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After being thrown through the swirling dark portal, the chain was deposited in yet another Hyrule, but no one seemed to recognize this one. There was no Death Mountain in the distance, but there were towers in the distance, and weird rails on the ground that stretched as far as the eye could see. There was a familiar castle in the distance, but it looked new - as if it was just built.
As the chain stood confused, an unknown voice called out to the group, “Barrel Master..?” Wind’s heart started racing at those familiar words. Only Tetra and Niko dared to call him that, and no one but the crew and Aryll even knew, let alone understood, the moniker.
The Links were quick to turn and look at whoever spoke, Wind being just a bit faster (not that the others could tell).
Standing there, in what was obviously royal garb, was a girl with long blond, practically neon yellow, hair and a crown with a red jewel in the middle. She was the spitting image of Tetra (when she was in her ‘Zelda form’).
”...Tetra...” Wind whispered to himself.
“I am Princess Zelda,” She introduced as she walked closer to Wind, singling him out from the group. On instinct, Wind took a step back, remembering how brash Tetra could act. “Sorry, but you look so much like the ‘Barrel Master’.” The Princess stated.
Wind could hear Warriors laughing under his breath.
“How,” he started, ignoring the laughing from behind, and gathering his words, “How do you know that name?”
Princess Zelda was quick to clap her hands together and burst into a giant smile, “I knew it! C’mon, I’ll lead you guys to the castle.” She took Wind’s arm and pulled him along without another word. The other Link’s followed behind, confused.
-
When they entered the castle, the Princess ecstatically lead them around the maze of doors and hallways, before pushing them into a rather unorganized room that housed pictures and painting up the wazoo.
There was a picture that spoke to Wind, it was one of the Castle being built, labeled, “New Hyrule; Home”.
And that’s when Wind realized, “You’re Princess Zelda-”
Warriors huffed, “She already told us that, Kid.”
Wind ignored the captain, and continued speaking his revelations “-of New Hyrule.”
The rest of the chain was now utterly lost. What the hell was a ‘New Hyrule’?
That’s when they all noticed a painting sitting on the table, it was a portrait of someone who looked exactly like their Hero of Winds standing next to the Princess, each holding some sort of instrument, with tears in their eyes in what could only be seen as a mourning glaze. “What’s this?” Legend asked, not recognizing the type of instrument the Wind-lookalike was wielding.
The group surrounded the painting as Princess Zelda stood in front of the Table with remembrance in her eyes, “The Sacred Duet,” she named as the chain listened well, “We had this painting made to commemorate the saving of our fair land, The Sacred Duet was the last song we played together.”
“May I ask what happened?” Time spoke from the group.
The Princess sighed softly, before speaking again, “Our kingdom is fairly new, and is home to the Spirit of Good, and because of that some have tried and almost succeeded to take control of the power of the land. Link and I were tasked with restoring power to the Towers and tracks, by playing the Lokomo Duets.”
“Link, you say?” Time asked in return.
“Yes, he is my personal conductor. He holds no relation to you, Barrel Master, but instead is the reincarnation of the hero spirit - or so is told.” She laughed before adding, “It is quite common for children to be named Link, as parents believe that their child will then grow up to be courageous.”
Warrior taunted from the group, “I for one wanna know what’s up with this ‘Barrel Master’ thing.”
Princess Zelda hurried around the room in what could only be called a ‘giddy’ fashion as she scowered through piles of books and photos. Flinging papers and pens until ultimately… “Ha, found it!” She claimed, carrying a thick book back to the group.
She set it on the table and flipped through the pages, before stopping and moving so everyone could see.
There, preserved in its pages, was a photo of their young sailor in a barrel with the most frightened look imaginable.
Without hesitation snickers and laughs emitted from the chain as Wind hurried to close the book, crying, “When did Tetra even take this!”
Four was the first to ask, eyes a glimmering red, “What was that?”
Wind blushed, remembering the look on his face. “It doesn’t matter.”
Legend spoke next, “Well considering it’s here, who knows how many years in the future, and the Princess herself called you by said name...” he trailed off, having made his point.
“It was the only way onto the Forbidden Fortress.” Wind sighed in defeat, “We were aiming for a window higher up to avoid the stupid searchlights... But that freaking failed majorly.”
“How were you even planning to make it up there then?-“ Hyrule questioned as Wild yelled.
“-And what’s that have to do with the barrel!”
Wind groaned as the Princess giggled under her breath, “Ask Tetra, she was the one who fucking knocked me out, tied me up, and put me in the damned barrel launcher!”
The chain stopped their laughing. “Wait. Launcher?”
“Yeah,” Wind grouched, “it’s the ship’s catapult, but they’d managed to sit a barrel in the weapons bay. I was thrown straight onto the Forbidden Fortress at close to O’ hundred hours.” Wind recollected while the other Links were still getting over the fact that their youngest member, was propelled like a weapon into a probably brick wall.
“And that is why he is called Barrel Master. Ms. Pirate Queen Tetra had it transcribed everywhere. On her boat, on the photo, even in the foundation of the castle.”
“Typical Tetra,” Wind grumbled under his breath, before realizing something. “Did you say ‘Pirate Queen Tetra’?”
Zelda nodded, “That is the title she chose to wear.”
“HA!” The young sailor whooped, startling some of the Links, “Gonzo owes me 50 rupees!” He cheered as he danced around.
Twilight uncovered his ears slowly, heightened senses and loud sounds did not mix well, “What could you have bet on this time.” He pondered, knowing full well the sailor's gambling habit.
Wind calmed his dancing down, before proudly exclaiming, “I’d bet Gon, that Tetra would start going by Pirate Queen as soon as she found suitable land to call home. I was right, and as soon as I see him again I am rubbing it into his pudgy little face!”
“I think you’ll find that is not the only bet you have won.” The Princess added, “Well, from what I know, it wasn’t a bet... More like a drunken promise that would impact the future generations of rulers.”
The glare Time delivered at the words ‘drunken promise’ was astounding, ripping through every Link - even when it was aimed solely at Wind.
Wind himself paled and backed up until he hit the table, but when Time did not move he assumed he was safe from Mr. Hero Dad (but definitely on his shit-list).
However, Wind now had more pressing matters to attend to… trying to remember which promise could have impacted Tetra’s family.
They’d made lots of promises, especially while intoxicated (don’t blame them, sometimes the sailing was the most boring part of the journey). Some were mostly the promise to toss so and so overboard if they did something annoying again, or promises that ‘no I did not eat the cupcake that Aryll made especially for you’.But nothing that transcended through the ages was coming to mind right away.
Until he took the time to think.
No.
She couldn’t’ve…
“-You alright Kid-“ Twilight called, placing a hand on Wind’s shoulder.
She’d never actually do it… right?
That’d be fucking stupid (and funny).
With shakey breath, Wind questioned his knowledge, “You are a direct descendent of Tetra, correct?”
The Princess nodded.
“And as we Promised King Daphnes, all Princesses born of Tetra’s royal line would forever be named Zelda, as Kingdom laws have stated since the beginning?”
“Yes, my mother was also named Zelda.”
Wind about fainted right then and there, but he somehow managed to keep standing.
“Wind.” Time’s voice called out, grounding the sailor. “Clearly this is bothering you. You don’t need to pursue if you don’t want to.”
“I want to.” Was the response he gave back, looking into Time’s eyes without a hint of hesitation, before turning back to the princess. “May I ask for your full Title?”
The Princess stood with such regalia, it was clear that she held her title with high regard. “I am Princess Zelda Aryll Tetra IV of New Hyrule.” She declared with a salute that Tetra and him had coined during their adventures on the Great Sea.
Wind stood blank-faced, the Princess’ names took a bit to process in his brain. Though, it’s clear to say that he’d finally understood the meanings when he promptly fell over onto the floor, face as red as the gem on Zelda’s crown.
It was worse than Wind had initially thought.
While Time and Twilight went to check on the Sailor, Four was quick to put some of the pieces together, eyes purple while he asked Wind, “‘Aryll’? As in your younger sister Aryll?”
Wind tried to answer, but he found himself unable to form words. He gave a curt nod ‘yes’ instead.
Time undid his flask of water and handed it to their fallen member.
Wind took shaky sips before capping the container and handing it back. “We were sailing around trying yet again to find suitable land for ‘New Hyrule’ since the old one had flooded, and was now home to a shitton of fish, and one shark Tetra named Debbrie."
"-Don't you mean Debbie?" Four asked from Wind's side.
"No. It's short for 'Debbrie-nk of Destruction. Anyways." Wind paused ot clear his throat, as best as he could, still speaking with a squeaky voice, nerves driving him crazy as he continued his tale, “It was night, and the winds were calm, so we stole from Niko’s stash, and climbed onto the forecastle desk, laying on the base of the bowsprit.”
He took a pause and looked at their faces, trying to gauge how their reaction might go. “Out of nowhere, Tetra had very drunkenly decreed that as soon as we found land, it would become a permanent rule that every future Princess Zelda would also have the same middle and last names - and they would be based on her - and whoever she settled with’s - favorite person.” He ended, looking back up at the group.
Time, Twilight, Legend, and Four were those who understood what was being implied, and it clearly showed on their faces. Wild and Sky were still processing. Hyrule just looked lost. And Warriors, screw him, was giving Wind a sly smirk as he wiggled his eyebrows up and down, knowing full well what was going on, and deciding to tease Wind on it.
To say Wind was absolutely mortified when Hyrule asked, “Why does her highnesses names make you glow red?” is putting it lightly. Wind was wishing and praying that Oshus, Zephos, Cyclos, and even HYLIA would open a giant portal vortex that would swallow him up and expel him in front of the Guardian brigade in Wild’s time. However, the gods were not listening to his requests (Stupid divinities) and he was stuck wallowing here in his mortification
Warriors, to Wind's utter dismay, laid his hand on Hyrule's shoulder and said, “Hyrule, Hyrule, Hyrule. Tsk tsk tsk, so innocent. It means little sailor here got hitched to his schoolyard crush… and got busy!”
Hyrule looked as equally puzzled as he was before, settling to say, “Congrats…? But I thought they were pirates, not elementary kids?”
“-Anyways,” Time’s official-sounding voice cut in before more damage could be done to Wind’s falling sanity. “While congratulations are deserved, I don’t believe our Sailor would like us to embarrass him any more than we already have.”
”Wind.” He said, moving to face the young Hero, “You’re gonna do great.” And that was what Wind needed most.
It was still embarrassing as all Ganondorf, knowing what awaited him, but knowing that he was going to do it all with his friend by his side... He couldn't wait to find the strange world they would call home together.