Chapter Text
Legend's eyes glazed over as he stared at the flames flickering in and out of vision. He knew he shouldn't have accepted second watch for the night, but seeing that he was on thin ice, maybe this would lessen the strain in the morning. Maybe things weren't quite as bad as they seemed hours earlier.
But when sleep didn't come and Four handed off the rest of the night watch without so much as a passing glance in his direction, he knew he was done for.
Legend exhaled a puff of air and continued twisting the ring on his left index finger, trying and failing to release some of the tension that wouldn't stop building in his chest. The heat of the campfire against his face mirrored the burn he felt in the pit of his stomach, as he desperately tried to crush the voice that kept reverberating inside his skull. Always the same voice; always the same words.
Are you always this unbearable?
You're like a dark cloud that refuses to leave.
Bully.
The voice crescendoed inside his head until Legend found himself gripping his ring to the point where he was afraid it might snap. Agitated, he gave his head a quick shake and rubbed his hands against the tops of his thighs, reprimanding himself for getting so worked up.
Stop that, he chided. No reason to throw a hissy fit. You're not affected.
Grimacing, Legend leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees as his fingers thread through his disheveled hair. He knew he should be more mindful of his surroundings, but it was a chore harnessing any residual energy after expending so much on the inner battle he waged against himself. He allowed his gaze to drift past the radius of the campfire's glow to the sleeping form huddled beneath a thick layer of sleeping bag and a heavy, dark-colored pelt.
Legend’s eyes narrowed.
He hadn't meant to get so derisive toward his fellow companions. Really, he hadn't. But how could he not be when Wild was so incapable of doing anything without Twilight’s constant hounding? Or how Wind was so needlessly clingy and mimicked Warrior's every move? Surely Warrior didn't need to oblige Wind's endless pleas for piggy-backs when they were all perfectly fine making long treks on their own two feet.
Legend wasn't a fool. He knew Wind was just as able-bodied as any of them.
And Sky? Don't get him started on Sky. The sky-dweller's breezy approach to life was only ever seen as charming—not for the laziness it actually was. It was enough to set Legend off if he hadn't made the conscious decision to check himself.
Not that he wasn’t beaten to the punch.
The sound of snapping wood jolted Legend to his full attention. Jumping to his feet, he braced himself in his ready stance, head whipping to-and-fro. Seeing nothing, he stilled and gripped the handle of his concealed tempered sword, listening intently for any other signs of movement.
After a moment's silence, a slight ripple on the edge of his vision cued him in on the branches of the nearest pine tree. A large horned owl was perched on a branch some 20 feet up, preening its feathers and looking back at Legend every five seconds before resuming its task.
Just an owl.
Waiting another minute to ensure there was nothing more sinister lurking nearby, Legend slumped back onto his stump by the fire and controlled his breathing, trying to steady the pounding of his heart.
Stupid of him getting so worked up over nothing. Stupid of him to allow them to get to him like this. He's not usually this sensitive.
Legend groaned, scrunching his eyes shut as exhaustion hit him like a rockslide. Three more hours to go until dawn. Then they'd be on the move again.
It was going to be a rough night.
THE DAY BEFORE
The grandiose landscapes featured in Hyrule's homeland were awe-inspiring and intimidating, an untamed wilderness with rugged mountain ranges that stretched far across the horizon. Despite the number of tips they had received from townsfolk on the locations of infected monsters, the Links still hadn't been able to track the source of their infection. The mystery of the monsters' unusual strength and hostility was befuddling to them all, and even more confounding was their presence within each Hyrule they found themselves in. Legend was constantly on edge, spread thin by the feeling of being watched by the unknown. This was it. This must be the reason why they were all brought together.
Something had its eye on them. Something was deliberately altering their course, messing with their lives and anticipating their next move.
A shadow…
“Hey, no way! You’re giving me this?”
Legend was pulled from his reverie, glancing over at the conversation happening on his right. They were packing up from an impromptu rest stop after hiking up the sides of a steep ravine, preparing to head out for the last leg of that day’s journey. Wind was staring wide-eyed at a grinning Wild, who was securing the straps on his satchel.
“I figured you might like something like that, so I brewed a little extra last night,” Wild said, shrugging. “Now you won't need that armor you’ve been missing.”
Wind looked back at something in his hands, which Legend had only just realized was a muddy-colored potion. “But I thought these ingredients were hard to come by…”
Wild waved a hand in the air nonchalantly. “Eh, maybe if you live indoors. The wild was my home for the better part of a year, remember? I come across those rhino beetles more than you’d think.”
“What if we get ambushed?”
“Not a problem. I have more armor sets stashed away than I know what to do with. I can't really give you one of those because, you know.” Wild made a motion with his hands suggesting big. “But I know you've been wanting some extra protection and… well. A little extra defense never hurt anybody.”
Wind narrowed his eyes skeptically, frowning at the bottle in his hands. “I'm more than capable of holding my own, you know.”
“Hey, I never said you weren't. But maybe now you can give Warrior a run for his rupees when it comes to besting these monsters. No equipment to weigh you down and all.”
Wind fingered the glass reverently and looked over with a genuine smile. “Thanks, Wild. You're a great chef. I mean, my grandma’s cooking has you beat, but you make a mean soup. And potion.”
“She's your grandma, Wind,” Wild scoffed. “Of course she has me beat.”
A smirk twitched at the corners of Wind’s mouth, a faraway look gleaming in his eyes. “Yeah… she’s pretty great. She and Aryll both.” His smile vanished, replaced by a distant expression that Legend couldn't place. “After Aryll was kidnapped, Grandma’s soup was one of the few things that kept me going. That reminded me of home. She packed me some to go whenever I’d visit, but it wasn’t the same as having her with me.”
Something unpleasant stirred in Legend’s chest. He turned back to sorting through the various elemental rods in his pack, trying to block out the rest of the conversation.
No such luck.
“I don’t really remember my family,” Wild said haltingly. “Apparently my father served in the royal guard before me, but that’s all I know. The only solid connection I’ve had to my past is through Zelda.”
Wind looked up curiously. “Does she help you remember?”
“Yeah. She does.” Wild hesitated before continuing, his voice a low murmur. “Zelda’s everything to me. She’s family enough for me as it is.”
“My Zelda too.” Legend whipped his head around, finding a keen-looking Sky approaching the pair. “It’s tough being away from her for so long. If we ever find ourselves in my territory, I'm definitely introducing you to her. We’ve settled pretty nicely on the Surface now—we even started constructing our own little cottage, complete with garden. I would love for you to see it!”
“Wow, you and Time both!” Wind exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. “Don’t get me wrong, I love adventuring, but nothing beats being with those you love. Wild has a house of his own, don't you Wild?”
Wild rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “Yeah, but I don't have anyone to share it with. Not yet, anyway.”
“But you will.” Sky nudged Wild’s side good-naturedly. Wild looked away, his cheeks tinged pink.
Legend rolled his eyes, tired of lying on the outskirts of this sappy conversation for so long. Standing, he made to straighten the traveler’s bag on his waist. “Tch. The only thing Wild’s good at sharing is his cricket collection. Which, by the way, would you mind keeping those things contained? I swear they're getting out at night. Not much of a collection if they keep giving you the slip. Take it from someone who actually collects.”
Wild turned an even brighter shade of pink. “Sorry.”
“Don't listen to him, Wild! Legend’s just mad he keeps finding them up his tunic,” Wind snickered. “Maybe that will finally teach him to wear some pants!”
Giggles erupted across the clearing. Legend huffed, crossing his arms and glowering at the younger boy. “Yeah? And what's it to you, Wind? For all that ocean you live around, you sure aren't as water savvy as you should be. Too afraid to ditch the clothes for once and go for a swim?”
Wind gaped at Legend like a fish out of water. Coming to himself, he pointed at Legend accusingly. “You're just embarrassed you have to use a mermaid suit in order to be halfway decent in the water at all! Yeah, real glamorous there!”
Legend flinched, feeling an old insecurity of his bubbling to the surface. He recalled the merman and fishboy jeers resounding throughout the coastal villages when people discovered how he made do in the water. And after all he went through to keep their homes and families safe...
It wasn't his fault he never had the opportunity to learn how to swim. Wasn’t his fault how bizarre he looked in the water.
But he didn't care what the others thought. He'd been through a lot. He could dish out a lot too.
“Yeah, well you're one to talk. How glamorous can living on one small island for the rest of your life be? Not a lot of fish in the sea to mingle with, is there? I mean, who are you planning to spend the rest of your life with, your sister?”
A collective gasp arose from the members of the group, Four and Hyrule eyeing each other uncomfortably. “Easy,” Time warned from across the site, raising a brow disapprovingly. Wind glared daggers at Legend, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
But Legend was only getting started.
“You know you won’t get far in life if you expect people to do everything for you, right? At this rate, you might as well be stuck forever on that island. Or I know, maybe you could bring Wild and bond over your shared misery of having people around who actually care about you! That is, if he doesn’t break everything you own first. Oh, and invite Sky too,” he added darkly. “Maybe you could teach him the customs of those of us who actually bother to take things seriously around here. Get him to stop wasting our time with nonsense about pretty gardens and cottages when we have a serious threat on our—”
“What in Hylia’s name are you going on about?!”
Legend paused mid-sentence, whirling around to see an enraged Twilight stomping his way over. Unfazed, Legend faced him head-on. “What do you mean what am I going on about? It’s been months since the first of us was dragged on this wild-goose chase, we’re not any closer to finding out what’s going on than we were on day one, and these birdbrains won’t shut up about how much they’d rather be anywhere else! As if it wasn’t already obvious enough how much of a joy it is being here—”
“Are you always this unbearable?”
Struck, Legend tapered off, surprised by the accusation heard in Twilight’s voice. Twilight swiftly positioned himself in front of the other three, bearing down upon Legend. For the first time, Legend realized how much bigger Twilight was than himself.
“You think you’re the only one who matters around here?” Twilight spat, encroaching on Legend’s personal space. Legend floundered, uncertain of what Twilight was getting at.
“I never said I was the only—”
“Do you think it feels good getting pushed around by you all the time? Do you think any of us would want to be around you if we had the choice? You might have been able to get away with bullying in the past, but not anymore. Not with me.”
Legend wavered where he stood, trying to process the words scrambling his mind. He took a small step back, trying to put some distance between himself and the brawny Hero of Twilight.
“I—I’m no bully—”
“You’re a bully, Legend. Don’t mind me spelling it out for you though, since you’re too vain to realize it yourself. Whatever we do is never good enough for you, is it? Never quite matches up to your level of perfection?”
Legend’s tongue felt plastered to the roof of his mouth, putting a stop to his vocal cords. Suddenly he was 8-year-old Legend again, struggling and failing to find the words to express himself in the turmoil of his chaotic life. But Twilight wasn’t through.
“If it bothers you that much to show a little happiness for the rest of us, then don’t bother receiving any in return. You’re like a dark cloud that refuses to leave.”
If Legend hadn’t already felt like he had the floor knocked out from under him, he most certainly did now. He felt the fight within him instantly dissolve, threatening to tear down the facade he spent years oh-so-carefully crafting. Breaking Twilight’s intense glare, he looked down at his boots, painfully aware of the many pairs of eyes that were locked onto him.
“And make sure it stays away,” Twilight growled under his breath, checking Legend with his shoulder as he stormed past him toward the path.
For five carefully measured breaths, the group was still. Then, with the sound of footfalls growing fainter by the second, Wild turned and hurried after Twilight, the direction of which Time was staring after disappointedly. Following suit, Wind and Warrior took up the trail, the latter shooting Legend a sympathetic look as he passed. Legend continued admiring the ground.
With the entire party having moved on except for Time, Legend blanked on what to do. From the corner of his eye, he sensed Time’s intent on staying exactly where he was until Legend made the first move. Dreading a confrontation with the old man, he allowed his feet to carry him slowly toward the path, his hands gripping the sides of his arms as he walked.
Despite the numbness infiltrating his body, questions shot through the fog in his mind. Questions that relentlessly plagued him and prevented him from seeing straight.
What just happened? And why in the goddess’s name am I like this?
“Are you sure this is the right place, Hyrule? There’s nothing here.”
The Hero of Hyrule looked around from his vantage point atop the rocky outcrop, brow furrowed in confusion. “It has to be! Look, here’s the mountain and that’s the grove of trees over there. Didn’t that guy in town say this is where those moblins made camp?”
Warrior made a face. “That’s not a grove! There are only, like, three trees!”
Four sighed in defeat, rubbing at his temples. “All right, who let Hyrule be in charge of the directions? Come on, fess up.”
They finally arrived at the base of Death Mountain after heading out bright and early that morning. Expecting a scuffle upon arrival, the group had planned to ambush the moblin camp from the side, taking out as many as they could before the small camp could call for reinforcements. Since embarking, Legend made up the tail end of the advancing party, struggling to keep up with the quick pace. He felt barely conscious, his entire concentration homed in on the correct placement of his feet as he walked. Nauseous from lack of sleep and forgoing breakfast, his brain reverted to autopilot, fighting to remain alert and refusing to acknowledge the empty feeling eating away at his insides.
“Guys, I think I would know my own turf by now. The monsters harassing the townsfolk were said to be right near the entrance to Death Mountain, and this is it.”
“Entrance?” Sky questioned, gazing up toward the peak of the volcano. “What kind of entrance? Everything all looks the same from here. No sign posts or anything.”
“Sign posts? Why would the mountain need a sign post?” Hyrule frowned.
“I dunno, to act as a landmark?”
“It’s a giant volcano, it speaks for itself!”
“Don’t let your guards down,” the Hero of Time urged, turning slowly in a circle. “This might be the right place.”
As if on cue, a rumbling noise grew in volume, strong enough to vibrate the rocks beneath their feet. The Links tensed, drawing their weapons and searching the vicinity. There were no enemies in sight.
Was that the mountain…?
Suddenly, the ground shifted beneath Legend’s feet, sending him face first into a mound of pebbles and dirt. Ignoring his scraped elbows, he rolled with the downward momentum of his fall, hearing the shocked outcries of his companions nearby. As he attempted to jump back to his feet, a blinding agony ripped through his right side, tearing his tunic and piercing his skin.
Crying out, Legend tore at his side, desperate to remove whatever had hold of him. A pair of pincers was firmly attached to the fleshy part of his waist, locking him in place and attempting to drag the rest of his body into the earth with it.
A large cleaver came down upon the creature’s plant-like head, spraying the red-tinged ground with green sludge. It gave an ear-piercing shriek, releasing Legend and sinking into the dirt from whence it came.
“Leevers!” Time bellowed, unsticking his Biggoron sword as several dozen more of the bud-shaped creatures emerged from the earth, rotating their leaf-like protrusions as they stormed the heroes as one body. “Warrior, section them off!”
“On it!”
“Legend, can you stand?” Time asked, shielding Legend’s body with his own as Warrior barked orders in the background to help cover them.
Legend lay collapsed on the ground, struggling to blink away the blur obstructing his vision. His mind was in a haze, trying to reason past the stabbing pain in his midsection. He tried getting into a kneeling position and immediately regretted his actions, groaning as he clutched at his wet side. Time eyed the wound that grew a darker red each passing second and made a quick decision, hands fumbling with his inventory.
“Take my fairy,” he ordered, pulling out a stoppered jar and proffering it to the gasping hero.
“Wh—No, no. No fairy.”
“Just take it.”
“I’m not—not taking your fairy!”
“Legend, we can’t stay here. There are too many of them.”
“I know, old man. Just—just give me a…” Legend leaned forward, panting with the effort of righting himself. Time gripped Legend’s left forearm and hauled him upwards, causing Legend to convulse and sink back to his knees with a moan.
Frustrated, Time pursed his lips and glanced behind them. Each hero seemed to be tackling a group of five to ten leevers, Warrior leading the defense. A couple of the monsters were seen breaking off from their respective groups, advancing their way over to the two vulnerable Links.
Turning back, Time bent over and hoisted Legend bridal-style off the ground, ignoring the strained protests from the indignant hero. He made a beeline for a boulder with a large enough girth to conceal them both, setting Legend gently on the rocky ground behind it. Straightening, Time advanced back around the boulder and slashed at the approaching enemies, their death cries sounding off with each slice.
Legend braced himself against the boulder, breathing through the pain that flared in his side. From his slumped position, he stirred around the contents of his bag, dismayed to find nothing but weapons, various items, and a roll of bandages and gauze.
No potions or fairies of his own.
Cursing his stupidity, he set to work unwrapping the rolls of bandages, keeping an eye out for any stray leevers. The sounds of battle were growing dimmer as the Links made quick work of the sand monsters, victorious in their efforts to not be made victims of an ambush.
Legend wished he could say the same.
After a few minutes, Time reappeared from around the boulder, followed by the other winded group members. Legend was instantly overwhelmed as shouts enveloped his hearing and healing items were pushed in his face.
“Legend! Are you okay?”
“Where did it get you, in the back?”
“Here, take my red potion. It’ll clear that up instantly.”
“Nah, he needs a green potion. Don’t you see how out-of-it he looks?”
“That’s why he needs a red potion!”
“Guys, step back,” Time admonished, shooing them away. “He can’t move, we’ll have to walk him back down the mountainside.”
“I’m fine, Time,” Legend grit through his teeth, trying to push past the pain. The light-headedness was threatening to get to him, leaving him shaky and disoriented. “Just let me finish wrapping this and we’re gone.”
“Legend, that’s stupid,” Four rebuked, uncorking a bottle of red-colored liquid and holding it out to him. “Come on, just take my potion. I have plenty.”
“I don’t need your—”
“What about mine, Legend?” Wind suggested, waving a green potion under his nose. “Maybe this will be better for—”
“No, I said no! I don’t need any of your stupid—” Legend broke off. For the briefest moment, his eyes locked with Twilight’s, who stood off to the side with his arms crossed, a neutral expression on his face. Just as quickly, Legend looked away, his shoulders slumping. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes and leaning into his injured side. “Please. Just—let me be.”
The heroes paused, uncertain of what to do. They couldn’t stay any longer and risk being the targets of another ambush, especially with one of their own in such poor condition.
“Well, at least let us help you wrap it,” Warrior sighed, stepping forward. “Four, you got any suturing materials? We’ll move downhill to stay for the rest of the night and then set out in the morning. That man in town must be working in conjunction with the infected monsters. No doubt this was a planned attack. Stay vigilant. And for Hylia’s sake, Legend, at least clean it first.”
Legend stewed in his embarrassment, kicking himself for becoming so vulnerable.
Maybe Twilight was right. Maybe he was a hopeless case.
Accepting the inevitable, Legend turned away as Warrior and the others set to work stitching and bandaging his side, a pang shooting through his chest that had nothing to do with his wound.
Relocating down the mountain was a slow and tiresome process made even worse by the hot midday sun. Legend accepted Warrior’s help down the hillside and slung an arm around his shoulders, grimacing with the pain of stretching his newly wrapped side. He shrugged off any additional offers of help, refusing adamantly to be scooped up and carried as he was before. Warrior kept readjusting his grip across Legend’s upper back, trying not to aggravate the wound on his side. They stopped every few steps, giving Legend a short but needed reprieve from jostling his bandaged waist.
“Let’s stop here,” Time announced when the group reached a small copse of trees. “Legend’s hurt and we need to take a rest. We’ll redouble our efforts tracking those moblins from here.”
Legend felt his legs immediately give way. He slid down Warrior’s side and collapsed onto a bed of grass and twigs, dizzy and fatigued. He blinked his eyes, a blinding white light seeping in from the edges of his vision accompanied by a numbness in his extremities.
Huh. This wasn’t good...
“Legend, you idiot! Quick, somebody get his bedroll,” Warrior was heard shouting, a flurry of movement rustling the undergrowth following his order. “Legend, open up. You’re taking this potion.”
“Nnngh…”
A high-pitched whistling started up in his ears, drowning out the noises around him. He felt his face forcefully grabbed and his mouth pried open, the flavor of sweet berries rolling past his tongue and down his throat. Shuddering, Legend gave into his fatigue, allowing it to carry him away into the enveloping darkness.
The first thing he noticed when he came to was the warmth provided by soft, downy fabric. Blinking open his eyes, he gazed up at a periwinkle sky, the soft twitter of nightingales announcing the oncoming twilight.
Where am I? What’s going on?
Despite his sore, protesting muscles, Legend felt surprisingly alert. He made to sit up in his bedroll and had his queries instantly answered as fire reignited in his right side. He clutched at his midsection, startled to find nothing except the feel of bandages. Someone had removed his tunic as he slept.
Grumbling, he threw out a hand in search of his traveling bag and was pleased when his fingers closed around a strap. He pulled it towards him, searching through his disorderly belongings jumbled during the fight from earlier. Withdrawing a charcoal-gray traveling cloak, he wrapped it around his torso and drew the hood.
He took stock of his body: head, clear and focused. Arms, sore. Legs, sore. Torso… now this would be a problem.
Slowly, Legend rolled himself onto his hands and knees, mindful of his body’s protests. He took a deep breath and steeled himself, rising shakily to his feet. The intensity of the pain that flared out from his middle surprised him, feeling just as fresh as before. Legend scrunched up his face, embarrassed for getting into this situation.
Of course he would be the one to waste a potion.
Rubbing some feeling back into his legs, he began limping his way out toward the trees into the woods beyond. He was well past the first tree when a voice piped up from behind.
“And where do you think you’re headed?”
Legend nearly tripped, bracing himself on the nearest tree for support. He looked back to see Time a short distance away from where his sleeping bag lay, bent over a meticulously constructed pile of sticks. Sky and Hyrule eyed him warily off to the side, their hands fiddling with something Legend couldn’t make out. The others were nowhere to be seen, probably off scouting the area or hunting.
Legend blew out an irritated breath. “Sorry, gotta go. Nature calls.”
Time stood and folded his arms, clearly unimpressed. “There’s no reason to go out so far in your condition. You’re still healing.”
“What, you want to come with? Watch me do my business?”
“Legend…”
Legend narrowed his eyes, turning and hobbling away from the makeshift campsite. “I need some air. I won’t be long.”
There was no reply.
After a good while of scuffling from tree to tree to maintain his balance, the plantlife thinned and Legend found himself overlooking an open field that stretched into the distance. The air smelled of wildflowers and the distant ocean, sending a twinge to his stomach. He dropped down onto a fallen log, taking the time to catch his breath from the simple walk. The wind picked up as the sun continued to sink below the horizon, prompting him to draw his cloak more fully around himself. He stared at the forest floor, disregarding the picturesque scene laid out before him.
What a mess.
Pondering over the deficiencies in his character so recently brought to his attention, Legend figured there was just no doing any right by him. He couldn’t even manage to escape unscathed from a fight with a tier-one level enemy, which probably wouldn’t have happened had he not allowed his emotions to penetrate so deeply to his core.
Why he always had to take the cynical approach to life, he wasn’t sure. What he did know was that he was clearly falling behind in forming worthwhile connections with his fellow adventurers, and as much as it pained Legend to admit it, it hurt.
He felt inept, awkward—worthless, even. He was utterly incapable of bridging the gap between himself and his companions even when the right circumstance presented itself.
Bully.
Unbearable.
Dark cloud.
And he knew there was nobody to blame but himself.
Legend whimpered, dragging his hood down over his eyes. He was lost, teetering on the edge of the unknown as he looked out into the void. The mere idea of breaking down his walls terrified him, constricted his chest. The illusory island of his nightmares loomed in his mind, a constant reminder of the very real abandonment of everything good in his life. How many quests had he been sent on? How many times had the goddess reminded him that he was at her mercy, stuck in an endless cycle of loss and self-pity?
He didn’t deserve them. Didn’t deserve their goodness after everything his callous attitude put them through.
Maybe the next time they crossed over into his universe, he could give them the slip, make it look like an accident. He’d live out the rest of his days in solitude, content with his little house of mementos. Save them all from any additional misery his presence brought them. They’d never know.
Once all this was over, they would pack up and go home anyway, living out their lives in their own respective worlds. Only existing as a memory in his mind. Just like his uncle. Just like her.
Bully.
The sound of crunching leaves reached his attention, making his heart rise to his throat. He quickly secured his hood, keeping his head lowered and wiping at his eyes.
“Legend?”
It was Hyrule. Legend remained silent, not trusting himself to speak.
“Legend, is that you?”
Hyrule approached cautiously, keeping his distance from the silent hero. Uncertain of what to do, he stood off to Legend’s side, twiddling his thumbs and considering him expectantly. Legend closed his eyes, softly releasing a breath he had been holding. He swallowed and turned his head in Hyrule’s direction.
“Yeah, you called? Did Time send you to collect me?”
Hyrule paused. “Uh, no. I just wanted to see if you were okay. We all did.”
Another pause. Legend sat rock-still, his gaze fixed on a parade of ants marching single-file into a hole in the log.
“Can I sit?”
Legend inclined his head to the side, wordlessly inviting Hyrule to take a seat. Hyrule lowered himself onto the log, a healthy distance between the two.
More silence.
“How’s the wound?”
Legend twisted his ring, settling the nervous twitching of his hands. “Doing fine. No thanks to that potion, though. I told you guys not to use one on me.”
“Those monsters were infected, Legend,” Hyrule pouted, offended. “It might not have healed you like normal, but it definitely gave you some color back. You looked like you were on death’s doorstep.”
Guilt crept into Legend’s heart, the sting immobilizing. Unsure of what to say, he risked a glance in Hyrule’s direction. The hero clad in earthy tones fiddled with the ties of his arm braces, a frown on his face.
“We’re all worried about you, you know. It's obvious something’s wrong, and I'm not just talking about today. What's up with you?”
Legend felt his stomach turn, the temperature dropping rapidly. He looked away, scowling at the opposite end of the log.
Hyrule continued fiddling with his arm braces. “I, uh… heard what happened with Twilight.”
“You and everyone else.”
Hyrule winced. The silence threatened to settle on them again, but Hyrule pressed forward. “You know he didn’t mean all that, right? Twilight’s just intimidating when he's upset.”
“You don’t know what he meant,” Legend grumbled, twisting his ring faster. “And he’s right, by the way. You don’t have to say anything.”
Hyrule balked, turning to Legend with his mouth falling open. “What?! No, Legend. He’s not right. I don't feel that way, and neither does anyone else. How can you say that?”
“How can I say that?” Legend snapped, rounding on Hyrule as a fire sparked in his veins. “Don't tell me you haven't noticed how uncomfortable you all get around me, Hyrule. It's true—I’m not fun to be around, I know it. I try to be a nice person, but I can't. I just don't see the world through a lens of sparkles and rainbows like some of you seem to—”
Legend broke off, frustrated with himself for once again allowing his anger to take control. He grimaced, shaking his head and turning away. “Just… sorry.”
“It's okay,” Hyrule coaxed, eyeing Legend with concern. “We all have our thing. For you, it’s being insensitive when you shouldn't. I might be a little clueless, I admit it. And you're right about the others too. Sky totally has his head in the clouds and Wild can't chill to save his life.”
Hyrule chuckled softly, a fond smile playing across his lips. After a moment of contemplation, his face leveled out, replaced by an eerie calm. “I know why you said all that back there, by the way. And I get it. I don't have anyone to return home to either.”
Legend froze, rendered speechless by Hyrule’s implication. “You… what?”
Hyrule turned himself in Legend’s direction, his face devoid of anything that might suggest a ruse. He raised his arms, gesturing at the dark expanse before them. “Yep, that’s me—the hero who fought back Ganon and restored the Triforce to the land… only to have nothing to show for it.” His arms dropped to his side, his posture suggesting defeat.
Stunned by this revelation, Legend chewed the inside of his cheek. True, the subject of their insecurities as the goddess’s chosen was never readily submitted in day-to-day conversation, but Legend had always assumed he was the only Link without a reliable support network. Wind, Warrior, and Time all had families of their own; Sky and Twilight each had the loving support of their communities to draw upon; and judging by how willing the others seemed to be to involve themselves in conversation surrounding family, Legend had automatically assumed he was the odd one left out.
“You—I don’t know what you’re talking—”
“Don’t play dumb, Legend. I know that’s why you blew up yesterday. And I don’t blame you. No one deserves being alone for so long.”
And there it was.
A telltale prickle formed at the corner of Legend’s eyes, blurring his vision. He pulled at the hood of his traveler’s cloak, burying his face in the fabric. For a moment they were both still, chilled by the moonless night and the heaviness that hung in the air.
“You don’t have to hide it, you know,” Hyrule whispered, his voice cutting through the silence. “You shouldn’t have to isolate yourself just because things are different for you. Things are hard enough as it is without all that.”
Wrapping his arms around himself, Hyrule looked up at the emerging stars that twinkled serenely in the night sky. “Look, I’m not a fortune teller. I can’t say what’s going to happen when all this is over. But I do believe in good karma.” He looked back at Legend, smiling. “And I know none of us are perfect, but we shouldn't need to be. We’re good people. We’ve each sacrificed so much for the good of our worlds, and I think that counts for something. We just have to trust that it’ll all work out.”
Legend wiped his nose on his sleeve, confused by the whirlwind of emotions stirring in his chest. Was he relieved? Regretful? Skeptical? He considered Hyrule’s words, fingering the cuff of the bracelet secured to his wrist.
“It seems like Twilight’s got his own thing going on too,” Hyrule continued. “Why don’t you try talking to him? See what’s going on in his—”
“I’m not talking to Twilight,” Legend retorted, immediately shutting down the suggestion. “Just… just no.”
Hyrule nodded absently, accepting Legend’s decision. “Okay, but will you at least stop detaching yourself from us? You've been distant with us for weeks now, and camp life isn’t the same without you, Legend. We miss you.”
Shame bloomed in Legend’s chest, turning his insides to stone. Drained, he leaned forward onto his knees. “I—I’ll try, Hyrule.”
“Good.”
Pleased, the stocky hero leaned back as far as he could, stretching his legs out before him. “Besides, what would we do without you? You're the spicy one around here. Someone needs to put Warrior in his place every so often.”
Spicy…?
Hyrule laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Plus, he'd take it as a major blow if he lost his sparring partner. Uh... word-sparring partner, that is.”
Legend snorted, preoccupied with playing with his bracelet. “What sparring? I mean, sure, if you consider his old standby of insulting my hair as sparring. Real witty.”
“Yeah, that,” Hyrule snickered, glancing over at the older boy’s pink-tinged fringe peeking past the front of his hood. He kicked his feet against the base of the log, apparently lost in thought. “Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t you play something for us tonight? Everyone’s been dying to hear you play. Wild’s probably in the middle of cooking up supper right now, but we can do it after. I know they’ll love it!”
Legend cringed, inwardly refusing to do any such thing. He knew the others were aware of his instrument collection. It was only a matter of time before they convinced him to play, but Legend had to admit the idea of performing made him uncomfortable, especially considering the circumstances. He had no problem when it was just himself, but having the others there would make him painfully self-conscious.
But just maybe… if this would set things right…
Giving in, he sat up, rubbing his hands up and down his thighs. “Fine. I’ll do it.”
“Really?!” Hyrule gasped, eyes widening gleefully. “Wow, this is great! Thanks Legend!”
“But I’m not singing.”
“Oh… well, if you say so. Next time, then!”
“Sure, whatever,” Legend waved the comment away, positive there wouldn’t be a next time.
The pair sat in silence once more, content with one another's company. Though the pain still throbbed in his side and the all-too-prevalent worries persisted, Legend’s chest felt lighter, uplifted even. A soft breeze fluttered by from the open field, sweeping the light strands of hair around his face and tickling his nose.
“They should be ready with the food any time now,” Hyrule remarked, stretching his arms above his head. “Sky helped me patch up your tunic, so it’s all ready to go for you when you get back. Wanna walk back with me? We can get them ready for our music night!”
Legend sighed, hoping he wouldn't regret this arrangement. “I… not yet. I'll be another minute.”
“I can wait.”
They continued sitting in the soft glow of the evening stars, the tension from before diminished. Crickets chirped heedlessly in the surrounding brush, echoing one another’s nightly calls. Legend breathed deeply, enjoying the rush of cool air filling his lungs.
“Hey.”
He glanced over at Hyrule, raising an eyebrow tentatively.
“It'll be okay, Legend. Just give him some time. He'll come around.”
Their eyes met. From the short distance between them, Hyrule beamed. Despite the uncertainty of what lie ahead, Legend couldn't help but think that Hyrule really wasn't that clueless after all.
Despite everything, Legend smiled back.