Chapter Text
Still Waters, Wild Forests
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Chapter 1
Fated Encounter
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Time really hated the sudden and unexpected teleportation because none of them enjoyed the feeling at the best of times but Hylia must really be in a hurry today if she decided to just open a portal beneath their feet.
It also happened that when this type did happened, more often than not, they were split up. It was annoying and worrying. The likelihood of there being a good distance between them all was low however, so that was an upside.
Time listens as everyone groans and sorts themselves out, Hyrule was looking at peoples injuries and handing out the necessary items to help with them.
“Uhhh, where’s Sky?” Warriors pipped up as he wiped the crusting blood from his forehead.
Time paused and, like everyone else, searched for the first. There were more groans.
“Wasn’t Sky injured too?” Wind was next to speak and Time grimaced.
“Sky had a good head on him,” Time soothed, “Likelihood he’s already on the road trying to search for us.”
There were murmurs of agreement but everyone hurried up with their packing up and getting ready to set out. The quicker they moved, the quicker they’d find Sky after all.
The group of seven headed west and quickly found themselves crossing a bridge that had been constructed using trees that had brunched across a large river. It was a beautiful sight, large waterfalls and red soil and cliffs (Four spoke up saying it was the iron oxide in the earth that was the cause)—but, this wasn’t a Hyrule anyone knew.
Wind excitedly piped up wondering if they’d be meeting a new Link, but—they’d been travelling together for five months already, why only now would an additional Link be added?
Up ahead was a warm and cosy looking stable—Legend mocking the large horse head they had on top—and it was ultimately agreed they would rest here to see if Sky would turn up with the same idea they had; to wait it out for the others in his party.
Twilight took up lookout, arms crossed as he leant against the frame and expression unreadable. Time could see the slight worried furrow at his brows, however.
Then, just as everyone had settled down. Twilight was straightening up and squinted into the near distant before a bewildered look crosses his face.
“Is that person…riding a buck?” he questioned incredulously.
The boys all rushed forward to see who exactly Twilight was looking at—and yeah! Someone was riding a deer!
Wind laughed, “That’s amazing!”
The stable owner chuckled. “That’s just Link.”
The group of heroes froze.
“Still, surprised he’s coming back. He was here just several hours ago and I’m pretty sure he said he was heading for Hateno.”
“Link?” Four piped up, taking another glance at the approaching hero and deer before returning to the stable owner.
“Yeah, the kid never stays in one place too long. Bit feral honestly,” the guy leant against the desk musingly. “The only person I’ve ever seen brave enough to try to ride a buck, let along tame one! He’s a bit strange though, bit…socially inept.” He laughs lightly—fondly. “Good kid otherwise. Always wants to help out or make himself useful.”
“Uh, pretty sure that’s Sky on the back of the deer too.” Legend.
Well, at least this was two birds with one stone, Time supposed.
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The first thing Sky acknowledged was the uncomfortable sensation in his thigh. The memories of their last fight coming back to him immediately after and that before any of them could sit down to look at injuries, they’d been transported.
Sky groaned and squinted against the bright mid-day sun that shone through the leaves directly above him. Instinctively, his hand reached out to pat about for the Master Sword, knowing he’d rested it to his right when he’d sat down previously.
Except, it wasn’t there and that really jerked him awake, torso pitching upwards—gasping for breath at the agony of said action—and wide eyes searched his surroundings.
Then he stilled, Master Sword momentarily forgotten (it was to his left however) as he blinked in confusion at the soft remains of a fire before him. On the other side sat a young Hylian, a child that could be no older than nine at most, who absently poked at the dying fire. They were wearing some sort of skull with horns on their head with red hair on the back. The way the skull dipped down hid the kid’s eyes from Sky but he could see the firm line of their lips and—the scarring.
Hylia, the scarring on the kid’s face left his stomach twisting.
The kid was wearing a pelt like Twilight did but it was shorter, a brown one-shouldered dress with some shorts that peeked out from underneath, a bright blue sash around their waist with a belt and green fabric acting as some sort of secondary skirt. They had arm guards, a brown fabric with pale fur beneath for padding, the right had bones tied onto it. The right also had an upper arm guard, a darker brown. Their legs had uneven fur and fabric padding with saddles.
Long blond hair trailed down their back.
Sky took a breath as he eyed the scarring on their leg, arms, neck and shoulder. There was no doubt more hidden by the kid’s—was it a boy? They looked pretty ambiguous but Sky had the feeling it was a boy—clothes.
Very, very strange clothing.
Sky hadn’t seen anything like it before.
“Uhh,” the was first thing out of his mouth, as unintelligent as it was.
The kid’s lips twitched, flashing a hint of teeth and then he was lifting his head to reveal striking blue eyes.
Oh fuck, the realisation hits Sky like he’d had freeze water dunked on him—please don’t let this be a Link.
“I…Hi?” Sky finally managed. He glances around, “What happened?”
He hopes the kid will think he simply got outnumbered by some monsters and had trouble recalling. He couldn’t lie to save his life—as Zelda, Sun, liked to remind him when they were kids.
“Found ya unconscious by the Spring of Cour’age,” there was a slight…accent to the kid’s voice, not one Sky would ever be able to place, but in contrast to the group he travelled with, the kid definitely bore some sort of accent. Or maybe it was normal for where he was?
Still, Spring of Courage? Sky had never heard of that before.
(He hopes everyone else is doing okay.)
“Spring of Courage?” he hears himself repeating before he could stop himself. Idiot.
The kid uses the stick he had been poking the fire with to point to Sky’s right. He twists his head over his shoulder, grimaces at the pain that rippled through his shoulder as he did, to see a stone structure—it…it reminded Sky of a dragon’s head oddly enough.
“Old shrine to Farore,” the kid answers and cocks a brow. The kid, Sky refused to call him Link unless he was absolutely sure, spoke in short and clipped sentences.
Farore, right, obviously.
Sky nods and pushes himself more upright, biting back a groan.
“I’da heal you but i’m outta fairies at the moment,” the kid didn’t exactly sound all that sorry but by the scrunch of his brows, Sky thinks he’s genuine.
“It’s alright.” Sky smiles.
Then there’s a curious glint in the kid’s eyes, “Why you out here? Not many people come round these parts, just pass through to Lurelin.”
Must be a village, Sky reasons before grinning sheepishly. “Would you believe me if I said I got split from my friends and don’t know?”
The kid cocks his head, eyes that looked too old—that shouldn’t in any way belong to someone his age—examined him and Sky felt like he was being looked through.
“’Appens to the best of ‘em.” The kid returns the grins and something loosens in Sky.
“You wouldn’t of happened to have seen a group of other people around here, by any chance? Their also blond, expect one, he’s a brunet. One has a strip of pink in his hair.”
The kids scratched his jaw, brows furrow into—goddess, was that a pout?—thoughtful frown, “Dun’think so.”
The kid drops the stick into the fire when it caught light. “Be happy to help ya look for ‘em. Don’got anythin’ betta to do. Probs need a hand too, with the way your leg is. Good thin’ I’ve got transport, eh?”
Transport?
It was then Sky noticed the buck—it was by far the largest he’d ever seen. Majestic looking horns with blue fabric tied onto it (Sky supposed it was so no one poached it) and brown coat with golden looking spots that freckled its back and white butt and tail. It was also saddled like a horse, bridle and all. But what was odd were the strange-looking antenna look reminded him of wheat just behind the horns. A similar looking—feathers?—thing on its ears, it was the same golden as the spots.
This was the first time Sky had seen someone use a deer—was this a deer?—as transport. Jeez.
The kid snickered. “Get t’at look lots. Aoife ah softie, won’t try and buck ya off for gettin’ on ‘em.”
Sky nods. “Ready to head out when you are then.”
The kid stood and picked up the bag by his feet to reattach to the buck’s saddle. Then the kid paused, glancing over his shoulder. “What’s ya name?”
“Sky. Yours?”
The kid grinned with perhaps too sharp canines, “Link.”
Fuck.
Sky forces a smile and hopes it doesn’t look fake but the kid—Link, this was a Hylia damn Link, why was the Goddess so cruel?—had already turned around. Link pulled himself up onto the buck and gestured to Sky to get up and join him.
Sky did so, forcing himself to stand through the pain and slid the Master Sword away, not missing the way Link’s eyes darted to the sword and away again. Whether the kid recognised the sword or not, Sky couldn’t tell, his expression gave nothing away.
Link slid forward on the saddle and Sky slipped his foot into the stirrup and on the count of three, pulled himself up with a low groan. Sky awkwardly wrapped his arms around Link to grab onto the front of the saddle.
Then they were moving, leaving behind the dying embers of the campfire.
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“Sky!”
Wind came running out of the weird-looking build, stable is was Link told him, grinning widely.
Sky raised a hand and grinned in return. “Hey Wind.”
The others all quickly joined Wind and Link pulled Aoife to a stop.
Hyrule stepped up, eyes full of worry. “How are your injuries?”
Sky groaned in response, “I’ll probably need help getting off.”
Warriors stepped forward with any more prompting and Sky always himself to tilt to the side and into Wars waiting hands. Hyrule quickly grabbed a hold too.
“Hello.” Time chose to step forward next, eye on the very young blond on the deer.
Link’s gaze, which Sky knew had been pinned on him, the corner of his eyes tight, darted to Time. He narrowed his eyes, clearly judging him.
When Link didn’t say anything and looked to have no intention to either, Time awkwardly continued, “…Thank you for helping him.”
Still, the kid said nothing and Sky thinks that just might be who this Link is, not necessarily wary, just…the quiet type. The observant type.
Link nods and gently nudges Aoife towards the stable where the guy greets the kid and the—and the kid responses like moments before he hadn’t refused to do so for Time.
Sky found it a bit comical. So do a few of the others by the way Wind snickered and Legend smirked.
“Are you planning on stay for a bit?” the guy questions and Link looks skyward to the sun.
“The night.” Was the response and Link climbed off Aoife’s back.
Sky was momentarily distracted from Link by Hyrule shoving a potion into his hand for him to drink.
“So…” Four spoke, looking a bit queasy, “Is that?”
Sky nodded, “Yeah…”
“What the hell happened.” Warrior hissed lowly, leaning back to peer around Hyrule in the kid’s direction. “I haven’t even seen knights with those types of scarring. That kid can’t be any more than eight!”
“Looks like burns.” Hyrule offered, looking green in the face.
Still, that didn’t make it any better.
Twilight glanced to Time, who was watching Link in a thoughtful manner.
“Do you think he’s already had his quest?” Twilight asked him quietly.
Time sighed, brows creasing in concern—and this guy denied his dad instincts, honestly—and rubbed his stubbed jaw. “Likely.”
“I’d say so,” Sky chipped in as he handed Hyrule the now empty bottle back. “I think he recognized Fi, but didn’t say anything about it. Not really expressive actually, don’t know if it’s because he didn’t know me or that is just how he is.”
“The stable owner did say Link was a bit socially inept,” Four offered. “Might have grown up rather isolated, he is travelling by himself too.”
Someone Link’s age travelling alone left an awful feeling in the pit of their stomachs, even if Link was a hero, it’s just—his age. It was a cruel fate.
“Should…are we gonna just talk to him about it?” Wind questioned, looking nervously eager to welcome another member—and he would no longer be the youngest too!
“Not right now.” Time rest a hand on Wind’s shoulder, “We have all night too watch him and see if there’s a good approach to take.”
Wind pouted but agreed.
“Should we go inside then?” Legend. “Cause I really wanna rest my feet. None of us have really had a break since the fight.”
Time nodded.
