I do not own the Legend of Zelda.

Chapter Four

Royal Company

Morning came and Link's good mood persisted. He woke from the couch and went about whistling with the kettle while he made breakfast. Eventually a sleep-groggy kid Link wandered out of the bedroom and sat down at the table as his older brother slid hot eggs off the pan into his plate, fluffy and sizzling. He wielded his fork slowly and shoveled the food into his mouth. For a moment Link wondered how his brother knew just how to cook them, but then his chest ached with a strange sort of sad gratefulness as he realized it was because big Link was an older him. It was easy to forget that they knew each other because they were timeline counterparts, and simply assume they knew each other because they were brothers who'd grown up together. They did share a childhood, after all.

"Did you sleep well?" asked the older Link. Kid Link nodded, mouth full of delicious eggs.

"That's good," Link continued, "I slept well too. So what do you want to do today, little brother?"

Kid Link took a long drink of milk before answering. "Can we go see the castle?"

"Of course. You could meet Queen Zelda and her husband, King Jerome."

"She got married?"

"She did. And they have a son now, Prince Link. They named him after us."

"Really?"

"Yep. They thought I'd gone back in time, you know, when I went missing, so they went ahead and named him after me. I showed up the same week he was born. They were pretty surprised."

"Wow. So…now there's three Links in this timeline?"

"Yep. There's enough to make a whole chain. Plenty of other people have been naming their sons after us too. There's at least fifty baby or toddler Links out there."

"Wow. That's weird," kid Link said into his eggs and toast.

"Very strange. But we can guarantee that the name will wear off in a couple generations because of the surge in this generation, and then likely fall out of usage. Until then, I hope they gave them different middle names."

"Yeah," little Link said. "Other wise roll call in school's going to be pretty difficult."

Big Link nodded, turning back to his breakfast as someone knocked on the door. He stood to answer it, finding a castle messenger at the door. "Sir Link," the man said, bowing, "The King and Queen will be out today, on a visit to the Zora domain. They have specifically requested that you take care of their son for the day."

"Oh, of course," Link answered.

"His nurses will bring him down shortly, Master Link," the messenger bowed and was off. Link shut the door and turned to his brother.

"Well Link," he said, "I hope you like Prince Link."

The Prince toddled joyfully after the pair of brothers through the castle halls. Kid Link's head swiveled as he stared at all the portraits on the walls. He hadn't been inside the castle much in his time, except for the times he saw Zelda, and that was mostly restricted to the courtyard. After conquering Ganondorf, once the castle had been rebuilt, he had been named Hero and then sent back in time, never getting a good view of the inside. He watched the draperies swim throughout the halls, flowing along mantels and enrobing corridors, portraits ensuring that no brick was unwatched. Big Link showed them the throne room briefly, then the banquet hall, the library, and even the small side temples to the goddesses. As the day wore on, big Link turned back to find that little Link's hat had made it unto the head of the Prince. He smiled.

"Link! Link!" cried the little Prince. "This way!" he said as he attempted to drag kid Link into the kitchens.

The door banged open as a cook stepped out. "Oh, terribly sorry," he apologized as little Link swept Prince Link out of the way. The cook smiled at them and bowed to the older Link. But as the oldest Link bowed in return the other two slipped into the noisy kitchens. Link rushed after them, but with so much steam and heat it was difficult to see. The air was heavy with warmth pleasant at first but soon stifling. It reminded Link of the fire temple.

Eventually he found them again, kid Link with Prince on his lap, sitting on a chair he'd found, watching the entire culinary bustle. "There you are," big Link said to the other two, leaning up against the wall next to them and sweeping his azure gaze over the flurry. The air was palpable with a banquet of smells, salty, tangy, sweet, but mostly mouth watering and appetite carving.

They stayed like that for a while, but it wasn't long before one of the cooks was raining tidbits on them. The two youngest ate happily, Prince Link giggling at the jovial cook and kid Link looking like he hadn't eaten a cookie in years. Link thanked the cook for them as he took a pastry of his own. "So, what would you like to do next?" he asked, chewing the tangy, custard filled morsel.

Prince Link considered this before shouting, "Go outside!"

"Are you sure Link?" the oldest asked him. "It's still raining."

"Go see Mommy!"

"Link, Mommy will be back very soon, but we can't see her yet. Why don't we go up to your room and color?"

"Okay!" Prince Link nodded enthusiastically, and the three set off from the kitchens again, waving to the cooks as they left, leaving the steam and flavored air behind.

"Piggy back!" cried Prince Link, and big Link obliged, hefting the toddler unto his shoulders. "Raaa!" the Prince cried, lifting a mock sword into the air, "We kill Ganny!"

From deep inside kid Link, something ruptured, bubbling up and over and before he could stop it he was laughing, stumbling against the wall, squinting his eyes closed as they threatened to stream. Big Link smiled wider than the space between the ground and sky and couldn't help but love the Prince on his shoulders. "Get him!" the toddler cried, and big Link swooped his younger brother into his arms and yelled as he ran down the hall, laughter, squealing, and hollers ringing off the ceiling above them, colliding up the stairway as they climbed. Kid Link tried to catch his feet on the ground, but his brother held him just an inch too high, gripping the ticklish Hero firmly by the armpits.

They ran up the top of the stairs and the tallest Link slung his counterpart over his shoulder as he swung the door to the Prince's chamber open, tumbling to the ground. Both boys fell off of him and kid Link raced to the balcony laughing, the Prince bobbing up and lunging, "Catch him!"

"I'm gonna get you!" yelled 'adult' Link as he crawled along the carpet, his long arms inches from the Prince's heels, making him squeal. Kid Link's hat swung from the toddler's head as he raced into a corner. "Raa!" big Link cried as he cornered his brother and the Prince, corralling them with his arms.

"Aah!" kid Link yelled as he leapt on top of big Link, punching him in the back and knocking him unto his stomach, the Prince hopping to join the horseplay.

"Ah, that actually feels kind of good," big Link said as they pounded his back. "But I'm a goron! I'm gonna squish you!"

He rolled over, but they got away in time, continuing to rain mock fists on him. "Tickle him!" yelled kid Link and the other took it up, and soon the weathered Hero was howling on the ground.

Soon he was chasing them again and they played a million games, chasing the Prince, then the twelve-year old and then the oldest. They had cycled through once more and were flopped on a panting big Link's chest when Queen Zelda and King Jerome entered and were taken back by the sight of the dog pile of green and princely blue castle liveries.

"Oh, hey there," said the oldest as he turned his head towards the door, face splayed in a smile.

"Daddy!" Prince squealed as he lunged off of the Hero and towards the King's outstretched arms.

Big Link stood to greet them. "Good afternoon, your Royal Highnesses. I would be pleased to introduce you to my younger brother, Link," he managed, lending his brother a hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Link," curtsied Zelda. With a slight kick from his brother, young Link hastily returned the gesture with a bow.

"As it is with me," added the King with a dip of his head, meriting another deep bow from the boy. "So you spent the afternoon with Link?" asked the King.

"Uhh…yes," the two Links said in unison, "Sir," kid Link added hastily while the other Link taped on, "Your Highness."

Both the royalty smiled, and the King laughed. "I am afraid I did not make myself entirely clear. I was asking if you spent the afternoon with my son."

"Yes, your Highness," the brother's both said, though the tallestest switched it to "majesty," emitting another blush from both of them and yet another smile from Zelda. The King chuckled.

"Why in Hyrule," he laughed, "did your parents give you both the same name?"

The Links looked at each other for a minute before they both started pointing thumbs and trying to explain.

"He died," kid Link's voice started.

"They…they thought I was dead," big Link attempted.

"So they named me after him," little Link said.

"Because they thought I was dead," big Link finished awkwardly.

They King was looking at them, the Prince perched on his shoulder and sucking a thumb, still wearing the hat. Zelda still found the whole thing comical and smiled as she lifted the Prince down off of Jerome's shoulders. "You look as if you were having a very good time," she said as she set her son on the floor, still smiling.

"Let me get this straight," the King said, "your parents thought you were dead, so they named their next son after you?" Both Links nodded. "So where are your parents now?"

"They died," said kid Link abruptly, and, with another kick from his brother added, "your Highness."

"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that," the King said. "But it is a pleasure to have you," he added, and the boy bowed. "My son also seems to have taken a liking to you."

"Yes, your Majesty. He is a very good boy."

"Well, Zelda and I still have some business to tend to around the castle. We would appreciate it if you looked after him for a bit longer. We were going to relieve you, but it seems that you were thoroughly enjoying yourselves."

"Yes, your Highness. Thank you," big Link bowed alongside little Link.

The Prince rushed over to the pair again and big Link scooped him up in his arms. "Our son is very lucky to have you," the King finished.

Both Links bowed again and big Link responded, "We are ever so gracious to be in your favor, O King."

The King and Queen smiled, and with a wave left the room. Link put the Prince down on the floor and asked him, "Alright, where were we?"

They lost time once again, rolling around and chasing each other.

Prince Link was waging war upon the oldest Link yet again while the Hero had kid Link locked up in his arms. They were all laughing as big Link ran his knuckles across his brother's scalp. Prince grabbed something on the oldest's belt and yanked a silver dagger from its sheath.

Light flashed off the blade and little Link's world stopped. Walls were closing in on him, terror seizing him. Gripped by panic, his body began to shut down. Desperate to fight, he opened his mouth and screamed. He found himself in big Link's arm and covered his eyes in the green of his tunic. Green, the world was green, not red, he struggled to remind himself.

"Put the knife down, Link," the oldest soothed in the calmest voice he could muster against the unnerving screams coming from his arms. "Link, give me the knife." The toddler, eyes wide, handed it over slowly and Link put it on top of the dresser and wrapped his arms around his younger brother, who was still screaming. He clasped a hand over the boy's mouth and the cry was cut to gargling.

"It's okay Link, it's okay," he whispered, but the boy couldn't breathe. He fought off Link's hand and fell to his knees, coughing. But the coughs were cut short and ragged, and soon he was panting rapidly, less than half a second for each breath, his body trapped in the motion, paralyzing him.

"Hey, hey, easy Link, easy. Breathe slow." He put his hand on the boy's chest and tried to slow the rise and fall. Simply the rhythm of it was chasing his own pulse skyward.

"Breathe, Link, breathe. You can't breathe if you're hyperventilating. Hold your breath." The sound of ragged air choked the room as the little Hero held it in. "Now let it out, slowly." The little hero did, the air catching. "Now focus on breathing. In…out…in…out."

Gradually the twelve-year-old remembered how to breathe. Big Link felt his forehead and the sweat beaded on it. He then turned to the Prince. "Come here," he murmured.

The toddler shook his head.

"Come on, it's okay. Link's all right now. Come here."

The little toddler looked at big Link's outstretched arm and shook his head again. "Come on, please. Come to your uncle and his brother." And at last the Prince went over, and Link wrapped him up next to all of them, kissing Prince on the top of the head, which was still covered by little Link's hat. Big Link's heart fluttered in his chest and his younger brother sat numbly, mind drained of thought and streaked with dread.

The door banged open, causing kid Link to jump and lose his breath all over again. "Hey, easy. Remember what I told you. We did this last time," Link whispered as the boy tried to hold his breath and it snagged in a sob, the pace only quickening, a horse's hooves moving to gallop. "Easy, Link, easy. Calm down. It's okay. You're safe now." Prince got up and bobbed over to his worried mother, who swooped him up and kissed his head. The King and Queen stood there, not daring to speak as their Hero tried to calm his frantic brother. Link tried to forget they were there.

Again kid Link's breath slowed, and his brother closed his eyes in gratefulness, dropping his head back against the dresser.

"Why is there a knife on the table?" the King's voice rang out.

"I'm terribly sorry your Majesty. There is no excuse," big Link stood, holding his brother close to him as he faced the King, "The knife was on my belt, as it is everyday, so often that I usually forget it is there. I wear it in case of emergency, so that I am never unable to protect your Highnesses or myself. While we were playing, it became dislodged from my belt and frightened my brother."

"Into screaming bloody murder enough to scare the whole castle into thinking we'd been attacked?"

"Jerome…" Zelda warned, her voice low.

"Look at me, boy," the King demanded of the cowering Link.

"Please, your Highness, he's been through an awful lot—"

The King cut him off with an iced glare.

"Jerome," hushed Zelda, "Jerome, please."

Silence reigned in the room. The older Link swallowed hard.

"You may go," the King finished.

Both Links bowed and the older one replaced the dagger at his belt. As they slipped past the Queen, she returned the hat Prince had been wearing. Little Link furled it in his fist.

It was a long walk back to Link's quarters. They returned and little Link sat down on the couch stiffly, his eyes distant and cold. His brother went over to him, lifted his chin to face him in the rainy lowlight. He only had to look into those lonely eyes once. He strode over to the kitchen and started to make tea.

"It's not your fault," he called after a time.

The Link on the couch was silent and numb. His ears were pounding.

Big Link brought over two mugs of tea and curled his brother's cold fingers around one. He remained staring forward into space.

"It's okay, brother," Link tried. "Don't worry about it."

"Why do Kings always hate me?" the boy whispered.

Big Link put down his tea and gathered his brother to him. "They don't," he said into his hair, "They don't. Jerome was just upset because he thought his son was in danger. Zelda's father didn't know who you were. He was only trying to protect his daughter."

"I saved her," he whispered.

"I know. And without you all of Hyrule would be lost."

There was a pause. "How long were you missing after Zelda tried to send you back?" kid Link asked.

"Thirteen months," he whispered. "I spent a lot of time talking to the Deku tree, gathering my thoughts. A very long time. I wandered around and discussed with all the sages. And then I finally decided to go see Zelda."

Another pause. "I was in Termina then."

"Termina?"

"Yes. It's a country outside Hyrule. A Skull Kid had gotten a very powerful mask and it had corrupted him. He was trying to bring the moon down to earth and crush Clock Town."

"Wow," big Link murmured.

"Yeah. It was…it was awful. I watched the world end time after time, because I hadn't been able to stop it. And I sent myself back to the first day, using my ocarina, over and over and over again. And I watched people do the same things again and again, even though the world was ending. It was like being trapped."

Big Link rubbed little Link's shoulder.

"I had to use masks. I'd change into a Zora, a Goron, a Deku. And everytime I'd have to put a mask on…it was like being forced into another shape, and then trapped there. It felt so wrong. And I'd have to pose as people who'd died. And—" Link's voice caught, snagged on a sob, "and there was never enough time to do everything. Never enough time to save everyone. I tried, but there were still people I couldn't help."

Big Link took the cup of tea from his brother's shaking hands and set it on the table, then wrapped him in up his arms and felt him cry. And he promised himself a thousand things for this little boy.