Chapter Text
Legend loves Warriors’ family’s house. (Not that he’d ever tell the man.)
(Not that Wars probably hadn’t figured it out, anyway.)
Oh, it isn’t much to look at. Just a tiny building on the corner of two narrow streets, a shop on the first floor with mannequins wearing sturdy garments in the window. The upper floors are cramped and crowded, everything from sewing gear to children's toys stuffed in every available corner. To someone who should have been raised in a palace, it should be an affront.
To someone who had, instead, been raised in an equally tiny cottage, one that is now filled to the brim with magic items and knicknacks and maps and a thousand things gathered from a hundred places, it's perfect.
His wife sits at a largish table, next to a woman who, to Legend’s eye, looks very much like her son. Myth sits on the floor, intently stacking a set of worn wooden blocks, while two girls- ten or so, from the look of it, although they were a bit on the small side, in a way that spoke less of genetics and more of hardship- read nearby.
Marin and the woman look up as the door closes behind Warriors. Both smile widely, and Marin rises to run into Legend’s arms. “Link! You made it!”
“I did. We just got in a couple of hours ago,” Legend confirms, smiling back. “How’ve you been, love?”
“Good. Artemis is taking good care of us. As is Mama Taylor,” Marin says. “Hello, Warriors.”
“Hi Marin. Hello Mama,” Wars says with a grin of his own. “We ran into Linkle in town. Where’s Zelda?”
“Here!” Artemis’ voice comes from the kitchen. A few seconds later, she ducks far enough into the doorway to see the newcomers. “Coffee, Link?”
“Yes please. Lege?”
“Tea, if there’s any. Milk and sugar please,” Legend says with a nod. He kisses Marin’s cheek, then lets go to kneel next to Myth. “Hello, kit.”
Myth looks up with a wide, toothy grin, then clambers up and throws herself into her father’s arms. “Papa! Papa home!”
“I am.” Legend holds her tight as she clings like a koala. It takes a second and a bit of fidgeting, but he manages to stand and turn back to Mama Taylor, a lopsided smile doing nothing to hide the tears in the corners of his eyes. “So,” he says, lightly, “I hear we’re related.”
She laughs. “Ah, so ye finally remembered,” the older lady says to her son. “Been waitin’ a dog’s age for ye to bring the little to visit.”
“Sorry, Mama,” Wars says, flushing as he rubs the back of his neck with one hand. “It’s been a weird year.”
“Aye, so I’ve heard. Zelda’s been nice enough t’ visit now and again. She says ye found yer boys again?”
Warriors shakes his head, the smile slipping from his face. “Yes and no. Mask is grown now, and Tune doesn’t remember us yet. We haven’t told him anything about his part in the war, and he’s going by Wind at the moment.”
“I see. Well, sit, lads, and tell us all about yer adventures.” She waves them into chairs; Legend sits next to Marin, Myth still clinging to him. Artemis sets a cup of steeping tea in front of him, then coffee by Warriors, and fetches her own before joining them. “Zelda told me you’re travelling in time?”
Warriors nods and launches into the tale. Legend sits back, nose buried in Myth’s hair while Marin scootches close enough to lean into his shoulder. It’s a good feeling, one that has his heart soaring in a contentment he’s slowly learning to recognize.
Somehow, it lasts the afternoon.
Eventually, Myth gets squirmy, as toddlers do, and worms her way out of Legend’s arms to return to her blocks and her playmates. Linkle and the girls return a little while later, arms full of groceries and giggling over a story of meeting Time and Hyrule in the markets. “I told’em you were stayin’ with us,” she said with a wink, “so they didn’t worry. The brown-haired one looked confused, but Mask just grinned at us and said to have fun and he’d explain it.”
Warriors groans at that. “Sure he will. Mask doesn’t explain anything.”
“Rulie does, though. He may not understand, but he’ll let the others know,” Legend says, patting his arm. He kisses Marin’s cheek and rises to help with the groceries. “Did you get the apples?”
“Mhm. And all the spices ya wanted,” one of the younger girls confirms. Her name is either Lila or Lucy, and he can’t quite tell which is which yet. “The spice shop owner even gave us a deal on some of them, cause no one buys cardamom or allspice, so it was all just sitting there looking sad.”
“That’s a pity,” Legend replies. He takes a few of the bags and starts digging into them, pulling out small, labeled packets. “This is perfect. Mrs. Taylor, may I use your oven? I promised the girls pie, and it’s best fresh.”
“Of course, lad. And just call me Mama.”
Legend blushes. “Okay, Mama.”
“Can we help?” the other girl asks. Legend glances at Mama for confirmation; she nods, and he smiles at her.
“Alright. I need two mixing bowls, a cast iron skillet, a cutting board, and a rolling pin. Also a clean spot on the counter to roll out the dough. Linkle, can you heat the oven? I need coals, not flame, at 375°.”
Linkle nods and heads into the kitchen. Lucy and Lila scurry around, finding the items and clearing a space. Warriors raises an eyebrow. “Anything I can do, Lege?”
“Yeah, don’t touch the pie,” Legend snarks, grinning. “I still remember that monstrosity you and Hyrule made before Wild joined us.”
A snort comes from the kitchen at that, and Linkle pokes her head back out. “Ye still never learned to cook, eh? Guess I’ll have to thank this Wild o’ yours for making sure you lot don't starve.”
“Do it, it’ll make his day,” Legend says, chuckling at the hurt look on Warriors’ face, and thrusts the bag of apples at him. “Oh, don’t pout. Here. Wash these. And find me a sharp kitchen knife, long enough to get through the apples but not huge.”
Warriors salutes and takes the bag.
A moment later, Artemis appears, one arm cradling a container of flour. “You’re good at that,” she says softly. “Giving orders.”
“Yeah.” Some of the energy bleeds from his bearing, replaced by a quiet sadness. “My uncle was a Knight Captain. I grew up watching him on the training grounds when I wasn’t sick. He taught me some things about command, said I’d need them one day when I took his place.”
“That didn’t happen,” Artemis says, and Legend shakes his head.
“Never got the chance. He- died, when I was nine. It was the start of my first adventure,” Legend replies, his voice quiet enough to not carry past the table. “The knights in my homeland were corrupted by a magician. He kidnapped Zelda and blamed me. I… I fixed it, sort of, but the knighthood never really recovered. Zelda’s working on it, but she’s only been queen for a year and most of her advisors still think of her as a kid. It’s slow going.”
Something flashes through the Queen’s eyes, a mix of horror, sadness, and sympathy. It’s a mix he knows well, and the thought crosses his mind that Artemis knows more than her fair share about traitor knights. He gives her a half smile. “You should visit.”
“What?”
“When this is over, and I get that portal thing Lana gave me set up. Warriors is going to be there as often as he can, especially since Myth is his niece. You should come with. I know Fable would love to meet you.”
Artemis sets the flour down as she considers it. “Possibly,” she says eventually, then grins. “You know, I just had a thought.”
“Oh?”
“Well, you Links all got to meet,” she says, her eyes flashing in that ‘I just had a wonderfully horrible idea’ way that Fable’s did from time to time. It's just as chilling in blue eyes as violet. “Why should we be any different? After all, we’re all related, and families have reunions, or so I’ve heard.”
Legend stares at her long enough for Warriors to come back with the knife and freshly washed apples. “What’s going on?”
The vet turns to him, violet eyes dancing. “Zelda conference.”
It’s Warriors’ turn to stare. “That, Lege, is a terrifying thought.”
“I know.”
“You’re going to make it happen, aren’t you?”
“Yep.”
The captain groans and sets the knife on the table before running his hand over his face and plopping down onto the couch. “I never should’ve had Lana make you that portal.”
Legend laughs and pulls a small paring knife from his bag. Lucy hands him a battered-looking cutting board; Legend sets it on the table, then picks up an apple and starts peeling it. “Oh, don’t be such a drama queen. Besides, there’s something you might not have considered.”
“What’s that?” Warriors asks.
“Wind. Or Tune. Whichever you want to call him.” Legend finishes the first apple and sets it aside. Lucy steals the peel and crunches it between her teeth. Legend grins at her.
“What about him?”
“How old was he when you knew him?”
“Seventeen. Why- oh.”
“Yeah. That’s, what, two years from now?” Lila brings the bowls. Artemis grabs the peeled apple, then takes the knife from the table and glances at Legend. He nods and makes two small cuts with the paring knife, showing her how thin to slice it. “It’s been hell on you and Time, being so careful with him. He’s going to go through the same thing in reverse.”
“At least he’ll know we survive,” Wars says softly. “I… we don’t have that. And I’m sort of terrified to find out.”
Two knives pause simultaneously as a soft “Oh” escapes Artemis’ lips. Legend carefully sets down the apple and knife, then moves to crouch in front of Wars. “What happens to him?” he asks, the words careful.
“It was… Mask said it was a time loop,” Warriors answers. He has to force the words out. Legend takes his hand and Wars grips it like a lifeline. “There was an attack on the medic’s tent where they were getting checked out after a battle. Tune… there was a spear… it should have been me.”
Artemis kneels next to them. She places a hand on Warriors’ cheek; he leans into it and closes his eyes. It doesn’t stop the tears. “Lana came,” she says, finishing the story. “Normally she’d just heal us and move on, but… she sent him home instead. None of us know if he survived or not. She won’t say.”
“Shit.” Fucking time shenanigans. No wonder Time hated Lana so much. “Wars, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t’ve pried.”
“No, it’s okay. You couldn’t have known.”
“It’s still shitty. Goddesses, no wonder you two freak out every time he gets hurt.” Legend feels like he wants to punch something. Instead, he gets up and picks up another apple. “Maybe if we end up in Labrynnia, I could find out. Nayru still owes me a favor, after all.”
Whatever Wars was going to say is interrupted as a small hand takes his. He opens his eyes to see Myth, her violet eyes dark with concern. “Uncle sad?” she asks.
Uncle. “Yeah, a little,” he says.
“No sad.” She climbs up onto his lap- or tries to, anyway, and Warriors smiles a little as he reaches down to help her up. Myth snuggles into his chest, then looks up at him. “Hugs help?”
Warriors chuckles, even if the sound is a little forced, a little broken. He can’t help it. “Hugs almost always help, little one. Thank you.”
“Okay.” She snuggles closer. “I stay til Uncle no sad.”
You’re going to be here a long time, little one. Warriors says nothing out loud, just wraps his arms around Myth and buries his face in her hair.
Because of this, he misses two things.
One is the looks that Artemis, Legend, Marin, and Linkle share. Of all of them, they know the horrors of war, the pain of loss and betrayal, and the existential terror that comes from watching someone you love die- or even nearly die- in front of you. There’s an unspoken agreement to keep a better eye on Warriors.
The second, which no one expected, is the glow.
It starts with Legend’s triforce mark, the three triangles on his hand glowing dimly in the fading daylight. Artemis’ is next, slightly brighter, although only a single piece lights up. Warriors’ follows a second later. A soft gasp from Marin draws Legend’s attention. He glances at her, only to see her staring at something, and–
Oh, Hylia.
“Two of them,” Artemis murmurs. “Wisdom and Courage?”
Legend swallows, his mouth suddenly drier than the Gerudo Desert. “Yeah. Fuck. It’s too soon, she’s barely a year old, how-”
Peace, my champion.
The voice comes from nowhere and everywhere at the same time, yet no one else reacts. It’s familiar, even though Legend is sure he’s never heard it before.
Fucking goddesses.
What do you want with my daughter?
There’s a hint of a chuckle. She is a descendant of Hylia and the daughter of a child of the Wind Fish and the greatest hero Hyrule will ever know.
No I’m not. If I was, Hyrule wouldn’t have to exist.
Sadness, now. You will grant them a Golden Age and a thousand years of peace.
A thousand years, huh. Is it that long between them? Details, Farore. Answer the question.
Amusement. She is Zelda. The Light of Hyrule. And the first, in a very long time, to be raised with love and family instead of formality and coldness. She will be a strong Queen and loved by her subjects for her compassion and wisdom. And, in Hyrule’s moment of need, a Heroine in her own right. There is a reason her reign is still remembered in your successor’s time.
Something cold wraps itself around Legend’s heart. No. I never… I don’t want that for her. She shouldn’t have to be! You said there would be peace!
Not all heroes are formed in blood, Prince of Hyrule. Courage can arise outside of combat.
Legend contemplates that for a moment. You’re talking about a choice, he theorizes. Something that will change the course of history.
Indeed. Guide her well, Link.
I’ll do my best.
That is all we ask.
Time snaps into place almost before Legend realizes it had stopped. Something must show on his face, because Artemis is staring at him in concern. “Legend?”
“I… need a minute,” he says, trying not to break into either tears or hysterics. Maybe both.
Mama must’ve noticed too, because her eyes soften. “Go downstairs. Should be quiet this time o’ night,” she says. “We’ll take care of Link and the little til ya get back.”
Legend nods, then darts through the door before anyone else can respond. It takes less than a moment to reach the closed shop below.
Another sees him outside, and before the bell stops ringing he’s lost himself in the darkening streets.