#lu myth

  “Legend!"  

  The shout makes them all spin around, surprised and maybe just a bit confused. It’s none of their group that says it, it’s not even a voice they know. In fact, the eight of them all look at each other curiously to find out if maybe someone was goofing around, leaving Legend the only one not staring incredulously and instead standing alone at the back of their group. 

  A snort catches their attention, making them look to their vet as he stops, crosses his arms and smirks at something on the road. When they follow his gaze, it’s to see the crowd of village people around them moving, ducking aside to let through- 

  Holy Hylia that guy is green!  

In the most literal sense, the guy in front of them is green: green hair, green clothes, green cap and green eyes as he drags another person behind him who- seriously? This other one is blue! 

  “Legend!” the green person calls out, waving the hand not clutching the tunic of his friend and pulling the both of them through the crowd towards the group of heroes, “Legend! It is you!” 

  “It’s me.” The vet chuckles, stepping forwards and making the crowd part a fair bit more as they watch at the very...colorful trio as the green person all but throws himself at Legend. 

  Rather than dropping him, as Legend will and has done to them, the vet catches the other with a rolling chuckle and a tight squeeze before releasing him, only to be immediately whisked off his feet by the blue figure, who spins the vet around in a circle with a hearty laugh that the other two echo. 

  “I think I’m having a fever dream.” Warriors murmurs to the group as a whole. “The color coding, that’s one thing, but is Legend smiling?” 

  He is, and it’s strange, it makes them all pause because it’s a wide smile with glinting eyes and hearty laughter as the vet clutches hold of the shoulders of the blue figure, clinging on tight as the other continues to hold him up in the air. “What are the both of you doing here!” 

 “We were about to ask you the same!” Greenie chuckles, righting his cap and catching Legend’s from where it’s flown to the ground.  

  A few village-folk around them laugh, but they give the boys some space as the continue on their way to complete their various tasks. Still, to make things easier, the rest of the heroes move in closer, if only to take up less space on the road. 

  Legend moves to straighten, only to frown as he finds he’s still being hefted in the air, Bluey beaming up at him adoringly in an expression that would be quite sweet if it wasn’t so confusing. “Gonna let me down, Myth?”  

  “Nope.” Comes the warm response. 

  Their vet rolls his eyes, but grins. “Figures. Can I at least sit on your shoulders? I-” and then the vet is being dropped slightly and scrabbling to catch ahold of something. A few of their number move to catch or help him, but Bluey is then slinging the other in his arms, almost cradling the vet with a shit faced grin that is oddly familiar to all of them.  

  “I missed holding you.” 

  Well, that’s a bit odd. 

  Legend doesn’t seem to think so though, because he just moves his arms to sling them around the other’s neck like this is normal. “Somethings never change, ya overgrown stump.” 

  The strangers just chuckle, the blue one shifting slightly to be more comfortable as the green one reaches over to put the vet’s cap back in its place. 

  Time, very pointedly, clears his throat, thus catching the attention of all. “Legend, as glad as we all are to see you with...” he hesitates a moment, “friends,” he settles on at last, “could you explain what’s going on.” Which, yes please, they’d all appreciate that. Those of them who aren’t staring are smiling, and Four at least seems a bit lost as he stares from one to another of the trio with wide eyes and an open mouth, hands fluttering in silent motions as if he means to speak, but doesn’t yet have the words. 

  The green one cocks a brow, leaning back on his feet and appraising the heroes with a keen eye and a smirk that rather reminds many of them of Warriors. “Hero types?” 

  “Yep.” 

  “Past, future, or present?” Bluey hums, resting his chin on the top of Legend’s head comfortably. The vet doesn’t even shake him off or slap him, just smirks and rolls his eyes. 

  “The first two.” 

  “You seem unsurprised.” Twilight observes, glancing from one to another of what is quickly becoming apparent is a set of friends, not just two oddballs who know their vet. 

  The green stranger’s smirk widens, gaze darting to the vet and then back at them in an easy way. “Legend has a habit of collecting your type, and other types too. Heroes of the past?”  

  “Check.” Blue snorts. 

  “Rag-tag adventurers?” 

  “Check.” 

  “Crazy, selfish females who try and kill him?” 

  “Count is at three currently.” Blue drones, then pauses and glances down at Legend. “Unless you collected more recently?" 

  The vet frowns, and then actually takes a moment to count on one hand, much to both the shock and humor of a few of them. There’s a furrow in pink brows, a twitching of fingers and the glinting of multi-metaled rings as Legend counts a couple of times before nodding. “No, it’s four. Ghanti, Irene, Nayru and Hilda.” 

  Warriors starts. “Nayru, as in, the goddess?” The poor captain looks quite confused, but also vaguely concerned. He never likes having strangers mingle with his brothers, not after the incident in the Champion’s Hyrule where they first met the Yiga, and these strangers are not only mingling, they’re so much up in Legend’s space there isn’t room for Hylia! And yet, Legend seems to have no complaints, just (literally) hanging out in the blue stranger’s arms and acting like this is normal for him. 

  Honestly though, it’s Legend, anything could be normal for him and they would likely believe it. 

  “The oracle.” The three chorus at once. “She and Din are both quite near and dear to our Legend,” the green one explains, chuckling. “I’d ask how you didn’t know, but considering how much he loves talking about himself...” Regardless of how unfamiliar the two parties are with each other they are still able to share a laugh at that. Legend doesn’t talk much about himself or his adventures, just his items and sometimes skills, and knowing that that’s true with all people and the vet wasn’t just shutting them out specifically is quite relieving. 

  Time’s chuckle dies first, the man’s face softening slightly as he stares at their vet, likely observing how relaxed and easy he is about what’s happening and taking that as a sign that they can let down their guard a bit too. His shoulders ease slightly, stare less harsh as it turns back to the strangers. “Again, may I ask who you two are?” 

  A glance is shared, a smile, Legend smirks as the other two stare at each other over his head. Blue and green eyes turn to the heroes with nearly matching smiles.  

  “I’m Link.” Greenie smirks. 

  “I’m Link.” Bluey chuckles. 

  “Oh, for the love of-” 

  A short while later, seated in an inns bar-room with the group of them (the two new Links included) gathered around a table, answers are finally given. 

  “They’re Links, like I am.” Legend explains from where he’s been pulled against the blue Link’s side. “There’s more than a few of us running around in this time, it’s a popular name after all. Incidentally, four of the many of us are also heroes, albeit in our own rights and with different adventures under our belts.” 

  Blue Link nods. “Catalia Revelution.” He offers, lifting his tankard. 

  “Recovering the lost Holodrum Royals.” Green Link gives his two rupees. 

  Their vet chuckles. “And I’ve had a few myself.” Naturally, there are a few snorts at that. The nickname ‘veteran’ doesn’t come from nothing after all. “We all ended up in or near Hytopia around the same time and got roped into saving the princess there from a curse,” Legend pauses to sip his own drink with a smile dancing in his eyes as he looks over at the Chain, “best adventure in my life so far, practically a vacation!” 

  “Says the guy who got be carried for most of it!” Green Link teases, jabbing the vet’s ribs with his elbow. “I swear, Blossom, you got the easy job betwixt us!” 

  Outrage, although playful, sparks in violet eyes as the vet turns to his friend. “I had to do all the planning and strategy, you git! Besides, I would have walked if you guys let me!” 

  Blue snorts into his drink. “On a broken leg? I think not.” 

  Before they can properly descend into a bicker, as it seems they might, Time interrupts smoothly, catching the vet’s attention easily. “You said four heroes, but there’s only three of you here, where is the other one?” 

  “Yeah,” Four chimes, glancing from one to another, “is there a purple one of you hiding somewhere?” 

  The whole table stares at their smithy until the Blue Link sniggers, looking down to Legend. “Four Sword Hero?  

  A nod. “Yep. Not the one you’re thinking though, he’s on our side.” 

  Holy Hylia, what now? “Is there another one of us?” Four starts, and then, “I mean: how many heroes have wielded my sword?” 

  Glances are exchanged, faces twisting as the trio seem to silently debate, expressions becoming fiercer and more confusing by the moment until two of them are blinking in confusion and Legend is crossing his arms and glaring at the wall above Time’s head. “End of discussion.” 

  “Twit,” the green Link huffs. 

  “What the heck was that?” Wind asks, curbing his language in the presence of their guests, much to the relief of the older heroes. 

  Blue Link smiles in a friendly and maybe slightly condescending manner. “Brainiac here has this thing he can do where we can hear each other’s thoughts,” he jabs a thumb the vet's way, “it’s one of his abilities apparently, he learned it from his sister.” 

  First friends and then a sister, do they even really know Legend? What else has he been hiding from them, and also, excuse the what? A mental link? Has the vet been able to do that this whole time? Gazes trail back to their ornery vet, staring and waiting until he eventually caves. “Doesn’t work with lots of people, it gives me a migraine, but yes. I can mentally link minds for short periods where needed. Thought it would be weird to bring up though and we haven’t needed it yet.” 

  “You think you know a guy.” Warriors whistles low and long. “How much else are you hiding, vet?” 

  Green Link chortles into his tankard. “How much do you know?” 

  And that’s where Legend cuts them off. “Ballad, heaven help you if you spill my secrets, because I will not hesitate to return the favor.” 

  There’s a returning smirk and the green one (Ballad?) moves to speak only to be cut off by the blue hero. “Now, now, you two,” a heavy hand thumps down on Legend’s shoulder as eyes the same color as the captain’s own fix the one they're calling Ballad, “enough, okay? Seriously, you two are acting like toddlers right now, and while I get that for Leg-” 

  “Hey!” 

  “Ballad, you’re of age, we should be setting a good example for our baby brother.” 

  The vet’s face is nearly as red as his tunic as he glares and then grumbles. “Everywhere I go, just have to be the baby, huh? Pities sakes, I’m ditching you lot for good and just hanging with the other Chain of Links, at least there I get some respect!” 

  Which won’t likely last long if the way Twilight is smirking says anything. The rancher leans in conspiratorially, glancing from one to the other of the two new Links. “How old is he, by the way? We’ve asked, but he won’t tell us.” 

  The blue one cracks a smile, it’s something like Time’s, complete with a jagged scar across his face that makes it look a bit twisted and might throw off someone not accustomed to seeing suffering. “Considering he and his sister are twins, we believe he’s about seventeen.” 

  “Wait, what?” The vet spins to look at his friend. “Are you sure?” 

  Hyrule frowns. “Wait, do you not know, vet?” 

  A shake of the head, a bit hurried, Legend’s eyes wide as they stare at his friend. “No? I lost track over the years. You’re sure, Myth? I could’ve sworn I was at least twenty by now?” 

  “That’s the arthritis talking.” The other teases with a grin. “But I’m sure. We just came back from visiting your sister and checking on the kingdom, unless your birthday’s passed since then, you’re seventeen.” 

  “Practically a toddler.” Ballad chuckles, ruffling the vet’s hair and earning a smack for his troubles. “Baby, baby boy. Tiny baby bunny boy.” 

  There’s another smack, and this time Legend means it. 

  Hyrule stares, voice practically a whisper. “I’m older than you?” 

  The words prompt a giggle from Wild. “I’m older than Legend!” 

  “You’re a hundred-seventeen,” the vet returns with a huff, “you’re older than everybody!” 

  “I’m older than you,” Hyrule repeats, “I’m a whole year older than you and you’re my mentor!” 

  “And I was eleven for twenty years,” Time chuckles into his own tankard, “ages are relative, vet, don’t get too worried about it.” 

  Like always, that makes them all stop a moment and Myth (assuming that is the Blue Link’s name) whistles lowly. “Whew, how’d that happen? Time loop?” 

  “More or less.” 

  “You have my condolences, those suck.” 

  “Tell me about it.” Legend huffs. “Time travel itself is just a pain.” Another glance is shared between the new Links, one that’s sad and knowing and makes Legend scowl. “Stop looking at each other like worried momma cuckoos, you two,” he grumbles, “I can still see you.” 

  “Well, with all that... everything,” the captain clears his throat pointedly, “I think introductions might be in order before we continue, we’re-” 

  “Links.” Ballad smirks, smile a near copy of the scarfed warrior’s own, although set in a face close to identical to Legend’s. It’s an odd combination, but honestly weird is to be expected at this point. “We kind of gathered. Hard to miss it with the heroes of Time, Skies and Four here. You’d be the hero of Warriors, yes?” 

  And he blinks, he stares, Warriors just fumbles for a moment before staring harder, shoulders stiffening slightly. “How would you know that?” 

  Three voices rise in different tones, one a grumble, one fond and one laughing. “Ravio.” 

  “Honestly,” Ballad chuckles, “he goes on about you quite a bit, Mister Captain Hero Sir,” -the name earns an immediate wince- “he really loves sharing about his own adventures.” 

  Myth nods, then turns to Four with that friendly smile from before. “Ravio is our purple, since you asked. He’s not the fourth Link, that’s Legend’s second cousin or something, but he completes our ‘set’ if you will.” 

  The smithy nods, looking quite out of his depth as he looks from one to another of the trio. “So, you guys are just heroes, not- you’re not-” 

  “Not split,” Myth answers gently, “more brought together by chance, honestly. We’re brothers by bond and not blood, not spirit or soul either.” Royal blue flitters over them knowingly. “We were brought together by fate and chose to stay together.” 

  “When this one’s wanderlust lets him stick around,” Ballad motions to the vet, “Leg has a habit of wandering off all the time if someone doesn’t keep an eye on him. Disappeared right off the face of the earth one day, we’ve been looking for him ever since.” 

  Ah! So that was what their vet had been up to before he got portalled off to meet their group, they had wondered. As much is said and the new Links nod in that knowing way that proves them to be heroes, simply chuckling softly and asking each other ‘what else’ as if such things are quite normal. Which, for heroes, it is. 

  “Anyways,” Sky smiles at them all in a friendly way. “I’m Sky, I know you guys already said you knew, but I thought I should say so anyway.” 

  The two nod, and Myth bows his head politely. “An honor, your highness.” 

  The incredulous expression that takes over the Chosen One’s face makes a few of them chuckle, Legend quickly coming in with an explanation. “You’re considered the first king of Hyrule, he’s just being a suck up.” 

  “It’s called manners,” Myth hums, ruffling Legend’s hair fondly. “I’ll teach you about them some day.” That earns more sniggers and laughter, Wind ‘ooooooo’ing in a way that earns a glare but the others simply ignore.  

  “I’m Time,” the old man offers his hand, and it’s taken by first one than another, “a pleasure to meet you boys.” 

  “The pleasure is all ours,” and there’s that Warriors-esque smile again. “I’m Link, but as that’s something we all hold in common; you can call me Ballad.” 

  “A Hero of Ballads?” Wind asks eagerly. 

  Green hair swishes slightly as the other laughs. “No, that’s another guy, we call him Cadance,” he pauses, “pretty sure he's our successor? I don’t remember, but he isn’t born yet.”  

  “Then how do you know about him?” Wind presses, head cocking and face screwing up in that cute frown-pout he does when he’s thinking really hard. 

  “Time travel.” Ballad sighs, and then continues his previous explanation, “I’m called Ballad because of all the songs they sing of my adventures back at home. It’s the same reason we call this one Legend,” he nods towards the vet who at this point is just trying to focus on his drink, apparently either worn out or simply done with the conversation, “he’s got stories told across the continent and beyond about his travels and heroics. As for Myth, he’s called that for his near mythical strength.” 

  The blue hero chuckles, rolling his eyes. “It’s for feats of myth, you dolt.” It’s said fondly though, none of the vet’s vitriol to it and rather cool and calm instead. “Our names are something we were given; I imagine in a similar manner as you all gained yours. If you’ll allow me, I’m supposing that you, sir, are the Hero of Four? Or Minish, if that is your preferred title?” 

  “Both work fine,” the smithy answers evenly, “I go by Four though, I like it better honestly.”  

  A nod. “Understandable.” 

  “I’m Wind.” The sailor introduces, doing as Time did and also reaching out to shake hands, even though he has to stand to do so. Both the new heroes accept the handshake though, smiling politely (or charmingly in Ballad’s case) before they finish, the blue one commenting on the sailor’s strength before he does and earning a bright smile in return. 

  “Twilight.” The rancher offers, and he too shakes hands, which also earns appreciative comments about his strength (both he and Myth look a little pained when they let go).  

  “I’m Wild.” The champion introduces next. 

  “You look it.” Myth laughs, “did a fairy raise you, kid?” 

  “No.” A feral smirk touches scarred lips. “A wolf did.” There are groans and laughs and some raised brows at that, but it’s just added to the list of odd things said today that they will need to address later. 

  Hyrule goes next, nodding briefly but not offering his hand and instead flashing a brief smile. “I’m Hyrule. Legend is my mentor.” There’s an odd emphasis put on the ‘my’ but the duo nod it off, likely missing the irregular sharpness of the half-fae's teeth as Time chuckles softly. Their flutterfly is staking a claim and it’s nothing short of charming to the old man. 

  “An honor,” both murmur in response, nodding in kind.  

  After that, they’re all introduced and it’s quiet at the table. The quiet holds for a few moments, both groups sizing each other up curiously before Legend speaks up. “So, does this mean we’re a chain of eleven now, or will you guys be going back home?” 

  It’s not an invitation any of them had even thought to extend, but no one challenges it. The duo looks at each other again and Legend rolls his eyes before sitting back and resuming the earlier exchange of expressions that they now know to mean a conversation is happening that they can’t hear. At last, however, the two nod at each other and Legend slumps back in his seat with a grumble. “I’m done. No more from me, it’s up to you muscleheads now.” And just like that he’s slumping against Myth’s shoulder and closing his eyes with a groan that sounds very much pained. 

  “We’ll come if you’ll have us.” Ballad offers, and then, with a small smile shot Legend’s way he adds, “we’re a bit proficient at handling him and other self-destructive imbeciles, if that helps at all.”