Chapter Text
The battlefield smoke was still curling into the bruised sky when the fighting finally ebbed. Captain Link stood tall and steady, looking every inch the commander he was. He sheathed his sword and turned to the small boy beside him. Mask stood with his arms crossed, breathing a little too evenly for a child who had just fought through waves of monsters. His green tunic was smudged with dirt, ash, and monster blood, but Captain was happy to see that he didn’t seem injured.
Captain placed a hand on Mask’s shoulder again, gentler this time. “You fought well. Come on. The others will want to meet you properly.”
“Hey! Link! There you are!” a tiny voice yelled, and a tiny glowing fairy flew into view, circling Captain.
Mask’s heart nearly stopped.
“Ahh, Proxi, there you are. I wondered where you disappeared to,” Captain said.
Mask knew it wasn’t Navi, but for a split second he’d thought just maybe she had finally returned to him. Of course he was wrong. He wasn’t lucky enough for that.
“Listen! What’s taking you so long, the other captains are waiting for you!” the tiny fairy yelled. Then she finally seemed to notice Mask. “Hey, who are you?”
Mask jolted at being addressed, not having registered most of what she said.
“Link- uh no,” he faltered. “Mask. Call me Mask.”
The little fairy flew up close, right into his face. Mask didn’t flinch, instead squaring his shoulders to hide his shock. He could feel his heart pounding in his head.
“Huh, you’ve had a fairy companion before, I can tell,” the little fairy said. “Then I trust you. I’m Proxi, nice to meet you!” She immediately returned to Captain's side, not giving Mask a chance to respond. She immediately picked up where she left off before she got distracted by Mask’s presence. “Hurry, Link! They're waiting for you!”
Mask looked away, hoping to hide his expression from the pair and trying to look unbothered. Flashes of navi invaded his mind: her blue glow, her voice, her nagging him to keep going, pointing out enemy weaknesses, and generally trying to take care of and protect him. His stomach twisted. Memories warred with his dislike of meeting more adults. Adults meant questions, and those questions were never fun. He followed Captain and Proxi across the churned ground toward a pair of captains who had been directing the battle cleanup from a small knoll.
The first to see Mask, Captain, and Proxi was a tall, white-haired darker skinned woman in blue and silver armor; her red eyes sharp and assessing. Her armor bore the familiar mark of the Sheikah. She studied Mask with the quiet intensity of someone who had guarded royal secrets for years.
“Another Link,” she said, voice low. “The goddesses move in mysterious ways. It is an honor to meet you, young hero. I am Impa.”
Beside her stood a young woman in blue and white clothing that vaguely reminded Mask of the Gerudo, except she wore a short skirt instead. She had long blue hair pulled back in a high side ponytail and a big leather tome that shimmered with magical energy. Link could tell she was practically brimming with magic. “So excited to meet you, hero! I am Lana, a sorceress of light!” She tilted her head, curiosity sparkling in her purple eyes. “The legends speak of many Heroes of Courage all throughout history, but never have I heard of one so young.” Her gaze flicked over his small uninjured body, and lingering on his eyes as if she could see the age there that his body denied.
Mask shifted his weight, suddenly very aware of how small he looked next to them. He forced a crooked, mischievous half-smile. “My name is Link, but call me Mask. It's easier that way.”
Impa’s brow furrowed slightly. “Mask… because of the collection you carry?”
He grinned fully this time, hiding his discomfort over their attempts at examining his mask collection. “Well duh. I'd much rather that instead of Link 2 or whatever else those tin cans will come up with.”
Captain chuckled, gesturing between himself and the white-haired warrior. “Impa here is the protector and advisor to Princess Zelda. And Lana, our strategist and master of the gates between eras. They’ve been holding the line against Cia and her forces while we try to find Zelda. She went missing after Cia’s initial attack.”
Mask nodded, only half acknowledging the introduction. Instead, he was staring at Impa.
“Is Impa a common name for Shiekah? I’ve met a sheikah before and she was called Impa too.” He tilted his head, squinting at Impa. “Also is it a thing with the royal family to name the princess Zelda? Cause that’s kinda weird.”
The three watching this laughed at Mask’s random outburst, while Impa seemed… disgruntled? Mask didn’t know the right word for it. But it definitely seemed like the kind of reaction his Impa would have had.
“Curious,” Impa hummed. “It may seem a strange coincidence to one unacquainted with royal traditions, but it is actually very common for the Royal family to name their daughters Zelda. In fact, there was a decree long ago that decreed every firstborn daughter of the royal family be given that name. Though, the reason for that decree has long been forgotten. As for the name Impa, It has a similar tradition amongst my people. The name Impa is given to the eldest daughters of my Family in the Sheikah tribe that has watched over and guarded the royal family for centuries. It has always been the responsibility of the eldest Daughter of my family to guard Princess Zelda. And so I bear the name and the responsibility with honor and pride.” Impa gave her answer stoically, and turned an inquisitive eye on the captain and his child mirror. “What I find fascinating is how you both share the same name, despite having no decree or tradition or even known familial relation.”
Lana smiled warmly, though her eyes were already analyzing him. “Fascinating questions that we will have plenty of time to talk about later. For now, we have more important matters to discuss, which we should not discuss without our other new Ally.”
Mask’s chest tightened. There it was. Questions. He knew it was going to happen, he had plenty of questions himself. Like who was this new ally they mentioned? But that didn’t make the thought of being asked questions any better. Also, he thought back to what Captain had been saying when he’d been busy staring at Impa. Had he said Zelda was missing?
They walked together toward the Hylian command tent, the sounds of the battlefield cleanup fading behind them. Mask kept pace easily, his shorter legs moving with the speed he had grown used to during his adventures where he’d never had enough time. He glanced once at the sky, then muttered under his breath, “Ten thirty-seven in the morning, it’s been exactly 112 minutes since I got here, and it was nine twenty-four in the evening back home…”
Captain glanced down at him, surprised. “What was that?”
“Nothing,” Mask said quickly, cheeks turning red.
Proxi let out a tinkling laugh. “You're a weird one, alright.”
His blush deepend.Well that was embarrassing. His internal clock was incredibly fine-tuned after his time in Termina, and he couldn’t seem to be able to turn it off. He hadn’t meant to say it outloud, but reciting the time to himself had become as ingrained as his internal clock was.
Inside the tent a shockingly familiar figure waited. Captain moved to make another introduction, but Mask beat him to it.
“Sheik?” he said, dumbfounded. There was no doubt that that was Sheik, aka Zelda’s Sheikah disguise. The same outfit, same head wrap and bangs, and the same red eyes. She was even holding a similar harp to the one his Sheik had taught him songs on. That ache that had started on his arrival deepened even further as he struggled with his memories of his Sheik.
Everyone looked at him in shock, Sheik especially.
“How do you know Sheik?” Impa asked, tone sharp with a worried undertone. Impa and Sheik shared a concerned glance as Lana, Link and Proxi stared at Mask in shock.
“I,” Mask faltered. “Yeah I knew a Sheik, she looked just like you.” He frowned, remembering again what Captain had said. Mask turned to him, confusion obvious in his voice and face. “Wait, didn’t you say Zelda was missing?”
Captain faltered, obviously blindsided by this question. “Yes, Zelda is missing, what does that have to do with Sheik?”
Mask, panic starting to set in, glanced desperately at Sheik and Impa. Both looked panicked, but were obviously trying to hide it.
“Uh,” Mask stammered. “N-nothing, I just remembered that you said she was missing.”
Captain huffed in frustration. “You are a terrible liar. But as I’ve decided to trust Sheik when she says she knows where Zelda is and that she’s safe, I trust that whatever you aren’t telling me isn’t going to come back to bite us.”
Mask glanced at Impa and Sheik again, relaxing a bit to see they both seemed relieved at his deflection. He also noticed Lana glancing curiously at Sheik, like she was on the verge of solving a complicated puzzle.
Sheik finally stepped forward, taking the momentary silence as a chance to speak.
“So you are the child I've heard of. Another incarnation of the Hero. The Triforce of Courage shines on your hand as clearly as it does on Captain Link’s.” She studied him with gentle curiosity. “It is rather interesting to be known by a legendary figure such as yourself. What is your name, young hero? And from which era do you come?”
Mask swallowed. Of course it made sense to explain his adventures. But he’d never had to talk to anyone about who he was and what he’d been through. All those he used to be able to talk to no longer remembered him, or had left him. Navi was the only person he’d ever actually talked to about that, and she had been with him the whole way. Until she abandoned him. Sheik had known some things, so had Saria and Impa and Darunia and….. But none of that had happened. He didn’t know how to even start talking about it.
So he kept his answers vague and his voice steady but distant.
“My name’s Link, but call me Mask. I don’t know which era I’m from, but I was traveling for a while before the rift dragged me through.” He pouted a bit, and added “ Left my horse Epona on the other side.”
Sheik tilted her head, not deterred in the slightest. “Traveling where? What evils have you fought?”
Mask’s fingers tightened on the strap of his magic bag. He thought of his adventures getting the three spiritual stones, opening the Temple of Time and drawing the master sword, suddenly being a teenager, racing back and forth through time to stop Ganandorf, making friends and allies only to have the timeline reset so no one remembered. He thought of Termina and the moon glaring down on him like divine judgement, the endless repetitions of the same three days, saving the same people over and over only for everything to vanish when he played the Song of Time. The pain of the transformation masks, the souls he had put to rest with the Song of Healing.
He could hear Navi and Tatle’s voice in his head telling him off for being childish. He could hear Saria’s unspoken plea to come back and not forget his home when she taught him her song, Darunia and the Gorons calling him Brother, the Gerudo women accepting him and calling him an honored guest. But he had never actually explained his adventures to anyone. The sages already knew what they needed to know once he “woke them up”. Even with Navi, who had been there for his whole first journey, he had never felt comfortable sharing how he felt about everything. He wasn’t even sure how he felt about everything.
So, once again, he decided not to say much.
“I’ve just been looking for a friend. Don’t really have a destination in mind.” He wanted to stop there, but he could see that everyone would keep pressing until they got some sort of answer.
He had an idea. If they wanted answers as to “what evils he fought” then at least he could have fun with his answers.
“Fought the moon once. And a Volcano. And a storm.” He had to keep himself from laughing at the confusion on their faces. He wasn’t lying, not really. Just being intentionally vague. Then his face fell as he thought of his other enemies. “Fought a greedy man from the desert too. And an ancient demon.”
“That’s too crazy, I don’t believe it!” Proxi said indignantly.
Impa crossed her arms, a stern look on her face that spoke loudly of her discontent with his answer. But she didn’t press on any of his “enemies” except one. “A man from the desert? You mean a Gerudo? Ganondorf has plagued Hyrule in many eras, did you face him?”
Mask’s expression darkened instantly. Ganondorf. Even hearing the name made his stomach churn. In his restored timeline, Ganondorf had never become the King of Evil. He had stopped that future before it started. The idea that the man still existed not only here, but in many eras felt wrong. Like the goddesses had ignored everything they had made him sacrifice.
“Yeah,” Mask muttered. “He lost.” He didn’t elaborate. Didn’t mention how he had to remind himself some mornings that Ganandorf never took over Hyrule, that castletown was fine and thriving and not full of Redeads.
An uncomfortable silence fell over the tent, everyone feeling the weight, the seriousness behind his short answer.
Lana cleared her throat and leaned forward, intrigued. “You said a greedy man from the desert. Which means you knew Ganandorf before he became the demon king we know. You must be from hundreds of centuries ago. I wonder how much Hyrule has changed since your time.”
Mask thought back to his first time leaving the Temple of Time as a teenager and seeing the drastic change in the city in the 7 years he’d been “sleeping”.
“A lot can change in a short time,” he said quietly.
Captain watched him closely, sensing the Masks' already tall mental walls growing thicker. He decided to change the subject.
“I can tell you recognized the Master Sword when you arrived,” He said, trying to sound light hearted and not forceful. “You have experience with it? Though I dare say you are a bit small to have wielded it.”
Mask’s gaze flicked to the gleaming blade at Captain’s side. He liked seeing it and missed the weight and the power it brought. But the memory of pulling it from the pedestal, of losing seven years of his life in an instant, made his skin crawl. What if touching it dragged him back again? What if it forced him to sleep and loose himself all over again?
“Seen it before,” he said tightly. “It had it’s uses.” His hand clenched with lingering resentment. “Besides, I have other tools that are more my style now.” His hand brushed his magic bag with all his masks and other tools. The Fierce Deity mask hummed faintly inside, a reminder of the god-like power he had wielded against Majora.
Captain raised his hands in surrender, clearly recognizing he had accidentally tread on another sensitive topic.
“I’m sure whatever use it gave, you used it well.” Captain said tentatively. “I’ve seen you fight in battle both with a sword, and with some of those masks. You are very resourceful, and I admire that.”
Lana stepped closer, her voice soft and understanding. “You don’t have to tell us everything right away, Mask. But if you are one of the legendary Heroes of Courage, your story could help us understand the rifts, Cia’s corruption, and Ganondorf’s influence. The legends are vague: some speak of a hero from the sky, other stories tell of one who battles an endless night, and yet others of a hero who fights to cleanse and heal Hyrule. Many tales and legends, all vague and contradicting. It would be very helpful to know just how far Cia’s time rifts reach.”
Mask looked down at his boots. Insecure. Bitter. How could he be one of those legends when his adventures had been erased? No one in his original Hyrule remembered the boy who had saved them from the Demon King Ganandorf. The timelines he fixed had been undone. All his time in Termina had never truly occurred in the final version of events. He was a hero whose greatest deeds technically never happened.
“I’m probably not in any of your legends,” he said quietly, the embarrassment thick in his voice. “But it doesn’t matter anyway. I doubt that information would help much. I don’t really know much of history so I won’t be very helpful in that respect. But I can fight. That much I'm good for.”
Captain exchanged a glance with Impa, then crouched down so he was eye-level with Mask. “Hey. You’re not just any kid who wandered onto the battlefield. I can already tell you are worth so much more than just your fighting skills. I’m sure whatever you’ve been through, whether it’s known in tales or not, is just as important as the stories we do have. You’re one of us, little brother. We don’t need the full story today. But when you’re ready… we’re listening. No one here is going to leave you behind.”
Mask met Captain’s eyes for a long moment. The older hero’s sincerity chipped a small bit at the walls he’d built around his heart. He didn’t want to get attached, but he could tell that was going to be hard to resist. He gave a tiny nod and the mischievous glint flickering back for a second.
“Thanks, Captain. Just don’t expect any bedtime stories.”
Captain and Lana laughed, Impa let out a rare smirk, and Sheik’s eyes glimmered with amusement.
“Then welcome to the fight, Mask,” impa said, stepping forward. “Hyrule needs every hero it can find, we are happy to have you and whatever skills you possess. I’m sure you will be a great aid to our cause.”
Mask smiled back half-heartedly, but the knot in his chest eased just a fraction.
Captain straightened up. “Lets get you set up with a tent and whatever supplies you need. And Mask?”
“Yeah?”
“Try not to count the seconds out loud. It makes the soldiers nervous.”
Mask winced with embarrassment. Guess he’d been counting out loud more than he’d realized. “Sorry, but no promises there. I'm sure you know how difficult it is to break hard-earned habits.”
Now it was Captain's turn to wince. “Yeah, that I do know.” He smiled, moving towards the entrance to the tent and pushing the flap aside. “Well, follow me. Let's get you some food first, I bet you’re hungry. I know I am.”
Outside the tent, the sky darkened with the growing clouds that emanate malevolent magic. Mask had a feeling things were just getting started here, and he was somewhat looking forward to not having to fight enemies alone this time. But he didn’t get his hopes up. His fate was rarely kind.