Chapter Text
It was clearly one of those days.
One of those no-good, frankly quite awful days.
The Links were walking in absolute, awkward silence.
Just a few minutes earlier, they were engaging in their usual chatter. Warriors and Legend were doing their usual banter at the back.
“Legend, have you heard of an ‘attitude problem?’ Because I’m pretty sure you perfectly fit that.”
“I could say the same of your narcissism. Or is there another reason why you like looking at your own reflection so much?”
“Hey! Not true! And you just proved my point.”
“Fuck you.” Some of the other Links clearly overheard them, as Four quickly covered Sky’s ears. Not that Warriors or Legend cared.
“My, my! Were you always this salty? I’d hate to see that you had this attitude when you were younger. But I guess you were always such an asshole.”
Legend looked genuinely offended by that. He stormed off to the front, where Time and Wind were discussing something. He dragged Hyrule with him much to the traveler’s annoyance; he was in the middle of a conversation with Wild before Legend interrupted.
“W-Wait!” Wars shouted. “I didn’t mean…” He trailed off, realizing that Legend wasn’t listening to him.
Well, that did a lot to kill the conversation.
Twilight glared at Wars with disapproval, even though his glare was nowhere nearly as withering as Time’s.
“Warriors, that was uncalled for.”
“I didn’t know-”
“Well, hopefully you know now. You really should think more before you say these things. And just between you and me, he wasn’t always like this. You shouldn’t ask him why.”
Their little commotion had brought an abrupt end to the chatter, and everyone walked in awkward silence.
The Links had walked in silence for several minutes when they were jumped by monsters.
A lizalfos lunged at Time, who blocked it in the nick of time with his mirror shield. “Ambush!” he shouted. As his right arm was currently holding his shield, he pulled out his Gilded Sword instead of his Biggoron’s Sword.
The other Links swiftly unsheathed their swords, and were immediately pulled into fights with the group of monsters that jumped them.
A bokoblin swung its club at Four, but Four dodged underneath and thrust his sword upwards into its abdomen. It screeched in pain, bleeding black blood.
Great. These monsters were infected.
Four jumped back as the bokoblin lunged at it again, and used the opening to dash at the bokoblin, using his weight to drive the Four Sword in between its ribcages and into its lungs.
The bokoblin coughed up black blood as Four pulled out his sword.
Meanwhile, Twilight and Wild were fighting back-to-back. A lizalfos swung at Wild, who dodged at the last second before striking back with a Flurry Rush. Twilight sheathed his sword, before striking an unsuspecting Moblin with a Mortal Draw.
Time had managed to drive back the monsters attacking him for a moment, so he took the opportunity to take out his Biggoron’s Sword. He swung at the lizalfos, which tried to block with its sword. Time’s sword struck with enough force to shatter the lizalfos’s sword.
Wind was holding his own. As a Moblin tried to strike him, Wind quickly dodged him, and rolled around to its backside. With a great “HYAH!” Wind leapt and sliced the Phantom Sword across the Moblin’s back.
Hyrule cast a spell, and flames erupted from his sword. He used his sword to launch fireballs at nearby enemies, who either got burned by the fireballs or got distracted trying to dodge them, giving the other Links an opening to attack.
Sky’s impressive swordsmanship was once again in display. He skillfully parried a Lizalfos, deflecting the blade with his sword, and using the opening he had created to thrust the Master Sword straight into the lizalfos’s chest.
Wild pulled out a claymore and used its weight to knock down another monster, and Twilight quickly put it out of its misery with an Ending Blow.
Warriors relentlessly attacked, staying on the offensive lest the enemies get a chance to hit him.
Legend jumped here and there, constantly avoiding enemy attacks, while getting a few slashes in at a time with his Tempered Sword whenever an opening provided himself. He also had pulled out his Fire Rod, and between that and Hyrule’s magic, the area was ablaze.
The Links slowly whittled down the enemy numbers, even if the monsters were infected and so much tougher to fight.
Wars then suddenly heard Legend call out. “Watch out!”
He looked behind him and saw a Wizzrobe casting a spell. The magic projectile was flying towards him, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to jump away in time.
He felt a heavy force slam into him, and he was knocked to the side. Legend had jumped and pushed Warriors out of the way. Legend was struck by the magic projectile and was knocked to the ground, unconscious.
Warriors was pulled up by Time. “You okay?”
Wars nodded. “I’d be more concerned about Legend, though.”
Time nodded. “I’ll defend him. Go help Four, he’s nearly surrounded.”
Four was doing surprisingly well for someone who was almost surrounded. As Wars drew close, Four performed a Hurricane Spin, cutting down a few monsters and forcing the others to back up.
However, when Four stopped spinning, he dizzily, so Wars held off the monsters until Four recovered.
Wind had grabbed some longsword that one of the Moblins had dropped and was swinging it around, cutting through some of the remaining enemies.
A moment later, most of the monsters were dealt with. Twilight and Sky went off to clean up the remaining monsters.
Wind and Time stopped the fire Hyrule and Legend had started using their ice arrows (much to Wild’s disappointment), while Hyrule started assessing everyone’s injuries. Triage was an important process.
Most of the Links were only a bit battered, with a few minor cuts. Though a few of them had been splattered with black blood in the thick of the carnage. That was easily wiped off.
Legend, however, was a priority. Hyrule knew that his predecessor had been knocked unconscious. He quickly went to check on him.
Legend’s outfit had somehow changed. Instead of wearing a red tunic over a green tunic, he was wearing a green tunic over a brown long-sleeved shirt and brown shorts. Legend was also slightly smaller and looked less worn.
“Uh, guys?” Hyrule said. “I think he’s been hit by a de-aging spell.”
“A de-aging spell?”
“Yes, he’s been magically turned younger. But he should otherwise be fine. He’ll come to in a few minutes.”
Twilight and Sky got back around the time Legend started stirring.
Twilight and Sky were confused. Why was Legend’s outfit green and brown now?
Four took them aside. “Legend’s been hit by a de-aging spell.”
Legend opened his eyes and groaned. “Ugh, my head hurts.”
Hyrule was quickly at Legend’s side. “It’s okay, you’re safe.”
“Where am I, anyway? This is like Holodrum all over again…”
Hyrule took a deep breath. “How do I explain it? You’re in another time, travelling with other incarnations of the Hero.”
“Really?” Legend said. He then said something that sounded completely foreign coming from the veteran. “That’s really cool!”
The other Links gave each other incredibly troubled looks.
“What was the last thing you remember?” Hyrule asked Legend, handing him a red potion.
Legend sipped the potion. “I was going to sail back to Hyrule, I think it was after Holodrum- No, it was Labrynna- Ugh, I don’t recall. But now I’m here, somehow.”
Okay, even this younger Legend didn’t remember if he saved Labrynna or Holodrum first.
“Do you know how you got here?”
“I was just about to set sail, and then I find myself waking up here.”
Legend swallowed more red potion, and then looked around him. “Why is my Fire Rod out?” He took the rod and put it in his bag. “Wait… What are all of these items? I have a lot of items, but I’m pretty sure I don’t have this much…”
He pulled out the sand rod. “What in the world is this?”
“You know what, I’m not sure myself.”
Legend looked at each of the Links. His eyes seemed to flash with recognition when he looked at Four.
“So, who are each of you? I’m Link, the Hero of Legend, and I’ve saved Hyrule, Holodrum, and Labrynna.”
Hyrule introduced himself first. “I’m the Hero of Hyrule, your successor. I saved Hyrule centuries after you.”
“Did Ganon come back or something?” Legend looked troubled.
“It’s not your fault.”
“Whatever you say.”
“By the way, we’re all named Link, so we just go by our hero titles.”
“Huh.” Legend said. His eyes fell on Four again. “Have we met before? And is that the Four Sword on your back?”
The Links once again exchanged looks. How did Legend know about the Four Sword?
“Wait, what?” Four looked confused. “I don’t think we have? But I’m the Hero of the Four Sword, which probably wouldn’t surprise you given that you somehow recognize my sword.”
Legend nodded.
“I’m the Hero of Time,” Time said. “I suppose I’ve been appointed the unofficial leader. You’ve heard of the Fallen Hero, I suppose?”
“Yes, but only in legends.”
“I’ve been told that I’m an alternate version of the Fallen Hero in an alternate timeline. Needless to say, I succeeded, and I stand here now.”
“You know what, I’m not going to question that. Time travel is great for causing headaches.”
“Indeed.”
Legend turned to a rather pale Warriors. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Are you okay?”
Wars only turned paler. “Um… I’m the Hero of Warriors, and… I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“What’s wrong?”
“…Nothing. I’m fine.”
“You should probably talk to somebody.”
Wind quickly got the opportunity to introduce himself. “I’m the Hero of Winds, and I am Time’s successor!”
“In one timeline,” Time noted. “Twilight’s my successor in the other timeline.”
“Speaking of which,” Twilight said, “I’m the Hero of Twilight. I’m Time’s distant descendant.”
Legend turned to Sky. “So who are you, and why are you in particular the one with the Master Sword?”
“I’m the Hero of the Skies,” Sky said.
“Wait, you’re the Hero of the Skies? The founder of Hyrule?”
Sky looked somewhat embarrassed. “I guess I am? Anyway, I have a special bond to the sword, so I usually am the one who wields it.”
“Awesome.”
Once again, the Links exchanged looks. This younger version of Legend was surprisingly upbeat.
“I’m the Hero of the Wild, and I’m from the distant future. In fact, so far in the future, I don’t know what timeline I’m in.”
“Wild is also the only capable chef we have,” Twilight added.
Legend stood up. “Well, it’s great getting to know you all. Now, what’s threatening Hyrule?”
“Excuse me?”
“We probably wouldn’t be here if there wasn’t a threat. What are we after?”
Time explained to Legend how there was a shadow threatening Hyrule, and it was “infecting” monsters and making them much stronger.
“Huh. That’s… concerning.” Legend thought for a moment. "But with nine incarnations of the Hero, we should be able to do just fine."