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Chapter Text

Niko is dead and the only piece of memorabilia Link has of him now was the blue bandana handed to him moments before his old man took his last breath. Throughout their time together, Niko would often compare Link to an old friend of his, sometimes joking about their resemblances being too uncanny to one another to not be anything but funny.

Link never understood the old man’s humor, not even when he spoke his last words to him, telling him once more about all of the ways he’s reminded of that same friend he never shut up about. “It’s the hair.” He had said. And then quickly shook his head and smiled – the once easy-going expression becoming strained as the seconds were lost on him. “No, it’s more than that.” A finger was placed above Link’s ribcage and above the spot his heart was. “You both share that same courageous spirit that’s unique to only you and him alone.” That’s when Niko placed his fisted hands on top of Link’s, cloth tickling the teen’s palm.

“Keep this with you going forward, and know that I’ll still always be by your side even if you can’t see me.”

Now whenever Link picks up Niko’s bandana he, without fighting it, succumbs to the urge to scan whatever room he’s in at that time, eyes looking to catch the first hint of that otherworldly glow all spirits exude as their existences tend to luminate their presence with a turquoise like shade.

Niko should have manifested by now. A part of Link was relieved to see that his old man’s ghost never came about. But the more selfish side of him wishes for nothing more than to see his face again, even if it’s only for a moment or two. This is why Link is left disappointed each time his search comes up empty. And it’s in these moments where Link has the harsh reminder of just how utterly alone he truly is now that his quest as the hero alongside Princess Zelda was completed.

It was easy for Link to find ways to distract himself. As a train conductor, there was rarely a time for Link to slack off like he used to be known for in his trainee days. His reputation in recent times was one of both honor and respect. People knew him for his accomplishments as the hero, and to the people that never kept up with the news or didn’t care to, he was simply that kind train conductor who hands out an infinite amount of mints so his passengers weren’t getting sick all over his cushions.

Unfortunately, his best friend Zelda had found something dearly wrong with how he was coping with his grief and gave a royal order to her most loyal subordinate to take the rest of the week off to rest and recuperate. It was also stated in the letter handed to him and during her never-ending lecture, that he is required to get at least eight hours of sleep in his period of rest and that if he doesn’t he’ll be punished by an additional week to his already daunting sentence.

So now he distracts himself by doing mechanic work on his train, or doing chores around and inside his home even if he didn’t have to in the first place. It was how he kept busy. Since graduating from the academy and experiencing an all too traumatizing adventure afterward, Link became efficient in discovering new issues that needed to be dealt with. For if he didn’t a peculiar itch would overtake his joints, and the only reliever to that was in the form of moving. And currently, Link focused entirely on washing the grime off his hands, the smell of oil making his nose scrunch, and the new soap he’d just purchased while in town was hardly masking the scent as it advertised. He supposes the soap did its job in getting the stains off his hand, and that washing away the scent of the chemicals that came from his train was difficult even if he were to jump into a river (which he never did on purpose but had accidentally done and his only saving grace being Zelda who happened to be by his side at all times back then).

At the corner of Link’s eye and through the window above his sink, he spotted a faint glow from the surrounding woods. And for that fleeting instance, his heart skipped a beat. He snapped his head up, eyes refusing to blink until after the examination. The scenery had returned to normal, looking as undisturbed as it should be. He wondered if maybe his mind was playing a trick on him, or if the reflection of the sun dancing off the blades of grass was a plausible cause when he saw it once more.

A small creature hopped from the forest’s shrubbery and onto Link’s lawn. It pecked at the ground and turned its head now and then, searching. Link recognized the bird to be a seagull because of Old Man Niko’s pictures and storytelling, and how growing up he could never escape the obnoxiously loud squawking each one seemed to be fond of making. But the thing with seagulls is that they were never seen this far inland. And in the area they were at now, it was too strange for Link to not make the correlation to this seagull being special somehow. That fact was only strengthened by the way its feathers were transparent, and how much like any other spirit, it lit up whatever area it presented itself in.

Link didn’t flinch, nor did he take a step back when the seagull sensed his staring and returned it just as curiously, if not more. He did blink however when the seagull swooped itself into the air and began squawking loudly, causing him alone the discomfort of hearing the constant noise since the ability to see apparitions was unique to just him and Zelda.

It was obvious the seagull needed something if it hadn’t passed on already. But for a seagull of all things to hold onto a strong sense of regret that those emotions were then capable of shackling it down to the realm of the living? Weird, but honestly, not the weirdest thing he’s seen. But weird enough that his curiosity was peaked, so in a matter of seconds he was standing outside with his arms crossed and his eyes half-lidded as he continued to watch the seagull do a routine of circles until eventually it stopped and drifted its way down to Link’s level.

Link held out his arm, and when the seagull used him as a perch he lazily smiled its way and moved a hand up to the ghost’s head to then start petting it. The seagull was hesitant at first to make contact in that way but was quick to relent and even moved its head closer to his hand.

“What’s a seagull as friendly as you got to regret?” Link cood. The seagull flapped its wings once, and then twice, and flew back into the air where it circled overhead. He was about to call out to the seagull but before he could make the syllables with his tongue the seagull made a beeline through the trees, a trail of fallen leaves all Link had to go off if he wished to follow it. Which he does, since he had nothing better to do at the time, and what better way to distract himself than to follow an unusual ghost seagull through the woods? Probably not the safest thing to do, all things considered, but something to do. The only form of weapon Link had on him was the pliers he used for his train when fixing the brakes. But if being stranded in the woods for a week had taught him anything, it was that anything could be a weapon.

He’d make do. And with that, Link set off down the path the seagull created with his pliers held loosely in one hand and Niko’s bandana in the other.

\\\

“Huh, would you look at that,” Link had just let go of the branch that was in his way and stepped out of a particularly ticklish bush when he happened to come across the source of the seagull’s frenzy. Tied down to the trunk of a tree with one leg wrapped tight enough to break through the small animal's skin, was a rabbit hunched in a hyperventilating ball. Upon hearing Link’s voice, the rabbit whirled its head, ears bouncing with the movement as they stood erect on the crown of its head.

Link held up the pliers and went to move closer but stopped in his tracks when the rabbit cried out, “No! Wait! Let’s talk about this first!” He messed up on his footing and stumbled forward and then backward, the pliers almost slipping out of his hands as well.

“Huh?” He hadn’t found it strange that the rabbit was pink, not after collecting a bunch of multicolored rabbits purely for Zelda’s enjoyment. But he crossed the line at talking pink rabbits. “You just… you can– did you just talk?”

The pink-talking rabbit crossed his arms and stomped the leg that wasn’t trapped fiercely. Cute. Link thought. “Yeah, so what if I did?” It started fidgeting with the rope’s knot more frantically than before. “Does that change the fact that you’re going to eat me? Can’t have the murder of someone stuck on your conscience?”

Link held up his hands in a surrender of sorts. “Woah Woah, you’ve got the wrong idea! I’m not here to hurt you or anything, nonetheless eat you.” He waved the hand with the pliers around briefly, waiting until the rabbit took notice of what was in his hands, and then when it redirected its beady black eyes to him. “I came to help after I heard some… commotion. I live nearby and figured I could come and investigate real quickly what was going on.”

The rabbit put him under his scrutiny, crossing his arms as he did. “It’s still way too suspicious. Try to look at this from my point of view, will you?” A rabbit, stuck in a trap, and then someone more than three times its size suddenly makes an appearance with a pair of sharp pliers in one hand.

Yeah, Link could understand why the rabbit was so stressed. But he never tried to prove otherwise.

“Then is there anything I can do to help? I really don’t mean to stress you out,” He glanced at the rope and winced. “More than you already are.”

“Who are you?” The rabbit asked sternly. Link let out a sigh, and prepared himself for the introduction he’s told to numerous people over an excruciatingly long two years.

“I’m Link, royal mechanic and loyal subordinate of Princess Zelda. But please don’t refer to me as any of those titles as I’d prefer to just be called by my first name.”

The rabbit flinched back. And the next time their eyes met there was a noticeable shift. He was no longer looking through Link, searching for any sign of a threat and working to uncover the lie in each word he spoke. He now regarded Link with a semblance of… respect? Link isn’t sure what to call it, but it’s an improvement from before and if he knew at the beginning of this conversation that introducing himself would get the rabbit to calm down then he would’ve done so a lot sooner than he already had.

“Link? Got a surname?”

He thought about it, then shook his head. “Nah, though even if I did I think I’d still prefer to be called by my first.” Link didn’t want to imagine being called something like Mister Dragmire, he might just bury himself six feet under and meet his old man sooner.

“Right,” The rabbit muttered, tone a lot softer than it was before. “Then can you get me out of this? Since you offered your help and all,”

Link moved to stand in front of the tree trunk after following the rope’s origin point and promptly began sawing until the rope frayed enough to where he didn’t need his pliers any longer and simply snapped the last of the threads in half manually. He put down his pliers and rubbed at the joint in his hand that had started to cramp. Then he turned to see if the rabbit had hopped off yet and was relatively surprised to see that it was standing in the same place it was at before and observing his every move.

“See? Told you I would help,” He picked his pliers back up and used them to point at the rope still wrapped around the rabbit’s leg. “Want help with that next? Or do you think you can handle that yourself?”

“I can handle it myself.” The rabbit replied immediately. Link shrugged and stood himself back up, dusting the brown particles off the knees of his dirtied uniform pants.

“Then if that’s all you needed help with, I’ll be off–”

“Wait!”

He figured this was coming considering how damaged the rabbit’s leg had become. Link stood on the path he came from, head turned and chin hovering over his shoulder as he patiently waited for the rabbit to speak about whatever was on its mind.

“I… can use some help, actually.”

Link smiled, and got to work.

\\\

The following day the seagull returned. Link was on his back porch, practicing his Spirit Flute when that same pink rabbit from the day prior hopped onto his backyard moments afterward. There was a noticeable limp in each step it took and that had Link casting aside his wind instrument and making his way to the small critter in record time.

“Geez, don’t tell me you’re the clumsy type.” Teased Link. The rabbit glared at him in return.

“I’m not, this is from that trap.”

Link didn’t bother asking why the rabbit came to him for help. Perhaps in their few moments together he had built up a semblance of camaraderie with the rabbit and that’s why he’s being trusted. “I have some stuff inside that can help.” He looked between his home and then back to the rabbit, the corners of his lips upturning. “Need me to carry you?”

“Don’t even think about it.”

Darn, just his luck. And here Link thought he’d have the opportunity to carry a rabbit again. The fur of the last ones he held was unforgettable. He had never touched something so soft and velvety before. And even when they’re dirty they are still able to maintain that level of fluffiness without putting in any real effort.

Link coughed into his hand, and the tips of his ears warmed. “Let me know if you need help getting around.” He was walking back on the steps of his porch when the seagull made a sudden appearance next to his Spirit Flute. Figures. Link thought. The sounds that came from that instrument were often lamenting to those with souls of unrest. If the rabbit lets him, he should play them both a song sometime depending on how long they’re staying for.

\\\

The best Link could do for the time being was wrap the rabbit’s leg in gauze after using the last of his disinfectant on the wound. There were rope burns stretched across a portion of the rabbit’s leg, which meant Link was unable to just pour wherever he pleased. The process lasted around fifteen minutes, neither of them saying anything to fill the silence for their own reasons. Link was never one for conversation. In his time traveling with Princess Zelda, it was always her who he relied on to fill that silence. And during the rare occasions when neither of them spoke, the lack of conversation was comfortable. There’s a certain vulnerability to silence, there’s never just one kind, there's a whole plethora of silences just as there’s more than one type of rock despite the stereotype being that rocks are small and gray.

This silence, however, happened to be somewhat stifling. Link was unsure why that was but if he had to assume it was most likely because of the vulnerable position the rabbit was put in for a second time since their initial meeting. They’ve known each other for a short amount of time, less than twenty-four hours, but the trust they’ve put in each other is immense.

“This should be fine for now, let me know if anything hurts or if you want me to change the wrapping.” The implications behind his words were not unnoticed by the rabbit. Stay as long as you need. Link had offered. The rabbit nodded, his ears tucked behind him as he hopped off the armchair to Link’s living room couch. An old and somehow squeaky antique that only made noise when Link lifted himself off it.

“I’ll keep the backdoor open for you in case you want to head out, I’ll be in the back where you found me.”

“Are you going to be playing that instrument again?” The rabbit hopped beside Link and followed him to where Link sat next. A chair made of neatly skinned log, birch by the pale look of it.

“Yeah, I wanted to get some more practice with it and try to learn this new song Zelda gave me,”

“You two must be close by the sounds of it. Do you usually play for her on… whatever wind instrument that is?”

Link hummed. “We got close after I graduated from the academy, and since then she tests my skills with her Spirit Flute.”

The rabbit’s nose twitched. “Spirit Flute?”

“It’s an instrument handed down through the royal descendants. Zelda just so happens to want me to take care of it for her, saying something about it being wasted on her or whatever.”

“You must be good then to have received an instrument so important.”

Link smirked. “I can play something for you, that way you can make your own judgment.”

“Sure, why not.” The rabbit shrugged and made himself comfortable on the twin chair to Link’s, opposite where he sat. “If it’s disappointing I won’t hold back, I know skill when I hear it.”

“Challenge accepted.” As Link began to play he put himself into a world of his own making. The scenery around him was an afterthought, the way the seagull bobbed its head behind the rabbit and how the wind picked up – brushing strands of his hair sideways and rustling the distant leaves, all of it ceased to exist to him during the duration of his playing.

That’s what he loved most about music. It was never difficult to lose yourself in the melody, and in some songs much like this one, each note told a different story which made them so easy to tell apart from each other. While some notes are repeated similarly, they had a new purpose to them that differentiated them entirely.

Niko had always enjoyed hearing him play and much like Zelda he insisted Link learn new songs once the older ones became repetitive. Link has only played for those two in all the time he’s had the Spirit Flute. So to be playing it for someone new was, in a way, healing for the teen.

Once he finished up with the last part, he heard the rabbit’s attempt at clapping and then the forced clearing of his throat. “Not bad, perhaps your claim of skill had some merit to it.”

Link chuckled and shook his head. “Any advice on how I can improve?”

“Nah. I mean, I would give advice if I’d seen that instrument before but I haven’t so you’re out of luck.” The rabbit was teasing him, Link knew that. Though now he was curious as to what Instruments the rabbit had encountered if the one he possessed was so peculiar.

“I think I know what to call you now,” Link started. The rabbit deadpanned. “How about… Melody?”

“I’m not some pet you can just name, don’t be so rude.”

Link’s shoulders drooped. “Oh, then what am I supposed to call you?”

The rabbit shook his head and ‘tsk’d’. “Well, if you had asked, you would know it’s Legend. So there’s no need for any sort of name-giving.”

“Legend?” A legend of what? Or did the rabbit – Legend – just find the name interesting enough to be called by it? “That’s a pretty cool name, any history behind it?”

Legend preened under Link’s compliment and stood himself up straighter. “There is, I’m well accomplished myself, you know.”

“Are you a legend in music then?”

For the first time since their meeting, Legend smiled. “That amongst many other things.” And Link smiled back.

“Care to share?”

“Not really, but since you insist I might as well.”

Chapter Text

“Is there anything you’re scared of?” Legend asked once the silence stretched longer than what they agreed was comfortable. Link stopped midchew but knew better than to talk with his mouth full and swallowed.

“Well, yeah, isn’t everybody scared of something?”

Legend looked away from Link and didn’t speak on the matter any further. It had been a conversation starter, Link realized a bit late, and the way he responded could have come off a way he hadn’t meant it to.

“But there is something I’m absolutely terrified of, and if I’m honest, I don’t think I’ll ever get over the fear.” Link said as dramatically as he could. As intended, the rabbit’s ears turned in a way to indicate where his attention lay. “Bees.”

A mixture of emotions flashed across Legend’s face before he settled for amusement. “Bees? You mean you’re scared of something more than ten times smaller than you?”

Link nodded hastily, not letting Legend’s teasing offend him. “Duh! Have you ever accidentally disturbed a whole nest of them before? Those small bastards are the definition of vicious.” He shuddered and wrapped his arms around himself as he recounted his latest encounter with the insect. He had been on his train waiting at a station for his passengers to finish boarding when a bee the size of his thumb landed on his shoulder. The rest of the memory he blocked from his consciousness, but the fear that overwhelmed him that day lingered like a scar.

“They’re generally harmless unless you physically go out of your way to make them mad. So if you were attacked by them, more than once I should add, then technically it was deserved.”

“Technically it was deserved…” Link repeated, chin on hand as he used the other one to steer a spoonful of the vegetable stew he cooked into his mouth. He had made this dish with the rabbit in mind, and it took about five hours since he had to follow along to a cookbook which he was awful at to begin with, and had to make sure the food was edible according to Legend’s standards. “I guess. But that doesn’t mean I have to like them,”

Legend shook his head and sipped at his bowl of stew, the portion smaller than Link’s. His question had Link curious now about what the rabbit had to fear, and if he guessed outright it probably had something to do with wolves or hawks – anything a prey animal naturally fears.

“What are you scared of then, mister know it all? Afraid a wolf is going to jump you in the middle of the night?” When the rabbit froze, stopping mid-action, Link’s grin grew exponentially. “Ahah! I knew it!” He slammed his hand on the table and shook the vase of wilted flowers in the middle which had Link calming down. If he were to accidentally break the vase and make a mess of Niko’s daisies, Link wouldn’t know what he’d feel but it wouldn’t be anything good.

“Being scared of wolves is a hundred times more reasonable than being scared of bees. And wolves aren’t even what I’m the most afraid of in the first place, so try again.”

Link took another bite, this time a carrot slice slipping between his teeth before getting chewed and swallowed. “Hawks?”

“No, not even close.” Legend said flatly.

“You have to give me a hint then, there are so many things someone can be scared of.”

“Just think of fears that are rational to most people.”

Link raised an eyebrow. “And not to a rabbit?”

Legend deadpanned. “And not to a rabbit.” If Link had to think of fears that are rational, then he’d say a fear of bees followed that definition. But he figured Legend meant fears that are common, so something like heights, or maybe needles.

“How about heights? I knew a few people who couldn’t stand being high up.”

“I’m not one of those people, guess again.”

“Needles?”

“Eh, not really. Think of something more in tune with the sky and clouds.”

“More in tune with the sky and clouds…” And then it hit him. Link snapped his fingers together, his smile returned as he was sure of the answer. “A storm! You’re scared of when it storms, right?”

“Yeah, I can't stand it.” Link could tease him, saying that being scared of storms was only something for children to have a fear of. The opportunity was presented to him and it would allow Link to get back at Legend for him subtly making fun of his fear of bees.

“Ah, that is a pretty rational fear then.” He took another bite and raised his eyes to meet Legend’s suspicious glance. “What?” He asked, the spoon still in his mouth.

“You’re not… going to make fun of me for it?”

Link shrugged and took the spoon out of his mouth, waving it in the air as he reasoned with Legend. “Everyone has something they’re scared of, we already agreed on that. And everyone has a reason for why they have that fear in the first place.” Zelda had a phobia of mice and that fear put a hitch in their plans more than once while they were in tricky situations. And while being scared of something so much smaller than her can come off as silly, the reason for her fear was anything but. “So why should I make fun of you for it?” Zelda didn’t let that behavior slide then, and she ensured that he knew not to make that same mistake twice.

“Huh,” Legend blinked a few times in rapid succession. “You’re one of the only people who didn’t tease me for it.”

“And you’re just like everybody else I tell,” Link mused. He had meant for his response to be light-hearted, mirth apparent. But Legend outwardly winced and Link’s roguish grin faded.

“About that, Link I shouldn’t have…”

Link raised a hand and waved him off. “Don’t worry about it, I’m used to it and no offense was taken. Promise.”

“Still, I should’ve been more considerate.”

“Then how about making it up to me tonight by teaching me a song of yours? You’ve only mentioned knowing like, a dozen of them and it wouldn’t hurt to get some more practice in.” Legend glanced at the window and glared. Link’s smile faded. “Or not?”

“No, I can teach you a song or two depending on how you pick it up.”

“Then what’s on your mind?” Link followed his gaze out the window, trying to figure out if there was something he wasn’t seeing that Legend could. “Is something out there?”

“My brothers,” Legend blurted. And then forced a cough and screwed his eyes shut. “I mean, the group of people I was with before I got separated.”

Oh. That’s right, Legend wasn’t here to stay. But even if he was, Link doubts he could keep the rabbit as happy as somebody else can. And he tried not to let that fact sting, but it did. A warm sensation swarmed the back of Link’s eyes for reasons unknown to him which he quickly blinked away. Weird. He’s never had that happen before.

“You’ll see them again, I’m sure of it.”

Legend’s posture relaxed under the blanket of Link’s reassurances. “Yeah, you’re right, and when that time comes I want to introduce you to them.”

“Huh?” The tip of Link’s ears warmed and he laughed dryly. “You don’t have to do that, I’m no one special, really.” That earned him a rather heated glare. “I meant that you don’t have to introduce me to them if it’s a bother,”

“It wouldn’t be a bother, why do you think it would be anyways?”

Because forced social interaction was never fun. And after working as a train conductor for a solid year now and having to put up with the most outlandish of people, he can say with confidence that he can do without the draining experience if it could be helped.

“No reason.”

“Uh huh,” Legend sounded skeptical but didn’t push the matter further. Link let out a breath of air he hadn’t realized he had been holding and finished the last of his dinner and after Legend finished his (it became apparent to Link then that Legend could’ve finished way before him and that he was just waiting until he was done to finish his serving) they both stepped back onto the back porch, Link’s Spirit Flute already prepared, where he played a tune that was new as it was nostalgic.

He’s heard this song before. Somewhere distant in the back of his mind cried. But where? And most importantly, when? It was almost scary how much of a hold a song can have over you. With each note he played, he could all but feel the sun beaming down at him – heat akin to kisses from the wings of a butterfly. And if he focused hard enough, he was able to smell a flower of some kind, sweet but not so much that your nose stings afterward. It was perfect.

And now that Link has finished memorizing Legend’s song he needs to make sure he plays it for Zelda during their next visit.

\\\

Link had hoped that by waking up earlier than Legend, and he means a little less than four hours than he usually does, he could go into town, run some errands, and come back as if he never left before his rabbit friend woke up.

He should’ve known that Legend would be a light sleeper and that the quietest creak of his wooden front door would startle him awake. Because of course Legend was, he was a prey animal, after all, they’re practically born to be paranoid.

“Where… where are you going?” Legend asked in his morning voice. Link took a step back from the door and sighed.

Maybe Legend’s seagull friend had a part to play in why he was woken up. As if to prove Link’s suspicion, the seagull jumped up and then down on Legend’s head with a squawk. It had disappeared after he and Legend finished preparing dinner, and for some reason decided to reappear this morning.

Which in itself is an anomaly that neither he nor Zelda has encountered before. When a spirit disappears they’re normally resumed to have passed on after finding whatever closure it needed. Never have they returned. They’re not supposed to. So what makes this spirit stand out from the rest?

“Link?” Legend called out, tone more aware than before. Link flexed his hand open and then closed.

“Sorry, I heard you. I must still be waking up myself, ha.” He half-heartedly pointed to the scrunched-up and stained paper in his hand with an equally energetic smile. “I was going to go into the village and pick up some stuff I need real quick, I won’t take long.”

“Ugh, okay, I’m going back to sleep then.” Link and Legend gave each other a few words of parting and left it at that.

\\\

He saw it, that same figure he’d seen at the corner of his eyes, watching him but the moment he turned to do the same it would disappear. But not this time. He had been collecting the last of his vegetables when he spotted his stalker and without wasting even a second took off through the village and got himself led through the woods. If Zelda were here she would be scolding him until his ears bled. And since she isn’t, he was met with silence when his steps faltered.

What Link stumbled upon was not a monster like he anticipated the creature would be, but a little boy that couldn’t have been much younger than he was. He was dressed in tan shorts and had fluffy brown hair that reached just below his ears. When they made eye contact, Link would learn that they had the same colored eyes, his just a bit lighter — transparent.

“You can see me?” The little boy asked with an echo in his voice. He tugged on the sleeves of his white and blue striped shirt and regarded Link with an open curiosity that was far from hostile.

Link hesitated before nodding, his hand clutching on tightly to the tree he stood next to. “Yes, I’m Link by the way, what’s your name?”

The boy scowled before looking away. “Don’t ask like you don’t already know, it’s insulting.” A pause, a moment for Link to take in the boy’s features, and then the soft beating of his heart thrashed.

“...Haru?” The little boy would ride the train in and out of the village every month to go from one parent’s house to the other. He learned that information through a casual conversation when one morning it was just the two of them alone, waiting for the rest of the passengers to board.

Link at a faster pace than before went to be beside Haru. Instinct led his hand to rest on the boy’s shoulder but before he could make contact he froze.

“We were supposed to see the ocean, remember? You said your old man wouldn’t shut up about it and that if there ever came a time to see it you wanted to bring me along with you,”

“Because I couldn’t shut up about wanting to see it,” Link added.

Haru smiled at Link. “And there would have been time before I went to my mom’s house that next month to try and stop by to see it.”

His stomach flipped and the weight of Link’s upper half was suddenly painful. His knees were going to give out but somehow he kept himself standing. Link opened his mouth, so many things to say, to ask, but no strength to go through with it. Haru, as clever as he is, picked up on it and saved Link the tedious task of asking what was undoubtedly on the tip of his tongue.

“It’s my own fault, what happened. I was being stupid like my mom always said and wandered too deep into the woods.” Haru let out a chuckle, the humor not present whatsoever. The sound Link’s heard countless times each month was familiar yet not at all. “Next thing I know, I’m like this.”

“Did something do this to you?” Link growled, his hands clenching tight enough for his nails to teeter on the edge of piercing flesh. A strong sense of determination finally broke the barrier that prevented him from speaking.

“Yes, but I don’t know what it was. It was…It was scary. And fast, too. It looked like a dog.”

“A wolf?” The distress in Haru’s features was exemplified as he nodded.

“Yeah, it was definitely a wolf. But not like any kind of wolf I’ve seen before.”

“Right, can you describe any noticeable features? And while we’re at it, what about a… location?” So he can find Haru’s body and help give any grieving members of his family closure.

“Are you sure?” Haru whispered. “It’s not… I don’t think you want to…”

Link finally placed his hand on Haru’s shoulder and squeezed, the skin beneath his shirt cold. “Don’t worry about that, I’ll be okay.”

“Promise?” Haru raised his hand in front of them and stuck out his pinky. Link immediately locked his pinky with Haru’s, and replied confidently, “I promise.”

\\\

When Link returned home the next day, he had almost forgotten about his guest but was reminded the instant he opened his door and was bombarded with back-to-back questions before he could even attempt to respond to the first few. It took about a minute for Legend to realize that Link wasn’t responding anymore, and less than that for him to realize that something was wrong.

“Link?” Legend said, just barely above a whisper. “Is that blood on your hands?”

If there was, Link wasn’t aware of it until now. And when he acknowledged what Legend had, he found it impossible to look away. His mouth was open, and as the theme for these past twenty-four hours went, he was unable to speak. He wasn’t sure if the shaking was his vision or his hands, but he was positive that the newfound wetness on his cheeks was from himself.

“Link?” Legend called out once more, panic laced with concern apparent. Link wanted to respond, to tell him that he was fine, but then the image of that little boy who he was supposed to see the ocean with last month popped up and he hiccuped instead.

He had a hunch that something had happened to Haru. There wasn’t a month that went by where that little boy’s smile didn’t greet him, as bright as the sun and defiant in letting his family situation take that away from him. But Link’s fears brought him to assume that maybe he was simply staying at his dad’s place a month longer than he usually does. That nothing extreme happened, so he shouldn’t assume so if it could be helped.

Oh, how wrong he was.

The blood on his hands had begun to flake and there was an itch that urged him to scratch it off. He thinks he could hear Legend call out to him, but the sound of his voice could be easily mistaken for the delusions his mind conjured as a method to distance himself from his grief.

“I don’t want to do this anymore,” Link mumbled. The voices stopped, and now Link can breathe again. But that breath of air was acidic, it burned his lungs so severely that as a way to cool off the burned organs he began hyperventilating. “I’m so sorry, I’m sorry, so fucking sorry,”

When his legs finally gave out, Link’s knees colliding with the wood shocked him enough for him to take notice of pink fur reaching out to him. Link used his hand to gently take hold of the rabbit’s back and push him into his chest. The rabbit struggled but in a split second decided to stop, and forced himself to get comfortable in Link’s embrace as the teen wailed in a way that was sure to haunt anybody’s nightmares going forth.

\\\

The next morning Link woke up to a head-splitting headache. He let out a groan as he moved from his back to his side, and fluttered his eyes open as he adjusted his sight to the light of his living room. Beside him was Legend, a book opened, and a piece of bread with a glass of water on the small table he recently set up in his living room.

He couldn’t help but stare at what was before him, and only chose to speak up when Legend made eye contact.

“How did you…” A sharp pain shot through his skull and he let out another groan. He could hear Legend sigh and close his book shut.

“Drink your water, and eat if you can.”

“Oh,” Link did as instructed albeit stiffly. “How did you even reach this?”

Legend shrugged. “I have my ways. And I figured you’d need it, because of, you know.”

Link froze. His eyes scanned over his hands, looking for a trace of what was on there the night before, only to see that it was gone. But Link doesn’t remember washing it off, he doesn’t remember anything after he collapsed. This time, when Link looked back at Legend, he took in everything that he’s done for him and faintly smiled his gratitude.

“Thank you,”

Legend waved him off. It looked as if their conversation could end there, the silence between them for once comfortable enough that neither of them needed to fill it with mindless rambles. Legend didn’t need to start a conversation about something such as what Link’s favorite color is, or if he ever rode a horse before (which he didn’t know was a thing until Legend explained to him that it was an animal that carried humans). They were now able to go about the rest of their day in a silence they worked so hard to build up to yet neither of them seemed to want it to stay that way for long.

Legend had questions, and Link had the answers. But right now, he couldn’t bring himself to speak on the matter so soon.

“I need to go out again,” He expected Legend to react negatively to what he said, but it was still shocking to witness.

“What?” Came Legend’s immediate exclamation. “Absolutely not! You just got back from doing Hylia knows what, and now you want to go back out again?”

“I have to.” Link willed himself from closing his eyes for too long, not wanting to see Haru’s face again. “There’s some business I need to finish, and I shouldn’t be gone as long as last time anyway.” A lie, and one he’s used before so it didn’t work the second time around.

Legend crossed his arms. “Then take me with you.”

Link’s eyes became half-lidded. “You want to come with me?” Legend tilted his head up defiantly.

“That’s what I said, didn’t I?”

“Sorry, this time I need to go alone. I’m going to be doing something potentially dangerous and I don’t want you to tag along.”

“That’s all the more reason for me to go with you. I can help too, and it’s never smart to do these things alone. Trust me, I would know.” And Link would know too except he wouldn’t be alone, he’d have Haru with him for that support secret to everybody else but him.

“I don’t know,” He had to look away when Legend looked at him in a way that made his heart clench. Then Link let out a sigh and shook his head. “Fine, just promise me that you won’t get in the way.”

Without meaning to, Link held out his hand toward Legend with his pinky raised. Legend looked between him and his pinky and snorted.

“Really? A pinky promise?”

Link glared. A pinky promise was sacred. But more prominently, “It’s how I know you’re serious about it, just wrap your paw around my pinky or something,”

“You’re so weird,” Legend chuckled, wrapping his paw around Link’s pinky as instructed. Now came the part Link needed to prepare his rabbit friend for.

“Ever rode a train before?”

\\\

Legend has in fact, never been on a train nor has he ever been in the presence of one. Pride swelled in Link’s chest as he took in Legend’s impressed reaction like a dried sponge, even more so when they went about starting the locomotive.

“Is this your guys’ equivalent to a horse?” Legend shouted to Link, his head stuck out the window just enough for Link’s thoughts to race so he hurried over to the rabbit’s side and plucked him off the edge and back onto the seat.

“Careful, it’s easy to fall out.” Link scolded.

“Nah, I’d be fine! I’ve fallen off worse before.”

Ah, okay. So Link will be keeping a close eye on Legend from here on out. More than he already was.

“Is that rabbit your friend?” Haru’s voice appeared behind Link and he flinched, the surprised reaction going unnoticed by Legend as his head was right back out the window. Link nodded, head half turned so Haru would be aware of who he was responding to. “Cool! I didn’t know rabbits could talk.”

“Not normally,” Link whispered. “This ones special.”

“What? Did you say something?” Legend put his head back into the train, his ears stood straight. Link sighed.

“No, it must've been the wind.”

Link went back to his control panel and without looking, sensed a second presence beside him. “Is it safe for him to come with you? I mean, come on, look at him.”

“He insisted, and if push comes to shove then I could easily cause a distraction for him to get away.”

“Still…” Link put his hand on Haru’s head and ruffled his ghostly locks. Haru pouted, and Link tried to not compare it to what it used to look like before.

“I’ve got it handled, I promised and everything, remember?”

Haru scoffed. “No offense, but wouldn’t he just get in the way? I mean having a talking pink rabbit around is cool and all,” He’s glad they agreed on that fact but he has a feeling they won’t agree so much on the rest of his statement. “But if you have to fight something then having him around would only hold you back.”

“Hey, the promise–”

“Screw the promise!” Haru bellowed, successfully cutting Link off. “You’re not even listening to me anymore, so… why am I even trying.”

The train hit a few minor bumps in rapid succession which had Link jumping up faintly while Haru stayed in place, his form hovering a few inches off the floor. “You’re worried, I get it. But I need you to trust that I know what I’m doing. I’ve done things like this before in situations where I didn’t have any preparations and when I was all alone.”

“Right, because you’re the hero?” Haru snapped. “That doesn’t make you invincible, you know.”

Link pinched the bridge of his nose as his exhaustion traveled to the forefront of his mind. “Haru, what are you trying to get at?”

“I used to think that just because I’m a kid that nothing could happen to me until something did. And now you’re trying to tell me that just because you’re the hero that nothing bad can happen to you? I hate you! I hate that you won’t listen to me!”

Link recoiled from his cockpit and turned around to face Haru in all his shock when instead of a little boy, he made direct eye contact with a little rabbit who stared back at him with scrutiny and crossed arms.

“Go on, don’t let me interrupt.”

“Legend, how long were you…”

“Just up until that last bit, but enough either way.”

He knows this looks bad and could paint him in a potentially damaging light but at the moment Link was too exasperated to bring himself to fully care. What he could attempt to do was blame it on his exhaustion and explain to Legend that he was just talking to himself. It would be easier to explain that away than the alternative which is dropping one of Link’s biggest secrets such as the ability to see dead people.

But nothing is ever easy for Link, is it?

“I was talking to myself, I’m not crazy.”

“So when you talk to yourself, you go by “Haru?”

Link heard the single beat that passed between them, one that had his entire body paralyzed. Sweat was beginning to build at his hairline, cold against his heated skin.

“No. Or I mean, what? Why would you think that?”

“Link, no one is here but us. You just admitted to talking to yourself, and now I’m asking why you call yourself Haru. Is that maybe an alias you go by? Or is it a secret name of sorts?”

“Ugh, dude look, can we just pretend this never happened?”

Legend huffed with a note of levity. “Sure, whatever you want, Haru.”

Link saw red. “Don’t. Don’t ever call me that.” It wasn’t his name, and to hear it in the context Legend had just done was insulting to the dead boy that was still in the area to hear it.

“Woah, alright. Sorry, I was just joking, man. Seriously though, are you alright?”

“I- I’m fine, I just want to be alone right now.” Guilt held Link back from unleashing the rest of his anger. He didn’t even know why he felt so strongly about being called Haru in the first place, but because he does it was hard to ignore it. “Please.”

Legend complied with his wishes. And somehow that made Link feel worse.

Chapter Text

Wolves weren’t a common animal in New Hyrule. They were a part of the many animals discovered and later classified through historical texts recovered by the Hero of Wind and Queen Tetra not too long ago but enough for the entire canine species to be somewhat of a spectacle. Whatever wolves they could find were put in sanctuaries where scientists and biologists alike worked together to begin their domestication process. And because of that, loads of pigs were released into the wild when the new and “improved” pets to own came to exist.

And that all became Link’s problem, as on more than one account has a pig been the cause of many of his issues in life. Ranging from something minor such as a loss of a few crops, nothing he can’t fix and replace in a matter of days, to causing mishaps in his line of work as a train conductor.

Really, he couldn’t understand how such a small and adorable pink creature could become something vicious. Although, after meeting Legend, he’s beginning to full-heartedly believe that pink isn’t such a girly color after all.

The handle Link held onto shook violently. He only had to strain the muscles in his right arm for a few seconds when he suddenly pulled the handle backward, eliciting an ear-piercing screech from his train and a yelp from his rabbit companion from behind him. Link picked up the tattered brown bag he brought for Legend’s sake and turned to ask the rabbit if he was ready to leave only for the words to dissipate on his tongue. Legend had one of his arms propped on his waist while the other one was occupied with holding his hand to his nose. He was glaring at Link and the sight that should have made him feel guilty instead had him inwardly gushing. Even when Legend was angry he still managed to look adorable!

“Seriously? You have nothing to say?” Legend criticized. Link cleared his throat and kept his eyes shut. If he wanted to take Legend seriously, he’d have to.

“I thought I warned you earlier.”

“No, you did not give me a warning.” Legend hopped to the exit, waiting for Link to open it. Link was frowning, guilt finally swelling inside of him. He told Legend the same warning he gives all of his new passengers, and normally they understand what to do. Is it because he was a rabbit? He also hadn’t known what a train was until Link explained its purpose to him, which means his knowledge of all precautionary methods and what to expect when riding one would be nonexistent.

Should he apologize? Yes, that would be the correct response to indirectly giving your friend a nosebleed. Ah, but he’s been quiet for too long! And whenever Link apologized to Legend in the past the rabbit seemed uncomfortable by it.

Haru had the seagull perched on his shoulder and ran past Legend to exit the train. Legend shivered, but other than that made no sign to Link that he could see the invisible guests.

“I’ll make sure to warn you better next time,” He bit down on his tongue from saying what he said he wouldn’t. Legend nodded, though still irked by his crash landing.

“Does it always do that?” Legend’s voice sounded funny with his nose covered.

“Yeah, and that’s not even the worst of it.” He walked in front of Legend and knelt. “Here, get in this.”

Legend’s face went neutral. “No, I’m not getting in anything,”

Link shut his eyes and took a few calming breaths, thinking over how he could convince his small companion why he needed to go into the bag rather than free-roam the woods. “Legend, listen. These woods we’re about to enter haven’t been normal for a while now, and someone of… your size would be in danger.”

“And your solution to that is to have me stuffed into a bag?”

“It’s the biggest bag I have,” Link whispered, looking away. “And it’s the best solution I could come up with on such short notice. It’s so if we were to encounter any monsters, they won’t target you.”

Legend let out a huff. “I’ll be fine, I’ve survived this long haven’t I?” Suddenly, Haru’s words came back to mind and Link’s grip tightened around the bag's handles. This is what Haru was talking about, wasn’t it? Overconfidence can get you hurt, and in Haru’s case killed. It’s good to be confident, but only when you’re sure of it.

The deja vu washed through Link like a flash, making his mind feel fuzzy and his fingers twitchy. The smell of wet pine hugged the walls of his nose, reminding Link of where they are, and the vulnerable positions they’ll be in going forth.

“It’s different, Legend. These woods were dangerous enough before strange things started appearing, and now that they have, they've become closed off by the royal guard due to how dangerous they are.”

Legend raised an eyebrow. “And how are you getting access to these woods?” Link shrugged.

“Technically I don’t have access. But that’s beside the point. I need you in this bag if we’re doing this.”

“And I said I wasn’t getting in it!”

Link did not whine when he said, “Legend! Please! Just get in the bag, I’m trying to make sure you don’t get hurt.”

Legend huffed in amusement. Humiliation heated the tips of Link’s ears, making his frown more prominent. “You’re worrying yourself for no reason, if something does come out then I can easily evade it.”

“Ugh, fine. But don’t sound so sure of yourself, being cocky like that will get you killed.” Link unwrapped the bag from around his shoulders and threw it back toward the chair he sat on when conducting the train. “And don’t leave my side, I need to be able to see you at all times.”

Legend whistled. “You sounded like an old man just now,” He teased. Link ignored him, and exited the train with Legend directly behind him. What greeted him were cloudy skies and patches of grass that were still damp from the weather of last night. There was a small parting in the clouds above them, which allowed for a stray beam of light to illuminate a section of the Earth that Haru and that seagull used to chase each other in.

“Whatever,” Link retorted, taking out his sword and readying himself to begin cutting himself a path. But before he did he took out his compass with his other hand, checking if they were heading in the right direction. He heard rumors while in town grocery shopping, that in these woods monsters were coming from the southeast side, starting in the direction of his village. And from Haru, the wolf that killed him came from those exact parts.

But why that location specifically? Is there a nest that was recently built without his and Zelda’s knowledge? That wouldn’t make much sense, the activity of monsters has been closely monitored for some time now. Though they can’t keep track of everything, something on this level would’ve still been picked up on by the patrol guards already which in turn would have gained a response more serious than merely closing off a section of New Hyrule.

“As I said, stay close and don’t wander far if, at all, there’s something wrong with this forest,” Link instructed, tone grave.

“What have you learned then to give you that impression?”

A lot. Link thought. And the more he looked into it yesterday after discovering Haru the more serious this whole situation became. “From my knowledge, monsters of unknown origin have been grouping up in these woods and because of that people have either gone missing or have been found dead outside of or some ways in.”

Legend frowned. “Would Zelda be okay with you doing this by yourself? You mentioned to me that she had you on a mandatory vacation, and this doesn’t seem like any kind of relaxing activity I’m familiar with.”

“I’ll be able to rest easy once this is done and taken care of, so in the meantime, I’ll worry about preventing anyone else from getting hurt.”

“Wow, how noble of you. But Zelda will still be upset with you.”

Link groaned. He can imagine it already, him sitting in her castle’s dining room unable to say anything in his defense as Zelda scolds him for acting on his own in a way that could have gotten him killed. “Please don’t remind me, I know.” And he’s going to worry himself with one problem at a time.

As they continued walking through the woods, Link would pick up on oddity after oddity. For starters, the woods were silent – eerily so. Legend had picked up on the silence too but didn’t question whether Link had. They looked at each other, a silent understanding passing between them, and kept moving forward. Link made sure to swipe his blade across the shrubbery less aggressively than before, wanting to keep the noise to a minimum, and also kept watch of where he was stepping.

But then they heard the snapping of a twig. Link kept his head facing forward but his eyes pointed in the direction the sound originated from. There was breathing that gradually increased in volume, far from what any human can create. His feet moved his body before his mind could catch up as he leaped out of the way, a sharp metal edge whizzing past his face, and for the sole moment it cut into him, he was able to make out a few details before it was gone as fast as it had come. He rolled behind a tree, the grip on his sword tight, as Legend found cover too.

“Shit! I saw about three archers behind the group heading toward us!” Legend shouted. Link dared a glance over the trunk, counting five of the strange orange creatures, and then the exact amount of archers following them. They held onto wooden clubs with a wooden shield to match, for clothes all they had were loincloths, but what stood out to Link the most were their appearances. Long and stretched ears with skin that varied in shades of orange.

“Legend, stay here,” Link instructed quickly, and before the rabbit could protest his decision he jumped from behind the tree and toward the first monster he could get his hands on. A clean cut, right at the monster's jugular. He didn’t stay with it long while it sputtered in its blood, as the next monster approached him immediately followed by a second one.

Legend was shouting his name which made Link hiss when one of the monsters got curious and started to wander in his direction. He made quick work with the one blocking his path but didn’t have time to finish the other so he opted to shove it to the ground instead. He moved fast enough to escape the trajectory of an arrow but wasn’t fast enough for the next shot as the tip of metal engraved itself in his thigh. Link cried out, but kept his eyes focused on Legend and the monster raising his club to attack.

In a moment of adrenaline-induced strength, Link grabbed the edge of the arrow and felt the tickle of the feather on his palm before pulling it out and closing the distance. He had dropped his sword after getting hit by the arrow, so to compensate for that he grabbed the monster by its neck and pinned it against a tree, punching it in the face until black blood became a second skin on his knuckles.

He turned to Legend – frozen, wide-eyed, and staring at Link with shock – and yelled at him to hide. Without hesitating Legend did as he was told and once Link was sure that Legend was out of the way from danger, took his next best weapon out from its pouch. He flexed his hand a few times, getting a feel for the yellow rubbered pliers, and then lunged for the next monster. His initial attack was blocked by the wooden shield so Link grabbed the edge of the wood and overpowered the monster so it was he who had the shield and not the other way around. The monster became stunned by losing its shield, raising its shoulders and gasping, but its surprise was short-lived as in the next moment it was getting its head bashed in.

Arrows were getting shot at him for a third time, but this time Link had a shield. He could feel the vibration rattle his arm, causing pins and needles to sprout in the areas the wooden shield was pierced, but again his adrenaline allowed for all pain to be numbed as he carried out clearing the enemies.

He used their weapons against them. And if one weapon were to break or become too filled with arrows he’d simply replace it at a moment's notice. Time was lost on Link as he took down enemy after enemy, and when he shot his last arrow, impaling one of the monsters through its head, Link was a vibrating mess.

“L…Legend? You… you can come out now!” Link shouted, air catching in his throat as his chest heaved up and down repeatedly. His shoulders slackened at the sight of his pink companion hopping out of a bush nearby. Link went to take a step toward him but stopped upon feeling a sharp stinging pain in the spot he had been hit by an arrow. Legend moved toward him more quickly and when he was in front of him gestured for Link to sit.

“Is this the only spot you got hit?” Legend asked. Link nodded, his hair not bouncing with the movement as sweat kept it pasted to his head.

“My arms might be bruised, same with my hands, but I should be fine with a potion.”

Legend huffed. “Which is where exactly?”

Link hung his head back and groaned. “The train… shit. Well, it’s fine. I can still walk.”

“Here, use this to wrap it for the time being–”

“Woah! Careful with that.” Link snatched the blue bandana out of Legend’s hand and then looked it over, making sure it didn’t sustain any damage while he was fighting. Other than a few dirt marks here and there, it was fine. Link let out a breath of relief. “How’d you get this? Did I drop it?”

“Uh,” Legend shook his head, trying to make sense of Link’s reaction. “Yeah, back when you were… punching the Bokoblin on the tree.” The name had Link frowning.

“Bokoblin?” He’s read about them before, among the list of monsters that people had to look out for if they chose to sail the ocean. But once people migrated to the land of New Hyrule, they weren’t an issue as they mainly resided on the ocean. “They didn’t look like any Bokoblin I’m familiar with.” He rotated his arm around, at first to check for any bruising, but then shifted his focus on the blood of the monsters he killed. “And their blood is…”

Something about the sight of it made his stomach churn. He withheld himself from gagging and forced himself to look away.

“It’s because these Bokoblins were infected. It’s impressive you did as well as you did fighting them by yourself, they become stronger once their blood turns black.”

“Yeah?” Link didn’t feel proud. He was almost taken out from the start by an arrow, and then again when he got hit in his thigh. He was sloppy and could’ve handled himself better if he wasn’t caught so off guard.

“Hey, Link,” Haru called out, some ways away. Link turned toward him, playing his interest off as simply looking at the monsters he killed so Legend wouldn’t question him. “The wolf had this kind of blood too. Back when it… you know, it was already hurt.”

Link’s head buzzed with a newfound alarm. “Legend, how do you know so much about this stuff?”

Legend’s ear twitched, a silence pursuing. “There’s a big explanation for this, but I’d feel more comfortable telling you everything when the others are here.”

“The others?” Link repeated, tone despondent. Legend nodded, a distant look in his eyes.

“For now just be aware that these Bokoblins aren’t from around here, if you didn’t already pick up on that. They’re from a different era and have been brought here to most likely try to kill you.”

“That doesn’t answer anything, I just have more questions now.”

“Which is why it’s best to wait for the others to find us so that isn’t the case.” They had two choices now; they can keep moving forward, or head back to the train to recover. Link is more on the side of moving forward, but he can predict which side Legend would be on.

“Right, okay, but I have one last question. Can animals get infected?” Legend furrowed his eyebrows together.

“As far as I know, they can’t. There wouldn’t be any point since monsters can be easily controlled by whatever’s doing this.”

Link ran a hand up his face and then through his hair all while taking in a deep breath, held his hand in his air, and then exhaled while he moved his hand down to his side. “This just keeps getting worse the more I learn. Okay, so I’m thinking we keep going, scope out the area and see if there’s a nest or something the monsters are residing in, then we go back to the train where I’ll recover, and then we go back to the house to rest. Then tomorrow we take our findings to Princess Zelda and let her know what’s going on.”

Legend scoffed. “Seriously? Do you think you’re in any condition to keep moving? In the direction we’re heading in there’s going to be more enemies, which means the possibility of stronger foes.”

Haru flew up next to Legend, nodding his head with each point the rabbit made. Link couldn’t help but pout, feeling as if he was currently being teamed up on. Even the seagull was bobbing its head, though to be fair, it probably didn’t know what it was agreeing on.

“I’m not looking to engage anything in battle, I just want to find out where they’re coming from so I’ll have more thorough information to relay to Zelda and in turn the royal guard so they can take care of the nest or whatever and stop the monster problem that’s currently there.”

“There’s no nest,” Link froze. “And nothing you do will stop the monsters from appearing.”

“What?” Link shook his head, moving his fingers to pinch the bridge of his nose. “Again, how do you know these things?”

“Again,” Legend mocked. “I’ll explain everything once we regroup with the others.”

“The others being your brothers you mentioned?” Legend pressed his ears back.

“Yes, my brothers. Now come on, we’re going back to the train.” If what Legend said is true, then there isn’t any point in doing what his initial plan was. But man, if he had told Legend what he planned to do in the first place, could all of this have been avoided? Nah, Link would have checked it out anyway if only to get an idea of his own over the severity of this issue. Plus, he now has a sample of the black blood to take back to Zelda. So in short; a mostly successful excursion. Now after he lets Zelda in on what’s going on, he can continue his hunt for possible answers over the wolf that killed Haru.

But like most plans, this one was quick to change. Howling pierced through the sound barrier, causing all of those who could hear it to stop in their tracks and turn toward the direction it came from. Link heard Haru whimper, and that’s all it took for Link to grab Legend and start running. Legend didn’t struggle in his grip for the first few seconds, caught off guard by getting picked up so suddenly. Inconveniently for Link, he started to try to break free from his hold when the loud thudding of feet against the ground approached them rapidly.

Link swung out his sword and held it in front of him as a snout and a pair of eyes peeked through the shrubbery, eyeing both him and Legend with keen interest. His hands shook, but his grip on Legend remained strong. Legend eventually stopped squirming and stared at the wolf that began to show more of its appearance as the seconds ticked by.

“No way,” Legend gasped. Link glared, taking in the details of the wolf and comparing its appearance to the description Haru told him about. For whatever reason, the wolf was wagging its tail, but its ears were pushed back on its head and it began walking toward them with caution.

“Stay close, Legend. Just like last time.”

And then Link attacked.

Chapter Text

It was difficult to move as efficiently as he would have liked with Legend tucked between his arms but Link made do with what he could considering keeping his rabbit friend close by was the least of his worries. He was still recovering from his earlier fight, his wounds getting aggravated the more he moved and strained his muscles. Link had progressed way beyond his limit, each parted breath coming out like fire and his left eye had become too heavy for him to keep open. 

Still, he swung his sword with everything he had, kept up with the wolf as best he could, and held onto Legend with everything leftover. He’d come so far to reach this moment. He’d done so much to get into this confrontation and he was ashamed of what he had to show for it. In the wolf’s eyes, he can tell he’s barely perceived as a threat. The beast didn’t have to exert itself to avoid his attacks, and with each failed swipe at the beast’s jugular, Link could feel his frustration swell deep inside his chest, the emotion expanding until eventually it could no longer be contained. Link let out a cry as he put his all into his next attack, his feet melting into the ground from sheer power alone as he was encased in an aura of purple. Thousands of voices spoke to him in that single moment, encouraging him forward – all undead . 

The wolf hadn’t expected him to pull out his ace so soon, the opportunity Link had been waiting for was painted near perfect as all of Link’s power was unleashed. His cries mixed in with Legend’s, both contradicting each other. Link’s breath hitched when the wolf had managed to dodge in the nick of time, bits of its fur singed from the flames that had come so close to decapitating its head. Just as the wolf finally regarded Link for the threat he carried himself to be, teeth as dull as rocks pinched his arm. Link was still reeling from his previous energy output, leaving him vulnerable enough for such an action to catch him off guard and leave him flinching his arm open wide enough for Legend to escape his protective embrace. 

Whatever adrenaline-induced strength he held onto was fading fast. His heartbeat dulled in his ears as his lungs seized after every other breath. Link’s legs were like blades of grass, and before he knew it he was on the ground, keeping himself propped with his elbows while his hand rested over the spot he just got bit at. Link’s eye had widened, desperation making him look crazed. He was smiling at Legend, bitterness apparent in both tone and body language.

“ Why? ” He watched with blurring eyes as Legend hopped to stand by the wolf’s side, that pit in his throat growing heavy and hot. Had this been the rabbit’s plan from the start? Gain his trust, only to then betray him in the end when he needed him the most? Or perhaps, with what little hope he had left, Legend never intended for him to lose but now that he had he had no choice but to join his enemy as a means for survival. “Why…” He thought back to that moment they shared when Legend allowed himself to be held in his arms as he cried over the death of someone special to him. The comforting words he spoke into his chest, and the tears he attempted to wipe from his eyes that showed no signs of stopping.

“Hey, Link, It’s okay– ” 

No, no it wasn’t okay. Something foreign but long kept dormant began to bloom deep in the recesses of his mind, his thoughts racing as the worst came to the forefront of everything. Fear . Not for himself, no, he couldn’t care less what happened to him. Instead, he feared for everyone he had inevitably doomed to share the same fate as Haru. He failed to stop this beast, capable of manipulating and creating monsters that were unlike anything the people of New Hyrule have faced. And now, the kingdom was sure to fall as a calamity was waiting to befall it just over the horizon. 

“The monsters are dead, you killed them, so there isn’t anything left for you to–”

“Shut up,” Link seethed, not wanting the traitor to plague his ears any longer. The wolf’s ear twitched, its attention moving back and forth between them. Link shifted his glare, the heated expression not going unnoticed as the wolf tensed. “I’m done, you’re right, but not with fighting monsters,” He had to control himself, there was still a chance he could make it out of this and recover long enough so he could warn Zelda before it was too late. His glare redirected itself back towards the rabbit who flinched back as if he’d been slapped. “I’m done with you ,” 

Now it was Legend’s turn to get upset, his expression a nasty reflection of his. “So are you going to let me explain? Or am I going to have to force you to listen?” 

Link scoffed, not at all put off by his threat. “Seriously? As if something as weak as you could force me to do anything ,” The wolf had sat down, its ears stiff as it listened to their conversation with apt interest. Legend closed the distance between them, the scene would appear humorous if it was under different circumstances.

“You’re going to call me weak when you’re the one unable to so much as lift your chin? Please, don’t make me laugh!” 

“I don’t care! I’ll… I’ll get back up, and then I'll take you both down!” 

Legend was not amused, and neither was the wolf. He had already felt backed into a corner, but instead of it being threatening like he expected it to be, it felt more like… like an intervention?

“Why?”

Link’s eyebrows pinched. “What do you mean why? That beast you’re siding with killed my friend!” He hissed, taking satisfaction at the startled reaction he got out of them both.

“What?” Legend blurted immediately. “Twilight didn’t kill your friend! He’s never killed anyone! What in Hylia’s name caused you to think that?”

He hesitated, unsure whether or not Legend was being serious. Then again, he’s shown himself to be trustworthy up until this point. But if his earlier theory was correct about all of this being planned from the start, then he should choose his next words carefully.

“The beast I'm after fits your friend’s description perfectly,” At a second glance, he thought back to the description Haru gave him and… frowned. Its eyes weren’t the shade of blood he had expected, but instead, a vibrant shade of blue that reflected the world it saw like the sun to the ocean. Its fur wasn’t black like the charcoal he used to power his train, but many shades lighter with the color white giving it the impression of socks being worn. 

“Care to elaborate on this description you were given?” 

This must be a mistake, he’s spent his whole life without so much as seeing a glimpse of a wolf, and now here he is hearing about one only to then come across different one entirely? Either the description Haru gave him was flawed, or Link had mixed his targets up and almost killed Legend’s friend – his brother, someone he spoke about briefly to him in calmer times. 

Link pressed his face against the ground, turning away from the both of them with defeat thoroughly sagging his shoulders. “It doesn’t matter anymore…” 

Legend sighed, somewhat exasperated and under the assumption that Link was still being stubborn. “Link–”

“I’m sorry,” He sniffled, surprising not only himself with his tears but the others as well. Legend immediately placed a paw on his head while the wolf let out a whine. 

“It’s… fine,” Legend started awkwardly. “Can you stand?”

Link went to shake his head but gave up as soon as he felt the strain it put on his neck. “No,”

“We’ll figure something out, totally ,” His remaining eye could no longer stay open, and with the newfound darkness came the familiar fade of his consciousness. Legend had begun speaking again, his words incomprehensible as his mind began to swirl in that comforting lull that promised momentary peace. 

The last thing he could make out were arms embracing his body, effortlessly raising him from the ground, and then pressing his limp body against their chest. Bristles of fur tickled the sides of his face until finally, nothing.

\\\

Coming out from the realm of sleep was much like swimming through a sea made of honey. His eyes had to practically be peeled apart and all moisture was taken from his mouth, leaving him with the discomforting sensation of his scratchy throat that he was crudely reminded of with each breath he took. What he had assumed to be the ground he was laying on turned out to be the all too familiar cushions of his train, a patch of spit darkening the fabrics next to his face that made his nose scrunch in disgust.

A quick glimpse to the outside told Link that the sun had only just begun to either set or rise, the concept of time lost on him as he couldn’t be sure how long he’d been unconscious for. He gathered his thoughts together, recalling what he could of what happened before that led him to where he is now and frowned. He remembers arguing with Legend, and the shame he’d been overwhelmed with when he realized the truth over who he’d just attempted to kill.

And now, here he was resting inside his train by his lonesome. Nothing much could be heard, besides the occasional chirping from birds in the surrounding woods. Just him, his train, and his aching body that screamed out in protest whenever he so much as dared to move. It took a great amount of effort to pull one leg over the other, his eyes squinted from pain. He pressed his hand against the closest surface and used that to stand himself up on numb legs. Just as he prepared himself to take his first steps he heard a muffled gasp, all thoughts escaping him as he made eye contact with no one familiar.

“Uh…” Link’s squinted eyes scrutinized the stranger before him, his knees pressed together as his strength dwindled. The stranger looked surprised to see him, his eyes widened in contrast to his.

“You’re awake,” The stranger said, more so to himself. Link nodded slowly, wary of who just walked on his train given his not so preferred circumstances. “I mean, I didn’t expect you to be awake so soon, are you feeling alright?” The more he spoke, the more familiar he sounded. Was it a trick of some kind? Had he gone mad? Or was he still dreaming, imagining his rabbit companion as a human that was taller than him and looking at least a few years more mature than he currently was?

“Who are you?” He received a conflicted look in response.

“I’m–”

“ Legend? No, wait… how is this possible?” He brought a hand to his head, a sudden dizzy spell hitting him and urging him to sit. Legend was at his side immediately, a hand ghosting over his shoulder before he decidedly chose to keep his hands at his side bawled in a fist.

“I’m Legend, yes. There’s a lot for me to explain right now, I’d just hoped I wasn’t going to be alone for all of this,” He looked behind him and towards where he just entered from, a vexed look crossing his eyes. “So, where should I start?”

Link’s mind was reeling. His friend, Legend, was no longer a rabbit but a human. A transformation spell? Does such a thing even exist? And should he be surprised that it did? The only kinds of spells he’s come across so far were the kind that separated one's soul from their body, and the kind that hit you with the intent to hurt. 

How should Link be feeling about this revelation right now? He’s shocked, yes. And then a pang of betrayal could be felt piercing through his heart. “Could you change into a Hylian this whole time?” He hated how small he sounded, he hated feeling vulnerable in a situation he had no control of whatsoever. 

And it would appear Legend disliked it as well, his shoulders tensing in discomfort at the blatant display of hurt he’d just shown him. “No, it was more like a curse. My friend Twilight happened to have the means to break it, so once he could he did. I will admit, I originally planned to tell you this way before things went too far, but…” He hesitated, head pointed downward in shame. “But there is no excuse, and for that I’m sorry. For the lies, and for not coming clean about all the things I should have before things got this bad.” 

Silence followed after Legend’s confession and the longer Link prolonged it the more distraught Legend appeared. There were a hundred different ways he could respond, half of them angry and the other half betrayed. So instead, he chose the response that was neither. “Twilight, is he your brother?” 

Legend looked up from the ground, blinking. “Oh, yeah, I forgot I mentioned having brothers before,” He placed a hand behind his neck, bashful. “He’s just one of them, but I promise to introduce you to everyone else as soon as I’m able to.” 

He couldn’t help but voice the first thought that came to mind. “Are they all animals too? Or wait, can you all turn yourselves into different creatures?” Legend sputtered, amusement upturning his lips before he laughed incredulously. Link tilted his head, bewildered at the reaction his question garnered.

“No! No, the whole animal thing happened to be by accident. A little word of advice kid, do not touch mysterious objects imbued with dark magic.” 

“I never planned on it,” Link mumbled. “I’m assuming you learned that from experience?” He quipped.

Legend rolled his eyes. “Glad to see you’re feeling well enough to tease me,” 

Link chuckled, his chest warming. “I guess, but I think I use humor to cope?” His sudden confession earned him a look of bemusement. 

“Oh?”

“I mean, everything just feels like it's happening all at once. First I discover a talking rabbit, and then become close with said talking rabbit. And when things are looking up for me, boom! I become consumed with grief for all of one night but instead of taking it easy like I should have as a normal person would, I’m hacking away at monsters in a forest bent over backward for revenge.” He brought a hand to his face, bitterness morphing his face. 

“Link…”

“And then, right when I thought things couldn’t get worse, I’m preparing myself to die if it meant taking down what I assumed to be some monster but in reality, it wasn’t a monster, no, it was your brother! ”

“Link.”

“And I have nothing to show for it. All these years of training, all the endorsements I’ve received, and everyone’s expectations. All wasted, on me.” He looked at his trembling hands, at the scars he now realized weren’t achievements for everything he’d overcome, but instead failures.

“Link, how old are you?” 

He sighed. “Thirteen,” Not that he found it relevant to the conversation.

Legend sat beside Link, not turning in his direction as he spoke. “From what I’ve seen, and from just speaking and getting to know you, I can confidently claim that you’ve more than earned everyone’s praise for all that you’ve accomplished in the short time you’ve been around. It doesn’t make sense to me why you’re being so hard on yourself. Does belittling yourself make you feel better?” He scoffed. “I’d bet a hundred rupees that it doesn’t. But, I think I get it now. You’re feeling upset, but instead of blaming yourself for all of it, you should blame the bastard who killed your friend.”

Link turned to Legend, frowning. “Blame every single monster you come across for all the bad that’s happened to you. Just don’t blame yourself, because then you’re going to get yourself stuck in a cycle of self-loathing that you may never find yourself out of.”

Again, there was silence. But where it was awkward and tense the first time around, this time it was the opposite. Link smiled, grateful over Legend’s words after thinking them over and finding that he could resonate with his advice. “You didn’t seem half as wise when you were a rabbit,” He didn’t want to come to any conclusions over what Legend had just said, and how his advice could have possibly been learned from his personal experiences in a different situation. It was easier to ignore all of that and to keep imagining Legend as his carefree rabbit companion, someone who has never once been burdened in life until getting caught in one of his snares.

“Well, as a rabbit things are a lot simpler.”

Link leaned back, sighing contently. “Do you think if I was cursed, I’d turn into a rabbit too?” Legend’s brother must be cursed too, but being cursed into a wolf didn’t seem half as cool as being a rabbit. Perhaps he’s biased, but if he were to somehow come across a cursed item that turned him into an animal, he’d want to be a rabbit just like Legend was.

Legend raised an eyebrow, the action feeling surreal now that it wasn’t coming from his rabbit form.

“Using humor to cope again?” Link huffed out a laugh with a knowing smile.

“No, that would be ridiculous. Just curious, is all,”

The rest of their time alone was spent basking in each other’s presence, Legend explaining all that he can about his situation, and Link interrupting every so often to voice his questions that Legend took in full stride. Conversing with this new version of Legend was almost like meeting someone entirely different. He came off as more confident, his shoulders never sagging and his head held high. But the way he spoke and treated him was the same, if not a tad more tender than before. Despite his sarcastic mien, he was open-minded to whatever he asked or brought up. 

All was well, up until his brother Twilight returned. He should be happy that Legend was finally able to reunite with at least one of his family members, but instead felt a knot tightening in his core with each word they shared with each other. When the attention eventually focused on him, Link had to force a smile on his face as he readied to introduce himself – properly this time, and not with a blade thrusted in the other’s direction.