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Chapter Text

When the hero of the wild first told Malon of his fight against the Yiga clan, he had made them sound like a bunch of incompetent idiots. However, she had never expected them to be able to travel through eras, much less to come for her.

It had been a regular afternoon, she had tended to the cuccoos and was stocking her carriage for delivery to the castle town marketplace tomorrow when they popped out of nowhere. She will forever deny the surprised shriek that escaped her.

"That's her!" one of them hollered, "Get her!" Malon wished she could say she took them down with ease, but she was currently armed with only a box of glass bottles, so while she did take out a couple of them (the farm animals did too, with Epona kicking one of them away), they eventually became too much for her to handle.

Now, she was spending her afternoon in a dusty old jail cell eons away from home. Hylia, she could only imagine how her boys will react when they find Lon Lon Ranch ransacked. Hopefully they can talk Link out of using Fierce Deity again, she mused, last time was bad enough.

"Alla ya are nothin but a bunch of pig headed cowards!" a powerful voice screeched, interrupting Malon's thoughts. The rattle of chains could be heard from the other end of the hall. She got to her feet just as two Yiga rounded the corner, each of them holding onto a girl's arm. The girl had short, dirty blonde hair and sparkling green eyes. She was in a tattered white shirt and red capris.

"You've been screaming for nearly an hour!" one of them sapped at her. "Is shut up not in your vocabulary?!"

"And I'll keep screechin' if ya don't get your hands off me this instant, you buncha pansies!" Malon stifled a laugh as both of the Yiga froze in disbelief.

"Just-just get in the cell already!" one of them regained their composure and all but shoved the girl into the cell, leaving her sprawled out on the ground in front of Malon.

"Spineless cowards!" she hollered after them as they all but ran from the dungeon.

"Are ya hurt?" Malon held a hand out to the girl.

"Nah, the horses have tossed me harder back home," she took Malon's hand and got to her feet. "So who are ya anyway?"

"I'm Malon. I can't say I've seen you before. Are you a friend of Wild's?"

"Wild? Ya mean the gremlin Link adopted?" She shook her head, "I'm Ilia, the hero of twilight is my childhood friend."

"The hero of time is my husband."

"Oh..." Ilia clamped a hand over her mouth, "So how'd these guys find that out."

"Honestly I don't got the faintest idea," Malon admitted, "Although I have a feeling this cell’s gonna get very full very quickly."

Malon had been proven right when, not even a day later, the yiga were walking someone else into the cells.

"Did they really capture a Zelda?" Ilia shot to her feet. She and Malon had spent the better part of the evening trying to figure out a way to escape the hideout before realizing they still had to travel across dimensions to get home.

"I wouldn't put it past them." Malon answered, moving away from the cell door just before the yiga swung it open. The girl shrugged her shoulders and walked in.

"At least this one's nice," the yiga muttered.

"This one can still hear ya," Ilia shot back. She grabbed a hardened piece of dirt (so it was almost a rock) and chucked it after the quickly exiting yiga clan member.

"Nice shot," Zelda commented.

"Thanks, your highness," Ilia smirked, "Wait do we need to bow or somethin'?"

"Oh, I'm not Zelda," she laughed, tossing the crown on her head to the side. "Name's Linkle."

"Well you certainly haven't aged a day," Malon hugged Linkle.

"Meanwhile you aged like ten years! I heard you and the little gremlin got married."

"We did," Malon smiled.

"Wait wait rewind," Ilia interrupted, "You're not Zelda but you're dressed as her why? and you two know each other how?"

"I'm the twin sister to the captain and also body double for both him and the princess," Linkle grinned. "But I met Malon when she got dragged through a portal and helped us fight a war."

"So did Zelda see the yiga coming?" Malon asked. Linkle nodded.

"They landed in the rancher's hyrule a couple days ago and word is he was mad when they heard what happened to you." Linkle had turned towards Ilia. "Took the gremlin, Link, and some guy named Rusl to get him to not go after you."

"Yep, that sounds like him," Ilia sighed. "Damn idiot forgets the last time he went charging in after me caused his whole first quest."

"He's probably just worried," Malon spoke up, "Goddesses know those boys are gonna have their work cut out for them when my Link sees what those yiga did to the ranch."

"They trashed your ranch?!" Linkle and Ilia gasped in unison. Malon nodded and began telling the story of her abduction.

Chapter Text

Linkle was starting to get bored. She had been in this cell for three days now and as much as she loved Malon (and now Ilia) she could only sit still for so long. Ilia had even shown her where to find harder dirt deposits and the two of them had taken turns trying to nail the sleeping guards head while Malon called out scores.

(Which were heavily biased; bouncing a pebble off the wall does not count in her opinion.)

So when the guards came in with something that wasn't food, but rather someone, the three of them looked on in curiosity. For once it was not a woman the yiga were dragging but rather a man with bright red hair styled into a mohawk. He was also barely conscious. However, that seemed to be the only thing wrong with him. The yiga on the other hand looked so much worse. One of the yiga were limping a little bit and part of their costume was torn to shreds, as if they had gotten mauled by an animal. The other one's mask had a fist shaped crack right in the middle of the eye. they were missing part of their ponytail and their shoulder had an open wound bleeding out as they moved.

They unceremoniously dropped the guy in the cell and all but ran from the room. Linkle's years as a war medic took over and she began assessing the guy for wounds.

"Is he dead?" Ilia asked, joining Linkle's side.

"Nope. probably just got clocked a little too hard on the head."

"So we just have to wait until he gets up," Malon decided.

Groose was not having a good day. One second he's racing Zelda, Cawlin, and Strich on their loftwings and the next second they're fighting these really weird looking monster guys. Initially, they had been doing well against these guys; between the four of them and his Groosenator mini, they were dropping like flies. But then one of them teleported Zelda right off her loftwing and tried to run off with her. Everyone screamed when that happened (even the guy who took her, after Zelda had punched through his mask). Groose had jumped off his loftwing, pulled Zelda away from him and...

The rest was a blank. Damn he hated not remembering things.

Now he was in some sort of dungeon with three ladies he's never seen before (though one of them looked strikingly similar to Zelda).

"So who's on explanation duty?" the Zelda lookalike asked.

"Malon did it last time so I'll do it," a girl answered before sitting down in front of him.

"Explanation?" Groose parroted.

"Ya done traveled 'cross dimensions 'cause these pigheaded fools couldn’t be bothered to pick a fight with Link, so they came after all’a us instead." Groose tilted his head in confusion.

"I understood none of that."

"I thought I explained it pretty good," the girl pouted.

"You did, Ilia," Malon answered. "Though perhaps maybe more detail would be better next time?" She shrugged in response.

"Here, I'll do it," the Zelda lookalike volunteered. "I'm Linkle, twin sister to the hero of warriors, the girl that tried explaining everything to you is Ilia, childhood friend of the hero of twilight, and the missus is Malon, the wife of the hero of time. The people that brought us are yiga from the era of the wild and honestly I think they're just trying to pick a fight with the heroes at this point."

"Oh..." Groose turned towards Ilia, "Why didn't you just say that?"

"I did!" she huffed.

"So who are you and which era are you from?" Linkle asked.

"Name's Groose. I'm from Skyloft. Though these guys were originally coming after Zelda but I kinda jumped on them."

"I was doin' a delivery at the castle when they nabbed me too," Ilia added.

"So you all think they were trying to capture the Zeldas the whole time but they keep getting it wrong?" Malon questioned.

"I mean I was dressed up as Zelda at the time they took me," Linkle admitted.

"So these guys are just blind or something?"

"I guess so," Ilia laughed.

"ow oW OWWW! She's biting me!" the yiga screamed from down the hall. Ilia and Groose perked up. The two were deep into a dirt drawing contest being officiated by Linkle. Malon, meanwhile, woke up from her nap.

"Stop that- hold still!" another voice said sternly. "She has my banana!"

"I like her," Ilia smiled.

"You haven't even met her," Groose pointed out.

"She's a biter and that's an automatic win in my book."

"How do you even know she's the right one?!" the yiga shouted.

"The boss said a small blonde girl dressed as a pirate! And that's her- STOP IT THAT'S MY HAND!" The two yiga all but ran and threw their current hostage into the cage. Groose managed to catch the small girl before she could crash unceremoniously on the ground.

"Thanks!" she smiled at him. Linkle clamped a hand over her mouth. The girl was no older than six.

"No problem!"

"I want to ask you something," Malon called out to the yiga before they could run away.

"What is it?" one of them asked, their hand bleeding a bit.

"Are you trying to capture the princesses from each era?"

"I told you you were too loud," the second yiga whirled on him.

"Well it's not my fault the halls echo, Yuki!"

"And now he just said my name," Yuki said to himself, facepalming his broken mask. "To answer your question, princess, yes. The plan is to capture the Zelda from each era."

"Well ya done a bang up job so far," Ilia snorted. "I ain't no Zelda and neither are they," Ilia pointed behind her.

"WHAT?!" Yuki exploded. He then rounded on his fellow guard, "Suki you said that these were the princesses!"

"That's what my intel said!" Suki protested. "They said the hero of time's princess resided with him in a farm and we literally picked up those two in the throne rooms!" he pointed at Linkle and Ilia.

"I swapped places with her," Linkle grinned.

"Looks like Time's swoonin' came back to bite ya," Ilia teased Malon, who was as red as her hair.

"The Master is gonna murder us at this rate..." Yuki muttered to himself. "So none of you are princess Zelda?"

"Do I look like a princess to you?" Groose deadpanned.

"My big brother says I'm a princess but probably not the one you're looking for," the little girl answered. "That's Tetra." Yuki was at a loss for words.

"Well at least they're related to the hero?" Suki tried. Yuki grabbed his fellow guard by the ponytail and all but dragged him out of the dungeon, leaving the five in silence.

"I'm Aryll!" the little girl smiled, breaking the silence, "Nice to meet you guys!"

Chapter Text

"So how exactly did you get taken?" Linkle asked. Aryll was sprawled out on her lap, fast asleep after nearly talking Groose's ear off about Outset Island and her seagulls. She had been here for nearly a week and had honestly taken the whole kidnapping across dimensions thing in stride. Then they found out this is her second time getting kidnapped by weirdos (her words) so she was used to this. Ilia, meanwhile, had taken to braiding Malon's hair, but both were still listening to the story.

"Well..." Ravio smiled sheepishly, "It went like this..."

"So people close to the heroes have been abducted?" Ravio asked Fable. The two of them were sitting in the castle garden, enjoying some afternoon snacks.

"Yes. Link reached out with a letter after they had reached the captain's hyrule and found his twin sister missing," Fable answered.

"I didn't even know the captain had a sister."

"Neither did the other heroes. Apparently it was a well kept secret since she often swaps places with both the captain and their Zelda."

"That aside, this puts you in a lot of danger, your highness!" Ravio realized, "Because you're the princess and the hero's sister. That makes you a very worthy target!"

"Well this just gives us time to prepare."

The Yiga had come for them nearly two days after that. While most were taken out by the onslaught of royal guards, Suki and three others had made it to the throne room, where Ravio had remained with Fable.

"Surrender the princess and we might let you live," Suki ordered. Fable readied herself to fight, but was stopped when Ravio stood in front of her.

"Good sirs, surely you don't want to do this," he reasoned, "the heroes have alerted us to what you all have been doing and I think there is a much more valuable target here than the princess the hero saved time and time again."

"Ravio, what are you doing?" Fable hissed.

"Just trust me," he whispered back. "I promised Mr. Hero nothing would happen to you and I want to keep that promise."

"And who could be a more worthy target than the reincarnation of Hylia herself?"

"Me. The hero's beloved husband."

"They didn't buy it at first but Zelda backed me up and said how much the hero hated going on quests to rescue her," Ravio concluded. "They just eventually took me because I kept talking long enough for Zelda to escape."

"Poor Suki is gonna be hearin' it from Yuki for this..." Ilia laughed.

"Only you would be able to convince a bunch of people you married the hero, Ravio," Linkle said fondly.

"So then are you two actually married or not?" Groose asked.

"...For tax evasion purposes." Malon muffled her laughter, trying very hard to not wake up Aryll.

"Taxes?" Ilia tilted her head in confusion.

"This Groosenator," Ravio mused, "How far is its range?"

"Well, it's able to shoot far enough to hit a monster trapped at the bottom of a pit," Groose answered, "Don't know how far it is though."

"Think its possible to ride it?" Aryll had seen Malon's braided hair and was now having Ilia braid hers as well. "Link told me he rode a cannon before and the Groose machine sounds similar."

"The Groosenator is no mere cannon! Though now I'm wondering if I could ride it..."

"Ya oughta test it when you get back and let us know," Ilia suggested.

"How would he do that if we're all back in our dimensions?" Linkle piped up.

"Who said any of you would be going back?" Yuki returned to the dungeon.

"Where's your little friend?" Groose smirked.

"Oh! the one I bit?" Aryll added. "He seemed nice!"

"Honey, none of these guys are supposed to be nice," Malon said gently.

"Well if you must know, Suki is handling our latest capture."

"Let me guess, not a Zelda?" Linkle said smugly.

"It never is," Ilia added. However, their jokes and taunts came to a halt when Suki dragged in a hylia damned moblin. Aryll shrieked and scrambled behind Ilia. Linkle put herself in between it and Ravio (much to the merchant's embarrassment) while Groose and Malon looked about ready to jump the moblin and the yiga.

"Are you all out of your minds?!" Malon snapped at them. "Why would you trap a monster in here with us if we're supposed to be your hostages?! We can't be a hostage if we're dead."

"And a moblin nonetheless..." Groose glared at monster. The monster disregarded the ongoing argument, walked in and just sat on the ground.

"It's not attacking?" Ravio peeked out from behind Linkle.

"He attacked us," Yuki mumbled.

"Well yeah, you guys deserve it," Aryll said matter of factly.

"You all would not believe this!" Suki exclaimed. Yuki sighed in exasperation before walking away. "We had made it into the castle and there was this girl, not a Zelda I think because she was not blonde, but she was in the library reading to this guy," Suki pointed at the moblin. "As soon as they saw us, the moblin just tore through our guys. poor Zuki's stuck on bedrest for at least another week."

"So the moblin defended this girl from you all?" Malon looked at the moblin then back at Suki.

"Yeah! Then when we did find Zelda, this guy would not let us reach her, so we nabbed him instead since our portal was closing."

"Well if he was defending the princess then that means he's our friend!" Aryll exclaimed, climbing out from behind Ilia.

"I don't know..." Linkle hesitated.

"Ah mean, it is possible," Ilia piped up. "Link ended up friends with the bulblin that nabbed me. They still meet up to wrangle every once in a while."

"Perhaps we could just ask him?" Ravio suggested.

"Does it even understand us?" Suki questioned. The moblin nodded its head in response. Outcry exploded in the dungeon.

"Cool!" Groose exclaimed.

"Okay okay settle down, everyone," Malon ordered before turning towards the moblin. "Are you going to harm any of us?" The moblin shook its head.

"So you're our friend?" Aryll asked. A beat of silence. Then another nod.

"Great! At least now I know this guy won't kill the hostages," Suki spoke up. "I'll be leaving now, holler if anything happens!"

"He's nice for an interdimensional kidnapper," Ravio pointed out once he was gone.

"Honestly its a little weird," Linkle agreed, "But better him than someone torturing us." Aryll meanwhile, moved in front of the moblin.

"So what's your name?"

Chapter Text

Secret the moblin as it would turn out was able to understand them but not able to speak any hylian with the exception of the word Secret (which is how he got his name.) However, he could answer yes and no questions so for the remainder of the evening, everyone took turns asking yes or no questions to get to know their new inmate better.

(Groose got banned by Linkle and Malon after trying to ask if he had done the deed before in front of Aryll).

Now here they were, four girls, two guys and a moblin, trapped in a dungeon. Honestly it sounded like the beginning of a really bad joke.

"So how come we haven't tried escaping yet?" Groose asked.

"I was wondering that too," Ravio added. "It could be a while before the heroes make it to the champions hyrule."

"It's unfamiliar territory," Linkle spoke up, "Even if we made it out, we have no idea where to go."

"Plus we're in a desert," Malon answered, "I think the nearest area to here would be Gerudo Town. But if its anything like my Gerudo Town, Groose, Ravio and Secret would be killed upon entry."

"Yer kidding," Ilia gasped.

"Either that or they'd have to do trials like my husband did."

"Maybe we should wait in case they bring in more people," Linkle suggested. "if there's nine heroes then there might be nine hostages."

"Then for now, we wait," Malon agreed. Aryll, who had been trying to teach Secret how to play rock paper scissors with varying success, paused her game as footsteps echoed in the hallway.

"Guys! Suki's back," she exclaimed excitedly. Secret growled at the approaching yiga.

"Okay! I can see he's still mad at me," Suki put his hands up in surrender. "But bright side is I come bearing bananas and we actually know who we caught this time!"

"Do we even have to ask if its princess Zelda?" Groose grabbed a banana before passing the bunch around.

"Nope! we nabbed the granddaughter of the sheikah tribe elder."

"Oh so she's from this era?" Ravio spoke up.

"Yep."

"Suki, stop being so friendly to the hostages and come help me!" Yuki's voice rang from across the hallway.

"I didn't think you needed help with a teenage girl considering you left me to deal with a very angry moblin!" Suki shot back.

"Honestly sounds like Yuki don' like ya much," Ilia commented.

"Not many people here do," Suki admitted. "Kinda became the bottom banana after I got the wrong girl three times in a row."

"That's rough buddy," Groose said in between bites.

Paya was trying her hardest not to cry, scream, or do anything that would show weakness in front of these yiga. Surely Cado and Dorian had to have seen her get abducted. If not, then grandmother would definitely notice her absence by nightfall and send a search party. All she had to do was bide her time. She walked with her head held high as the very grumpy guardsman led her to a cage.

Her bravado faded as soon as she saw the moblin.

"I promise, he's friendly," the less grumpy yiga reassured her.

"To us at least," the little- dear hylia why was there a little girl here?! The second the yiga opened the cell, the moblin made another grab at him.

"Woah!" he swiftly moved out of the way as Paya was shoved into the cell. Ilia and Linkle caught her before she could hit the ground. "What do I have to do to get you to like me?"

"Have you tried giving him food?" the guy with the rabbit hood suggested. Paya could have sworn she had seen Link with a similar one previously.

"All we have here is bananas!"

"Maybe try finding some meat?" the little girl looked back at the moblin, "Do you like to eat meat?" Much to Paya's surprise, the moblin nodded in response.

"There ya go, Suki. Just gotta find em some proper food."

"Got it. I'll be back later!" Suki declared, "And mark my words, I will get you to like me!" With that he was off, leaving the prisoners alone with the grumpy yiga.

"So what's new with you, Yuki?"

"Why are you all so friendly with the yiga?" Paya asked, unable to take this anymore. "They could kill you!"

"We could," Yuki agreed. "Honestly, I'm still trying to figure that out myself."

"Well, Suki's friendly to us so we're friendly to him. I'm Linkle by the way."

"Oh we didn't introduce ourselves!" the little girl spoke up. Yuki left while the group each introduced themselves to their newest member.

"So you're all from different dimensions?" Paya's eyes were wide. "Auntie Purah would have a field day with you all."

"Sure are," Ilia smiled. "Tho startin' to wonder how we're gonna get back."

"Perhaps we would travel with the heroes until we reach each of our dimensions?"

"Oh the captain would love that," Linkle laughed.

"Mr. Hero would too!" Ravio agreed. "Though Miss Paya would have an easier time than the rest of us."

"Y'know," Malon spoke up, "I would assume the yiga know what the princess of this era looks like. So why did they take you instead, Paya?"

"They were aiming for the princesses?" Paya tilted her head in confusion.

"Yeah," Groose chuckled. "They messed up the first few times with them," he gestured at the other girls, "Ravio here convinced them that the hero is deeply in love with the hero-"

"When we see them, do not tell him that!" Ravio interrupted.

"-and Secret and I ended up fighting them off and they grabbed us instead."

"I fought them too," Aryll pouted. "It was a bit scary but I did what Tetra and Link taught me!"

"What did they teach you?" Paya questioned. The little girl grinned in excitement.

"When in doubt, bite your way out!"

Chapter Text

"And you're certain this gale boomerang of yours is that strong?"

"Certaintly!" Ravio grinned. "I wouldn't sell it to anyone if it didn't work!"

"Was wondering how long it would take before you start trying to scam someone," Linkle commented before turning towards Paya. "He's gonna charge you 600 rupees a month to use it." Ravio glared at Linkle for ruining his latest business venture.

"Say, Paya," Ilia started, "Would ya know somewhere safe we could escape to?" The sheikah nodded in response.

"Gerudo town is the closest place to here but the guys wouldn't be allowed in. But there is a bazaar not too far from the town where we can all stay until the sheikah or the heroes arrive."

"Follow up question: should we try convince Suki to come with us?"

"Huh?!"

"Miss Malon has a point," Ravio spoke up, "They aren't treating him right here and he's been nice to us," he looked at Paya, "Surely there's some way to get him pardoned."

"We've pardoned ex-yiga before," Paya agreed, "though would he really come with us if we escaped?"

"Aryll could always threaten to bite him again if he refuses," Groose ruffled her hair, much to her dismay.

"Ilia just fixed that for me!"

"Threatening him wouldn't work," Linkle mused, "He would just return back here once we all leave."

"We'll ask him," Malon decided. "If he says no then all we can do is make sure the heroes spare him." Secret got to his feet and snarled at the cell bars.

"That was quick," Groose spoke up, "They just brought in Paya yesterday."

"How are you keeping track of the time in here?" Ilia asked him.

"Guys, I don't think that matters right now..." Ravio trailed off, his eyes never leaving the body being dragged in by two guards.

"Is that Dark Link?!" Linkle exclaimed.

"Who?" Malon and Paya asked in unison.

"What happened to him?" Groose asked the yiga. "And where's Suki?" Yuki sighed as he and the other yiga guard dropped their latest hostage.

"Suki is talking with the Interim Master right now," he answered.

"Interim Master?" Ravio looked at Yuki and Paya, confused.

"Link defeated the yiga clan leader, Master Kohga before he left on his latest quest," Paya explained.

"But for now, his second in command has taken his place," Yuki finished. Secret approached the prone figure of Dark Link and prodded it.

"Is he alive at least?" Malon asked the moblin. He nodded and picked him up off the ground.

"Is it just me or does he look...shorter than before?" Ravio asked.

One of these days he was going to kill the goddesses. Shadow had only been free of the four swords seal for a whole week before these banana loving weirdos mistook him as Link and tried to kill him.

Yeah, dying the first time was not pleasant, thank you very much. He managed to make four of the guys disappear but the last two seemed busy arguing? Shadow tried to get close enough to listen but was promptly knocked out by one of those guys reappearing.

And now he was here, laying in the lap of a moblin while a guy with a bunny suit and a red haired woman looked over him. Shadow sat up, making as much distance between him and the moblin as possible. Weirdly enough he moblin looked kind sad? Well, it didn't last long because a little girl went and took his spot. Just where the fuck am I?!

"I would imagine you have questions," the bunny guy said.

"Understatement of the century," he deadpanned.

"Well, we have questions too."

Chapter Text

After giving Shadow the rundown of their situation and him explaining he was, in fact, not Dark Link, Shadow told the story of how he got abducted.

"Kinda sucks that ya got trapped as soon as ya got out again," Ilia patted him on the back. "At least ya kept yer memories when they clocked ya over the head."

"Yeah," Paya winced, "Memory loss on top of that would have been terrible." Secret grunted in agreement.

"Hold on, could we go back to what you said about two of the yiga arguing?" Linkle asked. "Because between that and not hearing from Suki for almost two days now has me concerned."

"Wait, you all are friends with one of these weirdos?" Shadow asked incredulously.

"Yeah, I bit him when we first met though," Aryll answered. "But he's been nice to us, even went to go grab food for Secret since he didn't like bananas."

"I wouldn't say that I'm friends with them though," Paya disagreed. "They've done too much damage for me to forgive them that easily."

"Well at least someone is making sense," he muttered. "Have we tried escaping yet?"

"Not yet," Ravio spoke up, "We began planning right before they brought Miss Paya but we stopped when we realized they still were gonna bring in more people."

"And you haven't heard from any of the heroes?"

"Last I heard from them, they were in the era of time," Ravio answered. Malon went pale.

"And you didn't think to mention that before?" Ilia voiced Malon's thoughts.

"No?" Ravio wilted under Ilia's glare.

"Is that important?" Paya questioned.

"That's where Malon is from and her husband is the hero of time and he's got a spooky mask he likes to use when he's mad," Aryll summarized.

"For all of our sakes, let's hope he doesn't use it," Linkle commented. "Secret, Paya, did either of you hear anything from the heroes?" Secret nodded and then pointed at Malon as well.

"So you heard the same as Ravio then?" Another nod.

"We got a letter from Link informing us of the situation and were getting a search and rescue team together when they took me," Paya added.

"Sorry to interrupt you guys," Groose jumped in, "But I think I found Suki," he pointed to where Yuki was carrying Suki on his back. He fumbled with the key, opened the cell, and gently laid Suki on the ground.

"SUKI!" Aryll cried out. She hopped off of Secret and onto the ground next to the unconscious yiga guardsman. Suki was covered with bruises and scars, some much deeper than others. part of his mask was broken, revealing brown hair matted with blood.

"Goddesses..." Linkle was taken aback.

"What the hell happened to him?!" Ilia snapped.

"Did you do this to him?" Groose glared at Yuki. Secret lunged forward and grabbed Yuki, growling all the while.

"Ow! hey!" Yuki writhed in the moblin's grasp. "It wasn't me I swear!"

"So you just let this happen then?" Shadow shot back.

"What's it to you, you don't even know him!"

"Answer him, Yuki," Linkle ordered. "What happened and were you involved?" Yuki avoided all eye contact, opting to look at the ground below him.

"Suki had been on thin ice since the abduction of the moblin," Yuki explained. "He sorta made up for it with the elder's granddaughter but other guards heard him talking to you all."

"And talking to us was forbidden or something?" Ravio asked.

"No, but doing so cast suspicion on him. Which was made worse when we came to get the darkling-"

"I'm a shadow. There's a difference."

"Noted. Anyways while we were there, Suki wanted to go to the marketplace to pick up some food, abandoning the mission. I was arguing with him not to do it and one of the other guardsmen took it as a sign of Suki trying to leave the clan."

"That's a load of bullshit," Ilia swore. Secret dropped Yuki and turned towards Suki.

"So the punishment for leaving is death?" Malon asked, horrified.

"It's either them or their family that suffers for it," Paya was the one to answer. "The yiga had killed a man's wife in my hometown because he had left the clan."

"Can we heal him?" Aryll had tears in her eyes. "He isn't gonna die, is he?" Yuki nodded in response.

"I will be back with supplies later. But I need a favor from all of you."

"You have a lotta gall to be asking us for a favor," Groose started, but was stopped by Linkle.

"What do you want?" Yuki looked at the bloody and broken form of his younger brother.

"When the heroes come for you all, take Suki with you."

Chapter Text

Nobody visited the dungeon for three days after Yuki dropped off the medical supplies which was great, because the nine of them began to plan their escape.

According to Paya, a sheikah vanguard should have made it to Gerudo Town by now. Once they made it out of here, they would be able to meet them and head to Kakariko. Secret would be the one to get Suki out of here since the yiga were the least likely to fight him. Linkle, Groose, and Ravio would cover for them while securing weapons for everyone to use.

As they began to plan out how to avoid all of the yiga, a deafening boom echoed above them.

"Ya don't think..." Ilia started.

"It's about time these guys showed up," Linkle smirked. Suki started to stir from the noise.

"Suki!" Aryll was at his side in an instant, "are you okay?"

"I've had worse," he chuckled softly, slowly sitting up, "Though where's Secret at?" The moblin looked at him, confused. Suki reached into his tattered pocket and pulled out a small bag. "I grabbed this for you."

"Did you really go through all this beating and torture for some meat?" Shadow looked unimpressed. The moblin patted Suki on the head in gratitude.

"It worked!" The dungeon shook once more, dropping debris everywhere.

"The dungeon's going to come down on us at this rate," Groose spoke up.

"Even worse, looks like we've got company," Shadow spoke up, pointing to the approaching wolf. Secret growled at the wolf, causing it to pause in its tracks.

"Wait a damn minute..." Ilia made her way to the front of the cell. She glanced at the wolf then turned back to her cellmates, "He's friendly."

"How do you know that?" Paya questioned.

"Well, if he would change back, he could break the cell doors down and we could get outta here." The wolf almost seemed to roll its eyes before shadows overtook it, leaving the hero of twilight in its place.

"I knew it!" Aryll exclaimed.

"Did ya really hafta put me on the spot like that?" He addressed Ilia as he practically ripped the lock off its hinges. Ilia got out of the cage and embraced her friend in a hug.

"Well from all the noise yall were makin’ upstairs, yes. Yes I did," she smiled at him. Twilight let her go and glanced over the people currently with Ilia.

"I've got questions but we don't got time right now," the rancher turned towards Malon. "I was told to tell ya the captain confiscated the mask, whatever that meant."

"Oh thank the goddess," Malon exhaled in relief. The dungeon rumbled again, dropping dust and debris all over them.

"Which way is out?" Shadow asked.

"Through the hallway and behind the tapestry there's a secret tunnel," Suki answered, startling the hero.

"Why is there a yiga with you all in the cell?" he asked incredulously

"His name is Suki and he's been really nice to us," Aryll spoke up.

"The yiga turned their back on him," Linkle explained, "so he's escaping with us." Twilight looked hesitant but there was not much time to argue.

"We'll talk more once we're outta here. Let's go."

Chapter Text

"Out of all the hair-brained schemes you've pulled, this one takes the cake!" Legend snapped at a blushing Ravio. "I cannot believe you told the clan I'm your husband!"

"It worked, didn't it? The princess is safe and sound in her castle!" Ravio grinned. After escaping the yiga clan hideout, the two groups reunited at Kara Kara Bazaar. "And technically, I am your husband!"

"You only did that so you could commit tax evasion!"

"Honestly, vet, you should be nicer to your husband," the captain teased him.

"At least he isn't gonna die alone," Linkle elbowed him.

"You should have stayed in the cell," the captain rounded on his sister.

"And you should have died in the womb but you don't see me complaining." Legend and Ravio laughed as Warriors and Linkle began bickering.

"Goddesses, I never thought there would be a worse romantic than you and Zelda," Groose said to Sky. The two of them were watching as Time shared a deep kiss with his lovely wife. "They've been at it for a whole five minutes now!"

"Let them be Groose, the old man's been in a frenzy since he found out about his wife. Twilight and Warriors had to knock him out at one point because he refused to sleep," Sky laughed. "Zelda told me what happened with you guys and I wanted to say thank you for protecting her when I couldn't." Groose grinned and ruffled Sky's hair.

"Well you're not the only hero in Skyloft you know!"

"The sight of Zelda punching the mask off the yiga must have been so cool to see..."

"Don't you start swooning too, Link!"

-

"So let me get this straight, this moblin took care of ya?" Twilight asked Hyrule. "And he understands whenever yer talkin to him?"

"I dunno why this is so surprising to ya," Ilia answered for Secret, "Ya meet up with the bulblin that snatched me alla time to wrestle."

"Secret's helped me out more times than I can count," Hyrule added from his spot in the moblin's lap, "also very clingy." Secret howled in outrage. "Don't deny it, we both know very well what happened before I left the cave last time."

"He was clingin' to Aryll for most of the time we were in the cage," Ilia grinned.

"I dunno whether to be impressed with the moblin or mad at the adults in your hyrule, traveler," Twilight said.

"Both?" Hyrule suggested. Secret grunted in agreement. "Yeah both is good."

"Also your cooking experience suddenly makes a lot more sense." The moblin growled at Twilight, who put his hands up in surrender.

-

Four had gone into the inn, dragging Shadow with him, and after making sure the coast was clear, split himself into four. Vio immediately punched Shadow, sending him sprawled out onto the ground. Green let out a long suffering sigh.

"Nice one!" Blue cackled.

"Vio!" Red exclaimed.

"The hell was that for?!" Shadow roared.

"For sacrificing yourself," Vio answered simply. He then helped him to his feet and pulled him into a hug.

"I'm getting very mixed messages here."

"This is because I'm glad you're okay."

"Should've started with that," Shadow huffed, but there was no malice in his voice.

"Wouldn't have had the same impact."

"Honestly hugging him just ruined it altogether," Blue commented.

"I did not miss your bitch ass," Shadow rolled his eyes.

"The feeling is mutual, emo boy."

"Guys, could we please not fight about this right now?" Red pleaded.

"He did have the punch coming since we fought Vaati," Green spoke up, "But I am glad to see you in one piece, Shadow."

"Glad to be back in one piece."

"I'm not explaining him to Gramps," Blue piped up.

"Not it!" Green and Red exclaimed in unison.

"Dammit," Vio mumbled.

"Who?" Shadow looked at the four in confusion.

-

"Thanks for healing me," Suki said to the champion, "and sorry for all the trying to kill you business."

"You're welcome and it's good," Wild put his cooking materials away. "Paya and Aryll told us how you've treated them while they were captured."

"Yeah," Suki looked away, "wish I could've done more."

"I wasn't there as long as the others but from what I heard, being a friend to them was more than enough," Paya reassured him.

"Still can't believe those bastards hurt you because you were just being nice," Wind said from his spot next to Suki and Aryll, who gasped.

"You said a nono word!" Wind's eyes went wide in realization.

"Don't tell Granny and I'll get you a surprise."

"Well it wasn't just being nice," Suki admitted, "I kinda sought an audience with the master to ask for your guys' release."

"You what?!" Paya and Wild exclaimed in unison.

"They hurt you because of us?" Aryll looked on the verge of tears.

"Well, to be fair, I had it coming after I kept messing up the targets. But I proposed we let you guys go and we try again for the princesses but they no longer had the means to travel through dimensions," the ex-yiga explained, "apparently it was a one time thing." He patted Aryll on the head, "What happened was not your fault. If anything I gotta thank you guys for taking me with you."

"We weren't going to leave you there after everything," Aryll declared. "But where are you gonna go now?"

"You reached out to Dorian?" Wild asked Paya, who nodded in response.

"The ex-yiga I told you all about volunteered to take you in, Suki," Paya smiled, "so you'll be coming to Kakariko with me."

"Still wish we punched those yiga harder," Wind spoke up.

"Was bashing them in with your sledgehammer not enough for you?" Wild teased.

"I'm not hearing this from the person who set everything on fire," Wind countered, "and that includes Legend."

"I did not set Legend on fire!"

"Yes you fucking did," Legend hollered. Wind put his hands over Aryll's ears.

"Hey! Watch your fucking language!" he yelled, "There's kids here!"

"Kid, I think you're worse," Suki piped up. Aryll giggled as Wind sputtered in indignation.

"What do you know!? you just met me- Aryll stop laughing he's wrong!"

-

"You have no idea how worried I was about you," Time's voice was muffled in Malon's shoulder.

"Well you're gonna have to worry about why I'm not breathing in a second or two," she teased. Time let his wife go, a bit sheepish. "I'm glad you didn't immediately resort to demolishing the whole hideout considering we were under it."

"I was very close to doing it," he admitted, "But Warriors had Wind steal the mask out of my bag."

"I suppose I ought to thank him," she laughed. Time tried to return her smile, but his heart ached too much. "I know that look. What are you thinking, fairy boy?"

“This shouldn’t have happened," he whispered, his eyes lowering to the ground. "I should’ve been there. I promised I’d protect you—”

"Nope, I'm gonna stop you right there, mister," Malon interrupted, placing a finger gently on his lips. Her eyes were soft, but her tone firm. "What happened was not your fault or any of the others."

Time blinked, taken aback by her sudden shift. “But I—”

"No," she cut him off, her finger still lightly pressing against his lips. "You are not doing this to yourself. You can't be everywhere at once, and there was no way anyone could've guessed that the yiga could time travel."

"But you still were kidnapped and suffered because of them."

"Actually, Suki over there made sure nothing happened to us. Plus I knew you were coming so I didn't suffer one bit," she reassured him, "Though if you really want to make it up to me, ya could help me fix the ranch when we eventually get back to our era." Time let out a sigh, but did nothing to hide the smile on his face.

"There really is no winning with you, is there?"

"If the contest is self hating, then yes, you'll never win because I'll never let you hate yourself." She gently slid her arm around his waist, pulling him closer.

"Wha—Malon!" Time barely had a chance to react before Malon, with a mischievous grin, dipped him back in one smooth, effortless motion. His surprise turned into laughter as she leaned down and planted a deep kiss on his lips, which he gladly returned. Wolf whistles echoed across the oasis as the others looked on, grinning and smirking at the sight.

"Aryll no peeking!" Wind covered his sister's eyes.

"Aw but I wanna see!"

"Want me to cover your eyes too?" Suki asked.

"Too late, I'm already mentally scarred." Malon let Time go, the old man blushing like mad.

"Come on, sailor, yall know how bad Time's been missin his missus," Twilight teased.

"Remind me who we had to tackle to the ground when they found out Ilia was missing?" Time shot back.

"You're no better. We had to knock you out," Wild piped up. Malon raised an eyebrow at her husband, who merely shrugged in response.

"How about we just agree that everyone missed each other and are happy to see each other again?" The captain suggested.

"Aw you missed me?" Linkle elbowed him in the ribs.

"I think all of my Hyrule collectively sighed in relief when word got out you were gone."

"Mum and Dad cried tears of joy when you left." Warriors silently contemplated killing his sibling but decided against it (there were too many witnesses).

"Sorry to interrupt," Ravio jumped in, "But how are we getting home?"

"Suki and I are headed to Kakariko Village. But I think it was decided the rest of you would be traveling until you hit each other's portals?" Paya spoke up.

"Yay adventure!" Aryll cheered.

"You have to stay close to me the whole time," Wind said.

"I will!"

"I hope you still remember your lessons," Hyrule said to Secret. The moblin looked outraged at the insinuation that he'd forget.

"Ya still know how to use a sword?" Twilight mumbled to Ilia.

"As if I'd forget."

"Alright, alright," Time got everyone's attention. "We'll spend the night here then set off for Kakariko in the morning. If a portal appears before that, then Paya and Suki will head on without us."

"Sounds like a plan," Wild agreed. "But for now, who's hungry?"

"Need help cooking?" Hyrule asked.

"NO!" Wind and Legend exclaimed in unison.

"Y'know setting off tomorrow means actually sleeping tonight, fairy boy," Malon ordered once everyone was distracted. Time smiled at his wife goddesses he's missed this.

"Yes ma'am."