#lu lore

Four isn’t broken. Four is not broken. He’s not. Four is a little…bent…but he is not broken. And he hates having to repeat it. I am not broken. Red is not broken. Green is not broken. Blue is not broken. Vio is not broken. They are not broken, and I am not broken. Everyday he repeats it in his head, like he’s convincing himself. In his Hyrule—he avoids towns. Everybody looks at him like he’s crazy. He is not crazy. He’s not. But nobody listens. His father—though he says he thinks Four is perfect how he is—even seems to prefer how he was before. Sure, Four forgets he’s one person and talks to the colours out loud, but that doesn’t make him crazy or broken. And he thought nobody would ever understand him. He thought he was the only one until he heard something on watch one night. He and Legend were on watch together, when he heard Legend talking. To himself. “Myth, please shut up, you’re giving us a headache.” It was quiet, but Four heard it. Myth? Interesting. ‘Us’? “Who’s Myth?” Legend jolted, turning to Four. Before Four could say anything else, Legend blurted out a familiar sentence. “I’m not crazy!” “I’m not…”Legend mumbled, looking away. “I’m not broken. Not crazy.” …oh. “I know,”Four mumbled softly, walking closer. “I know you’re not.” Four sat down next to Legend gently. “Trust me, I know. Do you mind if I ask something?” “...what is it?” “Have you ever…become multiple people?” A silence. A long silence, before Legend nodded. “Sixth adventure. Split into three; Green, Red and Blue. But…they used nicknames. Blue is Story, Green is Lore, Red is Myth. I can still split…I have to separate one of my necklaces though.”Then he paused, and looked at Four. “Why?” “I’m going to tell you a secret.”Four lowered his voice. “The four sword splits me into, well, four. Their names are Red, Green, Blue and Vio.” “Do you..?” “Hear them?”When Four got a nod, he nodded in return. “Yeah. All the time.” “And people…don’t call you crazy?” Four couldn’t help it and let out a loud laugh. “Oh, they think I’m insane. But I don’t let it get to me anymore.” “Oh..” “When people told me I was…broken…for talking to the colours out loud, I told them I was just bent. Because I know I’m not quite right, but I’m not broken. And neither are you.” “...Four?” “Hm?” “Can I see the colours?”Legend looked at him, head tilted. It’s only the veteran…and he’s experienced splitting before, I think it’s safe. Aw, can you guys really resist that puppy look?? …sigh. Green, whatcha think? I think it’s time we introduce ourselves to the vet “They said okay.”Four smiled, grabbing his sword. Wait. We should ask for the same in return. “Ah…yeah. Legend?” “Mhm?” “Can you split too?” “Oh..”Legend paused, thinking for a few minutes before nodding. “Yeah. Fair’s fair.” The vet untucked a necklace with three charms on it. The charms were Red, Blue and Green. Legend unhooked the charms from each other as Four lifted his blade up. In a large flash of the light, the two were replaced. Vio blinked faer eyes open, looking at the other three. “Hello.”Vio waved. “Oh! Hi! You’re…an extra colour?”Story—was that his name?—tilted his head. “Not extra!”Red piped up, swinging her arm around Vio. “So! Who’s who?” “Uh, I’m Lore.”Lore spoke up, bright green eyes barely visible under even brighter green hair. “Story!”Story smiled, his bright blue eyes shining. “..Myth.”Myth crossed his arms, dark red eyes staring at the four. “Lore’s the leader type, Story’s the childish one, I’m the fighting one.” “Oh!”Green blinked. “Well—you know our names. Um. I’m the courage and confidence! Vio’s the brains, Blue’s the brawn, Red’s the heart, in watered-down terms. We’re more…complicated…than that, but it’s the basics.” “Why’s Purple exist?” “Vio.”Vio stated bluntly, crossing faer arms. “And it’s the four sword—it wouldn’t be called that if it only split Four into three.” “Oh. I guess that makes sense.”Story shrugged. “Umm…pronoun check?” The colours weren’t…expecting to be asked. “Uh. Blue uses He/Him, Green uses They/Them, Vi uses Fae/Faer, and I use She/Her!”Red smiled. “You?” “We all use

A heavy sigh escaped Link as he lowered his sword for the final time. That... was that. He finally defeated all four Shadow Links... His gaze fell to the ring in his hand. Each one he had defeated had held a ring out to him before they collapsed. One with a ruby, one with an emerald, one with a sapphire and one with an amethyst. When the last Shadow Link... the one in purple, had breathed its (his?) last breath... the rings had combined. Now it was a single silver band with words inscribed that he couldn't read and the four colored gems surrounded a diamond. He felt no protection magic on the ring... so what had been so important to them about the rings that they gave them to him and they formed into this? Looking at the four collapsed and bloody forms, he knew he'd never know.

That was another thing that bothered him... He thought they were just magical doppelgangers for him to fight, but... With the adrenaline gone, it was obvious they were different from him. Not only that, but their bodies remained instead of vanishing like all the other monsters he had come across in this tower of chaos... and the blood dripping from his sword was all too real, the coppery scent making his mind reel and his stomach churn with disgust.

And something else... as he thought about it. The way they smiled at him as he dealt the final blow, as if each one was grateful in their own way. Grateful for him killing them. It made him feel sick and confused.

A jolt ran through Link as he heard footsteps and a stuttering gasp. He gripped his sword tightly, whirling to face the sound. Standing in the doorway was a boy with long blonde hair and two different colored eyes. One blue and the other white. He couldn't have been more than six years older than Link was now.

"Red...?" His voice wavered softly. He looked around, disbelief on his face and something else in his eyes. "Blue.... Vio... Green..." He didn't even seem to realize Link was there as he stumbled over to the collapsed forms.

Link didn't know what to say. Should he apologize? But it was self defense, right...? And they were monsters... weren't they?

His thoughts were immediately halted when he heard an enraged whisper.

"You..." His attention went back to the boy who was standing now, glaring at him. Link felt paralyzed by the anger, the hurt, the sadness in his gaze.

"You BASTARD!" And Link instantly had to raise his sword as another one crashed into it. His strength was already whittled down from all his previous fights and this man, whoever he was, fought like a demon.

His patterns, confusing.

His strength, overwhelming.

His speed, incomprehensible.

It was a wonder Link wasn't already dead. The boy was holding back, despite his anger, his hurt, his sadness. Link just wished he knew why he was feeling those. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see the bodies of the Shadows. They had been moved so they weren't in the way of this fight which almost baffled him.

Had he truly been so close to those monsters...? This boy... was he not a normal Hylian just like Link? What connection could he possible have to...

His mind went to the rings he had seen the four wearing, the ones they had given to him, how they had combined into one... one with a diamond and it felt like his heart plunged into ice. Had... had they been together...? Had... had he killed this boy's lovers...? He wanted to ask, wanted to apologize, but it was clear the other wouldn't listen to him. He was too blinded by his own emotions, determined to hurt the one who had taken away those he cared about, for whatever reason.

Link fell on his back with a pained grunt before he froze at the tip of the blade barely an inch away from his throat. He hesitantly looked up at the owner of the blade, seeing rage, pain and that unidentifiable emotion in his tear filled gaze. For a moment, he was afraid he'd push the blade home and he felt too exhausted to stop him. Then the older male shuddered and withdrew his sword.

"Leave." Despite his tears, his voice was steady. "You won your challenge. Now go away." He dropped his sword and turned away from him, practically dragging his feet as he made his way over to the four bodies. Over his own rapid heartbeat, Link could hear the soft, pain filled sobs and he shuddered, feeling his eyes burn. Slowly and painfully he managed to push himself to his feet, steadying himself with his sword before sheathing it and limping over to the man.

"E-excuse me..."

"I told you to leave." Link winced at the sharpness besides the ache in his voice.

"I know... b-but I think... they wanted you to have this..." And he held out the ring. The boy's gaze fell on it and his eyes widened as more tears spilled down his cheeks. He reached out with a shaky hand and Link gently set the ring in the palm of it.

"I'm sure it's not worth anything..." He mumbled. "But I'm sorry." He stepped away from him and turned to leave, hearing renewed sobs and mumbled words that were most likely curses.

Link didn't recognize that new, unidentifiable emotion in the teen's eyes until he experienced it himself years later.