The Links wandered through the Akkala Wilds. Searching for a hero who doesn't want to be found.
They found themselves admiring the beauty of Akkala once again. However this time, they were ever on the alert.
Hyrule had to be physically restrained to stop him from running off to study a strange new plant or animal.
Because everyone knew he had an uncanny ability to get lost and disappear from the group in a matter of seconds.
Four's eyes were switching from blue to violet to green constantly as he walked along in the middle of the group, searching their surroundings.
Twilight's ears twitched at every sound. The action could only be described as dog-like. He felt a strange sense of familiarity at the scenery of this world, though for the life of him he couldn't think why.
Warriors and Legend were bickering with each other nonstop, amazingly without either letting their guard down once.
Sky was conversing with Fi about the new hero. She wouldn't tell him much until they met the hero and he touched the blade, but she did warn him that there was a 99 percent chance that she will be different this far into the future.
Wind was talking with Time at the front of the group. Wind didn't do this strategy stuff. He was a capable fighter, but being only 14 meant he didn't spend much time on the stuff as Warriors did. So Wind mainly talked about how weird the leaves were here, while Time listened, keeping a watchful eye to the trees.
That was until Wind stage whispered, "So do you think he knows we're here yet?"
Time searched the foliage with a sharp eye. "From what Bolson told us, I'm sure of it."
As it turns out, Time was right.
They had just entered a beautiful thicket of trees. The sun was pouring into the golden-red leaves, and a brisk breeze swept through the trees, ruffling their hair. The occasional beetle clung to the sturdy bark, and foxes disappeared into the shadows as they walked by.
Time was still in front with Wind, and Sky took up the rear.
There was a rush from the trees, and 2 arrows appeared out of nowhere. One where Time was about to take a step, and one pinning Wind's boot to the ground.
Wind let out a gasp as the arrow went through the toe of the leather boot, without touching his actual foot.
Everyone started pulling out weapons and shields until Time stopped them with a curt gesture.
Time looked around and the trees and slowly lowered his sword to the ground.
He couldn't see them, but he knew that somewhere there was an arrow aimed right at one of their hearts.
"We didn't come to attack you." He said calmly. "We need your help."
No sound came from the trees. Then the shadows shifted from above, there was a tiny blue flash from a particularly dark clump of shadows and something fell at Time's feet.
It was yellow and- wait. Bananas. A bunch of bananas landed at Time's feet.
By now all of the Links had caught on to the fact that bananas were used in this Hyrule to identify some kind of threat.
So when the bananas appeared, Time kicked them away swiftly.
The clump of shadows seemed satisfied with Time's action, and after a few tense moments, a figure backflipped out of the tree and landed next to the abandoned bananas. There was another blue flash, and the bananas disappeared.
The Links couldn't help but stare at the figure. Even Time was startled.
There. Standing a few feet away, in clear view of everyone, was a child. He was wearing a helmet that shaded his face completely. It was made out of what looked like some kind of skull with sharpened horns on each side. He wore a leather chest guard and skirt clasped together with metal rings and belts. He had no shoes, but arm guards with bone strapped to the left with strips of leather. He had a strange glowing slate on his hip, and last he had purple war paint running across his legs, arms, and stomach.
But worse of all were the scars. Time was horrified. This child standing before him looked to be only a little older than Wind. He had ghastly scars criss crossing his entire torso. But that wasn't even all of it. His whole left side was covered in burns scars. From his neck to his bare feet, and maybe even further up his face, where they couldn't see.
He was holding a well-used sword expertly in one hand and they could see a bow strapped to his back with a quiver of arrows hanging off his belt opposite to the glowing thing.
His legs were tense and he looked ready to bolt into the undergrowth at a moment's notice.
Time swallowed his horror and asked quietly so as not to alarm the boy.
"Are you Link?"
The figure--Link, nodded once.
As soon as Twilight laid his eyes on Link he felt an immediate need to protect him. What was he doing here all alone, only having beaten Ganon a few weeks ago? And then the scars. Dear Hylia the scars. What could do that?
He took a step forward. Link seemed to think it was to attack because he lept back at lightning speed and pointed the sword at Twilight's neck.
Warriors reacted immediately. "There's no need for that," he said.
Twilight raised his hands in a gesture of peace and spoke calmly. "We need your help on our quest. We can explain anything you have questions about."
Link hesitated. He looked everyone in the eyes, then glanced up at the darkening sky and sheathed his sword reluctantly.
He motioned for them to follow him.
They were led out of the thicket and to a high open space with only a few lush trees and boulders. There was a cooking pot next to a rocky overhang, underneath which was an untethered horse and a chopping block for splitting logs. Link's steps were silent, even more so than Time's, which was an incredible feat.
Link unclipped the glowing slate from his belt and tapped it a few times until he was absorbed in blue particles of light. When the blue light had gone, Link was standing in front of them no longer wearing the leather and bone armor.
He was dressed in a bright blue tunic with an off-white shirt underneath, leather arm guards, tan trousers with soft leather boots, and a dark blue hood that hid his face- but not the shock of long blond hair that spilled out of it.
He looked at them, hand still twitching toward his sword. They could only assume he was looking expectant.
Twilight realized this was his cue and explained their quest.
As Twilight finished explaining, Link tapped the slate again and started throwing meat and some unknown spice into the pot.
The Links looked at him incredulously. Was he cooking? Right now? Better question, could he cook? If he could, it would be a first for all of them.
It was a few minutes later that Link sighed. It was the first sound that they heard come out of him. A couple of the Links thought that maybe he couldn't talk due to the scarring on his neck. But he proved them wrong as he spoke, never looking up from the pot. "I can't help you."
His voice was young, but ruff and scratchy from disuse.
"Why not?" Wind asked
"I have failed in my duty as the Hero of Hyrule. Do you not see the ruins that decorate these lands? All of the lives lost in the Calamity could have been saved if I hadn't…"
Twilight felt a knife stab his heart at Link's words.
He sighed again and continued. "It doesn't matter now. I have failed the people of my time, and I am not a hero. To fight beside the Hero of Time, Sky, Winds, Warriors, Four, Hyrule, Legend, and Twilight… would be dishonorable to the title of Hero. I do what I can to help the Hyrulians left, but it will never be enough.
Twilight felt the knife twist further in his chest. But before he could protest Link's statement Wind got there first.
"But you DIED! You died for the people of Hyrule! You died protecting the Princess! That is more than any of us have done-"
But he was cut off as Link's shoulders tensed and he whipped his head up. "How do you know that?!"
"A giant bird sang it to us, but that's hardly the point!" Warriors replied.
"You were a knight, correct?"
Link nodded
"As a knight, to die on the battlefield is a great honor. To die protecting the royal family is even greater."
"But I wasn't just a knight! I was the Hero then too! And I couldn't even make it to Ganon before he killed me. If I had been stronger- I could have taken more blasts, but… no. I died. And the people of Hyrule paid the price for my weakness. And...and the Princess faced Ganon alone."
"Link."
Link turned to Sky.
"Have you ever heard the voice in the Master Sword?"
Link hung his head and sank even further.
"Oh. Fi warned me of this. Here Link, touch the blade."
Sky unsheathed the Master Sword and held the blade out to Link.
As Link touched the shining blade, it became ancient. There were chips on the side, even moss on the hilt. Link ripped his hand off the blade like it burned.
"I- I'm so sorry, the Master Sword was just like that when I pulled it- I swear I-"
"Link! It's ok. Fi said she is sorry that she could not aid you the way she has the rest of us. She said that the centuries took a toll on her, and her power was weakened. She said that you are very much a Hero and a good master. It saddens her to hear you blame yourself." Sky said softly.
"We need you to join us, Link. Hylia wouldn't have sent us here if we didn't." Four added, eyes shifting red.
"And if you don't join us, Hylia will just suck you into a portal anyway- so there's not much of an option." Legend oh so helpfully contributed.
Link, resigned to his fate, replied. "I guess you are right. I will go with you."
Everyone cheered, and Sky said, "Fi also gave me your Hero Title."
Sky ran his fingers along the blade reverently and smiled.
"Welcome to the group… Hero of The Wild!"
Wild.
That was a good name. He liked it. He was still getting used to traveling in a group.
It was nothing like he traveled before. Maybe he did travel like this with the Champions once. But it's not like he would remember it now.
He was amazed that no one in the group knew how to identify poisons, have silent steps, or even climb trees for that matter.
But he was thankful no one knew about his memories yet. Or lack thereof.
And NONE of them could cook.
It was ridiculous how much they loved his cooking. Sure, he knew it was better than most- and Zelda loved his fruit cake, but all he did was make some Spicy Meat Stew for dinner that first night, and all of the sudden he was the party's cook.
He wasn't complaining.
It had only been two days, and he would already do anything to protect these Hero's from the horrors of his world.
He had already steered Hyrule away from many a-poisonous plant. He had learned those lessons the hard way.
It only took a few hours of knowing him for the group to realize just how reckless Wild really was. He was constantly launching himself off cliffs, and only catching himself with the paraglider at the last possible second.
There was one particular incident when the group came across a bear while traveling to Kakariko.
It was a lush forest somewhere past the Zora Domain, and Wild had run off after spotting a beehive.
He didn't get the chance to shoot the honey before a giant black bear came barreling out of the trees, nearly trampling Wind.
Wild reacted immediately with a spark in his eye. He dropped the bow and chased after the bear. He swung himself on top of it. Gripping its fur, and soothing it until it gave up on attempting to throw him off.
He rode back to the appalled group, still cooing at the bear.
"What. was. THAT!" Legend cried clutching his hair.
"What was what?"
"Wild. you are riding a bear." Twilight said with disbelief and barely contained panic.
"Yes…."
"Oh for the love of the goddess-- NONE of us has ridden a BEAR before, Wild!" Legend explained.
"Oh."
"Really?"
"YES WILD"
"Why not?
Legend inhaled deeply and placed his hands together, meeting at his nose. He muttered something about "Gremlins" and stopped away.
Twilight couldn't help but ask. "Wild, how often do you ride bears?"
"Oh, all the time."
"May I ask why?" Twilight pushed.
"Well because it's fun. Oh, and because I thought without Epona here we could use something to ride."
"Wild, I think it would be best if we leave the bear here for now ." Time diffused.
Wild dismounted somewhat disappointedly, and whispered kindly in the bear's ear, " Thank you, friend."
The bear only huffed in reply and lumbered back into the trees.
Four speculated about Wild as they traveled. It had been a couple of days since the bear incident, and Four still didn't know what to make of the scarred hero.
Of course we like him. Red stated firmly.
I don't trust him. He's hiding something. He sleeps in trees if he even sleeps at all, and he never takes off that weird glowy thing. Blue argued.
Give him time! He just finished his original quest, and now he's forced into this one! He will open up eventually. Red fought back.
I have to agree with Blue for this one. Vio said carefully. He is definitely hiding something, and he won't trust us enough to share it. It's certainly a cause for concern.
You three do realize that we're hiding a particularly big secret ourselves, right? Green asked, amused.
This is different! Blue defended, but he couldn't deny that Green had a point.
How so?
Well, for one thing, WE don't sleep in TREES. Blue shot back.
If we want Wild to trust us enough with his secret we should be willing to share our own. Red proclaimed.
Don't start this argument again, Wild is a valuable addition to the team-- particularly in this Hyrule. We can't scare him off now. But I suppose Green is right and we should his secret.
Vio finished.
Four sighed. He never could make up his mind.
Hello!
I have received a wonderful suggestion to put a chart of which character is which game.
To whoever it was that requested this, thank you so much! That will definitely clear some things up.
Time = Ocarina of Time & Majora's Mask
Twilight = Twilight Princess
Sky = Skyward Sword
Legend = A Link to the Past, Link's awakening, Oracle Games, A Link between worlds, & Triforce Heroes
Hyrule = The Legend of Zelda & Zelda II: The adventure of Link
Four = The Minish Cap, Four Swords, & Four Swords adventures
Wind = Wind Waker, Spirit Tracks, & Phantom Hourglass
Warriors = Hyrule Warriors
Wild = Breath of the Wild
I hope this clears things up for you!