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“They say that the Heroes of the Legends will return. And when they do, you better not be the one causing harm to Hyrule for they will certainly set things right.” The guy mused while sharpening the long knife’s blade. “Ever since I heard that prophecy of sorts, I’ve been waiting for this day.” He smirked while turning his gaze into the Hero of Time. “Let’s see how much of truth is within those words since the group of Heroes you and the others create doesn’t seem like being capable of doing much of cooperation. I even doubt they’ll come for you.” His expression got even more delighted of that thought. “In fact, I’m sure I can have my fun with you before snatching the rest of them one by one. I’ll go down in history as the one whom defeated the Legendary Heroes of the past.”
The oldest Link out of nine by the same name laid on the floor gagged and chained. His magic was blocked and his armor and weapons were surprisingly neatly in the room’s corner. Yet, there was no chance for him to get a hold of any of them. Sadly, he felt like his kidnapper spoke the truth. He was alone in this situation as he fully doubted to get any of aid from the other Links.
“You and your comrades are nothing more than vermins to me and my kind.” The guy stated out before putting the knife down to the table. He moved over to the one eyed male and kicked him cruelly before crouching down to grab his tunic. He hoisted the older male up from the floor with the help from several power enhancements and unceremoniously dumped him into a chair. He tied few ropes around his victim just to keep him there. After that he fetched the knife and when he came back with it, he swiftly yanked the gag down before he already struck the blade on full force into the Hero of Time’s shoulder. Once inside, he started to twist and turn it to create as much of damage as possible. He simply smirked at the pain filled screams and growls.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Ever since the Heroes from different eras had gotten through the communication barrier between them with the help from the fairies, eight of them had already chosen the Hero of Time as their leader. The said Link wasn’t certain at all about the given honor as he felt like he wasn’t exactly the worthy one of such title. Besides, they had a real captain within their ranks. The guy, even though younger than him, had actual experience in leading.
The further they traveled and the more of portals they went through, the more certain Time was that he wasn’t meant to be the leader. The eight weren’t listening to him. They fully went against his words. And whenever he somehow managed to get them to actually discuss about things, that ended up into more of a shouting fight. He felt like the only reason he had been given the title of a leader was simply because of him being the oldest. And he so thoroughly hated that.
“Fetch me when you’re done with your bickering!” The one eyed male eventually snarled out as he had had enough of listening to the current fight. The eight around the swiftly made fireplace for short snack time on their road were quite startled and snapped their gaze into him. Yet, he ignored that and just left into the forest.
Time seriously had had enough of trying to fix the fights and misunderstandings. The eight didn’t listen to him no matter what kind of methods he used. He had tried to be nice. He had tried to order them out. He had tried anything and everything between from bribery to threats. Nothing worked and he was out of ideas.
The era was entirely unknown to him. Even the others claimed they didn’t recognize it. Yet, at the moment, the one eyed male wasn’t anymore sure whether or not to believe them. He didn’t think they’d lie to him but he was certain not everyone wanted to give out that they had come to their home-era. Whatever those reasons were, he wasn’t going to inquire about them as they didn’t belong into his knowledge without the specific one’s acceptance and choice.
Time just walked forward while letting his unconscious mind choose his path. He just wanted to get away from it all and be alone for a while. He had no intentions of abandoning the eight but things just started to be bit too much for him to handle. At least he was starting to understand why each of them had traveled their quests through alone with nothing more than one companion for the road. They just were unable to get along with others whom all thought they knew better than anyone else in their smallish group.
The wielder of the Biggoron Sword sighed heavily as he sat down by the calmly moving stream of sorts. He just stared into the water while once again wondering why the eight had chosen him as their leader. It hadn’t made any of sense to him back then and it still didn’t make any of sense to him now.
“Why did they ask me to be the leader if they don’t respect that decision? Is it just to honor the fucking fact that I’m the oldest? Just to point out that I’m a freaking senior in here? I don’t want or need such idiocy! Why didn’t they just put the Captain in charge? He’d know what to do and how. Why did they even pick a leader when they clearly aren’t even eager of having such? What am I doing wrong? Why can’t I get them to respect each other and listen to one another? Or maybe…… Maybe they just never have even heard of the Hero of Time…? Is that it? That I’m not even considered as a Hero by them? That I don’t even belong among the legendary Heroes of Hyrule. That it was just a mistake of the portal having picked me instead of some better version of me. That—“
Suddenly the well honed instinct warned the one eyed male of danger. He sprang to his feet and turned around as it was coming from his blind sight. He barely had time to gasp and jerk in shock before the heavy club already struck into his head. As he fell to the ground while losing his consciousness, he realized to have lost track of his surroundings as he had fallen too deep into the thoughts of doubt and confusion of why he was the leader. Before the darkness took him down, he felt like he deserved the situation he had fallen into.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
The eight Heroes were left baffled by the fireplace. They didn’t really know what to say or do as they watched their oldest member walk away from them. Once he was out of sight, they looked around at each other in worry and confusion. “We… We weren’t that bad, were we…?” Wind queried bit uncertainly.
“…It wasn’t exactly a fight…” Twilight commented while feeling himself slump a bit while his ears drooped slightly.
“He’s been kinda on the edge lately…” Legend pointed out with a worried frown.
Warriors sighed and shook his head. “Shit. I probably should’ve offered my assistance as his second-in-command.” He half whispered while glancing at the way their leader had left into.
“I think none of us have been much of cooperative lately.” Sky noted while glancing around his comrades.
“We could do better, that’s true.” Four shrugged while feeling like he was the only one with actual experience of working with a group.
“So, how do we fix this?” Hyrule queried while looking around. The others slumped and turned their gazes away while feeling uncertain.
“The fights of sorts have been just us trying to figure out how to get along.” Wild told while knowing to have been part of few of such by now.
“It’s about establishing trust.” Legend stated out firmly and others reluctantly nodded in agreement.
“We’ve all traveled alone and fought to stay alive and to save the kingdom.” Twilight continued with that bit more of courage the situation was giving him.
“Not me, though. I fought a war.” Warriors reminded while feeling bit like the odd one out there.
“Yeah, well, few of us haven’t had companions along either if we’re pointing out differences here.” Legend almost snapped.
“We’re not searching for differences but similarities.” Sky talked soothingly while hoping to keep the conversation calm as that seemed to get more done than with everyone shouting or barking stuff out.
“So, let’s start off from facts.” Twilight started. “Hero of Time. How many of you have heard of him?” He inquired and looked around to notice four of the Links around him raise their hands. “Glad to know I’m not the only one. As far as I’ve found, his time was before mine.”
“Same here!” Wind almost beamed at the similarity. “Ganondorf himself claimed me as the Hero of Time reborn!” He told proudly.
The others were bit shocked of the exclaim before frowning as they thought it through and nodded bit slowly. “How’s that possible?” Hyrule queried bit worriedly. “The story I’ve heard tells that the Hero of Time is the Fallen Hero and he came already before the Hero that saved the lands before my turn.”
“Fallen Hero… Yeah, that’s the guy before me all right.” Legend half grumbled. “Don’t know the whole story but he failed to defeat Ganon.” He explained bit unwillingly and Hyrule nodded in agreement. The others grimaced at the given info.
“Okay, okay! Let’s leave this topic off!” Warriors nearly commanded. “It’s not like we’re doubting one another about the fact of being Heroes of Hyrule.” He stated out bit roughly and the others gulped and slumped in full understanding. “We all got the mark of the Triforce. I think that’s enough of proof on its own about who we are.” The others nodded in agreement while feeling bit hellish of having even thought about doubting things.
“So… What do we do?” Wild inquired bit warily while looking around the others.
“We make decisions.” The Captain stated out firmly while letting his hard gaze go through the others. “We chose him as the leader. So, the main question is…. Why aren’t we acting by that decision?”
The seven others slumped and few even facepalmed as they realized the actual situation. “I’m sure the trust and acceptance comes if we can actually work together. And to work together, we need some ground rules. For that, we have Time. As simple as that.” Warriors spoke much calmer and the rest of the Heroes nodded firmly while bit calming down. “So, in other words…” He continued and waited for everyone to look at him. “Follow his orders but remember that you have rights to discuss things through. As far as I’ve seen, he hasn’t really commanded but tried to go through the ideas and possibilities with us. We just need to be more considerate and to actually listen to what each of us have to say about the topics.”
“Let’s find him!” Wind shouted while actually feeling excited and having jumped up to his feet. “We can be the greatest Heroes of all time together!” He exclaimed and others couldn’t help but bit smile at the enthusiasm and nod in agreement.
“Just… Calm down a bit. Maybe we should give him a moment to calm down too…?” Hyrule half suggested while feeling bit like they were being bit too quick with the situation.
“He did tell to fetch him once we’re done bickering.” Four reminded and shrugged. “We’re done with the bickering now.” The others nodded and the eight Heroes stood up while most of them hoped that the one eyed male had gone in straight line.
“I can find him.” Twilight told while taking the Shadow Shard into sight. “Just… Don’t freak out.” He half begged and gave a slight nervous grin when the others frowned at him in confusion.
The Ranch Hand took a deep breath and turned into Wolfie. He just simply ignored the shocked looks as he began to sniff around until already starting to follow the oldest Hero’s scent. He knew the others would have lots of questions later on but right now they needed to find their Hero comrade and get things right. Wild had swiftly demolished the fire as they would be continuing forward once they would’ve talked with Time.
They came to the stream and bit frowned in worry as the oldest Link wasn’t there. “Time? You here?” Hyrule called as he and the others bit spread around the area.
“Horse tracks.” Legend called out while having crouched down to check the situation. “And a rider. So not Epona.”
“Did someone come over to him? Or did he meet with someone at here?” Sky half queried while trying to figure the situation out.
“You think he would’ve gone with the person to somewhere?” Wild asked while not fully believing such of the oldest Hero.
Warriors shook his head slowly. “No… I highly doubt he’d go to anywhere without having informed us of the situation.” He told as calmly as he could.
“Blood!” Twilight suddenly shouted after having sniffed around as the Sacred Beast and turned back to Hylian the moment he noticed the bad omen. “Time’s.” He stated out while pointing at the few drops of blood on the ground by a rock.
“He didn’t leave voluntarily.” Four nearly growled before turning his notion into the Ranch Hand. “You think you can still track him down?”
“I think I can follow the horse’s scent.” Twilight offered and the others nodded in acceptance. He changed forms again and sniffed around for a while before catching the right scent. After that he led the others again.
Bit over two hours later they came to edge of a town. Yet, Wolfie turned away from it while rounding the town to outskirts of the place. The area they came to about half an hour later was far enough from the town to not catch any notion. The open area within the forest had an abandoned Temple right in middle of it. Close to it was a grazing horse.
Twilight changed back into Hylian while hoping he didn’t need to do any tracking inside the rundown looking structure. “Do we really have to go inside there?” Four asked while not liking the condition the Temple was in.
“The scent trail leads right into there.” Twilight answered unwillingly.
“We’d better move. Time’s been in that person’s hold for way too long.” Warriors stated out firmly. “And the way he was taken doesn’t mean anything good for him.” The others reluctantly nodded while not wanting to think what being captured by bad guys could mean to Heroes.
The eight Links entered the place as confidently as they could. They kept check on the area’s ceiling, walls and floor in search of enemies, traps and fake roads. They hadn’t gotten far before a pain filled scream echoed in the hallways. After the shock the sound had brought within them, the Heroes already dashed down the hallway in desperate need to get to the one eyed male as fast as possible.
For once the luck was on their side as the road was straight. It led downwards underneath the ground but there were no intersections or doorways to rooms on sides. By the time they reached the bottom of the Temple and into the right room, the situation they witnessed made their blood run icy cold in their veins. “TIME!” The terror filled scream left from each of their mouths simultaneously before they already ran to their group’s leader.
Time was tied into a pole. He was bleeding quite heavily from dozens of rough stab wounds. There was a rope around his neck and slowly choking him as at the other end of the long rope was a weight. The slowly downwards going thing was bit swinging as the one eyed male had tried to get it stuck into somewhere but there was nothing the thing could’ve gotten lodged into to stop choking him.
The Links swiftly cut the rope the moment they were close enough. Right after that the part around his neck was loosed and Time started to cough, wheeze and sharply inhale to get the precious air back inside his lungs. The others were untying him and working to open the chains. Once fully freed, Legend already fished out a red potion and carefully fed it to the one eyed male.
Time was carefully lowered down to the floor but he didn’t dare to look at the eight around him. That only worried the younger Heroes while wondering what were the reasons for such behavior. “Time… You okay now…?” Twilight asked gently while bit tilting his head.
The oldest Hero gulped once and simply nodded. He was feeling ashamed of having needed to be rescued. He felt hatred at himself for having dropped his guard down like that and ended up getting kidnapped like a fool. Even though the Ranch Hand’s voice was caring, he was certain that the eight were thinking of him being way too old for this kind of quest. He was fully sure they thought of him unfit for the title of a Hero.
“Not the first time a Hero ends up caught and is in need of outsider’s help.” Sky commented as airily as he could. “I was trapped once and needed one of the Mogma to help me out of there. Got the Digging Mitts from him. Upgraded then to Mogma Mitts later on, though.”
“I got caught when I first turned into a wolf. Needed saving from one whom became my companion for the quest.” Twilight admitted with a shrug.
“Got caught in a Pirate Fortress!” Wind exclaimed almost excitedly. “Needed all of my sneaking skills to escape from there.” Yet, he soon frowned. “Damn… Didn’t need backup for that action.” He huffed a bit while crossing his arms over his chest and pouting slightly.
Time blinked few times and raised his gaze up into the Heroes around him. “Do you need another red potion?” Legend inquired while being ready to take out the needed thing.
“I… Uh… N-no… I think one’s enough…” The one eyed male bit stammered while feeling bit uncertain of the situation. “Um… Thanks for saving my sorry ass from death.” He almost mumbled while turning his gaze off. He still felt like he hadn’t deserved to be rescued.
“You’re welcome.” Hyrule smiled happily. “You would’ve done the same for any of us.” Time blinked bit in start before slightly smiling and simply nodding. “All of us would’ve. We’re on this together.” The Traveler continued while glancing once around the group of Heroes around him. They all nodded firmly in full agreement.
“I’ll check on your gear.” Warriors told while getting up and going over to the one eyed male’s stuff. Time held back the grimace as he really wasn’t up for letting the Captain to check on the things. It wasn’t because he wouldn’t have trusted the guy but it was the absolute opposite. The one whom he felt like should’ve deserved the title of a leader was the one he remembered from the War of Eras, the one whom he had gotten as close as calling him as big brother. And he knew the knife he had planned and gotten created with the war Hero was right on top of the things in there.
Time watched the Captain stop in start before he already tentatively picked up the knife. He gulped and fought against slumping. Yet, he closed his eye and flinched when the question came. “Is this your knife?” Warriors asked while taking in the decorations and sharpness of the weapon. Luckily for the one eyed male, he didn’t turn around to see his reactions.
The Hero of two titles took once a deep breath to keep himself intact and his voice as calm as he was capable of. “Yeah, it is. Why you asking? Is there something wrong with it?” He faked off slight worry into his voice while knowing the blade couldn’t be dulled due to the enhancements and Fairy Magic.
“No, it’s fine. Just…” Warriors started with sorrowful voice. “My little brother got this kind of knife too.” He told before putting the knife back down among the other gear.
“I see.” Time started while fighting to keep his voice strong enough. “Well, sorry to say it but I’m not him. I’m pretty sure I’d recognize my brother if I ever had such.” Yet, he flinched nearly instantly after he let those words out and inwardly cursed.
“Well, that’s one hell of a lie there.” The Captain stated out while snatching the knife back up. He came back to the group of Heroes and knelt down in front of their leader. “Because the funny thing is that this blade got both my and my little brother’s names etched into here.” He told firmly while pointing out to decorative creations in the blade, one of such on both sides while differing in length and markings.
“’Sprite’ and ‘Wars’.” Hyrule read aloud before he even realized what he had done. Everyone’s gazes fell into him on that second. He jerked a bit in start before chuckling tad sheepishly. “Uh… Y-yeah, I, um…. I’m capable of reading Fairy Language…” He admitted while tad blushing.
Time sighed heavily and slumped. “Fine…” He half grumbled. “Fine, I was at the war but I’m not the kid you’re searching for. I…” He trailed off while gritting his teeth. “We’ve seen several eras and timelines by now. We’re not from the same one. The knife doesn’t prove anything.” He sighed heavily and turned away from Warriors while snatching the knife from him. “Don’t stop searching, though. I’m sure you’ll find him eventually.” He whispered before forcing himself up to his feet. The eight Links watched their oldest member make his way to his things and starting to get them to right places.
“Time?” Twilight called while feeling both confused and worried of the situation.
“We’d better leave before that asshole comes back.” Time stated out as firmly as he could while not glancing at the group of Heroes. “Besides, once we get back to my era, it’s up for goodbyes. I’m not continuing this quest any of longer than needed.” He told while forcing his ears to stay as they were and his voice calm and strong enough. “You eight deserve better than me.”
“But… The portal opened in your era for a reason.” Sky told bit baffled.
Time snorted and shook his head. “Miscalculation from whomever opened it into there.”
“I highly doubt that.” Warriors stated out with bit rough voice.
“You’re allowed to doubt whatever you wish.” Time held back the snapping from his voice even though some of it seeped into there anyways. “You eight don’t need a failure like me. I’m not a Hero in my own era. And out of what I’ve heard, I’ve already abandoned one era and left another into destruction. I’m not worth of being called as a Hero. I’m sure the portal will open up into somewhere which would hold a better version of a Hero and whom would be worthy of your trust and acceptance.”
“Sprite.” Warriors called bit warningly.
Time flinched and shook his head. “No. Don’t call me that. Save it for the one whom deserves it.”
“And what if I think you’re the one it belongs to?” The Captain asked almost challengingly.
Time sighed and bit slumped. “Then you’re a fool.” He whispered while starting to put the armor on.
“Can’t I call you as Sprite as long as this quest goes?” Warriors almost begged.
The one eyed male shook his head. “Better not to. Otherwise it’ll be harder for you when you find the real one.”
“Time…” Wild started bit hesitantly. “We want you along as you’re the one we’ve started to learn to know.”
“I highly doubt it’ll be any of trouble for you eight to get to know some other Hero.” The Hero of Time replied as firmly as he could. “Just stop trying already. I’ve made my choice.” He nearly snapped just to hide the hurt and fear he was feeling.
“Listen...” Twilight started while feeling their group would shatter beyond repairing if the Hero of Time left. “We’re sorry about how things have been going. We’re learning. And, well, we’re not used to this kind of situation. But… We’re sorry. Just give us one last chance. We’ll be better. I promise.”
Time sighed and shook his head. “Why did you put me as a leader if you had no intentions of following one?”
“But that’s the thing! We are up for follow you!” Wind exclaimed fiercely. “We’re just… Bad at it…” He nearly mumbled while slumping in defeat.
“Or then Hero of Time just isn’t the one you’d be willingly following.” The oldest Link sighed in defeat.
“I didn’t know my little brother was the Hero of Time until much later on.” Warriors stated out as calmly as he could. “He embroidered the nickname I gave him and his actual name into my scarf. The sorcerer’s castle eventually gave him out to me due to the masks and the blue ocarina of his.” He explained bit fondly while ignoring the fact of the older male slumping at the revelation. “I’ve noticed you checking my scarf. Searching for the proof.” He told with a slight grin which bit widened when Time jerked.
“You haven’t found it because I wanted to keep it close to my heart after I lost you. Back when you were there, I wanted everyone to know you’re my brother. That’s why I kept the end which had your creation in everyone’s sight. When you vanished, I changed it to be close to my heart where I’ve kept you ever since.” The Captain said with a voice that was mix of sorrowful and fond.
“The similarities don’t mean a thing.” Time mumbled while feeling like they were just going circles around the whole thing. The others could claim whatever they wished but it wasn’t going to change a thing. Following a leader clearly wasn’t something the others were up for doing.
Suddenly a sharp inhale caught the notion of the Heroes into a newcomer in the room. The one eyed male cursed underneath his breath as his tormentor had returned to there. “Well, I clearly stand corrected. The others did come for you after all.” The man stated out with a slight smirk while putting a tray down to a close by table. On that tray were lot of different kinds of weapons. The eight Links quite well glared at the guy while carefully moving to stand between him and their group’s oldest member.
Time scowled as he really didn’t like the situation even one bit. Sure, the bad guy was entirely outnumbered and out-skilled but he did not want the others to take a life. Yet, he stayed silent as he was certain the others wouldn’t listen to him. He just faced away from the upcoming situation while closing his eye and simply leaning against the close by wall.
“I know each of you want to kill him but don’t.” Warriors almost commanded while having glanced at the older Link. “Just capture him and we can drop him off to the guards or knights, whichever is the closest, and be done with this.”
“But, Captain…” Wild started and growled as his gaze returned into the one whom had almost killed one of the Heroes. “He’s as bad as the traitorous Yiga in my era!”
Warriors flinched as he really wanted to take the guy’s life as much as the others did. “I know but Time wouldn’t appreciate that action.” He stated out and the others jerked a bit at the given info. They glanced at Time in start before already grimacing and slumping. “Like Sprite back in the war, Time’s unable to really kill.” The Captain told with a slight smile.
Time gritted his teeth and turned his slight glare into Warriors. “I can kill if I have to.” He snarled bit roughly. “Doesn’t mean I want to, though. Or that I wouldn’t feel hellish afterwards. But, I will kill if I have no other choice in the matter.”
“Ah, I see what’s going in here.” The kidnapper of the Hero of Time smirked while leaning his hands against the table and putting his full weight on them. His expression widened when everyone’s notion fell into him. “The Hero of Time… Lost too much too soon and now is too scared to let anyone close anymore. Was even ready to kill himself after having returned from the War of Eras due to the fact of having lost the Hero of Warriors and having no way of getting back to him.”
Time flinched and slumped. He grimaced at the truths while turning to face elsewhere as the others glanced at him in both shock and worry. He gulped once and fought not to tremble or let his ears droop. “If you know so much, why don’t you tell how this situation will go down, hmm?” He queried bit roughly while hating the slight waver within his voice.
“Nah, it’s more fun to reveal secrets to the vermins of Hyrule.” The guy replied airily and shrugged. “Like the fact that the Hero of Warriors lost his rank as a Captain due to commanding search parties night and day after the young Hero of Time and Termina had vanished.” Time gasped and jerked a bit before already snapping his shocked gaze into Warriors. The Captain grimaced and slumped while avoiding to look at any of the others around him.
“The thing is that there are as many legends as there are eras and timelines.” The bad guy continued calmly with a clear smirk within his voice. “There are some differences, though, which connects specific stories into same timeline. Like the fact that only one of the Hero of Times create birds out of thin, well bendable sticks. Made an eagle just three months before leaving the era of the Hero of Warriors.”
Time gasped in shock and recoiled backwards. The Captain snapped his gaze into him before actually calming down and bit smiling. “That’s all the confirmation I need.” He whispered while taking out a smallish box and opening it to reveal a stick figurine of an eagle.
The one eyed male had frowned slightly before flinching and staring wide-eyed at the creation. Yet, soon he closed his eyes and slumped in shame. He wrapped his arms around himself while bit turning away from the eight Heroes and his tormentor. “Sprite?” Warriors called worriedly while feeling like just wanting to go and hug the older male.
Time gulped once and shrugged slightly. “I had my suspicions. Didn’t want to believe it, though. Just….” He trailed off with a shake of his head. He opened his eye with a heavy sigh and just stared at the floor. “I’m not that kid anymore…” He half whispered.
“Doesn’t matter.” Warriors replied fondly. “At least I know you survived and been safe enough. That you’ve found happiness and love. That’s what matters to me.” He told softly and smiled a bit when the one eyed male turned his uncertain and bit teary gaze into him. “You’re still my little brother. Always have been and always will be.” He grinned a bit lopsidedly. “You’re my dear little gremlin.” Time snorted softly before tad chuckling and slowly shaking his head. Yet, he was bit smiling and calming down.
“I can give even more out.” The guy suddenly spoke while turning his notion into Twilight. “The Hero of Twilight is familiar with the Hero of Time. The two of them—“
“Could someone, please, shut that bastard up already before he gives out more of secrets that people aren’t willing to give out without consent?!” The one eyed male suddenly snapped while throwing a rough glare at the guy. Yet, he nearly grimaced as the guy smirked. Time didn’t need to take a check around the others to know they were curious and wanting to hear more.
Wild took a deep breath and started to storm towards the kidnapper of their team’s oldest member. “Hero of Wild, the Hero whom failed.” The man stated out calmly and the Champion jerked into a stop. “There’s an era of you where you were triumphant. No scorched lands of Hyrule. But you… You’re the one who fucked up.”
Time grit his teeth and held back his growl. “You are not a failure, Champion.” He sated out firmly and bit roughly. “There are as many eras and timelines as one can imagine. We’ve all certainly died and failed at some point. We all certainly have lived a life without heroism. You are not a failure because if there is one, then it’s me. I died to Ganon while you defeated the death itself. I left a world in ruins while you’re repairing such with all you got. I’m not a Hero in my own era but each of you eight are. What else do you need to know to see a failure from a real Hero?”
“Time’s right about the eras but not of him being a failure.” Twilight stated out calmly but firmly. “We can play with the What ifs as much as we wish but it won’t change the fact of the life we’re living. This is the only right life for us and we’re living it as well as we can. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done or left undone in some other version of ours.”
The guy scowled as he listened to the situation. Yet, he soon turned his notion into next victim of his. “What about you, Hero of Legend, remember Koholint?” The guy queried and his smirk widened at the jerk and shocked look on the Weapon Specialist’s face. “Since you’re here, you’ll never be with her. There’s an era where you failed as a Hero but got the girl. There’s an era where you killed yourself after the island. There’s an era where you left Hyrule and haven’t been seen ever since.”
As Legend was left breathing fast and shallowly while bit trembling, the man’s gaze went into Hyrule. “Hero of Hyrule, the one with one hell of a burden as a secret. You’re a threat to everyone around you.” He stated out before gasping as an arrow struck into his head.
Time had had enough of the guy’s talking. He drew out a special arrow and shot it straight and true. While the others were shocked of the situation, he quickly moved past them to get his kidnapper tied. “Not dead, guys. Just knocked out. He’ll come around soon enough.” He explained while putting a gag to the guy to keep him silent. After that he took out another arrow to show it having a small pouch where the tip of the projectile would’ve otherwise been. “Short timed knock-out powder. The old granny at Kakariko makes it for me. Was a huge aid when I went through the Gerudo Fortress. Best effect when struck to head as the powder’s inhaled but it also has bit of magic within it so hitting into anywhere still works the same but the length of the unconsciousness might be shorter.” He explained before putting the weapon away.
Legend sighed and bit slumped while dropping his gaze down into the ground. “Koholint is the name of an island where one of my quests happened.” He started quietly with sorrowful voice.
“Veteran, you don’t need to say anything you’re not hundred percent certain of revealing.” Time reminded firmly while hoisting his kidnapper up and dragging him to the chair he himself had been tied into only a while ago.
“I know but everyone certainly got questions considering what already was told.” Legend replied with a slight smile and a shrug. “The island was creation of a deity called Wind Fish. It vanished after I got the deity woken up from a nightmare of its. Bad thing is that I fell in love with a girl in there and, well…” He shrugged. “She and everyone else is as gone as the island is.”
“As you all already know, I can turn into a wolf.” Twilight started right after Legend had finished. “But, that’s not what that guy was going to reveal. It’s true I know the Hero of Time. He’s got the same armor as my mentor. Bad thing is that my mentor was a spectre of a Stalfos warrior whom went by the name of Hero’s Shade.” He revealed and chuckled bit nervously. “He taught me few of the songs I’ve heard you play few times now during this quest.”
Hyrule gulped and slumped. He closed his eyes as he didn’t want to see the reaction of the others. “I’m a half-fairy whose blood can revive Ganon.” He told and bit shrugged. “At least, that’s a possibility in my era. Dunno if it works in other eras too.”
“I can split into four persons.” The Smithy stated out swiftly to pull the notion off of the Traveler. “It’s where the name of my sword comes from. It aids sometimes when I need to really hear out the different possible ways and plans. Plus, it certainly helps in harder battles as there’d be three more fighters than just me alone. I don’t have split mind, though. Just emotional parts like scientific, anger, calmness and caring. They’re all in balance within me so no worries in there. Yet, depending on my mood, the color of my eyes might change to fit it. Green, blue, red and violet.”
“Well, I doubt there’s much to reveal. I have pretty much given everything out already. But, whenever I remember something, I’ll talk it through.” Wild shrugged with a small lopsided smile.
Wind frowned while trying to figure out a secret to reveal to the others. Eventually he sighed and shrugged. “I doubt there’s much I haven’t yet told through my stories by now.” He confessed with a slight apologetic smile.
Sky sighed heavily and closed his eyes in defeat. “I’m the fault of what you guys have gone through.” He told sorrowfully. “I wasn’t strong or fast enough to take down Demon God Demise before he already cursed me and the Heroes whom would come after me.”
The shocked silence was only cut by their captive’s groan as he came back to reality. Yet, tied to the chair and gagged, there wasn’t much he could say or do. “You said there’s a Hero before you, right, Sky?” Time started while frowning as he thought things through. The Chosen Hero simply nodded. “So, in other words, Demise’s curse is very weak.” He stated out with a mischievous grin. “He gotta have already cursed the First Hero and renewed it in your place. Hell, Ganondorf himself cursed me and Princess Zelda before we got him fully sealed away. So, if he gotta renew that damn curse at each turn, it’s fucking weak one to deal with.”
While Sky was startled of the Hero of Time’s assurances, the said Link’s notion was already in the Traveler. “Fairy’s blood is a blessing, not a curse. I got their magic and their language but not their blood. You just gotta be careful. But, know that none of us is going to reveal you to any of fucked up monsters or bad guys whom might be chasing you in your era. And we’ll keep them oblivious to your situation in every other era, timeline and whatever place we go into. You’re still a Hero and none of us will keep you from doing what you’ve already been working at your own era. We won’t be keeping you off from fighting or defend you any of more than before. We trust in your skills and knowledge.” The others actually nodded firmly in agreement.
“You know, Sprite, this is why you’re the leader.” Warriors told with a grin and got the older male to snap his startled gaze into him. “I might’ve been a Captain once and led an army but you always were the one whom knew the right words to say. To encourage and reassure. To comfort and calm down. You were my second-in-command back then even though I never said it out loud as I knew people wouldn’t have been too happy of it. So, will you please continue as our leader?”
Time stared at him wide-eyed and opened and shut his mouth few times while being out of knowing what to say. “The Captain’s right. You’ve done everything perfectly but the eight of us have been absolute idiots to realize the situation. We’d be honored if you’d continue this quest with us to the very end and stay as our leader. Please?” Legend requested with bit hopeful voice.
The one eyed male was still out of words but he looked around into those hopeful gazes and slight begging within them. “If… I-if everyone’s okay with that….” He started uncertainly and all eight nodded repeatedly in full acceptance. “I… I-I guess I…” He continued while feeling like out of his depth in there. Yet, as he could see actual honestly within those looks and true wish of him staying as their leader and keep continuing on the quest with them, he smiled a bit and calmed down slightly. “I guess it’s settled then.” He finally said with bit more of confidence in his words.
Yet, what the Hero of Time hadn’t waited for, was the happy squeals and the eight dashing right to him to engulf him into a group hug. The armor he wore didn’t mean a thing as they were overly happy of having him still with them. The one eyed male was fully taken off guard by the action and he fell stiff for a moment before sighing and relaxing. He couldn’t deny the fact that he had already warmed up to these eight despite the hardships the start of things had brought.
It was the start of things going right for the Heroes of Hyrule. They knew they would come for each other whenever they’d need help no matter what kind of trouble they would be in. They were certain their secrets would stay as such in the hold of the others. And, without even realizing it off, they began to call each other as brothers. Most suspected that it was due to Time and Warriors being such already in the past but the truth was that it simply was how they felt about each other. They had found a family they had never thought of gaining and soon enough they felt fully comfortable and safe with each other no matter whom of them was next to them.
Even though the Hero of Time and Termina was chosen as their leader, it wasn’t solely his title. All nine took part in planning and choosing their roads. Everything was done out of mutual agreement unless the situation needed different choices out of it being hectic or someone coming up with a way of clearing things off fast and efficiently. So, in overall, the leadership was actually shared by them all even though the title was only with one of them.