This is the second book of The Fragmented Hero series. Please read the first book titled "The Fragmented Hero" if you haven't to catch up with the storyline.

The Hero of Twilight is used to the weird and bizarre – all of his reincarnations are. It is basically an occupational hazard – a part that defines the life of a holder of the Hero's Spirit. He has solved his fair share of puzzles and dungeons and strategized against enemies that make the monsters in children's fairytales appear tame. But this, this new Link, is an enigma – one that made him question what he has done, where he had gone, and when did it happen – and generally made him doubt his existence. Not in an existential crisis, no. It is more like there is a gap in his entirety, and the only one who could fill that void is this kid alone.

The past six hours were one of the shittiest migraine-inducing hours of his life. His head spun for just trying to remember, and even if he did, his thoughts would just jump back to What the fuck happened? and Did just that really fucking happen? Everything just went downhill the moment the others noticed the kid spying on them. Twilight, in his part, purposely led the kid to the others and did not warn him beforehand. What he did not anticipate was that the boy has an un-Hylian sense of hearing. He can smell the others a mile, yes, but hear them from about thirty meters away? He could as a wolf, but not as Hylian. It made him wonder if it is something unique to the kid or a trait that the Hylians in that era possess.

He was afraid that the boy would flee at that point, and he will have to start from zero again. However, just like every Link, the boy has a knack for sticking his nose into trouble. The kid changed attire before his very eyes in a swirl of blue light and approached by his own accord. He tried to stop him from spying and just get over it by dragging him to the others, but the boy resisted. In the end, the kid scaled a tree in a matter of seconds while he was left on the ground, wondering what to do.

Twilight heard the others talk about a new Link - that apparently, the kid he was keeping an eye on was actually him. He was surprised, but not because he learned that the kid is another Link, but because he was not surprised as he expected himself to be. It was as if he knew in the first place, but his damn mind did not even care to put it out there.

He debated whether to alert the others, but if he did, the chances are that the kid might fall to his death or probably escape. If the latter happens, the kid might see Wolfie as an enemy, and that is not a good thing. Worst of all, they might be forced to resort to violence (the good kind, of course) and probably tie him up until he finally listens to another lecture about the Goddess gathering the heroes from across time and space, throwing them into a quest to save all Hyrules, blah blah blah. In Twilight's defense, it gets exhausting hearing it the third time.

What he did not expect is for the kid to turn tail and aim a freaking bomb arrow at their faces. Sure, he was keeping watch of an opportunity to tackle the kid and disarm him before he could hurt anyone, but that opportunity did not present itself to his face. The boy's scream was like the voice of the damned, and his shot went in blind. The explosion almost swept Twilight off his feet, and it took him a moment to gather his bearings. The trajectory was really off, a few meters from the left where the most durable shields were deployed. His first thought was to stop the kid NOW because they will be damned if he shoots again and not miss the next time. He broke through the barrier of smoke, eyes trained to where the kid was standing when he saw that he was not there. It took him a split second to see the new Link falling, and that is when his instincts went crazy.

Twilight did not know what force made him jump after him, but he jumped. A part of his mind was screaming and cursing at him for doing something stupid and probably with Time's signature expression of disappointment plastered in his mind's eye, but he jumped. He slammed against the kid, almost digging his claws on his Sheikah chest guard when the air shimmered behind the new Link. He was suddenly torn between Holy fuck! It is a portal and Praise Hylia! as they dived into the waiting blue portal beneath them. He heard someone screamed this Link's name right before the portal swallowed them whole. He barely remembered morphing back to Hylian and wrapping the boy in a protective embrace before they fell through thick clumps of leaves and branches and hit the ground.

At that point, he did not care which Hyrule they were tossed into. He did not care about his bruised back or his sprained ankle, or even the long gash on his right arm from protecting the boy's head as they fell. They are badly injured, but they are alive, and that is what matters. It took him minutes to stop his heart from ramming too hard against his chest and probably more trying to urge himself to stand and bring the boy to a safe place. He almost dragged the new Link as he limped to an overhang between a system of exposed tree roots and soil, not far from the floating blue portal that is yet to deliver his family to this Hyrule. He laid down the kid into a hurried bed of leaves and draped his pelt over him before conking out almost instantly.

Twilight did not know how long he was unconscious, but he woke up to a familiar gut-wrenching taste on his tongue and a quiet chatter that slowly cleared the haze in his head. A groan escaped from his throat, and his eyes fluttered open. He was cocooned in some kind of fabric, and he wriggled one arm free, almost smacking someone seated beside him.

"Pup, are you up?"

The Rancher blinked once or twice until the face of his mentor and ancestor finally comes to clarity. "Time…?"

"How are you feeling? Does it hurt anywhere?"

A low broken hum rumbled from his protégé's throat. "Just sore."

Twilight struggled out of the blanket, huffing at the amount of effort needed just to wiggle himself free. Time helped him loosened the fabric and freed his bandaged right arm. The Rancher muttered his thanks and groaned as he sat up, leaning against his mentor for support. His eyes swept from his bandaged arm to his injured ankle and finally to the others who were in their own little worlds. Legend and Warriors were crowding the cooking pot and bickering on what to put in whatever they were cooking. Sky was seated by the entrance of the overhang with his back to them. The hilt of the Master Sword poking from the side of his lap, presumably being polished by the Chosen Hero. Epona was idling by the nearest tree, her white mane a contrast to her dark surroundings. Four and Wind were huddled together, talking about some rusty weapon resting gingerly on the Smith's hands. Hyrule was snoring away on his bedroll, clearly exhausted from healing them.

"When did you guys get here?"

"Shortly after the portal teleported you and the new Link." The Hero of Time adjusted the pillows and carefully propped his protégé against them. "We had to convince Teba to let us go and promised that we would bring their Link back to them. He tried to follow you two the first time, but the portal rejected him. We had to ride on his back and jump off to get through. Not the safest portal-hopping we did, but there's a first to everything."

"Hylia must have been bored lately." Twilight chuckled, his voice a bit gruff. He accepted the canteen of water proffered and took a long swig. He winced at the slight pain in his throat. "Speaking of…where's the kid?"

Time shifted back against a tree root to give the Rancher a view. At the opposite of him, the kid was bundled in a thick layer of a blanket and a damp towel folded on his head. His pale skin was flushed, and he was shivering like a leaf. His long blond hair was splayed on the pillow, like thick tendrils of a vine scattering down to the ground. Once in a while, his mouth would move, but no words would come out. His clothes were neatly folded next to his head, including that magic rectangular thing he held close. Someone must have lent their clothes to the kid, probably Legend or Sky. Under the light of the campfire, his scars were like tongues of wildfire on a ravaged land.

"We found you two unconscious here." Time said. "Hyrule has healed the worst of your injuries. He said that you would be able to walk properly by the end of tomorrow. As for him," He turned to the kid. His expression failing to hide the pain and sympathy for the new arrival. "He's running a high fever. It will take a day or two before he would be good to go…assuming he recovers quickly."

Twilight mulled over his words. He glanced to the others, suddenly nervous, and leaned in to whisper. "Did…did the others see?"

Time let a small smile slipped on his lips. "No. Don't worry. The smoke from the bomb arrow blocked our view. They assumed that it was you that went after the kid, not Wolfie."

"Huh…"

His mentor placed a hand on his shoulder. "You worry too much, Pup."

"I'm not." The Rancher denied. His eyes drifted to the new Link. "Just…there are things I need to figure out about myself."

Time raised an eyebrow. "About yourself? Sounds ominous to me." He levelled him a look that Twilight knows very well. "Did something happen?"

"No, not really." Twilight shook his head. "It won't affect the team, I promise. It's more…it's something that the kid and I have to sort out ourselves." He let out a resigned sigh. "I'll tell you about it later."

The Hero of Time considered him with a searching look before nodding slowly. "Alright. If you say so." He reached for the towel on the kid's forehead and dipped it in a bowl of water by his leg. He twisted it, folded it again, and placed it back on. "If you're concerned about him, don't be. We'll make sure he fits in the team nicely." A teasing smile made itself known on Time's face. "I'm sure Hyrule and Warriors will get along well with him and his bomb arrows."

Twilight cringed at that as Time chuckled softly. "I should probably keep an eye on him, then…." He murmured.

"I'm surprised you're being overprotective on day two already. That's a new record." Time ignored his protégé's scowl. He stood up and stretched, popping a few joints here and there. "It seems like Legend and Warriors are done cooking dinner. I'll get your share, Pup. Let's hope their bickering made it worth the taste."

Link felt weightless. He is drifting in an ocean of darkness, deep into a trench of the unknown. He wondered if this is what he felt when he was still entombed in the Shrine of Resurrection. He could not remember anything before his awakening, but he thinks this is not bad. He could see nothing, hear nothing, feel nothing – everything is silence, silence is everything. There is comfort in that, despite the haze in his mind. He did not have to worry about anything or anyone - no purpose to search for, no divine orders to follow, and no world to deceive with a face that is not his. This is much, much better.

Or maybe he is already dead. Perhaps, Hylia has decided she has enough of him not following the new path she has laid for him the first time, for disobeying such a simple command from his creator – to take up his sword and fight. He has done it so many times, yet here he was, throwing a tantrum like a child he is. He is a child - a one year and nine months old soul in a formerly dead body of one hundred and eighteen.

If the Goddess had truly decided to cast him aside for good this time, then he could not bring himself to be angry at her. This is better. If this is the afterlife prepared for him, it is fine. He is satisfied with this. In fact, this might be for the best. His only regret is not saying goodbye to Wolfie, but the wolf will surely find his body, and he will know his time is up. He will miss him dearly, but it is fine. Wolfie is smart. Wolfie is strong. His only friend can survive without him.

Link keeps drifting. At times, he would feel something cold on his forehead. It would go away at brief periods but would come back soon after. A couple of times, he would feel warm. It felt like the magic of the feral fairies that would heal him of fatal injuries, saving this body from a second death before Mipha's Grace came along. This one, however, is warmer and kinder, like the magic exuded by the Great Fairies but much younger and different. It is the first touch of sunlight after a day-long storm, and Link decided he likes it. He wished it would stay longer.

There are moments when he would hear voices. He could not understand what they were saying, but he could hear lively chatters, banters, and even laughter. They are not the voices of the dead nor those that clawed on his sanity, urging and pushing him into a predestined role that is not his. He likes the voices - hoped to hear them more and even conversed with them. He could only hope, however, being trapped in a carefully crafted prison of silence.

Link drifted some more. Colors, sounds, and sensations pulsing in and out of his surroundings. His taste buds tingled with warmth and oversaturation of flavors that should not exist. He should not complain though, not that he could. Maybe his tongue has gotten a tad sensitive and meticulous with how frequently he cooked. It is one of the things he enjoyed and loved; it is also the very first thing properly taught to him by another person, despite being long dead.

He is drifting slower, he noticed, and being pushed upward. Some force was trying to haul him up to the surface and anchor him there. He wanted to resist but could not. He kept moving up and up, and finally, a hand clasped his – feminine and warm. The warmth is familiar, but he could not remember where he felt it. A name nagged into his mind, but it slipped from his grasp. He tried to open his eyes and saw a face looming above him, wreathed in divine light. Her mouth is moving, shaping words he could not comprehend.

Mine…loved…reunite…soul.

The face slowly dissipated from his sight and was replaced with a face he could not recognize. He heard voices - rising in number and volume - and felt footsteps thumped on the ground beneath him. He made out the odd markings on the person's face (where did he saw that again?) and another face coming into view. Everything else is blurry, just a mishmash of splotched colors and shapes. He felt a hand pressed on the side of his neck, warm and comforting, and he involuntarily leaned into the touch.

"…is he?"

The new face shook his head. "…still high. Can't…magic. He…rest."

"…awake. At…something." The one with the strange markings peered at him. "How…feel, Link?"

Link heard his borrowed name being called, but his eyes were already closing shut. The hand stayed on his skin, and he was thankful for it. He fell back to the ocean of darkness, however, this time, just drifting close to the surface. Suddenly, it was not as dark as he remembered, nor the unknown remained as it is. The silence that wrapped around him was replaced with peace and a promise of safety. A soft sigh escaped his lips and once again, let himself drift.