chapter 1 - chapter 2

Her eyes opened slowly. It was dark. Very dark. And cold. Her nose and cheeks felt freezing. Her head was pounding painfully, and she remembered the moment she lost consciousness. As much as she wished this was a dream, the pain in her head was far too real to consider that option. she tried to sit up, but the injury on her head became sharp and stinging, forcing her to wince and reach up to feel the gash.

~

He heard a rustling sound, and looked down to see the girl wincing in pain. He was quick to kneel down beside her.

‘Easy, easy. Lie back down’ He gently guided her back down, ‘does it hurt?’

She nodded slightly and looked up at him. Even in the darkness he could see her eyes so clearly.

They looked at each other for a little longer than they should have. It wasn’t until she sheepishly looked away that he realised.

This was so much more awkward than it should have been.

‘Um…’ he began, trying to busy himself with finding a healing potion in his pack, one which she hadn’t been able to take unconscious, ‘what’s your name?’

‘…Y/n…um… What’s yours?’ Her voice sounded so lovely. His lips quirked up slightly at the corners. Y/n. What a strange name - not to say it wasn’t beautiful, but it was certainly one he had never come across.

‘Link. But, I suppose I should introduce myself as Wars.’ He said somewhat sheepishly.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, it’s quite confusing, but I can try to explain it-’ his hand finally grasped the potion he was after, ‘-after you take this’

~

Her eyes grew wide in shock, confusion, and fear.

‘what is that?’

Link? Wars? (What kind of a name is Wars? She was really quite confused. It was a little cringe right? Link was better, she decided) immediately looked confused.

‘What? You don’t know what a red potion is?’

‘Potion?!’ Y/n quickly caught on to the word, A potion?! Was he being genuine? If it wasn’t for the growing pain in her head she would have tried to force herself to wake up (again).

‘What?’ Link began, ‘I don’t understand’

‘Potions don’t exist?! And that thing is glowing red. How on earth is-…’ she stopped. And thought over what she just said. How on earth. But after remembering what she had seen earlier, and the very real injury those things had given her, she began to piece together the very real fact that this may not be earth. This may not even be the same universe, for all she knew.

~ He watched her stop herself, her face morphing from confusion, to realisation, to complete dread and panic.

‘Holy shit. Oh my God. Oh my god. This can’t be happening.’ She muttered to herself, clutching her head in both hands now. Her rising stress was not going to be good for her physical health, something Wars knew from his vast experience in warfare.

‘It’s okay, take a deep breath’ He tried to calm her down, but her breathing started to quicken.

She looked up at him, and her eyes widened yet again.

‘Oh God’ she was muttering to herself again.

‘What was that? Why did you just..?’

‘Your ears are like… pointy. Sorry, I didn’t mean it in a bad way I just, I don’t know.’

Why was she so shocked by his ears? All Hylians had pointed ears. When he tried to get closer to calm her down, he noticed why she was so shocked, because he had the same reaction to her ears. They were small and rounded. He’d never seen someone with ears that shape before. The feelings she was experiencing slowly started to diffuse into him as well. He realised that this was something much larger than the unification of the Chain. This was something beyond their known world. The reoccurring dreams returned to the front of his mind, and added to his confusion.

~

Time was a light sleeper. It didn’t take him long to realise that the girl had woken up, and very soon after that he became acutely aware that the interaction between her and Wars was spiralling a bit out of control.

‘-Oh my god oh my god-‘ the girl was chanting as she clutched her head in pain, whilst Wars was stammering out broken sentences trying to comfort her in his own confusion.

‘Wait, what am I wearing?! Did someone change my clothes while I was asleep?’ The girl noticed the green tunic which the group had decided to put over her whilst she was unconscious, with her previous outfit causing some of the boys’ cheeks to grow increasingly red from the amount of skin that was showing. ‘NO! Well, yes-no! No!’ That was enough to make time quickly jump up from his bed roll.

‘Wars, why don’t you wake up Hyrule. His magic could prove useful right now’

‘Uhh, yeah, okay’ Wars raced off to Hyrule’s bed roll. The girl, still clutching her head, eyed Time warily, scanning his face and probably taking note of his markings.

‘my name is Time. I am also called link. All of my companions share the same name, so we’ve adopted nicknames.’ Her mouth was open in confused silence. He chose to continue.

‘A red potion is designed for healing. It will help to rid of that gash on your head.’ She just blinked some more. He took a sip himself, to prove that it was safe, and urged the girl to drink, which she cautiously agreed to, the pain in her head increasing by the second.

At that moment, a groggy Hyrule arrived followed by Wars, greeting the girl softly and using his magic to dull the pain. Whilst he had already treated the wound once they had gotten to safety, the pain had to be treated over time.

‘I will explain everything to you in the morning, but for now, you need rest.’ Time instructed softly, getting up and walking towards Wars, who lingered nearby.

‘I think it is time for you to rest as well.’ Wars started to protest, but a stern look from Time stopped him in his tracks. ‘If you want to repair the first impression you just made in front of her, then sleep is the best start.

Wars reluctantly shuffled to his bed roll, regrettably far away from y/n, and closed his eyes. It didn’t take him long to fall asleep, and it took even less time for him to be abruptly woken up.

It was over. Wild could hardly believe it.

No...

That's not true...

Wild knew deep down that this quest wouldn't last forever. It was only a matter of time.

The Shadow had succeeded in resurrecting the demon king Demise, and against all odds, the Chain succeeded in defeating him. They were able to circumvent an apocalypse that would have made the aftermath of the calamity look like child's play.

The aftermath of the battle came and went faster than any of them were truly prepared for. And Hylia congratulated them...

Then she told them that it was time for them to return to their own time. Whether out of pity, or something else, she told them as the portals appeared, that they would not be forced into their own time for a few hours, just enough time to say their goodbyes.

And here they were, all nine of them sat silently around the campfire, eating a meal Wild prepared for them. For the last time.

No one made any move to head to the portal. Wild knew why.

Like him, no one was ready for it to end so quickly. No one was ready to say goodbye. This ragtag group of heroes from across time, became a family like no other. There was no replacement for what they had here and now.

No one spoke as they ate, too afraid to say anything, too afraid that their own words would somehow cause what little time they had left, to shrink away to nothing.

Wild knew, somehow, deep down that it had to be him to make the first move.

He lowered his spoon to the bowl, before moving and placing it on the ground next to him. It hardly made a sound, even with the silence, but the action alone made everyone's eyes jolt up to stare at him, mixtures of shock, horror and sadness across everyone's faces.

Wild stood up. He saw that just from this alone, Twilight flinched, as if he was struck. Wild felt a deep, deep sadness.

It wasn't the first time saying goodbye for him, he had to once before to Wolfie right before he left to face Calamity Ganon.

It wasn't any easier for him, but he knew it still had to be done.

He was ready to say goodbye.

He walked slowly around the camp, as he did, he laid a hand silently on everyone as he passed.

Legend kept completely rigid, as if acting it wasn't happening.

Four raised a hand to cover his own as it rested on his shoulder briefly.

Hyrule leaned into the touch, ever so slightly, not wanting it to go away.

Wind give a sniffle as he fought to not cry, all the way giving Wild the bravest smile he could.

Wars gave him a nod, a salute, and Wild could see past that stone face, that he too was trying to not lose it.

Time stood up, and stopped right in front of Wild, he placed a hand on Wild's shoulder. He looked him up and down once, before giving him a small smile, clearly proud of the man that stood before him. It took a lot for Wild to not burst into tears, instead he gave a bright grin.

Sky's smile was fragile at best, but he gave him a nod and saluted him as well.

Twilight jerked away from his touch, and the action made Wild pause.

Twilight stood in front of him, his teeth gritted in frustration and anger, his fists clenched so tight that Wild knew that his nails must be nearly cutting into his palms.

"You think this is alright?! That you can just up and leave?"

The word came out of Twilight's mouth. The tone was filled with anger, sadness, and desperation.

"Pup."

Time spoke out, partly out of shock, but also as a warning.

Twilight looked at his own mentor and gave a harsh glare.

"No, you shut up. Time I'm..."

Twilight was clearly fighting to overpower his own tears with that of his anger. He turned back and glared at Wild, at his own protege.

"What gives you the right to just decide this? To be the one to just walk away first?"

Wild watched Twilight. He could see it all clearly. Those eyes that shown with such anger, and frustrations, it was truly masking the sadness, and the hurt underneath.

Time moved forward, in an attempt to gain control of the situation.

Wild held up a hand to stop him.

One look to Time, was all it took for the man to back down.

This wasn't a problem no one else here could solve, this was just for Wild and Twilight.

Wild kept his eyes on Twilight, and slowly moved forward, closer to him. He raised a hand and slowly moved to place it against his mentor's cheek. Twilight couldn't hold back a flinch, not fully prepared to this small and gentle action.

Wild's didn't pull away, he just silently kept his gaze focused on Twilight's own eyes. His mentor's glare slowly eroded away. The anger was washed away with just a surge of guilt, of sadness, and of mourning.

Wild moved his hand to rest against the back of Twilight's neck, and slowly guided the man's head lower, until his forehead rested against Wild's own. Wild closed his eyes and for a moment, no sounds were heard except Twilight's own ragged breathing and barely controlled sobs.

Slowly, Wild opened his eyes and looked up to Twilight's own tearfilled eyes.

"Please don't go..."

The words escaped Twilight's lips, they were barely audible. Wild gave a sad smile.

"I have to..."

Twilight couldn't stop the sob from escaping as he inhaled shakily.

"Why... Why does it have to be you?"

Wild let out the smallest of laughs.

"Would you rather it be someone else?"

The question made Twilight immediately flush with shame.

"I-I didn't mean...."

"I know you didn't... It's okay Twi..."

"Aren't you sad?"

Wild kept his gaze up at his mentor.

"Of course I'm sad, but I'm doing this, because I'm ready to do it... You made me ready."

The look of apprehension and confusion etched into Twilight's face and Wild gave him a fragile grin.

"You made me strong. You gave me the strength I needed to be ready for this when the time came."

Twilight sniffled lightly and whispered softly.

"I'm not strong enough for this. Not again..."

"You are... You always were..."

Wild then moved wrap his arms around Twilight's shoulders, pulling him into a hug. This felt familiar, and Wild knew what to say.

"You're my best friend in this whole you, I want you to know that."

Twilight's own arms wrapped around him in a tight hug.

After a while, Twilight slowly relented his hold and pulled away. He was crying, but held a smile, Wild smiled back.

"I'll make you proud."

Twilight let out a laugh that was rough and thick with emotion.

"I don't think I could be any more proud of you Cub."

Wild knew it was time. Slowly he moved away from Twilight. He looked away and saw that everyone was also standing. All at once, they moved to embrace Wild. Wild, through his own tearfilled eyes, welcomed the hold. When it was finished, he turned and made his way to the portal. He gave once last look at his friends, his brothers, his family.

"I love you all."

Then, he stepped through.

----

He saw him.

Standing there with 7 others.

He saw the pelt that draped across him, and an initial rage blossomed within. He knew that pelt. He could recognize it over any other simple wolf pelt. Thinking he was a hunter, a killer who killed his first friend. A companion that knew him better than anyone else. He wanted to hurt this man, to take from what what he took from his best friend in this entire world.

Then he saw the mark on his forehead. It was the same mark, he knew it. He recalled tracing that mark on the wolf's head when they would be relaxing in a field.

And he saw the eyes. He recognized those eyes, but he also knew that they weren't the same eyes. Those eyes were older, while these were younger. Those eyes held fondness and care, while these held no recognition.

It was bittersweet.

One of the others, a man with one working eye stepped forward.

"Greetings. We're were hoping for directions out of this forest. We are travellers and are hoping to find a town nearby."

The man spoke and he could immediately hear the lie. He taught himself to spot lies after the many attempts on his own life. These were not simple travellers.

All the while, he never took his eyes off the man with the wolf pelt. It must have come across strange, because the one eyed man moved subtly to ensure he stood between the two of them, in a cautionary way.

"What's your name?"

The words left his lips before he even realized he himself was speaking. The question seemed to make most of the group tense up.

Once more, it was the one eyed man who spoke, his tone polite but also unyielding.

"We're not in the habit of giving our names freely. Like I said, we're simply..."

But before the man could finish, it was the man in the pelt that spoke.

"Twilight."

He said, having the only one to realize that the question wasn't meant for all of them, but him and him alone.

"My name is Twilight."

The one eyed man turned quickly and briefly gave a look of reproach to Twilight, but neither Twilight nor himself paid it any mind.

"What's your name?"

Twilight asked him in return.

He could never tell a lie to the wolf. Out of everyone in all of Hyrule, the wolf was the only one he swore to always be truthful to. Even now, he couldn't imagine breaking that silent oath he made.

Just a random idea that popped into my head: What if I came home from a Zelda convention... and somehow ended up in Hyrule, meeting the Chain!? 👀

I have absolutely no idea why I wrote this, but the idea wouldn't leave my brain. 😭 It's basically a little self-insert/isekai concept. Let me know if you'd actually read this as a full story on here and Ao3, should I continue this?

⚠️ Content Warning: Blood, injuries, falling, angst.

I always had the belief that if you write Hylia and she does something that Sun would never do then it feels like she's not really Hylia. And I'm not saying that the people that interprets her as obsessive and possesive is wrong, I actually enjoy too much the cosmic horror that comes from those stories.

BUT imagine this. It's a fake Hylia the Links are talking to. Hylia is somehow trapped as Zelda (or trapped somewhere else) and she's trying to aid her heroes but another entity is taking her place. The Links try to pray to her, talk to her and that fake Hylia is the one answering, she's the one that's obsessive and possessive, she's the one that treats the heroes like subordinates and not like someone to cherish, she's the one that the Links hate and can't understand.