Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Legend envied Sky. Not all the time, and not for the reason one may have expected. It wasn’t his brother’s position in the timeline, and the accompanying unspoken status. It wasn’t his ability to put up with an inordinate amount of nonsense. It certainly wasn’t his cooking skills (which, to be fair, were only slightly worse than Legend’s own). 

What Legend truly envied was Sky’s status as ‘Godslayer’. Legend would love to be able to claim that title and slap Hylia upside the head. Especially right now.

“Everyone alive?” Time’s voice called out, barely audible over the sound of rain. No, Legend thought. I died halfway through the portal. I’m a ghost now. Boo. If it weren’t for the mud in his mouth (courtesy of Hylia throwing him face first) he would have said as much. Instead, he settled for rolling to a sitting position and spitting out the foul earth. 

“I think so,” Wars replied from beside him. Legend felt his brother take his arm and pull him to his feet. Legend thanked him by stealing his scarf and wiping more of the mud off his face. “Hey!” Wars stumbled back, snatching the blue fabric back.

Legend grinned in reply, wiping off the remaining mud with his palm. He turned, taking check of his surroundings. Wars (for once) had been right. Everyone was accounted for, including Four, who was retching into a bush. They weren’t split up. Good.

“Does anyone recognize this place?” Hyrule asked, pulling a few twigs from his hair. They seemed to have dropped in the middle of a forest. No one spoke up for several long seconds.

“Lovely. Just how I wanted to start my day.” Legend shivered, wiping the mud off his bare legs. His scars were going to ache tonight.

“Well, look at it this way.” Wind grinned. “At least we didn’t fall directly into a monster camp again!” That was true. Their last portal had done that. They had gotten out with all their limbs intact, to be fair, but Twilight had been forced to reset the ‘days since explosion’ counter. Legend was not sorry.

Time coughed to get everyone’s attention. His usual aura of authority was a bit dampened by the mud covering half his armor. And hair. And face. “Well. I suppose we’ve found ourselves in a new time period. Which, most likely, means we’re about to meet a new hero as well.”

“I’d recommend that y’all think up a better recruitment pitch than last time,” Twilight said, looking all around unbothered by the mud that was soaking him up to his knees.

Legend shuddered. Twilight was their newest member, having joined only three weeks ago. Legend was pretty sure he could still taste the blood in his mouth from when the very startled rancher had punched him in the jaw. If Time hadn’t showed up and managed to distract the rancher long enough to explain everything, Legend very well could have lost several teeth.

“We can brainstorm as we walk,” Four said, washing down the last of his portal sickness with some water (which was thankfully from his pack and not the murky puddle by his foot. Seriously, was anything here clean?).

“Any idea of which way to head?” Time turned to Sky with a raised eyebrow. Sky nodded and unsheathed the master sword, taking care to keep the sword away from the mud. He held the sword out and closed his eyes, spinning in a small circle. Legend wasn’t sure why the sword worked like a chosen one dowsing rod, but he’d decided to not question it.

“Fi is giving me… southwest. More west than south.” Sky gestured. “Hopefully there will be less rain over there?”

-_-_-_-_-_-

Good news; there was, in fact, less rain. Bad news; there was also a big camp of bokoblins who, unfortunately, spotted the group before the group spotted them. The chain won the battle, but not without a few losses. Twilight had to redo the explosion record again, and Sky had been clubbed on the head hard enough that Legend could almost see tiny loftwings flying around his head.

“He should be fine.” Hyrule sighed, standing back. “Just… very concussed.” 

Legend was surprised that his injuries weren’t worse. The first had practically gained airtime from the force of the swing. Three seconds, if Legend had to put a time to it. He didn’t envy the godslayer as much anymore.

“Any chance we can stop here until he improves?” Twilight frowned, squatting down and poking Sky’s cheek. Sky screwed his eyes shut and muttered something under his breath. Legend couldn’t hear what, but the matching expressions of bewilderment that crossed Hyrule and Twilight’s faces were telling enough that it wouldn’t have made sense anyways. 

Time frowned. “Even though we cleared the camp, this area isn’t a good place to stop.” That was true. They’d left the forest in favor of a very hilly path. There were tall hills surrounding them, and a well traveled path to their side, but other than the shoddily made structure the bokoblins had been in there was no cover.

Wars nodded. “If the storm follows us, there’s not really anywhere to take cover. I doubt that thing could block rain.” He kicked the base of the structure, then stumbled back as it creaked loudly. Somehow, it didn’t fall.

“Right.” Time frowned at the structure. “We should probably keep going. Besides, it’s only 2:14. Plenty of time before dark.” Legend was convinced Time’s bad eye was secretly a pocket watch.

Hyrule sighed. “Suppose we’ll have to carry Sky then, huh?”

Twilight popped his neck. “I got him.” The rancher carefully scooped Sky up, tossing him over his shoulder like a  sack of aerial potatoes.

“…does he even weigh anything to you?” Wind looked over from where he was looting monster remains with Four.

Twilight grinned. “It’s like holding a couple of grapes.” He shifted a bit. “Sharp grapes, considering that he won’t let go of the master sword, but still. Grapes.”

“Show off.” Legend finished cleaning his sword and put it back in its sheath. Twilight just grinned wider.

“We should keep heading west. Hopefully the new hero will be near enough that we’ll find them without Fi’s help.” Time gestured. “Let’s go. It’s already 2:15.”

Pocket watch eye. Legend would bet money on it.

-_-_-_-_-_-

Time was beginning to question if people even still existed in this time period.  So far the only thing arguing against that theory was the well maintained road they were following and a strange tower Four had spotted, barely peeking above the hills to the northwest. They’d figured against heading towards it. The new hero was presumably not there, and none of them wanted to abandon the road and try and clamber over the hills that stood between them and the tower, especially with Sky still injured. 

The first had finally become a bit more lucid, four hours and thirty seven minutes ago, but in his case lucidity did not equals coherency. He had very quickly proved to be unable to sustain his own weight. Twilight, thankfully, hadn’t seemed to mind still carrying him. He’d even picked up Wind as well, who was riding on his other shoulder and looking around with his telescope.

“Sun’s going down!” Wind cheerfully reported. Time followed the sailor’s gaze and frowned. It was 9:04. They should probably stop soon, but he still couldn’t see anywhere good to settle.

“Not Sun… ugh…” Sky muttered miserably from Twilight’s other shoulder. He wiggled a bit, but made no headway in his attempts to escape. Twilight rolled his eyes affectionately.

“The ‘sun’ as in the celestial body, not your Zelda. Don’t worry, lover boy.” Sky let out a grunt of acknowledgement. Legend muttered a snarky comment to Wars. Wars rolled his eyes and elbowed the veteran. To the side of the road, Hyrule slowed down to stare at a mushroom. Four went to drag him away, only to stop and stare at the mushroom himself.

At least some things didn’t change. No matter how much time passed, what world they were in, or how injured they were, his brothers would still be his brothers.

He wondered how their new hero would add to their dynamic. Would he be standoffish like Legend? Inquisitive like Four? Reserved like Hyrule? 

Or would he be something else all together?

It seemed Sky was on a similar muddled trail of thought. From Twilight’s shoulder he loudly slurred “Fi says the hero here was hesitant, but now he utilizes high velocity logs.”

There was silence for several seconds.

“Like. A tree catapult?” Wars looked a bit baffled. 

Legend rolled his eyes and sighed loudly. “Goddesses, Wars, don’t be stupid.” Wars glared.

“I bet he throws them with his bare hands.” Wind grinned. “I bet he’s really buff. I bet he’s stronger than Twilight.”

“Hey now,”  Twilight said.

“What’s your theory, huh hotshot?” Wars glared at Legend.

Legend huffed. “He uses math. Obviously.”

Wars rolled his eyes. Hyrule frowned. “Math?”

“There is no shot. What are you envisioning? He lectures the bokoblins on imaginary numbers?” Wars flicked Legend’s forehead. Legend glared.

“What do logs have to do with math?” Hyrule looked at the two with an expression akin to misery.

“Logarithms,” Legend supplied. “And why not, Warriors? I know I cry when people spout calculus at me. Maybe the monsters do too.”

“Log-a-rhythms? Tree music?” Wind furrowed his eyebrows.

“No, logarithms. R-I-T-H-M, not R-H-Y-T-H-M. A quantity representing the power to which a fixed number must be raised to produce a given number.” Four gestured as he spoke, a hint of purple reflecting into his eyes from… somewhere.

“Heh?” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “I understand some of those words separately.”

“It’s like-“

“No, please don’t.” Legend put his hand over Four’s mouth. “I don’t want to cry today.”

Wars swatted Legends hand away from Four’s mouth. “Actually, please do. I want Legend to cry today.”

Four glared at them both. “Stop getting in my space.”

Legend glared at Wars. “Yeah, stop getting in his space, Wars. Gosh.”

“YOU WERE THE ONE-“

Time sighed tiredly. Four, to escape the bickering heroes, rolled away and started walking by Time. Neither Legend nor Wars noticed the daring escape.

Time glanced over. “You see anywhere we can sleep for the night?” He tried to ignore the sounds of alarm behind him as Wars tackled Legend to the side of the road.

The smith shook his head. “Not yet. This land feels like it’s going on forever. If it weren’t for Sky mentioning the hero, I’d be half convinced there wasn’t one.” Time nodded in agreement.

“Maybe we should send someone up one of the hills to see if there’s a good spot nearby.” Time winced as Legend yelled several loud curses.

Four sighed. “Maybe. Maybe after we settle the brawl behind us.”

They both stared at each other for a moment, neither wanting to be the one to have to be the responsible adult. Time sighed, knowing this was a battle he’d already lost. He turned and walked back. Legend was clinging to Wars’s back for dear life and shouting insults. Wars was trying to backpedal into the hills surrounding them to shake the vet off. Time sighed and carefully pried Legend off of Wars’s back, fixing them both with a stare of disapproval. Legend clawed at his arms before going boneless and subtly sticking his tongue out at Wars. Wars glared back. Time sighed heavily.

“Children,” he warned.

“Fiiiiine.” Legend stood up, shrugging Time off, and walked ahead, rolling his eyes. Wars adjusted his scarf with a scoff.

Some things never changed.

Time walked back next to Four. “Why am I the adult here again?”

Four rose an eyebrow. “Because you’re old.”

Time sighed. “That’s fair. I suppose. Though technically-”

“HEY! YOU ALL, OVER THERE!” A voice yelled from up the path. Everyone started, reaching for their weapons out of alarm. Time looked ahead and-

There was a guy. Just. A normal looking guy. He had blonde hair and blue eyes and a blue tunic with leather straps of armor. A simple sword was strapped to his back. He looked a bit alarmed as they reached for their weapons, but made no move for his own.

So this land wasn’t abandoned after all. 

Time gestured for the group to ease up. Not that he had to. They were all so relieved to see another person that they were putting up their weapons on their own.

The stranger relaxed and jogged up to meet them. He looked between them all curiously. “You folks good? I heard a scream.”

Time nodded. “We’re fine. Some of my brothers just had a bit of a disagreement.”

Wars looked over apologetically. Legend showed no signs of remorse.

The stranger, thankfully, seemed to understand. He laughed a bit. “That’s family for you.” He eyed Time’s clothing. “Something tells me you all aren’t local.”

Four shrugged. “We’re a little lost. Can you tell us where exactly we are?”

The stranger nodded. “Sure! You’re currently between Faron Woods and Fural Plain.” 

Time and Four’s blank expressions did not go unnoticed. The stranger chuckled a bit. “You really aren’t from around here, huh? Doesn’t surprise me. I know pretty much everyone.”

Time raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

Four frowned a bit and squinted. “What’s your name?”

Time frowned, picking up what the smith was getting at. The stranger did have some of the most common shared features… blonde hair, blue eyes, armor… but there was no way, right?

The stranger smiled. “Oh, I’m Link. What about you all?”

They were all quiet for a moment.

“No chance it’s this easy,” Legend muttered.

“Huh?” Link raised an eyebrow.

Time sighed. “We have a lot to explain to you.” 

Maybe Hylia had taken mercy on them in this massive land and introduced them to the hero right off the bat. Maybe she decided having one of their own already injured meant she should cut them a break.

Maybe, for once, it was that easy.

-_-_-_-_-_-

Many miles away, in the center of the Gerudo desert, Link tossed the final bomb into the mouth of a molduga. He shaded his eyes and watched as the beast dissolved into the sand, leaving behind its guts. He skipped over and started looting it.

“You make it look easy,” Riju said, pinching her nose to block the smell. Link shrugged.

“Do it as often as I do, it gets easy.” Link finished collecting the loot, putting most of it into his slate. He checked the chest and pulled out a shiny new sword that he sheathed on his back. “Since you all don’t have the same bombs I do, I’d recommend just using bomb arrows. Though, bomb barrels may work in a pinch… don’t quote me on that.”

Riju raised an eyebrow and followed after him. “Huh… well, thank you for showing me how you do it. Buliara will be glad we have our own defense now.”

Link grinned. “No problem!” He hesitated, glancing to the east for a few moments. The same way he had glanced during the fight with the molduga. And right before the fight with the molduga. And earlier in the day, when he was feeding Patricia with Riju. And even earlier, when he’d first shown up to Gerudo Town with the promise of finally explaining his process to slay said molduga. And a dozen times between.

Riju sighed. “Okay. What is up with you?”

Link blinked. “Huh?”

“You keep looking east with a weird expression. Is there something out there you see?"

Link frowned a bit, looking back east. “I… I don’t know. I have a weird feeling.”

Riju grimaced. “A ‘return of the calamity’ kind of feeling, or a ‘I saw a cool rock earlier I want to go check out again’ kind of feeling?”

Link shook his head. "Neither. More of a… I feel like there’s something out there I need to see. Something that’s waiting for me.”

Riju frowned. “Well… why are you waiting?”

“I was showing you how to fight the molduga.” Link gestured to the sand behind them. The last hints of malice from the beast melted into the ground. “I’d already told you I’d help you with this today. I didn’t want to run off because of a random feeling and accidentally skip out on you.”

Riju blinked. “Oh. Thank you for waiting. You should go now.”

Link hesitated. “Are you sure? There’s nothing else you need help with? Because I can-“

“Go. This clearly is bugging you. Shoo.” Riju waved him away, calling Patricia over. The sand seal slid up to her happily. “I can get back to town safely on my own.”

Link hesitated once more, then nodded. “If you’re sure.” He grabbed his slate, flipping through the different tabs. He stared at the map for a moment, thinking. East… almost everything was east of here. He didn’t really feel like wandering, not with how intense the urge was getting. 

He sighed and closed his eyes, tuning into the feeling. He could nearly smell rain. Mud under his shoes, rivers rushing around him. Faint voices bouncing through his ears, unknown yet… oddly familiar. 

Faron. He wasn’t sure how he knew, but it felt right. He centered his map in on the tower in Faron, then glanced up at Riju one more time.

Riju rolled her eyes. “Go. And don’t die.”

Link nodded. “I’ll try my best.” He clicked the button, and the familiar weightlessness settled in as he floated up, dissolving into the standard strands of energy. Hopefully, this would be a quick trip. He’d be done with it by tomorrow morning, and then he’d be able to go back to his house and tell Zelda all about the weird feeling, and they’d laugh about it and Link would cook some mighty bananas that he’d grabbed off a Yiga footsoldier earlier for their breakfast and nothing big would come of it. 

But things were never that easy.

Chapter Text

Rassun believed himself to be a man of many talents. He was a skilled actor, as attested by the three summers he spent at improv camp. Word had it they still talked about his performance as ‘tree #6’, even after all these years! All good things, he was sure. He was an excellent philosopher as well. He’d already solved about six of those age-old philosophical questions. “What is reality?” Pfft. Easy! The things that exist are reality. Duh. Take that, Hylian version of Socrates! 

With all his boundless knowledge, Rassun was certain that he had the wool pulled over these heroes’ eyes. Admittedly, his decision to impersonate the original dumb hero of his era was what many of his colleagues would call ‘impulsive’ or ‘imbecilic’. He preferred the term ‘inspired’. Besides, what else was he going to do? Let the oddly-clad strangers pass? He could argue that, by messing with them, he was doing his job. After all, what use was he to the Yiga clan if he wasn’t sewing chaos?

Oh. Right. That was another thing Rassun was. A Yiga footsoldier.

He forgot about that part sometimes.

Not that he was a bad soldier or anything! He loved the clan! He lived to serve Master Kogha (may he rest in peace) and the will of the clan. He just… Well. To put it bluntly, he hated his current job. “Oh, Rassun! Go stand by the side of the road and wait for the hero to talk to you so you can jump out and kill him!” Pfft.  More like “stand in the middle of NOWHERE doing NOTHING for an ETERNITY”.

Ugh. He wished he had a different job. Like Ezi! Ezi may have been the most annoying person in the history of the world ever, but at least he had a fun job. He got to spend all day picking bananas for the clan. Seriously? Rassun would forever be mad that Ezi got that promotion instead of him. Instead there he was, day after day, standing at the same intersection and waiting. And waiting. And WAITING.

…okay, maybe he’d been wandering around a bit when he found the traveling group. But it’s not like he did it all the time! Just… a solid 85%. It’s not like anyone checked in on him about it. And no one would bother asking about it when he hand delivered eight pristine heroes of the past right into the gates of the Yiga clan prison! They’d be too busy praising him for his skills and-

“Where are we heading from here?” asked the short one, snapping Rassun back to the present. What was his name… Rainbow? Tiny? No… it started with an F… Frederick? Ferb? Five… Four! Right! Rassun had such a good memory.

And now everyone was looking at him. He swallowed a bit. Right. He had a role to play. They hadn’t started walking again since meeting him, though about thirty minutes had passed. The one with one eye had explained the adventure they’d all had been sent on. And no, Rassun had listened! Mostly!

…He may have spaced out a bit at the end. But he got the gist of it!

“Well, it will take a few days to reach Zelda. There’s a stable up ahead we could sleep at, but…” Rassun trailed off. Crap. He had forgotten that there were other people out there. People who would definitely know he was not actually Link, since his disguise was not accurate. He just happened to have wanted to be blonde today! But he had just mentioned seeing those people who would know who he wasn’t as an option.

…he blamed Ezi for this. If Ezi hadn’t stolen his promotion he wouldn’t be in this situation.
“Stable?” Sundown, or Nightfall, or… whatever his name was asked with intrigue.

“Yes. Stable. There are a lot of them around Hyrule-” oh holy bananas he needed an excuse “-but most of the people running them are scammers.” Rassun was a genius.

“Maybe Ravio started the industry,” the pink one muttered.

“Who?” Rassun latched onto the opportunity to talk about something else. With luck, they’d dismiss the stable as an option and he could just lead them past it.

“No one. We may as well risk it with the stable.” The pink one waved him off.

Dang it.

“I guess so. But probably just for the night. And we shouldn’t talk to anyone.” Rassun adjusted his tunic. This would be fine. 

“Sounds good. Lead the way.” Minute(?) nodded to him. “We can talk more there.”

Rassun swallowed and nodded, then started walking. “We’re pretty close. We should make it in about twenty minutes?” 

This was fine. Everything was fine. He had the situation under control!

-_-_-_-_-_-

Link was so, so confused. That wasn’t that new of a feeling for him, to be fair; waking up with amnesia after the world’s longest nap tends to come with a lot of confusion. He had to relearn everything, put himself back together piece by piece. He’d recognized nothing.

Well, almost nothing.

There were a few things that had tugged at something deep in his soul. Familiar sights, familiar people. The places where he unlocked memories, mainly. The sight of the first Guardian he crossed, high up on the Plateau. The familiar glint in Impa’s eye when he first met with her. The blur in the air as he rushed an enemy for the first time in the Ta’Loh Neag shrine. He’d assumed some of it was mechanical memory that had refused to leave the muscles that the shrine had preserved from atrophy. He’d assumed the rest were fragments that the shrine had forgotten to erase.

The strange feeling he’d started to feel today was worryingly familiar to those moments. At the start he’d almost assumed he was having a memory, that something about the walk to Gerudo Town had shaken loose a fragment. But the memory didn’t come, and the feeling got louder. And louder.

He pushed some bushes to the side and kept walking. The Faron region was one of his favorites. Something about the pure presence of life that filled the air hit something deep in his soul again, something that he felt was much more new than the other feelings. Something much too wild to belong to the solemn knight he used to be. 

Something that belonged to him.

The feeling pulled him forward a few steps. Instinctively, he ducked around a corner. He was near the Zonai ruins. The statues were incredible, but they also came with the very frustrating downside of attracting monsters like flies to dubious food. As strong as the feeling was, he doubted it was worth getting clobbered over the head.

He looked around the corner, drawing his savage lynel bow. If he was quick, he could-

Oh. There… weren’t any monsters. He frowned, scanning the area. Usually there was something here, bokoblins at the least. But… nothing. Either the monsters had gotten really stealthy, or someone had cleared them out.

Cautiously he walked out, his bow still drawn. He sniffed the air. Smoke. Someone used bombs? A lot of them, if he had to guess, considering the rain passing over hadn’t killed the smell. 

He grimaced as he stepped into something squishy. He stepped back and looked at his shoes. Bokoblin guts. Well, that means at the least he didn’t do this and forget. He didn’t waste materials. 

He picked up the remains and put them in his slate, wiping his shoe off on some grass. He’d at least had the mind to change out of his vai set. He doubted that the guts would wash out of those. His hylian boots were much easier to clean.

He took one last glance around. This was… odd. He hadn’t been through here in a few weeks, and he was certain a blood moon had passed since he’d cleared it last. That meant someone else had cleared this area. As brave as many of the people in the area were, none of them were the type to clear out full camps, especially ones so far off the path. 

The feeling tugged in his chest again. The two had to be related. Whoever did this had to be the thing he was looking for. Link wasn’t the type to believe in coincidence, and this practically reeked of trouble. 

He coughed, plugging his nose. Nope, that smell was more bokoblin guts. Even the rain couldn’t hide that stench.

-_-_-_-_-_-

“I don’t trust this guy.” Twilight and Legend sat by the cooking pot outside the stable. The sun was setting over the mountains surrounding the small clearing, casting golden light on the odd construction. Legend found the giant horse head to be a bit unsettling, if he were to be honest. He raised an eyebrow at Twilight.

“I didn’t expect that kind of hesitance from you, Rancher.” Legend watched as Wind and Wars tried to balance rocks on Sky’s forehead as he slept. Their group had settled in sleeping bags outside the stable. The owner had offered them beds, but their new Link had declined, saying they couldn’t pay. He’d explained earlier to the chain that the last time he’d accepted one he was attacked in the night and robbed. Legend almost wanted to risk getting shanked in the middle of the night if it meant he could sleep in a real bed for once. He already had joint pain, he didn’t need back pain on top of it.

Twilight snorted. “You didn’t expect it? I punched you in the jaw when we met.”

“Touché.” Sky sneezed and the rocks went flying. Their newest companion, who still was yet to be titled, jumped at the noise, then shook his head and went back to his conversation with Time. “I agree, though.”

Twilight pushed around some dirt with a stick. “Good to know it's not just me. This all feels off.”

“Right? This new Link reminds me of Ravio, and not in the good ways.” He scowled a bit. 

“Who?”

“Right, you haven’t met him.” Legend sighed and leaned back. “He’s a thieving conman who likes to steal my stuff and resell it. Unfortunately, he’s also my best friend, and my roommate, so I can’t exactly stop him.”

“Huh.” Twilight tossed the stick to the side. “Can’t say that’s a problem I’ve ever had.”

“Consider yourself lucky.” Legend looked over at the new hero, who had moved on from his conversation and was now setting up a bedroll. “In any case, we should keep an eye on this guy.” He looked back at Twilight, offering him a hand.

Twilight shook his hand. “Agreed.”

“Agree about what?” asked the newcomer, standing behind them. Legend definitely did not shriek and nearly fall over, and whoever said he did was a lying liar who lies.

“We’re talking about what to make for dinner,” Twilight said. Legend sat up straight and nodded.

“Oh. What did you agree on making?” The newcomer sat. 

“Pumpkin stew,” Twilight replied.

“Lava soup,” Legend replied.

“The hell is lava soup?” Twilight looked baffled.

“Long story, nevermind.”

The new hero looked between them suspiciously. “Doesn’t seem you were in agreement…”

“I was lying,” Twilight replied with a straight face. “It’s a hobby.”

The new hero grinned. “Nice.” Twilight narrowed his eyes a fraction.

“What did you need?” Legend asked. He was a bit worried Twilight would start interrogating the guy, and that would probably not help here.

“Oh, I was just curious about your journeys. This whole situation is wild.” The new guy squatted down next to them, putting a hand on the ground to balance himself.

Legend shrugged. “They were pretty uneventful. What about you? This land looks more wild than the situation.” If it turned out this guy was actually fine and not lying then he’d maybe face backlash for the hundreds of little lies he was telling, but he didn’t care. Besides, according to this guy, lying was cool. He was just appreciating his culture.

The man thought for a moment. “Well… I’ve killed a lot of lynels. And saved Hyrule, and stuff.” His answer was almost impressively vague. “Nothing too cool.”

“Lynel? What’s that?” Twilight leaned forward a bit, his suspicion (thankfully) set aside. Legend didn’t want to have to be responsible and break up a fight.

“Big horse-human-lion hybrids. In my time, at least,” Legend supplied. “They’re annoying to fight.”

“Same here,” said the new Link. “Luckily, I’m pretty good at fighting, so they aren’t too tough to kill.”

“Oh? Want to spar?” Twilight narrowed his eyes again. Clearly, he hadn’t actually set aside his caution. Damnit.

Link blinked. “Uhm.” He let out a nervous laugh. “I mean, I can, but, uh…”

“Maybe when we aren’t in the shady scam stable,” Legend suggested. Twilight sent him a bit of a glare. Link, on the other hand, visibly relaxed, muttering something under his breath in a language Legend didn’t recognize. By the tone, he guessed it was a prayer of thanks.

“Yeah! Later!” Link nodded vigorously. He stood and stepped back a bit. “Anyways, I should, uh. Go talk to the others. See you later!” He hurried away.

“Nice going,” Twilight muttered, elbowing Legend.

“Giving him a concussion won’t get us answers, rancher.” Legend elbowed him back. “Save it for later.”

Twilight sighed. “I hate it when you act responsible.” He stood, brushing off his pelt and ignoring the affronted look on Legend’s face. “I’ll go make dinner. We don’t have any pumpkins, but I should be able to cobble something together.”

“Good luck,” Legend muttered. At least Twilight was decent at cooking, even if soup was all he made. Maybe it would soothe the headache brewing in his skull from this situation.

-_-_-_-_-_-

These poor men had to be getting scammed. Or blackmailed. Or maybe, Padok thought as he watched the small one in the blue shirt leap from the fence onto the wolf pelt boy’s back as he approached the cooking pot, knocking them both over, they were just stupid. 

Padok tried to assume the best of people, he really, really did, but it had been clear to him from the first five minutes of them being there that the man leading them was Yiga. So either Padok was just highly perceptive, or this group was horribly too trusting. Or they were stupid. Which, considering they all had swords, would be very bad.

For a minute, he had entertained the idea that they might be Yiga as well. The theory was quickly dismissed. They looked too lost, too… out of place. As incompetent as the Yiga could be, they at least tried to wear clothes from this century. These men looked like historical reenactors.

Also, the one with the scarf had declined the banana their scammer had offered him. No Yiga would ever manage that.

Speaking of, the Yiga man had wandered over to the short one with a colorful tunic to talk about something. Padok had noticed the man was always on the move. He seemed to want to be in every conversation. It put Padok even more on edge.

He wanted to pull one of the men aside to warn them, but he knew the man would swoop in the moment he tried. Besides, he couldn’t really leave his desk, and if these men turned out to be hostile, it would not end well. Phanna had already gone to bed, as had Perosa, and Blynne had left around noon to find a new horse to improve his riding. Suzuna had left with him to gather more elixir materials. He didn’t have the courage to try anything without their help.

He looked up from his desk to see a figure stepping through the gate, one he actually recognized. He forced back the relief on his face. He didn’t have courage, but he knew who did.

“Hey, champ,” he greeted as Link approached. Link waved, glancing curiously at the group out front. They all seemed busy trying to put out a fire in their cooking pot and didn’t pay the hero any mind.

“Hi Padok. What’s all this?” Link tilted his head to the group. His hood was up and a bit visibly damp. He must’ve come over from the Faron area, if Padok had to guess.

“I’m not quite sure. I’m glad you’re here, though.” Padok lowered his voice. “See the blonde in the blue shirt? The adult one.”

Link glanced over his shoulder for a moment, a frown pulling at his lip. “Yiga?”

Padok raised an eyebrow. “I think so, yes. How’d you catch on so quick?”

Link looked back and shrugged. “They come after me often enough I can recognize their magic. None of the others have that, though…” he trailed off, a strange look on his face. He hummed a bit and shook his head. “Think they’re getting scammed or something?”

Padok nodded. “I’d bet on it. Any chance you can keep an ear out? I don’t want to risk a fight, especially not this late, but I can’t shake the feeling something bad’s gonna happen.”

“Neither can I.” Link nodded. “I’ll keep watch. Might need to stay inside, though. It’d be bad if the Yiga one realized who I am.”

“Of course!” Padok smiled a bit. “Consider a bed on the house this time, as payment.”

Link snorted. “As if.” He set a red rupee on the desk. 

“Kid,” Padok began. Link shook his head.

“If you’re considering the bed on the house, then consider this a donation.”

Padok laughed a bit. He should have known. “Thank you, kid.” He felt himself relax as Link smiled back and stepped into the tent. He quietly thanked Hylia for sending the boy his way today. Things would be okay.