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Chapter Text

In the boiling heat of Hyrule’s afternoon, Wild parried the devastating claws of the shadow beasts alone, pushed back into the corner of their invisible-walled arena that burned like an electric fence. Voices shouted at him from outside, hollering a million different commands that only did well to overwhelm his mind.

“Go left!”

“Go right!”

“He’s gonna go for your legs!”

He’d scouted ahead, stopped to pick some herbs, and the beasts had rushed him, trapping him alone in the arena’s barriers before any of his brothers could help.

The first three had fallen easily enough, but when six more appeared from the sky, landing in perfect unison, Wild’s heart had dropped. He’d struggled with the next three, barely able to down them before the remaining ones had rushed him.

Now, left without a shield, he could only block their blows, their claws inches from his face, his back burning up against the arena’s invisible fence.

“Dive!”

“Hit them!”

“Just hold on!”

Wild gripped the tip of the master sword, pressing the flat end against the beasts’ chests, their claws scraping at his arms, tearing into flesh and cloth. His blood gushed, but he didn’t have time to care. All he could do was push.

“Come on, come on!” His brothers shouted at him. “Push, Wild! You’ve got it! Push! Plant your feet! Push!”

Wild’s arms trembled, pain shooting through each nerve, the gushing blood slackening his grip. The master sword hummed in his hands, pulsing a steady, familiar beat that thrummed in Wild’s chest. At the very last chance, Wild slammed his foot into one of their knees, sending him sprawling, and he dove, stabbing the sword through his chest. He slashed at the second one, arching into the air, his sword coming down to end that one.

“NO, NO, NO—!” Twilight’s voice cut prominently through the air, but it was too late. Wild speared the damn thing, and at the loss of it’s brothers, the third released an earth-shattering, guttural screech.

Wild stumbled back, arms gushing blood, knees trembling as the two shadow beasts he’d just downed rose again, their mask-like faces twitching at him. Dammit! These things weren’t even supposed to be here anymore!! Where in the goddesses had they come from?

“Get close!”

“Come here!”

Hyrule and Legend huddled close together, beckoning Wild with wide eyes. “GET CLOSE TO THE FENCE, WILD! NOW! DRAW THEM HERE!”

Wild scurryed over, desperate for any sort of plan that would get him out of this. He braced himself against the barrier separating him from the frantic group banging on it. Discarded arrows and bombs laid at its edge, but as it stood, it was impenetrable.

Hyrule’s hands were glowing a familiar pink, resting on Legend’s arm, giving him strength that ebbed directly into his own weapon. He lifted a lightning rod, the very end glowing a brilliant white.

A crack of lightning shot through the air, and Wild covered his face with his arm brace, curling protectively against the wall as the shadow beasts exploded in heaps of square boxes.

The invisible barrier faded, and Wild tumbled as his brace vanished, hands rushing to catch him and lower him the rest of the way to the ground.

“You got ‘em, you got ‘em! Good job, Cub!” Twilight held his head steady as Time went to quick work in pouring a bitter, red potion down his throat. “Nine of them, I think that’s a record!”

Wild fought to catch his breath on the ground, his chest heaving for breath as the adrenaline forced him into straight panic mode. The glowing sensation burned his massacred arms, his fingers still gripping his sword for dear life, even if he wasn’t sure how.

“Just relax, you’re gonna be fine,” Hyrule blabbered, forcing Magic into Wild’s left arm first—his dominant one— sweat already beading at his brow.

Warriors wrapped his own cloak around the massively-bleeding right arm, ignoring Wild’s soft cries of pain. His lip ached with how tightly he forced his teeth between the skin.

“Twi,” Wild panted, desperate to focus on something else. “Twi!”

“I’m here—!”

“Why were they here?” Wild panted, searching frantically for his mentor. “What were they doing here? You said you sealed the realm!”

Twilight chewed his lip, looking just as sweaty and pale as Hyrule, Warriors, and Wild. “I-I…” his eyes flashed when everyone turned to him, as if to realize this increasingly problematic situation. “I don’t know. I don’t know! Midna sealed it! We watched her do it!”

Wild cried out weakly when Warriors pressed tighter, the world swaying dangerously as his stomach rolled, sweat beading on his skin.

For the first time since Wild had met him, Time’s expression revealed true terror when he fully took in the state of Wild’s arms. “Hyrule! What’d taking so long?!”

“There’s… it’s blocking me!” Hyrule relayed in a shaking voice.

“What is?!”

“I don’t know! Something’s blocking me— something dark! It feels like Demise, just the barest hints of it!”

Wild’s head snapped up, panic growing, but the dizziness slammed it back into the dusty dirt. He coughed weakly, his very life force ebbing, the sword’s pulsing slowing.

“Okay, okay— shit! Push it!” Time scrambled for another potion, bracing Wild’s head. Fruitlessly, Wild searched for his expression, able to feel his panic, but unable to actually see it. “Drink, Wild. Drink!”

The second potion forced its way down Wild’s throat, and he choked on it, his coughs bursting from his aching chest. He shivered, fingers growing cold, a tingling sensation creeping up his arms to replace the pain. “M…my wrists…” the realization hit him all at once, his panic dragging him further down into a vertigo’s world of dizziness. “Wrists… my-!”

“We know, we know, shh,” Twilight hushed him softly, leaning over him now. “Save your breath. It’s okay. Just hang in there.”

Hyrule groaned in frustration, a flurry of movement passed over Wild as he and Warrior’s switched places. The right wrist gushed blood still, the cloth doing little to stop it. The left one, while not as bad, still dribbled threateningly.

“You’re doing great,” Twilight beamed down at him, but his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. He gently brushed aside Wild’s bangs. “You’re doing great, okay, just focus on me. You’re doing great.”

A familiar static flooded into the air, the winds themselves ceasing in their gusts. A shiver shot down Wild’s spine, birds erupting from trees, animals diving away from the approaching event. He held his breath as a flash of light sparked in the air like steel striking flint. A familiar hum swirled overhead, closely drowned out by the sounds of his brothers cursing.

“Now?!” Time shouted bitterly up towards the building portal. “When he’s bleeding out on the ground?!”

The winds gathered in place, swirling in the familiar circle, hats and hair whipping around heads.

“Pull back, Roolie!” Legend shouted. “Secure his wrists as fast as you can! We’ll have to wait until after we land to continue!”

“I can’t! He may not survive the jump if we don’t push everything into him we can!”

“You damn, stupid thing, are you trying to kill him?!” Time shouted at the three triangles hovering over him, the center opening wide to swallow them up. “Where’s your patience? Where’s that wisdom you parade? You damn fucking thing! You damn fucking curse!”

The portal sucked him in first, lifting him briefly off his feet, before tossing him through to the next Hyrule. Another task to complete on the goddesses’ whim. Wild wasn’t even sure what they were doing in this Hyrule. He hadn’t done anything but get ambushed.

Sky, Four, Twilight and Wind stood, ready to enter before the remaining healers and sorcerers to buy precious time.

Wild cried out as they securely bound his wrists, the tight ache yanking him back into his already-failing body, a cold chill sweeping through him. Legend and Hyrule poured the last of their magic into him before they, too, vanished.

Warriors threw himself over Wild, shielding him with his body. Then, with a familiar hum, the world vanished in a flash of light, leaving nothing but a massive, dusty pool of blood in its wake.

Chapter Text

Warriors’ back slammed into the next Hyrule, his arms securing the young, limp Champion against his chest as they tumbled on the soft grass. At least the Goddess had the decency to drop them somewhere safe.

A crisp, autumnal scent ghosted through the air, the trees an array of reds, oranges, and browns in the near distance, and for a startling moment, Warriors wasn’t sure where they’d landed. Then, he gazed around, taking in the cascading landscape of the patchy, massive field with little hills to show for it, and his shoulders relaxed.

For a brief, quick heartbeat was he allowed to breathe before the weight smushed against his chest started violently thrashing.

Arching back, Warriors’ panic returned in full-force, eyes wide as he situated the convulsing Wild on his side, reflexively shoveling his cape between his teeth.

“Holy Hylia!” Twilight crashed to his knees beside them, grass stains definitely soiling his breeches, but when he moved to hold Wild, Warriors snapped.

“Don’t restrain him! You might hurt him! Just let it pass.  We can’t do anything for him.”

The group, even despite their disorientation from travel, surrounded Wild, gazing down at him like watching a beached fish. Only Hyrule moved to help, but there was little he could do against this.

“What happened?” Wind’s voice ghosted, small and squeaky like a toddler. He lingered nearby, not daring to step to close to their convulsing brother.

Warriors could feel the struggling tinges of Wild’s mind against his like bolts of electricity short-circuiting. Chaos ripped through it as if he’d been struck alone by lighting.

“I thought so,” Hyrule sounded a thousand years older, his voice heavy and quivering with guilt. “Goddesses, I thought so. The shadow beasts— they must’ve marked him. Infected him with darkness. That darkness doesn’t react well with pure light. His body doesn’t know what to make of it.”

“Pure light?” Wind demanded. “B-But we’re all pure light—!”

“He’s a different kind of light, Wind,” Time said, crouching low beside Time. The remaining members formed a protective wall around the scene. “The runes that healed him in the shrine of resurrection… they’re a part of him. He’s… he’s like a machine in that way.

Twilight released a heavy, quivering breath. He swallowed hard, voice small.  “I… I didn’t know…”

“No one said you did,” Four snapped, hugging his arms tightly as if to keep himself together, though Warriors could see the colors flashing through his eyes. “What do we do? What are we supposed to do here? We’ve been tracking down twilit conduits for days now. They helped those villages once they were gone. There wasn’t a dungeon nearby where he was attacked.”

“It must not be the conduits, then,” Warriors gruntled, finally easing Wild onto his back when the convulsions slowed. “I mean, Wild was marked directly. It wasn’t like something was already making him sick…” he swallowed hard, heart heavy. “It was an accident.”

Time stood, his lone eye steely as he took in their new location. He released a heavy breath, as if having finally recovered from his directed outburst. No one would dare to mention it, least of all Warriors.

They’d landed in a bright, flat field, a forest to their backs, and pathways jutting through the ground all around them. A gentle breeze sifted the long tendrils of grass, the scent of autumn in the air. In the distance, a mountain stood prominently— Death Mountain respectively.

“This is mine,” Time confirmed, brushing his knees off. “We should head towards the castle. There are things that could help us there. I know a shortcut.”

Hyrule held Wild’s wrist, counting his pulse silently for a long moment, before his eyes flashed up. He spoke, brows lifting. “He’s gonna be sleeping for this,” he said. “A seizure like that takes it out of anyone. Anyone strong enough to carry him?”

Warriors rolled his shoulders, about to speak up, but the lingering aches there reminded him about how much portal travel took it out of him. His mouth snapped shut, shoulders rising to his ears, and he regretfully shook his head.

“I… think we’re all too weak for that distance right now,” Sky said, casting a look around. “We’ll have to fashion a stretcher, I think. Anyone have anything of the sort?”

Looks were exchanged, none of which very pleasing to the eye.

Wind crested the hill, gazing around, and pointed sharply in the distance. “Wagon!” He cheered. “There’s a wagon! Well… half a wagon!”

Four dug in his bag, already searching for tools. “Does it have two wheels?”

Wind nodded vehemently.

“Then, it’ll work.”

Time gazed off into the distance suddenly, his posture straightening at whatever he saw. Warriors stood beside him, a steady relief flooding through him that the approaching, orange streak clopping towards them. Epona.

“Man, that horse finds you anywhere, doesn’t she?” Sky beamed, planting his hands on his hips.

“Of course,” Time said, moving forward to meet the horse halfway, her sides heaving with exhaustion. She must’ve sprinted to get here. Warriors wondered if she’d sensed the perturbed nature of her friends.

Hyrule scurried back to Wild’s side, but when he lifted his hands, they trembled violently. The color drained out of him, his already-pale complexion fading to a startling, sickly white. He slumped and Warriors dove to steady him.

“You’re running on empty,” he said, holding Hyrule’s shoulders, willing him off overexertion. They’d be screwed if he passed out for an unknown length of time. “You already gave a lot. It’s okay. We can just let him rest.”

“I don’t want those wounds on his wrists opening,” Hyrule mumbled, rubbing his eyes, shaking under the afternoon sun. “He already lost a lot of blood, and if he loses any more, he might bleed out. He needs his strength and that wasn’t a good start.”

Legend kneeled beside him, replacing Hyrule’s hands on Wild’s arms. “Tell me what to do,” he said. “I may not heal a lot, but I can learn a bit for this. Tell me how to do it. I’ll close up his wrists. I’ll be damned if I don’t try.”

Hyrule bobbed his head and rested a hand on Legend’s knee as if to pass the knowledge. With the situation handled, Warriors turned back to Time, who soothed the exhausted Epona tenderly.

“Your Zelda, Lullaby,” he headed back over, stroking Epona’s nose in greeting. “She can get us back to Twilight’s Hyrule if we need to, right? I doubt we can find a cure for this here before it becomes an issue.”

Legend ran his glowing hands over Wild’s prone body, Hyrule guiding him indistinctly. Wild seemed to relax beneath the wobbly spell at least. He wasn’t in danger of bleeding out, but the slight, dark marks tinging the veins on his recently healed arms weren’t reassuring.

Time ground his teeth, glancing furiously at the triangular mark on his hand. “I was ready to consult my Zelda as well,” he growled, though his rage didn’t seem aimed at Lullaby at all. “This damn thing, dumping us where we’re not needed and where we don’t need to be—!”

“Don’t just readily insult her choices without even thinking about it, Time,” Sky snapped, rising quickly. “She doesn’t put us somewhere without a reason, especially not with one of us injured like this! The answer to helping him might be here! I understand you’re frustrated, but you have to have faith that things will turn out alright,”

Time held his gaze, a silent statement heavy there that he didn’t say. Warriors tore his gaze away as the tension in the group rose from such a horrible, stressful event. He knew what Tome thought, and he knew what Sky thought… and he knew those beliefs weren’t the same.

“You have somewhere in mind, right, Time?” Warriors piped up, changing the subject, shoulders sinking in relief when the flowing blood finally slowed. Wild’s pale complexion still rose some concerns, though, and Warriors wasn’t keen on keeping him outside in the heat, autumnal as it may be. “Somewhere that’s maybe not the castle where we’re gonna confuse the hell out of a lot of people?”

“Of course, I do,” an air of fondness ghosted on Time’s breath, and even despite the unfortunate circumstances, he smiled softly. The tension released in his shoulders, his earlier plight forgotten, as if the mere thought of this place eased his soul.  “I have the perfect place where we can rest safely.”

Chapter Text

Filtered light fluttered through the crisp, autumn leaves above Wild’s head, bathing him in tiny pecks of warmth that shifted across his face. Birds danced along the branches, singing chipper little songs, squeaking wheels rumbling beside his head.

Wild’s brow dipped, eyes taking in the fresh setting of autumn, crisp morning air filling his aching lungs. He shivered beneath its chilly touch, even despite the itchy wool blanket draped over him.

Up in the branches of the colorful trees, squirrels chased each other on an acrobatic path, bouncing each dying limb, their tiny claws clacking. Then, the bigger one caught the smaller one, but Wild burst into soft giggles when they started going at it right then and there.

The inclined surface he rested on lurched to a slow stop, a low whinny floating by, but Wild hardly paid it any mind. He cackled and giggled like a drunk madman at the squirrels unshamefully consummating above him.

 A shadow loomed over him, features momentarily blocked out by the sunlight, obscuring Wild’s view of the squirrels screwing. Pointed ears that somewhat resembled his own twitched, then a wet plop landed on his forehead like a dog’s tongue. He sputtered and shifted, but a gentle hand pressed him down.

“Wild, hey,” fingers found his bony wrist, practically able to fit around it. “You with me?”

Wild continued to giggle, still mentally focused on the two squirrels.

A worried voice floated down to him, tufts of hair poking up from the figure’s head— caramel strands catching on the streaming sunlight. “You’re still pretty warm...”

Wild closed his eyes, chest still shaking with laughter, his head spinning from the force of elation. A hand patted his cheek, but when he moved to stop it, his arm ached in weak protest.

“Can you follow my finger?”

Wild bent his knee, intending to sit up, but the hand on his shoulder didn’t budge.

“Stay put, okay?” Amusement filled the soft voice. “I meant, like… follow it with your eyes.”

A finger burst up, and Wild’s eyes locked onto it, ready to win the game, even though he had no idea what he was playing. Unblinking, he stared it down as it moved back and forth, up and down. He didn’t even look away when the figure encroached into his space, breaths soft and fanning against his nose

“Hey, alright, he’s still following it pretty well,” the voice said, chin tipping up. Wild caught sight of his nose angled outwards—Small, rounded, young— before he promptly dropped his head to resume following the finger when it dropped out of view.

Wild rolled onto his side, fingers bracing on the edge of the wooden slab he rested on— the back half of a wagon, he gathered, fashioned into a gurney of some kind. He stared down that damned finger, determined to come out of this victorious. A hand braced his shoulder, but for the time being, allowed him to engage in pursuing victory.

“He’s following commands, which is good, so I don’t think his brain has been fried yet.”

A different voice snorted, a hint of teasing in it’s tone. “Well, Roolie, there ain’t much of a brain to fry in there.”

Wild giggled at the familiar name, warmth swelling in his chest at the sound of it. “Roooolie…!” He echoed fondly. That’s right, his adventuring buddy! Someone who was always down to explore something new! “Rooooooolie!”

Hyrule glanced down again, a soft smile stretching his lips, and he ruffled Wild’s already mangled and sweaty hair. “I think he should be fine, so long as we let him get some rest.”

“How come he’s actin’ all funny?” A third voice popped up, high-pitched and young. “He’s actin’ drunker than a pirate!”

Wild giggled at the notion, still staring at the finger gently curled at Hyrule’s side, crimson and orange leaves shattered beneath his boots and the wagon wheel nearby.

“It’s just a fever, Wind,” a forth, tired voice sighed, brimming with a heavy regret and worry. “Once it starts getting too high, it starts making him loopy because the heat starts messing with his head.”

Hyrule hummed once, low in his throat, a sound Wild recognized as worried. His fingers crept up to the wet sensation on Wild’s forehead, adjusting the wet, luke-warm discomfort. “Time!” He shouted over Wild’s head. “We getting close? I don’t want him out here in this heat once afternoon hits.”

“I believe so,” a sixth voice sighed. Time. “I recognize these trees. Wolfie, why don’t you scout ahead? As much as I’d like to rely on memory alone, Hyrule’s right. I don’t want to push him.”

A nearby figure melted into a puddle of black, ash-like substance, reforming into the shape of a large dog. Wild startled back as the wolf shook out his fur, but a grin soon broke across his face.

“Puppy!” He squealed, jackknifing up, the rag plopping onto his lap, soaking into the wool blanket. “C’mere, Puppy!”

The wolf bounded over, tongue hanging out jovially, dragging his wet tongue across the back of Wild’s hand. Wild squealed and cackled, but when he moved to wrap his arms around the wolf, once again those pesky hands eased him down.

The wolf vanished, and though Wild twisted see where it disappeared to, a hand soothingly coaxed through his hair. His mind blanked, forgetting all about the warm, fluffy wolf. 

“Man, he’s acting like more of a child than me!” The Lemon-haired young man nearby said, nose scrunched in a pout against his tanned features.

“Fever.” A few voices chimed in.

Fever, fever, fever. What a silly word. Feeeever. Forever. Fever. Forever. Fever fever fever fever—!

“Wild.”

Finger snapped in his face, and Wild recoiled, losing sight of the finger he’d once been tracking. A hand braced behind his head, his sweaty hair clinging to a soft palm. His head tipped up, but not before a refreshing sensation pressed against his lips, and he lurched forward to guzzle it thristily. It passed down his dry and cracking throat, shooting down like ice-cold cave water.

He whined when someone pulled it away, hands shooting up the grab it, eyes wide, body yearning for it. Before he could get another taste, another rim touched his lips, and Wild’s sluggish mind registered brief confusion before the hitter concoction shot in.

He gagged, eyes shooting open, but just as promptly as the bitter taste shocked his tongue, water flooded in again. For a moment, he forgot all about the trickery he’d just endured.

Warmth spread through his body, much unlike the heat swirling through his bones. It felt familiar. Comforting. Like a shuddering sort of warmth that reminded him of a cat purring.

“Good job,” a voice cooed. “Good job, Wild. Good job.”

Wild flipped them off, ears burning with the belittling words, and a chorus of laughter erupted through the surrounding group. The Chain, that’s right. His brothers.

He could feel their presence around him— eight different minds swaddled together in one, happy bouquet of flowers. Each one so different, yet so similar, fitting together perfectly. One spirit. Eight heroes. Eight Links.

Wild’s head slumped back against the tail end of the wagon, eyes weighing a thousand tons, and he struggled to keep them open while locked in the familiarity of security.

Ahead, someone clicked their tongue, and the horse resumed pulling the half-wagon gurney.

Wild’s head lolled upon the rumbling path, each bump rocking him like a mother’s arms. He snuggled in, fighting back a yawn, eyes flicking to his brothers walking alongside the cart on either side. Hyrule. Legend. Wind. Warriors.

Damn, if it didn’t feel like some kind of funeral procession.

Chapter Text

Time gripped Epona’s reins for dear life, keeping his eyes forward as he led her and the Chain through the edge of the forest, heading along towards his Hyrule’s Castle Town.

His brothers chattered behind him, mostly worried ramblings about Wild’s state, but Time tried to pay them no mind. He could feel the weakening state of the champion like a dimming candle, and he suspected they could feel the same. He just happened to be able to hide his worry better.

Anger already burned in his chest at the thought of the last day’s events. The Goddess had allowed twilight spirits to slip through the cracks, injuring one of her heroes in the process, and then (as if to make matters even worse), she’d dumped them in the same Hyrule at the wrong damn time. Now, the Chain had to go out of their way just to get back to help Wild.

Epona bumped her shoulder into Time’s shoulder, and he released the pent-up breath, rolling his shoulders. “I’m fine,” he murmured, gently stroking her nose. “I’m just frustrated, that’s all.”

Finally, though, a familiar building caught his eye in the distance— partly likely what Epona had been hinting at— and Time’s anger vanished. The welcoming smell of hay, bread, and sawdust graced his nostrils, and he straightened as a face peered over the gates, red hair framing a beautiful face.

Upon spotting him, she hopped down from her perch on the rings, a laugh squealing as she barreled down the hill towards him, lifting the hem of her dress.

Malon crashed into him first, and Time gathered her close in his arms, her lips peppering his cheeks with kisses as she laughed gifdily.

“You’re back!” Malon gazed up at him, beaming, never having looked so beautiful with a rag over her shoulder and hat sticking up out of her hair. “You’re back! Oh, I suspected it was you when Epona took off! I’m so glad to see…” she trailed off, eyes narrowing slightly as Time set her back down. She glanced around suspiciously, taking a mental headcount, before her brows pinched deeper. “…why’re you back, Link?”

Her words heavied Time’s heart, his smile faltering as he sighed. Nodding back to the wagon behind Epona, he spoke softly as his wife greeted Epona as well. “There was… a situation,” he said. “Wild got hurt. We got dumped here.”

Malon’s eyes widened, her feet moving quicker than her brain as she rounded the cart. The Chain parted for her, sending polite looks and smiles, before revealing the downed, sleeping champion in the back of the cart.

Frowning, Malon perched on the wheel, her boots teetering precariously, and Time had half a mind to go back and steady her. She reached over to Wild, feeling his forehead with a concentrated brow. “Oh, that’s quite the fever,” she glanced back at Time. “What happened again?”

Hyrule piped up before Time got a chance to explain. “Shadow beasts must’ve leaked through the cracks at Twilight’s Hyrule,” he jabbed a thumb at Twilight, who hunched over shamefully like a kicked puppy.  “Wild went ahead to scout and they locked him in a ring.”

“He did beat all nine of them, though,” Twilight said, resting a gentle hand on Wild’s leg beneath the blanket. Malon headed over to hug him, too, and his expression weighted more. “It’s just… it got him. Infected him, I think.”

“To no fault of your own, Twilight,” Malon told him.

“We think the shadows aren’t mixing well with the overabundance of light in his body,” Hyrule continued. “The Shrine of Resurrection pumped him full of it, and I don’t think he was prepared to actually take in so much shadow.”

“So… what’s the plan?” Malon hopped back onto the ground again, and Time caught her around the waist, wrapping his arm around her. “You have a plan, right?”

“We’re planning to head to Lullaby— erm, Princess Zelda— and get her to send us forward to Twilight’s Hyrule again so we can find a cure.” Warriors said.

Malon rested her hands on her hips. “Well, if you were sent here, it must be for a reason,” she said, to which Sky threw up his hands in exasperation. She tipped her head back at Time, expression tight. “You’re not even going to give us a chance to help?”

Time’s shoulders hunched, dwarfed beneath her glare. “Um…” he rubbed the back of his neck. “Mal—!”

She swatted him with the rag on her shoulder. “I’ll have none of it, Fairy Boy,” she snapped, and Time cringed. “I want you to actually look for a solution here instead of chalking everything up to the Goddess being against you. She may be a lot of things, but she’s not without reason.”

“I never said—!” She silenced him with another look, and Time fought back a sigh. “Right… I guess we could search the castle and its library first.”

Malon’s expression brightened, a grin brimming her beautiful features. “That’s more like it!” She kissed Time’s cheek, as if the mere act of commanding the leader of The Chain was child’s play. “You all can stay in the barn while you look for an answer. I’d also love some help on the farm. And don’t worry, I’ll look after Wild while you work. I’ll set up the guest room for him.”

Time held her closer to his hip, desperately trying to drink in that bubbly happiness that she so readily carried, if only to ease his own nerves. She reached down and squeezed his hand reassuringly, tipping her head back towards the ranch, as if to say, ‘I understand.’

Time squeezed her gently when she clicked at Epona, cueing her forward. Despite the lingering traces of fear, panic, and doubt, he felt secure in her presence. Pressing a kiss to the top of her head, Time and Malcom led The Chain up the hill towards Lon Lon Ranch.

Chapter Text

Wild swam in the darkness of his subconscious for what felt like hours, heavy and weighed down by whatever dark pressure sat on his chest.

Soft humming filtered through his mind, a familiar yet unrecognizable song hummed by a beautiful, familiar voice that he couldn’t quite place his finger on.

His body still ached with chills and shivers, joints sore, and arms throbbing intensely as he just started to come back into his own mind. He didn’t feel quite as hot anymore, yet still every thought felt like a bouncing ball.

Wild cracked open his eyes to find a beamed ceiling, pinewood and oak fluttering down to him, tinged with the scent of horses that he knew all too well. A warm weight laid up against his cold chest, those aching limbs swaddled in softness.

“Ah!” A chipper voice chuckled. “There you are! I was wondering when you’d come to.”

Wild blinked, unable to place a finger on where he knew that voice from. He turned his head, taking in the young lady sitting beside his bed, eyes catching on her bright locks of red hair. She wore a pink and white milk-maid’s dress, her socked feet resting on the ground, brown boots nearby.

“Hey…!” Wild’s tired voice croaked out of his throat, a loopy smile stretching his lips. “I know you…!”

Malon chuckled, resting a cold cloth against his boiling forehead, nodding along to his words. “You do know me, don’t you, Wild?”

“Yeah…!” Wild rested his cheek on the pillow, gazing at her. “You’re like… You’re like Mom…!”

Malon’s brows bounced, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Oh, well, now, Wild, I’m a bit too young to be your mom…”

“T’s okay,” Wild smacked his dry lips, swallowing past an aching throat. “I’m not technically related to anyone either. Jus’ the thought that counts…!”

Malon brought a brimming glass of water into view, and Wild’s heart leapt at the sight of it. “Small sips,” she said, easing it to his lips, her gentle, calloused hands supporting his head as he drank down a few gulps. “There you are…”

Wild stretched, glancing around the small room he rested in, the decorated, cabin-like comforter pulled up to his chest, keeping his fading heat against his body. The bed-frame looked hand-made, and he wondered briefly if Time had somehow managed to throw it together… but then he recalled The Old Man’s lack of patience and tossed that idea to the wind.

Paintings of horses and families hung on the walls— a younger version of Malon smiling with an old man catching his eye first. Was that how she looked when Time met her?

“Im glad to see you up,” Malon said. “We gave you some more potions and some milk to help build your strength. I think the fever’s gone down a bit, but not by much. Some of your brothers went to the castle to talk with Princess Zelda. A few others got suckered into doing my chores,” she smiled sweetly despite her words. “You’re lucky you’re sick or I’d be making you muck the stalls!”

Wild shuddered at the thought. The last time The Chain had come here, Malon had worked them to the bone for their entire day off. He would’ve insisted that they never return, but she was handy in the kitchen, and she helped him to make meals even more exquisite than before. He’d learned quite a few tricks from her. Either way, his brothers were at the castle. That meant he needed to help.

Malon eased him back down when he tried to sit, gripping his shoulder with the ferocity of a farm-handy woman. “You’re staying here,” she said. “I’d like for you to get as well as you can while they’re out searching for the cure.”

Wild blinked, pausing mid-rub of his eyes. “Cure…?” The last he recalled, he’d been fighting something alone. Then, he’d fallen. No, he’d definitely won that fight and then fallen. 

“Link, erm… Time said that a bunch of shadow beasts leaked through the cracks in twilight.  Said you fought a bunch of the, and they infected you with some kind of dark touch.” Malon resumed dabbing his sweaty forehead with the cloth. “It’s making you sick, I think. Your brothers were at the castle looking for something to help.”

Shadow beasts…? Wild scraped through his mind, clawing to find that memory, but the deep pit of darkness that met his search wasn’t entirely reassuring. Infected, huh? No wonder he felt like such loopy shit. “Well… uh… I’m sure they’ll find something,” he said, as if to reassure her, although he figured he needed that more now than ever. “They always do.”

“The goddess transported you guys here from Twilight’s Hyrule,” Malon said. “You ask me, I say there was a good reason. You ask my stubborn husband, he’ll say The Goddess wants you dead.”

Wild’s head thumped back against the pillow. He threw an arm over his eyes, fighting a giggle. “Yeah… that sounds like Time. He’s, uh… he’s… he’s Time…” he’s all… grumpy, but then… but then, I tell a fart joke, and he chuckles… like… like… heh-heh. And that’s all.”

Malon chuckled, stifling the sound with her hand.

“Super weird.” Wild mumbled, eyes rolling around the cozy little room again. They must’ve been at Lon Lon Ranch, then. He barely remembered getting here. His lazy eyes focused on the nightstand, where the familiar, green-braided hilt of a sword rested. He gasped.

“Hey, hey,” he reached for the Master Sword nearby, hand swatting lazily like trying to squish a fly. “Hey, I know a super fun trick with the sword. Y’wanna see?”

Malon intertwined her fingers with his to bring it back down to the bed. “I’m not sure you should handle a sword right now, Wild,” she laughed gently, continuing to gentle wipe Wild’s face with the cool cloth. “For our safety, mmkay?”

Wild blanched at the thought, whirling on her in slight offense. “I’d never hurt you! You’re super nice! I like super nice people, and I like you ‘cause you cook good!”

“Well, thank you, but No, no, dear,” Malon gently brushed his bangs out of his face. “I meant you’re a little wobbly. I don’t want either of us getting hurt because you’re unsteady.”

Wild pouted, but when he reached again, she smacked his arm with the rag and he recoiled, bewildered. “Ow!”

“It’s a rag,” she said, and resuming dabbing like nothing happened. “Don’t whine. Why don’t you tell me your little trick instead, huh?”

“It’s cooler tah show ya!” Wild insisted, but eventually, his shoulders slumped in acceptance when he recalled the rag hitting him. He laid back down, sighing in relief as the warm bed cradled him. “Mm… y’ ever seen someone swallow a sword…?”

Malon’s brows lifted in surprise. “I’ve heard of it,” she said. “You can… swallow your sword?”

“Got bored,” Wild mumbled, playing with a loose thread on the comforter. “Spent’ta’lottadays by myself on the road… saw some dude do it for show, and I was like… ‘yeah, I can do that.’”

“Well, that’s quite the party trick,” Malon smiled softly at him, eyes sparkling. “I hope you didn’t hurt yourself learning that.”

Wild sank deeper in the sheets. “Mm… nicked my tongue…” he mumbled, cheeks burning with shame at the memory. “Purah wasn’t… happy with that… said I could’ve nicked something worse and inhaled blood… sooo… I went’tah find the guy and he showed me how to do it safely… “

Malon grinned. “That’s the spirit!” She laughed. “And here I was thinking you were completely reckless. Maybe when you’re feeling better, you can show me.”

Wild’s lips stretched into a toothy grin, pride swelling in his chest. “Yeah!” He bobbed his head, eyelids growing heavy, but a soft giggle bubbled from his throat. “Yeah, I’ll show ya! It’s super cool and scares the shit outta everyone…! First time I did it, Time’s other eye almost opened, y’know? They tackled me, and Hyrule ‘magic’d’ me! But don’ worry, Ma’am, imma… per-fesh-in-nal and I was fine!”

Malon shook with laughter, rounded cheeks brimming with jovial joy. “Ah, that sounds like my husband!” She giggled. “Oh, I bet you scared the daylights out of him! I wish I could’ve seen his face!”

Wild grinned along with her, a mischievous glint twinkling in his eye. “Yeah… he wasn’t too happy with me especially… but it was funny!”

“I imagine you had a lot of free time to be able to learn that skill,” Malon settled back in her chair, resuming dabbing Wild’s forehead with the rag. “My husband never seemed to have a moment’s peace.”

Wild sank back against the pillows, closing his eyes, as the blissful feeling of it washed over him. “Mm… my Hyrule’s super big… traveled a lot…” his words mumbled past loosening lips, eyes refusing to stay open. “Super lonely…”

“Aw, I’m sorry to hear that, Wild,” Malon’s voice softened, twinkling like wind chimes in Wild’s ears. “I’m glad you’ve found your group now.” 

“Mm… yeah…” Wild’s consciousness trickled out, the wave of exhaustion stuffing his head with warm cotton. “Yeah… love my brothers lots…”

Chapter Text

The split group of four walked straight through the front doors of the castle, led by Time, who the guards had certainly recognized.

The gaping chapels welcomed them, sparkling walls and ceilings reminding Four of freshly polished swords. The carpets sat pristine, the color of roses, shining like a fresh, velvet robe… well at least they had before the four members of the group had tracked mud in.

The remaining members of the Chain had certainly drawn the short straw: roped into chores by Malon on her ranch. Although, Four secretly envied them being able to stay so close to Wild in case something happened. Warriors, Hyrule, and Legend had practically insisted to stay behind, anyways, just in case something happened. They’d be the only ones who could help. Twilight had just wanted to stay near Wild, and Four couldn’t exactly blame him. The poor guy still felt so guilty for what had happened.

Four, Time, Sky, and Wind would just have to make themselves useful here.

“Halt!” A metal tone slammed against the tile by the thrones, echoing down the Great Hall. A tall woman with tied back silver hair stood before the throne, clad in armor and familiar Sheikah markings. Her purple eyes glared dagger at the group, and for a startling moment, Four wasn’t sure she recognized Time. He supposed the Old Man always looked different every time he visited the castle, anyways, but never too different to draw attention. Perhaps a new scar to add, but nothing much to show.

“Good to see you, too, Impa,” Time responded calmly, hooking his thumbs in his belt. “Is Zelda in?”   

“Princess Zelda in the castle?” Impa rested the tip of her massive broadsword against the tile, looking down her nose at the group. It must’ve been purely for show, though, given the incorrect way she held it— Sheikah were more well known for a less direct approach. Her voice bellowed with a growl when she spoke. “Who’s asking?”

Time paused, as if momentarily caught off guard by her response. His shoulders straightened, the remaining Chain members reaching for their swords when they registered it— but Time lifted his hand. “Now, I’d like to imagine you’re messing with me after knowing me for decades.”

Four paled at the notion, wrapping his fingers around the hilt of his sword, ready to pull it at a moment’s notice. Had the Twilight infected this castle, too? Had it seeped through here? Would they have to fight Impa to find Lullaby? Was Lullaby infected, too?

Sky’s hand squeezing his shoulder halted Four’s derailing train of thought. He forced himself to relax, still ready to spring into action, but comforted by the fact that Impa would reach him last after Time, Sky, and Wind… not that he really wanted that either. Four preferred to move as a group, but tit would at least buy him time to grab a better tool.

“Oh, I’d recognize the douchebag haircut anywhere,” Impa said, and Time’s shoulders relaxed again. “Do you quaff your hair yourself? Or is your widow’s peak just that prominent?”

“It’s natural, I’m afraid,” Time chuckled softly, removing his hand from his sword, and The Chain relaxed behind him. He continued making his way down the sparkling red carpet, and Sky ushered Wind on. “Unchanged as always, Impa. You never did seem to like me too much... even after I saved your Hyrule twice.”

Impa rolled her violet eyes, a sparkle of mirth shining there. She extended her hand in greeting, gripping Time’s arm when he reached the bottom step. “Dislike is a strong word, Link.  Trouble follows you everywhere. If you’re here, I can’t say I’m reassured. It must be for a reason.”

“Well, we were hoping to speak with Zelda,” Time continued gruffly, stepping back again. His shackles rose once more, but not due to threat. Likely the worry he (and everyone else) shared for Wild. “Is she… in?” He held Impa’s gaze, a different question residing there, to which Impa huffed.

“…maybe,” Impa narrowed her eyes, shooting a silent statement back at him. “Maybe you should come back later—!”

“I’m here, I’m here!” A strawberry-blonde haired young woman rushed into the room, pulling on the heel of her slipper as she entered. A grin burst across her features, her hair minutely tangled, yet well-maintained, lips a rosy pink. “Link! It’s always so good to see you… erm…” her eyes trailed over the rest of the group. “All of… you? Some of you. I could’ve sworn your group was bigger the last time I saw you.”

Time graciously accepted her hug, clearly careful not to hold too tight, Impa’s eyes judging from a distance. “They’re helping Malon with farm work,” he said.

Lullaby chuckled. “That sounds more like it. That woman knows her work,” she rushed around to greet each hero. Sky bowed his head, hand over his heart, Four gave an awkward smile... but when she reached Wind, she paused.

“Oh, Goddesses, that’s right,” she politely extended her hand, and Wind dipped his head. “I forgot how much he looks like you when you were younger, Link— erm, apologies. I don’t mean to speak over you. Wind, is it?”

“It is, that’s me,” Wind mumbled, cheeks red. He pushed himself up onto his shoes, and Four had half the mind to smack him. He wasn’t the shortest one here.  “Hero of the Wind!” 

Lullaby chuckled, stepping back again. Her eyes skimmed the small group, her brow dipping slightly. “So… where are the rest of your… erm… brothers?” She returned to Time. “I’m certain there were a few more. The magic one? Your old soldier friend with the blue cape? The sorcerer with the pink streaks? The wolf? The long-haired cook?”

An air of tension bubbled up from the small group at the mere mention of Wild. Four hated being so far away, even if his knowledge was needed here. His skin crawled at the thought of something happening while they were away— an ambush or… something worse.

Lullaby eased back, releasing a soft gasp, hand fluttering to her chest. “Oh… I’ve touched a nerve. My deepest apologies. I didn’t mean to—!”

“It’s alright,” Time said. “Really. It’s… there’s an issue

Lullaby brushed off her pink dress, nodding as she urged him on. “An issue?” She echoed, eyes flashing. “It must be important if The Goddess sent you here.”

At least she seemed to think so, too… Four hadn’t wanted to poke Time’s fury at the situation. He, himself, usually just went along with the flow, but Time really seemed to have it out with fate business. Not that Four really understand the burden he spoke of all too well.

“Wild… got hurt in Twilight’s world,” Time blurted. “Shadow beasts fell through what we think are cracks in the realms. It cornered Wild and got him good…”

Lullaby’s eyes widened. “You have a healer, I remember him,” she insisted. “Was he unable to help?”

“Well, Roolie mostly closed up the physical wounds, but… the shadows didn’t entirely react well with Wild’s, erm… biology.” Time scratched the back of his neck. “It’s hard to explain.”

Four stepped forward, his mind whirling with the practiced thoughts he’d been mulling on for the past few days.  “Wild’s got an influx of light and rune magic in his system, and the shadows infected him badly because of it. More so than the villagers we were helping. That magic keeps him alive, and it kept him alive for a hundred years. It brought him back from the dead and it basically fuels his life force. But with the darkness creeping in, and threatening to snuff it, he’s running out of time…” he swallowed hard, eyes stinging at the thought of the end, but he forced himself to push past his tightening throat. “Just… if we can stop the twilight tear altogether, it might help him. His body is just against itself right now, and it’s making him sick and loopy and… whatever else,”

Lullaby’s face paled, her breaths stopping with an abrupt gasp. “Oh, goddesses, that’s terrible,” she said, nodding vehemently. “I’ll do whatever I can to help. Do you have any idea why The Goddess might have planted you here, then? I mean, if the cracks are in Twilight’s world, then…”

Time shook his head. “We don’t know, Zelda,” he said, throwing up his hands. “Twilight said Midna closed the portal to The Twilight Realm behind her. Shadow beasts couldn’t have gotten through. I think we should be in Twilight’s Hyrule, not here…  I mean… I’m sure you know what I think, but I’m starting to suspect I’m jaded.”

“There’s gotta be a reason,” Sky stepped forward, finally introducing himself to the conversation. “She wouldn’t just dump us here without reason. Now, Lullaby, your Hyrule is Twilight’s Hyrule— just a lot further in the past.”

Lullaby focused her attention on him, nodding along.

“We’re thinking something might’ve happened here to cause the inevitable cracks. Can you think of anything that might… spark that? Anything at all? A sketchy book? A sketchy guy? Or girl?”

Lullaby heaved a sigh, messing with the folds of her dress. She shook her head silently for a moment, before ultimately closing her eyes. “We’ve had our fair share of close encounters as well, as you know,” she said, scanning the small group. “But I can’t think of anything or anyone that would… tear a hole to the Twilight realm… we have other problems to worry about. Link, you still have all the masks, right?”

Time scratched the back of his neck. “I… I still have all of mine…”

Lullaby’s head snapped to him, eyes steely and brimming with a confrontational hesitance. “What does that mean?”

“Well, I lost track of Majora’s after a while—!”

Horror flashed through Four at the notion. He’d heard about the chaos that thing had brought. The spirit inside had been insane, it had corrupted any who touched it to destroy the world! And Time had just ‘lost track of it?’ “You what?!”

Lullaby gripped Time’s arms, forcing him back a pace before he steadied himself. “The most cursed mask in all of existence? That you didn’t even tell me about until after the moon almost crashed into the planet?”

Sky startled forward next, voice raised to counter his usually calm and kind nature. “You lost the most powerful mask in existence?”

“I defeated the spirit inside!” Time insisted, raising his hands in defense. “I freed Skull Kid! It was just a mask, so I gave it back to the mask salesman!”

“How do you know?” Wind rushed closer, his eyes saucers. “What if something was still lingering?”

“It wouldn’t be trans-dimensional!”

“It’s not!” Sky grabbed Time’s other shoulder, rounding him to take Lullaby’s place, as if to scold his own unruly child. “Twilight’s Hyrule is your Hyrule! You should’ve gotten that damn thing and destroyed it!”

“It was just a mask, Sky! It was just wood! It was a rough time for me, and you know it!”

“Enough, enough!” Lullaby raised her hands, warding Sky back when the skyloftian bristled like a furious cat. “Look, I shouldn’t have snapped. You all are clearly stressed, but there’s no point in pointing fingers. We don’t know for sure that it’s the mask. If you say the evil spirit is gone, then I believe you.”

Four sighed heavily, crossing his arms. He forced himself to relax, his whirling mind and snapping remarks were likely a result of worry towards Wild. Everyone was on edge because of it.  If they didn’t find a way to pull the sickness out of him… then the chances of his survival were unlikely. And they couldn’t exactly easily get to his Hyrule to help battle an issue that likely had an answer in the Hyrule it came out of.

“The conduits,” Four continued. “There were conduits of twilight in Twilight’s Hyrule’s temples. We had to go in and destroy them to seal the beasts slipping through… maybe it’s just that.”

“Yeah, but why were they in there in the first place?” Time huffed. “It doesn’t make sense. Twilight would’ve sensed them and destroyed them when he was initially in there!”

“Well, maybe he just wasn’t lookin’!” Wind countered, desperately. “Maybe he was focused on other things.”

“No, we all felt it…” Sky mumbled regretfully, finally releasing Time to step back, arms folded across his stomach, posture deflating. “We all felt the shadows in them. Twilight would’ve, too. He’s more connected to those shadows than any of us. He would’ve felt the darkness and destroyed them.”  

“So… if the Goddess sent you here, then there must be an answer,” Lullaby pinched her brow between her fingers, shaking her head. Four hated to drag her into this, but if anyone knew about time-travel and the happenings of this Hyrule, it was Lullaby. “Look… why don’t we go look in the library? Perhaps we can find an answer there. An answer to end shadow illness. An answer to the conduits. An answer to seal the cracks to the Twilight Realm for good.”

Chapter Text

Twilight mucked and tended to the stalls inside Lon Lon Ranch with practiced ease, sifting sawdust through mountains of poop before he moved to breaking up the hay into fresh piles to be used elsewhere.

His nostrils burned with the familiar stench of horses and their manure, sawdust and fly spray stinging his eyes, his boots having been replaced by ones much more suited for the work he was doing.

For a while, it felt like he was back home at Ordon Village at the ranch. Like he hadn’t been dumped into an unfamiliar version of his own Hyrule with his Champion’s life on the line. Like he hadn’t been the reason his brother was infected with the very shadows he’d fought so hard to seal away for good. Here, Twilight didn’t feel like a failure to The Chain. Here, he just felt like a rancher.

A shadow grew in the yawning barn doors, and Twilight tipped his head towards it when someone cleared their throat. Malon lingered there, waving at him, her hair now cinched in a tight bun at the back of her head. An apron fitted around her middle, boots secured on her feet, a rag on her shoulder.

Twilight startled, the pitchfork dropping from his grip, thudding on the sawdust and hay. He rushed forward, heart slamming against his ribs. “What’s wrong? Is he okay?”

“He’s alright,” Malon raised a hand to stop him, before tucking it back into her folded arms. She leaned up against the side of the doorway. “He was awake briefly, told me about sword swallowing— he almost seemed coherent during it, but I don’t really think so.”

Twilight shook his head, exasperated at the thought. The goddess-damned sword swallowing trick. The whole Chain (minus Wind) hated when Wild did that. Sky and Time insisted that the Master Swords had better use than as a tongue depressor. Everyone else (minus Wind) agreed that it was unnecessarily dangerous and downright stupid. Wind thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread. “He didn’t try to do it for you, did he?”

Malon shrugged. “‘Course he tried,” she said, and when Twilight startled, she continued promptly, words flying. “I mean, he tried to get up to grab his sword to show me, and I forced him to back down.”

Twilight released a relieved breath. “Moron,” he grumbled and sent her an apologetic look, trying not to let his eyes linger on her features. Did he carry something similar? “Hope he wasn’t too much trouble.”

“Too weak to be,” Malon said solemnly, her smile melting away to reveal the heavy-burdened look that everyone else felt, too. “Just chatty for a few minutes, then he passed out again. I think the milk and the fairy we gave him helped a little at first, but he started declining again pretty soon after.”

Twilight swallowed hard, his throat drying at the very thought. He picked up the pitchfork again, mostly to hide the expression he knew clouded his features. “How… much worse?”

Malon shook her head. “Don’t worry about it, Twilight,” she shook her head. “Nothing I can’t handle. How’s the work going in here? Nothing too bad, I hope?”

“Uh…” Twilight straightened, wiping the sweat off his brow. He cast a glance around. “Well, your gutters were a little busted in the back, so I fixed those up for you. I noticed a loose lock on the goat pen, too, and fixed that. They’re clever little things when they want to be, you know? I once saw one climb on top of his sister to nose open a gate and get out. It was the middle of the night and Uli’s scream woke up the whole village.”

Malon’s brow raised, a smile quirking her lip. “Ranching must run in your family, huh?” She winked at him, a knowing sparkle in her eye.

Twilight chuckled, shrugging. He rubbed the back of his neck, not keen on telling her the fate of her husband. It still made him sick to his stomach to think about. When she had kids, Time’s death likely wouldn’t be far behind. At the very least, Twilight could hope that he just… didn’t get around to training them and they were at least able to know their father.  “Right, yeah,” he adamantly avoided her eye, swallowing hard past the lump in his throat. He nudged her playfully still. “Must be in my blood or something.”

Malon headed over, pulling him down to kiss the top of his head, and Twilight’s head clenched at the reminder of his own, absent family. Times spent at Lon Lon Ranch were always more awkward for him— especially when Malon dragged Time into the other room for some alone time. No one faced more teasing and jabs than Twilight when that happened. She grabbed the pitchfork from him. “Why don’t you go sit with Wild, huh? I’ll finish up here. By the sound of it, you’ve done more than enough. I can’t say the same about your brothers.”

Twilight snorted, fighting an amused smirk. “Yeah, well, they don’t know their heads from their asses at a ranch,” he puffed out his chest. “If you need a rancher, I’m your guy!” 

Malon chuckled, swiping him with her rag that Twilight was convinced she kept there for hitting purposes. He yelped, rubbing his hip where it had made contact, and scurried out of the smelly barn.

In the distance, Legend and Warriors’ voices bickered on the calm breeze of Lon Lon Ranch, ruining the quaint atmosphere. Their figures stood in the middle of the grazing field arena, arguing over a pile of steaming poop in the middle.

“I don’t want to scoop it; I’ve been rolling the poop wagon!”

“No, you haven’t! I literally just picked up the last pile!”

“Well, then your hands are poopy, and I don’t want you to touch the handles and make my hands poopy!”

“My hands aren’t poopy!” Legend lifted the poop take threatening, Warriors cringed back. “I could make you poopy if you wanna bitch about pitching in!”

Twilight shook his head at them. Heading to the side of the barn, he grabbed another rake, then whistled to gain their attention. Lifting the poop take in the air like a trophy, he beckoned them. “Don’t worry! It’ll go much faster if you leave the barrel in one place and bring the poop to it!”

Their arguments whirled on him, angry shouting biting the air, and Twilight tossed the rake as close to them as he could manage. Then, he turned in the direction of the house.

*********************************

In the guest bedroom of Time and Malon’s home, Wild looked like a little kid swaddled beneath the numerous layers of blankets. His eyes sank over his purple-rimmed eyes, his brows furrowed minutely, bangs clinging to his forehead.

Twilight heaved a breath, plopping down onto the nearby chair. He rested his elbow on his knee, staring at his poor cub shuddering underneath the layers of warmth. Even still, sweat beaded at his pale brow, dribbling down the side of his face as he slept.

Twilight wrung out the cloth, dabbing away the droplets tentatively. All at once, his guilty heart weighted again, his throat tightening at the sight— at the mere thought— of Wild’s approaching fate. It would be all his fault. If he’d just paid more attention in his own damn Hyrule, this never would have happened.

Wild shifted in his sleep, head tipping closer to the soothing comfort of the cloth, and Twilight remained stoically silent, not wanting to wake him.

The front door of the cottage opening did that for him.

“Malon!!” A man’s voice boomed through the area, joyous and singing proudly. “I’m baaack! I brought some pumpkin pie!”

Twilight tensed, slowly rising to his feet. His fingers went for Wild’s Master Sword leaning up against the nightstand, and he drew it from its sheath. Dragging it out into the open, he crept to the door, peering through the crack.

A rounded, fat man lumbered through the living room, balding hair starkly white with a blossoming, bushy mustache and a tiny ponytail at the back of his head to match it. Yet his green eyes were warm and kind, eyebrows wide over them.

“Malon!” He crowed into the house, as if he hadn’t noticed all the armor and weapons sitting around. He held a covered pie in one hand, eyes occasionally darting to it hungrily. “Oh, Malon—!”

He turned right towards Twilight, catching the rancher’s eye, and stumbled back over his own feet, the pie splatting directly into his face. He hit the ground, the whole place rumbling, and a pang of guilt flashed through Twilight.

“Malon! Malon!” He called frantically. “There’s a-a-a-a man! Malon, there’s a man— wait, we don’t have anything to steal, what are you doing here— don’t answer that! Malon!”

Twilight cringed, setting aside the master sword to open the door fully, lifting his hands in surrender. “I’m sorry!” He frantically rushed to soothe the poor man, scared he might have a heart attack in the middle of the kitchen. “I’m sorry! I thought you were breaking in!”

“I live here!”

“I see that now! I’m sorry!” Twilight patted himself down, making sure he didn’t have any weapons on him. “Hi, I’m sorry. I’m, uh… Twilight. I’m a friend of Time’s.”

“Father Time?” The poor man clutched his chest. “You’re here to take me to the afterlife, aren’t you?”

“No, no, no, no!” Twilight waved his hands frantically. If memory served, Malon lived with her father, as the man was unable to live alone anymore. The poor man had always been out in castle town when The Chain had visited. “I meant Link! Your… daughter’s husband? Your son-in-law?”

“Oh, Link!” The man relaxed back against the table, bits of pumpkin peppering his white mustache, dribbling down his cheeks. His tongue flicked out, catching each piece, undeterred by the opportunity to eat the pie all by himself after all. “I like him. He always brings home chickens. He makes my daughter incredibly happy, Yeah, Link. You sorta look like him, but he’s not home right now.”

“No, no, I know. I’m his, uh…” Twilight chose his words carefully. He couldn’t very well say brother— that wouldn’t make sense to the poor man who was under the impression that Time had grown up in the Lost Woods with the Kokiri. Even worse, he couldn’t say that he was distantly related to Time… and this fat, pudgy man. “Friend. Yeah, I’m his friend. We travel together with the big group. Did Malon tell you about that?”

“Ah, yes!” The older man, Talon, if memory served, bobbed his head. “The Boy Band! Yes, I remember. You guys call yourselves the Chain! Kind of a dumb name.”

 Twilight rushed to help the man up— likely his great-great-great-great-great grandfather or something— and grabbed a nearby rag, wiping the pumpkin filling off his face. Although Talon didn’t have a problem licking it off himself.

“What’re you doing here, anyway?”

As if on cue, a thump slammed against the doorframe, and Twilight jolted, startling to his feet. He gasped at the sight of Wild trembling in the door, his clothes dangling off his slim figure, shakily wielding his sword. His hazy eyes flashed around the room, hair tussled and knotted from lying down.

“Wild…! Wild, hey…!” Twilight handed Talon the rag, though he didn’t think the man would use it, and rushed for the sick young man.

Wild swung, and Twilight scrambled out of the way, searching for coherency in those dulled, exhausted blue eyes.

“Hey, hey, hey— woah!” Twilight held up his hands in surrender. “Hey, it’s me…. It’s Twilight. Wild? It’s Twilight.”

Wild blinked hard, slumping against the door, his knees trembling as he struggled to keep himself up. The sword quivered violently in his grip.  “Mm… heard… shoutin’…”

“It’s alright, it’s alright. We just started each other, that’s all,” Twilight crept forward tentatively, prepared for Wild to lunge in a fit of delirious sword-fighting. Somehow, the uncoordinated and unplanned attacks sounded more dangerous than the normal ones. “You’re okay. We’re okay. Can you put the sword down?”

The sword clattered, and Twilight rushed to gather Wild up in his arms as he collapsed down with it, just barely managing to catch him.

Talon watched silently, struggling to pull himself to his feet for… obvious reasons. He gripped the back of the chair, skin pale. “Hey, he looks awful,” he said. “What’s wrong with him?”

“He’s… sick,” Twilight tried to explain, hoisting Wild up in his hold, the boys head and limbs flopping limply over his arms. He weighed lighter than a feather, his muscle mass having faded just as quickly as his weight.  “He’s really sick. That’s why we stopped by. He needed to rest.”

“What’s he got?” Talon wiped the remaining bits of pie off his face, tossing the rag aside. He followed Twilight into the room, eyeing the scene as the rancher tucked Wild back in worriedly. “He looks terrible. Absolutely terrible. And so young!”

“I… I, uh… don’t know what he’s got,” Twilight situated the blankets back around Wild’s trembling figure, worry prickling at him. He cringed at the further loss of complexion in Wild’s usually tan skin. “I’m sorry if he scared you. He doesn’t know what’s going on. It’s the fever.”

Talon lingered in the doorway. “Looks like a shadow sickness…”

“A what?” Twilight frowned, turning back to face the man, confusion whirring.

“It killed some poor lady in Castle Town a few weeks ago. She said she saw a beast in the woods… and it sapped her life force.”

Twilight blanched, whirling to completely face the man. His eyes bulged wide, heart slamming in his chest. “What? It’s happened here, too?”

“Too…?” Talon frowned, clearly not understanding, but thankfully didn’t dwell too much on it. “If you mean in Castle Town, yeah.”

“A-And she died?” Twilight squeaked, unable to help his voice breaking at the end. “She…”

Talon nodded sadly, eyes solemnly locked on Wild like staring into a casket. “Yeah…” he replied heavily. “Sorry, kid. She did. Her name was Patty. She worked in Castle Town’s bakery. Thank the goddesses it wasn’t contagious. I just bought this pie from them.”

“And… you’re sure it looks like that?” Twilight pointed to Wild.

Talon bobbed his head. “Yep. Red-rimmed eyes, pale skin, fever, skinny and weak… ‘pecially those dark veins in his arms!”

Twilight rushed to remove the blankets enough to reveal Wild’s arms. Past the healed marks the shadow beasts had left, sure enough, his veins were starting to blacken.

Twilight scrambled to his feet, rushing past Talon back towards the back door. Talon whirled around, shouting after him, voice tinged with worry. “Where are you going?” He demanded frantically.

“I’m tracking down that lead!” Twilight called back. He’d be damned if he let Wild die without doing something more to help. “Please watch over him for me, Talon!”

The back door snapped shut behind him, the tiny horse ornament bumping against it, and announcing his hasty departure.

Chapter Text

In Hyrule’s Castle’s library, the group struggled to piece together answers. Shelves upon shelves of books stretched from ceiling to floor, each brimming with knowledge, the library massive and pristine and overwhelming. But Sky suspected that only one held the answers they sought.

“How about this one?” On the rolling ladder nearby, Wind presented a blue book with this Hyrule’s writing etched on its front.

Sky squinted up at it, finger still resting on the spines of the history books on the bottom shelf. “Uh… I think that says platypus.”

Wind frowned, pouting. He glanced at the cover again, then shoved it closer down. “Nuh-uh! It says illnesses!”

“Dude, we’re in the history section.”

“How is platypus a history?” Wind demanded. “It’s an animal! It should be in the science section, then!”

“Time!” Sky shouted across the library to the older Hylian currently combing through the nonfiction biographies and essays section. He pointed up to the book when Wind held it out.

Time squinted, though Sky didn’t see how that focused his one eye better. “The History of Platypus Mountain,” he read. “It’s past Death Mountain. Not even in the ballpark. Look for books that say twilight, sickness, illness, or darkness, okay?”

Wind grumbled under his breath, shoving the book back in place. “Not my fault I can’t read the damn dialect,” he grumbled.  

Sky returned to skimming the bottom shelf, struggling to read the dialect himself. History of Hyrule, History of Zelda, History of The Hero, History of Kakariko… nothing worked.

A scream in the distance jolted him back to awareness, though. Sky drew his sword, whirling around, ready to assess the threat, but froze at the sight of a familiar wolf barreling towards them, tongue hanging out the side of his mouth in utter exhaustion. “Time!” He called, and Time’s head snapped up from the shelves .

“What’s he doing here?” Wind demanded, rushing up beside Sky to meet Wolfie halfway. He steadied him with two hands, eyes worried, and clearly fearing the worst.

“Let him transform back,” Time jogged up beside them, extending a hand to Wind to give Twilight some space.

He’d run here, that much was obvious. He’d run here in a hurry. Why? Sky bit his lip, fighting to control his breaths, even if his eyes welled with tears. Wild had to be fine. He just had to be. They still had time.

Wolfie melted in a puddle of darkness, reconverging in his human form, hunched over and panting. “Wild… Wild’s fine,” he managed first, sweat dribbling down his reddened face.

Sky’s knees released their pent-up tension, and he half-collapsed into the bookshelf.

Wind swatted Twilight with a stack of papers. “Goddesses, Twi! You scared us! I thought he was dead!”

Twilight shook his head, rolling his eyes and glaring at Wind. “No,” he rested his hands on his hips, fighting to catch his breath. “He’s fine for now. Time—!” He turned his frantic gaze to Time. “—Where’s the bakery? I can’t exactly ask around as Wolfie.”

Time’s brow dipped, his lips pursing. “If memory serves, it’s just down the street,” he said, resting a hand on Twilight’s shoulder. “But I really don’t think this is the time for—!”

“A lady got sick a few weeks ago,” Twilight interjected quickly, speaking in between pants. Sky had half the mind to go find him some water, “Talon took one look at Wild and said that he looked like that woman before she died. Shadow sickness or something.”

Sky scrambled forward, shaking Twilight’s shoulders frantically. “How do you know it’s the same?” He demanded. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe Twilight, but he didn’t want to take any chances. If they treaded down the wrong path, they could run out of time, and Wild would die.

“Before she died, she said a beast attacked her in the woods. She came down with something afterwards. Black veins on her arms. She worked at the bakery.”

Sky stumbled back in steely shock, gasping. It was a chance if he’d ever seen one. Light in the darkness. Hope.

Time’s eye widened and he whistled for Four to join them. Four peeked his head around a corner where he’d been digging into the deeper sections. “We’ve got a lead!”

Twilight’s breaths finally started to calm. “I was gonna ask the bakery about where the beast might’ve been. Maybe it’s still here. Or maybe it hopped up to the future— that’s a thing, right?”

Time nodded. “If I can be sent back, I imagine it’s possible to jump forward… but I have the ocarina of time, and I imagine that shadow beasts likely couldn’t figure out how to play it.”

“Anything here?” Twilight continued. “We can track down the beasts, but I still don’t know how to cure Wild. Right now, I’m just taking anything I can get.”

Sky and Four exchanged wearily looks, shaking their head, but luckily, Four held up a book, heading forward.

“I found a book on the twilight realm,” he said. “Where the portal is, how to close it, how to open it. Stuff like that. Their hierarchy, monarchs, blah blah blah…”

Twilight bobbed his head. “I’m… familiar,” he said, eyes darting momentarily before returning. “I went there briefly. Nothing much to see besides the castle. Lots of twilight creatures, but they weren’t bad. Just corrupted. A hint hand chased me and kept pissing me off.”

Four held up a hand, ceasing his words carelessly, nose buried in the book, clearly missing Twilight’s look of indignant offense. “Shadow sickness. That’s what the corruption is called. It affects things differently. Things with more magic are susceptible— which checks out with Wild, considering the Shrine of Resurrection and the runes.”

Sky pressed close to Four, skimming the page over his shoulder. The depiction of a chaos creature grinned maniacally up at him, teeth sharp and pointed. “Man, are we lucky to have you, Four,” he sighed in relief. “I never would’ve found that.”

“Damn right you’re lucky. That’s because you’re looking in recent history.”

“How do we fix it?” Time pressed.

Four skimmed the pages again, huffing.

“Anything about the conduits?”

“Trapped pieces of the original beast’s light,” Four said.  

“So… it was in all those dungeons before?” Wind asked, turning to Sky. “What was with you in all those dungeons?”

Twilight’s brow furrowed in deep thought as Four continued skimming for information. “Well… fairies, I guess.”

Time paled. “Fairies?!” He demanded. “We’ve been killing sacred fairies?!”

“More like a footprint of the spirit of light,” Four piped up. “Like… residual energy left behind trapped by a shadow.”

Time released a heavy, relieved breath.

“Like water?” Wind piped up. “Like how when you come out of water, you drip and leave footprints?”

Four shrugged, barely paying attention, still skimming the book, squinting. “Uh…Sure,” he said. “You know, when I start dripping residual energy, I’ll let you know if it’s like water.”

Wild stuck his tongue out at him, Sky chuckled and ruffled the young sailor’s hair. “Hey, o think water sounds fantastic.”

“Purification,” Four said, and hope once again roared in Sky’s chest. “We have to purify the original beast who tainted the rest. So… the alpha beast or whatever. The light spirit trapped inside should help rid him of the sickness… I think.”

“You think?” Twilight demanded.

“Cut me some slack, would ya?” Four snapped. “It’s hard enough understanding this dialect!”

Time leaned forward to read, taking the book entirely from Four.  “Mm… it says an innocent weapon of pure light can purify the original beast and restore its power. If you make an offering to the light spirit, it may graciously help cure the lingering shadow sickness as a thanks.”

Wind huffed a breath. “Isn’t that redundant?”

But Sky didn’t think so. His hand drifted to the sword at his waist—The First Master Sword— ebbing energy with every pulse. He drew it, the blade shimmering in the candlelight, an idea forming in his mind. “Am innocent blade,” he said. “One that doesn’t wound the innocent, maybe? A blade of light? A blade of sacrifice and love?”

“Well, you don’t have to be so cheesy about it,” Twilight scrunched his nose in disgust, but Sky felt none of his intended jabs. He valued Fi above it all.

“I suppose that may work…” Time chewed his lip, closing the book and tucking it under his arm. “I say we find the den of the shadow beasts first. I’m hoping Majora’s mask isn’t back… but in this timeline…” he trailed off, a slight realization swimming behind his eyes. Majora’s Mask just hadn’t been used in this timeline… and Sky knew it well.  “You said… the baker knows?”

Twilight threw up his hands. “Is Talon a reliable source?”

Sky hadn’t ever even met the guy, but he’d heard enough stories to know that Talon was… Talon. In the nicest words possible. He loved his daughter and his ranch dearly, but he seemed to struggle with many tasks.

Time teetered his hand. “Sometimes he doesn’t remember reality from dream… but you’re right, it’s the best lead we’ve got. We’re running out of time, and I really don’t want to have to pull out the Ocarina of Time if we screw up. There’s no telling what consequences the new timeline would have…” His eyes drifted briefly to Wind, who thankfully seemed none the wiser.

The last thing Sky wanted was to be forced to choose between losing one of their own, or dooming Hyrule without any remaining Links.

Sky sighed, gripping Time’s shoulder, easing him back from the rest of the group, ignoring Wind’s ill-timed ‘ooooh.’  Time’s eye narrowed, but he followed along, thankfully not grunting his complaints.

“So…” he turned to Time, arms crossed. “The Mask?”

Time sighed, pinching his brow. “Dunno, Sky. Dunno where it came from, dunno where it is now. Then. Now. No, I definitely took out the magic in this timeline.” He shook his head, hunching over to grip his hair. “Goddesses, this is so confusing.”

“It exists now,” Sky said. “It’s here, magic or not. Someone could’ve gotten ahold of it. Used it as a conduit. Magic pushed through it. So… where was it?”

Time pinched his brow, releasing a heavy breath. He shook his head, and Sky squeezed his shoulder tighter.

“Come on, Time, think. Who had it?”

“Oh, dammit,” Time held his face in his hands. “The Mask Salesman.”

“The what?”

“Goddesses, he’s so creepily cherry.” Time grumbled, waving his hand. “Yeah… yeah, okay. He should be in town… hopefully.”

“Hopefully?”

“He travels!” Time insisted. “He’s everywhere, so I don’t know if—!”

“Alright,” Sky squeezed his shoulder, holding his gaze. “You go show them the bakery, then you and I are gonna go see if that mask is there.”

Chapter Text

Wild’s eyes fluttered open as a wolf’s howl burst through the air, invading his ears, and forcing his consciousness into a weak body. Blinking hard, he took in the familiar state of the guest room, the blankets and comforter sweltering him, sweat soaking the sheets beneath him. He was alone. His brothers… where were his brothers?

Groggily, Wild sat, holding his dizzy head, swaying violently, the room spinning. His stomach turned at the notion, but even closing his eyes didn’t stop the sensation. Groaning, he slid his legs over the side of the bed, easing himself up onto his feet. His knees trembled briefly before buckling, his hand just barely managing to shoot out in time to catch the bed frame.

When no one came rushing in, he grabbed the nightstand, leaning up against it, and dragged his Master Sword out of its sheath. It pulsed weakly in his hands, a testament to his fading state, dying along with him, it seemed.

Wild swallowed hard at the thought, steadying himself up against the wall. As the latest iteration of The Chosen Hero, if he died, would his sword die, too? Part of him argue that it was ridiculous, but… if that disease was sucking out his light, and he was connected to this sword currently… would he fail Hyrule again?

A warbling growl jolted him out of thought, closely followed by a scream, and Wild stumbled towards the door manically. Throwing it open, he slid along the wall, taking in the clean state of the house and kitchen. An old, fat man took a quick nap, wearing an apron and head bandana, leading Wild to believe that he’d cleaned this whole place. Wild didn’t recognize him, but if he lived here, he wasn’t a threat.

Wild stumbled right past him, black spots dancing at the corners of his vision, his heartbeat thudding in his ears, haggard breaths just as loud. His body protested every movement weakly, but with that scream, Wild didn’t have a choice but to help.

He threw open the back door, blinking hard to clear his vision, only to spot a familiar, red-haired woman jabbing a pitchfork at an oncoming pack of wolfos’. Each time one tried to get around her to the barn, she jabbed at it, earning a sharp cry, to which they whirled their fury onto her.

Wild’s feet scrambled beneath him. Without the support of the wall, he fumbled like a newborn fawn, everything dizzy and swaying, but his determination to protect Malon fueled him. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her. He didn’t know where his brothers were. He was all she had.

Reaching the woman, Wild grabbed her shoulder and yanked her back, earning another surprised scream. When her head snapped towards him, though, she paled, expression filled with pure horror. “Wild?!”

Wild swung his sword in a wide arc, half-hunched over and trembling on his feet, but when one wolfos lunged for him, he swung down hard, obliterating it into a pile of dust and darkness.

The others growled nervously in the back of their throats, and when two lunged from either side, Wild stepped back, ushering Malon back. They collided where he’d once been standing, and he kicked the oncoming third one, eliminating his brothers in the process.

Malon yanked his sweat-soaked sleeve frantically. “You need to get back inside, Wild! I can handle it, okay?”

“Are all the horses in?” Wild asked in a trembling, weak voice, sounding closer to a deadman than a hero.

“All but one.”

“Then get it in.”

“But—!”

Wild slashed at the next wolfos, arching out of the way from its teeth, before slamming it back. It tumbled on the ground, rolling in the dirt, but didn’t fall. When it got back to its feet, though, Wild noticed it’s limp instantly. “Now, Malon! Now! Once everything is safe, we can go back in!”

Malon groaned in frustration, lifting the hem of her skirt to scurry off towards the terrified filly at the back of the arena’s pen.

One wolfos turned to go after her, but Wild advanced, scattering their ranks, taking him down with a quick jab to the throat. He stood between the wolfos’ and Malon, daring them to try.

They rushed him all at once, the remaining four lunging forward, and Wild’s feet slid out from beneath him to get out of the way. His back slammed into the dirt, knocking the wind out of him, and Wild gasped raggedly, dust clouding his sinuses.  gnashing teeth went for his throat, but he blocked an oncoming mouth with his sword, twisting it off, and rolling out of the way from the second one.

He rolled on top of the first wolfos, pinning it, and slicing his sword through its throat. Blood spurted up into his face, and he gagged at the notion of it, but thankfully there was nothing left in his stomach to bring up.

Thhe second slammed into him, knocking him off the first way too late, and Wild screamed when its teeth sunk into his right arm. “Damn things!” He roared, and throwing caution to the wind, he sank his teeth into the wolfos’ bad leg. With a yelp, it scrambled back, but not before the remaining two pinned him down, breath rancid in his face, enough to peel paint.

A whistle shot through the air, blood spilling on top of him when the sharp tip of an arrow sliced one wolf’s throat. Tim’s body collapsed on top of him, providing him the perfect cover for when the second arched its teeth down. He shoved its brother’s back into it’s mouth but was unable to garner enough strength to push them both off.

Another arrow whistled, plunging into the wolf’s side, and it yelped. A second one thunked into it’s chest, and it collapsed as well.

The final wolf attempted to limp away, but the final arrow shooting through the air above Wild’s head signaled its end.

Footsteps clattered towards Wild, his hazy mind barely comprehending people shouting until they were just beside his head.

Exhaustion pinned him to the ground when the bodies of the wolfos were tossed of him, his chest heaving and heart slamming unsteadily in his ribs. He moaned when hands rolled him and fondled his limbs, a panicked voice demanding to know injuries. But Wild only had one. And he was too exhausted to respond.

“Roolie!” They shouted, and Wild groaned upon recognizing the sound of a red potion uncapping. “Roolie!”

“No…” he turned his head away when the glass rim touched his lips, stomach churning at the thought. But a hand secured behind his neck, forcing it up, and shoving the red potion down his throat.

The second it started to come down, Wild’s gag reflex kicked in, and it splattered down his front, mixed with stomach acid. He coughed and heaved, hands rolling him onto his side, his stomach violently protesting the introduction of anything. At this rate, Wild would starve before the dark sickness could take him!

“Okay, okay, it’s okay… it’s okay…”

Another figure crashed to their knees beside him, panting heavily, glowing hands resting first on Wild’s aching chest. Then, they slid around, magic searching through his failing insides, before fingers wrapped around the bleeding teeth marks in his right arm. He howled.

“Got it!”

Wild flailed weakly, eyes stinging with tears. The fading adrenaline left him weak and helpless on the ground, babbling like a little kid with a scraped knee. The warm, tingling sensation shot into his arm, melding his skin back together with a needle of fire.

“You’re okay, you’re okay,” his face buried into a warm chest, a a pelt tickling against his forehead, gloved hands cupping the back of his head.

Wild inhaled deeply, comforted by the slight scent of sweat, dog, and fresh bread. Twilight. They were back. Where had they gone? Tears brimmed Wild’s eyes when he comprehended their return. He’d convinced himself that they’d left him behind. That he was slowing them down too much.

“Holy shit…” a squeaky voice spoke above his head, a fresh panic. Wind. “Holy shit, he’s crying.”

“It’s alright, he doesn’t know what’s going on,” Hyrule said, speaking softly, voice ghosting on pants.

But Wild did. He was violently aware of his failing mind and body. He knew they were struggling to help fix him. He knew he was dying.

Twilight’s hand rubbed gentle circles on his back, tentative and worried. “It’s alright, Wild, we’re back. We were just in the market, okay? We’re trying to help you.”

Wild kept his face buried, his teary cheeks burning with shame and embarrassment at his petulant display. “Malon…” he whimpered.

“What?”

“Malon… she was… in trouble…”

“She’s okay,” Twilight soothed him, gently brushing back his hair. “Legend’s with her. She said you fought those things all by yourself.”

Wild bobbed his head, lip quivering, though he remained thankfully hidden. “Had to… you left…”

“We went to meet the others in town,” Twilight said. “We found a lead on… what’s going on with you. It’s called Shadow Sickness. We need to find whatever beasts are remaining in this Hyrule, find the original one, and take him out. Once we free the light spirit, she should help you. Time and Sky are still looking into the Mask Salesman.”

Wild whimpered, trembling fingers gripping the cloak on Twiligjt’s shoulders. He shivered into the young man, and Twilight gathered him closer. “No… no… not Majora…” he whimpered, breaths quickening, heart pounding. Had it infected him? Was he possessed by it?

“I know, I know… you’re okay…” Twilight murmured into his ear.

“It’s in me—!”

“No, Wild,” Hyrule said, murmuring low in his ear. “If it was in you, you would be be weaker. It might just be taking from you. You might just be an energy source. If it was in you, trust us, we’d know. You’d be going crazy. But, hey, maybe Twi and Time will find a dead end. Maybe it’ll be with the salesman after all.”

Wild whimpered, sniffling pathetically, gripping Twilight for dear life, body trembling violently. “No…” he mumbled. “Don’t let it get me… don’t… don’t let it possess me…”

“Shh… it’s okay… we’re here… why don’t we get you inside and wash you up, huh? You’re covered in blood and vomit.”

Vaguely, at the back of his mind, Wild registered that his currently position smeared said disgusting thing into Twilight… but he didn’t care enough to pull away. “…sorry…”

Twilight chuckled, chest shaking slightly beneath Wild’s head. “And wash our clothes, too, huh?”

Wild bobbed his head and slumped against Twilight, resolute to allow the darkness of exhaustion to finally claim him.

Chapter Text

The yawning mouth of the Happy Mask Shop sent shivers racing up and down Time’s spine every time he looked at the damn thing. He didn’t particularly harbor a dislike for the Happy Mask Salesman; it was more so that thoughts of him regurgitated skin-crawling memories. Every time he saw the poor guy, some horrible thing loomed over the lands.

So, when of course Time walked through the door, even despite his changed appearance, The Salesman’s ever-grinning face stretched wider.

“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” He laughed, drumming his fingers on the counters, resting his cheek in his hand. His tone brimmed with airy breeziness, despite the now-looming situation. Time didn’t like it when his brothers got involved in things he was supposed to have stopped. “I imagined you’d be coming back around.”

Time lingered in the doorway, Sky bumping into his shoulder dumbly. When he peeked over Time’s shoulder, he stiffened briefly at the sight of the ever-creepy shop and ever-creepily-smiling salesman.

“Holy Hylia,” he muttered.

Time pinched his brow between his fingers, guilt creeping up his throat as Sky skirted around him, eyes wide and taking in everything.

“My, my, what decorations,” he laughed, striding to the counter, extending a friendly hand. “Hello! I’m Sky!”

The Happy Mask Salesman clasped Sky’s hand with both of his own, shaking it politely, his smile stretching wider to nearly impossible standards. “My, my,” he said, voice bordering on sorrowful. “You’ve met with a terrible fate, haven’t you?”

Sky’s own likely forced smile faded, confusion brimming in his eyes when he shot a look over his shoulder at Time. “Uh…” he blinked rapidly, turning back, but when he attempted to pull his hands away, the Salesman gripped him. “That’s a weird thing to say. As far as I’m aware, my fate has been nothing but good.”

“I suppose it only matters how we handle it, huh?” The Salesman laughed softly and patted Sky’s hands. “Do you have any masks to sell, Brave Traveler?”

“No,” Sky said, shoulders tensing, muscles clenching in preparation. Time rested a steady hand on his shoulder, silently warning him that this was a friend, creepy as he may be. Sky huffed a breath, lurching his hands away as if they’d been burned. “No, I don’t. I’m sorry.”

“By the sounds of it, you know why I’m here again,” Time said and leaned up against the counter, resting his head on the wood. “Didn’t you say that the mask had lost its power?”

“That dark omenI felt brewing had vanished,” The Happy Mask Salesman said idly, head tipping back and forth like a broken Jack-in-a-Box. “But, within it, over time, I felt a growing footprint. So, I took it to be purified. I heeded your warning to never sell it again.”

Time skimmed the mask-lined shelves of The Happy Mask Salesman’s shop, lingering on familiar faces staring back at him. Most brought a warmth to his heart as fond memories sparkled in his mind, but each came with the heavy burden when he remembered why they had been necessary. “Purified, okay,” he bobbed his head along. “Purified where?”

“Well, I didn’t get around to actually purifying it in the fountain,” The Salesman said, rubbing the back of his neck with a soft chuckle. “When I set down my pack to retrieve it from the back, it had vanished.”

Time stated at him in disbelieving bewilderment, though his expression really felt more like a steady mixture of expectant and irritated disappointment. “You’re joking.”

“Hold on,” Sky leaned off the counter where he’d been busily examining the Deku mask, feet planting fully again. “You left one of the most powerful magic masks in existence… on the back of your pack where you couldn’t see it?”

The Salesman turned to him slowly, head moving to match an owl’s. “Even after all it’s been through, once the magic fades, a mask is just a mask at the end of the day.”

“Right…” Sky eyed him wearily, reeling back when the Salesman’s eyes flicked up and down his person. He covered his torso with his arms, eyes flashing to Time as if to demand to know why this dude made his skin crawl. Time had never really found an answer to that question. “The mask with the biggest dark footprint I’ve ever heard of!”

“The biggest?” The Mask Salesman tilted his head. “Well, I’m sure it would be flattered to hear that.”

“It’s… a mask—!”

“Look,” Time cut in. “I need to know where you lost it. I’m on the clock here, and I don’t have time to just… riddle, okay? As much as I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, I have lives to save.”

The Happy Mask Salesman refocused his attention on Time, humming a soft, familiar tune in his throat, one that Time had often heard Wild hum while cooking. “Hmm hm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmmmmm!”  

Sky stiffened in recognition as well, his brow shooting up. “You know that song here?”

“The Song of the Wild? Yes, the mask told me,” The Salesman laughed. “Quite the story of memory, failure, and redemption. Is that the life you’re saving?”

Sky’s head whipped towards Time incredulously, as if to demand how this guy could possibly know that. He yanked Time back, huddling close, his voice hissing accusingly. “I… Is he psychic or something?” He demanded sharply, his baby-blue eyes stretched wide. “Or could he have something to do with this? How could he have known about Wild?”

“He’s a gab,” Time replied flatly, “but he’s helped me in more ways than you know. And I trust him.”

Sky stared at him for a long pause. He swallowed hard, glancing nervously over his shoulder at The Salesman, then sighed. “I trust you,” he said and gripped Time’s shoulders. “Is he always like this?”

“He’s wise,” Time remarked respectfully, glancing at his old friend… then leaned closer to Sky, sighing. “But… yeah… he’s pretty consistent.”

“The mask,” Sky continued. “Did you try to get it purified in the nearby woods?”

The Salesman nodded. “That’s right,” he said, drumming his fingers on the counter, grinning idly. “I took it to a Great Fairy Fountain and lost it to the curious hands of fairies. The whereabouts of it now…? I don’t know.”

Time slammed his head down on the counter, wishing his still wore his hat so he could pull it down over his eyes and wallow in his miserable disappointment. Rather, he settled on just trying to pull his bangs over his eyes, to which Sky rubbed his back reassuringly. “Didn’t… Wasn’t I clear?”

The Happy Mask Salesman lifted his hands in surrender, before rubbing the back of his neck, chuckling. “I didn’t sell it! Honest to Goddesses! When it vanished, I searched and searched! I asked the Great Fairy nearby, but she said no fairies of hers would steal! Mischievous little things, I regret to disappoint you, Link. I know all you’ve done.”

Sky rubbed Time’s back reassuringly, circling his tensing shoulder blades, and silently telling him to relax… but Time found it difficult.

They’d been dropped in this Hyrule for a reason, then… whatever beasts they’d met in Twilight’s Hyrule must’ve used a path from here, drawn by the utter light energy The Chain out out. That answer made the most sense…

Add it was all Time’s fault.

“Man…” Sky tsked. “Don’t take this the wrong way, erm… Happy.. but maybe you should’ve burned that thing.”

“The evil within a beautiful painting can’t hurt you,” The Salesman shrugged. “And destroying a work of art for something it couldn’t control is blasphemous!”

Time clenched his fists on the counter, but thankfully Sky eased him away from reaching The Salesman. Amy other time— any other situation— Time would’ve held back. He would’ve restrained. Calmed. But Wild was in trouble, and the ever-looking threat of his death weighed on Time’s shoulders. “You should’ve told me.”

“Truth be told, I didn’t know you were back in town,” The Salesman laughed and scratched the back of his neck again. “Although, when a group of alike strangers passed… I suspected I’d once again become the reason for your plight. I apologize.”

“It’s not your fault,” Time grumbled, though every lingering irritation told him to lie. To berate the poor guy. But he held no quarrels with the man who’d helped him so much, even if he made Time’s skin crawl violently.

The Happy Mask Salesman leaned forward again, steepling his fingers. He chuckled low in his throat, and Time eased back, Sky’s eyes unwittingly popping open when the Salesman’s eyes deranged. “If you find my mask, Link,” he said coldly despite the smile. “You’d better bring it back to me. I don’t care how angry it makes you… I want my Majora’s Mask back.”

Then, his face shifted again, brimming with warmth, mirth, and joy. He tapped the counter good-naturedly and laughed. “And, of course, good luck! I hope you’ll be able to help that poor, sick, dying friend of yours!”

Chapter Text

Hyrule sulked out of the guest room after having struggled with the skeleton that was Wild for the past ten minutes. Malon had made a decently delicious soup, but Wild had rejected it, barely awake. It had made him gag enough that Hyrule felt like he was out of options. He was going to starve at this rate. He hadn’t eaten since before the incident.

Time leaned in his chair, arm slung over the back to meet Hyrule’s gaze. The Chain sat around the table, chairs and benches and stools pulled up to make room. Half actually ate the savory-scented soup, half stared into the distance, appetites gone. “He eatin’?”

Hyrule huffed a frustrated breath, shaking his head. He set the untouched bowl of soup on the counter, slumping down in his own seat, bones aching. He had never had to use his powers so much so closely together. His entire body ached from it, eyes heavy with exhaustion, and all he wanted to do was collapse in bed and sleep for a week. “Turned his nose up at it practically. I gave him a bite and it came up.”

“Can’t say I blame him,” Twilight shrugged, swirling his spoon around his bowl, resting his cheek on his fist. “I tried giving him a red potion earlier, and it came back up before it even hit his stomach, I think.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Hyrule held his head in his hands, scrubbing the exhaustion off his face, lest he face-plant into his bowl. “He’s starving. He needs freaking energy to fight this, but he’s tapped, and he’s got nothing in his stomach to use.”

A tense silence fell over the table. Twilight sighed, scratching the back of his neck. “Right… yeah, guess that’s an issue. He looks like a damn skeleton.”

“Maybe we could inject some potion into him?” Warriors piped up. “Just… stick it in his veins like a transfusion.”

“Wouldn’t that be like shooting water in there?” Wind frowned.

Warriors leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. “I… don’t think red potions have the same consistency. They’re not made to hydrate; they’re made to heal. So… it wouldn’t burst his cells, I don’t think.”

Hyrule’s brow dipped in thought, even if the act of thinking made his brain swell like a balloon ready to pop. “They’re made of chuchu jelly, right? Diluted chuchu jelly. I mean… that’s around the same consistency as saline, right?” He glanced at Warriors, who shrugged.   

“Think so. Does it have enough properties, though? Enough salt?”

“I read a book in the library on that,” Four said, extending his spoon, soup dripping off the tip, splattering onto the table. “Talking about chuchus, I mean. The ice ones have a good bit of salt and water, so if we mix their jelly with the red ones, it might be safe to inject.”

“Might isn’t good enough,” Time said firmly, shaking his head. “I’d rather not risk it.”

Hyrule huffed, digging his spoon into the bowl of soup intently, but hunger didn’t prick at him at all. He knew where Time was coming from, but they were beyond safe plans. “Time, starvation’s gonna kill him before we can down the original beast, let alone find it,” he said, stabbing a carrot in half. “I think chuchu jelly can be diluted into a solution like saline. It won’t stop him from starving to death, but it’ll buy us some time and give him more energy to fight. He’s drained from today.”

Malon shrunk slightly in her seat, shoulders hunching, ears drooping just slightly. Time promptly wrapped an arm around her shoulders, but it did little to ease her clear guilt. “I do apologize. I should’ve gotten the horses in sooner to nightfall. I-I tried—!”

“No sense in trying to explain yourself,” Time reassured her, his voice uncharacteristically soft and he kissed her cheek gently. “We know what had to be done. It wasn’t your fault.”

“Yeah, once Wild’s got his mind on somethin’, nothin’ stops him!” Wind piped in confidently, already on his second helping of soup, and devouring it quickly. Hyrule wished he shared the appetite. “He drives us crazy! I mean, he’s worse than me and he’s three years older than me!”

“Try one-hundred-and-three years older, Wind,” Twilight chuckled.

“Even worse!” Wind mumbled with his mouth full, broth dripping down his chin.

“If you do mean to inject him, I have plenty of unused syringes in the barn,” she said. “We use them to give the foals starter shots and the horses medicines and everything. You’re more than welcome to them.”

“Malon,” Time covered her hand with his. “I don’t think it’s the best idea—!”

“Hyrule’s right, dear,” Malon said. “If his body doesn’t have energy to fight, he’ll likely be dead by morning.”

A  shockwave shot through The Chain. Tears brimmed in Hyrule’s eyes, utter guilt blossoming in his chest. Her words rang true, and they stung him. He couldn’t do more to help. They literally had to resort to drastic measures because he couldn’t help. He was supposed to help… he was supposed to heal them.

Wind dropped his spoon, the wood clattering into the bowl, and sat back. Hyrule suspected that his appetite had finally been ruined. He swallowed hard, tears swimming in his eyes, and Warriors squeezed his shoulder reassuringly.

“We’ll figure it out,” he said.

Wind burst up from the table, sprinting off into the other room. Hyrule’s heart shattered at the notion. After everything, he was still just a kid. This was a heavy thing to be burdened with.

Malon’s ears drooped. “Oh… dear. I’m sorry…”

“No, no,” Hyrule scrubbed his eyes, his throat tight. “You’re right, Malon. You’re right…” his eyes flicked to Time, who studied the table with a downtrodden look. “We’ve gotta try, Time. I-If it kills him, it’ll be inevitable. He needs something to keep him going.”

Time finally released a heavy, horrible breath. “Very well…” he rubbed the back of his neck, shaking his head. “I want us to try and get food in him tonight. Anything bland and easy on the stomach. Anything he can manage. I want fairies on him, too, trying to heal him. We’ll leave by morning… I think. Depending on how he’s doing, a group of us may have to leave to track down the beasts, the others will have to track down some chuchus or their jelly.”

 “I’ll track down some medicine,” Hyrule said, perfectly aware of where he was needed most. His eyes skimmed the table, taking cue of Time’s gesture to pick more. “I’ll need Legend and Four.”

Time nodded solemnly. “The rest of us will track down the beasts to where the baker’s sister had indicated,” his eyes flashed to Twilight, who hadn’t eaten a bite. “We’ll use Wolfie to track them down. It’s likely we’ll have to push through a wave of monsters, so I want everyone ready for that.”

A steady round of agreement rippled through the chain, nervous, excited energy fluttering through. Come morning, they had a lot of work to do.

Chapter Text

Before the sun had crested the trees, The Chain took off, split nearly down the middle, and heading to their final chances.

Four sat on the wagon with Wild, the young Champion’s head propped on his lip, his skin so pale that he already approached ghost-hood. However, the slow rising and falling of his chest and his pinched brow suggested otherwise.

He’s breathing, Four told himself. He’s alive.

For now.

But he’s alive.

Legend and Hyrule remained up front with the horse Malon had loaned them for the trip back to the castle. They talked amongst themselves, and Four was secretly glad to be away from it. Unused syringes rolled up in the front seat, clattering softly against each other with each bump.

He gently rubbed Wild’s hands between his own, trying to generate some warmth into the cold, lifeless appendages, the skin like cold clay. With the fever having once burned so intensely through him, even his head felt starkly cold against Four’s knee now. He tipped water into Wild’s mouth, the barest amounts touching parched lips, but it didn’t help either.

The castle slowly fell into view, the outskirts of the castle town’s market echoing a lively chatter to contradict the death approaching on the back of the wagon. People attempted to stop them, likely trying to sell them stuff as if the urgency in the quick pace hadn’t been detected. When, at last, they reached the palace gates, though, guards rushed to meet them, panting.

Four settled Wild off his lap and rose instantly, balancing whrn the wagon lurched to a stop. An unfamiliar panic lingered in the guards’ eyes, as if they’d been thoroughly frazzled by something else, but their presence alone irked him.

What are they doing there?

“We’re here on Princess Zelda’s orders!” One raised his hand in a stiff salute. “She has everything prepared in the lab. They’re waiting for you there.”

They? Four exchanged a confused look with Hyrule and Legend up front.

How did the guards know they were coming? Or that they needed a lab?

Four drew the four sword, the energy within it humming, his eyes hesitant, suspicion crawling in his gut.

Infiltration, it must’ve been. A coup.

Lullaby was in trouble.

But the guards didn’t entirely seem unfriendly or threatening. They held no weapons.

 “And you wanna tell us how you know this?” Four demanded calmly. He stepped protectively over Wild, fearing the worst in these two.

Intruders!

No, if they’d infiltrated the castle, how had they gotten so deep into the palace gates?

“Because I told them so!” A voice bellowed out from the top of the stairs, lighter than Time’s Zelda, poised and accented. A long-haired, blonde young lady walked into view, wearing black pants and a fancy, blue tunic. Her green eyes shone with steely determination, her posture tall and confident. “Now will you please bring my knight to me so I can help him?”

A bolt of shock jolted through Four as he recognized her, a shudder racing up his spine.

How in the goddesses had she gotten here?

The portal only worked with the Links!

Why did this have to be so damn confusing?

All Four wanted to do was adventure!  

Flora descended the stairs, her boots gliding over them like ice. Her glare forced Hyrule and Legend’s weapons promptly back into their sheaths, and Four scrambled to pull her up the back of the wagon.

Only then did Flora’s façade crack, a panicked horror flashing through her at the sight of her knight, her Link, prone in the back of the wagon. She knelt beside him, a warm magic summoned in her palm as she rested it on his forehead. It wouldn’t help, though, and Four knew it.

Wild tensed briefly, jerking under her touch, before relaxing once again. Flora tsked, bringing his head close to her, eyes flashing to Four, brows lifting, demanding an explanation.

“Uh… uh…” Four exchanged another look with Hyrule and Legend, who thankfully looked just as lost. So, this wasn’t normal, then. Zeldas weren’t normal. “He… uh… shadow beasts,” he stuttered out, mind whirling to fight past the lingering traces of doubt. “Infected… uh…”

If she’s here, can others come?

Spit it out, Four!

There’s just so much going on!

Legend shook his head. “Shadow beasts attacked him. He was infected with a dark touch— these people call it The Shadow Touch. It’s sucking out his life force and affecting him so badly because of the Rune Tech in him. Because that stuff powers his entire existence, this touch can wipe out his entire existence.”

Flora stared at him in bewilderment, her ears pinning back, eyes bugging wide. “Then what are we waiting for?!”

“An explaination would be nice!” Four insisted. “What in the goddesses are you doing here?!”

“What?” Another voice rose from the stairs, heels clacking down each marble one much more carefully than her counterpart. “You think you Links are the only ones with the triforce and access to portals?”

Lullaby tipped her chin up, strawberry blond hair glistening in the sunshine. She was much prettier than Flora, in Four’s opinion. Even still, he glanced at his own, magic-less hand with a frown. He didn’t even have that.  

“There was a portal, a voice beckoned me, and I stepped through,” Flora insisted, gently smoothing back Wild’s sweaty hair, cringing at the grit.

Gullible much?

Shut. Up.

“I’ve heard Link— erm, Wild’s stories, don’t worry,” Flora said, sitting straighter as Lullaby rounded the cart to peer inside. “I know the deal.”

“I have a laboratory beneath the castle,” Lullaby said, as if that wasn’t the creepiest thing ever. “We can get in around through the stables. I don’t think we can take the horse and wagon much further than that, though. Can…” her eyes scanned the three Links suspiciously, landing particularly on Four. “Can you three carry him alone? I can always ask my guards.” She gestured to the two guards, who puffed out their chests confidently.

Sissies.

They didn’t even have half the experience of any of the Links!

Hyrule and Legend exchanged baffled looks, and Four felt their offense clearly. The very same emotion shot through him at her words, and he bristled, clasping his fingers against his lips to stop himself from shouting.

Legend crossed his arms gruffily, his brow set in clear, prickling agitation. “All due respect, Your Highness, I’ve saved Hyrule alone six different times,” he jabbed a finger at Hyrule. “He’s saved his twice. Him,” — his finger pointed at Four— “once. You honestly think we can’t figure out how to drag a 120-pound Hylian?”

Lullaby shrugged. She waved her hands, and the guards dejectedly scurried away, grumbling.

As if.

“Very well,” said Lullaby. “Then follow me. Zelda here tells me she’s quite good with potions and laboratories. I imagine your Link will be in good hands.”

Chapter Text

Wind launched himself through the air, slamming his sword furiously down on the nearest Stalfos as it went barreling for Sky. It exploded in a mess of dust and bone fragments, and he flipped back, eyes hungrily searching for the next target.

At the sight of one approaching, Wind roared in fury, tearing down the forest path to intercept it. He caught it’s blow with his shield, its massive weight bearing down on him, but fueled by determination alone, Wind slammed his shield into it’s face. When it stumbled back, he scrambled after it, driving the sword right into its stupid, bony face. When it refused to die, he yanked out his sword and drove it down again. And again. And again, until—!

A hand grabbed the back of his shirt, dangling him off the ground, and Wind fought furiously, limbs scrambling, until Sky’s voice shouted at him.

“What in the goddesses are you doing?!”

“Let me go!” Wind screamed at him, whirling out of his grip to barrel for the next enemy. But Time grabbed him again, yanking him out of the way of another stalfos’ sword.

“You’re getting sloppy!” Time told him, yanking him practically onto his ass. “You’re angry! You need to focus—!” He whirled and blocked the approaching claws of a wolfos, nails violently scraping on metal.

At his distraction, Wind barreled for the back of a moblin, launching onto him. The creature whirled, though, nearly throwing him off-balance, and though Wind held tightly, his sword went flying. So, he resorted to his fists, punching and kicking and biting.

It squirmed and flailed, hand reaching behind, scratching at Wind, and Wind screamed angrily at it, hitting harder, until a force yanked him off again.

Warriors tossed Wind aside, rolling out of the way of the moblin’s fist. His sword clipped its legs, and when it fell, he drove the master sword straight into its heart, ending it quickly. Blood splattered up into his face, his back heaving, but he didn’t seem to care. Instead, he whirled back to Wind, eyes blazing.

Wind tried to hold his angry expression, but tears burned his cheeks, stinging his eyes. He scrambled to resume attacking the horde, but Warriors dove and grabbed his ankle, forcing him back down. Wind rolled, attempting to kick, but it was pointless and he knew it.

Warriors dragged him close, dirt streaking his front, and hoisted Wind up with him.

“Let me go!” Wind howled bitterly, but Warriors’ grip pinned his arms at his sides. “LET ME GO!”

A stalfos charged them, but Twilight intercepted it as Wolfie before it could reach Warriors and Wind, slamming it down and tearing in.

Warriors shoved Wind back up against a tree nearby, forcing him there when he continued to squirm, face eerily calm despite the fury swirling in his eyes. “Calm down.”

“What are you doing?!” Wind spat at him, struggling against Warriors’ one-armed hold. “I can still fight—!”

“I said calm down!” Warriors shoved Wind back again. “Calm down and take a damn break!”

Wind struggled harder against the grip, frustration and angry driving him, his arms straining with the force, tears dribbling down his cheeks. He shouted in Warriors’ face, but it did little to loosen the hold. “LET ME GO, WARRIORS! LET ME GO!” He shouted until tears choked his words, his voice trembling as he broke down. “LET ME GO!!”

“You’re gonna get yourself or someone else hurt.” Warriors told him firmly, nearly growling. “You’re angry and it’s making you sloppy and I can’t have that on the battlefield! It’s dangerous for everyone.”

“You’re wrong—!” Wind sobbed, practically wailing, but deep down, he knew the truth of Warriors’ words. Fury fueled him. Fury and pain and anger and downright devastation at the looming situation. His voice broke finally on his words. “You’re wrong…! You’re wrong…!”

Warriors eased his grip when Wind slumped back against the tree, fighting to catch his breath through his tears. He scrubbed at his eyes, but they just continued to flow, soaking his cheeks and his arms and-and…

Wind wailed. Like a toddler without a binkie, he wailed. Like a baby. A kid. A weak little boy. He gutturally wailed.

Warriors gathered him close, muffling the noises against his shoulders, and Wind barely registered the notion that it might draw more monsters in. He didn’t care. His sword dropped and he heaved for breath in between his tears, his heart already shattered in his chest like he was already gone. “You’re alright, kid,” Warriors sighed. “You’re alright.”

They were so close to the spot the baker’s sister had seen the shadow beasts. So close, in fact, that monsters had begun to emerge at every turn, and Wind just sobbed like a lost little kid.

He was so angry. So frustrated. He wanted to do more to help Wild, but he just couldn’t! He was the most useless out of the bunch, just a kid with still-big emotions and a too-big heart!

He wished he could care like Legend and Warriors’ cared. Deep down, he knew they did, but they could hide it where he couldn’t. It had built and built for days, leaving him snapping at every turn, and now… Wind unleashed everything.

But he didn’t need to say a word to his brothers about why.

When at last the wave cleared, Sky, Twilight, and Time peeked around the tree. Eyes swimming with tears, Sky rushed to join the tug. The other two took up posts on the other side of the tree.

Warriors passed Wind to Sky, and Wind clung to the chosen hero like a baby, never having felt so safe in a warm embrace. Sky rubbed his back, practically cradled him, and Wind hated that he enjoyed it.

“I know,” Sky murmured into his ear, rocking him back and forth tenderly. “I know, Wind. I know. We feel it, too.”

“No, you don’t!” Wind blabbered between his horrible, everlasting tears that just wouldn’t stop. “I’m weak! I’m weak and I’m childish and I shouldn’t be crying!”

“We cry, too, Wind,” Sky said. “We just know when to do it before it builds up. We love him, too… but you’ve gotta have faith that he’s gonna be okay.”

“How?!” Wind screamed into Sky’s shoulder, his snot smearing on the beloved cape. “How ‘m I supposed to just do that?! He’s not okay! He’s dying! I’m not stupid, I can see it!”

“And dying can become not dying with the proper care,” Sky gripped him tighter, and Wind clung to him. “He’s strong. Have faith that he’s strong and he’s a fighter and that he’ll get through it. He’s escaped death before. Probably countless other times that we don’t even know about. He’ll claw his way back to the light, Wind. If you don’t wanna have faith in fate, then have faith in Wild. He’s a stubborn one, and you know it. He’ll cheat death.  Have faith in him.”

Wind mulled over Sky’s words, the truth ringing poignantly within them. He sniffled, his breaths starting to calm.

Wild was stubborn.

Wild was a fighter.

Wild would claw his way back.

If anyone could escape death, it was the one who’d actually faced it and lived to tell the tale.

Sky continued to rub Wind’s back, his soft hand tenderly rubbing up and down, the other hugging the young sailor close until his sobs had dried up into sniffles.

Wind scrubbed at his face, eyes aching, and breaths unwilling to steady, catching pathetically… but his brothers didn’t seem to care.

He wondered if Sky was telling the truth about everyone else crying. Had they? He hadn’t seen them break once besides occasional snippy comments. Had they broken? Had they vanished for a moment to themselves? He didn’t know.

“There you go…” Sky murmured kindly. “There you go, Wind. There you go.”

“I-I’m sorry…” Wind mumbled, cheeks burning with shameful embarrassment.

“Don’t be,” Sky chuckled and flicked his ear lightly. “You know I’m a sucker for this.”

“D… Did you really do it…?” Wind murmured, lifting his head slowly, his voice small. “Did you cry…?”

“Every day,” Sky ruffled his hair, smiling without a trace of shame about it. “The others? Maybe once. Maybe not at all. But I cried every day for Wild. Prayed to the goddesses for his safe recovery and babbled like a baby.”

“When?” Wind sniffled.

“When everyone else was sleeping, of course,” Sky chuckled and booped Wind on the nose, grinning. “Duh…!”

Wind glanced at his remaining three brothers, who adamantly avoided eye-contact, virtually confirming their similar moments, and Wind could’ve melted in relief. Here he’d been trying to keep it together the whole time. Acting like nothing was wrong. Avoiding the issue.

And the strongest of his brothers had gone off to find their own, private moments.

“Honestly, maybe you crying over here wasn’t such a bad idea,” Warriors said, still standing nearby. With his arms crossed over his chest, he stared into the distance, eyes locked on something, lip quirked into a smirk. He nodded with his chin behind where Sky cradled Wind like a baby, and when Wind turned to check, his stomach dropped.

A cave yawned in the hill behind them, dark and foreboding, a horrible aura radiating off it. A ghostly chill gusted through the forest, rattling the trees. The birds and wildlife had noticably fallen silent. Wind could practically hear the boss music coming from it.

“Does that cave look like where a horde of shadow beasts would hide or what?”

Chapter Text

In the darkness enveloping Wild’s mind like an ooze of shadow, voice voices pokes through, sinking beneath the murk before he could properly discern them. For a long time, he thought he was in a tar pit, submerged beneath the thick, inky substance, unable to scream or move, no matter how much he wanted to. It sucked him under, dragging him deeper, and snuffing the life out of him like a dying candle.

Then, a faint light flickered in the darkness, warm and familiar, and Wild held onto it. The memory of laughter bubbled in his ears, horses neighing, a girl’s voice chattering intellectual nonsense to him, her voice quick and poised and powerful.

A slightly humming whine followed the approaching light, harmonious like a gentle, ebbing tone. He’d heard it before. He knew who it belonged to.

Wild shuddered, allowing the peace of the light to flood into him, lifting him up back into his consciousness. His eyelids were glued shut, limbs heavy and numb, every breath shuddering and aching in a failing body as darkness drowned him.

Voices clouded his mind.

“Watch his head!”

“I am watching his head! It’s not my fault you don’t know how to pivot!”

“Grab his shoulders, watch it— dammit! Ow! Legend!”

“I tripped! There was a rock! Don’t be such a bitch, Four!”

“You don’t be a bitch—!”

“Guys…!” An exhausted voice punctuated Wild’s melting back into darkness… a short time passed, then the humming droned again. This time, though, it was stronger, holding him up more securely.

‘Wake up.’

And he heard her. Wild heard her. His Zelda. His wonderful Zelda.

‘Link. Wake up.’

And Link did. Wild did.

His eyes dragged open, taking in the intricacies of a stone ceiling, something bubbling in the near distance, voices bickering in the corner. A beautiful face leaned over him, her blonde hair like a halo, green eyes like grasshoppers. He smiled before he could stop himself, relishing in the movement of her fingers in his hair, the pangs of her magic jumping into his head.

“There you are…” she spoke to him softly, tenderly, voice as melodious as he’d last heard it. “There’s my Link…”

Wild couldn’t talk, his body refusing to choke up the energy for it, but he could smile. And he did. As brightly as he could manage for her. Zelda. She was here. His Zelda…

Goddesses, she used to be so mean to him. But now her affections ran perhaps stronger than his… No, Wild was certain he was fonder of her. She couldn’t beat him. He wouldn’t allow it.

“I hear you’ve gotten yourself into trouble,” her face leaned over his, and Wild drank in her details. Her beautiful eyes. Her little nose. She’d cut her hair recently, a detail that everyone knew about, but he just loved thinking about it again and again. He longed to run his fingers through her shorter hair… but they wouldn’t move. They wouldn’t listen. Zelda’s smile faded. “You just stay right there, okay? Your friends are working on something now for you.”

Wild’s eyes slid to the side, but even his head wouldn’t listen. He felt paralyzed, his body refusing to listen. When he attempted to roll, it jolted once, then fell still. He couldn’t even move a finger.

So… this was it, then? The end.

Why was he awake then…?

His mind drifted sluggishly back to Zelda, her fingers in his hair, her magic tickling his scalp.

Ah. She was keeping him awake.

Wild had half the mind to think he was already dead… but as far as he knew, Zelda wasn’t a necromancer. Yet. He shuddered at the thought, and Zelda smiled down at him again.

“Feeling curious, aren’t you?” She chuckled. “I’d read your thoughts if I could, but I can only really detect what you’re feeling while your face isn’t showing it. Curious and confused… and super fond… I love that…” she practically purred out the last statement pridefully, and when a slight blush crept to Wild’s face— of course, his body could still do that— she leaned down and kissed his forehead. “Don’t worry… I imagine your friends will help you. I was simply the alchemist to put it together. I was brought here just for you. I can feel it.”

Whatever that meant. Wild wasn’t exactly given a chance to discipher her meaning before more faces popped into his field of vision.

Hyrule looked paler than Wild had ever seen him— his eyes red and exhausted, barely kept open, thin and shaky and weak… how hard had he pushed himself to try and help?

In his hand, though, Wild’s eyes caught the flash of metal. Of a needle glinting in the firelight. A pink substance glowed softly within the barrel of a syringe, and when Hyrule flicked it, it wobbled within.

Wild’s adrenaline surged, and he managed to jerk back, but Zelda held his head firmly. His feet slammed down against the bed he was lying on, Four’s hands around his ankles, and Legend tied a belt around Wild’s upper arm.

“Dammit… I can’t see a thing in here!” Legend crabbed, huffing a breath as he leaned down, squinting at Wild’s forearm. “I don’t know how you’re gonna find anything, his skin is like paper.”

“He’s dehydrated severely, I’ll give you that,” Hyrule said. Nearby, a hand shook up the bottle—Wild’s confusion skyrocketed when he noticed Lullaby— and a firefly glowed within.

Wait… Lullaby and Flora in the same room? How in the Goddesses…?

“Can you see at least one?” Hyrule prompted, leaning close as well, holding the firefly near Wild’s arm with the other hand.

“No!” Four huffed. “No, Roolie, I meant that in more ways than one! I can’t see a damn thing! I can’t see in here, and I can’t see a vein!”

“Did you pull as hard as you could?”

The belt around Wild’s arm jerked, pulling so tightly that he felt it, and he gasped. Zelda rushed to soothe him, but his brothers hadn’t seemed to notice.

“Nothing, Roolie!”

“Dammit, okay…” Hyrule leaned back, eyes ghosting over Wild’s body in a way that it was almost uncomfortable. Wild’s eyes flicked down, registering himself bare and stripped down to his damn underwear.

Holy. Fucking. Hylia.

Sweet. Fucking. Goddesses.

In his dying hours, he’d been humiliated.

“Alright, alright, I’ve got some options,” Hyrule huffed, leaning back. His eyes flicked to Wild again, then down to his thigh.

Wild out all of his energy into twitching his leg away, but Four’s hands around his ankles stole any movement.

“Alright,” Hyrule nodded at Wild’s thigh and Four moved in with a bottle, pouring the cold substance obsessively all over his leg. Then, without further warning, Hyrule jabbed the syringe into Wild’s thigh.

The last thing Wild remembered was the gooey, horrible, bone-chilling substance going in. Then, the darkness violently dragged him under again.

Chapter Text

Time cut a wide arc across the line of oncoming stalfos slashing down on their shoulders, before slamming his shield against them. When the first one’s knobby knees trembled, he slammed his foot into it, forcing him down. The second advanced, rattling threateningly at him, and Time blocked him with the blade of his sword.

“Twilight!” He shouted over his shoulder. “You find anything?”

A sharp, low bark burst through the air, a ‘no’ if Time had ever heard one.

Wind groaned miserably nearby, pressing his back up against Warriors as they slashed away the swarm of stalkin circling them like long grass. “These things are miserable! They just keep coming!”

“That usually means we’re getting close!” Warriors shouted, kicking away a stalfos when it stumbled over.

Time spun out of the way when the stalfos gained his footing, slamming his sword down over his head, before crashing into the next, smashing his skull against the wall. They crumbled into a pile of bones, and he scurried off, tossing a bomb behind him. He shielded his face with his gauntlet as bone fragments erupted into the air. “Just keep looking!” He called to Wolfie in the distance. “You’ve got time!”

Wind shrieked in annoyance as keeses dove down on him from above, his attention momentarily torn from the stalkin to try and fend them off. “Goddesses, they’re everywhere!”

Time drew his bow, aiming an arrow for the pest tormenting the young sailor, taking it out easily. “Just hold on until Twilight can find the damn things in here!”

“We’ve been fighting for ten minutes!” Wind complained, having finally resorted to kicking the damn swaming stalkins like a bunch of ants, airing out the frustration they were all feeling.

“I know!” Time released another arrow, taking out another kesse heading towards Wolfie. “Just hold on! We’ve gotta find it!”

A howl echoed in the distance, and Time could’ve collapsed in relief. The droves of skeletal monsters whirled towards it, sensing the change, but the heroes cut them down in their moments of distraction. As the stalkins started scurrying to the hall he’d vanished down, Time drew a bomb arrow and fired.

Wind and Four scrambled out of the way, sputtering when the bone fragments pelted into them like a bunch of harmless pebbles.

“Go!” Warriors shouted. “Go now!”

Time took off in the direction of the howl, his sword kept at his side. He slashed the kesses as they battled down from the ceiling, heading towards the sound of commotion and growling.

As they reached a ledge, far below Wolfie duked it out with three shadow beasts. A massive one waited nearby, and Time’s heart sparked with understanding. The Original One.

He gazed down over the steep edge, frantically searching for a way down. Sky launched off the cliff past him, holding a screaming Wind. Midway through the air, he unfurled his cape, and their descent slowed.

Time exchanged a look with Warriors. Then, respectively, they pulled out their longshots, aiming down.

“Go for the Original!” Warriors informed him, shouting over the growling wolf down below and the screaming shadow spirits attacking. “Let them handle those three!”

Time aimed his longshot for the ceiling over the Original Beast. Launching himself over, he saw the beast’s head swing to follow. Before it could process its confusion, Time had lowered himself enough to pounce. Driving his sword into the thing’s face, it reeled and screamed. When its minions rushed to help it, Sky and Wind blocked their path.

Time leapt out of the way when the beast’s giant claws swatted at him, pulling his sword free, but before the beast could gain its bearings, Warriors launched down and punctured it again.

It screamed bloody murderer, shaking the walls violently, rocks crumbling, and Time winced as the fluttering wings of kesses approached. He twirled his sword as Warriors landed beside him.

“Go left!” Warriors commanded, and Time dove to the left, sliding under the Beast’s approaching claws, before wrapping the chain of his longshot around it. Then, he fired the end at the wall, and when the Beast’s arm yanked to follow,  he drove his sword into its revealed side.

It wailed again, other hand crashing down on Time before he could stop it. A wave of pain shot through him as he was thrown back into the wall, but Warriors took the opportunity to sink his sword into the beast’s other side.

It screamed again, tugging violently at the longshot stuck to the wall, scrambling to its feet, wisps of shadow-like hair flying furiously. It wailed into the air, kesses diving into the cave, more shadow beasts emerging from the darkness.

Time blocked the blow of one that appeared inches from him, pinned underneath it, its claws pushing against its sword before slamming him down. He wrapped his legs around it, though it was more like touching solid ice, and rolled it to the side. Getting it beneath him, he scrambled for his sword, plunged it deep. It fell still beneath him, and Time scrambled back.

Panting for breath, he notched a bomb arrow, aiming for the shadow beasts barreling for Warriors busy fighting the Original Beast. In a blast of orange, they exploded, bodies slamming into the walls before melting again.

Time gripped his sword and sprinted for the Original Beast while Warriors distracted it. He swung himself up onto it’s back, but didn’t allow it to process his presence, before he drove his sword down again.

This time, it stood fully, pulling him with it. It turned its head towards the ceiling and wailed, screech rattling the walls. Rocks crumbled down and Time protected his head as they rained down towards him. Warriors fired a bomb arrow above him, but Time still winced when debris showered him.

Then, the Original Beast’s wild hair swooped, shooting out like tentacles, and grabbing Warriors around the middle. He cried out as it pinned his arms, his sword clattering onto the ground. A familiar, multi-colored mask emerged form the darkness, two glowing eyes filling Time with a sense of familiarity. It roared, moving erratically, and Time shook his head.

“Damn thing! Twice now!”

It must not have grown as powerful, sucking Wild’s life force dry like that. It couldn’t have been long either. Either that, or Time was just far stronger now with his brothers on his side. Two more tendrils wrapped around Sky and Warriors, though Wolfie thankfully managed to dodge out of the way of the third.

Time gripped onto it’s back for dear life, his teeth clenched, trying to tune out the screams of his brothers. He wouldn’t have this anymore. His eyes met Wolfie’s as the final shadow beast stood before him in all of Majora’s Mask’s glory. He poised his sword back, and Wolfie’s haunches lifted in preparation to pounce.

Time shouted to be heard over the screaming beast, anger violently coursing through him. “Three Two! One!”

He drove his sword in deep at the exact same time that Wolfie tore down the final shadow beast. Both collapsed, Time nearly flung off with the motion, but he drove his sword deeper. Both tried frantically to call for each other, but it was too late.

The shadow beast under Wolfie melted into darkness again, then a brilliant, white light glowed through the cave, humming and toning familiarly.

Time slammed his eyes shut, throwing an arm over them when the light burned his retinas. For a moment, he briefly registered his body flying through the air, before it slowed all at once. His back gently met stone as if someone had laid him down, and the blinding light dimmed.

Harps graced his ears, tiny laughter alighting the darkness, and Time slowly sat up, blinking past the spots in his eyes to see. There, standing where the Original Beast had once raged, a Great Fairy danced. From the walls and shadows, fairies emerged to circle her, her laughter fluttering through the cave like wind chimes.

She glowed like the sun, the intense warmth radiating from her as she reunited with her fairies once more. Then, the light swelled again, twinkling magic shooting all around them, and Time covered his eyes as her second light engulfed him entirely— mind, body, and soul— like a warm, familiar blanket.

Chapter Text

Chirping birds and neighing horses roused Twilight from sleep, and despite the horrible battle he’d just endured, his body felt as light as a feather. His eyes opened, a lone tree swaying in the wind above him, leaves fluttering in the gentle breeze of day. He’d since reverted back into his human form, laid up against the soft trunk with a blanket wrapped around him.

The last thing Twilight remembered was tearing into that damn shadow beast with everything he had despite his exhaustion. He remembered it’s anguish mixing with his own, he remembered the flashes of light… and then he was here. Laying beneath a familiar oak tree with sawdust biting his nose.

“Twi?” Someone leaned over him, shadow blocking the sun, the outline blocking out his feature momentarily before Twilight recognized a missing eye.

“Hey…” he croaked and released a heavy breath, throwing his arm over his own eyes. “Jeez… how long did I sleep?”

“Only about an hour. We woke up back at Lon Lon Ranch.” Time said, hand warm against Twilight’s shoulder. He ran a familiar, wooden mask through his fingers, frowning down at it intently, and Twilight stilled at its familiarity.

“Oh…” Twilight mused, but then the thought trickled into his brain, and his body jackknifed up, head spinning, thoughts whirling. He looked around, taking in the familiar, peaceful atmosphere, Malon tending to his sleepy brothers nearby, horses eating at the fields… “How did we…?”

“It was a fairy,” Time laughed softly and ruffled Twilight’s hair. Sitting next to him, a blanket was wrapped around his shoulders, too, but it hardly looked like he needed it. Besides his bruised eye, he looked as fit as ever, just disturbed by the return of the mask. “I have no idea who it was.”

Twilight rubbed his eyes, fighting to recall, but all he remembered was the blinding white light before everything had snapped to nothing. “A Great Fairy?” He echoed, brain slow to catch up. “Don’t you know them all?”

“She might’ve been more active during your time,” Time shrugged. “I didn’t know. I just… woke up with the mask in my hand… and… I imagine I should just burn it. Let it be lost to time…”

“I… imagine that’s for the best, Time,” he said, eyeing the terrifying, creepy thing wearily. He rubbed his eyes, rolling his shoulders, skin crawling at the sight of it. “I don’t… want it in my time, you know?”

Time nodded solemnly. “That’s what I’m worried about. If it can possess a great fairy and drain people’s life forces for power… goddesses, I can’t even imagine. I should’ve burned it a long time ago…”

Twilight’s mind fully came back into its own, and his head whipped back towards Time, a gasp torn from his throat at the mention of life force draining. “Shit, Wild! Where’s Wild? Is he okay?”

Time’s smile fell slightly. He swallowed and shrugged. “Uh… they’re not back yet. I-I don’t know if…”

“WILD!” Wind’s voice broke through his words, and the young sailor burst from Maron’s tender grip, a sob torn from his throat as he barreled across the field.

Twilight lifted his head, taking in the five approaching figures returning form the castle. Wait, five?

Melding quickly into Wolfie, he took off in a sprint, easily surprising Wind, his morning the air. He inhaled deeply, registering each scent, and his heart soared when he registered the familiar, woodsy scent.

Barking excitedly, Twilight tore across the field to his cub being supported by Hyrule, each step weak and painstaking. Wild laughed when he saw him, and Twilight ignored Hyrule’s shouting to be careful. He tackled Wild easily, sniffing him vigorously for any lingering sickness, before licking him ecstatically.

“Gah!” Wild shook with laughter beneath him, hands scrambling, pulling at Wolfie’s fur. “Wolfie! Hey! Stop!” He chuckled. “I’m fine, I’m fine!”

Hyrule’s voice squeaked again. “No, no, hey, take it easy—!”

Wind launched into Wild next, Sky not far behind, and Wild laughed harder, face contorting a familiar joy that Twilight had dearly missed.

When at last the three moved off him, Time dragged Wild into a hug next, crushing him against his chest. Warriors rested a steady hand on the Champion’s shoulder. “Thank the Goddesses,” he mumbled, eyes flicking up to Legend, Four, and Hyrule. “So…?”

Legend heaved a deep breath, shaking his head. “Goddesses, it was close, Time. The jelly bought him good extra time, but the shadows crept it. It was close.”

Hyrule nodded. “Like scarily close. I think his breathing stopped for a few seconds.”

“The shadows must’ve been irritation by the attack.” Four added.

Legend shook his head, pale and swaying, as if he’d played a part in aiding the return of life. Twilight had never been more grateful for him actually deciding to use healing magic. If he would’ve guessed correctly, with Hyrule’s overused, drained powers, Legend had saved Wild’s life.

“It wasn’t that close,” Wild insisted when Time finally let go and waved a hand. He stumbled minutely, and Time frantically steadied him. “You guys are dramatic!”

Horrified, anguished looked whirled onto Wild, and Twilight was just glad he hadn’t had to witness the horrifying situation. Wild had been bad when the Chain had split, but if he’d been on death’s door… he likely would have looked the part, too. The thought of it twisted Twilight’s heart like a wringing rag.

“I’m pretty sure your heart stopped for a second, too!” Legend snapped, shoulders tense, jaw tightened.

“It did!” Hyrule squealed. “I freaking felt it!”

“O… Kay,” Wild lifted his head in surrender, smiling cheekily in that familiar way that Twilight had dearly missed. “Okay, so… maybe it was a little bad—!”

Time thwacked him upside the head and Wild cried out, holding the spot, his cheeks flushing at everyone’s laughter.

“Okay, okay! Fine! It was bad, okay? Jeez!!” He rubbed his head, joining in on the laughter when Malon pulled him in for a hug, too.

“Oh, I was so worried for you,” she gathered him close, and Wild sank into it, his expression melting in clear content. “You poor thing, I was terrified that fever would get you before anything else could!”

“‘M okay, Malon,” Wild mumbled into her hair. “Really. I’m okay. I’m all better.”

Twilight finally melded back into human form, having missed the familiar comfort of his cub gathered in his arms. The second Malon released Wild, he yanked him close and squeezed him tightly. Wild’s arms wrapped around him, too, his face burying into Twilight’s shoulder, before his grip slackened. He started to slump, but Twilight held him up easily, securing him, steadying him.

Two Zeldas lingered nearby, and Twilight recognized Lullaby and Flora respectively. He smiled at them politely, eyes flashing to Legend.

“The portal brought her, too, huh?”

“She’s good with chemistry and stuff,” Legend shrugged and bobbed his head tiredly. “We would’ve been lost without her.”

Flora’s cheeks flushed bright red. “Well…” she watched Wild sadly. “I’m afraid I’d be lost without him, too. I just had to do what I could to help.”

Hyrule stepped forward, his hand gently holding Wild’s shoulder, glowing a familiar green, and easing him back into steady unconsciousness. “We thank you, Flora. Deeply and truly. Your magic pulled him back from the brink, too.”

Wild fully sleepily slumped into Twilight’s arms, and he lifted him steadily, holding him close, relishing in the slight weight returned to him. He didn’t dare to let go and he wouldn’t ever again. 

Chapter Text

If Time had a nickel for every time a member of the Chain did something so unbelievably stupid for the sake of quelling boredom, he’d be rich.
As it stood, though, he should’ve reprimanded his wife for encouraging this stupid, dangerous trick. Alas, however, Marlon’s stubbornness and curiosity were part of the reasons why he loved her so much.
The Chain gathered around Wild standing on the porch, using their quaint little patio as a damn stage, as he ran his fingers along the edge of the dull, clean blade.
“Bet you can’t get it all the way down!” Wind cackled, and Legend thwacked the back of his head.
“Don’t encourage him.”
“Then how come you’re standing right up front?” Wind stuck his tongue out and Legend thwacked him again.
“It’s fascinating.” He shrugged. “I like to learn.”
Hyrule stood nearby, too, and though he was likely curious, his expression scrunched like he’d bitten into a lemon. Thankfully, he’d since rested up and would actually be able to help before Wild could drown in his own blood.
“Shh, shh, shh…” Malon waved a hand at them, watching quizzically. Did she really have to remind Wild at dinner? Of course, he’d jump at the chance to show off his recklessness.
Wild ran his fingers along the length of the sword, frowning, and eventually turned his attention to the group lingering nearby just in case something happened.
“C’mon, Four,” he grinned. “I can totally do it with a sharper sword than this!”
Four crossed his arms. “I really wish there was a way to share the brain cell with you, Wild,” he deadpanned. “Unfortunately, I think you’re just doomed to being dumb the rest of your life.”
“You can either do the trick with a dull blade or none at all,” Warriors added.
“What about a longer one?” Wild asked Four hopefully. His hand crept to his waist, but Sky snapped before he could get around to drawing the Master Sword.
“Don’t you dare subject Fi to that again!” He exclaimed shrilly. “Not to mention, I didn’t make that sword to be swallowed by my predecessor eons in the future!”
Wild threw up his hands in steady exasperation. “Alright, alright,” he laughed. “No need to be so picky.”
He tipped his head back and opened his mouth, and Time physically forced himself to watch to make sure nothing happened when the dumbass lowered it in.
“Goddesses, please don’t let go…!” Time grumbled, pressing the heel of his palm against his temple, body tense and prepared for this to go horribly wrong.
Everyone stared like watching a building on fire— horrified but unwilling to look away. It was horrifically fascinating that Wild was able to maneuver that sword down his throat, into the right tube nonetheless.
Wild’s eyes flicked over to him as he slowly lowered the damn sword in, Malon gasping in horrified fascination, Wind cheering stupidly nearby. Then, Time saw the mischief shining in those blue eyes and he jumped when Wild let go.
Twilight whined a low growl in the back of his throat, cringing and biting his nails when the blade remained in place, likely held by his tongue or something.
“Deeper—!” Wind cheered, and Legend slammed a hand over the kid’s mouth. For a moment, the sword remained in place, a slight amount left, and Time thought for a minute that it was far enough down. It must’ve been resting on something in there, thank the goddesses—
Then, Wild’s eyes crinkled cheekily, and Time almost yanked his hair out when it dropped lower.
“Fucking— dammit, Wild!” Twilight snapped, clutching his face, nails raking. “Why are you like this? Knock it off!”
Wild’s face crinkled in amusement, but he released a breath, likely trying not to laugh, and grabbed the hilt again, slowly pulling it back up. Once it was out, he burst into giggling laughter, and Malon clapped, her face pale and thankfully brimming with regret.
Time shook his head, pinching his brow when Wind fought off Legend’s hands and cheered, clapping his hands together vigorously.
“That was awesome! Again, again—!”
“No, no, no!” Time stuttered forward, grabbing Wild’s hand before he could lift the damn sword again. “No. Once is enough. You’re gonna send us to an early grave.”
“You’re already on your way to your grave!” Wild cackled. “And it won’t be early, Old Man!”
Time wrestled the sword out of Wild’s hand, pushing the damn kid’s head away when he finally let go. He passed the sword back to Four, who vigorously wiped it down with a disgusted look. “Alright,” he said. “Get out of here. Go away. Go pack. We’re hitting the road soon.”