#regardless... enjoy

Groggy eyes finally opened blearily to the sunlit room. Stretching just before a cramp was threatening to come forth, Wild took off the blankets and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. 

Hearing the others quietly bustling about and the gentle smell of something cooking, Wild let out one more yawn before finally getting out of bed and starting down the stairs.

The smell of breakfast became even more enticing as each step downstairs was taken. 

“Morning.”

The chatter soon stopped to greet the sleepy Hylian. But before any word could be uttered, a glass bottle was shattered as a response in its stead. 

“HOLY…”

“Hylia...”

“W-wild?”

The shattered glass jolted the young hero to be more awake and alert. Being more aware of his surroundings, Wild looked around to the shocked and startled faces of his friends. 

Despite the shock still evident in Time’s face, he gathered his stupor and proceeded to ask what everyone had on their minds. “Wild? Is that really you?”

“Uh… Yeah? You guys stare at me as if I was growing a horn on my head.”

And at that statement, Wind yelled, “To the lab!” 

---

The lab had a quiet morning. The gentle beeping of the machines and the humming were filtering through the air as Purah and Symin went about their morning. However, that peace was soon disrupted as the doors to the lab were slammed open and a loud clamor of calling the sheikah woman in an urgent tone was ringing about. 

“Purah! Purah!” Wind desperately called out.

Upon the name leaving the mouth of the sailor, Purah turned to greet them when the words died as she looked at the champion of her time. Before her, the champion held no blemish upon his concerned face. His hair was as short as it had been before his downfall. 

“It would have been nice if I could at least see myself, ya know. You all make it seem as if a horn sprouted from my head or something… or a second head,” he grumbled. Feeling around his head, Wild was relieved to have had no horns or bumps. Once his hand felt around the left side of his face, he took a pause.

There was smooth skin where his scars were supposed to be. What dark magic was this? Everywhere he traced where his scars were, his fingers met nothing but baby soft skin. 

“Heh… Where?” Words were hard to form as Wild’s mind began reeling to figure out what exactly was even going.

Legend spoke for him, “That is exactly what we were trying to figure out.”

Silence engulfed the lab for a brief moment until Purah’s excited giggles broke through. She picked up a reflective piece of metal to give to Wild as her eyes shone with awe.

Taking said metal from her, Wild paled at seeing his scars no longer there. His youthful face looking even more young and his hair. Oh Hylia his hair. No longer was it long, but short like in the first part of his...

“Symin! Do you see?! This was a success! Oh Linky! We must conduct tests and- and exams! How do you feel? Have you eaten? Any side effects? Any fever? Aches? Hylia… we need to take vitals and-”

“Purah,” interjected Symin, “Take a breath, and let him breathe. We can’t have him go into shock.” Walking towards Wild, Symin gently brought Wild’s attention to the present moment and led him away from the group so a moment can be given to process the situation at hand. 

Upon leading the champion away,  Purah turned her attention back to the lot of heroes. 

“I can’t believe it… Did he show any symptoms yesterday?”

All shook their heads, except for Twilight.

“I kept him under close supervision since then. Other than stumbling a couple times here and there, nothing else was wrong. No fever, no nothing.”

“Well,” Hyrule spoke, “Now that I think about it, he did seem to be lethargic after he ate dinner with us.”

“Now that you mentioned it,” all attention went to Four, “Wild did seem lethargic during dinner time. We all know how vigorously Wild loves to eat his dinner.”

Small murmurs of agreements resounded as they all realized their wild friend did not escape without symptoms.

Swallowing the guilt Hyrule was feeling, he turned his attention to Purah. “I understand that you said to expect changes, but how much or how deep these changes are? How long would this last?”

“I don’t know. I can only say that he got reduced back 100 years due to the disappearance of his scars. I can’t tell you anything more than that, young man. Even with tests done, there is little to be said.”

Apprehensively, Warriors questioned, “But didn’t you get hit with the rune yourself?”

“I didn’t get hit with it. I experimented on myself because I had no other viable subjects.” Purah laughed to herself. “Besides, my symptoms were different than our dear friend. I had horrible fevers, lethargy, and terrible aches and pains. But it soon calmed down.”

“So you tested on yourself… and what exactly did that yield? What was the reason for the testing to be conducted?” Pressed Warriors.

“My, my… such an inquisitive young lad. I did the test on myself indeed. I became younger as you see me at this moment. I am also over 100 years old as well, you know. I changed physically and mentally. I still have some outburst that just spill from my mouth. But as for the reason? Sometimes our research is done to benefit Hyrule. Possibly in due time I will spill the secrets.”

Before any protest could be given, Symin and Wild finally came inside. 

“We would have been outside longer, but the villagers were starting to stir and go about their morning routines. I do not think it would have been wise to have our friend seen by prying eyes,” Symin shot Purah a look.

Pouting, Purah could only just look at Wild and egged him on with her gaze. She knew he had questions and she would do her best to answer them.

“Obvious question aside. What is my current age.”

“Judging by the unmarred skin you meekly paraded, I would say 16. Give or take a year.”

“But how?”

“Linky, even I cannot explain it. You have read my diary, even though I told you to refrain from doing so,” she quietly mumbled the last part. “When I first did the experiment on myself, I was regressed 70 years, then another twenty and so on and so forth. I managed to stop when I reached the age of six.”

“So you're telling me that I can still regress?”

“Exactly,” Purah answered, “How far? Hylia most likely wouldn’t even know. Let’s just hope you don’t regress to the point you fade away from existence.”

As Purah gave a laugh, the others became worried while Wild simply rolled his eyes.

“I have the spite to will myself back into existence.”

Clearing his throat, Time brought back the attention of Purah. “So what exactly should we be looking for in these… changes?”

“Well for one, he will be growing shorter in stature. If he does regress further in age, he may experience mood swings or general outbursts.”

A small shudder was heard from Symin. All eyes and one glare were directed at him as he realized that his shudder was heard to them all. 

“Ah, my apologies. If Link does experience those, just know that they aren’t all… too bad… you will eventually grow immunity to it. Sometimes all one can do is treat this situation as a parent would a child… or like a sibling of some sorts.”

“Heck yeah!”

Wind looked towards everyone, excitement etched onto his features. “I am so excited! I love being a big brother! And with this circumstance, I can be like a dad! I can be all like: Hello, this is my son,” as the young sailor gestured toward an unamused Wild.

“As if any one would believe you,” said Warriors.

“You may have a reasonable point, but it doesn’t hurt to try.”

A snort was heard from Sky as he looked to the sailor. “I’m just trying to imagine a young person like you just be like, ‘hello, I am the hero of the Winds and this is my son… Link… the Second. Link 2.0. Sounded better in my head to be honest.” Off muttering he went. 

“I won’t be dealing with a child. If he is wild as he is now, just imagine how wild he would be as a child.”

“Hey! I am not wild. I just like to do things different than your preferred methods. I have restraint too, you know.”

Legend just rolled his eyes.

“The good thing is that you won’t be alone this time in your predicament. You have others that will help you and take good care of you. I believe you are in good hands, Link. We may just have to wait this out or until Purah and I can get the other rune up and running. We have plenty of other projects that are vying for our attention, so we will be doing the best we can.”

“I will not be responsible for you. Someone will be taking that responsibility and it won’t be me. I want to be left alone to sleep,” Legend muttered that last bit to himself.

“I can’t help but feel like you will eat those words. Just something I feel deep within my gut,” replied Warriors.

“Listen here, fool-”

“Enough.” Time interjected. “We will be sure to watch for our dear friend here, you can rest assured. Any other things we should be concerned about?”

Thinking, both scientists just hesitantly shook their heads. 

“I feel like there should be but at the moment we cannot think of any. Just please, take good care of him. I think it’s best that Impa knows of the situation and Zelda of this time as well.”

“Ah! Linky! Take this hat and wear it like a disguise to cover your face and remain as a mysterious person and you can go home-”

“I know my way without being detected by the village.” Seeing Purah’s dejected face, Wild just took the sheikah hat that was offered. “But I guess I can go undetected in style.”

“Good. Now, off with you. And be sure to update me with any changes.”

With each hero excusing themselves and leaving the lab, the two scientists waved with all smiles until the door closed.

“Purah, I believe this will be a wreck. He told me he faintly recalled something from the depths of his mind. He couldn’t really explain it fully as to what it was. He just said something or someone told him to wake up. No report of anything out of the ordinary. I didn’t realize anything was wrong until he got here to the lab.”

“We just keep watch on him, Symin. We always did. That’s why it’s better to have Impa on the loop. But at the same time, I cannot help but think to drag out the progress of the rune. I am a woman of science, Symin. My curiosity is gnawing at the possibilities on how things will turn. But I guess we will just keep that tid bit to ourselves.”

-----

Just ways away from the lab, the group had stopped and looked at their wild companion. 

“So how would we go on about and avoid the prying eyes of the village?”

“Just climb down the hills and avoid the heart of the village and the entrance.”

“But what of Bolson and Karson? I don’t think we can just sneak around and bust you in through the window in the back. Nor is milling about until nightfall for them both to go back home is worth it.”

“I think it would be better to just tell him. Right?”

“Wild, how exactly would you just go up and just tell him: oh, i got hit with a ray and I am regressing back to goddesses know when. I may or may not fade from existence as it is.”

“Well, Twi, I don’t think I can just tell him that I am some lost long relative. I could have pulled it off by just stating I got a haircut, but my unmarred skin won’t fool him. He knew me with my scars. He saw me with the scars yesterday.”

“Well,” Wind spoke, “Why don’t we just say that it was some high level potion that was barely made and you were testing it out and look how youthful it made you. But there was just a small sample.”

“Wind… that’s not a bad idea. But I think it should be more refined and we can make that excuse to pass it off. I think we should include a haircut as well.”

“I am all on board with that, Hyrule!”

“As much as I appreciate the excuses you both are formulating, I think it’s best I just handle it. Why don’t you all go into town and gather more groceries. I am famished and I believe the breakfast has already gone cold.”

“We can just heat up the food once more.”

“Only two omlettes and toast were made, before Twilight shattered the milk. Besides, I think it’s best we all just go into town and get supplies as we make our trek to Kakariko.”

Everyone nodded and the group departed, leaving Wild to sneak back to his home.

------

“My oh my! Good morning Link! It is a little too early for a hat, is it not?”

“Morning Bolson, Karson,” Wild nodded to both men. “I just wanted to make an early morning fashion statement.” A small laugh filled the air as Wild went to remove the hat.

“Ooooo, I see you went to get that silky length cut down. It suits you quite well, might I add. But I feel that there is something else that is definitely different about you this fine morning. What do you think, Karson?”

A guessing game began between the two of them until Karson finally noticed.

“Good goddess above, Link! Your skin!”

“Shhh! I know, I know. I… had a little accident at the lab the other day. I still have not gotten over my shock. I feel… a bit naked without them. I just really don’t know how to explain it. There’s an experiment that is being developed but I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and then-” 

Careful details came forth from Wild’s lips. Both Bolson and Karson were listening in silence as the hero spoke the day’s details.

“Link, we are both honored that you are confiding this mishap. And I am a little hurt that you wouldn’t have trusted me to share this secret. Although I do understand why. I know that I blabber on about my business and I know of all the village gossip, but I also know when to keep my mouth shut on certain matters.”

“You both took it well… I am actually surprised.”

“Besides, boss has made it company rules that anything a client tells, cannot be told to anyone else.”

“Oh my good dear, if only you would hear the things my past clients have told me. It is a little hard to comprehend this at the moment, but what kind of person would I be if I had broke the trust you helped forged?”

“May the goddesses bless you both.”

“But my dear, I want you to be careful out there. Especially since you will be making a trek to Kakariko village. Now you should get packing, your group is coming along.”

Looking back, Wild saw his group of friends and turned back to the duo milling about under the tree, a smile and a word of gratitude as he went back into his home.

Karson and Bolson both sent smiles in return and nods of understanding to the group as they all headed inside.

“You know Karson, I cannot help but shake the feeling of something. May the goddess above watch over the lot.”

-----

The trek to Kakariko was uneventful. Merchants peppered the roads, but most seemed to have minded their business as they walked along. A couple monsters here and there, but nothing that required exertion. With the mountains rising above and offering a sense of security, Wild had assured the group that they were approaching Kakariko. 

The moon was high above the sky as the heroes made their way into the village. Wild made his way inside the inn to grab rooms for the night. When Wild came out, eyes of concern went on each face as they viewed their affected member. Wild honestly did not realize that he was swaying.

“As it is late at night, I suggest we just spend the rest of the night... at the inn and then- then meet up with... Impa in the morning. Besides, I am incredibly sleepy and I feel like I can’t- can’t go on.”

Gently guiding Wild back inside, Warriors told the group to get settled in and asked Hyrule to come help him with Wild.

“Come on Wild, let’s get you to bed.”

“Very tired.”

“I know, my little wildflower.”

“Heh. flowers do sound nice.”

“Now let’s get to bed. You had such a long day.”

“Gonna see Impa.”

“Rest is what makes good boys strong,” a gentle smile was felt within those words.

Wild felt warmth surround him. “Night.”

“Good night, wildflower.”

And just like that, Wild fell asleep.

Both Hyrule and Warriors shared a look of concern.

“Exactly who was he talking to?”

“I don’t know. But now is not the time to ask. We should just keep an eye and just get some rest.”