice, attempting to lighten the mood. “You’re not getting rid of us yet, and you’re not trying again for a long while.” 

Legend smiles, but raising his cheeks, his eye still hurt. Slowly, he flutters it open, trying to look at the sailor with his full vision.

His eyes are open. 

He can’t see a thing on his left side. 

A pale eye looks back at Wind. 

“Uhm-” Wind tries speaking up for what all of them are seeing. 

“Shit.” Legend curses. “You’ve got to be kidding me- dammit!” His hands raise to hide his face again. 

“Legend-” Time starts.

“I know, fuck, ‘It’ll be alright.’” He tries settling himself down, but anxiety rises over him. He would have to account for another impairment in his fighting, and have to re-learn all his methods to accommodate for it. He didn’t have time for that! 

“Just- I don’t know, I don’t know.”

“Wars’.” The rancher turns to the captain, standing above the vet. “Where’s Four?”

Legend’s lips are sealed shut when Twilight asks the question. 

The mirror answers for him. 

With mist lowering closer to the ground, the chain can faintly see the light reflecting off of the dark mirror unnaturally. Moving. 

Swords are readied again, shields raised, as everyone gets up for presumably another fight. One they weren’t sure they would make it out of. 

Something, someone, the familiar frame of Four is thrown out of the mirror, crashing into the ground, far enough to get close to the chain.

He could’ve easily mistaken the smith to be covered in grime, but the tunic is an ashen gray. 

Red eyes meet Legend’s. 

Chapter Text

Swords are unsheathed, glinting against silver mist. The shadow’s red, piercing eyes are barely focussed on the Vet when Warriors is stepping ahead, running towards them. The traveller steps in front of Legend, shield in hand, blocking his already limited view.

All he sees is a sword being raised to the sky. 

“WAIT!” He screams through the silent clearing. 

The vet stands, accidentally bumping Hyrule in the process. The captain has his blade just raised above the misplaced face of Four, seemingly even paler than before as they breath heavily. 

“They’re safe, they’re fine-!” 

Warriors frowns. They all stand there, frozen, for a few a couple moments.

Twilight is the first to put away his sword and shield, stepping forward. 

The rancher slowly pushes away the cold steel blade in the hesitant hands of the captain. Red eyes follow the sword as it moves away from them.

The shadow speaks up. 

“I mean, you could’ve tried that, I guess? Wouldn’t really have worked out.” 

For Hylia’s sake.

The entire chain looks as puzzled as ever, and they’re looking to Legend for an answer. Warriors already starts his own line of questioning, while the shadow pushes himself from the ground. 

“Who are you? Why do you look-”

The gray smith pushes past both him and the rancher, much to the dismay of all the cautiousness all the heroes were displaying. They step up to Legend. 

“ You.” A finger pointed at the vet’s chest. “Link, where is he?”

“I don’t- He got taken, they went through the mirror-”

“What!? ” Choruses from all around him, safe for Wars.

“He what!?” The shadow yells over all of them, a growl in their voice. “No, no, you’re telling me I spent years there only for- uagh!” The previous shade kicks at the ground. 

“What are we waiting for, then!? Wind is on his feet in a hurry, trying to get the rest of the chain along to the cursed mirror. “We need to get them back!”

“I tried, I tried, I promise.” Legend repeats, still trying to convince himself of it. 

The shadow is the only one not listening to the vet, getting back up and running over to the very mirror they emerged from. 

It’s a weird sight, seeing the shade merging and disappearing within it, as if they hadn’t been here at all. It's a short, tense minute before they come back alone. Legend finds himself almost praying Four is thrown out, to at least be here. But Hylia rarely answers his pleas. 

“The smith is capable.” Warriors reassures, the same words he told Legend before. The shade doesn’t quite agree. 

“He’s a dumbass, actually-”

“We’ve been split up before, we’ll manage.”

“Not when the dark took him right through!” Twilight protests. “Me and the vet were together, atleast, And I wouldn’t have had a clue where to go if it wasn’t for him.”

“Not to mention, if the Dark took him through?” Hyrule questions. “One hit and that could be it-”

“We’ll have to trust him.” Time settles. “I’m sorry to be blunt, but I don’t see any other option, unless.” The old man eyes both the shadow and Legend. It's a quite uncomfortable gaze to be under. 

The vet could understand why, but nevertheless, it hurt. 

 “What?” The shadow speaks up, under the eyes and swords of the rest of the chain. “Like I wanted that to happen? After risking everything to get a message to those two idiots?” Signalling to him and Twilight. Legend can barely see all the movement around him happening, the little he can see with his remaining eye being just as confusing.

“Hey-” The rancher cuts through.

“Because I tried warning you! And I owed you nothing!” They defend themselves, rather aggressively. 

“And you were leading us straight into a dungeon saying the others were there, and you lied about that, right?” Legend counters, voice raising. 

“Well they are now, aren’t they! I was just trying to prevent it in the first place!

“They were, you, and us, maybe!” Legend yells back, confusion arising amongst the chain. “How would you know, huh?” His cheek hurts, muscles around his wounded eye tense and strained.

“Vet, Calm down-” Twilight filters through, his voice too quiet compared to the two of them.

“Because this was a trap, obviously!” The shade screams back. “Really, what is there to gain from this forest? Nothing! It’s a shit personal stab at all of them and I thought Vio would at least notice that!” They don’t fear getting close and personal, yelling in Legend’s face. “If all was well, I was never supposed to be here at all!”

The vet stares down at them in an uncomfortable silence. Because they know. The eye contact they held told him they knew everything there was to know. Four was gone, a pink-haired boy starts his adventure, and a cycle starts all again.

“...He’s in the palace.” 

“He’s going to be, at some point!” 

Four is going to die. 

That was much closer than Legend was already fearing for. 

“Legend, Twilight.” An angry tone from Time’s direction. The group was one mess of a mix of confusion, panic, and frustration. 

He would’ve preferred this anytime, anyplace else. He was supposed to talk with Four in the first place, dammit, he wasn’t sure he was ever going to see this shadow, this dark-? Again. 

“And you, shade-” The old man redirects.

“Shadow.” They stop him, irritated. “My name is Shadow.”

Time’s eye narrows. “I need to know if you aren’t going to be an immediate danger to anyone here.” He puts directly.

“Not unless you don’t start putting those swords away.” 

Whether they had been gripping the handles unconsciously or in still caution, the swords were still glinting in the bare light that filtered into the clearing. One by one, they are put away, the rancher stepping forward. 

“We came ‘cross… Shadow here while we were waiting in the palace of the Dark world we ended up in. As quite literally that, a shadow.”

“Thanks for the visit, by the way.” They mention sarcastically. “Been waiting an awful long time.”

“It was the closest thing to Hyrule castle if we were to meet up again.” Legend informs, taking caution of any lectures he might receive for going to such a dangerous place.

Not that the others knew of that, however. It seemed only Four had come across the Dark world along with him. 

“So you know where the smith is?” Warriors pushes. 

“I only hope they’re not there yet. In the palace, in the Dark world.” Legend says ahead of Shadow, because whatever they were about to say most likely wouldn’t be comforting. ”We need to get there, quick.” He insists. He isn’t taking chances.

“So we have to wait for a portal to take us back where you went?” Sky asks. 

‘If it will take us back at all.’ Wild concludes. ‘I don’t recall any of us having been there before.’

“Can’t you just get in from the Light world in the first place?” Shadow’s voice calls after them.

Legend, caught up in his own worries, knowing damn well he is on a time limit, just catches the shade floating sitting in the air. He can tell that everyone wants to say something about it, but would prefer not to. 

“You know, I had to get here too. The monsters get here.” 

“Warps to the dark world disappeared over time after the palace.” Legend answers. 

“Not that that would work anymore now.” The shade comments.

“You’ve been before?” Wind cuts in. 

“Vet.” Time cuts to the chase instead. “I’ve seen you being uncomfortable around the smith the moment you got back from there. I don’t know what happened, but for their sake.” He stands with the help of the rancher, his right injured side slacked. “We need to know everything about this.” 

Oh, how bad Legend wants to run away right now. This is the worst way for this to have to come forward. Shadow looks at him expectantly, but even more angry with the situation, and he knows.

“It’s-” The air is taken out of his lungs before he is capable of speaking further. By Hylia, he feels small. “I’ve been to the same dungeon at the end of my first adventure.” Legend starts with instead. 

He can see the rancher silently encouraging him from the corner of his eye. He might’ve known that, but the vet is sure he will hate him soon enough. Time’s and Warriors eyes drill through him with questions. 

Suddenly he is 9 again, half his size and scared of knights. 

“It was one large boss rush. I think I went in and out of that palace a dozen times for supplies. I had to get these swords, to go to the final room. The dungeon was only meant for true heroes, or something.” He tries explaining. He vaguely recalls a fox-like creature running off with his rupees. 

They’re all still injured and calming down from the fight they had just gotten out from. Din’s hell, Time looked barely alive. The chain looks at him expectantly to continue. 

“There was another fight in the end. And I don’t know how I couldn’t recognise them before, but I wasn’t supposed to make it out in the first place.”

“Legend…?” ‘Rule is filled with worry. 

“But I fought Four there, each of them split.” He confesses.

Everyone, save for Time and Shadow, starts talking over one another.

“Excuse me, your first adventure-”

“-Why would they..?’

“How was the smith there?”

“So you’ve met before? Why didn’t-”

“You’re kidding?”

“And you got out-!?”

“You survived.” Time, a calm voice carrying the most terrifying thing he could’ve said.

Legend just nods as his lips shut tight, the others coming to the same conclusion.

“You won.”

“That’s good, right?” Wind, not unaware, but a deflecting tone cuts through. “You survived, you got away, we can get Four, right?” 

The silence across the clearing is filled with only the hesitance stuck in the Vet’s throat. A low breeze brushes across the dead grass, the ruined life. There’s not a spot of green that isn’t untainted. 

“We’re on a time limit.” Warriors voice is stern, automatic. The old man’s face twitches as he says it. 

“It’s already happened, Cap’n.” Twilight confronts, but there’s every hint in his voice that he doesn’t want to believe himself. 

“If we’re lucky, we might still-!” 

The noise starts falling to the back of his mind. Legend didn’t want to face the shadow. He screwed it up. He couldn’t manage to confront the smith and now, they would be paying for that mistake. They might have known, figured something out. He expects Shadow to be furious. 

Their expression is more akin to confusion, eyebrows furrowed until they raise in quick succession. 

“Oh! Wait, you think that-?”

The others roar over one another, and by the others Legend would mostly mean Warriors and Twilight. Both in their own acts of denial and anger, while Time stands behind them, hands twitching over his item pouch.
The only thing stopping him from doing anything stupid is the sailor staring him down. 

“No, wait, it doesn’t have to be that yet, right? They could’ve been taken somewhere else?” Hyrule tries to suggest. No one is quite listening. 

“It’s still shit, but It’s not that-” Shadow is cut off. If no one heard their healer, he sure wasn’t going to be.

“You don’t just get to give up like that!” Wind starts pitting in with the yelling. “You don’t just get to admit that they are-”

“They aren’t dead!” Shadow resorts to screaming instead. “I’m sorry, can you use your common sense here!?” The chain goes quiet, collectively ignoring the underlying insult. “I’m their shadow! I wouldn’t be here if they were six feet under now, would I!?”

It's only then that Legend regains his ability to speak. No, that can’t be, not after he’s spent the last 12 hours in constant worry, in mourning, of the smith while he was standing right in front of him.

“No, no. I’m sure.” A sword through the chest, the back, the shoulder and the neck. “I saw them fall-”

“But did you see their bodies?” Shadow insists. “Or were you too busy with Vio after Blue tried to gouge your eyes out to notice that Red and Green simply disappeared? Like monsters, like darks?” He bites out. “There weren’t any bodies left!”

“I could’ve missed it. I didn’t get to see-”

“You collected the swords! The cursed things were where they came from in the first place! If not Dark’s, then they were sword spirits, or simply just corrupted, and those all don’t just simply die!” The shade yells in his face, trying to get his point into his thick skull. “I was there then too, you know. And I vaguely recall you taking those swords with you, back to wherever you came from!”

Oh.

“So he’s alright, then?” Sky questions, none of the others quite excited to get in between the argument. 

“He’s not dead, that’s for sure.” Shadow grunts out, hands in his face to let out a groan.

Relief washes over them, even if not all of them believe the statement quite yet. 

“They weren’t quite darks, but...” Legend brings wonders,, too high strung to share the same relief he was yet to process. “That definitely wasn’t a fair fight. Their skin was grey, like the life was sucked out of them, corrupted.” 

“Black blooded.” Shadow settles, choosing to ignore the comment, wiping dirt off their face. The muscles around Legend’s eye pull as his expression turns into one of realization. He winces at the pain.

Could that have happened? The vet looks towards the ground, crumpled up plant life, dead tree stalks. If monsters got corrupted, and other forms of life did as well. 

He didn’t like the implications. It didn’t just have to be the smith. It could be townspeople, knights.

“If that is the case.” Twilight reasons. “How do we solve that?”

No one raises their voice. 

“You’re talking like this already happened, though, like they’re gone!” Wild cuts through.

“Because it did.” Shadow rolls his eyes, settling to floating in the air again. The cook doesn’t appreciate the lack of urgency.

“We might still have a chance to-”

“We can’t rely on that.” Warriors grimaces, hating to go against his own point he made moments ago. “We have to be prepared, find out something to solve this.” 

“We’ve been on this quest for ages now.” Wind argues. “We’re chasing the Dark and it’s gotten us nothing. We’ll need some miraculous clue, if anything at all.”

Shadow huffs, growing more annoyed at the situation. At least all eyes are focussed on them, instead of him. The only person that seems to be still paying attention to the vet, instead of caution for the shade, is Sky. 

“Well, this isn’t hurrying up, because every single one of you got the dense part of the triforce, didn’t you?” Shadow starts moving in the opposite direction. 

“Hey-” Twilight attempts, quickly talked over.

“So I suggest we look for Zelda, the princess.” The shade settles. He says it as if it's obvious, only hoping the strangers he just met would know who they meant. 

No one quite disagrees with the plan, they would have to face that at some point anyhow. Not to mention finding their way back out of this forest. They needed to heal up, all of them. They will all pretend they will be fine, and collapse back at the smith’s house. 

They all look to the worst of them, to Time. A raspy voice responds, a clear pain present in his body as he speaks. 

“Alright. Let’s head back.”

Chapter Text

To say the march back to Four’s home was uncomfortable was a massive understatement. 

Everyone contained a blend of emotions, ranging from sadness to anger, but most of all caution. 

Shadow was walking up front, or well, ‘walking’ was giving grace to the situation. Daggers were shot with his eyes in every direction, and he received them well back. Every step he took in the dark forest, he would suddenly blend in with the shades for brief moments, keeping especially the captain alert. 

But, if anyone were to know the path out of the forest it would be them. And so they follow. 

Twilight was giving Time the support he needed, the old man limping, hanging on one side even with the potions he took. ‘Rule keeps sending glances at the wound at the center of Time’s throat. 

Legend stands in the center of it all, and the only thing pulling on him is guilt. The scene runs through his mind a hundred times. Four’s hand clinging to his, pulling with all their might. He could’ve been better, faster. If he hadn’t miscalculated he could see out of his left eye, if he never went to the wretched palace at all– 

A hand settles on his left shoulder, and the vet flinches. Turning his head, Sky meets him with a reassuring smile. No words are said to fill the silence, but the slight reassurance is more than Legend could’ve begged for. The chosen knight looked horrible. Legend kept catching the glances he threw between his eye, and Time. One more reason for them to be alike. 

The forest turns progressively greener, more alive as they are leaving the scene behind. They could finally see a good distance in front of them again. Wild claimed he could spot the blue tops of Hyrule castle above the treeline.

The smith’s house is in sight by the time they don’t smell rotten flesh. 

“We’ll have to tell Dot.” Hyrule grimaces. 

Shadow doesn’t look the happiest about the matter. “I doubt we’ll have to say much.”

His eyebrows raise, but the vet decides to let the shade speak for himself. The door of the house becomes visible. 

The princess is already standing outside, a grim expression as her head searches through the treeline. 

Seeing the faint figure of the wrong smith, her lips raise, shoulders sinking in relief. 

Until she tenses. 

The shade of the smith and the princess freeze upon seeing one another. Shadow looks more afraid if anything, lips curled up tight. Dot’s eyes seem to be searching for a thousand answers for a thousand questions. Not one of them is spoken as she takes steps forward to approach them. 

Shadow seems to want to sink back into the crowd, with the people who carry a faint similarity of themselves. Dot gives him less time to think, long strides approaching them, and then, a hug. 

The princess clings onto the shade as a life line, fingers rustling the fabric of the ashen tunic to confirm that no, it would not dissipate in smoke, and the face she met would not disappear with a glance. 

The shadow’s arms hang in the air a moment, tense, and unsure what to do with them. They’d expected anything, but not this. He’s not sure if he would’ve preferred another knife in the back instead. 

It’s then that Legend notices just how young Shadow actually looked. And he will call himself a hypocrite for thinking like that, but it was true. The face seemed to soften, relax. The similarities with him and Four only became more apparent. In any other situation he could’ve appreciated that. 

The vet barely makes out the muttering into Shadow’s shoulder as Dot speaks up.

“You’re alive.” She breathes. “You’re back.” 

Tense arms wrap around luxurious silk, hesitantly. 

“I am.” Utters a much softer voice than what the chain had heard before. “They were taken.”

“I thought as much.” Dot answers, an emptiness in her voice. As she raises her head, her expression shows determination.

“Taken, not gone, not gone.” Shadow repeats. “I’m not letting them, that’s my job. We’re doing something about it.” 

“Of course you are.” Dot sighs, shoulders sinking. She pulls away, albeit reluctantly, taking upon the gazes of the other heroes who are tense with concern themselves. “There never is a moment of rest for us, is there?” There is restraint in her voice, doing its best not to waver. 

“Please, get inside. You need to heal up, but we need to consider our next actions before you’re swept away again.”

Warriors is swift to take action, everyone getting to move around the still princess and shade. Legend can spot a look of confusion on Shadow’s face as Dot guides him inside. 

Both Twilight and Hyrule herd around the Old man as if he were to collapse at any moment, supporting him on both sides. He had to admit, the older hero did look like he would close his eyes at any moment. Legend finds himself pacing himself with them too, if it were only for the glances the traveller kept shooting between him and Time. 

Shadow steps into the house as a stranger. They stand still in the middle of the room, taking in the home and the various items scattered throughout it, recognising them to be the smith’s. It is starting to be clear that the shade is not the primary concern. Everyone looks downright horrible. 

The vet focuses on the others and himself, first. He and Sky are the first to drop some of their equipment by the kitchen table. The simple movement starts to emphasize the many scratches and bruises forming around his body. And although his eye does not hurt, Hyrule’s healing works wonders, his depth perception suffers greatly. 

The bag meant to drop on the table, falls to the wooden floor with a thud.

He grimaces as he can feel the concerned glance of Sky on him. 

Anxiety rises through him once more. He doesn’t have the time for this, he can’t worry about this. If Legend thinks of this now, it’ll bury himself into the ground. 

He walks away before Sky can say anything about it, the chosen’s mouth hanging open. 

He needs to make sense of this. They need to heal up, who’d take priority? He needs to organise his items properly, he really didn’t get a proper chance in Warriors’ Era. They need potions, but they can’t afford to split up, not right now. Did Four’s era have fairy fountains? He’d have to ask. Was the fairy they needed for Time the last they had? 

The old man, the hypocrite. Talking about  taking care of themselves and entering the fight with injured ribs. 

In his pacing, Legend finds himself walking through the house and into the forge. 

The other wise scorching room is cool, his already black-stained boots now getting clothed with remains of coal. The windows let in a cool breeze, but even then, the Vet could swear he could smell tainted blood.

But most importantly, it was quiet. 

The tools and equipment were outdated by his standards, but that was to be expected. It only made the work more efficient, but a true smith would not need to rely on that, they would exceed far beyond it. 

His eye catches blades, from daggers to greatswords lining the wall. Each of them ranging opposites from one another, in both style and use. A show of skill, something for the entire kingdom of Hyrule to admire. But nothing quite shined like Four’s own blade. 

In all his uncertainty, all his loud thoughts, he does the only thing that can quiet it all down. 

Multiple pairs of abandoned gloves sit atop various surfaces. He puts them on around his ragged hands, grabbing a lump of coal in one hand, and the firerod off of his back with another. 

He gets to work. 

Coughing, shortness of breath, a rising fever. 

Time needed ice, and quick. Warriors had spent too long waiting, trying to assess the situation to realize the emergency in the situation. He hasn’t even been able to look to the others yet, and when did he lose that ability, over a much smaller group no less? 

This wasn’t the worst he’s had to focus through. Why now did he have to falter–? 

Rags and water. A stamina potion for Hyrule. He didn’t want to push the traveller after he already performed two miracles. Time is breathing, and he will be fine. But every time that the older’s hand rises to his throat in a twitch, the captain’s heart jumps a little. 

Not to mention the lack of acknowledgement on Time’s face, and the absence of the veteran in the room.

Goddammit, sprite. 

Twilight reads his mind before he can utter any instructions, because he returns with more potions than he would’ve asked for. A red one is pushed into the traveller’s hands first, and Hyrule for once doesn’t argue to take it before receiving the green bottle. It only means he can get to work quicker. 

Wind is by his side with a bucket of water, and Dot returns from the other room with a handful of towels. They are dunked into the cold water and placed on Time’s forehead soon enough. 

And in the middle of it all stands the shadow. 

Twilight can see the captain in his train of thought, shooting a glance within the same moment, before mouthing a sentence.

‘I’ll take care of it’. 

That’s fine. There were other priorities. 

Glowing hands hover above Time’s rib. Warriors forces himself to create some distance, to leave room for Hyrule. Rather, Wind is also the one pushing him back. 

Turning his head at the squeaking of the forge swing-door handles, Legend rushes in and out of the room, grabbing any piece of metal he can put his hands on. 

When he first goes to grab Time’s dented armour, his hand doesn’t seem to hold it quite as well as he expected. Warriors wishes he wouldn’t at all, the Vet looks horrible, he also seems to be sweating. Was he running up a fever? 

The vet’s other hand clutches various swords and shields, and with that, kicks against the door into the forge once more. 

So that is how it was. 

The warmth of the forge started to be felt through the house, a warm welcome nonetheless, a lingering cold shiver still running over most of them. 

Looking around him, Warriors once again tries to properly grasp the injuries surrounding him. 

Twilight was alright, more than the others. Scrapes of flying arrows and damage to his clothes, much like all the others, but something he could mend personally. What he was, was dirty. Layers of fabric are dyed red and black, and it still was staining his jawline. What the rancher needed was a glass of water to get rid of the taste in his mouth. 

Wind pretends to be alright, and although there are no heavy injuries, no gashes litterling his body, he is scraped and exhausted. But Tune is stubborn, always has been, and refuses to sit down in situations such as these. So the captain does not try to tell him to, instead, lets the pirate turn back to Sky. 

The chosen showed the most consequence of the close up combat, his swordsman-ship proven to cut down most of the monsters on the battlefield, but also suffering from his stamina. While nothing will stop Sky, his injuries do build up. He acts as though there is no hurry in his wounds, but Hyrule should, most likely will, turn to him next.

Speaking of the traveller, he is littered with narrowly healed scars, not enough to disappear, but enough to stop the bleeding. Saving his magic. Wise, but Warriors wished he wouldn’t have to think like that. In the corner of Hyrule’s eyes, a look shoots to Wild, who despite all his accuracy has a few arrow puncture wounds of their own. All in inconvenient, nonsensical places. Monsters never quite care where they hit you, they just care that they do. 

That only leaves Legend, not to mention Four– 

“You should sit down, captain.” Time muses in a hoarse voice. 

“...I prefer to stand.”

“Don’t think I didn’t spot those stab wounds.” Hyrule absentmindedly points to Wars’ sides as he works, eyes focussed on Time’s injury. “I’m getting to you next, don’t make my work any harder than it needs to be.”

Warriors wishes he could’ve placed this on his ignorance on stubbornness or pride, but looking down to his tunic, red stains it. He had hoped that stinging was caused by something else, adrenaline, maybe. 

Nothing fatal. But a dangerous injury nonetheless. A simple, stupid mistake. 

“I do insist, that you all do.” Dot walks around the room, supplies in hand, which she drops onto the table. Bottles, medicine and first aid supplies. All of which covered in a small coat of dust, having been unused for a long time. Not needed. 

“Luckily, Link still had some things lying around. I’m sure that none of them would mind you using everything and anything in their home.”

The captain’s eyes linger a moment on the shade again, who only stares back with just as much suspicion, perhaps resentment. 

Warriors sits down. Shadow disappears into the house. 

The sound of roaring fires, hammer hitting steel resounds through the house from a small distance as the captain, as well as the others get settled to a degree. The time passes in a strain, no one willing to admit to any comfort. 

There isn’t anything to hide behind, but to think. To strategize. Legend seemed to be occupied with the one thing that sat between something distracting and useful in this situation. The chain sat in silence, accompanied by the groaning of metal, the occasional question from the traveller concerning everyone’s health. The moment everything that was bleeding has been either healed or stitched, Hyrule starts to give in to his tiredness. Normally by now, Wild would offer him some sort of candy, something small to keep the half-fae going. The cook only offers him some fruit, which Hyrule gladly takes, before dozing into a deep sleep. Time follows soon after. 

Wild would like to make something, to do anything to take his mind off the situation. But no one is sure if they will stomach anything. 

Warriors is the first to move. He always could think better while doing something, even something as simple as walking. Either to plan, or simply out of restlessness. His feet wander up the stairs of the house, pictures littering the stairway. Some new ones had been added by Wind & Wild recently, the life-like photos contrasting the painted and drawn ones. 

While lingering on these, on the past, the cold present slams him in the face as he enters the colour’s bedroom, devoid of any of them, save for the Shade. 

Pulling back his surprise, Warriors could use this to his advantage, instead. 

“I was wondering if you could clarify some things.” Is what he settles on. Twilight might scold the captain later, but he will reason with the rancher later. 

Shadow’s stare lands on him, making it feel as though he is intruding. He is unwelcome. And to a degree, he is. But until they were willing to explain some things, Warriors would be unable to level with them. 

“Nothing quite went through that thick skull of yours?”

“I was prioritizing the safety of my team at the time.”
“You were prioritizing dragging a sword across my neck.” Shadow spits out. 

Warriors winces. 

“You act as if you know us” He diverts the topic instead. "Four never really mentioned you."

“I do.” Shadow responds, nonchalant. “Like I said, I’m Link’s shadow. I go where they go. They don’t just talk to themselves you know, I’m there too. Maybe they weren't really sure about that. I made quite a scene of my death." The shade rants a bit too comfortably for the topic, and Warriors can't help but pull a confused face. "But now,” 

His eyes wander, as if searching for something. 

“There isn’t as much as a pull. I have no idea where they are, but I know where they will end up.”

“It must be awful.” Warriors only manages to respond. 

Shadow scowls. “Vio always pointed that out you know, you trying to sympathize for information. Noticed it the second we met you.”

 The captain is taken aback– True, it is behaviour he presented at first, taught no less, but now, no, not at all. Shadow continues in his ranting. 

“I’ll tell you what happened. Pinkie down there did not kill them, but they did seal them. Split, they are the very magic of that stupid sword. Trust me, I’ve noticed.” He drags the last few words. “So they’re not dead. But it doesn’t mean that all is well and the problem is solved.” 

“You mentioned he might’ve been black blooded.” Warriors adds to his own reasoning. “How does that even happen?”

“Take a look outside, captain. ” Shadow uses the title as an insult. “It’s not just monsters, it’s plants, tainted waters, animals, life. Dragging an Hylian into that is not much different, if not easier.”

The princess enters the room, her calm demeanor shifting the shade’s behaviour. An expression that Warriors has seen many times before, since Legend joined, crosses Shadow’s face. Now finally, he can recognise what it is. Guilt. 

“We were hoping on some of your advice on the matter, Princess.” Warriors continues.

“So I’ve heard.” Dot speaks up. “Apologies, I was listening in on your conversation. And while I do believe that yes, it might be the black blood, I fear there is a curse, or seal, upon the Four sword as well. One besides its original design. Hard as you may try, that sword is not something that could be tainted by something such as black blood.” 

“So, from the Hero of Legend’s first attempt, what do you have now?” 

Warriors wonders a small moment, but Shadow, ever impatient now, doesn’t let him. “He’s not going to guess, Zelda. Get to it.” Avoiding that most likely, they didn’t either.

Dot can’t help but laugh a little at the impoliteness. “You have the rumoured sword of evil’s bane, closest to its origin as it could get. Whether wielded by Sky, or any of you, it appears your only true device of slaying the Dark. So for all our sakes.” The princess grabs the captain’s hands, holding them tight. 

“Find where the Four swords have been left, and seal it once more in its rightful place, the shrine. You might be able to free both Link and the swords of this rotten curse.” She doesn’t seem to be quite sure of herself, but she is convinced that she has to be. 

Warriors nods in promise. Easier said than done, but he has made many promises of such manner before. They would try everything to get it done. 

Shadow sighs. 

The captain takes the answer, he would relay it to the rest. The princess and Shadow seemed to want a moment for themselves, and he would grant it. Soft murmuring could still be heard as he descends back to the living room. 

Legend had returned, covered in new layers of grime and soot, searing leather gloves still emitting smoke on the table. In the hands of the others sit their equipment. There were still faults to it, not quite as polished. But the vet had performed better work than anyone else besides the smithy could. 

In the vet’s hand rests Warriors’ sword, polished. Warriors can’t but pay attention to some bruises on the vet’s hand as he hands it over. 

“That should take care of our equipment for the next battle, at least.” Legend reassures. 

“Thank you, vet. You did great.” He responds, and he means it. Even Time’s armour, dented to death’s end, could be worn again. “I don’t want any of you to be rushed, but I have something to ask of you, Legend.”

The vet perks up, a little late, showing his already obvious exhaustion. The rest of the chain also lift their heads in curiosity.

“Do you remember where you placed the swords?”

Legend frowns a little before responding. “Anything magical or dangerous should be in my home. Why?”

Warriors hums, turning to the rest. “That’s our first step. The princess hopes that sealing the swords in the rightful place could give us back Four.” The captain’s voice gives away no hint of doubt. 

Relief crosses everyone’s faces, especially Legend’s. He’s glad he can give that reassurance, even if he himself is unsure. But if Warriors could calm every single one of them, for just a moment, he would carry that burden alone at any moment. 

“Then we have something to work to.” Twilight speaks up. “Until then, clean, rest up. You too, captain.” The rancher says it, before Time would have to. “We’re not getting anywhere like this.”

“No, we’re stuck waiting again.” Wind claims. “That’s all we’ve been doing. Yes, we’re getting closer to Four, but that does nothing about the Dark.” He pulls a difficult face. ‘Because that’s the fourth time now! We fight, we get injured, it flees.”

“It’s good that you’re eager, but as Twi said,” Time speaks up from the couch in a more hushed tone. “If we want to do anything, we’ll have to rest. So take the small moment of respite that’s being given to you.”

Wind seems reluctant, they all do to a degree, even the old man. But they give in, even if they won’t truly be able to relax. The sailor brought up a point, something that had left Warriors wondering. The dark never quite finished any of them off. It had gotten dangerously close with Twilight, and once again with Legend, but it never finished the job. 

If it was a way of exhausting them, it was an awful long game. 

He lingers on this thought as he goes to wash up, while Wild offers him some food and finally when he lays down to rest. There is plenty of room in the house, yet every single one of them takes their spot in the communal space. Not a single person is left out of sight. 

Warriors spends the first hours awake, an unofficial first watch, keeping track of Time’s steady breath, until his eyes fall shut together with the others. 

It’s bright, when Legend opens his eyes. A soft breeze passes over his face and through his hair, the sweet smell of rain after a warm summer day. 

He questions where he had fallen asleep that night, if everything in Four’s Era had really happened. Maybe he had moved outside. 

He sits up, seeing the chain surrounding them, all still asleep. Taking in the rest of his surroundings, he finally looks up. 

Bright, red apples hanging from healthy trees meet him.

Link screws his eyes shut again, and buries himself in his sleeping bag. 

He refuses to fall for the same trick twice.

Chapter Text

Warriors remembered what Ravio had described his home as. 

The merchant could talk on and on about any given topic, but the land of ‘Lorule’ wasn’t one that he seemed as open about. The occasion that he did was under grim circumstances. 

A number of battles had taken turns for the worse, leaving many injured, including himself, Tune and Mask. Still, he was better off. The younger heroes were the ones who needed to spend longer within the infirmary. 

The first hint he’d gotten was that with the war, it was starting to look more and more like the merchant’s home. There was a faint tone of fondness when he said it, but if he could’ve read Ravio’s expression, he’d see a mourning face. But he managed to move on to a more positive note. 

It was growing. A ‘rebirth’ had happened, as he described it. The land was turning for the better, it was just the people that had to grow with it. He could wait, though. For now, he was glad to stay in Hyrule instead. Because truly, they weren’t so different. Not even the people. 

Warriors was unsure how to comment back then. It was difficult to give a sort of reassurance when his own kingdom was at the cusp of ruin. He’d ask how Hyrule was instead, the people, the land, the hero. He’d grown an unhealthy habit of comparing himself with the heroes across time that the visitors spoke of– Whether or not he’d ever live up to them, or survive to do so. 

‘Alive’. Filled with a bitterness, but so alive. That against all odds, it all continued to flourish. Although Ravio was glad to have the new company, he longed for home. The sun shining through between dark clouds, the smell of a past rainy day in summer, the sweetness of apples. He wouldn’t complain about the warmth of a sunny day ever again.

The description hit him, word for word, as Warriors wakes up to an open sky. Sun filters through the leaves delicately, a warm breeze passing over them. Warriors can’t help but shoot up at the sudden new surroundings, but even then, there was no danger. 

The chain was in the same state as before, when they had all taken their spots in Four’s home. Hyrule and Twilight were still close to Time, Sky still laying on his left side so as to not put pressure on his right. A portal must’ve opened from under all of them. A switch so careful that none of them had noticed at all.

They were safe, now. Warriors doesn’t like thinking how dangerous it could have been, had they been put anywhere else. 

The only difference besides himself was Legend. The vet had buried his face against the sleeping bag, only a few hairs sticking out. He looked tense. Whether he was asleep or not was the question. 

He carefully raises his hands to poke the rancher, quietly. 

Twilight’s eyes scrunch up somewhat in annoyance, but he is always quick to wake. 

Twi’s eyes open, and just as quickly narrow at the sunlight in his face. He twitches, slightly shaking the traveller resting against him, until his gaze settles in a concerned stare aimed at the captain. 

The same cogs and wires go through the rancher’s mind before he whispers a quick conclusion. 

“As if we didn’t have enough to worry about.” 

Wars can only nod. 

The others start to rouse at the movement. He needed to rationalize the situation before Sky woke up at least. 

One. They were safe, that he knew. If he didn’t pick up anything, Twilight would have. Warriors envied such an ability. 

Two, they switched most likely into Legend’s Era, if the vet’s description of his apple orchard was correct. The chance that they were somewhere entirely else was still there, but to ask that to Legend now was a risky move. He might already be questioning it himself, based on his arms being pulled over his head. 

Three– 

“Guys?” Wild, one of their lightest sleepers, calls. “Where are we?” 

Shit. 

“We’re okay.” Is the first thing Twilight hollers back. “Not sure where we are, but we’re alright.”

Everyone is quick to rise when they realise the change of scenery. The only one he really has his eye on is Legend, who’s awake, staring. Rather than distant, or even just groggy, his eyes are dead set on all of them as they start collecting their things. 

The shock of their last battle reminds Warriors stubbornly, when the vet turns his face to meet him. His one remaining eye is wide open.

“Ledge?” Wars starts, hoping not to startle him. “Look familiar?”

Legend’s sight cleared up, looking towards the captain. 

“Sure does.” He eventually speaks up. He’s still looking around him. Dreams were real, but sometimes, just sometimes, he could find discrepancies. How the falling of light didn’t make sense, or clouds just too much alike one another. 

Nothing about the scene in front of him was perfect. Every member of the chain had equal levels of confusion and concern. Besides, most of them had carried over a scar from yesterday's battle. 

“My Hyrule. We’re very close to my home, actually.” The pacing of the words come out a little irregular. “We’re safe.” 

The vet can see the relief travel across Time’s face. Still, the elder suits himself in the armour he had fixed up not too long ago. The both of them could pretend like they were uninjured, but it wouldn’t get them far. 

Hyrule seemed positive to a degree, at least. His protégé seemed curious of his surroundings, patiently taking it all in. Wind on the other hand was eager to get going. 

“That’s great! Then we can look for the swords, right?” He’s already on his feet. 

Time looks towards Legend, and he responds with a nod, his head pointing in the direction of his home. 

The old man carries out a more guiding voice. “Alright, pack up your things, we’re moving.” 

“Let’s hope Ravio didn’t sell them while I was gone.” Legend says in a joking manner, before coming to the realisation that it was a very real possibility. 

The captain’s recoiled expression says it all. 

“Sorry, Ravio?” Sky speaks up, in the midst of tying the sailcloth to his shoulders. 

“Oh, right.” He perks up. “He lives with me. Met him on one of my latest quests. He’s great, if he weren’t trying to scam the entirety of Hyrule with my stuff.” 

Wild snickers at that.

“We’ve also met him during my journey.” Warriors responds. “It’ll be nice to see him again, if he’s home.”

If he’s home. 

He really hopes he is. 

His feet are restless, anxiety pulling him to the direction of his home. There’s just one thing unaccounted for.