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Chapter Text

In the stories that hero never dies. They face death, get dealt horrible injuries, before they come back stronger and defeat the foe. That’s simply how it goes. How then could they have known this would be different?

~ ~ ~ ~

Princess Zelda stumbled as she ran. The beasts of the Calamity fighting the Hylian Champion just behind her. How, she wondered amidst her panic, could it have come to this? The omens said they had more time. They weren’t ready, she wasn’t ready.

At the sound of a scream, she turned. Link, the hero, landed not far from her covered in gaping wounds. She raced to him tears in her eyes.
Princess Zelda flung herself in front of the fallen hero just as the whine of the stalkers and beasts hit their fever pitch. Arms wide in an attempt to shield him, Zelda clenched her eyes shut and waited for the impact.

No impact came.

Blinking, she found herself covered in a glimmering shield. Had her piece of the triforce finally awoken? Now, of all times? She took a step forward and nearly fell as the power of Hylia flowed through her and into the earth itself. With a great cacophony the stalkers shorted out and slid to a halt. The great glowing beast of the Calamity went still. Their higher intelligence warning them to wait for an opening to defeat a stronger foe.

Zelda twisted to look behind her. Impa rushed forward leading a small troupe of sheikah warriors. She sent them to take the hero to the ancient shrine of resurrection. It was one Purah had been investigating. If Purah was right, it would be able to heal Link quickly so they could seal Gannon once again. Even if Zelda’s triforce of wisdom had awoken, she couldn’t bind Gannon by herself.

As the sheikah retreated with their precious burden Princes Zelda turned back to the castle. She took in the seeping corruption, the glowing beasts, and the red moon. She just had to hold Gannon until Link healed. They all needed him. It wouldn’t be long. After all, the hero never dies.

~ ~ ~ ~

The shrine of resurrection was confused. It had followed all of its procedures, the body within the capsule was healed. Bone realigned and fused, burns treated and faded to scars as thin as possible, gapping wounds now gone, and the body breathed. Why didn’t it wake?

The shrine delved deeper into its data banks searching for something that would explain the phenomenon. What was missing? The shrine had been built to house eons of intelligence and to learn. Thus, when it found no information in itself, it began looking outside. Surly there was something to explain why the body in its chamber did not wake.

The shrine studied the peoples of Hyrule. The Hylians with their slight stature and quick movements, the Sheikah with their white hair and silent steps, the Gorons with their stone bodies and boundless strength, the Gerudo with their height and ferocity, the Rito with their strong wings and trilling calls, and the Zora with their great age and swimming abilities.

The shrine spent years striving to find what was wrong. The body of the hero still dormant, still empty.

Finally, the shrine began to search the places without people. It examined the wild places of Hyrule and when that gave it no results it began to dig deeper. As the shrines data particles dug down, they caught the attention of something below.

Far below even the depth of Gannon’s banishment lay the Old Ones. They drifted and curled between the atoms of the deepest places of Hyrule. They had settled there before Hyrule and would lie there long after it faded.

The Old Ones were surprised to be touched. The brushing search of the shrine something new and interesting. They listened to its quiet question and its determination to not fail the one it had been asked to heal. They too wondered.

With a quick peek at Hylia’s world, they understood. The little body within the shrine had no soul. It was an empty vessel. Whole, yet incomplete. What to do, they wondered. How to help?

One presented the idea of making a soul for the vessel. With ripples in between stardust atoms, the Old Ones crafted a soul. One made of fallen stars, and the wind through the wild grasses. Made with the rumble of earth, the squall of storms, and the whisper of long-lost memories. It was a good soul, they decided, but it was missing something.

A gift, one jostled, it must have a gift. With the softness of shadowed twilight, they sought a gift. An infinitesimal shard of the Old Ones was tugged free and placed in the heart of the little soul. Making it stronger so it would last where the empty vessel’s previous occupant did not.

With the soothing sigh of a gentle breeze the soul was sent on its way.

The shrine whirled, pleased, as the body in its capsule finally stirred.

Chapter Text

They trembled, their vessel tight and confining. They stretched out their senses trying to figure out what was going on. There was a dark silver glow behind them that was overwhelming. It seemed to be made of many small spots of light that twisted into a busy sphere. What was it?

There was something thin and almost slimy around them, wherever if did not cover was cold. It rippled when they moved. Eyes blinked open and they flinched at the visible light. The blue light hung above them flickering with each of their breaths.

Pale blue liquid splashed as they slowly sat up testing the responsiveness of their vessel. It was stiff and required effort to move. Hopefully it would grow easier. Surly the sires wouldn’t have placed them in a broken vessel.

A voice called out. Loud to them, though it did reach their ears. The voice named them and laid upon them both a plea and a task. Their head tilted. The voice sounded almost like the sires. It was soft and soothing but carried a core of steal and a demand. It would not be well to disobey the sires. The sires had made them, they would have to show they could accomplish the tasks.

Link climbed from the small chamber they had resided in. It seemed a strange place to rest. Though the sires also liked to be surrounded. To be small, yet large, and hidden. So, Link supposed it was acceptable. Perhaps the unknown sire had placed them here?

Link turned looking for a “slate” as told by the unknown sire. As they stumbled forward, legs unsteady and arms swinging, Link tripped on a small object. Their hands slid on the rough stone floor as they fell.

They sat up, in the blue glow of their resting place, and studied the strange red that traced thin lines on their hands. Red stained hands reached out and picked up the little thing on the floor. It was an odd little box that carried a soft silver glow like the chamber itself, but smaller.

With a beep and a whine, the box revealed itself to be the slate spoken of by the unknown sire. Link’s face twitch slightly as the slate’s glow increased with each touch, its color now a soft pink. The front of the slate seemed to ripple, lighting up with small empty boxes and colorful shapes. Clean hands turned the slate this way and that as it was studied.

~ ~ ~ ~

The elder had been alarmed when the ‘young man’ devoured the little browned apple. Apparently, teeth should not be sharp nor are fingernails supposed to be claws. While Link did not understand, he would try to speak with those parts about it. Although, the way the elder had shook when Link ate the apple caused some portion of him to purr, pleased.

~ ~ ~ ~

Link landed in a small heap of stones after the dark purple glow of the rock creature faded. His being thrummed with satisfaction that the small taint was gone. The way the dark purple glow tugged at the world almost hurt.

He reached out and traced the tiny tear he could feel. A smidgen of his deep blue light darted through his arm and sealed the wound. Link’s mouth tightened. How could anything tear the world?

Link shifted only to slip down a mound of rubble from the stone creature. Picking up one rock he was surprised to see a glimmer. The dark yellow called to him. Quickly Link began to search through the other stones. A red rock joined his small pile, a blue, and several more dark yellow.

With a tap of the slate his small collection vanished into little boxes. His mouth twitched up as a purr filled the clearing. They were pretty, he decided. He liked them.

~ ~ ~ ~

Link liked the bombs. They caused such pretty ripples in the air when they exploded, giving off a warmth he could feel in his bones. They did seem to damage the old clothes the elder had sent him back to get.

So many rules. Too many paths. Steps unheard and echoing. A burning mark given as a gift.

The mark, the gift, sat small and round, thick black lines tracing across his chest. How strange.

The patch of skin on his chest the mark claimed ached with each step. He wondered if there would be more marks. The elder had said there were four shrines.

~ ~ ~ ~

He stared at the small being the sprang up from under a stone. Its soft copper glow tugged on him.

“Yahaha! You found me!” The being made several quick almost gasps as Link crouched down to study it.

“Are you finishing Mr.Hero’s journey?” The tiny copper glow asked as it shook small branches that made bright ringing sounds.

Link’s mouth stretched just a little as he reached out to touch the being’s green leaf.

The forest filled with giggles and jingles as Link traced the edges of the korok’s leaf and the wood grain lines across its small body.

A tiny whoop filled the air as Link scooped up the little korok and continued on his way.

~ ~ ~ ~

The statue stood towering. Cold and unyielding, yet soft and inviting. It seeped danger and made the gifts on his chest throb.

He walked on silent feet to stand before the stone being, wishing the little korok had stayed. Hit by a lost memory Link clasped his hands in front of him and waited. The elder had wanted him to speak, but Link did not feel the need. His vessel knew other ways to communicate. His hands had already slid through signs to communicate when the elder had demanded.

Link watched as a brilliant golden glow grew from the center of the statue and seeped to fill it.

Little one. Lost one. Loaned one. What does a child of the Old Ones seek at my feet? I can neither claim nor deny one made by my elders.

Elders? Or sires? The glow within the statue was kin?

A rippling gust of laughter filled the crumbling temple.

I suppose we are kin young one. Though you are not one of mine, you carry pieces of mine thus while I cannot claim you, I can bless you.

Link smiled at the large glow. His hands were steady as he took off his tunic to bare the four marks that matched the symbol on the statue.

Yes, little one. I can use those to bless you.

The golden glow surged forward racing through Link. He stumbled back overwhelmed by the power behind the rush. He slipped and tumbled down.

Oh, little one. Rest. It will pass and leave you stronger.

Link’s head hit stone and his vessel gave out. Darkness flowed over him.

~ Rhoam ~

Rhoam stared through the hole in the ceiling at the slumped body on the floor of the Temple of Time. He was finally sure that the boy was not Link. To be fair, in the few days since ‘Link’ woke there were many indicators that something was wrong.

Rhoam shuddered as he remembered the wet crunch of too sharp nails biting into a baked apple. The boy had crouched, unclothed, by his fire and devoured the apple with quick flashes of teeth that were closer to a Zora’s than a Hylian’s.

The old king had been astounded by a lot of things this new Link did. The boy did not walk, he stalked like a wolf. The boy also tended to move in a strange pattern of quick movements and complete stillness that unsettle Rhoam.

Rhoam had never seen a sentient being rip out a monster’s throat with their teeth until this strange hero who still lay unconscious below. The boy truly was an oddly feral thing. At least he was clothed now. That had been an interesting conversation. It had reminded the old king of a similar one he had had with his very young daughter so long ago.

Though, Rhoam thought looking again at the collapsed boy, it must not have stuck. The boy had, for some bizarre reason, stripped off his tunic when he should have been praying. Seeing as the tunic was partially under Link, he must have taken it off only just before fainting.

The old king could remember stories of those who were unworthy of speaking to Hylia and were struck down. Did the boy’s unconsciousness mean he was also rejected? The boy had clearly been changed in the ancient shrine. Did those changes mean he had lost the triforce?

Rhoam jerked back as blazing eyes flicked open and immediately flicked to him even as a tiny snarl filled the temple. The old king nearly ran as he fled to the perceived safety in the crumpled belltower of the old temple.

“You should not trespass on my kin’s resting place.” A low growling voice echoed up through the ruined building.

Rhoam shook as the boy crept up to the edge of the belltower and crouched watching him. At least Link had put his clothes back on. Maybe the old king was simply seeing things. After all, he was over 100. His story stuttered out accompanied by a small grin of too sharp teeth.

Chapter Text

Link laughed into the rushing wind as the he fell not bothering to pop open the paraglider yet. His eyes stung from the rushing air, but the fall seemed to wipe away the remaining awkwardness of his vessel.

With a loud crack the paraglider wrenched his arms up even as it allowed him to slow just enough to land lightly on his feet. The contraption of wood and cloth faded into blue streaks as the pink glow of the slate drew it back in. Soft taps filled the air as link drummed his fingers on the slate. It was a clever little glow.

Link was quick to shrug off his warm doublet as he surveyed the strange brown and orange stacks that looked like odd mountains. The elder had sent him to find a village. Link thought the name of the village may have started with a “k,” but he couldn’t recall. Anyway, the elder had not said where the village was. It could be in these dusty mounds.

Link turned to face the sun as its brilliant glint rose to bring in the day. He liked the warmth here. He was quick to take off his tight uncomfortable clothes to feel the sun on his entire body. Hopefully the red stone beneath his bare feet would warm up soon, they were oddly cold.

Several travelers startled at the low pleased growl that echoed through the canyon roads. Most dismissed it as the blood moon had risen only a few nights before.

~ ~The Goron Blood Brothers ~ ~

The Goron blood brothers stood firm in the blistering heat of the desert cliffs. Their stances and the oppressive heat were good methods to train for their next attempt at enduring the heat of the thick metal plates just behind them. It was an important right of passage for traveling Gorons and they would pass it.

The bright sun inched ever upwards as they waited. Kabetta’s knees shook, Heehl’s arms jerked every so often, and Bayge’s jaw clenched tighter as time passed. They would not fail, not even if it took them significant time to succeed.

None of them moved when the Hylian appeared. They were strong and steady as the mountain and not even a sudden Hylian would faze them.

A clawed hand pushed back long blond hair revealing blazing blue eyes. The Hylian did not seem to care that he was as bare as the Goron Blood Brothers. He simply kept walking toward them. His steps silent and somehow threw up no dust.

Kabetta silently wondered at the fact that the Hylian was nearly bare. As far as they knew Hylians did not go out undressed. Perhaps this one got into trouble on the road and lost their clothes?

The Hylian stopped just in front of Bayge and tilted his head back to meet their eyes with a sharp toothed grin.

The Hylian did not speak. The Goron Blood Brothers did not speak.

The sun reached its zenith and began to descend.

Just as Bayge was beginning to think he really should start talking the Hylian ducked around him and darted toward the first metal plate.

Amidst the shouts of confusion and shock the Hylian sat down on the hot plate before turning to look at the Goron Blood Brothers. They stood frozen staring at the Hylian. Heehl nudged Bayge and shrugged. They may as well start another attempt. They Hylian could join.

Kabetta gave into the heat first. They usually did. Although, this time sitting on the sideline was a good opportunity. As the other Goron Blood Brothers struggled the Hylian just watched. He did not burn, catch fire, or seem in anyway distressed by the burning metal beneath him. The oddest part, Kabetta thought as Bayge fell from the plate, was that there had yet to be any words. Most Hylians spoke. That this one didn’t must mean something. Even if he seemed to be an odd Hylian.

The Goron Blood Brothers stood silently off the first metal plate as the sun finished setting. They did not speak, or gesture. They just watched as the Hylian’s eyes grew brighter as the sky darkened. They were enthralled by the blazing blue orbs that seemed to glow as bright as the torches around them.

They jerked back when the Hylian rose smoothly to his feet as though he had not been near cooking for hours. Hours that even the hardened Gorons they were could not match. The Hylian yawned revealing sharp teeth embedded in a mouth that stretched too wide. They made no moves when the Hylian stretched body bending in odd ways that looked painful.

The fierce and hardened Goron Blood Brothers stumbled out of the Hylians way when he stalked toward the second, hotter, metal plate.

They Hylian, still nearly bare, curled up on the super-heated metal and closed luminous eyes.

The night felt darker when those eyes closed. The shadows seemed to inch closer that they had during any night before. The Goron Blood Brothers drew closer together, moving slowly to stand just beside the metal plate. It was odd how the Hylian, without speaking or doing much at all, made them feel just a little more secure.

It was obvious the Hylian was a warrior. Nothing had claws that big, or teeth that sharp without being able to use them. It was uncommon for monsters to make it up the step canyon walls, but it had happened enough times the Goron Blood Brothers usually kept watch.

As the moon rose the Gorons found themselves slipping further from awareness. The soft grumbled snores of the strange Hylian provided a backdrop of comfort that lulled them into rest.

They awoke the next morning to a glowing blue shrine and three small red stones. The Hylian was simply gone. The Goron Blood Brothers gathered the little rocks and spoke quietly amongst themselves. The canyon slowly warmed from the rising sun as they decided, rubies held in closed fists, that the next time they saw the Fourth Goron Blood Brother they would need to actually speak. At the very least, Kabetta had stated, they needed to know his name.

Chapter Text

~ ~ Gerudo Canyon Stable ~ ~

The stable master was very confused. Somehow, in the three hours he actually slept at night, someone had come and moved all the furniture around. Even the beds that were filled!

Although, he realized as he wandered, that was not all that had changed. The table had been moved to a different part of the room and the pitcher filled with fresh milk. The stable did not have a cow.

Beetle was near cackling over in an unusual corner. Evidently, their early morning visitor had left a beetle for every five arrows taken directly from Beetle’s pack.

He continued his tour of the stable to find his horses and donkey had their manes braided. Behind the stable there were three more pepper plants than he remembered.

Circling round to the front he spotted two of his regulars arguing over a full, but abandoned, cookpot.

The stable master closed his eyes as he ignored the shouting match between Sesami and Pirou who were arguing over the five rushroom skewers which no one present had made.

What kind of omen was this? He thought dismayed.

It wasn’t until he noticed a book missing from his shelves that he wondered if it was a payment. He had hard tales of Koroks and forest children in his youth. Perhaps these events were the evidence he had spent so long searching for when he was little.

~ ~ Kara Kara Bazar (Villa)~ ~

Villa was so focused on the Divine Beast Vah Naboris she did not notice anyone joining her atop the inn. The gentle hand that brushed the back of her veil startled her. She jerked away.

A gasp tore itself from her throat as one of her feet slipped. She was just close enough to the edge that falling was a threat. Villa’s arms pinwheeled as she struggled to reverse her momentum.

A hand clenched the back of her top and tugged her away from sheer drop.

She turned, breath heaving as relief filled her, to gap at the mess of a young boy who stood just behind her.

Luminous sapphire eyes studied her through a curtain of tangled blond hair. The hair had several pieces of colored twine, feathers, and even small stones twisted into thick clumps.

“Soft” Came a rough, hoarse voice. The boy rubbed the fingers of his right hand together as his gaze shifted to look closer at her Gerudo silks.

Villa froze as she finally took in the fact the boy was only clad in torn underclothes. What had happened?

Her continued silence must have upset the boy as he flinched and sunk into a crouch. His eyes darkened with longing as he reached out to brush a hand against her sirwal.

“Soft,” came the hoarse voice again. Bright eyes peaked up at her and she couldn’t help but smile.

“Well, we’ll need to get you cleaned up first. Then we’ll get you your own. How’s that sound?” Villa kept her voice gentle as she crouched to meet his eyes evenly.

The boy’s huge grin sparked something warm and pleased in Villa. If Hylia sent her this small feral child, she would see that he was uninjured and cared for.

First, Villa thought as she reached out a hand to the feral child who had come to her, he would need a bath in the oasis.

~ ~ Kara Kara Bazar ~ ~

The residents of Kara Kara Bazar had gotten used to the whirlwind that was Villa. Her tendency to come and go coupled with her enjoyment of giving ‘makeovers’ to people meant that no one blinked an eye when she raced to the water with a boy right behind her.

Guy didn’t bother moving as he watched Villa tease string, feathers, and rocks out of the boy’s hair. He grinned when asked to watch the pile and assured the oddly bright eyes that no one would touch the collection.

Benja and Robsten snickered when the, now clean, boy shock himself like a dog making Villa shriek. It was nice to have a little noise breaking up the heat drenched exhaustion of the little oasis. The two grinned at each other before they started shouting encouragement toward the water fight that sparked so much giggling from Villa and the boy.

Makie couldn’t help the small grin that broke out as she watched the boy curl up on the large rocks at the water’s edge. The boy tilted back to reach for the sun like the warm saffina that grew around the Bazar. It was sweet that Villa had taken the boy under her wing. Makie covered her grin with one hand as she studied the boy. He would look dashing in a Vai’s outfit. He was plenty slim to pull it off and that was the only kind of clothes Villa had anyway.

“If you won’t tell me your name, I’ll give you one!” Villa’s laughingly exasperated voice reached every ear around that oasis. They each turned to see the boy’s sharp grin, but they could not hear the small voice he answered her with.

“Well then, Link sit still so I can braid your pretties into your hair without making a mess.” The boy’s loud giggles filled the air leaving the Bazar brighter than the searing sunlight.

~ ~ Kara Kara Bazar (Konora) ~ ~

Konora couldn’t help the scoff that left her as Villa lead a young voe into the inn. His hair was twisted into many thin braids, each holding a decoration. The voe’s hair was strange but was not as odd as his six tattoos. Four were a deep red and the others black. She supposed faith was good, but to tattoo oneself with the symbol of their god was almost tacky.

She didn’t bother leaving when Villa tugged the boy into the back of the inn. Konora did sneer when Villa brought out a clump of Gerudo silks. It was infuriating that the Hylian chose to sell outfits made for Gerudo women to whoever she pleased.

The voe reached out to brush near reverent fingers against the silk.

“Soft” the voe’s voice was quiet and slightly hoarse.

“That’s right Link. Would you try this on for me? I want to make sure it fits right.” Villa wore a gentle smile as she helped the voe into the vai’s outfit. The two ignored the vai in the inn as the voe slipped on the top and sirwal.

Konora felt herself soften at the voe’s obvious delight in the beauty and softness of the outfit. It was far from the malicious glee she usually saw in voe who got their hands on such clothes. This little voe kept give tiny giggles as Villa helped him dress.

“Mine?” Came the same gravelly voice. It held a longing that startled Konora.

“Yes Link. This is yours now.” Whispered Villa. It sounded like she was nearly in tears. Had something happened to the voe? What had he lost to be so desperate to own some soft clothing?

The voe easily passed as a vai. He had the same whipcord musculature most vai had. Konora found herself pleased as Villa helped the boy slip on his veils. The blues of the outfit made his eyes brighter. Well, if there was a voe who deserved to wear the clothing of a Gerudo she supposed this one would do.

The voe twirled and giggled as the silk billowed. A heavy rumble filled the inn. Konora had heard that Hylians could purr but she hadn’t believed it. The boy slid over to Villa and rubbed his check against her upper arm, the highest part of her he could reach. Villa laughed gently and leaned down to nuzzle the boy as a smaller rumble joined the boys.

Konora watched the Hylians with something close to wonder. If anyone asks, she thought, there was nothing to see but the five vai present. Nothing at all.

Chapter Text

~ ~ Gerudo Town (Calyban) ~ ~

The sweet tang of hydromellon was one Calyban would never take for granted. Even if it had been years since she had been lost in the Dragon’s exile. She had survived soly on the hydromelon for the three days it took for her to be found by the pilgrims who sought the Great Skeleton.

Her simitar flashed and she started eating the second of the eight mellons she had hauled up to her hidden vantage point. Maybe her eating habits were unhealthy. Maybe her diet of practically only hydromelons was why she was still underweight.

Lorn had regularly expressed concern for Calyban. Trauma didn’t explain everything about her habit.

Calyban bit savagly into a slice of hydromelon. Was it realy so bad that she only really felt safe with the sweet tang on her touge? It certainly wasn’t bad enough to set the guards on her. Ploka took an annoying amount of enjoyment in confiscating her mellons. Which was, of course, why she had taken to sitting on the walls.

She paused as she tossed the rind into the waterway. The walls offered an exquisite vantage point. It really was the best place to view the beauty of the town.

Calyban turned to glance at the dessert behind her and jumped. A blue and green veiled Hylian crouched on the thick stone edge of the walls.

She froze as she meet the Hylian’s strangly preditory gaze.

The young Gerudo stared wide eyed passed the guard and accidentally meet the eyes of one electric Lizfol. She flinched back as it snarled and sparked.

Calyban shook herself from memories and nearly groaned when she realized the Hylian was gone. It was rare these days that she got caught in phantom memories. Had the small Hylian really been so threatening that she slipped?

She turned to find that her remaining six mellon had become twleve.

~ ~ Gerudo Town (Danda) ~ ~

Gerudo Town welcomed vai from across Hyrule. Many of the travelers that came through sought Danda’s stall. She adored seeing and speaking to travelers.

Danda groaned softly as she shifted how she sat on the insufficiant padding of the blankets below her. She was getting to old to sit on the solid stones all day. Although, with her daughter traveling she would have no respite. Danda would not suffer that her grandchildren, always left beind by their mother, would fall under the care of another.

She smiled as Kalani brought her a bucket of sticks. Danda shooed her grandaughter off to play as she pulled out her small knife and began the process of carving more shafts for the arrowheads she had made the night before.

Danda let her focus narrow as her hands easily turned scrap wood into the backbone of the nobel arrow. Even though her hands were now weak and aching they had no trouble with the craft she had taught herself so long ago as a young warrior. It had been a usefull skill, even if most Gerudo prefered the spear. She had once been the best shot in the desert. She blew lightly to remove the shavings from the shaft, those days were long gone.

It was almost a shame that her daughter followed so firmly in her footsteps. Danda had fought and wandered, but she had never left her child behind.

Danda looked up to check on her grandaughters only to catch sight of a foreign vai climb down from one of the high water ways. She fought a grin as she tucked her blade and wood away to watch the new traveler.

The little Hylian vai was hardly a head taller than Danda’s grandaughters. She was dressed in blue silks with a strange box hanging from her belt. The Hylian was also barefoot. Which made Danda pause, not even the most rebellous Gerudo children went without shoes. The stone was simply too hot for such things.

She froze when the Hylian paused next to Makure. Danda knew she was a paronoid retired warrior, but seeing a foreigner aproach her grandaughters was always concerning.

The Hylian crouched to look up at Makure, head tilted which made it obvious she was listening to the little girl. After a few moments of Makure’s excited bouncing the Hylian pulled a small bundle of flowers out of what Danda assumed was a pocket. How they were anything but battered she didn’t know. They looked fresh. The small boquet of cool safina, Swift violets, and silent princesses was stricking against the dark red of Makure’s silks.

Danda found herself straightening as Makure pointed over at her. The Hylian turned and rose to walk over. Danda found herself pausing in tought, the Hylian seemed to stalk like those of the Chiefesses elite.

The blue clad Hylian crouched in frount of her stall and caucked her head.

The two sat in silence. Danda hardly breathed as she was tugged into the depths of the bluest eyes she had ever seen. They had soft crinkles around their edges as though the Hylian spent a lot of time smiling.

She started when the Hylian turned enough to reach behind them. Danda found herself leaning forward curious to see what the vai would pull out this time.

Danda blinked at the large lump of topaz that sat directly infront of her. How in the world did this tiny vai have such a coveted stone? Topaz was near priceless in Gerudo due to its ability to redirect electic attacks.

Those large blue eyes squinted up in a grin as the Hylian reached out and tugged three bundles of arrows toward her before pausing. Danda shook herself and forced her tight throat to let out words.

“Take another three for that, little vai.” Danda watched as six sets of arrows disappeared into the Hylians unseen pockets.

She jerked back as she saw another chunck of topaz get set before her. Danda felt her mouth twitch. What a strange Hylian. She threw her head back and laughed. Danda gestured to the remaining arrows and watching as they too disappeared. She smiled brightly at the vai.

“Thank you,” Her voice felt rough, tight with gratitude toward this strange Hylian.

“With these stones I can get enough to make small earings for my girls and increase my stock.” Those earings would delight her grandaughters and be something that would last the rest of their lives. Her little Makure and Kanali would be safer.

“If you have more stones you might try visiting Isha. Isha can turn any stone into beautiful jewelry.” The Hylian’s eyes widened and seemed to sparkle with excitement. Danda laughed and waved the little vai off.

The Hylian darted toward the entrance to Gerudo town leaving no footprints. Danda had to laugh at the oddety that was that little Hylian vai.

A little ways in front of the stall Makure was sharing her bundle of flowers with Kanali. Danda smiled and sent up a prayer to the goddess asking fortune on the one who gave so kindly. The vai’s gifts would help Danda’s family for a long time.

Chapter Text

~ ~ Gerudo Town (Isha) ~ ~

It was a fools hope that a travelor would have ten flints to spare let alone to sell after a moments meeting. Yet Isha still stood, more the fool, near the gate of Gerudo Town.

There had been far fewer travelors since Vah Naboris became active. Its endless stroll across the desert made it far more deadly due to the lightning that accompanied it. Thus, it was no surprise that despite Isha’s searching she could not find any new travelors.

Normally Isha would have simply waited for her next shipment, coming in under a week, but she had to complete this project now. Set in her hidden lock box was a comission from the chief. The large headress was needed for the rain cerimony in two days. There was no way her shipment would be here with enough time for her to finish the project.

One hand clenched causing her large braclet to cut into her wrist. Isha would not give up until she had the needed flint. The pride she had in her craft and her status as the only jewerler in Gerudo depended on her success.

If only there was another visitor.

Isha twisted to glance over when she heard much loud twitters from Nali and Pritana. Not a lot intersted the two gossips, but the times they burst into such noisy discusion usually meant someone new and different was in town. She turned in place searching for whoever must have caught their attention.

She jerked back, nearly tripping in shock at the sight of a little vai only a step behind her. The soundless vai seemed to stare directly through Isha. As though the vai sought something hidden with in Isha.

“Be polite.” Came a shout that Isha recognized as Donda. She wondered if the comment was for her or the little Hylian vai. Isha paused watching as the Hylian tilted her head before nodding seriously and taking a step back.

“Can I help you with something?” Isha was honestly surprised her voice came out steady as her heart still raced from her scare. Now that she was breathing better she took at moment to really look at the vai. The Hylian was dresed in bright blue silks. The color an uncommon one in Gerudo Town. They tended to prefer bold reds, deep blacks, and striking whites.

The little vai’s eyes lit up and she held out a large chunk of topaz to Isha.

Isha didn’t move for a long moment. She ignored the vapid chater of the gossiping duo and took a deep breath.

“If you have the needed flint I would be pleased to craft that into a circlet or a pair of earings for you.” At the small bouncing nod Isha lead the way to her shop. There was a small chance she could get more flint from the Hylian. Isha wouldn’t hold her breath, but buisness was buisness.

It was a surprise to run into Cara at the door. Isha’s glance at the sun revealed that Cara was late to get the shipment of amber. Her apprentice was forgetful. The momentary shuffle caused the Hylian’s veil to get jostled. It sat off center and gave the vai an inocent look as she blinked up at Cara’s rushing figure.

Once they were finally enclosed by the shop’s cool interior, Isha turned to find crinkled eyes studying the display jewelry. She couldn’t help the warm cuckle that burst it ways from her chest. It was always such a compliment to see other’s awe at her work.

“If you have the materials I can make you anything on display.” Wide blue eyes shone toward her brighter than the glittering saphires in their circlet.

“If you sell me extra flint I will even make you custum jewelry.” The little vai darted around Isha to begin pulling flint out and stacking it on her counter. Isha couldn’t stop her jaw from dropping as the pile grew percariously large.

Finally the strange little vai set a variety of other stones atop the towering stones. With several bouncing nods the Hylian darted over to stand close and gaze up at Isha. She stared down at the vai. The Hylian’s veil slipped further revealed a head of thin braided golden hair.

The cloth of the vail fluttered to the floor.

It took a solid minute for Isha to drag her mind from her continued shock and realize the young Hylian was a voe.

Eyes clenched tight Isha paused to think. If she revealed the little voe she would not have access to the needed flint. Personal honor could be a pain, but she would not take what she did not purchase or find herself. There was also the fact that it seemed the Hylian respected Gerudo culture by wearing the silks and if Donda’s shout meant anything, the voe had also helped the other shop keeper. She opened her eyes to look again. Was she sure the Hylian as voe? Or rather, was she sure enough she couldn’t ignore it?

The darker light of the shop glinted off of many smaller lumps of precious stone braided into the voe’s hair. After a moment of study Isha decided that the Hylian’s face was soft enough she could plausibly deny that she igored the precence of a voe in Gerudo.

“If you like, for so much flint, I could smoth and shape the stones in your hair too.” Isha’s gratitude for a steady voice faded in the wonder of such a brilliant grin.

Her answering smile was smaller. She would have to make sure the little voe’s veil was more secure before he left her shop. With a final glance at the massive pile of rock on her counter she lead the Hylian to the back of the shop to help undo his braids and get to work.

~ ~ Gerudo Town (Mauva) ~ ~

It was a surprise when anyone came to seek the goddess statue. So when the small blue clad Hylian slid from the shadows cast by the thick walls Mauva was not too annoyed that she jumped.

Life in Gerudo Town could be hard for the old or married. It was one of the reasons Mauva had chosen to lay her blankets in the near hidden corner the goddess statue had been tucked. It had taken some creative layering to get her little spot anything close to comfortable.

Dark green eyes studied the Hylian. She noted the thin stature, the bare feet, the large blue eyes, and the particularly square shoulders that were common in voe and hardly ever seen in vai. A tiny smirk lit up Mauva’s face.

She kept her peace as the little voe bypassed her uncomfortable seat on covered stones to squat before the goddess statute. Mauva watched almost gleefully as a thin hand tugged his veil down revealing a frowning mouth.

“A small one?” The soft voice was loud enough Mauva expected it to echo. Instead it felt as though it sunk into the shadows.

It was probably disrespectful to watch some else pattition the goddess, but Mauva was old and had a tendency to weigh interest above privacy. It was very boring to have lived beyond your body’s ability. Interest was had to get when you prefered peace to the bustle of the main street.

The little voe shifted to kneel, the hand not clenching his veil reached out to touch the statue.

“Kin?” The frown slowly faded to reveal a longing expression that left Mauva’s heart aching in lonliness. In these days filled with violent beasts it was rare to find one who still sought comfort at the feet of the goddess.

The hand that touched the statue began to change color.

Mauva could not hold in her gasp. As the voe’s left hand turned black the statue grew brighter.

Time seemed to flow to slowly. She choked on her own breath as the Hylian, who sought the goddess, had his entire arm darkened from finger tips to shoulder. Mauva fought to draw in air even as she struggled to stand and get to the voe who must be in some kind of pain. The voe turned enough to see the arm before grinning at the statue. What had the voe offered to the goddess? What had she taken? Or was it changed?

The Hylian slowly and, while twisting and testing his arm, slid his veil back into place.

“Why?” the question was rougher than the ones said earlier, but it was still steady, unpained. The releif let Mauve sink from her aching half crouch back down on her carpets. Why in Hyrule would Hylia change something like this? What purpose could it possibly serve?

The voe tilted their head as though listening to response Mauva could not hear. The pleased nod felt wrong. A change this big, especially to a persons body, was not something usually accepted with anything but horror. She had seen many worse reactions to lesser changes. Yet the Hylian seemed neigther surprised or upset.

“If you are sure.” Did the voe really make a deal with Hylia in Gerudo Town while dressed as a vai, a deal that left part of his body looking dead?

The Hylian lifted the black arm up to study it. He traced fingers up and down it. As the voe’s fingers crossed the darkened skin portions of the color faded.

The voe’s arm was now covered in a tracery on soft white lines that reminded Mauva of water. She slumped further down as the arm fell back to the Hylian’s side. Why in Hyrule did Hylia do such a strange thing to the little voe?

The blue clad Hylian brought a black hand to his heart and nodded to the goddess statue.

“I will find the other gifts.” The words where thick but firm and seemed to scorch the air around the voe.

Mauva sucked in a final harsh breath before she let herself slide down to lay on her side and clenched her eyes tightly. She must be dreaming. She simply must be. There was no other way somehting like that might have happened.

Chapter Text

~ ~ Dragon’s Exile (Tera) ~ ~

Tera was less bothered by the loss of the fairy fountains than her sisters. She was older, had seen centuries, and had seen heros come and go. Home was warm, familiar, but lacked the chaotic beings that covered the world crafted by Hylia.

Tera did keep an eye on her fountain, just in case some travelor happened to come by with the rupees needed to revive the fountian. Not that Hylia’s world really understood why the ‘Great Fairies’ needed their money. It was like they didn’t know that the small jewels they used for money were crystalized magic.

Honestly, mortals were so limited.

Tera, being the eldest and strongest, would need more rupees to revitalize the fountain than her sisters. Not because of any size difference but because her fountain was the main connection point between home and Hylia’s world. The fountains Tera’s sisters made branched off of her own. It made seeing her sisters easy, but it also meant they were always pestering her about reopening the fountain.

Tera didn’t think that would happen anytime soon. Hylia’s world had been decimated a while ago. It still had not really recovered. The damage, to world and people, meant that the likihood of anyone coming so far out to find the fountians was small.

That said, Tera found herself perking up as she felt a presence nearing her fountian. With a rush of water she slipped around her bickering sisters and went to check.

Peaking up into the closed bud of the flower Tera traced the petals that had roughened and peeled up over time. She mourned the beauty that her flower had been. She had adored it, once, when it was less of a duty and more of a wonder.

As a being of another world, Tera could not wander Hylia’s world. She was too different. She could only peer through the doubious lense of those who sought her out.

Tera couldn’t help but shiver as the presence beyond her flower bud grew closer. It was a weighty thing. She smiled as the presence seemed to feel her too. It thickened and swirled around her, easily pushing through the old petals and reaching for her.

The presence paused as it neared her.

Footsetps crept up the short path of mushrooms that offered access to the fountain.

“Kin?”

A tiny hand touched the outer petals and the presence overwhelmed Tera. She could not keep herslef anchored amist the storm of rushing power.

When the world made sense again the fountain had opened its petals and connection. What being carried that much strength in them?

Tera pushed up and broke into the air of Hylia’s world. The was a little one sitting at the mouth of the fountain. She could not help but stare. The light that filled the tiny being was so warm. The light reached and twisted like little flames, courious and hungry. She wondered, briefly, if the little one would warm or destroy.

She slowly sunk in the water until she was closer to eye level with the one who woke her.

“Who are you little one?” She was careful not to jump at the sound of her voice echoing in air rather than rippling in water. It was usually an adjustment.

“Link” came a voice much rougher than her’s. Its deep multitone was comfortable and familiar. It also brought questions. Most of the Hylia’s world was not capable of speaking with more than one voice.

“What did you mean by kin, little Link?” One of her hands lifted to trace one finger ever so gently down the black arm. What had happened to the tiny being? The arm felt unfinished, as though the process of crafting it had been interupted by something.

“Like me?” Tera didn’t speak as she had glanced up and gotten caught up in the depths offered beyond blue eyes almost to big for such a little face. They were the same brilliant blue offered by the deeps of home.

“Like Hylia-Kin?” She shook her head slowly, sorrowfully. If this little one was kin to Hylia he must be lonely. Tera had only met the goddess once, but Hylia had been so busy with the many. Did she have any time for the one? Even if the one was like her?

“I belong to another world. I can only peek at this one. It is too different from mine, do you see Link?” She watched the little one’s head tilt to the side. The idea of other worlds must be new. To be fair, not many from Hylia’s world did much traveling.

“Friend then?” Tera decided that her heart must be melting. So small, cute, and kind. Honestly, Link was surly wasted up here. Being kin to Hylia likely made the little one too different from the people of Hyrule to really connect with them. Who was she to deny Link a friend that would understand him better than most he would meet?

“I would love that.”

~ ~ Yiga Hideout ~ ~

Master Kohga was missing. Now this could mean many things. Things which the average yiga did not feel the need to wonder. Even the higher ranked yiga, such as the fierce blademasters charged with the bulk of guarding the headquarters, did not spend much thought on it. Not when they were worrying about other things.

The yiga hideout was being haunted. By what, none of the gossipers where willing to do anything but guess. One of the blade masters had claimed it was one of Master Kohga’s spies come to make sure they were loyal.

The shadow that had been in their headquarters for a few days was even sneakier than the yiga. They knew it was there, and the hideout was periodicly audience to the kind of low growls that are usually caused by animals, but whatever it was had evaded capture.

Several lower ranked yiga said it must be an odd beast while pointing at the long thin cuts that no decorated most of the walls. After all, many beasts liked shiny things and all the ore had disapeared.

Others disagreed as they had had to dodge arrows where there was no archer.

One of the outer guards had come crying about dishonored guardian diety statues. No one believed that story. Even if someone took an offering from a statue it wasn’t counted as dishonoring.

One particular yiga had been sent to fetch more bananas from the storeroom. They were shocked to see someone, a Hylian dressed in blue Gerudo silks, siting in the middle of the piled bananas.

The Hylian was holding a single banana from both ends. He slowly looked up and stared directly at the yiga’s mask, then took a bite.

From the center of the banana.

Through the peel.

Not a single yiga looked up at the sound of a long high pitched scream of shock and fury. It was the sort of scream that Master Kohga made when bad news came. Several yiga sighed in relief as they assumed that the scream meant Master Kohga was back.

It took a few more days before a large orange collar was found on the edge of the bottomless pit.

It was unanimously decided that Master Kohga tripped.

Chapter Text

~ ~ Tabantha Bridge Stable ~ ~

Kenyo, Ena, and Sho had woken the sable with their delight at finding small parcells of treats on their beds. They had shared a grin and raced off before the adults could gather themselves enough to ask questions.

After a quick race the three settled between the big crates and the back of the stable to examine their gifts. Amist the playful shoving and hushed giggles they found each parcel held wildberries, volfruit, and a banana. They grinned, there would be no oatmeal that morning.

Dabi had only just woken and wished the day was over already. No Banji he wasn’t dramatic, the tripplets did not get their tendency toward chaos and rebellion from him.

It had taken a few minutes to realize there was anything wrong in the stable. However, properly opened eyes did not miss the large stack of red sandstone that filled the corner. Such a thing was terribly odd, but it did rule out the tripplets as the troublemakers. Sandstone might be easy to break down, but there wasn’t much, or any close enough, for the children to haul so much into the stable.

Banji choose to laugh at Dabi’s bemusment at the rocks before she headed out to check on kids and animals. It didn’t take long to find the tripplets’ last hiding place. The red juice stains, volfruit skins, and banana peels showed that her husband’s prankster had left presents of trouble and delight. Chances were she would have to stain treat some clothes, but the laughter she could hear echoing around the stable made the idea less frustrating. The tripplets were often bored here so anything new was good for everyone’s sanity.

It didn’t take long to find the next prank. Banji traced her fingers down the intricate braids that arranged her horses’ manes so beautifully. She couldn’t help but marvel that each knot even had a tiny flower in it. Although, she couldn’t figure out how the braids had been tied off.

From inside the stable came Beddle’s delighted babble. Something about another great deal on beddles for arrows?

Taren and Chork didn’t bother making noise when they found their beers somehow exhanged for full mugs of sweet lemonaid. It was hardly the oddest change they could see from the table. The few posters hung around the stable had been turned upside down, the little triangle banners moved to hang from the main light support, and most of the horse tack around the stable had undergone a color change. Frankly they were more amused that the rest of the stable’s occupants hadn’t noticed very many of the oddeties.

All in all, Dabi just hoped the chaos would die down soon. Although, as many stained fingers grabbed his shirt and Beddle wouldn’t stop ranting about secret customers he doubted he would get any peace that day.

~ ~ Piper Ridge (Kaysa) ~ ~

It had been around a week since Tera had started acting weird. Now, Tera hadn’t said anything to the sisters but she had been visiting her fountain more. Which meant that the other sister were visiting their fountains more too.

Kaysa pushed up into the sealed bud of her fountain. She still mourned the sunshine yellow petals that that had faded all the way to a dark grey. Thin strips of petal sagged and tore with every tiny move she made. She longed to heal the great flower, but she lacked the strength.

Kaysa’s fountain had never been in a terribly traveled part of Hylia’s world. Mostly because she prefered solitude, and the fact that her fountain had a great view. So, while she didn’t miss the people of Hylia’s world she did miss the beauty of it and the chance to practice her craft. No one at home needed help to craft, improve, or upgrade. Only the people who lived in Hylia’s world.

As Kaysa’s finger traced the tarneshed gold that had once decorated her flower she noticed a surge of power near her bud. She sunk a littler lower in her fountain’s pool, avoiding the difting petal shreds, and wondered if that power would be a positive or a negative thing.

In what felt like moments a sharp crack was audible through the thick petals. Kaysa couldn’t help but tense as a well of power drew closer.

The bud trembled.

A tiny hand brushed its outer petals and Kaysa was lost in a surge of power.

When she came to Kaysa realized she was breating air. Fresh cool air. She sucked in more breaths, her greedy speed making her dizzy.

It took a few moments to open her eyes. Kaysa stared, still reeling, at the blue sky above. Hylia’s world had such viberant colors.

Slowly she shifted and looked down. There at the edge of sunshine yellow petals sat what looked, physically, like a Hylian.

Internally he was as bright and chaoticly formed as Hylia had been when she was new.

Kaysa stared at the swirling blue and silver that reached out to brush agains her own burnished gold. This little being was strong enough to revitalize a great fairy fountain which contained a connection to another world. It would not be outside the realm of possibility that this tiny creature would be able to traverse worlds even better than the fairies who could peek at any world.

“Kin of friend?” The gentel vortex spiked alongside the rough words, tappping its warm-bright-curiousity against Kaysa. It reminded her of home and the extra layer of non-mortal communication.

“Who is your friend?” Kaysa’s voice was slightly chocked, but she brushed her confused-delighted-interest along the edge of the being. The almost Hylian’s head tilted as though no one had touched his spirit light the way she had.

“Tera” He pressed the feeling of heated desert, cool white bones, and glinting gold. She could almost hear the wind Tera had once spoken of that whistled through decayed bone and rustled through saffina.

“Yes. She is my sister.” Kaysa pushed back her playful-annoyed-always-love for her sisters followed by the curious-awed-delight she felt at meeting someone new that was friendly. It had always been rare that the sisters met anyone worth multiple meetings let alone real friendship. Anyone vetted by Tera was safe.

The little one’s brilliant smile nearly eclipsed the increaced glow of his light.

“Friend too?” The hope-longing-wonder that burst from his light was intoxicating.

“Of course” Joy-acceptence-almost-home rushed from her to tap at him.

Kaysa happily twined part of her light with the almost Hylian. She giggled, almost drunk on hope-joy-wonder, when he scooted closer and dipped his bare feet into the water of her flower. She let tiny fingers trace her many braclets even as she carefully touched braided gold and jeweled ears.

“Now, what can I make better for you my little friend?”

Chapter Text

~~Rito Village (Kaneli)~~

Kaneli’s voice rose and fell as he once again told the story of Revali to Kass’s young chicks. It was a source of amusement to him that Genli so often drug her sisters for stories as a change from songs.

He had told Revali’s tale so often that it had lost most of it’s shine. It was important to Rito history and even relevant with Vah Medoh circling above, but it truly began to feel repetitive after the first dosen tellings.

Truth be told story telling was really all he was good for these days. He was the elder and the spiritual head of the Rito but he had been injured a few months back and could still hardly leave his roost. Kaneli would have thought that a wound on the leg would hardly effect a rito. It was always an experience when life proved one wrong.

Story finally finished he was quick to chase the chicks out and take a moment of quiet. As he rocked gently in his ridiculously comfortable chair he allowed his mind to wander. Harth’s injury was a problem Kaneli wasn’t sure how to aproach. With the rise in monsters the loss of any protectors would make continued safety that much harder to maintain.

As Kaneli grumbled into his thickly braided beard his eyes caught on a blue clad figure climbing down from Medon’s Perch. He sat back, making the chair rock wildly, and wondered at how someone obviously not rito would have gotten high enough to climb down the shear slick stone instead of coming up the walkways.

It took a surprisingly short time for the figure to drop down infront of Kaneli’s roost. He stared at the tiny hylian that stood barefoot and clad in blue silks. Although, Kaneli heartily aproved of the many braids decorated with silver and gold accented stones he didn’t think they were rito inspired. Which only raised more questions about the stranger. Not the least of which regarded the strange black arm that left him uneasy.

“Hoo, hoo, hoo. How did you get up there?” Kaneli watched the hylian’s head tilt as he stepped into the roost.

They hylian’s eyes roamed about wildly taking in the bright pottery, the large chair, and the high swinging hamock. Kaneli’s eyes widened when he was shot a massive mischeivious grin.

The boy leap upward and somehow clamered into Kaneli’s hamock.

“Excuse you!” Kaneli stared upward indignantly at the brilliantly blue eyes that peaked down at him over the edge of his bed.

“Soft.” The hylian’s rough choppy voice reminded him of the previous elder whose thoat had been damaged in a monster raid.

Somehow Kaneli found his irritation fading into amusement. Apparently this was mearly another silly chick come to bother him.

“Is that so?” He cooed up at the boy, one large hand coming up to stoke his beard.

“Now how did you get up here anyway? It is much to cold for hylians to be wearing so little.” Kaneli tried to keep his voice gentle, but he was honestly growing worried. He had seen too many hylians hurt or gone from the cold any rito could brush off.

“Warm.” Kaneli jerked as a blanket was dropped on his head. Bright giggles filled the room as he spluttered and fought to get the thick cloth off.

When the blanket finally covered his lap and not his head he was gifted the sight of the little hylian chick darting out of the roost and down the walkway. Well, hopefully the chick would bother someone else.

After getting some warm clothes.

~~Rito Stable (Kass)~~

The notes of his teachers song filled the air as Kass stood near the front of the Rito Stable. The song barely regestered to his mind. The memory of it so ingraned into his fingers it felt like it filled his very bones.

Slowly, as the moon rose it’s thin slitted eye, the notes slowed to a crawl. As there was no one awake Kass allowed the song to fade.

After a longing glance home Kass moved around to the back of the inn where he sat on one of pilled logs underneath one of the many awnings. He carefully closed his old acordian and let it rest on his lap and closed his eyes in exhaustion. Perhaps his promise to finish his teachers work was too ambitious.

Kass’s eyes flew open as a hoarse voice hummed the song he has played mere minutes ago.

Sitting just before him was a particularly small adolescent hylian drapped in the silks of the desert, an arm as black as the terrible calamnity, and hair briaded well enough to have been done by a rito. The boy’s eyes glinted up at him reflecting the silver glow of the moon as he leaned forward enough to brush a reverant finger down the wood of Kass’s acordian.

“Have you not heard an accordian before?” Kass’s voice was so quiet he could scarely hear it, but the boy simply nodded.

“Sound?” The hylain tilted his head back and to the side while his black arm came up to brush back through the dangling braids.

It truly seemed that the boy had not heard any music. Well, Kass would have to try and remidy that.

“Did you hear the sounds that came from this?” Kass genstured to the accordian before getting a simple nod.

“The sound, arranged in pleasing patterns, is called music. It can come from many sources.” He was saddened by the wide eyed look of surprise on the boy’s face.

“I personally use both an accordian and my voice.” At the boy’s bouncing interest Kass reopened his accordian and began to sing about the ancient hero.

It was wonderful to have an interested audience.

If the boy left with a tiny ocarina only Kass knew.

Chapter Text

~~Snowfield Stable(Varke)~~

There were few stable that sat so close to large volitile monsters. Varke was still unsure if he taken chare of it for bravery or foolishness. Sure it was needed as the road around Tanagar Canyon was harsh even for Hebra but the short distance to the North Tabantha Snowfield was dangerous. Varke had lost more travelers to the threats of the Snowfield than the often fatal cold.

It was unusual for the stable to be filled with conversation so late in the night. Not that he could blame them. Varke’s hands still shook from the screams of pain that had echoed across the tundra the night before. He was well used to the roars of the fierce Lyonel. Anyone who stayed longer than a week in his stable learned to ignore the ferocious noise.

The only problem was that Varke had never heard the Lyonel die before now.

The silence was alarming.

Varke tapped gloved fingers against the counter as he studied that darkness beyond the fires. What could have slain the beast? Considering that no great warrior had passed through, despite Danton’s endless talks of mighty blades, there were few other possibilities.

Monkton had spent quite a bit of time arguing, at great volume, with Harlow about how the monsters of the maze must have ended the terrifying Lyonel.

Harlow had cared much more about the haunting melodies that had echoed through the tundra for hours after the last scream. She claimed the melody was an old lullaby, one she had heard a traveling sheika painter humming.

Varke’s restless shifting couldn’t drag his mind from the discomfort and fear that had fallen on the stable. He could only hope that whoever had slain the Lyonel would not turn that same level of destruction on his stable. It had taken ages to repair the damage done by cruel minded travelers in the past.

Varke’s attention jerked back to the present as his hunting dogs leap up.

Grabbing his sword from below the counter Varke followed the dogs’ slow lope around the stable. The last time the dogs had gotten so excited there had been a downed moose. As the dogs moved toward the old shrine he froze.

Large glowing blue eyes peaked out from the shadow of the shrine.

The low barking of the dogs was greeted by a deep growl that left Varke shuddering. His sword fell from nerveless hands. The eyes brightened as Varke felt a phantom weight fall onto his shoulders.

What manner of beast was this?

The eyes moved closer allowing the faint moonlight to reveal a gaunt hylian face streaked with dark blood.

Varke was a brave man in most circumstances. One who had helped to heal foolish travelers that tried their luck against the Lyonel. The weighty gaze of the hunter tore at him. Leaving Varke achingly raw and small. He no longer wanted to know anything about the Lyonel’s slayer.¬

Varke felt no shame in keeling over when red stained teeth were bared at him with a rolling growl.

Harlow found his unconscious body two hours later. It took a week for warmth to sink back into his bones.

Chapter Text

~~The Lost Woods(The Great Deku Tree)~~

He aware of new one’s creation.

The woods had shuddered at the brief searching touch of the old ones that stood so far beyond Hylia’s world. He felt each and every one of the Koroks dart to hide beneath his roots and within his trunk seeking for safety until Hylia’s world no longer shook with other power.

He felt when the new one awoke. It was the skittering of beetles on his bark, the rough singing of the eldest koroks, the furious screams of the worst storms he had lived through.

He remembered being surprised when the new one’s presence sunk from overwhelming to an almost comfort. It had become so much harder to feel them. To have some clue how close the new one was to his beloved woods and cherished Koroks, to the dimming sword under his tireless regard.

As the sun rose and set the new one began to feel protective like the Skull Kids in the outer woods, curious like the littlest Koroks, and as near-far-beloved of the Fairy Fountains.

Despite this he resolved to judge the safety of the new one himself.

The chance came sooner than he had expected.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The new one arrived just before dawn.

The ripples of power threw echoing wonder-longing-for-home to brush against every inhabitant of the woods.

The new one’s steps failed to disturb even the grass. The woods trembled as thin hands traced lazy spirals on several trees as the new one walked unhindered, watched, through the viscous fog.

The Great Deku Tree was truly surprised to see the bright untainted blue of the new one’s spirit light.

To see how the strands of blue stretched, searching and sealed any rips in the fabric of Hylia’s world made by malice.

The new one stopped at exit of the log tunnel and sat. He was as still as the stars that could barely be spotted through the canopy of the woods.

The Great Deku Tree watched unmoving as one brave Korok cautiously approached the blue star tucked into the skin of a hylian.

“Mister Hero?” The little Korok’s red leaf trembled with the tentative question.

“No.” The new one’s voice was hoarse to the ear yet carried many tones beneath the audible. “I was made to fill this vessel and required to finish his task.”

The Great Deku Tree’s eyes studied the new one’s vessel only to find many unfinished workings traced in ink across his skin. The red and green crests of Hylia covered his chest, tiny seared gifts from the goddess. One arm darker than the night sky and traced over with thin white lines reminiscent of the sea. How could a being made by the old ones be so blessed by Hylia?

“If you’re not Mister Hero who are you?” The little Korok asked flippantly. Their little bells jingling as they climbed to curl into the new one’s lap.

The new one chuckled as his spirit light flared. The clearing overfilled with wild-longing-desire-to-wonder, duty-but-pleased-to-fulfil, and warm-awe-similar-but-different. Nothing moved until the feelings faded.

The new one gently shifted the korok from his lap and stood. With steps as light as the Korok propellers he walked up to the pedistole of the Master Sword.

“I knew something strange was created, but I certainly did not expect you.” The Great Deku Tree found himself caught in glowing blue eyes. Bright enough to prompt him to look even closer.

The new one was made of the wilds. He held the still silence after a frost, the defining rage of lightning, the swirling heat of the desert winds, and the slow but steady cracking of stones trapped by tree roots.

The Great Deku Tree huffed a laugh.

“Strange as you are, you are familiar to us aren’t you.”

The new one slid to his knees before the Master Sword.

“I am not him.” His voice rang like muffled thunder. The Koroks shuddered and slipped deeper into their hiding places.

“I will complete his task.” The lines of white on his black arm brightened, almost as luminous as a white full moon.

“Will you work with me?” The new one bared his teeth in challenge toward the aged blade.

~~The Lost Woods(The Master Sword)~~

She was torn from sleep at the touch of a strange soul. One housed in a body she knew.

Grief welled up from the sword. Washing out in sweeping waves across the wood until it crashed into every occupant.

What had happened that was so desperate that the time needed for her master to be reborn was not available? What could be so terrible that one not-her-master come asking to wield her?

Had she truly failed her task to assist the hero’s spirit so badly?

Her grief returned echoing with self-recrimination, bitterness, and hurt. She shoved those feelings toward the one who walked in her master’s body hoping that it would somehow hurt him.

She did not expect compassion in return.

His blue light reached out to her soft, yet firm. It was filled with feeling-thoughts that were far closer to the speech of goddesses or fairies than any of the people that made Hyrule home.

She was spell bound as she felt his story.

The cradle of the sire’s grip. The confinement of a vessel. The demand of a strange voice. The wonder of the wilds. The hatred toward the Calamity. The glee of destroying malice and healing the edges of Hylia’s world. The burn of blessings. The tug toward her that lead him to her pedistole. The acceptance of her grief.

“I will return.” Gentle fingers brushed the her hilt without gripping. She shuddered at the compassion-acceptance-patience that he pushed to her.

“We are similar you and I. Both created for a purpose, both made of other things.” He tapped one knuckle on her pommel and stood up. The absence of his feeling-thoughts ice against her spirit.

~~The Lost Woods(The Great Deku Tree)~~

“I will come when I have found the other gifts.” The new one grinned up at the Great Deku Tree. Wild-free-eagerness-to-see-everything echoed through the wood.

The new one, the hero’s replacement, turned away after tossing an almost bloodthirsty grin toward the Great Deku Tree and stalked back through the tunnel.

The Great Deku Tree watched the last traces of blue fade from the air as he kept watch over the sword’s lessened grief.

He felt one last ripple as the new one left the boundary of the lost woods. Perhaps next time the new one came he could have a conversation with the almost-hylian and offer him the friendship of the wood.

They were similar after all.