#time fr

Time tries heave in a breath, but is left gasping when the weight of his armor does not give way. No, no! Something’s wrong! He thinks. Panicking, he begins to glance around, straining his good eye, trying to see something, anything! His breaths begin to wheeze and he stops, forcing himself to calm down and take account of his situation. Last thing he remembers was…exploring some type of ruins in Wild’s Hyrule? Yes, that was it. He had seen something in one of the passageways and the next thing he knew the floor opened beneath him and…nothing. Time sighs. He loves the kid, but he hates his Hyrule.

He shakes himself out of those thoughts and continues to take note of his predicament. His internal clock tells him its exactly 9:39 at night, approximately two hours before what he last remembered. He grimaces. That’s a long time to be out. Taking into account his physical state, his face is pressed against something soft and cool, earthy smelling. Dirt. He notes that he has a slight headache. Maybe hit his head on the way down? Further along his body, he takes note of his left hand pressed under his chest and his right is pressed palm down against what feels like rock, cool and damp against his fingertips. His legs? There, but numb and tingly. Pins and needles are shooting from his lower back to his legs and he begins to panic once again, breaths coming in tight, labored gasps. A dawning horror begins to root itself in his fuzzy thoughts, and it brings him back to one, simple notion: My armor is never this heavy! The dread settles like a pit in his stomach. As he tries to lurch himself upwards, his fears are confirmed with the crushing weight of something heavy his back. Wait, what had happened to the rest of the boys? Are they okay? What if they’re trapped like he is, or worse? He gasps, trying to wiggle out from under the weight, fingers scrabbling at the dirt floor of his prison.

“Goddesses!” He curses, “I fought the fucking moon, and here I am getting beat by a rock!” Determination grits his teeth and furrows his brow as he tries to force his right hand free. I’m not giving up, not like this! He wiggles a few more times until a shower of dirt and pebbles dusts his hair. He ceases his struggling, fearing what would happen if he were to continue. He takes a few breaths as deep as he could, closing his eye against the encompassing darkness. As he calmed himself, he begins to notice a sound, that of running water off to his left. A…cave? Wild spoke about how, when the-what was it called? Time huffs. Doesn’t matter. When those floating islands nearly fell out of the sky, Wild had explained how caves opened up around his Hyrule. This must be one of them. When he fell, he must have brought part of the ceiling with him. Just his luck.

“Well, at least my head isn’t under there,” he laughed to himself darkly, “Would have been one hell of a headache!” And it can’t be too heavy, he thinks. I can still breathe a little bit. His mind races, trying to figure out his next move, when the sound of water is broken by the sound of something else shuffling in the darkness. Time does his best to quiet his breath, unsure of what could be lurking in the caves.

“Hnngh, fuck that hurt.”

Time’s eye widens in the darkness, trying desperately to see where that familiar, twangy voice came from.

“Twilight?” He hisses, turning his head desperately towards the noise. “Twi? Twi, talk to me. Are you alright?” A groan echos through the darkness.

“Dandy,” The other hero replies. Time could cry in relief. He hears more shuffling, then footsteps as Twilight gets to his feet. “Where ya at, Old Man?”

“Here! Under-” he pauses to take a couple of fast breaths, the weight seemingly heavier by the minute, “Under here!”

The footsteps draw closer, until they are nearly at his face.

“Shit…Time…” Twilight pauses. “I’m going to try and get you out from under there, just hang tight.” Time breaths a short sigh of relief.

“Thanks,” he replies hoarsely. Though he wouldn’t admit it, the knowledge of not being alone down in this place is enough to put a lump of emotion in his throat. He felt a prickly and uncomfortably warm wave wash over him, the unique feeling of Twilight’s dark magic working in close proximity, but it was quickly replaced with a cold snout pressing at his cheek. Time feels himself calm a considerable amount at the feeling.

“I think I’m laying mostly on dirt, though rock begins at about my waist. You think you can dig me out?” Twilight huffs as if to show how offended he is at being asked such a simple question. Regardless, he begins to carefully dig around Time, doing his best not to shift too much earth for fear of the stone above shifting. Luck was on their side, for once, as Twilight continues and the rock showed no sign of falling further. Finally, Time is able to start to move his arms enough to wiggle himself a little forward, enough that he could breathe again. He feels like a drowning man breaking the surface of the water, the damp, stale air soothing his lungs as he gasps. Twilight shifts back.

“I think I can pull you out if you give me your arms,” he says, placing a hand upon Time’s left arm. Time could cry in relief.

“Yes, here,” he wriggles his right arm out from his side and grasps Twilight’s forearm.

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

With a grunt, Twilight heaves Time out from under the stone slab, dragging him a few paces away before setting his arms gently back on the ground. Time groans, rolling onto his back as he hears Twilight sit down heavily next to him. He grits his teeth as the pins and needles feeling in his legs increase to a burn as feeling starts to trickle back. He sighs, a wave of relief washing over him. The Rancher is the first to speak.

“Din’s tits, I hate the dark.”

Time laughs.

“It runs in the family,” he replies, reaching out in the darkness to search for his protege. He finds his leg and pats it appreciatively. “Thanks, kid.”

Twilight huffs again.

“You’re really working hard to turn into Shade, y’know that?”

“What?”

“Don’t worry about it. Listen, I’ve lost my lamp, and I couldn’t find your bag of trinkets, so I’m going to stay as wolf until we get some light in here. Maybe I will be able to keep us from walking off a cliff or something.” Before Time could respond, A rush of magic encompasses the air, and then smell of wet dog invades his senses. He sighs.

“Listen, Twi, that’s not a good way to deal with your feelings.”

Wolfie growls and snaps his teeth in contempt. After a moment, he feels the wolf nudging his arm, trying to get him up. Time sits up, pressing a palm to his temple to try and ease the persistent drumming that has begun to make itself known. Wolfie nudges him again, nipping lightly at his elbow.

“Take it easy, I’m doing my best here.” The burning in his legs has all but disappeared, yet they remain weak and shaky as he tries to hoist himself up from a sit. Wolfie wiggles his way under Time’s hand and he uses the extra support to get steady on his feet. Keeping his hand gripped tightly in the thick fur, Time begins to shuffle along next to Wolfie, the two of them making their way step by step in the darkness.

Time wished he could say he lost track of, well, time, but he counts exactly twelve minutes before they made it to the source of the water, and since then had been following it down stream for fifty-four minutes and seven seconds. And, for those sixty-six minutes and seven seconds, his head had become increasingly more painful and his limbs had become increasingly more heavy-feeling. It was after another five minutes or so that Time realized he could begin to make out the shapes of the rocks at his feet and the glimmer of the cold water running to his left.

“Twi…the light,” Time mutters, the mere movement of his jaw aggravating his headache. As the two turn the corner, a cluster of glowing stones light up the tunnel in front of them. Time nearly laughs, feeling awash in the relief of seeing the soft blue glow the odd-looking stone cluster emits. The stones are dotted down the way, providing a dim, cold light to the dark stone. He lets go of Wolfie’s fur and slides down the side of the tunnel to sit tiredly against it. Wolfie approaches Time with a sniff, and dissolves into a cloud of darkness, leaving Twilight kneeling before him.

“Time, I could smell blood as Wolfie, but you didn’t tell me it was this bad,” Twilight says. Time almost teases him about being the one to speak when he literally almost died a few months ago, but the look in Twilight’s eyes gives him pause.

“I don’t know what the damage looks like. This place isn’t exactly littered with mirrors,” Time chuckles, trying to lighten the mood. Twilight doesn’t react and only looks at him worriedly. Time sighs. “C’mon, Rancher, you’re making me nervous, looking at me like that.” Twilight shakes his head.

“We need to get out of here. I’m sure this river opens up somewhere.” Twilight grabs Time’s arm and hoists it over his shoulder, lugging Time up in the process.

“Easy! You don’t have to treat me like one of your farm goats, Twi!”

“Then get your feet under you, Old Man. I have no qualms about throwing you over my shoulders,” he shoots back, the hint of a laugh dancing on the edge of his voice.

The two trudge on, step after step, minute after minute. The rushing water seems to bleed into the dim light, swirling together in a dizzying sort of dance that made Time’s head spin. He focuses on breathing and forcing out the thought of what feels like a hot iron band around his skull. At some point, Time startles when he realizes he can’t recall exactly how long they’ve been traveling. Oh. Oh no. He feels his feet catch on a ledge of rock, and he almost brings the both of them tumbling to the ground.

“Time!” Twilight exclaims, righting them as quickly as he could. Time groans.

“Quiet, Rancher. Gotta headache,” he mumbles, his tongue feeling thick in his mouth. He feels Twilight heave him closer, wrapping his free arm around Time’s waist and nearly carrying his weight. Time feels bad. “S’too heavy. Don’t gotta d’it f’me.” Twilight only holds him tighter.

Goddesses above, he was tired. When did he get so tired? Were they moving again? What’s that noise? Crickets? They’re too loud. Time squints his eye open and shuts it immediately, the light of the full moon sending a searing pain into his head.

“Damned moon,” He mutters. He couldn’t feel his legs again. Who was touching him? He struggles away from the iron grip encompassing his waist. “No…leave go me…” Ohhh, he feels nauseous. So very nauseous. He lurches to the side and empties his stomach. What’s that noise? A voice? It’s too loud. It’s all too loud, and he’s tired, and his head hurts, and if this person could STOP FUCKING TALKING-

“Time, Time please, you need to stay awake. I…I don’t have a red potion, or a fairy, or anything! Just hold on a while longer. Please…I can’t lose you like this Old Man, not like this,” the voice says, and Time can hear a certain anguish behind it that makes him sad, though he can’t begin to figure out why. He is no longer on the ground, his feet dangling in the air and a warmth at his chest. His chin rests on something inexplicably soft.

“Whaa…”

He can hear a steady thumping that jolts in cadence with his head. Malon must be working on the new cucco coop she said she’d build, though Time can’t figure out for the life of him why she’s up this early.

“Malon, cantcha wait ‘till later to build that thing?”

A quiet sob reaches his ears. Oh no, no, no. That won’t do.

“Mal, s’kay, I’ll help ya! Don’t cry, please don’t cry!” Time lurches forward, dry heaving, as there’s nothing left in his stomach. His world spins, and all goes quiet.

He wasn’t sure where he was. He wasn’t moving. He couldn’t move. There was a cold touch at his cheek. A hand, wiping at something on his face. He then hears it, a shuddering breath. Opening his eyes, a blurred figure moves right in front of his face. Blinking a couple times, the figure comes into somewhat of a focus.

“Twi?”

The boy’s hands were shaking. He could feel them tremble on his cheek.

“Time, dad, please. I don’t know what to do. I’ve never seen it this bad. You seemed alright before, what’s going on?”

“Twi…I don’t…I don’t know,” he manages to make out.

“Your head, you had to have gotten hit on the head, but I’ve never seen someone act this bad before!”

Time uses what’s little left of his strength to reach out, touching Twilight’s face. His hand comes back wet.

“M’sorry, don’t mean to make you cry, Rancher,” he whisper. Twilight catches his hand as it drops.

“You’re gonna be okay Time. By Hylia, I will make sure you are okay.”

The next time he wakes up, his head doesn’t hurt nearly as bad, though it is still quite painful. His chest hurts like a Goron is sitting on it. He groans and lifts his hand to unbuckle the straps of his armor, but is surprised to merely find the soft cloth of his tunic instead.

“What? Who? My armor?” He mumbles. A hand grasping his, a eucalyptus cool washes over his body. Magic.

“Time? Time, can you hear me?”

“Rulie?” He whispers. Voices blend into the background, mixing with the jumping light dancing behind the eyelid of his good eye. The hand settles itself on his forehead, sending a wave of relief through his body as the pain behind his forehead eases to a dull ache, similar to the ones he gets after a long fight.

“I’m here. You’re going to be alright.” Hyrule’s voice is soft, softer than it usually is, and sounds strained, like someone exhausted. Time finally manages to force his eyes open, meeting Hyrule’s soft, honey-colored ones.

“Rulie.”

Hyrule smiles gently but doesn’t speak, one hand on Time’s head and the other on his chest. There are deep purple circles under the healer’s eyes, and his brow is drawn taut and focused. Another figure moves in Time’s peripheral.

“Twilight,” Time whispers as he comes into focus. His eyes are red and puffy. “What happened?”

Twilight coughs and gathers himself, his facial expression back to his normal neutral look.

“You nearly died. I managed to drag your heavy ass back to camp after getting out of that cave. By the time we made it here you were shaking uncontrollably. Sky had a red potion on him, thank the goddess, and Wild had a fairy. Hyrule did the rest of the work.”

“Oh, Twi…” Time trails off, the pain in Twilight’s eyes adamant. Hyrule interrupts.

“Your brain was swelling. It happens when you get hit on the head too hard. You’ll be fine within a day or so. I will heal what I can,” Hyrule explains, standing from his position at Time’s side. “But for the meantime, you should get some rest. It’s safe to do that now.” Hyrule nods at Twilight and leaves the two alone. Twilight’s gaze is heavy, and Time almost wishes he were back under that stone slab.

“I’m sorry you had to see me like that—”

Twilight lurches forward, grabbing onto Time like a lifeline, burying his face in Time’s neck. Though Twilight did not make a single noise, Time could feel tears drip onto his shoulder.

“Don’t you dare ever do something so stupid like goin’ off by yourself like that again, Old Man. Ya hear me?”

Time nods, encompassing Twilight with a hug.

“I promise, I’ll be more careful. But why did you follow me?”

Twilight huffs.

“I saw ya, goin’ down that passageway by yourself, and I had a bad feeling. Before I could call out to you, the floor gave way and we both tumbled down. You were the unlucky one,” he says, his voice thick with emotion.

“Once I got you back to camp, the others said they saw us fall. Your bag of stuff got caught on an outcropping you bounced off of, and you had the right mind to throw your sword away so you wouldn’t fall on it. Wild climbed down and grabbed both of them.”

Time sighed, thankful for Wild’s boldness when it comes to steep cliffs and endless drops. He turned to meet Twilight’s eyes.

“Are you alright, cub?”

Twilight opens his mouth like he wants to say something, then seems to think better of it and nod his head.

“Yeah. Yeah I’m okay now that you’re okay,” he replies hoarsely. Time decides not to press. Instead, he pulls Twilight down into a bear hug.

“I love you, son,” he whispers. Twilight falls into the hug with a sniffle that’s barely audible.