Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

They had been trekking through the endless plains of Wild’s Hyrule for days now, and Sky could certainly feel it taking its toll. Even now, he brought up the rear of the group. He trailed closely behind Four and Legend, who were talking about magical items from their adventures in an effort to pass the time.

“You had a mirror that did what , exactly?”

“I’m more worried about your talking hat, Smithy.”

“That’s not important. But was your hair- sorry, fur - pink in rabbit form too-“ Four teased.

“Say it any louder, would you!” Legend whisper-yelled in a way that almost felt frantic, “I’ll never hear the end of it if the Captain listens in!”

Said Captain heard his name from the front of the group and turned his head to face them.

“And what, exactly, does the Vet not want me to hear?” He wiggled an eyebrow in question, a mischievous smirk present on his face.

Four stifled laughter as Legend’s face tinged a slight red, not quite matching his hair.

“Nothing, you brute,” Legend grumbled out as he glared at Four, who was struggling to get himself under control. Warriors met the Smithy’s multicolored gaze before shrugging and turning his head back around.

Four gave Legend a shit-eating grin as Legend shot him another glare, though it was a little softer this time.

Sky shook his head fondly as the display ended and continued to focus on his breathing. The air below the clouds always took a toll on his lungs, feeling too hot and too thick and causing him to feel like he was breathing in water. To distract himself as they continued to trek somewhere only Wild knew, Sky thought of home . Of Skyloft.

He imagined Zelda running up to him with open arms, asking him where he’s been before laughing as he sweeps her into a spinning hug and plants a loving, unceremonious kiss on her cheek. The others would laugh, Time crossing his arms and tilting his head as he smiles in a knowing, paternal manner. Warriors and Legend would certainly whistle and laugh teasingly, while Hyrule would cover Wind’s eyes, which he would quickly move away, sputtering indignantly. Twilight would offer a sad smile, one that held the depths of his boundless love that would never reach its intended recipient. Wild and Four would cackle lightly to themselves, amused with everyone’s reactions to Sky’s show of the affections that flows through his very being.

Or of reuniting with his friends again. Groose, his once bully-turned-friend who freezes in awe and adoration whenever he sees a small songbird. Pipit, with his unmatched sense of responsibility and heart of gold, never backing away from what needs to be done. Karane, her everlasting kindness and reliability making her click effortlessly with Pipit. Even Scrapper, who’s infinite sarcasm and insults somehow endeared him to Sky, helping to bolster the friendship they formed throughout his adventure and after Fi left them to rest in the Master Sword forever.

He dreamed of meeting his beloved friend and companion again. Aside from Fi, Crimson was one he could count on the most. His literal soulmate created to be his lifelong companion by the goddess Hylia herself, his red loftwing has always been there to catch him without fail. Sky missed him dearly, and the hollow sadness of homesickness in his chest swelled as he imagined ruffling Crimson’s feathers lightly and resting their foreheads together in greeting, all the while the loftwing threatened to preen his windswept hair.

Shaking himself from his stupor, Sky stumbled to a stop just in time to avoid running into Legend’s back, which definitely would have ended poorly for him, given that he was still grumbling about Four’s teasing.

“There’s a portal!” Wild called begrudgingly from the front.

A chorus of groans followed the statement. The inky black portals felt trudging through oil, and they were definitely not anyone’s preferred form of travel.

“Check yourselves and make sure you have everything ready in case we meet some resistance on the other side!” Time ordered.

A brief rustling was heard throughout the group, followed by the sounds of swords being drawn from their sheaths, shields being pulled from their resting places on their respective backs, and a bow being brought forward, an arrow knocked lazily on it’s string.

“Now, does anyone want to go first? I suggest we go in pairs.” Time informed the group, his low tenor echoing through them and into the surrounding trees.

“I’ll go.” Sky spoke up, turning a few heads. He figured that fighting a bokoblin or two could help get his mind off of home.

“I can join him.” Four added, stepping forward. Sky joined him, nodding to Four as they faced the others.

“Be safe you two,” Twilight, as overprotective as a dog with it’s owner, “We’ll join you soon, ok?”

Four snorted lightly, “Don’t worry yourself too much, Rancher. Your hair’s gonna go grey before the Old Mans.”

Twilight stepped forward and ruffled his hair, an exasperated smile on his face and also on Time’s.

“We’ll be careful,” Sky promised firmly.

“See you soon guys!” Wind shouted, probably louder than necessary.

Scoffing affectionately, Four turned and entered the portal, Sky walking in after him.

Aside from the black blooded monsters, the worst part of this journey had to be the portals. They felt slimy, as if Sky was walking through a sea or oil and tar. It was terrible for his lungs, and he usually held his breath and walked as fast as he could. 

This time, as he exited the portal, he felt a wind sweep his hair around, as if in welcome.

“Careful Sky!” Four warned, “It’s a long way down.”

They had ended up on a small island, and as Sky approached the edge, he saw nothing but clouds and open sky below, with small scattered islands and one notably large island surrounded by three pillars of light that broke through the clouds like lightning struck the Earth. His heart soared, and he couldn’t help but laugh heartily. He was home , and his daydreams from earlier came back to mind, he could barely hold himself back from whistling for Crimson and jumping off the island right then and there. Bouncing lightly on his heels, he turned and walked over to Four.

“We’ll be alright.” He told him, “I can’t wait to show you all my Hyrule.”

Four looked at his state of glee and laughed lightly, gesturing for Sky to join him on the soft, grassy ground of the island as they waited for the others.

One after another, the other groups went through the portal and noted Sky’s joyous state, sheathing their swords and sitting down to join them. Legend and Hyrule. Wild and Twilight. Finally, Time, Wind, and Warriors stumbled through, shaking off the grogginess caused by the portals.

After they all had some time to recover, Sky decided to show them their way down. Standing up and walking towards the edge, he took a running start and leaped. Falling spread eagle, he let out an unrestrained laugh of freedom, relishing the wind whipping his hair and sailcloth. Once he felt somewhat satisfied, he brought two fingers to his lips and whistled.

For a moment, nothing happened. But that quickly changed when he saw a blur of red making its way towards him. He grinned as he landed on Crimson’s back and reunited with his soulmate. Whooping with joy, he tilted his head to the sky, closed his eyes and flew . After a short while of soaring in wide circles, he directed Crimson to fly back to the others.

When he landed, he could see relief on the rest of the group as they stopped their pacing and worrying, along with some awe as they stared at Crimson.

After a moment of silence, Wind spoke up. “Uh, Sky, what exactly is that?”, the tension he’d had since he first saw Crimson remained in his shoulders and he kept a slightly defensive stance. 

“This is my loftwing, and his name is Crimson,” Sky began as he dismounted and pressed his forehead lightly against the colossal bird, who warbled brightly in response, “He is completely friendly and our ticket off of this island!”

Wind slowly dropped his defensive stance but the apprehensive expression remained. Four walked forward and put a hand out near the loftwing’s beak, a peace offering. Crimson nudged it, rubbing his face against Four’s palm.

Four lit up and continued to run his fingers along the vibrant feathers in awe.

“So you just get to ride this everywhere ?”

Sky laughed at the childlike wonder Four’s face held, his eyes sparkling a red not unlike Crimson’s feathers.

“Well, I’m going to fly down to the Hylian settlement and ask some friends to help me carry you all. I could take someone down with me though. Four, are you interested?”

“ Am I! ”, spilled out of Four’s mouth before he could stop himself. 

After helping Four atop Crimson, Sky sat behind him on the loftwing’s massive back. After ensuring that Four wouldn’t fall off mid-flight, he waved a quick goodbye to the others and they took off.

Goddesses , Sky missed flying. Seeing Four’s excited face trying to absorb everything he possibly could reminded him of his first times flying. Crimson was always kind, encouraging him to relax and trust him to not drop Sky and send him falling through the clouds, which he now does without a single thought. 

After a time, they reached the vibrant emerald pillar of light that bore a hole in the cloud barrier separating them from the surface. Since the end of Sky’s first adventure and the beginning of the Hylian settlement, loftwings have been able to soar through the opening and reach the surface. He had always relied on Fi to help him before, but now all of his people were able to cross the barrier as they pleased.

The first things he saw were the green treetops of the forests of Faron. They spread across the landscape, covering the area with the shade of courage. A moment later, Sky slowed Crimson’s flight and steadily led him to descend to the open land of the settlement. He noted the construction progress, with more houses built and completed than when he was unceremoniously dumped on his new journey. As he dismounted from Crimson and helped off a slightly wobbly Four, he was met with a blur of blonde hair rushing into him with so much force he was nearly taken off his feet.

“And where have you been! You’ve worried us all sick ! Groose looked everywhere for you, and Pipit and Karane even led search parties! You scared the life out of me when you left Link! Do you have any idea-“

Sky laughed and pulled Zelda, his Zelda, into a tight hug as she told him off. He spun, lifting her off her feet before setting her down, still holding her closely. He let her go, and when Zelda looked up at him, he saw tears welling in her eyes and a smile on her face, and he figured he might not be in too much trouble after all.

“We- I missed you so much,” Zelda choked out, pulling him back into a hug. He buried his face in her hair, relishing in the smell of home. His home.

“Uh… Sky?” He had totally forgotten about Four being there and witnessing the whole exchange.

“Oh, sorry Four,” he ran his hands through his hair, messing it up even more, “This is my Zelda. Zelda, this is one of the companions I have been travelling with.” Sky introduced the two, still feeling a little awkward.

Zelda broke the short silence, talking in a semi-restrained manner, “Hello Four! I hope that Link has behaved on whatever this quest that involves leaving without a word is.”

Uh oh , she was still mad. Sky sent a quick prayer for forgiveness.

Four was at a loss for words. “Well, uh-“

Suddenly, he was saved as a tall, broad man with the weirdest hair he had ever seen walked up to the three and soundly placed his hand on Sky’s shoulder, eliciting a wince out of the chosen hero.

“Well, there’s a face I haven’t seen for a while! Where have you been, Link?”

Before Sky could answer or give any explanation, he was pulled into a bone-crushing hug. He struggled to breathe and tried to wriggle out from the embrace as the man rambled about songbirds and his latest cannon projects. 

“Good to see you t-too, Groose,” Sky managed to choke out, “but could you maybe let me b-breathe?”

Groose finally loosened his grip and Sky gulped in fresh air like a fish. 

Sky stepped back towards Four, clearing his throat.

“This is Four, one of my companions. Groose, please don’t hug him. The others in our group are currently stranded on an island in the sky, so I came down here with Four to ask for some help getting them down.”

Groose nodded enthusiastically, “I’ll go find Pipit and Karane right away! They can find some spare knights to help!”

“I’m going too,” Zelda added.  

Sky smiled, “Of course. Four, do you want to come back up with me on Crimson to explain things?”

Four looked up at him from where he was stroking the loftwing, “I would have jumped on his back if you weren’t going to take me with you anyways. Of course I’m going with you.”

Four whooped from his seat in front of Sky as he urged Crimson higher and faster from the small island they had taken off of. Sky heard similar shouts of excitement and freedom from the other Links. Wind and Wild looked like they were having the time of their lives, the wind sweeping their hair back and revealing the speed demons they were. Wind was sitting with Groose, who immediately crushed him in a hug when they were introduced and soothed his anxieties about riding on a giant bird, and Wild sitting with a female knight who looked remarkably unconcerned. Time looked completely bewildered by the situation, which Sky found did not fit his face at all. Legend and Warriors sat with Karane and Pipit respectively, and they were both hanging on for dear life. Sky bit back a bark of laughter, wishing he had Wild’s slate to take a picture of the scene. Hyrule sat with Zelda, who had taken a liking to him immediately and rambled about the workings of magic, which she held a strong fascination with ever since she read volumes about it in her father’s library. Lastly, Twilight was with another knight who had agreed to help, looking as if he was talking to the bird, nodding as the knight appeared puzzled.

They reached the settlement in the afternoon, dismounting from the loftwings with shaky legs, either positively giddy or complaining about the experience.

Sky gave them a little time to pull themselves together before offering to show them another wonder his Hyrule had to offer.

“Before the sun sets, I want to show you guys something.”  Sky says with a slight grin. The group immediately perked up, wondering where he would lead them.

A slight distance from the settlement, there was a path through a heavily forested area inhabited by giant mushrooms, which Twilight could barely restrain Wild from clambering on like a child on a large dog. Sky led them on as the path curved upwards and led to an ornate white bridge, which the group crossed, Wild finally recovering enough from his mushroom frenzy to snap a picture with his slate, saying that his Zelda would love the view. 

They kept walking along the path, arriving at a corner, and Sky paused.

“This is one of my favorite places in my Hyrule,” he started easily, “It may not be a Lake Hylia, but I hope you like it too,”.

As they rounded the corner, the mesmerizing sound of a waterfall filled their ears. The group stopped, Sky seeing the astonishment on their faces as they laid eyes upon the ancient cistern. The gaping maw of the delicately carved entrance mimicked a fish’s mouth, surrounded by two fins etched into the rock of the face on either side. A gentle waterfall fell in front of it, misting the area, as the water flowed into a shallow pool. Lily pads large enough to comfortably fit Legend floated in the pools, the pale pink of the lotus flowers on them reflecting off of the pristine water nearby. A stone bridge connected the fish-shaped opening to the grassy pathway the group stood on, and tall, broad pillars of tan stone surrounded the opening and followed the shape of the outcropping in a circular shape. Small birds of various colors chirped from their resting spots in the trees and on the cool stone, and the shimmering blue of the sacred butterflies reflected off of the mirroresque water as they continued their leisurely flight.

There were audible gasps from the Links, along with a few dropped jaws. Wild already had the slate out, snapping photographs of the serene space from as many angles as possible. 

After the group was done gawking, they all took off their boots and rolled up their pant-legs, eager to splash each other in the water and make a total mess. Well, everyone other than Legend, who stubbornly sat under the shade of a tree instead, mumbling something about reading a book. Sky shook his head good-naturedly with his hands on his hips at his traveling companions, his family , from his spot near the entrance of where they came.

Although they had not been traveling together long, Sky felt close to the other Links, his successors who would follow in his footsteps and become heroes of Hyrule, triumphing against foes he couldn’t even dream of. Sky felt humbled by his companions every day, their skills in fighting and their courageous personalities reminding him of the bright future his home would hold.

In his reminiscing state, he failed to notice a presence that was not one of his successors.

The rest of the group was distracted in the midst of their water fight, their weapons and shields stored by their boots out of reach. 

Legend, ever the attentive one, felt something was off, his head shooting up from his book. He scanned the small area, noting nothing was amiss in the water, before his gaze shifted to Sky. 

He cried out Sky’s name, snapping him out of his distraction, and Sky felt it too. 

Suddenly, he froze, feeling the presence of someone, something , behind him. Legend looked on in horror.

Legend began to stand, reaching for a weapon, but he was just too far away. And the others were completely unprepared for a fight, with all of their armor and weapons on the grass.

That left Sky on his own as the others scrambled for their things, startled into action by Legend’s warning. He mentally thanked himself for leaving the master sword in its place on his back.

Before he could draw his blade from its sheath, the being pinned Sky’s arms against his back, his shoulders aching uncomfortably at the sudden, wrong angle they had been forced into. He began to shout a warning, but found a razor sharp dagger pressed against his throat; a small, black, diamond-shaped dagger. Sky froze and his breath hitched in disbelief, refusing to acknowledge that he could still be alive after his final battle against Demise. The cursed voice that still haunted his dreams sounded incredibly close to his ear, and his heart stopped.

“ Hello, Sky Child .”

Chapter Text

A shiver of pure terror furled its way down Sky’s spine, anchoring his feet soundly to the soft earth. The sounds of the waterfall splashing into the pool, the birds chirping, of the bated breaths of the others as they hesitated in place, eyes locked onto the blade gradually pressing deeper against Sky’s throat, all faded from his ears as dread bubbled from his very core. His breathing grew quick and ragged as he willed himself to remain still under the tightening grip of his captor. His living nightmare, who he thought he had vanquished for the ultimate time at the climax of his adventure, Ghirahim , let out a cruel laugh as he angled the dagger towards Sky’s throat.

Twilight let loose a beastial snarl as blood began to bead and start its slow dribble down Sky’s neck, but remained frozen in place, mere feet away from his trusty Ordon sword and shield. Sky’s other companions were the same, desperately needing to react, do something to assist Sky, but wracked with indecisiveness, unsure of what to make of their new opposition.

Well, all, that is, except for a certain cocky, blue-scarf wearing captain. 

Being the closest to their gear, he lunged forwards faster than Ghirahim could react, reaching their pile of weapons haphazardly strewn on the grass, grasping the handle of his blade. He raised his arm high, elbow bent, and threw his sword like a javelin towards the demon. 

The blade sung through the air as the demon spurred himself into action, raising his free hand that wasn’t restraining the Chosen Hero and snapping his fingers.

Immediately, both him and Sky vanished in a flurry of black diamonds, leaving the other heroes frantically whipping their heads around in search of them.

They didn’t have to search for long. Ghirahim’s coated voice echoed in the amphitheater-esque area. Heads pivoted so quickly that the sound of multiple necks cracking filled the space, all focused on the source of the repulsive sing-song tone.

“Well, Hero of Warriors. I see your fighting spirit has yet to diminish since our last meeting,” Ghirahim’s tongue was like a snakes, carefully sculpting every word with malicious intent.

Ghirahim stood on the platform of the ornate, fish-shaped entrance of the cistern, the previously serene area no longer feeling sacred by any means. He still held a vice-like grip on the Chosen Hero, who appeared to have snapped out of his stupor and was attempting to wriggle his hands free and kick at the demon, trying not to jostle the weapon slowly draining a trail of blood from his throat.

 “Let him go , Ghirahim,” Warriors replied coldly, voice filled with nothing less than malice.

Sky’s eyes widened in shock at the new information, barely processing it. Warriors knew Ghirahim?

The demon tilted his head back and gave a somehow menacing giggle.

“This is not about you, you imputent little captain. This is revenge .”

As he spoke, the dagger he was holding against Sky’s throat vanished and the hand restraining the Chosen Hero crackled to life with electricity that glowed as black as tar. In an instant, it flooded through Sky’s very being, his veins coursing with agony as he let out a hoarse shriek as he felt every cell in his body electrify.

“ SKY!” A collective cry emerged from the group.

Sky’s prone form now hung helplessly in the demon’s grasp, his arms dangling uselessly in Ghirahim’s steel, shackle-like grip. He gasped desperately for breath as the aftershocks of the dark magic ran through him, shaking in pain. 

He weakly lifted his head to his friends, his brothers , hoping to convey his plea for them to run away, to escape.

Legend clearly missed the memo, or he just didn’t give a shit.

“ Enough of this! ” Legend roared, brandishing his blade in one hand and twirling his fire rod in the other. He charged forward, intent on running the demon through and burning the bitch alive.

That is, until he smacked into a glowing barrier that pulsed a sickly yellow, effectively separating Sky from the rest of the group.

Immediately, fists were pounded against the unforgiving barrier, swords slashed, spells cast, but it held strong.

Ghirahim released his grip on the weakened hero, who crumpled to the hard stone in a heap.

“W-why are you doing this,” Sky gasped out through choked, strangled breaths, to which Ghirahim responded by fisting his hand in his hair, forcing his head  up painfully, kneeling down slightly so that they were at eye level.

“ It’s exactly as I said before, Sky Child ,” Ghirahim seethed, his voice an untamable blaze,“ Revenge ”.

Sky’s limbs were lead, so all he could manage was a strained glare.

“ You cost me my position, my power as the sword of Demise. Because of that, I was forced to fight in another pointless war before being spat back into this time. So, hero , I believe I have much to thank you for”.

Suddenly, a heel harder than titanium found its place in Sky’s gut. The chosen hero wheezed out a breath, curling into himself. Another kick struck his hip, and then in between his aching ribs, then another, and another, leaving him with lungs heaving painfully for air as the demon moved back to survey his work. 

“How does it feel, heroes of courage ?,” Ghiahim projected beyond the barrier, but Sky struggled to hear the other Link’s responses, “to have the first of all of you give up so swiftly? Are you angry, vengeful? His failures are the sole reason each of you have been forced on journeys to do Hylia’s bidding, after all.”

“In the meantime, I assure you that the barrier is impenetrable and you won’t be joining us anytime soon, so you may as well just stop fighting against it”.

Undeterred by the demon’s words to both himself and the others, Sky, defiant as ever, struggled to his feet, clutching his chest and coughing, a terrible wet, raspy noise emitting from it. He still shook from the dark magic that was injected into his veins and electrified, and he wobbled slightly every few moments, like he was resisting the urge to collapse.

Still, he reached for the master sword and his goddess shield, drawing it and readying his shield with his eyes focused solely on Ghirahim, wanting nothing more than to rip the demon to pieces.

His rotten words had the opposite of their intended effect on the chosen hero, fueling the fire stoked in his heart.

Ghirahim stood and took one look at the hero’s attempt to pull himself together, a low, resounding chuckle, snapping his fingers yet again.

He vanished, and Sky swiveled on his heels until he faced the opposite direction, looking towards the carved fish maw, still clinging to old habits of encountering the demon. He didn’t see him, however, and heard another snap .

Swiftly turning back again, Sky noticed a large figure on the stone not far away.

Immediately, Sky fell to his knees, fighting spirit forgotten as he gazed at his loftwing, which took small, shuddering breaths from his place crumpled against the worn stone.

Crimson’s feathers were in disarray and streaked with rust-colored blood, like he had fought against his assailant and was hurt in the process.His chest rose and fell weakly in an unsteady rhythm.

Ghirahim’s silver-tongued voice boomed from every part of the circular walls that towered over the space, utterly and competely unavoidable.

“After I discovered you had returned, I began thinking of ways to hurt . Your blasted courage may make you resilient to your own suffering, but what about the pain of others?”, his cruel tone flooded through Sky’s ears, barely audible over the pounding of his own heart.

“So, I infected it with a form of malice, which acts as a deadly poison to your pathetic oversized bird created by your goddess,”Ghirahim continued.

”The loftwing is not long for this world, hero , all because of your own failures,” the demon taunted.

Despite the muffled voices on the other side of the barrier, no doubt urging him to fight back and not listen to the corrupting words, Sky knew, deep down, that everything he was saying was true. 

His entire adventure was a failure, and was always fighting the clock. He was too late to save Zelda many times over the course of his journey. At the end of his battle with Demise, he allowed the demon king to elicit the words that have continuously haunted him since, the curse that followed his spirit and forced all of the other Links to become heroes. He ruined their lives, being directly responsible for every scar, every nightmare, all because he was too late .

He returned his focus to the present, setting aside his pre-existing guilt that he carried with him in every waking moment, and that regularly haunted his dreams.

Painfully stumbling to his feet, Sky uneasily made his way over to his old friend, sinking to the hard ground at Crimson’s side.

“The beast will die, regardless of your decision. But would you rather let him suffer for your failures, dying slowly and agonizingly? Or will you find a shred of your apparent courage and end it yourself?” Ghirahim tormented the chosen hero, kneeling in front of his crumpled form so that he was eye level with him, not that he could see him anyways, relishing in the show playing out before him.

Sky gently ran his fingers through the feathers that had been crusted by blood, likely from when he was captured while Sky was relaxing with the others, sightseeing of all things. He swallowed the lump in his throat and leaned down to Crimson, holding him close. He hoped that, somehow, the emotions he couldn’t bring himself to put into words could somehow be portrayed through his actions.

From the look of understanding in Crimson’s eyes, he must have succeeded.

Sky took a shaky breath, not ready to say goodbye. He glanced at Ghirahim, relieved to find him at a distance, although he was filled with rage at the sight of the cruel grin present on his face.

As he clung to the other half of himself, tears welled up in his eyes and his vision blurred. As if sensing his sorrow, Crimson managed to fight the effects of the poison just enough to raise his head, meeting Sky’s own as his eyes widened in question, but quickly clenched shut, savoring the moment with his beloved loftwing as best as he could.

As their foreheads met for a final time, Sky opened his eyes and gazed into Crimson’s, which flashed with understanding, and his soul shattered . He couldn’t say goodbye, not to him. The master sword clattered to the worn stone below him from its previous death grip in his hand, as he brought his knees to his chest, clutching at his hair.

His mind began to wander, all of his memories with Crimson flooding forward.

 Meeting his loftwing while the other children of Skyloft gawked at it’s vibrant crimson feathers in jealousy, and deciding on his name right then and there as Sky ruffled his feathers affectionately.

Their first flight, where he clung on for dear life as Crimson soared in gentle circles above Skyloft, the wind in Sky’s hair a gentle caress. 

His adventure, where as frantic as he was to find Zelda, he failed to appreciate his avian friend. Crimson was always there to catch him without fail, a welcome presence after encountering only endless monsters that wanted nothing more than to kill him. He somehow always knew when Sky was injured, pressing his head gently to the wound until he was reassured that yes , Sky would in fact chug down a red potion or two and stop by the knight academy for proper treatment.

Introducing Crimson to the others, especially Four. Oh goddesses, Four.  He had immediately formed a strong connection with the loftwing, and would no doubt despise Sky for what he was considering.

He blinked back into the present, eyes wet and unfocused.

Sky raised his blade, shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

The master sword glowed faintly, a soft blue lighting Crimson’s blood red feathers. Fi chimed, a hollow farewell to a trusted companion. 

Sky’s trembling hands brought the holy blade down towards the other half of his very soul, tears clouding his vision as his blessed weapon sank into the heart of his dearest friend. With one weak, final trill of pure, unadulterated love and forgiveness, the shuddering loftwing grew still, his chest exhaling for the last time.

The chosen hero removed his blade as gently as he could from his best friend, tossing it as far away from himself as he could, like it had scorched him, before he clutched Crimson’s motionless body to his chest and screamed . Heavy, flooring feelings of pure agony numbed him to the outside world as he collapsed in on himself like a dying star.

His mind knew only one thing; that  he murdered a piece of his own soul and it was all his fault and there was nothing he could do to save him.

His selfless, faithful Crimson, whose blood was gently leaking from the wound that killed him, that Sky inflicted, slowly soaking into his pantlegs.

He failed his closest friend, condemning him to death by his own hand.

After cradling the cooling body of his closest friend, he delicately lowered Crimson’s head to the ground, sobs wracking his form.

He stared at nothing, hands hanging loosely by his sides, eyes completely glazed over by anguish and insurmountable guilt. He hardly noticed a snap, followed by a metallic sound of diamonds vanishing into thin air and the barrier around him fading away, or the others rushing forward all at once.

Sky didn’t register the firm hand on his shoulder, which was soon joined by another on his other shoulder, the person gently rotating his body to the side and into a tight embrace, whispering apologies into his matted hair fervently. 

He didn’t notice the sharp bitterness of the healing potion he was urged to swallow, or the resulting relief as his breathing was no longer wet or rasped and the cut on his throat transformed into a thin, white scar, leaving behind a drying trail of scarlet. 

All Sky saw was the blood of his beloved loftwing staining his hands, his clothes.

His vision was stained the very shade of his dear friend’s feathers, a piece of his soul lying lifelessly on the stone.

Crimson .

Chapter Text

Four shook his head weakly, trying to dispel the effects of yet another portal. He didn’t hear any monsters raving to rip him and Wind to shreds or the familiar clang of his group’s steel clashing against their usual unwelcomed paparazzi, so he kept his eyes firmly closed. After a moment of settling his head and stomach, the Smithy opened his eyes hesitantly and gave a small look around where he ended up.

“Wait! This is my Hyrule!”

Wind jumped up, eyes glittering with excitement.

“Does that mean I can finally meet the Minish that you’ve told me about!” Wind practically pulsated in place, eager to meet the small friends Four often mentioned.

Four grinned, remembering his childlike wonder he held when he met the picori for the first time, which he still felt every time he shrank himself in a portal to greet his tiny friends. No matter how many times he saw them and greeted them, it never got old.

“Didn’t you say that only children could see them?” Legend, naturally, was the first to interject with something negative.

“What, scared they’re gonna be taller than you, Vet?”, teased a hearty tone.

Warriors was eager to banter as always, and only a firm disapproving gaze from Time, arms crossed in warning, kept Legend from firing back with a no doubt rehearsed insult.

Four tuned them out, addressing the whole group, “Actually, anyone marked by the Triforce of Courage can see them too.”

They seemed mostly content with his answer, although there was quiet grumbling from a certain hero.

As the group continued to follow the packed dirt path Four knew all too well, they started chatting anew to fill the silence not quite blocked out by the sounds of the forest around them. Most of the conversations were mindless enough, commenting on the stillness of the vast oak forest they traversed. Every once in a while, rustles in the thick emerald brush in between the trees had hands inching towards sword hilts, only for them to relax as a squirrel or rabbit emerged from the greenery instead of an angry bokoblin.

Overall, it was far more calming than their experience before stumbling into this portal. They had been in Hyrule’s- well, Hyrule, where they had been tracked by an onslaught of pesky monsters for the better part of a week. 

The heroes had been dumped straight into their camp upon entering Hyrule’s time and booked it out of there as cautiously as they could.

 Still, they had come out a bit beat up from that nightmare. Twilight occasionally rolled his shoulder with a wince, which had sustained a nasty arrow wound in their rushed bid to safety. Legend limped slightly, remnants of his sprained ankle clinging to the veteran like glue. But the worst off was Wild, who nursed his head and winced whenever one of them talked too loudly, recovering from a concussion after one of his bokoblins landed a nasty hit with it’s club. Every so often, he rambled something about a frog and stuck his tongue out in disgust, but Hyrule cleared him of any permanent damage, so they decided not to question it.

Four stopped them at an odd looking tree stump with an opening at the top.

“Now, in order to meet the Minish, we need to shrink, just a little bit.”

Warriors shook his head slightly, as if trying go rearrange the words that came out of Four’s mouth in a way that made sense.

“ Shrink? And what exactly do you mean by that, Smithy?”

Four faked clearing his throat to hide his laughter at the captain’s bewildered expression. He sometimes forgot that not everyone had exposure to the non-combat related side of magic on their adventures.

“By using this portal, actually. Back on my first adventure, I had a friend who helped me to use them, but he taught me once before he- never mind. Anyways, I’m not very efficient with this magic, so I’ll need some of your magical expertise to take care of everyone, Hyrule. I’ll teach you, but I don’t have enough magic to shrink all of you by myself.”

The traveller nodded his head eagerly, ready to help as always.

“Alright then, let’s get started, shall we?”

Four let loose a light laugh as he watched his companions gawk at the seemingly massive mushrooms inside of the stump for a minute, before getting their attention and leading them through the exit of the portal.

Still trying to adjust to being small, they were all a bit disoriented, though none of them were too focused on the ground at their feet. Instead, all of the heroes couldn’t help but try to absorb their surroundings, necks straining as they stared at blades of grass three times their height and trees that towered over their worlds like titans.

Four went back to his place at the front of the group, and the heroes continued their trek to the Minish Village, following the small path laid out before them.

Soon enough, the massive, lush forest thinned out and they came to the entrance of the Minish Village. Four smiled, relieved to see a place where he always felt comfortable and welcomed.

“Well boys, we can relax now. This village is one of the safest places in my Hyrule, and the Minish have always helped and fed me on my travels, and there’s always a warm bed to sleep in here,” Four spouted confidently.

Tense shoulders dropped slightly, and hands fell from their resting spot on their respective hilts as they walked through the entrance and took in the most tranquil, cozy place they had ever seen.

The entire village was shadowed by gently swaying oak trees that blocked the harsh, direct sunlight far above their reach. Small, quaint homes resembling toadstool and bearing different colored tops, were scattered around the space. A gentle breeze swayed the fragile flowers that decorated the place, and there was a clearing in the center of the village. It was covered in a layer of vibrant blue flowers, which were also scattered throughout. Four didn’t remember seeing them before.

They must be a new addition.

Well I think they look great.

Of course you do, Blue.

To be fair, he has a point.

Other than the flowers, the village looked the same as he remembered. 

However, something felt off.

Empty.

Cold .

Four strained his ears, but was unable to hear the chirping language of the Minish or the sounds of footsteps anywhere.

Sighing, the Smith walked to a familiar house, with a vibrant crimson roof.

He knocked but heard no answer. So he opened the door.

It was vacant, and Four’s mind started racing. He felt a splitting headache forming as four collective voices of worry clashed against his skull, and he found himself unable to speak.

There was a thin layer of dust on the surfaces inside the house, like it had been abandoned weeks ago.

“Wait a minute”, Hyrule interrupted the tense silence, “There’s a book here, it looks like some sort of journal. There’s a note on top too,”.

He reached his arm down to the small wooden table and took the note, unfolding it and reading the contents.

“For the Hero of the Minish. Go to the bookmarked entry, this will explain what happened. I’m sorry, Link. Thank you for everything.

Signed, your grateful friend, Ditari.”

Four’s head jerked up like a puppeteer’s string was pulling him upwards.

“Did you say Ditari?”

Time stepped in, voice a grounding force as always, “Do you know him?”

“Y-yeah, he was one of the first Minish I talked to in the village. He loved to hear me talk.l about my grandfather and Zelda and- well, he’s a close friend who I visited a lot before I met you guys.”

Time put a steady hand on Four’s shoulder, calming, when he fell noticeably silent.

“Let’s go back outside. The fresh air will be better than breathing in dust,” Twilight suggested.

They shuffled out of the small home, quietly taking in the silence of the empty streets.

After a while, no one spoke. 

And so Hyrule cleared his throat, took a deep breath, and opened the journal to it’s bookmarked entry.

An illness has been ravaging our people these past weeks. It came out of nowhere, and we have discovered no cure.

It started with the elders. They began to pale and their bodies became riddled with violent coughs. We couldn’t pinpoint a source then, so we were forced to do nothing but watch as the wisest of all of us slowly drained of life, before dying all together. 

By now, after these past weeks, we’ve discovered that some dark essence is seeping through the seal of the Four Sword. The barrier preventing Vaati from returning to the physical world appears to have weakened slightly, letting some of his magic escape.

We have managed to contact the other Minish populations, who have all seemed to be suffering through this cursed plague. Though, us in the Village have held out the longest. The rest are all dead.

Everyone else is gone, and we are the only Minish left.

The illness completely consumes our bodies, and we’ve found that at the end of the process, our bodies turn into some sort of dust. Unfortunately, anyone who could research or have knowledge on this phenomenon is long dead. Still, there is a strange sereneness in this plague. In the places where the remains of our people have been scattered, small plants have begun to sprout. One day soon, I’m sure, they will bud and bloom into flowers that represent us as, our dreams and desires and words left unsaid, and we will not be forgotten.

I, too, will bloom among my friends and family soon enough.

There’s only a few of us left here, and I’m beginning to show symptoms of infection. If anyone manages to find this, tell Link we’re sorry. 

And Link, please don’t blame yourself. Vaati’s actions are not your own, and you are not at fault for the seal’s security. On behalf of the Minish, thank you for your sacrifices and your kindness. 

Thank you for being my beloved friend.

Thank you for everything.

Signed, Ditari of the Minish Village .

Four didn’t even realize he was falling until his knees touched the soft, grassy ground of the Minish village that was once so warm. Now lifeless, the only inhabitants being himself and the strange gaggle of heroes behind him.

No.

 No. 

Nonononononononono.

They’re all dead.

Gone.

All because of me.

And it’s all our fault.

All because we decided to go on this adventure and abandon our home.

They were always there for us. They helped us on our adventure every step of the way. 

They were so kind.

They were family .

We can’t handle this. What are we going to say.

What do we do .

They were falling apart. In front of the others.

They were going to split.

Fuck.

Red calm down.

Shut the hell up Vio.

I wasn’t talking to you, Blue.

Can we all just breathe for a second? I know we’re in shock, but I think we’re going to pass out.

Yeah, sure Green. Let me just open our fucking lungs and revive the Minish while I’m at it.

Stop it, you-

Four snapped back to their- his senses when he felt a slight slap on his cheeks.

Wind.

Wind, who had been so excited to meet the Minish, who placed his hands on Four’s shoulders so gently it was like he was scared the smith would shatter.

He gave a sad smile, eyes wet yet understanding.

“You with me Four?”

For swallowed hard, the lump in his throat suffocating the reply he tried to force from his mouth.

Giving up on his words, he nodded weakly instead.

Wind quickly threw his arms around Four, knocking him flat on his back to the ground with the sheer force. 

“I am so sorry that this is happening, but right now I need you to know that we’re here, okay? Please don’t forget that.”

Four was stunned into silence, a million thoughts racing through his mind.

So he doesn’t hate us?

I don’t know, Red. What does it look like?

Shut the hell up for once Blue, I think Wind wants our attention.

Wind had let go of him while he was distracted, and had an odd expression on his face as the smith sat himself up from where the force of Wind’s hug had shifted his world flat on his back.

“Uh hey, Four, probably not a good time, but was your shadow always weird?”

Four’s head jerked up at that, eyes open wide as he looked at Wind.

His shadow?

What.

The thought ran through all of the colors  at a million minds an hour, and yet again Four found himself stunned into silence as he stared at the ground where his dark reflection against the grassy earth, and saw it shift slightly, as if it was nervous from the attention.

“S-Shadow?” Four finally managed. 

His shadow waved , and he could feel a piece of his shattered world find another, his heart beginning to swell with happiness and disbelief. He began to cry again, but this time the feelings of loss were twinged with hope.

He was still in anguish over the loss of the Minish but impossibly, something he thought to be gone forever came back to him. Not something, some one .

Rustling and several gasps of shock were audible as Four’s shadow rippled and shuddered. Slowly, a figure began to emerge from it, identical to Four in every way, except in color. It’s hues were of black and a deep purple, the dark to Four’s light.

His Shadow .

Four’s body shook as he quickly lunged forward, bringing Shadow into a tight hug. Shadow let out an oomph as he fell to the ground this time, laughing elatedly.

“Boys”, Time addressed the others, “we should leave them be for a bit. I’m sure that they have a lot of things to talk about right now. We can wait for them by the village entrance.”

Four shot the older man a grateful look, which was quickly waved off as he and Twilight herded the others away from Four and his mirror image.

The sound of hurried footsteps and rushed whispers diminished until he couldn’t hear them anymore. The smith took this as his chance to start talking.

“How are you here ?”, Four couldn’t hold back the question any longer.

“Well… when you arrived in our Hyrule, Vaati’s dark magic seeping through the seal somehow allowed me to regain my physical form.”

Four shook his head slightly, disbelieving that this was reality, that Shadow was really there.

“It’s not permanent, but I should be able to leave your shadow like this every once in a while, and I’m strong enough to act on my own when I’m stuck too,” Shadow paused, eyes wet, “I suppose I should thank him, despite everything, for giving me the chance to finally show you I’m alive.”

The Smithy swallowed down the knot in his throat, the uneven breaths that accompany crying hitching as he inhaled, eyes a glimmering swirl of color.

“So, all this time, you-“

“I’ve been watching over you in your Shadow ever since I destroyed that mirror to seal Vaati. Breaking it didn’t kill me, but it did weaken me. My physical body perished and I was bound to your shadow. But know this, Link, I will never regret what I did at that tower to stop Vaati, and you shouldn’t beat yourself up over it.”

“ But- “

Shadow interjected again before Four’s ramblings of guilt could ensnare him, “This new adventure of yours is completely out of your control, just like it was back then. The Minish being infected by Vaati’s magic is something you could never have changed, even if you were here.”

“ Shadow,- “

“No matter what you choose to believe, it’s not your fault. The Minish were proud of you and being able to help you on your adventure . They never regretted their actions and not one time have they ever blamed you for anything, and you shouldn’t either. Promise me .”

Four said nothing.

They sat in a contemplative silence for a moment, before Shadow broke it, frowning slightly.

“Link, my strength is waning, so I have to recharge in your shadow for a while. But we will continue this conversation later. In the meantime, you should visit the clearing with the flowers. I think they’ll offer you some peace.”

Squeezing Four’s hand gently, Shadow melted back into the earth, where he would stay until they could talk again.

Four stood on slightly shaking legs and walked over to the small field adorned with the many flowers of his dead friends, making his way to the center before sinking to his knees again. In that moment, he saw nothing but the vibrant blue of the fragile petals, the soothing breeze threatening to blow his loose hair into his face. The smith sat, allowing any voices in his mind to be shushed by the rustling of the massive oaks above, tears slowly trailing down his face.

He didn’t even noticed how much time had passed until he was startled out of his trance by the sound of careful footsteps.

“Hey, uh, Four,” a tentative voice came from behind him. They must have walked from the group’s spot by the vacant houses. “I know that this is a weird request, but are you okay with me taking a picture of the flowers. For my Zelda?”

Wild’s reassuring tone gave Four the lingering thought that the Minish would want others to enjoy their flowers, and that it would make their hearts happy.

He couldn’t muster the courage to speak, so he nodded weakly, watching as the small flowers gracefully swayed in the reassuring breeze, a sharp contrast against the jade grass of the clearing.

Four heard the shifting of equipment and the signature swooping noise that Wild’s slate emitted when he opened the camera feature, followed by a soft click .

He noted several more gentle dings before Wild took an intake of breath, voice wobbling as he spoke.

“The slate says these are called blue violets. They represent faithfulness and the promise to always watch over someone. And, for all of these blossoms, that someone is you.”

Despite everything, a bittersweet smile graced the Smithy’s lips. Even now, the Minish were still watching over him.

His eyes welled with unshed tears again.

“Violets, huh?”

Wild slowly turned and returned to the other heroes, and he stood from where he kneeled among the field of violets and glanced at his Shadow, who patted his own shoulder in a supportive gesture, before beckoning for Four to go join the rest of the heroes that were watching him from a respectful distance.

And, after stretching out his stiff legs, he obliged, tiptoeing around the violets as he went. 

Once he was sure he wouldn’t step on the flowers, he quietly slipped into his head.

Hey, Vio?

Yeah Red?

I really miss the Minish.

Me too.

So do I.

We all do, and I know damn well we’re gonna beat ourselves up over this. But that’s not what the Minish wanted for us. That’s not what Ditari would want. You all heard what Shadow told us. He’s right, you know.

A collective sigh escaped the four of them.

You’re right.

You always know what to say Vio. I hate it.

But you love me, Blue. Admit it.

Never .

Guys can we focus? We just walked past them.

Shit.

“Sorry guys,” Four jogged lightly back to the group.

Legend was the first to speak, waving off his apology, “Don’t worry about it. You’ve had a rough day, to say the least.”

“Maybe we should head to your Castle town, Four. We’re fresh out of potions, and I think we could all use a break. You could finally introduce us to your grandfather who you’re always talking about, and your Zelda too,” Sky chimed in from his spot where he sat on the soft grass against the wall of the red-capped home.

Sky’s mother hen-like instincts must have kicked in, he always knew when they were struggling and how to boost their moods. It was scarily accurate, and they all quickly learned to never argue with an overprotective Sky.

Going back to Castle Town would be a good break for the heroes, and well-deserved too.

Seeing his Grandpa and Zelda again certainly wouldn’t hurt either. He had so much to tell them, after all.

Taking one last glance at the village and the field of blue violets within it, Four led his found family back to the tree stump portal. Growing back to normal size was a relief, since they could cover more ground and reach Castle town before dark.

His heart was still heavy and bleeding, but he headed the group on the road towards Castle town, the sunset at his back and hope in his shadow.

Chapter Text

From the moment they had been unceremoniously dumped onto the flat expanse of open, golden fields, Time had a rare, permanent smile on his face.

He refused to tell the other heroes why, and they were starting to be slightly unnerved by the mischievous grin that made his dimples appear so proudly they looked like they hurt.

“Y’all are in for a treat today,” Twilight’s soothing drawl carried across the group, “Maybe you’ll even get to meet my great great great great great great great-“

Time looked amused, but cut him off.

“Ok, I think that’s enough Rancher. They’ll find out sooner or later.”

“Find out what?” An upbeat voice curiously wondered. 

A sigh. “Well, I guess they’ll find out soon enough anyway. Just tell them.”

“About his kid, of course!”

A very loud “What the fuck? ” was heard in Wind’s distinctive piratey accent, which he definitely did not practice in the mirror.

Legend froze in his tracks, his eyebrows raised and jaw dropped.

“You’re a dad?”

With a grin he may or may not have described as smug, Time crossed his arms.

“Well, I figured that practically adopting all of you would make it obvious.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”, Wind was certainly surprised by the news, 

Time shrugged, “You never asked.”

He turned his head to the back of the group where he heard poorly muffled laughter.

“Anything you two want to share?”

The laughter intensified as Hyrule and Four grasped their stomachs in an attempt to compose themselves.

Hyrule nudged Four in the side with his elbow, and Time heard a breathless “Go on, say it again.”

And with a shit-eating grin threatening to split his face in half, Four choked out a single sentence that sent them into chaos.

“Does that make you fucking Father Time ?”

“Oh my god.” Time’s eye widened in realization. 

Like a group of children, the heroes exploded. Twilight all but collapsed onto Wild’s shoulder, who looked like he was about to piss his pants.

Through the sea of laughing heroes, Time could see Legend, keeled over and quickly wiping at his eyes, turning away as he did so. 

He gave in and chuckled along with them. His hearty laugh, the group noted, did sound extremely father figure-like.

<hr/>

The rest of their journey was in good spirits after that, and they couldn’t help but admire the scenery as the lightly forested plains transitioned into golden fields of grain. The sun, having just begun its downward trek, illuminated everything in a rich orange glow.

They saw a familiar ranch in the distance, and Time began to pick up the pace. As the house became closer, they noticed a figure standing outside with what looked to be a basket at their hip, which was quickly set down. Their hair looked like billowing flames in the sunset, their white skirt a gently blowing cloud. As they lifted an arm high and waved to the heroes, Time lost all sense of self-restraint.

He ran forward as fast as he could while encumbered by his heavy gear and armor and threw his arms around his wife.

“Well, ain’t this a surprise!”, Malon grinned cheekily as she tightly hugged him back. Despite the armor plates no doubt digging into her side uncomfortably, she held him close with a blinding smile.

“Come on in, boys. I just put Romani to bed, so try not to be too loud, alright?”

“Can we see her?” Hyrule loved kids, so it was no surprise he asked first.

Malon’s smile grew even more loving, “Of course, but you have to be quiet . Now y’all can set your gear down and you can see her after.”

They removed their boots and shields and scabbards, leaving poorly quieted scuffing noises in their wake.

And so Malon led them upstairs and into the bedroom her and Time shared, stopping just short of a cradle by the window, gesturing to the heroes by pressing her pointer finger to her lips.

Romani was sleeping peacefully, gnawing on a chubby knuckle and subsequently drooling all over her hand.

Time felt himself smile as she babbled incoherently, her hand swallowing most of the noise.

A symphony of very heroic aww s and coos came from their little gaggle, and Time glanced at Malon as she bit back a giggle.

After fawning over the sleeping baby, they went back downstairs, where Malon insisted on making them a warm meal, Wild jumping to his feet to help. Before the moon reached its place in the star-speckled sky, every hero had helped themselves to a delicious bowl of pumpkin stew. They sat around the table and recounted stories of their adventures, with Malon and Time checking on Romani frequently. The night was full of laughter and banter, and their little ranch was brighter than he’d ever seen it. It felt warm, like how a home was supposed to feel.

They called it a night soon after, and Four and Wind did the dishes without complaint.

After saying their goodnights, the others fell asleep in an oddly comfortable heap in the living room, while Time and his wife went to their bed upstairs.

“You know,” Malon whispered to Time as she swept the light layer of fiery red hair out of Romani’s eyes with a delicate finger, “I think our daughter has some incredible brothers now.”

“And an incredible mother,” Time planted a kiss on her head, “Who should really be getting some sleep.”

She playfully elbowed him, “You’re one to talk, fairy boy. I can see those eye bags of yours from Hyrule Field.”

“Alright, alright. Let's both go to bed.”

“I love you Link.”

He brought her into another hug, never wanting to let go.

“I love you too, Malon.”

He and Malon were both woken several times by their daughter’s crying, but he didn’t mind.

Time was just glad to be home.

<hr/>

He woke up later than usual, and despite the way the late morning’s light warmed their window, he found that something felt off. Noticing that Romani was blissfully silent, he turned to face Malon, stopping in his tracks when he saw her.

She was stiff, cold. Her vibrant vermillion hair looked dull like unpolished copper. 

“Malon, honey?”

He set a gentle hand on her shoulder and shook her slightly. No response.

“ Malon ?”

“ Malon! ”

His voice wavered and then broke completely, a million I love yous forever on his tongue, never to reach her ears. His shoulders shook with silent sobs that she could never comfort, and he pushed the heels of his palms so hard into his eyes he saw a stark flash of white against his eyelids, willing away the nightmare. But when he took them away and opened his eye, Malon’s own glassy ones remained staring back at him.

With the hesitant touch of a little forest boy cloaked in green, his fingers soothed her eyelids closed into a peaceful rest.

Gently, so gently , Link picked up the lifeless body of his beloved wife, shuddering when he felt how utterly limp she was, and held her to his chest, wailing over the loss of the woman who always understood. Who was always there when he got back.

But not anymore.

Unless .

Time gently set Malon down on the bed, his breath catching when she stayed unmoving.

He fumbled for the belt around his waist that he had forgotten to take off, his vision so blurred from tears that he was nearly blind. His fingers felt the round, smooth object he was looking for and pulled it towards his face with shaky fingers.

The notes were hesitant, airy, and terribly off-key. If Malon could have heard them, she would have teasingly asked him why he was using the Ocarina of Time as a dog whistle.

As the final, breathy note of the Song of Healing died from the instrument, Time watched, paralyzed. But she remained still and silent.

Time broke, dropping the ocarina on the bed and folding over himself, resting his head on his knees. The tears didn’t stop.

The other heroes, hearing his cries, went to investigate, only to break down themselves. The house felt cold, empty, nothing like the night before. When she was there.

From her crib, Romani began to cry too, like she knew her mother was gone.

<hr/>

That night, underneath a sunset that was all goldens and crimsons and so incredibly Malon , Time put his wife to rest. The others had insistently offered to help, not wanting to leave him alone, he guessed. All he was willing to let them do was help him dig the grave.

He looked down at his hands.

A bouquet of sunflowers, cut from the nearby field, held in a vice-like grip. 

Hands trembling, he placed them on top of Malon’s final resting place on a hill close to their ranch, underneath the resilient oak tree she had always admired.

He stood there for goddess knows how long, completely numb to the world.

<hr/>

When he half staggered into their- his home after it got so dark he couldn’t see himself, he noticed the quiet. Only Sky and Twilight remained downstairs by the fire, while the rest must have scattered upstairs somewhere.

Twilight immediately got to his feet, encircling Time in a deep hug that must have run in Malon’s blood, and he sank into it. After a while, Twilight stepped away and lightly clapped a hand on his shoulder.

He gave a sad smile, and Time could see the redness on his face and the puffiness of his under eyes, which no doubt mirrored his own. Twilight gestured over towards where Sky was sitting criss-crossed in the firelight, carving away at something.

“You should go talk to him. And don’t worry about Romani, Hyrule and Wind have got it covered.”

Time moved robotically, feeling like the weight of the world was bearing down on him, but he eventually reached Sky and settled down beside him.

Sky turned his head, the signs of grief clear, although his eyes were bright with focus.

“I figured you might want something to put with Malon, something to- well, I don’t think I can explain it in words properly.”

Time’s gaze shifted down to what Sky held in his hands, and his face crumpled.

It was beautiful. A wooden grave marker delicately carved from a sturdy piece of oak wood by Sky himself. Sunflowers bloomed around it’s borders, drawing fairies to their golden petals. Within the delicate border, a horse freely ran through a field of wheat, looking suspiciously like a younger Epona.

Malon would have loved it. Sunflowers always were her favorite, their brilliant canary blooms standing tall. She never stopped calling him Fairy Boy, and he had long since grown fond of the nickname. And she had admired horses ever since she was a child. They reminded her of her father and were always unflinchingly courageous and unafraid and beautiful. 

Just like her.

Swallowing the lump that threatened to consume his voice, Time managed to choke out something. “Sky, this is-“

“Flip it over,” suggested the Chosen Hero in a soft voice, “I had Four help me a bit.”

Delicately, Time slowly brought the other face forward, and his eye once again threatened to well with tears.

Two fairies met each other at the top, and his eye ran along the engraving below them.

The tears fell, and Sky rubbed his back comfortingly as he sobbed into his shoulder.

<hr/>

When he went to bed that night, the bed was cold and empty. Romani’s crib was noticeably absent, likely moved by Hyrule and Wind.

So, Time stared at the moon outside of his window, tears silently falling down his face as he thought about his wife until sleep took him.

<hr/>

The morning was beautiful, which it had no right to be. The birds were singing cheerfully from the trees, and the clouds blew calmly across the serene sky. Time walked slowly up the gently sloping hill, stopping under the tree that his wife was buried at. Without a word, he placed the grave marker at the base of the strong oak, running a light finger over Malon’s name.

He knelt there for a while, imagining the breeze tangling his bangs as her fingers running through his hair when she thought he was asleep.

He stood and glanced over to the expansive sunflower field beyond the slope. They had many picnics under this tree, watching the sturdy yet beautiful flowers sway. They danced on this hill, Malon humming carefree tunes of her own design, giggling when Time lifted her up and spun her around.

He found out she was pregnant under this tree. For a moment he was speechless, jaw dropped and body frozen. But, he was quick to bring Malon into an ecstatic hug, so excited at the prospect of being a parent that his eye became glossy and his dimples looked like craters in his cheeks.

Time wished that Malon would get to see Romani learn to crawl, to walk, to call her Mom for the first time. There were so many things he wanted to experience with her, so many parenting dilemmas he wanted to banter with her about.

But he could never do that.

His shoulders shook and he fell to his knees once more. Sobs wracked his body, and he could feel a headache forming in his skull. But he didn’t care. At that moment, he just wanted his wife. 

Over his heavy breaths, he heard a faint shimmering noise. His eye flashed open.

For a brief instant, he thought he saw a fairy as fiery red and bold as Malon’s hair, but the instant he blinked, it was gone. 

So, he went back to staring at the grave marker, his sobs exhausted to silent sniffles, until he felt Twilight’s strong hand rest on his shoulder. He led Time home, where his daughter was. Where Malon would never be again.