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The voices in Four’s head are just too loud right now.
Blue is yelling. Red is crying. Green is mediating. And Vio is… banging his head against the metaphorical wall in his brain. Which could very possibly be one of the reasons his head does not feel properly attached to his shoulders.
What was even worse was that none of them actually knew the reason behind whatever had started driving them to the brink of near-insanity! Part of the argument was literally what started the argument??
Like sure, that stupid hole in his sock had been poking and slowly tearing away at him since he started walking yesterday. And maybe Wild had put a few things in both his lunch and his dinner that just made him lose his appetite, though he would never say that to the cook. And oh goodness, that new ‘clicking’ thing Twilight started doing last week made his eye twitch every single time-
…Four needed to chill out a bit.
How he was supposed to start doing that, he had no idea.
That was also a piece of the chaos. Because of course it was. Because all the stupid little things just wouldn’t leave him alone, and now all the stupid little things became bigger and bigger things until they made him feel like this-
He They HE needed the pieces of himself to quit it before his head exploded. Splitting would be helpful; it had been a while, and he was starting to really feel it. But then Blue might just tackle someone and start a physical fight. That was not something he wanted to get into right now.
Even if it would make one of them a little bit better?
No.
It was getting too late to be very far from the others, regardless. Even if it was all four of them, the others would get worried, as they did, and come looking pretty quick. They were in (various stages of) accord about this: He would not be telling a single soul the truth about the Four Sword unless it became absolutely necessary. It was one card he would cling ever so tightly to his chest, the deepest of secrets and part of themselves himself that he knew would drive everyone away if they knew.
There was no way he could handle the Heroes looking at him any differently. That was true.
So for now he just has to sit and pretend that everything is fine even if it's not because it has to be.
“You alright there, Four?”
Too caught up in his own mind to hear the approach, he’s startled by the sudden presence of Sky. For a blessed moment, the discord goes quiet, each having to process.
Sky is just to his left, squatting down to be at better eye level with Four, who sits against a tree with knees pulled up to his chest. Even then, Four still has to look up a bit. Nothing new.
His head initiates its disorganization once more as they try to decide the best response. One wants to spout a quick ‘I’m fine,’ and leave it at that, while another does not want to keep lying: they’ve been using the ‘just fine’ excuse for a hot minute now, and every lie made his heart hurt. Especially to Sky. Never to Sky. However, saying that he was ‘not feeling well’ might as well plant a big painted sign over his head and keep extra attention on himself, which would make it that much harder to get away the next time he got a chance.
None of them agree. They wonder if taking a vote might lead to a more favorable outcome. Though those still often ended in a tie. Maybe they’d start drawing straws instead.
Or maybe better yet would be to already have an answer since Sky’s still there!
“Um…Four?”
Goshdangit.
“...I don’t know.” They mumble. That somehow being the first (and only) thing they could quickly agree on. Albeit half agree reluctantly, but a win is a win.
Sky is probably the most patient and the most understanding of the Chain. They know this. And if there had to be someone to offload on a little, it would be him.
“My head is just…so loud right now. Just all my thoughts overlapping and it feels like everything is happening up in there.” There. Truth without having to get into it all.
Sky’s expression turned pensive for a moment, then, “What helps you stop thinking so hard?”
“...What?”
“Y’know, like, would a quick run help get things up there slowing down? Or maybe some tea? Something that could occupy or chill your thoughts a bit.”
Well technically yes they did. Though what worked best was Splitting. So the parts of him could fight or yell or whatever it was they needed to get it all out until they had settled back below the boiling point. Sometimes that worked better than others.
“Music always helps me clear up my mind for a little.” Sky says, taking their silence as uncertainty. “Perhaps I could play you a little something?”
Would that be weird? Or like, awkward, just sitting there watching him play his harp? Then again, would he have offered off or was truly something he wanted to do? Well, if he thought it would help, then actually probably yes.
“Come on, let’s go sit by the fire,” Sky prods warmly. He rises to full height and offers both hands.
Four, figuring what else could hurt, takes the offered hands and allows themselves to be pulled to their feet.
Surprisingly, the only two already sitting near the fire are Time and Hyrule, the former polishing a piece of his armor, and the latter engrossed with Wild’s Slate. Wild and Twilight must’ve been cleaning up from dinner and/or on a quick patrol, while Legend, Wind, and Warriors sit further out, taking loudly and with big gestures in what looks to be in a storytelling circle.
Four moves to sit near Time, who gives them a small nod of acknowledgement and continues his work without a word. Then they watch as Sky settles across from them with his instrument.
Sky’s harp is truly a beauty. Gold and intricate in a simple way, and like any of his other items, well taken care of and polished until it sparkled. It seemed to glow in the firelight. He settles it into his lap and tests each of the strings, ensuring that it’s in tune. Then, he plays.
It’s slow and careful at first as he finds the rhythm. Four doesn’t recognize the song, but it’s a simple one, with repeating chords and a one-line melody. Sky’s fingers move deftly across the strings, ready to play the next note before the last one fully rings out.
He closes his eyes so that he doesn’t end up staring.
With only a dozen strings, the music that Sky can play is just as wonderful as it would be if he had an orchestra. Maybe it's even better because of the modesty of the tones. All he knows is that whenever Sky plays, he just wants to sit and listen.
It’s not long after that when another set of strings joins the melody.
Four startles at the new sound, looking up and around for it. Time has put his things away and now holds a guitara shaped as a fish bone. Where in creation he pulled that from? It seems he knows it well enough, too, easily following Sky’s lead and strumming the pattern of chords.
Hyrule, perhaps encouraged by Time’s joining, is next, digging through his bag until he holds out what looks to be a flute of sorts. The first notes are a little rough and experimental as he tries to find the key. Then he settles into it, following the main melody and hitting what sounds like every other note in the measure.
Of course, the little trio draws in the storytellers, the three of them running around to find their own instruments before joining the campfire. Legend dives over a log and sits with a triumphant smirk, Wind is close behind with his baton and a pout, and Warriors follows after claiming that the Veteran ‘cheated.’
Legend sticks out his tongue and gets right into playing. His instrument is one that looks like a shell from the beach, a conch if he remembers correctly, and Four braces for a noise like a foghorn. Instead, somehow (well, it is the Vet after all) the sounds that join are ones of harmony, the notes weaving around Sky’s melody like a dance.
Then Warriors, holding an ocarina, adds a third layer of harmony.
Wind moves to stand proudly in front of them, beginning to conduct a song that doesn’t really need conducting, but he does so with the biggest grin on his face.
It is a beautiful song, one that has evolved into a full ensemble piece and yet still tells the same story it began with.
Sky, the one who started it all, looks to hold the same thought process as Four, eyes closed softly as he sways with the music.
The last two, Wild and a Twilight-turned-Wolfie, finally wander back from their patrol. Wolfie breaks into a run in order to join them quicker, pouncing with his steps. He starts howling on beat with the music.
Wild, after he settles himself in the last spot, scolds Wolfie for being off-key. So in turn, the wolf knocks him off his log and sits on his chest. Which is promptly followed by a ‘hey!’
Four smiles at the scene before him. These Heroes are certainly not how he ever could have imagined them. Peace and unity even in the rowdiness. Using their different parts to make up the whole of their team, just like every different instrument that added new layers to an already lovely arrangement. He only wishes that his own mind could do the same…
Four realizes then that his mind has become suspiciously quiet. Oh thank the heavens.
The only voice that remains is the one that tells him to pull out his own ocarina and join in. So, that he does.