CrestfallenMermaidan

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It began as nothing more than idle curiosity.

Whispers of a wanderer, who seemed to appear wherever monsters were slain.

Tales passed from traveler to traveler, trickling into villages like a strange current. At first, the stories were nothing more than entertainment—a young soul battling hordes of beasts sounded like the stuff of fairy tales, and the people, insulated in their small hamlets, hardly gave it a second thought.

“They’ve been seen by the dead forests near the mountains,” a young woman said one day, her voice a little too loud, a little too eager. “They say the bodies of monsters are strewn across the path they walks.”

Another woman chimed in, her voice hushed but with the kind of excitement that comes from having something new to share. “I’ve heard the same. A merchant passed through not long ago and claimed he saw the aftermath—bodies mangled, monsters torn apart, and not a soul in sight but one person who merely walked away.”

An old man sitting nearby scoffed, whittling a piece of wood as he listened to their chatter. “And the merchant just happened to be wandering through such dangerous lands, did he? More likely, he’s spinning stories to lighten your pockets.”

The first woman bristled. “It was near one of the main roads to Castle Town! You know as well as anyone how bad it’s gotten out there, what with all the rising monster attacks!”

The old man spat onto the ground. “So we’re meant to believe a single person has been wandering the wilderness, killing monsters for no reason? at all? Appeared out of nowhere, slaying hundreds, then vanishing to appear somewhere else? What next? Will the gods themselves descending to pat them on the back?”

A few of the villagers glanced toward the argument, but quickly averted their eyes, pretending not to listen. They didn’t want to get involved. Not in this. The rumors had been growing more persistent lately, and with them, something darker—an unease, like a shadow creeping closer.

Despite the arguments to the contrary, the stories refused to fade. In fact, they spread—spreading like wildfire from one village to the next, whispered by travelers passing through, by farmers returning from the markets.

At first, it was always the same—a wanderer with a sword, fighting monsters. But over time, the stories shifted slightly. The monsters were no longer the only ones falling to the mysterious wanderer’s blade.

The rumors became darker.

Now, there were whispers of men slain, bandits cut down as mercilessly as the beasts. Some even claimed it wasn’t simply bandits, but ordinary travelers who had crossed their path. And the wanderer—always just one person, faceless, nameless—never stepped foot in the villages. They never appeared in the markets or by the wells. No one had ever actually seen them properly, or at least, no one wanted to admit they had.

“Such a person’s never come through here,” the villagers would say when a traveler asked. “Not once.”

And yet… as the stories persisted, as the fear crept into their voices, some began to contradict themselves. “I’ve seen them,” one of their own might exclaim in a moment of nervous excitement. “It was at the edge of the village, just for a second. They passed by the old road near the woods.”

But no one wanted to admit the dread that twisted in their stomachs. No one wanted to acknowledge the silent fear that settled in their bones whenever they heard of this wanderer. So they waved it off, forcing laughter, pretending the tale of the slayer didn’t chill them to the core.

“Bah, you saw nothing,” the old man would scoff again, though this time, his hands shook as he whittled. “It’s just travelers talking. You lot are too easily swayed by gossip.”

But even he couldn’t explain why the stories never seemed to stop. Why, even in the most remote corners of the land, the whispers were the same. Villages miles apart, separated by rivers and mountains, somehow all spoke of the same person.

A wanderer no one had ever truly seen upclose.

But one they all slowly grew to fear.

And they feared most of all that one day, he would come to their homes. They feared what would happen if that person came too close—if the stories, after all this time, were not just stories…

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…Their stomach growled, sharp and insistent, echoing louder than the wind that howled through the mountains. They gone too long without food, too long without proper rest.

For days, weeks, perhaps, They had survived on scraps found in the wild, gnawing on whatever edible plants they could find, but it wasn’t enough. (There was never enough in these poisoned lands.) Not anymore.

Their supplies had run dry days ago. The bag slung across their back was light, too light for any sensible traveler. Their lips were dry, their limbs heavy, but they kept walking. Always walking. Always wandering towards their next location,

The nearby village was close now, maybe half a day away.

…

…they didn’t want to go there.

Didn’t want to face people, to hear the loudness, the gossip, the looks.

They never did, not anymore. It was easier staying in the wilderness, always on the move. But hunger gnawed at them, dragging them toward the edges of civilization.

The monsters had been thinning out in this area, their numbers dwindling after they swept through the mountains. The monsters would inevitably return. They always did.

They didn’t care about any of that, their mind was set on one thing: food.

(Oh… to be back in the bountiful fields and forests of other times. To gaze into the sea of green and know plentiful food and fresh clean water was bountiful and untainted.)

Their steps quickened as they neared the village. They hated this part, being around people. So they would get what they needed and leave. That was all.

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“Today, a wanderer is walking towards town from the north side! Guardsman says it’s a single person in a cloak, carrying a sword on their back.”

The words spread through the village like wildfire. The people had heard that the guard had seen him from a distance, a lone figure making their way toward them from the mountains. Conversations hushed, children were pulled back into their homes.

A few curious villagers lingered by the entrance, pretending to go about their day but keeping a close eye on the road. When the person arrived, they noticed their clothes were heavily travel-worn and stained with dark splotches, their face obscured by a cloak, but the sword strapped to their back gleamed in the sunlight.

No one wanted to be the first to approach.

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They walked with purpose, ignoring the stares, the muttered suspicions. They made their way to the village’s small market, looking for food, something to ease the gnawing hunger in their gut.

Their footsteps were heavy, each one dragging them closer to theit destination. The familiar pull of hunger clawed at their insides, twisting their stomach in knots.

As much as they wanted to avoid people, to slip by unnoticed, the ache in their belly wouldn’t let them.

The village was small, unremarkable, the kind they preferred.

They had kept their head down as they entered, walking toward the market stalls that lined the dusty road. No one spoke to the visitor as they passed, but no doubt the visitor could feel the eyes on their back, the whispers barely contained as the visitor passed.

“Do you think that’s the one who killed those travelers near the mountains?”

“I can’t tell…aren’t they a bit too young looking?.”

“I can certainly tell you that sword doesn’t look like it’s simply for show. It’s stained red at the handle.”

The visitor stopped in front of a stall selling bread and dried meats. The man behind the counter was older, his skin weathered from years in the sun.

He barely looked up at first, busy wrapping a loaf of bread for another customer. When he did, he seemed unimpressed by the cloaked figure standing before him, just another traveler passing through.

But then they reached up, pulling back their hood.

The old man froze, his hands stilling over the goods on his counter. The boy’s face was young—far too young (as young as his own grandchild…) to be traveling alone with a mere sword on his back.

For a moment, the man blinked, unsure if he was seeing things correctly. He opened his mouth to speak, to ask where the boy’s parents were, but the words never came out.

It wasn’t the youth that gave him pause. It was the look in the boy’s eyes.

Dark, heavy, burdened by something much older than his years. The kind of look you only saw in soldiers or those who had lived through nightmares. A look that shouldn’t belong to someone so young.

The old man swallowed hard, choosing his next words carefully. “What… what can I get for you?”

The boy’s eyes flickered to the food laid out on the stall. “Bread,” he said, his voice quiet, soft, but firm. “And dried meat, if you have any.”

The old man nodded slowly, still taken aback. Such a young boy.

He slowly reached for a loaf and a strip of dried meat, wrapping them in cloth before handing them over.

The boy reached into his pocket, pulling out a few rupees and placing them on the counter.

His hand was steady, but the old man noticed how thin his fingers were, how the veins stood out beneath his pale skin.

“Are… you’re traveling alone?” the old man asked, unable to help himself.

The boy looked up, his gaze meeting the old man’s for the briefest moment before dropping back to the food in his hands. “Yes.”

The old man hesitated, wanting to ask more, but something stopped him.

That look—he couldn’t shake it. He didn’t know what the boy had seen, what he had been through, but it was clear enough that the boy didn’t want to talk about it. Not to a complete stranger. So he let it go.

“Well,” the old man said, clearing his throat, “safe travels, then.”

The boy gave a nod, pulling his hood back up before turning and walking away, the whispers behind him growing louder as he moved through the market.

As he continued down the road, passing more stalls, a man suddenly stepped forward, blocking his path. He was broad shouldered and rough around the edges, from his state of dress, he was a guard in this village.

His expression hardened with suspicion. The villagers nearby quieted, turning their attention to the scene unfolding before them.

“You there,” the man called out, his voice gruff. His eyes narrowed, scanning the cloaked figure up and down. “You the wanderer everyone’s been talking about? The one slaying beasts… and men around these parts?”

The boy didn’t stop right away, his pace slowing only as he came to a halt just a few feet from the man. His face was half-shadowed beneath the hood he’d just pulled back up, and the weight of his gaze was unreadable as it fell on the man blocking his path.

He tilted his head slightly, as though considering the question. His voice, when he spoke, was soft. Unconcerned. “Am I who you’re looking for?”

The man’s scowl deepened. “Don’t play coy, boy. People talk of a wanderer who has been leaving bodies behind wherever he walks.”

The young boy blinked, slowly, his expression unreadable beneath the quiet calm that seemed to settle around him like a heavy fog.

He didn’t flinch, didn’t bristle at the accusation. He merely stared at the man for a moment, his voice soft when he spoke again. “And if I am?”

A murmur rippled through the crowd that had begun to gather, villagers shifting uncomfortably as they watched the exchange. The man before him, however, remained rigid.

“Then I’ve heard well about you. The rumors going around that you’ve killed not just monsters, but people. Merchants and travelers. Is that true?”

The boy stopped, his gaze lifting slowly from beneath his hood to meet the man’s eyes. He didn’t answer right away, but the air around him seemed to thicken, the tension palpable. More villagers gathered around, drawn in by the confrontation.

“You…knew someone I killed, then?” the boy asked, his voice quiet but steady.

The man took a step forward, jabbing a finger in Hyrule’s direction. “They say you killed a merchant not far from here.”

Hyrule blinked slowly, his face impassive as he absorbed the man’s words. He didn’t flinch at the accusation, nor did he show any sign of fear or guilt. His voice, when he spoke, was soft and steady. “Was he…someone worth recalling?”

The man’s nostrils flared. “Don’t play dumb with me!” he snapped. “He was a good man. A friend of mine, and I want answers, boy.”

“I killed many.” The boy replied, no change to his soft tone, “So perhaps I am who you seek.”

“So you admit you killed him!” The man exclaimed, “Why? What reason could you possibly have to murder an innocent man?”

“I have no reason to kill an innocent man.” He answered.

The boy remained quiet for a moment, his gaze drifting past the man, as if lost in thought. Then, with the same quiet calm, he spoke again. “He wasn’t innocent.”

The man took a moment to register what he said, eyes widening in shock. “…What?” His face turned red with anger.

“What do you mean he wasn’t innocent?!? He has done so much and I’ve known him for years-“

“He dared commit an atrocity against a woman. Took from her what wasn’t his to take. I killed him for it.”

The boy’s eyes (shadowed by the hood yet still holding the man’s attention with it’s gaze.) slowly returned to the man’s, his voice still soft, still unwavering.

“Would you still call him innocent now?”

The crowd gasped, whispers rippling through the gathered villagers. The man’s face twisted in disbelief, shaking his head violently. “No… no, you’re lying!” he shouted, his voice rising. “He wouldn’t do something like that! He was a good man!”

The boy’s gaze didn’t waver, the weight of his words settling in the air with finality. “He wasn’t,” he said quietly. “And I killed him for it.”

The man took a stumbling step back, his face contorted with rage and denial. “You… you can’t just say that! You don’t get to decide who lives and dies, you are a BOY! He was my friend!”

The boy’s expression remained calm, his voice never rising. “I didn’t make the decision. He did. When he hurt her. I simply responded as I should.”

For a moment, the man looked as though he might lash out, his fists trembling at his sides. But before he could do anything, a woman’s voice cut through the tense silence.

“Is it true?” Both boy and man looked at her.

“Did that friend of his truly…hurt someone?” She asked again.

“It is true.” He answered, more whispers erupting from the crowd.

“If it’s true,” the woman said, stepping forward from the crowd, “then…then he deserved it!”

“WHAT?!?”

The man turned to her, his face a mask of disbelief. “You… you’re defending this? Defending him?”

“Aren’t you defending a vile man?” The woman said, crossing her arms, her eyes hard as she stared back at him as he stuttered to come up with a response. “If that friend of yours hurt a woman like this boy says, then he got what was coming to him.”

More murmurs spread through the crowd, this time in agreement. Some of the women nodded, their expressions grim but resolute. The man looked around, his face twisting as he searched for support, but found none.

“This… this can’t be happening,” he muttered, his voice breaking slightly. “He was my friend…since we was kids…”

Many in the crowd looked at the man in sympathy. Such news was never handled well. Especially when it involved someone you were close to.

The young boy stood there, silent, watching the man’s reaction with the same calm detachment. The man’s shoulders sagged in defeat, but he wasn’t ready to give up. “It doesn’t matter. You still killed him. We’ll have to report this.”

Before he could take another step, the boy spoke up, “No. You won’t.”

The man froze, turning back to face the boy, disbelief flickering in his eyes. “What?”

The boy didn’t move, his gaze still fixed on the man. “You won’t report this.”

There was no malice in his voice, no threat. Just a calm, quiet certainty that sent a ripple of unease through the gathered crowd.

The villagers shifted uncomfortably, murmurs of confusion spreading like wildfire, but no one dared to step forward.

The man’s mouth opened, but no sound came out.

The boy’s calm, unhurried tone seemed to strip the anger from him, leaving only the shock and disbelief that he was grappling with. He shook his head, almost as if trying to shake off the weight of the boy’s words. “I— H..How dare you..I have to report this!”

“No,” the boy repeated, his soft-spoken voice steady, unnervingly gentle. “You don’t. You now know what he did, and can now shun him for it. Just as everyone else already does.”

The man faltered, his hands trembling as they hung limply at his sides. His face was flushed, beads of sweat trickling down his temple, but he said nothing. He could find no words to respond, not as the weight of what had been revealed pressed down on him.

The boy’s eyes, still shadowed beneath his hood, locked onto the man’s.

There was no smile on his face, yet there was something unsettling about the way he looked at the man, something that didn’t belong on a face so young. It was a look that was far too old, far too experienced, for the boy it was attached to.

“Leave this matter behind,” the boy said quietly, his voice carrying an eerie finality. “He made his choice. Now you must make yours.”

The man’s breath caught in his throat. He glanced around at the villagers, but once more found no help in their faces. Some nodded slowly, others looked away. It was clear to them now—whether they liked it or not, the truth had been spoken. The boy, this…wanderer…wasn’t lying, no matter how ridiculous it sounded. And the man, deep down, knew it too.

Perhaps that was why he couldn’t accept it.

For a long, agonizing moment, the man stood there, caught between denial and the heavy reality settling over him. Then, slowly, with a pained expression, he backed away.

“He was… my friend,” the man muttered again, but his voice was weak, trembling. He turned away, shoulders sagging as he disappeared into the crowd.

As the man turned and disappeared into the crowd, the boy watched him go, his eyes following the hunched figure as it faded from view. For a moment, there was silence.

Then, almost to himself, the boy spoke, his voice barely above a whisper, yet clear enough for those closest to hear.

“…A different choice this time.”

He tilted his head slightly, as though considering something unseen, his gaze distant. His expression remained calm, though a flicker of something passed through his eyes.

The villagers, still unnerved by the exchange, glanced at one another, puzzled by his words but too hesitant to ask.

They shifted uncomfortably, whispers rippling through the crowd again.

The boy smiled, soft, faint and fleeting, as he turned away from the villagers. He said nothing more, leaving them to wonder what he meant as he continued down the path, walking back into the now silent marketplace as if the confrontation had never happened at all.

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“She must be beautiful,” whispered a small voice.

“Is she kind?” asked another, their soft, lilting tone drifting through the air like a breeze.

“Warm, too?” A third chimed in, fluttering closer to where the boy sat.

Hyrule, seated in the shallow waters of the fairy fountain, barely stirred at their questions. His thin form leaned back against a moss-covered stone, his cloak discarded beside him, revealing how frail and slight he truly had become.

The waters gently lapped against him, cool and clear, while tiny glowing fairies circled above, their curiosity as constant as their light.

“She is,” he murmured, his voice low and calm, answering their questions with a softness that matched the quiet of the fountain.

In his hand, a cloth moved slowly over the blade of his sword, wiping away the dried blood that clung to the steel. The crimson stains mixed with the water, turning it a faint pink before dispersing into nothing.

“And her eyes?” one of the fairies asked, fluttering down to rest near his shoulder, their wings glittering in the soft light of the fountain. “Are they as kind as yours?”

Hyrule’s lips quirked ever so slightly, a faint smile ghosting over his features. “They are… far more kinder.”

The fairies giggled softly at his response, their voices like tinkling bells as they flitted around him, never straying too far from the boy.

But beneath the peaceful scene, there was an unspoken heaviness that lingered in the air—something that clung to him like the blood on his sword, even as he cleaned it away.

“She must be someone very amazing,” one of the fairies whispered, hovering in front of him, their eyes wide and curious. “For you to feel so happy at the thought of her.”

“She is,” he said again, quieter this time. His eyes remained focused on his blade, his movements slow and methodical, as if the task of cleaning the blood from it was all that mattered in the moment.

The fairies, sensing the weight of his thoughts, quieted for a time, simply fluttering around him as he worked. The fountain’s waters shimmered with their light, casting soft reflections on his face, but nothing could soften the sharpness in his eyes.

A sharpness that didn’t belong on someone so young.

Eventually, one of the fairies drifted closer, their tiny voice softer now, hesitant. “Do you ever… rest?”

Hyrule paused, his hand stilling as the last of the blood was wiped clean from his blade. He set the sword down beside him, resting it against the stone, the cloth now stained with the evidence of his earlier fight.

“I do,” he replied softly, leaning his head back to stare up at the sky above, visible through the break in the canopy. “When I can.”

The fairies fluttered around him again, their delicate wings catching the light as they moved. They didn’t press him further, sensing that, for now, the questions down that path had reached their end.

And as Hyrule sat in the waters of the fairy fountain, his eyes distant and his form thin and tired, the quiet companionship of the fairies was all that filled the stillness around him.

One of the fairies flitted closer, their glow bright as they hovered near his face. "Tell us more about her," they asked softly, their voice full of innocent curiosity. "What is she like?"

Hyrule’s eyes softened, the hand resting on his sword going still as he leaned his head back against the stone. His voice, when he spoke, was quiet, reverent, almost worshipful.

“She’s… so incredible,” he began, his tone gentle, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the memory. “Kinder than anyone I’ve ever known. She doesn’t judge, no matter who she meets, or what they’ve been through. There’s this warmth about her—like she carries a light inside, something that draws people in without her even trying.”

The fairies hovered close, their wings slowing as they listened intently, captivated by the way his voice softened when he spoke of her.

“She has this way of smiling,” he continued, eyes drifting closed as he recalled the image of her in his mind. “It’s not just her lips that smile, but her eyes, too. It’s like... she can see through all the darkness and still find something good. She makes you believe in things—hope, love, a future.”

His voice wavered slightly, though his expression remained calm. “She’s very brave, too. So much stronger than she thinks. No matter how hard things get, she never gives up. She keeps going, keeps fighting, even…even when the world feels like it’s falling apart around she…”

Hyrule’s lips curved into a soft smile, his eyes still closed as he let himself remember her—the sound of her laughter, the way her presence alone could make the harshest days feel bearable.

For a moment, it felt like she was there, right beside him.

That the tragedies that had happened ceased to exist.

But when he finally opened his eyes, that smile faltered. The fairies were still there, their soft glow reflecting in the water, but she was not.

The sadness crept into his gaze, and his smile turned hollow as the weight of reality settled in. She wasn’t there. Not in this moment. Not in this place.

“She’s not here,” he murmured, more to himself than to the fairies. His voice was still soft, still gentle, but there was a deep ache hidden beneath those words.

“Oh to be young and in love…”

The Great Fairy glided toward Hyrule, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she observed him resting in the water. Her gaze lingered on his face, soft yet intense as he cleaned his blade, the blood from battle slowly fading away. Her voice, as gentle as a breeze, curled around him like a caress.

“It’s rare, little halfling,” she said, her smile warm, “to see someone so completely in love. Your heart sings for her in a way that most mortals can only dream of.”

Hyrule looked up, his expression calm and peaceful. He paused in his movements, letting the cloth hang loosely in his hand as he met her gaze. “She’s… everything,” he whispered, his tone reverent. “More than anyone could ever be. She’s kind, strong, beautiful. There’s nothing she lacks because even what she considers an flaw is perfect to me.”

The Great Fairy hummed, circling him slowly, her fairies fluttering around him with excitement, their tiny lights dancing in celebration of his devotion. “She sounds like the perfect mate,” the Great Fairy mused, her voice dipping into a playful tone. “Someone worthy of such fierce love and loyalty.”

Hyrule’s smile softened, “She is. And I’ll make sure she knows it every day.” His eyes brightening, I never want to give her a reason to hate me. When we reunite, she’ll be so loved, so cared for, that the thought of leaving won’t even cross her mind.”

The Great Fairy tilted her head, observing him with interest, but not an ounce of concern. Where humans would have been unnerved by his intensity, to the fae, such passion was only natural. The fairies swirled around him in delight, their wings buzzing as they echoed the Great Fairy’s sentiments. “A perfect mate,” they sang in unison, giggling in the air.

They swirled around him, their excitement clear. “Introduce her to us!” one of them chimed, their tiny voices buzzing around him. “We want to meet her!”

Another chimed in, “She must be so lovely! So kind!”

Hyrule’s expression softened, his gaze turning inward as he thought of (y/n). “She is... more than lovely. She’s warm, gentle. She’s strong, even when she doesn’t realize it. When she smiles... it’s like the sun after a storm.”

His voice grew quieter, reverent, as though speaking of her was akin to prayer. The fairies fluttered in close, their excitement building as he continued.

“She doesn’t know how special she is,” he added softly, closing his eyes as if savoring the image of her in his mind. “But I do. I’ll never let her feel unwanted or alone. I’ll always be there, making sure she’s safe. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep her by my side.”

The Great Fairy leaned in closer, her tone teasing but gentle. “Such devotion… it’s admirable, little halfling. Perhaps you’ll truly bring her here one day, so we can meet this girl who has captured your heart so completely?”

Hyrule’s smile grew as he closed his eyes, as though he could see (y/n) standing before him in that very moment. “Of course I will,” he said softly, opening his eyes again, though the faint sadness lingered when she wasn’t truly there. “You’ll love her, I know you will. She deserves to meet you, and you deserve to meet someone so… perfect.”

The Great Fairy’s eyes sparkled with amusement, her voice coy. “And what of your sword brothers? From what you’ve spoke, their desires are the same as yours, too. They, too, wish to claim her heart, don’t they?”

Hyrule’s peaceful expression didn’t falter, “They do. And I understand that. I’m willing to share a place in her heart, as long as they’ve learned their lesson. We all want the same thing, after all—her happiness.”

The Great Fairy chuckled, a sound like chiming bells, full of mischief and curiosity. “But, little one, what would you do if they haven’t learned? If they were to stand in your way?”

Hyrule’s eyes gleamed, his smile gentle but his words weren’t, “If they haven’t learned… I’ll slaughter them. Every single one. And I’ll protect her on my own.” He said so easily, so casually, like talking about the weather.

The Great Fairy threw her head back and laughed, her voice exuberant and full of joy. Her fairies mirrored her glee, spinning and fluttering in the air in a celebratory dance, their wings glowing brighter as they reveled in the intensity of their great mother’s happiness. To them, Hyrule’s devotion was nothing but pure, powerful, and natural.

“Ah, such love!” the Great Fairy exclaimed, her eyes alight with delight. “It’s been far too long since I’ve seen a love like yours, little halfling. A love that burns with such beautiful, sublime passion.”

The fairies circled around him, their voices giggling and singing as they celebrated his devotion, as though his words were a promise of something sacred. And to the fae, it was.

“Introduce her to us!” they begged, their voices filled with excitement.

Hyrule chuckled softly, his expression serene as he nodded. “I will, little sisters. It’s only natural to introduce someone as incredible as her to my family. One day. You’ll see just like I did…she’s perfect.”

The Great Fairy reached out, her fingers gently brushing against his cheek in a gesture of affection. “We look forward to it, little one. We’ll be waiting eagerly to celebrate your eventual union with such an amazing soul!”

And with that, the fairies continued their joyful flight around him, giggling and cheering louder at the future where they would meet her, while Hyrule sat by the fountain waters at peace, sword forgotten beside him, lost in thoughts of her, his smile soft, though touched by a quiet darkness.

——

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Hyrule leaned against a tree by the edge of the forest, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath.

Rain poured down, soaking his clothes and matting his hair to his forehead, droplets of water streaming down his face. His sword hung loosely from his hand, the blade gleaming dully in the gray light, dripping with rain and something darker.

The river rushed nearby, its waters swollen from the storm, roaring in the quiet of the evening.

He glanced down at his soaked clothes, water pooling around his boots, but he paid little attention to the discomfort.

The rain masked everything—his exhaustion, the faint ache in his limbs, even the weight of his thoughts. But it couldn’t wash away the simmering feelings just beneath the surface.

The sound of the rushing river mixed with the steady downpour, the constant hum of the forest alive around him despite the storm.

He tilted his head back, feeling the rain on his face, his eyes half-lidded in thought.

Everything had felt strange since he had woken up in the past, as though he was constantly walking through a dream he could never quite escape.

“I miss them,” he murmured, his voice carrying only as far as the tree he leaned against. “My brothers…the only ones who I felt safe with…for so long... And yet…” His lips curved upward, a smile too soft for the words that followed. “Sometimes, I dream of stealing her away…to punish them… for their failure to keep her safe.”

He laughed lightly, as if the thought were as harmless as the falling rain, warm despite the darkness that laced his words.

“It’s strange,” he murmured into the storm, his voice barely louder than the patter of rain on leaves. “How everything’s felt… off.” His words were soft, but they carried an unsettling warmth, as if these thoughts were nothing out of the ordinary.

Hyrule tilted his head back, eyes closing briefly as he let the rain run over his face.

His eyes fluttered open, and there was a softness in his gaze, a calmness that made the words all the more disturbing. “But… I understand now. It’s over. What happened in that time is done, and I can’t change it. All I can do is make up for my failures and create newer memories...”

He pushed himself off the tree and took a few steps toward the riverbank, the rain still pouring down. “And when we’re all together again, it’ll be perfect. We’ll savor our reunion with her.”

There was a pause, as if he was savoring the thought, before he continued, almost as if speaking to the river itself. “But first, I need to clear this land of threats as best as i can. Gather enough wealth…Build a place that’s safe for her. I have to be ready. We all do.”

The rain fell freely from the darkened skies above, the evening air thick with moisture.

His voice, soft and wistful, carried through the trees, but it wasn’t clear who he was speaking to.

“Yet I can’t help but acknowledge how much it’s been quite the experience…walking a similar yet different path..”

Hyrule's voice echoed softly through the night, his tone distant, almost thoughtful.

“Ever since I woke up in the past, everything has felt... off. Like the world’s just a little tilted. Nothing feels right, but I suppose it’s what happens when you’re given another chance.”

He sighed softly, his words warm despite the unsettling nature of his thoughts.

“And still as much as i want to reunite with them, i still wish to hurt them too..”

He shifted his weight slightly, eyes distant as he spoke to the figure before him, “To wrap my hands around the handle go my blade and cut them down as they cry out in pain….To make them pay for failing to protect her, for letting her be taken from us. But, it’s not hate, not really.”

His voice carried a calm warmth that made the words unsettling. He spoke as if discussing a pleasant memory, not something so dark and twisted. “It’s strange, isn’t it? Wanting to hurt them but still loving them. I could never hate them forever. It simply wasn’t entirely their fault, after all.”

Hyrule let out a small sigh, almost wistful. “But I did truly hate them for a while. I hated them for not being strong enough, for not being fast enough... for not being better and keeping her safe.” He chuckled softly, as if the thought amused him. “But now, that time has passed and reversed, erased except the memories I hold… It’s not just their fault we failed. It’s mine as well. And I’ll make up for it.”

He hummed.

“But that’s natural, isn’t it? Wanting to punish them… To punish myself, for failing her.” He chuckled lightly, almost as if he were reminiscing about fond memories. “I hated them for a while. For a long while, actually. But it’s all over now. I know that. I understand that, and I have to atone for my own failures.”

He tilted his head slightly, staring off into the dark, rain-slicked forest as if imagining something far away. “When we find her again, everything will be different. We’ll savor every moment of our reunion, all of us together again. She’ll be safe with us. And it’ll be... perfect.”

Hyrule’s expression darkened, though the gentle smile on his face remained. “But before that, I have to finish things here. I need to clear out every threat in this place, amass enough wealth to give her a safe life, to build something beautiful amidst all this cursed and poisoned land. A place where she can live peacefully. A place where my sword brothers and I can keep her safe.”

He sighed, finally lowering his gaze to the figure at his feet. The rain had formed a pool around the man, blood mixing with the water, his body slumped against the roots of an old tree. His eyes, wide and filled with terror, locked onto Hyrule’s as he listened helplessly.

“I need to make sure that I’m ready for her. Ready for all of us to reunite…”

Hyrule crouched down, his eyes soft, almost regretful as he looked at the man. “Funny, isn’t it? You walked away from me in the market that day, made a different choice than last time. But it seems some things are inevitable… this little scene between us is happening sooner rather than later.”

He shook his head, amused. “Seems some things never change,” Hyrule said softly, almost regretfully. “You made a different choice again. Last time, you tried to burn me alive. Now, you pushed me toward rushing water. It’s a shame… I thought I might have more time before this.”

The man’s eyes flickered, desperate, but no words came. Hyrule’s smile was gentle as he crouched down beside him, the rain dripping from his hair. “I mean… to use you as another way to bond with my sword brothers…but I suppose we can’t always get what we want.”

He reached out, touching the man’s wet cheek in a gesture that seemed almost compassionate. “I can only hope we can bond over another tainted soul.” Hyrule sighed sadly, his voice soft with genuine regret.

“I really was hoping to do this again with the others. It was such a lovely bonding experience that time...”

The man tried to respond, but all that came out was a garbled, pathetic sound—his severed tongue preventing any real words. Hyrule gave him a pitying look, then slowly unsheathed his sword.

With one swift, clean motion, he cut off the man’s head, watching for several moments as his eyes fluttered, his face twitching until there was no movement left.

Hyrule waited for a long moment, staring into the lifeless eyes of the man, almost as if searching for something.

When there was nothing left to see, Hyrule stood up, sheathing his blade once more.

As Hyrule turned to leave, his gaze fell on a crown of flowers lying discarded in the mud, half-crushed by the struggle. The delicate petals were wilted, the once vibrant colors dulled by the rain and dirt.

He had been working on it when the man from the market snuck up on him.

He knelt beside it, picking up the ruined crown with gentle fingers, his eyes softening as a memory stirred.

He could almost see her, in that memory sitting in front of him, laughing as she showed him how to weave the flowers together, her hands guiding his clumsy attempts with infinite patience.

The warmth in her eyes, the sound of her voice—he had cherished every second of it. And now, this small, fragile thing, this crown, had been ruined.

It had been so long since he made one…

He had assumed she would always be there to re-teach him…

A deep sadness filled him, his heart aching as he held the crushed flowers. "She spent so much time teaching me," he whispered softly, his voice barely audible over the rain. "And now it’s ruined… he ruined it." His fingers tightened slightly around the crown, but not enough to damage it further.

As Hyrule pocketed the ruined flower crown, his steps slowed, his thoughts swirling with the same intensity as the fairies around him.

The rain drummed a steady rhythm on the leaves overhead, but his mind was elsewhere—drifting back to the quiet afternoons with her, back when things felt simpler. He could almost feel her hands guiding his as he fumbled with the stems, hear the soft way she teased him when he struggled to braid them just right.

His heart clenched at the thought. "I’ll make her another," he thought, trying to push away the sadness creeping in. But the moment was gone, ruined by the man lying lifeless in the mud. "If only he hadn’t tried to stop me," Hyrule mused. "I could’ve remembered everything clearly... made it perfect for her."

His gaze flicked back to the body, the severed tongue, the empty, lifeless eyes staring into nothingness.

Hyrule sighed, the heaviness in his chest growing. "I wanted to remember every detail, for her." His fingers brushed against the flower crown in his pocket, fragile and ruined, much like the memory it had been tied to. "I’ll make up for it. For everything."

The fairies' laughter danced around him, pulling him from his thoughts, and he straightened. "For her… I'll make it all perfect," he promised silently, his eyes narrowing as he left the body behind.

The fairies flitted around him, their soft glow casting a faint light over his rain-soaked form. They giggled and chimed, but there was no malice in their joy.

He cast one last glance at the man’s lifeless body, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face before he turned and began to walk away, leaving the corpse where it laid as he walked back into the storm.

The bottom rung of the ladder wasn't a position Niko enjoyed. More often than not, this position meant that he was the crew's errand boy rather than a fearsome pirate in his own right.

Dishes to be cleaned, a deck to be mopped, the assortment of chores that the rest of the crew members couldn't be bothered to handle were left to him to deal with. It was an endless cycle of thankless tasks, and while Lady Tetra was a wonderful pirate to lead the crew, Niko was growing tired of the mundane routine. He longed for the excitement of the seas, of heart pounding dangers that made the best stories.

The only source of excitement lately was when captain Tetra had been taken by that giant monster bird and soon after was the brief arrival of an islander who's sister was kidnapped by mistake.

The newest swabbie on the crew was rather strange though, kinda on the quiet side.

In fact, the only time Niko had heard him speak was when he had to convince the captain to let him sail with them.

He even simply nodded when he was introduced to the rest of the crew.

"Hey, newbie," he said, clapping him on the shoulder. Niko remembered having approached the new recruit with a excited smile.

"Learning the way things work on this ship will be tough, but stick close to me and you'll be alright!"

The newbie had simply nodded in response and followed him down below the deck.

It had honestly astonished Niko how fast the new guy finished the initiation trials. (and on the first go too!)

But Niko wasn't going to question his underling's natural skill. (Which may have been aided by his obviously helpful advice)

Perhaps the newbie isn't one for chitchat.

And perhaps he noticed the newbie looking up at the stars with a (lifeless) distant expression on his face from time to time.

As the days passed with the newbie. Niko couldn't help but acknowledge how strange he was, how he would stare at everyone and not say a single word.

Particularly Captain Tetra.

While normally, Niko understood the desire to stare at the captain, as she was the very example of a capable pirate. Anyone who was confronted with her would be fools to not notice her skill and leadership.

But the newbie didn't stare at her like that. Didn't look amazed or in awe. Instead, his expression was...one of detachment, as if he wasn't actually seeing her at all. As if he could look past her, looking at someone else entirely.

It was unnerving, (and Niko sometimes wondered if there was something wrong with him.)

Despite the mystery surrounding him, Niko couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for the new recruit. He was setting sail for his sister's sake.

Even Niko couldn't deny that going so far for someone needed a certain level of inner strength and determination that Niko could only dream of having. (So it was such a confidence booster when the newbie listened to his orders without a single complaint.)

Niko tried to talk to him when they weren't on duty, but he would always brush him off with a shrug, or stared at him until Niko made a quick retreat.

Sometimes, Niko couldn't help but wonder what the newbie was thinking about, but before he make anything out of his curiosity, the newbie left as quickly as he came. (though he did manage to make a spectacular view as he was shot from the catapult)

And for Niko, that was that. He was back to being the lowest member of the crew, barely having enjoyed ordering the underling around.

It was back to mopping the deck, cleaning the dishes, and doing that HORRIBLE laundry.

He eventually pushed the former newbie from his mind the days passed like nothing new ever happened.

Recently though, the captain had been on the trail of some big treasure and had decided to stop at Windfall island to 'procure' some bombs. And of course, Niko was tasked to watch over the ship as the crew made their way to the bomb shop.

Niko couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. There was something about that night that didn't feel right. (If there's one thing he's confident about is his ability to keep track of time, and it should have been daylight already.)

But before he could voice his concerns, the crew had already made their way off the ship. He busied himself with some below deck cleaning. Nothing better to do at a peaceful island.

It was when he was sweeping around the boxes that a loud crash was heard from above, followed by the sound of something moving.

As he looked up towards the ceiling he could hear the door leading to inside the ship swing close, which meant whatever came onto the ship was now below the deck.

..And it was his duty to guard the ship while everyone was gone.

...

After a moment's hesitation, Niko made his way up towards the door way to the stairs, his heart pounding in his chest.

...Not that Niko was scared or anything. He was a pirate after all.

He has sailed along with his crew through many storms! (Even if all he did was hide below deck.)

Along with facing down the most fearsome of sea beasts! (Even if all he did was hide below deck.)

Niko could feel a chill in the air. The ship was eerily silent despite the occasional creaking. He tried to peek around the corner, trying to catch if anything else was there or a glimpse of whatever had made that noise.

But there there wasn't a good angle that didn't expose him, just the empty space even as he heard slow footsteps making their way to the stairs.

He cautiously pressed himself against one wall, his hands shaking. The footsteps got closer, and as Niko was about to reach for his dagger, he saw a figure emerge from the shadows.

It was the new recruit.

Niko hadn't expected him to have survived, given what he had heard about the giant bird. The newbie looked around, clearly searching for something, before his gaze landed on Niko.

Niko straightened up, his hands moving to hide behind his back, even though technically he wasn't the one who should have been nervous. "N-Newbie! Wha-what are you doing here?" He stuttered, smiling weakly as if he hadn't been in hiding.

"I-I mean, you're alive! My swabbie Link is alive! The others said you got done in by that bird monster at the fortress, so I had assumed..." He grew quiet before shaking his head and smiling at the newbie.

"Never mind what I thought! You're alive!" He laughed, the tension quickly dissipating as he realized he was just being silly. "What are you doing here? I thought you were dead!"

The newbie, Link, looked at him with that blank expression he seemed to always have, his eyes hiding everything yet nothing at all.

"...I was looking for you," he answered back, the sound of his actual voice making Niko jump in surprise, not having expected a response.

The newbie's voice was scratchy...rough, as if he hadn't had a sip of water in a long time.

Niko couldn't help but feel a sudden sense a unease. "Sure...what do you need?" he asked, his voice betraying his nervousness.

Link cocked his head a bit, his eyes fixed on Niko's. "I need bombs," he said. "I need to locate something."

Niko gulped, "Uh..O-Okay," he said, his voice shaky.

Link nodded and turned towards the rest of the under deck.

"I just...have to do the second rope challenge, and clear the area before the gate to the bombs close, right..?"

Staring at his back, Niko noticed how...thin...his shoulders were.

Actually...now that he focused, the newbie's clothes, they were rather worn out. Torn at the edges, and was that...were those bloodstains on the cuffs of his sleeves..??

Niko flinched when the newbie looked back at him, staring into his eyes before slowly shifting them over to the doorway across the room.

"U-uh..yeah! I bet miss Tetra must've already told you about our latest acquirement huh?" He laughed nervously when he noticed the newbie's eyes narrowing a bit towards the end.

Clearing his throat, Niko quickly focused on the matter at hand.

"So uh! You want the bombs? I guess if you pass the second rope challenge, I can give them to you." Even though he knew he'd get in trouble when the rest of the crew found out, something in the back of his head told him giving the newbie any other answer was a mistake he shouldn't make.

Link nodded, his eyes never leaving Niko's. "Thank you," he said simply before turning back to get into starting position.

As he started to make his way across the hold, Niko couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Something about the newbie just didn't sit right, and Niko couldn't shake the feeling that he was toeing the line with something dangerous.

But he shook the feeling away, telling himself that he was just being paranoid. The newbie was just on the track of finding some treasure, just like any real pirate would.

Yet as he watched the newbie swing across the hold with ease, Niko couldn't help but think that the newbie had done this before.

The closer he swung over, the more Niko grew more and more anxious for some reason.

He could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he watched the newbie make it to the other side, and Niko tried to smile in support.

"Well done, newbie!" he called, trying not to sound too anxious. "You passed the second rope cha-"

The newbie didn't pause as he walked passed Niko and headed straight for the chest holding the bombs.

"Ah...um, Newbie-" Niko raised a hand, as if to reach out to him, but just as Link finished placing the bombs in his pouch Niko jumped as a familiar voice rang out of nowhere.

"That's mighty courageous of you...trying to steal treasure from pirates."

Niko felt his heart race as his captain spoke to the newbie through the same stone she had, especially when she mentioned stealing. (Miss Tetra hadn't sent him??)

Niko looked towards Link when miss Tetra finished the conversation, hoping that some form of explanation was given.

But the newbie didn't react, just kept his gaze fixed on the chest with the bombs, his hands clenched into tight fists. "Um...so, you have a stone just like the captain huh?" Niko asked, his voice shaking slightly. "You know, you're really lucky... to have her... her attention...uh..."

The newbie didn't respond, his eyes still fixed on the chest.

"I'm just glad..you know...she didn't seem to mind the fact that you were...uh, stealing from her..." Niko rubbed the back of his neck, unsure what to even save right at that moment.

"I mean, I'm sure she wouldn't have tolerated that from anyone else."

The newbie finally turned to look at Niko, his expression unreadable. "Don't worry, Niko," he said, his voice distant. "I'm not stealing anything. I'm just doing what needs to be done."

"What needs to be done huh? Boy, you must really want to rescue you sister." Niko said.

The newbie shook his head, his eyes intense and focused. "I'm not here to rescue my sister." He paused and shook his head again. "I mean, I am...she's my sister..I love her."

Niko took a step back, feeling a sudden chill run down his spine as the newbie looked at Niko, his expression still unreadable. "But I need to reach...the others," he said simply before turning and walking towards the doorway. "I don't know if they'll be there but...I need to see with my own eyes what's true, to see if She's waiting for me at the end."

Niko stood there, feeling a mix of confusion and fear as he watched the newbie leave. Something about him just made Niko feel uneasy, like he was walking a fine line between danger and insanity. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he contemplated what to do, but before he could speak up, the newbie paused.

"Actually...I'd like to ask you something...Niko," he said, Niko flinching as he heard his name spoken.

It shouldn't have intimidated him as much as it did.

"...O-Okay?" The newbie turned on his heel slowly as he began to speak.

"Imagine you woke up one day...and a flood of memories made their home in your head," The newbie began, his voice low and soft.

"Memories of people and places you didn't know existed. That you shouldn't know existed, shouldn't even find familiar," He exhaled through his nose, "But you do, you do and it all makes so much sense even though you know it shouldn't. All those precious memories, but not knowing whether they are real or not." He paused, his eyes fixed on Niko. "What would you do?"

Niko took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. "I...I don't know," he admitted honestly. "I never really thought about something like that before."

The newbie continued to stare, his eyes never leaving Niko's.

"I don't think I can tell what's real in my head anymore," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "And I need to know. I need to know for sure."

Niko nodded slowly, unsure of what to say. "I understand," he said finally. "But...what does asking me do to...help?"

The recruit slowly looked at him, and with the light of the small room, Niko finally got a good look at him for the first time since he was last on the ship.

...and he looked...horrible.

His green clothes looked more worn out than he realized. (And that was definitely blood on his sleeve cuffs.)

He was a bit thinner then he last remembered, skin was so pale, as if he hasn't seen the sun in months, and his hair was almost limp, strands clinging to his face.

His eyes...They didn't focus on Niko...not entirely.

Almost as if the recruit was staring through Niko.

And something told Niko that the last thing he would ever want is his undivided attention.

"...I hate her..." Niko tilted his head in confusion.

"Your captain," he clarified simply, to Niko's shock. "I hate her."

"I-uh-you..." Niko was completely bewildered by the sudden confession. "Why would you say that?"

The recruit shrugged, his eyes blank. "...I can't trust her. I can't trust the witch's vessel. I can't...I can't trust anyone that sides with the vessel..."

He stared off to the side, the corner of his mouth twitching for a moment before looking back.

"If I think about it...l can't even trust you."

Niko took a step back, unsure how to respond. He didn't know what to say to something like that. He could feel the tension in the air, and he knew he wasn't safe.

He wasn't safe at all.

"But..you were nice to Her..." he continued, unconcerned by Niko's state.

"You helped make Her smile."

"Um..." Niko swallowed dryly. "Who-uh w-who are you-"

"She looked so happy when She was up on the crow's nest," he continued, a smile stretching across his face. "The way you helped Her with the rope challenge, the little trinkets you gave Her as a prize."

It was absolutely simple smile, a smile anyone would have as they reminisced about a fond memory.

Just looking at it sent a chill down Niko's spine.

This kid wasn't okay, Niko could clearly see that now.

But he couldn't leave him alone, not knowing what was going on in his head.

(Not knowing if the crew would be in danger if he let the new recruit go now.)

"Look, I know things have been... tough for you lately," Niko started cautiously. "But you have no reason to distrust anyone. At least not us, right?"

The recruit shook his head, his smile quickly fading. "No, wrong," he said firmly. "You and I are not on the same side. You follow the vessel, and I have no interest in being loyal to her."

Niko could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he looked at the recruit, a sense of unease growing inside him. He knew this wasn't the safest situation, but he couldn't just leave the recruit alone. "Listen, I-I know you don't trust me," he began, his voice gentle. "And I don't know what...vessel you're talking about, but I'm here for you, okay? We're crew mates after all."

The recruit stared at him for a moment, his eyes unreadable. "You don't know what I need," he said finally. "You don't know anything."

He stood back and started to walk away, but Niko grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"Tell me about those memories." He blurted out as the recruits eyes returned to him.

"What do you mean?" the recruit asked, his voice emotionless.

"You said you couldn't tell what's real anymore. What memories are making you think like that?"

The recruit paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing, Niko thought his question didn't work when he began to speak.

"The memories..." he started slowly, his voice distant. "They're...mine...I think? They feel mine. But...I don't know. It shouldn't make sense, I never even met any of them...or will I? I-"

He pressed his hand against his head, "I can't accept anything yet," he repeated, his voice frustrated. "Not until I know for certain."

Niko let go of his arm, feeling a sense of helplessness. He didn't know what to do or say to help this recruit. He felt like he was out of his depth.

"But..what makes you think the memories are fake?" Niko asks him.

"...What makes you think they are real?" He asked Niko in return.

Niko frowned, unsure how to answer. He had never been faced with something like this before. "I just...I don't know what to think," he admitted honestly. "It all feels so confusing."

"..I suppose.." The newbie said, his tone changing oddly. Niko swallowed, could feel the blood drain from his face as he saw the recruit's eyes turn into pure ice. It was the chilling to even look at it.

Like a raging sea storm that had frozen under a wall of solid ice.

"T-T-The memories, how clear are they?" Niko continued to talk, hoping that if he kept the conversation going, he'd find something that could help him get out of this encounter intact.

"Clear enough to hate your captain." Came the blunt answer.

"O-oh..." Niko really didn't know what he was doing. "O-Ok, um-"

"Do you know how much I want to hurt her?" The newb-Link said, Niko could see how tightly he was clenching his fists.

Niko took a step back, his heart racing. "I-I don't," he said, his voice shaking. "I really don't."

"I thought I knew hatred...when I first laid eyes on my sister's kidnapper." Link continued, his voice low and dangerous. "But this is different. It's like...a thousand knives twisting in my chest, and I can't make it stop."

Niko felt a chill run down his spine.

"I want to squeeze her neck until her face is completely blue." He kept going, taking a step forward.

"Uh, I-I don't-"

"I want to bash her face against the ship's handrail until she bleeds." Link went on, his eyes glowing with anger. "I want to crush her head under my boot until her skull cracks and she stops breathing."

Niko could feel himself starting to panic. He knew that he needed to defuse this situation, but didn't know how. "I-I-" he started to say, but Link cut him off.

"I want to tear her heart out with my own hands." He said, his eyes murderously cold, his voice heated with hatred. "I want to break every bone in her body until she is nothing but a pile of twitching meat and broken pieces."

Niko was horrified by Link's words.

"Link, please, c-calm down," he said, his voice shaky. "We can talk about this. You don't have to do anything rash-"

But Link wasn't listening. He let out a guttural scream, his entire body shaking with rage. "I want to kill her!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the empty ship. "I want to hurt her so much! So much that she can't even dream of living after what I've done!"

Niko could feel the hairs on the back of his neck standing up, and he took several steps backwards, feeling utterly helpless. He had never seen anyone like this before, and he didn't know what to do. "Link, please." Niko watched as Link breathed, his chest heaving. "Please, j-just calm down. We can talk about this, you don't h-have to do anything rash!"

But Link didn't listen. Instead, he charged towards Niko, his fists clenched. "That damn witch had something do with this!" he shouted, his voice filled with anger and pain. "I know it. I shouldn't be here! I shouldn't be here without any of them! Without Her!!"

Niko tried to grab Link's arm again, a bad choice that resulted in him immediately lashing out, catching Niko off guard and sending him crashing into the wall. The recruit's fist connected with Niko's jaw, and Niko tasted blood as his teeth bit into his tongue.

Before Niko could gather his wits, he felt hands grasp the collar of his shirt and hold him up against the wall. Blinking away the stars from his eyes, he looked at Link.

And Niko took back what he had previously thought earlier about the newbie's first expression.

The expression Niko currently saw was by far the coldest he had ever seen.

Anger so cold, it was burning.

Link's eyes were empty, like a distant ocean. His lips were pursed in a tight line, his knuckles white as he gripped Niko's shirt. "Did she plan for you to ask me these questions?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. "Did she order you to keep tabs on me?"

Niko rapidly shook his head, feeling fear crawling up his spine, was the newbie losing it? Did he think Niko-

"N-no," he stammered. "I'm just.. a c-crew member..a swabbie! I don't know anything about-"

Link cut him off, his voice a cold whisper. "Don't lie to me Niko."

"I'm not!" He cried out, tears building up in his eyes.

"I-I just clean and do the chores! Please don't hurt me!"

Link stared at him for a moment, before letting go of Niko's shirt and stepping away. "...sorry," he said, didn't sound very sorry. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Niko felt relieved, even though he wanted to curl up and cry, but knew that the danger wasn't over yet. The newbie was still clearly not alright, and he could snap again at any moment. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. "It's...okay," he said, his voice still shaky.

"I just hate your captain so much..." Link muttered, his eyes fixed on nothing in particular. "She was so disrespectful to (y/n), and I could barely stand to look at her after that."

...(y/n)? Is that the one he speaks about? Niko never met someone with that name.

And miss Tetra never interacted with someone with that name either.

As Niko tries to make sense of Link's words, the young hero continued to mutter, uncaring if Niko was even paying attention. "She never appreciated Her kindness. Always complaining about Her presence, unworthy witch's vessel. Unworthy of being near such warmth. I need to rid of her, got to make sure everything is perfect."

"But miss Tetra never did anything!" Niko exclaimed. "She was always kind to everyone, even to the most lowly crew members like me!"

Link turned to face Niko, his eyes still distant and cold. "You don't understand," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "The only thing that matters is making sure (y/n) is safe. I can't let anyone or anything get in my way."

Niko watched Link carefully, unsure of what to say. He had never seen anyone so unsettling in his whole life.

"T-This girl...(y/n).." Niko flinched when the newbie returned his focus back at him again.

"S-she...ah..you say she's in those...memories?"

"Yes." Was his answer. "She's there, in all of them. I need to find a way to get back to her." Link said, a hint of desperation leaking into his voice.

"She's in the memories...that you don't know are real-ugk!" Niko felt Link's hand wrap around his neck, squeezing tightly.

"Don't talk about her like that!" Link growled, his eyes burning with anger. "You don't know anything, nothing! so you have no right to talk about her like that!"

Niko struggled to breathe, feeling the grip on his neck tighten even more. "P-please," he pleaded, his voice weak. "I didn't mean anything by it. I just..I just..!"

Link let go of Niko's neck, but his eyes were still filled with rage. "She's real," he said, his voice shaking with emotion. "She means more to me than anything in the world. I can't lose her, she's real!"

Niko watched as Link began to pace back and forth, muttering to himself.

"It's real. It's real. They're real. She's real. She's waiting for me. I'm making Her wait. She's there. She has to be there."

Niko was nervous, very nervous.

No, he was utterly terrified. He didn't know what to do, what to say.

As Niko watches Link pace back and forth, his mind is racing.

He takes a deep breath, trying to steady his frayed nerves. "Link," he says softly, trying to draw his attention. "Link, please calm down. You're not making any sense."

Link continued to pace, continued to mutter, more frantically, more desperately.

"She's real. (y/n) is real. They are all real. I can't lose Her. Lose them." His voice was cracking, his face looking less cold and more upset.

"But I don't know. There's not enough evidence! How can I know for sure? Do I wait? Finish this whole thing? See if the end is the same as I recall? Will she be there? Will I see any of them? How will I-"

Niko watched as Link's voice trailed off, his mind lost in thought. He had never seen the young hero so lost and confused before, and it made him feel uneasy.

Link looked at Niko, his eyes hollow and distant. "I can't lose her," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I can't lose any of them."

"You..." Niko took a moment to think about his words before continuing.

"You're scared she isn't real, that the...memories of her aren't real...right?" He swallowed as Link returned to silently staring at him.

"B-But..the reason you..h-hate..miss Tetra...is because of those memories too...right?"

The recruit was still frowning, and still staring at him, but didn't react negatively.

"I..I mean, I don't really...know this type of stuff, so there always a chance, no matter how small that-" when he noticed Link's frown deepen further, he switched tactics.

"L-Look"I-I mean..I don't understand what you're talking about-"

"You really don't." The recruit suddenly interjected.

'-...But if it WAS real..would..wouldn't you not need to... hate miss Tetra?'

Wind simply looked at Niko.

'...W-Well, no matter WHAT memories you have, y-your body reacts to..things you actually experienced. I-I heard once that every time you experience something, it leaves a mark in your brain and-"

"Get to the point." Niko nodded rapidly.

Right. Sure. To the point.

"The point is that...maybe the memories you have of (y/n) are real. Because...the anger you have for...miss Tetra is real too."

Link blinked slowly, head tilted to the side.

"You remember dates and names right? Locations..faces..and the voices attached to those faces right?" Niko asked, trying to keep his voice steady. "So maybe the memories you have are real too. And if they are, that means (y/n) is real too."

Wind remained silent, his eyes fixed on Niko. The silence stretched on for a several moments, Niko shifting where he stood, his heart pounding harder then it ever had before. Finally, Link spoke, his voice quiet and low. "Maybe...maybe you're right," he said, his eyes still on Niko. "The memories..they are real.."

Niko nodded rapidly in agreement, even if he didn't understand anything that was currently happening. "Yes, yes. I'm sure of it! And if they are real, that means (y/n) is real too. She must be out there, waiting for you to find her!"

Niko watched as Link nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on some distant point.

And slowly, Niko watched as his face shifted from it's despondent expression and blossomed with a animated liveliness he had never seen on his face before.

He truly appeared like a completely different person.

"Thank you Niko," Link said, his voice warm and sincere despite the roughness it held, the difference in his tone was genuinely like night and day. "You've given me a lot to think about."

As he turned to leave, Niko called out to him, his voice hesitant.

"Newbi-Link...are you...(Sane? Stable? Capable in not killing someone?)...okay?" Link paused for a moment, then turned to face Niko, his eyes glinting with...something that hadn't been there before.

"I'm fine, Niko." He smiled, it was..strange..so very alien on a face he never saw smile before. "and I'll be more than fine when it's all over."

And with a pat on Niko's trembling shoulder, he disappeared through the doorway, leaving Niko to watch him make his way out of the hold and disappear up the stairs.

After he could no longer hear footsteps from above, Niko collapsed. his whole body trembling from the whole ordeal he just experienced.

He was unsure of why exactly, but he felt this intensity within him, as if he had prevented something catastrophic that wouldn't have ended well.

Not for Niko. Nor the crew.

And definitely not for miss Tetra.

Niko had prevented something that none of them would have been able to recover from.

(And no one will ever believe him.)

His trembling breath quickened as his eyes grew blurry with more tears.

He had survived something dangerous.

That...thing...wasn't normal. Not human. There was no way tht thing was a kid, no way he could be human.

Not with those eyes...those unsettling eyes.

(...no one would believe Niko.)

He didn't even believe himself, and he was the one who endured it.

He survived a demon.

He survived a monster that not even the whole crew assembled would have been capable of defeating him.

(No one would believe him.)

No one would believe that the new recruit wanted miss Tetra dead.

Because of memories even he didn't know if they were real.

(No one would believe Niko.)

No one.

Absolutely no one.

As his thoughts spiraled out of control, Niko buried his head in his knees, trying to stifle the sobs that tried to escape his mouth and failing.

It was too much for him to take in.

It was all too much.

The bottom rung of the ladder may have been a position Niko did not enjoy, but he’d take it happily, stay beneath the ship and do all the chores necessary.

He'd do it with glee if it meant the unsettling recruit stayed far far away from him.

Stayed far away and found no reason to see Niko as a target.

Yes, the bottom rung was a good place to be if it meant staying away from monsters like that.

----

----

"What happened to make you take so long Link? I could not see through the charm."

"I got the bombs, dunno why the charm didn't work." The young sailor shrugged at the King of Red Lions. "Tetra could reach me just fine."

"Ah, I see." The King of Red Lions nodded, his expression unreadable.

"Well, I'm relieved we were able to obtain the bombs without too much trouble. We need them if we're going to speak to Jabun."

"Yes, I'm aware." The young hero replied as he climbed into the sailboat.

As Link settles into the boat, the King of Red Lions turns his head to him.

"Are you alright, my boy? You seem a bit distracted." Linknods, "It's nothing, I'm fine."

The King of Red Lions studied Link for a moment, seeming not satisfied with the answer. "You've had a experience, I can tell. and I can not ignore how you've lately been eating and sleeping less. Whatever it is, it's clearly left you shaken."

Link averted his eyes, not wanting to speak about his experience, not to him at the very least. "It's fine, really. I just need some time to myself."

The King of Red Lions nodded, understanding. "Take all the time you need, my boy. But know that I am always here for you if you need to speak." The young hero didn't say anything, merely nodding at his words.

With that, the King of Red Lions looked forward as Link guided the boat away from Windfall to, Outset island.

Leaving the young sailor to his thoughts. Still so far away from the end of this journey. And then there's the other one...

After that...Wind would be met with the portal that would lead him to the good captain's battlefield.

If the captain didn't remember him...didn't remember (y/n)...

...

Wind shivered, pushing away the horrible thought. He took a deep breath and focused on the task at hand.

As he navigated the boat through the ocean waters, Wind reflected on all that had happened to him so far. Waking back up on Outset Island, watching his sister being stolen away by the Helmaroc King, the unexpected reunion with Tetra, and the possible knowledge that his beloved (y/n) might not be real.

He still didn't know how to process it all, but he knew that he needed to keep going.

He had to believe that there was still hope at the end of this.

Finishing this journey is step one.

Step two is regaining his phantom sword. Which involves dealing with saving Tetra from being turned to stone. An unpleasant fact he had to face but he'll deal with it.

Step three, be patient and wait for the portal to the captain's era appeared.

He didn't want to wait, wanted all of this over with so he could stop being left in suspense and knew for certain that the memories in his heart were real.

They had to be real.

She had to be real. Niko...goofy, silly, cowardly Niko.

Wind hadn't expected listening to the scared little pirate to be so helpful, Wind had spoken to him on a sheer whim.

But the cowardly pirate was right, if his hatred towards Tetra was real, then (y/n) was real as well.

It was such a simple thing, almost flimsy in it's simplicity.

Yet it was enough.

It was enough to keep the Hero of Winds going just a bit longer. if he stopped now, all hope of ever seeing (y/n) again would be lost.

He needed to find the determination to continue, no matter how hard it was.

And he knew that he would.

The Spirit of Courage he and his fellow heroes held would not allow him to falter.

The wind picked up, blowing through the sails of the King of Red Lions, sending Link towards his home island.

The future was as certain as it was uncertain, but he knew that as long as he kept moving forward, he would find what he was looking for.

And he knew that he would find it.

Because the memories in his heart were too real to be fake.

(y/n)...

Sweet, beautiful, perfect, wonderful (y/n). Wind's mind drifted back to memories of her, her smile and her warmth. He remembered the simple moment when he was holding her hand as they walked along the beach, sharing a quiet moment.

He remembered the feel of her lips on his cheek as She cheered for his win during a sparring session. And he remembered her laughter, bright and free, echoing across the camp.

(y/n)...

How he desperately missed her.

Yet instead of being by her side alongside his fellow heroes, here he was...

Here he was. Nobody. Nothing.

Not a form of proof of his trials and suffering that he knows happened. Of the joys of being in Her presence.

Just memories that even he still had doubts about.

But that would change soon wouldn't it?

Soon he would kill Ganon and be in his way to the World of the Ocean King.

And soon after...the War of Eras.

Just a bit more.

Soon...he'll have an answer.

Just...Just a little bit longer...

But it's hard...

It's so hard when when he had to deal with a bossy girl who didn't learn act nice to him until she properly awakened as Zelda. Then, it was as if she wanted him near her all the time.

And back then he, blinded by his own naïveté, had let his delusions of friendship convince him to like someone like her.

Tetra...(blood inheritor/Witch's vessel/worthless/unwanted necessity) was a very smart girl, loath as he was to admit it. A keen eye and she'd figure something was happening if he doesn't play nice and amuse her.

And the King...he would be with Wind for as long as this journey took. There was no doubt he was already looked at with suspicion.

So, loathed as he was to accept, he had to behave. He had to play along. He had to keep stay brave and strong and confident, even when he felt anything but.

As the ship sailed towards the next destination, Wind relaxed against boat, watching the dark waves crash against the side. The ocean breeze blew through his hair, and he felt a sense a calmness that he had not felt since waking up as he sailed the darkened sea.

He would find the proof that She was real. He would see (y/n) and make up for his failures.

And he would make sure that his mistakes would never happen again.

He'll be reunited with Her and his trusted sword brothers, he'll be away from the Witch's blood heir and he'll be happy. Besides, the guys would be upset that he gave in and killed his Zelda.

(And if they remembered, he had no doubt that if they were in the same boat as him.)

And (y/n)...

While there wasn't anything truly worse than losing (y/n).

Disappointing Her was always high on the list.

Wind had promised Her to take Her across the Great Sea. To show Her New Hyrule and teach Her the beauty of sailing.

He needed to keep his promise.

He had to be responsible, had to show he had good self control.

He was going to do this. He had to.

'I'll be good, so don't be mad.' Wind whispered nearly silently, the sound of the waves covering what noise he made.

'I'll be good...' he whispered, wiping the tears that had built up in his eyes on his dirty sleeve. 'So please be real.'

Sweet (y/n) Kind and trusting (y/n). She made the weight of responsibility feel like nothing when he was around Her.

Sweet, kind (y/n), who was always ready with open arms when one of them needed it.

She was what he always imagined a true Angel could be.

He had to keep going. He had to see the end of this.

It's not like Tetra wouldn't be easy to kill when this was all over if she tried to push him.

He could behave.

He would behave.

(y/n) deserved nothing less then a Sword that not just protected her, but made her smile.

He just has to keep going.

"A bit more now." He whispered to the ocean breeze which stole away his words and vanishing them into the darkened sea.

-

He hadn't expected this turn of events.

He had expected something bigger involved, something that would shock him, maybe something that would even leave him breathless. What he never imagined was this.

He supposed he did receive that and so much more.

Looking up from his place, entranced by familiar concerned eyes. He was silent, whatever words he could have said now lost.

“You okay?” He could listen to that voice for the rest of his days, and he would never grow tired of it.

Never.

“Uh, yeah…” Legend murmured and inhaling deeply, attempting to keep his voice steady as Her scent drifted by him. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

More than fine now. So much more than fine.

----

----

There was a level of adjustment when it came to experiencing many things.

Moving to a new area, mourning the loss of someone, whether they still lived or didn't.

Having to say goodbye to the routine you were so used to, to the people you've met along the way, and making way for the unfamiliar. It was understandable that an adjustment phase was an necessity.

Eventually, you find a new norm, a new area, new people, a new routine that all becomes equally as familiar as the old.

You learn to try new things along the way, take up new hobbies, or learn to adapt the old to the new environment.

It all rounds up to adjusting to the new and settling into it as if you always were there.

Living in an entirely new world was an adjustment of a massive scale.

A new world with new history, way of life, form of governments and societies. It was all so different, so very new.

And the adjustment period was also similar. Similar to when you take off old shoes and step into a new pair, eventually the new pair become as comfortable as the old. Though the time it takes for that to happen is different for everyone.

It helps when some of the familiar comes along with you, especially if the familiar had the time to adjust first, to know where they’re going and how to help you navigate through the new areas in which you yourself were discovering.

Legend did not envy Time for the solitude he had been forced to endure before the first of them appeared.

In a way, he respected him greatly. Time was left to survive in a world that was so utterly alien to their minds, reverted as a child and forced to make a life for himself in a place that would eat him alive in ways their own home wouldn't. Left alone without any contact from anybody or anything that was remotely familiar, besides what he himself could manage by his own power and what items followed him here.

To eventually make a place for himself, to adapt to a world that tried to consume him, grew from the trials that had helped him prepare for the arrival of the others. Time became the kind of man, that was feared and respected, someone who was better able to protect what was his. Who could stand alongside his sword brothers and look at the life they continue to crave in this world with pride.

To prepare that life for the one person they all missed dearly.

It was a great adjustment indeed, one that needed patience and great trust. If not in others, than in one's self.

So Legend was not bothered by their leader's inquiry over his sudden request.

"I'm not against a meeting, but coming from you?" Time spoke softly. His gaze soft as it rested on him. "As I recall, the last time you announced for a gathering, there was a brewing gang war headed our way. " He added.

Legend scoffed lightly and shook his head. "I suppose I should be glad that means you take my call seriously." He stated,"And I promise, no surprise territorial disputes."

He hated those things anyway.

"Yet you seem distressed" Time remarked back."Oh, believe me, far from it." Legend smirked crookedly. "This is going to be good."

Time nodded, though curiosity flickered in his eye at those curious choice of words said, he turned his attention to the opening doors of the meeting room.

"Really Vet? Just had to pick today for a meeting??" Wind grumbled loudly, throwing his hands up,

"Couldn't you have at least waited another day? There were some wares at the docks I wanted to look at-damnit blacksmith, stop shoving!"

Four was unphased by the daggers being directed at him as he kept shoving the sailor into the room.

Seems the sailor tried to sneak away as per usual.

Four nodded to the two in greeting as he led the younger boy to his seat, which happened to be right next to him. The table was quite long enough for all of them, and it seemed the rest of the Links weren't too far behind as Twilight walked in, Sky close behind.

"Sky! How's business been?" Legend asked after he sat. "It has been quiet." Sky answered as he looked up at Legend before returning his gaze back to the table as he sat down.

Twilight looked around the table with curious interest as Hyrule and Wild arrived and took their seats. "I thought another meeting wasn't for another month?" He inquired.

"Patience rancher, the meeting won't start until dear old captain arrives anywa-oh look who the devil let out to play!" Warriors glared at the other Hero as he entered the room.

"Well..." Time taps the tip of his pen on the table and looks at Legend, motioning to the others.

"We're all here." He eyed his advisor with curiosity.

The others turned, watching as Warriors sat down and Legend stood.

"First of all, sorry for the abrupt call." Legend apologised with a nod. "Now I'm aware no one really knows why I wanted you all here so badly. "He explained."But I assure you that you will leave this meeting very satisfied with the information I'm going to reveal to you."

He paused and watched everyone's faces intently. "Now allow me to first announce this doesn't involve any of our businesses." He stated, pausing again to gauge their reactions. "You don't need to concern yourselves over any potential fights or interlopers." They simply nodded, some relaxing as he continued. "Next, I want to make this as transparently clear as physically possible," He leaned forward and looked at each of them,

"Our every action from this point on, will have drastic consequences if we make even one mistake."

Everyone sat in silence as Legend took a deep breath,"I trust no one will talk about this outside of this meeting. Honestly, I doubt you would risk doing such a thing, right?" Everyone nodded, not sure what they were agreeing to, but trusting Legend completely. "Good."

Was all he said as he pulled out his phone and began tapping away, only looking up when he was done.

And simply waited.

Waited for the world to change for all of them.

Legend couldn't help the spark of anxiety within him. He couldn't help it. There was no way he would miss the significance of what is about to be revealed. This moment of revelation.

What they have waited so long for.

He knew exactly where this is going and he's not about to let any of them waste a chance like this. Not after the amount of work they all put in. All of it for the sake of a future they desperately craved.

So he was quiet as the first phone began to ring.

As all their phones began to ring.

He watches the eight of them look at each other, reaching for their phones to check what was sent to them.

If only he could truly find the words to describe the stillness that filled the room, a silence that could be heard despite no sound being made. A silent wait that was as palpable as an ache within one's chest. No one spoke for a while. No one dared move as they all stared at the image that was on their screens. No one breathed, as if to prevent this moment from breaking.

As if to prevent what they were seeing from being an illusion.

Shaking hands, widened eyes, choked breaths, yet none reacted until someone broke the moment that the veteran brought them.

Legend supposed he should be grateful for the captain, as he brought his fist down on the table with a resounding bang, jolting everyone that had been frozen in stillness.

Though he did admit to not appreciating how the good captain gripped his shirt and pulled him up to his face.

"Well aren't we responding violently..." Legend hissed as the collar of his shirt tightened around his neck.

"You have some nerve..." Warriors seethed, pulling Legend into closer proximity and raising his voice, the anger apparent in his face and tone. "You think this is funny? Huh? Has this world distorted your sanity that you would taunt us with this?!??."

Legend remained silent, though he felt his grip on his collar becoming harder and tighter by every second. He scowled as he realized there was nothing he can do to get the captain to release him from his grasp.

"Answer me!!!" Warriors snapped, and before anyone could stop him, he shoved forward until he was slamming Legend's body against the wall, the sound and feel of his body making contact causing the veteran to wince in pain from the impact. "Is...this really necessary..?" Legend gasped, hands reaching up to grip the one holding him in place.

"Stand DOWN captain!" Time ordered, hands on the table, half way out of his seat.

The entire room fell silent as all heads turned to watch them, some out of their seats, others gripping the table, some not even looking away from their phone. Warriors didn't care to notice. His whole attention was fixated on the young man in his grip.

And Legend, his eyes locked with those blue ones; burning with anger as he struggled against the Captain’s hold. He tried to pull at Warriors' wrist. He didn't budge. The only response he got was a glare that made him pause momentarily, before a small smile found its way onto his lips as a thought sparked in his head.

"Dear gods..." He breathed, "You're jealous..."

It was barely audible but everyone heard the words regardless."What?" Warriors growled, but Legend laughed despite his position, leaning towards the captain as best as he could as he whispers once again, this time slightly louder.

"You're jealous," He grinned, it was not kind, "Because I was the first to find her."

He smirked at the growing anger directly him before continuing, "And you don't like that I was the first one to be near her again."The blond laughed even as the captain pulled him forward and slammed him back against the wall, the back of his head hitting the wall behind him, and he grinned smugly, "I guess I would have felt the exact same if I had been in the same boat as you," He remarked, chuckling despite his position.

"To have to accept that I wasn't the first one to be blessed with her presence. To know I wasn't the first one who would hear her beautiful voice, to hear her beautiful laugh, to have her eyes focused solely on me even if for the briefest of moments! and to see her beautiful smile... why..it would have been just so unfair!" Sharp laughter echoed throughout the room, as the group tensed at both his words and his tone.

"But I'm NOT you!" He gasped through his laughter, either uncaring or unaware of Warriors' slacking grip on his shirt.

"I get to say I was first to see her, hear her! I get to be blessed by having HER eyes look at me and ONLY me, even if it was just for a mere. moment." He bared his teeth in a mockery of a grin, exhaling through his nose as he stared down the paling, angered. trembling captain.

"So I suppose I can forgive your behavior this once. After all, it's not everyday you learn that our darling was found." Legend said, expression calming as he looked at everyone, with a faint grin, teeth just visible, before looking back at Warriors.

"However if you ever attempt to manhandle me like this ever again, I'll begin to consider a severe level of retaliation against you." Legend threatened, tone quiet.

Silence followed as they stared each other down. No one moved.

"You can't be this lucky..." was all Warriors could utter as he stared at Legend.

"We searched...for so long..." He came out as a whisper as his eyes seemed to stare through Legend.

"We searched for so long..." He repeated, "and you find her...by pure chance..." His body trembled, shaking his head as if in denial.

"Captain," Tone softening as he reached up and placed a hand on a trembling shoulder, "I would never begrudge you for wishing you were in my place, and for hoping that you were the first that found her again. Would you begrudge any of us for feeling the same if the roles had been reversed?"

He continued softly, eyes full of understanding as he spoke, his hand moving so it was gently rubbing circles into the others shoulder. A slight shudder ran through the captain, his own hand releasing it's hold on the other's shirt and coming up to grasp Legend's own, gripping tightly.

"No," he whispered hoarsely. "Not after everything we've experienced."

"Then taken my warning to heart, but know you are forgiven." Legend replied before taking his hand away from Warrior, and returning to stand by Time, clapping his hands to divert attention away from the captain.

"Taking her appearance in the picture into consideration, she's roughly about the same age she was when wandering into our world." Legend started, everyone slowly settling back in their seats, "from the lack of personal items, other than some textbooks she had on her, it's safe to say she lives in the general area." He paused for a bit before continuing, "Which means her typical hangout spots are close by as well, perhaps a side job if her schooling allows it." Legend nodded, looking around. Everyone had their eyes trained on their screens where (y/n) was smiling so cheerful at friend offscreen.

To see her again, even through a photo, was enough to leave them lighthearted in all the best ways. A warm coursing through each of them as they drank in the sight of her beautiful smile.

"She looks so happy..." Sky murmured quietly to himself, leaning forward a little, eyes filled with longing. Twilight smiled kindly at him next to him, placing a comforting hand on Sky's shoulder. "Yes," He agreed quietly, "So happy and carefree. She looks exactly like how I remember her being," He paused and laughed. "No, she looks even more beautiful, doesn't she?"

"Do you...do you think she'll accept us?" Hyrule asked, tone quiet as Sky and Twilight looked up to meet his gaze. "I mean- I just...wish to not make the same mistakes again." Twilight grimaced but hummed in agreement, returning his gaze toward the screen.

They all stew in their thoughts. Guilt, shame, hope and joy. All of it twisted inside them.

"You know...I'm kinda glad it took this long..." Wind admitted, his eyes latched on to the picture.

"I mean, not that I enjoyed having to wait so long but...we're more settled in this world now compared to a few years ago, we're more prepared for anything."

"Curious choice of words." Time chuckled, "but nonetheless yes, in a way, you are correct sailor. This is a good opportunity for all of us." He stated. bringing the attention to him. "We need to start anew, to make amends for what we have done. And hopefully, in the process, we won't lose ourselves down that dark path we once traveled," He frowned. "I don't wish to consider the possibility of us failing, but...anything could happen-"

"Plan for possible failure but aim for success." Four interjects, looking relaxed yet eyes gleaming with energetic resolve.

"Plus we'll keep each other in check, won't we?" Wind asks, turning his attention back to the rest of the Links, a smile bright in his face. He turns to look at Sky, who's eyes have stayed glued to the screen ever since he stopped on Wind. His face remains stoic. "Sky?"

"...We should bring her here..." That sent confusion coursing through the group.

"Huh-?" Sky looked up, grimacing at the attention on him.

"I-I mean...we have the facilities, power, influence and capabilities to keep her safe and cared for." He continued, nervous yet with eagerness shining in his eyes.

"It seems now is the right time to-"

"We can't." Legend shaking his head as he quietly replied, frown on his face.

Sky flinches, the phone in his hand creaking as he gripped it tightly.

"I just..believe that now would be a good time to bring-" Legend raises a hand to halt his argument.

"We. cannot. bring her here." Sky stared back at him, jaw clenched, knuckles turning white.

"She is safer with us." He states again, tone deep and firm.

"We. Cannot. Take. Her." Legend repeats as slowly as he could, eyes focused at the skyloftian with warning.

Sky glares daggers at him while clenching his fists even tighter. A tense silence fills the air between them as no one dares to move a muscle. Sky stares defiantly back, daring Legend to disagree with his plan. Legend stares back, silently debating if he should even humor this argument.

"Why do you believe we should bring her here?" Time's voice breaks the heavy atmosphere, drawing the attention away from the tension that's permeated the room. He did not look at Sky, attention focused on the phone in front of him.

"A-Are we not fully prepared? Determined? We all want to keep her safe." Sky answers, eyes still focused on Legend,"I just..think we've established ourselves enough to provide for her. I'd rather not put her life in danger by leaving her somewhere exposed-"

"So you believe her safety relies on us." Time interjects, it was not a question. "That she is currently vulnerable and exposed without us there."

That wasn't much of a question either, but it seemed to cause further unease amongst the others. There was no response. Not from Sky and certainly not from any other of the Links. Legend understood they were worried. Worried about (y/n), worried about the future. They didn't dare to ask for reasons why.

Sky straightens his shoulders.

"She is not safe out there." He reiterates.

Time nodded in acknowledgement, fingers tapping the surface it rested on.

"She is not safe out there." He repeats back to him. Sky nodding firmly.

"Tell me then, how is she safer here?" Sky seems to be thrown off by the question.

"P-Pardon?" Time finally looked up at him. Sky swallowing.

"How. is she safer. here? He repeated for emphasis. It seemed to catch Sky off guard.

"I...um..." Sky trailed off. Time's gaze did not soften, it was unreadable.

"Well, you see-" he began."The thing is..." His lips thinned as he glanced towards the others. but only seeing the same confused, uncertain looks.

He felt lost.

"We..-" "We lost her due to greed Sky knight."

Sky flinched at the rough voice that spoke out.

Time nodded at Warriors as he approached and took back his place at the table.

Warriors clasped his hands and looked at Sky with hooded eyes.

"We lost her because we were consumed with our own wants and desires." He continued. "So blinded by our addiction to her presence, we never considered what she wanted." His eyes looked down at his hands for a brief moment before returning to stare down Sky.

"We drove her away due to our arrogance and greed, plain and simple." He ran a hand through his hair, pausing before looking up.

"Tell me veteran," Legend raised an eyebrow at the acknowledgment. "How did you react when you first realized she was there?"

Well... that certainly was a curious question wasn't it.

The room was quiet on the heels of the man's inquiry. It was a contemplative silence.

"You want to know?" Legend broke the silence, his voice deceptively light.

He nodded to himself, not waiting for a response from anyone.

"Let me tell you then." Legend clasped his hands under his chin. He leaned forward, Sky swallowed thickly.

"I had merely gone to class without a single thought of anything special happening." He started, looking to everyone. "I had not once thought about my actions, nor had I taken the slightest note of where I went. I simply chose to play the part of student for one day, minding my own business. Sit through an orientation video, pack up and head back here." He continued "Sitting through it all without an ounce of emotion. Only apathy."

He paused, watching Sky. He looked away. "Until, of course, my mind was captured by thoughts of her. Understandable really, she means much to us all. My thoughts being so focused on her that I completely disregarded the words the teacher spoke in front of me." He continued. "At that point, I was more focused on my own thoughts then the real world around me." the corner of his mouth twitch before he caught himself.

"She had already arrived before I realized it. Her voice immediately catching my attention."

He leaned back, sighing. "I had always genuinely thought I would have had a better grasp on my reaction should I ever see her again. But in reality, there was no preparation for the sight that met my eyes at that very moment." He smiled softly. "My heart felt like it jumped out of my chest, my palms grew sweaty, and my mouth went dry." He sighed again.

"When I looked into those familiar eyes, I felt like my whole body turned inside out. It was like every fiber of my being was trying desperately to find the most beautiful sight in the entire universe. Even though my mind was screaming to do something. Say something, Run to her, yet I felt so stuck in place." His eyes were cast downwards, reminiscing the memory. "There was absolutely nothing I could do. Nothing whatsoever." He crossed his arms over his chest. "I could feel my heart constrict at the mere sight of her and all I wished to do was hold her again."

He sighed, his hands resting on his lap."But alas I didn't know what to expect." He laughed bitterly. "I saw her and all my rationality died that very second. For whatever reason, I couldn't take my eyes away from her. So I sat and watched her even when the room darkened." The last sentence was spoken quietly.

"She sat right in front of me, did I mention that yet? I couldn't tell if that was a blessing or the sweetest form of torture. To be physically so close to her, yet still be so very far. to be close enough that all I had to do was lean forward and I could possibly catch her scent. Legend exhaled through his nose and frowned, staring intently at his hands.

"I reached my hand out to her." Everyone was staring at him, silent. Legend's expression blank.

"I was so consumed by..." He shook his head, as if the words were lodged in his head. "I was desperate to want her HERE. with US. I wanted her here so badly, at that moment, I genuinely did not care how badly she would have reacted to my actions."

"I wanted to hold her again, tell her how sorry I was. To make up for every failure and mistake I committed against her."

He stared at his shaking hands. "And I think that's what scared me into stopping." Legend closed his eyes, breathing heavily, his head hung low. "To risk losing everything over the mere chance of forcing her here by our side." He choked on the last word, his eyes shutting tight. "I couldn't do it. I couldn't let myself destroy what we worked for, before we even had a chance to start ...So I pulled back and did nothing."

Legend lifted his head and opened his eyes, they were filled with pain."I just...couldn't bring myself to ruin her happiness for my own sake...." He looked at each and every one of the Links before focusing his gaze on Sky.

"Not again. I'd kill and be killed before I allowed myself to do so again."

It was a silent battle of wills, between the veteran and the pale knight, as Sky stood his ground. One staring at the other, each trying force the other to submit.

A long silent standoff, each refusing to give way until, eventually, Sky slowly lowered his gaze.

A victor was chosen.

Legend closes his eyes, his shoulders unnoticeably relaxing.

Time broke the tension once more as he tapped the table with his pen.

"Your words have been heard and strongly acknowledged Veteran." Time said calmly and evenly while gazing towards Sky who remained still, his head lowered. He took in a deep breath before continuing.

"What would you suggest we do?" Legend sighed and rubbed his neck.

"Gather what information we can is a good start." Legend answered as he rose to his feet. "We'll start with finding her general information. Whereabouts, schooling schedule, whether or not she has employment."

He looked at the group."We need to be discreet however. As much as we wish to be near her, we don't want anyone noticing us around her." He gave each of them a pointed look."Understand?" Nods were stiffly given.

Legend turns away, signaling the end of his participation.

Time eyed him carefully and returned his focus to everyone.

"Captain, take Wild and begin obtain her general details." Warriors nodded towards him and looked to the cook, who acknowledged the order.

He turned to Twilight and nodded."Send a scout to rummage through the school files and I want you to look up the teachers in charge of her classes." Twilight gave him thumbs up in acknowledgement.

Twilight looks thoughtful and towards Wind who was staring at his phone again, seemingly lost in thoughts."Wind, can you and Hyrule get together and talk to some of your informants? Put a word out?."

Wind and Hyrule jumped at being called upon but nodded and stood up, turning to face the older male."Do you want us to inform you if she's spotted by any chance?"He asked, his blue orbs glancing back and forth between Sky and the leader, Hyrule wringing his hands next to him.

"Yes, please." Wind nodded and left, Hyrule following close behind heading down the hallway.As soon as he disappeared, everyone took that as a sign to end the meeting.

"Four, with me." Twilight calls out, motioning Four to follow him.

Warriors nods to Time and Legend as he rises from his seat, his eyes lingering a bit on Legend as he walked past. Legend scoffed and punched the passing captain on the arm.

Warriors scowls but says nothing, understanding what wasn't said.

All forgiven given the circumstances.

"Sky..." The Skyloftian twitched and looked up at their leader.

"Go gather yourself," Time ordered softly,

"I will send someone out after you once I've received a response from one of my sources. I will need you with me for some business. In the meantime, you are dismissed." Sky nodded, slowly turning and making his way out of the room, his frame still tense. Leaving Time and Legend alone in the large room.

"...Well...that was quite a show." Time remarked, leaning back in his chair.

Legend sighed loudly, rubbing his forehead tiredly, "We're gonna have to watch that one until he settles down." he muttered under his breath, his eyes glued towards the phone screen in front of him. "Not like this isn't a delicate matter at all."

Time chuckled lightly, "As if an easy road was ever a choice for us." Chuckling louder as Legend proceeded to flip him off.

"While I didn't expect it to be so...intense," Legend waved a hand to the empty room as if to remind Time of the chaos of a few moments ago.

"I do hope this meeting was satisfactory in your eyes?"

Time gazed down at the phone screen in his hand, his eye taking in the smile that was captured in the image within.

"Yes..." He answered softly.

"Very much so." He couldn't help the quirk of his mouth, amusement shining in his eye.

"Well worth the wait."

There was something to be said, being alone with one other person in a place that was normally lively with the living. Alone within the plaza,two stood before the memorial statue of a beloved princess, a rare moment of isolation within an area that is usually occupied by others in one capacity or another.

"I wonder...Sidon.."

"Yes Link?"

"Would Mipha have accepted that my heart would never accept hers?"

"..."

Link did not look away from Mipha's statue, did not bother to glance at his companion beside him.

Link could see Sidon out of the corner of his eyes, but kept them locked firmly on the sculpture. His own mind lost in thoughts that have plagued him greatly since awakening in this period once more.

The images still vivid enough in his memory that Link was almost physically unable to shake them off. Memories of a time that no longer existed in anyone's memory but his and one other. Memories of a time that had once been so dear to him, that had ended so cruelly.

Link sighed slowly, pushing down any emotions that could possibly cross his face.

It didn't escape Link's notice that Sidon had chosen the silence. Not a questioning of his words or question asked. A simple acknowledgement that there was more to be said.

He knew it wouldn't do either one of them much good, but perhaps, Link could use some company in order to help gather his thoughts.

"I know she would not have wanted me to mourn her forever." Link said quietly after several minutes had passed, his voice barely audible.

"Nor would she have blamed you for rejecting her feelings." Sidon countered gently, ever so carefully placing his hand on Link's shoulder, giving him gentle support.

Link looked away from the statue, his gaze fixed on his reflection in the pool of water beneath him. His expression unreadable. Sidon watched him from the corner of his eye for a few moments before turning his gaze back to Mipha's statue.

"Her heart...would have felt…much anguish, knowing she would never have that special place in your heart," Sidon said softly, quietly, his gaze locked onto the face of the statue.

"But never would she have cursed or shunned you." Sidon added, his gaze still trained on the face of his sister's likeness.

Link said nothing.

"Your heart would be in the right place, Link. I am confident in that fact. You seem to feel that you have made many mistakes in the past," Sidon started.

"You, as well as I, certainly will make many mistakes in the future, both near and far. Of this, we both can agree."

Link frowned, but did not reject his words.

"I think...I have made mistakes that, in other circumstances, would be deemed irredeemable." Link mumbled, his gaze moving briefly from his reflection to Sidon's.

Sidon nodded.

"I have no doubt that you have my friend. You did not know what was true, what would happen when you made the choices you did, said the words that you have said."

"Yet, the things you saw, have said, have done... I do not need to know them to know they changed you Link. The results of those things did something you couldn't even understand until the truth appeared before you." Sidon finally turned to look at his friend.

"Now you must learn to forgive yourself and walk forward."

"...How can I forgive myself for the unredeemable..." Link murmured. Sidon shook his head slowly.

"That cannot matter right now. What matters is forgiving yourself."

Link frowned, the expression etched deeply upon his handsome features. He looked up at Sidon. "What if I cannot?" He said.

"Then, my friend, that is where you must take a leap of faith and prove to yourself that you can." Sidon responded. "Walk forward, make amends in the only ways you think you can, perhaps those actions will be enough towards whoever or whatever you wish to repent to.”

Here Sidon shrugged.

"Perhaps they will never be forgiven. But whatever redemption you seek, whatever punishment that you feel must be had, it would no longer be up to you."

Link closed his eyes for a few moments, his hands tightly clenched into fists at his sides.

"Forgiveness does not always come easily Link,” Sidon continued. “ For anyone, especially if it is from within, but if you truly wish for it, then it shall come easier than you can imagine. Even if you do not realize when it arrives."

Silence.

Link took in a slow breath, exhaling through his nose.

"Do you wish to know what it felt like...waking up within that shrine?" 'Again' Link added silently.

Sidon looked at him.

"Tell me…”

Link's gaze fell upon his feet. His fingers flexed a few times before relaxing again.

"There was nothing but darkness...a sense of numbness, a type of heavy fog, both in mind and body." Here, Link chuckled bitterly.

"And...forgive me, but I could not bring myself to believe when my mind gathered itself. Bring myself to believe that I had awoken in such a place, believe that whatever circumstances," That pulled me away from My swordbrothers, the few that I could trust with my most precious.'

" would have brought me there, would curse me to awaken within that ancient tomb in the guise of a healing facility."

"Link..."

"And when I knew nothing, nothing about anything. all I could hear was HER voice." Here, Link could not stop the venom that escaped passed his lips, pointedly ignoring how Sidon flinched in surprise.

"...The princess." Link could feel the bitter chuckle bubbling in his chest and did not bother to resist it's escape.

"It's how I even knew what my name was." He let out a humorless laugh. "I knew nothing in the beginning, did you know, still know nothing, but back then? when it all came back to me? it was all too much." He closed his eyes.

"It was all too much Sidon and it broke something in me."

How it started an crashing tsunami of memory after memory, of their precious (y/n), of Her beautiful eyes, of Her beautiful smile and of Her warm kindness.

To wake up and find himself back within that shrine. back where it all began for him.

Hearing Hylia's heir whispering in his ear. his sword brothers nowhere in sight. His beloved nowhere within reach..

How the fogginess of sleep left him and memories came back.

The clarity started to eat away at the fragile self control that he had painstakingly tried to hold on to.

How he closed his eyes and tried, tried to wake up from what he hoped was a cruel dream, but every moment he opened his eyes and saw the interior of the shrine. It only fueled the despair inside him more until it consumed him.

How long had he stayed within that shrine? how had he screamed to block the goddess blood's words, that had soon become frantic, from reaching him.

Patches of darkness between moments of hazy clarity and pain. the scent of blood, his own, invading his senses as he hoped beyond hope that he would wake up.

Separated from his most trusted, separated from Her. What Will was there to push him forward now? What purpose could be enough to pull him from that place of death and revival and lead him to the open world?

All he had wanted to do at that very moment was to go. back.

__

__

'Take me back.' He whispered in the depths of his mind, could hear his heart pounding against his ear drums.

'Take me back. They need me. She needs me. They could be in danger, they all need me. Take me back.' He pressed his head against the side of the healing bed, raising it only to let it fall against it with a thud.

'Take me back. Take me back.'

'Link...'

'Don't force me through this burden once more. Don't make me Hylia's pawn again, take me back.'

'Link, you must get up...' 'Worthless witch, you who selfishly shunned Her kindness when she held out her hand to you, I would claim your head if I could, force the soul of your precious father to watch as the life drained from your eyes.' Link thought darkly to himself, clenching a fist tight enough that his nails bit deep into the palm of his hand.

'Please Link, you must-'

"SHUT UP! JUST TAKE ME BACK!" Link screamed aloud at last as he raised his head and slammed it down against the bed, His hands were shaking with fury and hatred. Why wouldn't that witch shut up? He should have strangled her when he had the chance. Why wouldn't she shut up and let him wake up?

His vision was blurry. but if it meant that Zelda would shut up, would finally be silent. He would not 'stop'.

"Take me back, I don't belong here." Link's voice wavered as he spoke, to whoever or whatever could have possibly brought him back to this place, his throat tightening in desperation.

"Take me back. Please....Take me back." His voice began to grow weaker by the second as each word spilled forth, falling like rain upon the white linen sheets and soaking deep into its surface, leaving behind streaks of color to contrast the otherwise monotonous white background.

"Take me back." Thud

'Link, please...!'

"Take me back." Thud

'Link-!'

"Take me back." Thud

'Li-'

"Take me back." Thud

'You-'

"Take me back." Thud

'...'

"Take me back." Thud

"Take me back." Thud

"Take me back." Thud

"Take me back." Thud

Over and over, he brought his head back down against the healing bed, his eyes unseeing, tears unending as they poured down his cheeks. His movements mechanical as he chanted his plea over and over again, uncaring of the blood that poured from the open wound on his forehead to the healing bed and floor below.

He had to go back. He needed to wake up. they were all waiting for him. They had to find Her, She needed them. If he was here, the others could be in danger as well. She could be in danger, he couldn't be here, shouldn't be here, She needed them to protect Her. He had to go back.

Why wasn't he waking up? This was a cruel dream, he hated it. In a time when he was alone, without Her warmth, her protection, So why wasn't he waking up?

He didn't deserve this torture, did he? He didn't want this. So why?

"This isn't real, Take me back...this isn't real...Please take me back..." He repeated over and over, hoping against hope that his would come true.

Why wasn't he waking up from this? He didn't want to do this, not again. never again.

'Link...Please...'

Why was the only voice that answered him hers?

Where were the others? Where was his Beloved? Had he done something wrong? Why wasn't he waking up?

'Link...'

He was sorry if he had. He was sorry and he'll do better. Just let him return to the others.

'Link...'

Just let him return to Her.

"Take me back...This isn't real...Take me back.."

'You must get up, Link...'

"Take me back," He begged, his voice hoarse. "I'd rather die than be away from Her. Just take me back."

'Link...'

“Please just kill me if it means I can be with Her again.”

___

___

He did not know, nor had he even cared to find out how long he had stayed like that before finally accepting that he would not be waking up from this torment. If only to silence the witch's voice as quickly as possible.

The stars had greeted him as he stumbled out of the shrine. The swirling malice consuming the destroyed castle in the distance.

He took it all in with heavy numbness weighing his limbs down.

He hadn't cared to look at the old man, former king and father to the unworthy blood, simply turning and walking the opposite way.

It became all too clear as soon as he made the decision to face his first camp of monsters how weak his body had become, if he had compared it to his former strength.

His mind moved faster than his body. He stumbled when he would have dodged, the darkness of night not helping him. His weapons, so weak and fragile, heavier in his hands than they ever were before.

The way the bokoblins mocked him as they landed blows that he used to easily evade. It made him physically ill to see how weak he now was as he eventually made a run for it, the laughter of the monsters following behind him.

It forced him to accept the inevitable fact that he would need to approach the king and gain his paraglider and return his slate back to working order once more.

A part of him wanted to simply get it over with, to part ways with the king as quickly as possible. yet he abstained from approaching him for a few days, a desperate part of him hoping that this truly was a dream and he would finally wake up.

But the truth of the matter eventually settled around him, after waiting one more day, he reluctantly accepted the reality he had to face and went to announce himself to the king.

Constantly having to remind himself of his need to get his items back was what kept him from lashing out at the princess' voice and her father's constantly prattling.

The shrines upon the plateau were child's play compared to the ones that he would inevitably face again down the line, his focus solely on regaining his items and getting things over with.

He had chosen to focus solely on the shrines first and foremost, knowing he would need to grow stronger to reclaim the Master Sword.

'Follow the hero's duty and bring peace to the people of Hyrule'

He performed his duty efficiently, if only to silence the trapped princess who would speak to him from time to time. if it meant that Zelda wouldn't speak to him, rarely staying in once place as he wandered from shrine to shrine was a simple enough task.

Tackling the divine beasts afterwards was less of a bother in some ways. Yet cruel in others.

He hadn't known how to feel when gazing at the incorporeal forms of his late companions.

He had thought he wouldn't feel anything when he saw them again. Yet a sense of grief echoed through him.

He supposed his former reputation of being a silent knight benefited him during such moments. His late companions would not know of the changes within his heart.

He supposed, given his silence, some of them were easier to deal with more than the others.

Daruk and Urbosa merely took his silence in stride, saying their piece and sending him on his way.

Revali had been a bit different, as if the rito champion discovered something in Link's eyes as he gazed upon him, but said nothing on the matter and did not deny him his power.

Mipha...she had been a bit more difficult to meet once more.

He barely remembered her as it was, and in a way, he felt shame as he listened to her words and felt nothing.

Shame because he would gladly bring ruin to this land, to the domain, her home, if it meant he would return to the only people he trusted.

He could not even apologize for those thoughts, she would not understand why, and the words simply wouldn't come out.

Perhaps that was why he was standing before her statue. Perhaps he was hoping to convey his remorse in some shape or form.

Because in the end, she chose to pilot Vah ruta for his sake, not because Zelda asked her, not because it would bring honor to her people, who loved her so, but because she merely wished to be by his side.

And was he not the same in a way? Would he not fight ganon countless times if it meant a future by (y/n)'s side?

Mipha did not deserve his animosity. He could accept that fact better now.

Yet it still felt so hollow in his heart.

"She...should have chosen someone more worthy of her heart..." Link said quietly, though it seemed so loud in the empty plaza.

Sidon sighed beside him, looking up at his sister's statue with sad eyes. "I'm sure she knows of your thoughts Link...She chose you. And despite that you do not hold her in your heart in the way she wished, she is still someone who has a special place in your heart regardless. That is the greatest gift you can give her now.

Link turned to look at Sidon. "Sidon..."

"My sister is...dead..." The zora prince's voice quieted for a moment before regaining it's normal volume.

"She is dead and whatever possible future she could have hoped to have with you is gone as well. She would now only wish for your continued happiness Link."

Link release a breath, his shoulders sinking as he allowed Sidon's words to wrap around him.

"But you must continue on, Link, my sister would not be proud if her feelings prevented you from staying true to yourself, I cannot imagine any other outcome."

And with that Sidon gave Link a small smile and moved to turn and walk off.

"Wait!" Link called.

Sidon stopped, turning back toward him curiously.

"...Thank you."

It was all he knew to say. He was thankful for everything that was said, Thankful that Sidon did not scoff at his words nor did he brush them aside. Sidon would never know what plagues his heart, but Link supposed he didn't need to know in order to give advice.

Sidon smiled and nodded, returning to his own trek back toward the upper floor fo the domain, leaving Link there staring up at his late friend's statue, her eyes gazing down on him with an echo of compassion that he vaguely recalled.

"I'm sorry I could not return your feelings." He whispered softly, bowing his head slightly.

"But thank you for your kindness..."

Raising his head, he turned around, taking a deep breath of the cold moist air. Allowing the sounds of the waters surrounding the domain to flood his ears. There was no point lingering here anymore, even he could tell that. It was only wasting time if he did.

He began heading towards the entrance, his heart heavy, yet lighter than it had been in a while.

A piercing howl greeted him as he made his way across the bridge. He chuckled, a tired smirk crossing his face.

"So much work to be done..." He sighed, pausing briefly.

He stared forward onto the path before him.

"But I will fulfill my duty, I'll make my way back to everyone. Soon." He mumbled under his breathe.

"Until then..." A nudge against his right hand brought his attention away from his thoughts, looking down, he raised an eyebrow.

"You don't have to wait on the outskirts every time you know. They do know about you." A huff and whine were his answer. He sighed.

"Alright Wolfie, sorry for making you wait."

---

---

"She was real, It was all real." He muttered between clenched teeth, hands gripping at his hair. The trees and flora concealing his curled up form, giving him the illusion of privacy in a time period where there was none.

"How do I wake up? What do I need to do." He whispered, he didn't care who heard, he would kill them even in his weakened state. He didn't need weapons to tear their throats out with his teeth.

All he needed was to wake up, that was all. If he could wake up...It'll be better...right?

He could almost hear Her voice, his fingers twitching as if him reaching out would allow him the blessing of holding Her in his arms once more.

He needed a way to return to them, to Her. He needed Her. No amount of torture or distance could change that fact, anyone who assumed otherwise were fools.

He just needed to go back.

So lost in his despair, he did not notice he was being approached until a wet nose pressed against his cheek.

Startled, he jolted upright, blinking back his tears.

"Wha-!?" He snapped, reaching towards his rusted sword.

Hearing a soft whine he halted his actions. Taking the time to look at the unexpected invader of his space.

"...Wolfie...?" The wolf slowly padded closer, pushing its muzzle underneath his chin gently. Link closed his eyes, burying his face into the familiar fur.

"...Why are you here? How did you find me?" He questioned, voice thick with unshed tears. The wolf yapped quietly, leaning up against his leg affectionately, as if to comfort him.

"...Huh..." Link murmured with confusion. His body sagged from the sudden onslaught of warmth, allowing his body to relax against the beast form of his sword brother. Wolfie licked at his cheeks, prompting Link to let out a few quiet tears, which caused the wolf to let out another whine.

"Tell me it's a dream." He whispered into the fur. Wolfie stilling at his words.

"Tell me this is all a dream. Please. Tell me I'll wake up and we'll be with the others." He whimpered, pressing his face harder against the wolf who whined again.

"Tell me this isn't happening." He muttered weakly, voice breaking.

The wolf whined once again, nudging Link again with its nose.

"You're real aren't you? You found me." He choked out, his throat raw with emotion, causing a fresh wave of tears. But he didn't care. Not at that moment, in that place.

Because he needed Wolfie, he needed something real in a place that no longer felt it.

"Tell me you're real..." He whispered, squeezing his sword brother tightly.

"Please tell me it was all real." That She was real.

There wasn't a reply. But when he looked up, Wolfie was watching him, his eyes trying to convey the words he could not speak.

Link sniffled as he released his grip, allowing himself to sink against Wolfie. Closing his eyes, he rested his forehead against Wolfie's chest.

"It hurts." He admitted to Wolfie who remained silent, waiting for Link to gather himself before beginning to lick along his hairline.

"I don't know how I could possibly do this again."

Link whispered, closing his eyes, letting himself enjoy the feeling of the warm fur on top of his face.

For a moment, he allowed himself to pretend everything was ok, they were all ok. That they would all be able to reunite one day.

That they were as real as he remembered them to be.

"I...you.." He swallowed, absentmindedly stroking wolfie's fur.

"I won't ask for anything more, I swear to you. But please, please tell me the truth. Just this, and I won't ask again. But please," Wolfie looked at him, waiting.

"Please tell me it was real." That they, She, was real.

He asked his question in a whisper, afraid that if he spoke it any louder, the answer would be something he couldn't handle.

He wouldn't ask for anything else. He just needed to know. He needed to know that one answer.

Wolfie barked once in order to gain his attention, and to make it clear, he slowly and deliberately nodded, confirming Wild's query.

Whatever tension that had held his muscles taunt, any worries or fears that wrapped his heart, left him as he allowed the answer wash over him.

It was real. They were real. She was real.

Relief is all he felt at that moment. His tears reflecting the feelings welling inside him.

"Thank you...thank you..." He breathed out, soon sobbing quietly into Woflie's fur, slowly relaxing against the wolf, feeling the exhaustion of the past several days finally weighing on him as he let himself forget for a brief moment of the path he would have to walk once more.

It was all real. She was real. That's all he needed to know. He was fine with everything now. Everything was alright now. She was real and that's all that he needed to keep going.

Everything would be okay now. She was real and that's all that mattered.

---

---

Wolfie whined again as he walked ahead of him. he paused, looking back at him, before proceeding with his journey.

"What am I going to do with you?" He murmured, sighing heavily yet a small smile on his face, walking forward to follow his companion.