Hyrule has many things to ask the new Link once he is conscious enough to hold a proper conversation. The first thing he would probably run his mouth with is asking why in the three timelines would he shoot a freaking bomb arrow at them. Okay, he admits that they did not start on the right foot. Twilight may have come too friendly for anyone's comfort and him being rash to approach him. Who does not? It is not every day you stumble upon the Goddess or anyone capable of speaking with her freely. Time is right – they are her heroes, but none of them could speak with her like that. Probably except Sky, but that is different. His Zelda, Sun, may be Hylia's incarnate, but she is not her future self. She is not the one who sent them to this goose chase of a quest. When she was first told of their quest, she, herself, was shocked to hear about it. Their hopes of getting some answers were crushed at that very moment.

But still, pointing a bomb arrow at their faces? Not cool. Maybe they deserved it, spooking him the way they did. Teba did tell them that this Link is in hiding for three months already. No one knows his reason for doing so, but if Hyrule were to guess, he has some severe issues that would take more than a talking-to to address. They all have their problems – being the holders of the Hero's Spirit and bounded to a cycle of eternal conflict against evil incarnate – but at least, they did not try chucking bombs at each other.

His second question would be about his relationship with Wolfie. This new Link knows Wolfie, who happened to travel with them from one Hyrule to another. How did they meet? How long have they known each other? Did Wolfie know that they will end up to his Hyrule before they did? There are so many questions about Wolfie that none of them know the answers to. Maybe this Link will be able to answer some if not all.

Another would be the burn scars. Hyrule has healed his fair share of injuries – something common to warriors and heroes like them - and seen firsthand how the open skin stitched itself into a scar that may or may not fade with time. The others may not have seen it as much, but he and Time did. The once damaged tissues were so extensive that they almost fully covered the left half of this Link's body. It snaked and writhed across his skin in a hue of fleshy pink, accentuating his sun-kissed skin. They were told by Gesane and Twilight that the new Link is about seventeen or eighteen, but the burn scars made him older than he actually is.

Or maybe he is really older than any of them. If they considered the ludicrous story that Gesane told them, it makes sense. He huffed and waved off that thought. The Sheikah can survive a hundred years or more. Hylians, on the other hand? Possible but very rare. Even if a Hylian survived that long, they would be really old and graying, unlike this Link. Unless this new arrival confirmed that with a straight face, he would not believe it.

Heck, none of them will believe it. If it is true, arranging them by age would be chaos. They already got Sky, who is technically the oldest among them, and Time, who looked the oldest among them. Then, they got the timeline that branched out to three, which made things more complicated. If Hyrule is being honest, he will leave rattling his head about it to Four. It is not worth a migraine, given that he has patients to attend to. He already left the five Rito that Sky and Wind accidentally poisoned in the new Link's Hyrule. At the very least, Hylia let the portal open long enough for him to leave Teba instructions on how to handle them. He seemed someone he could trust with the basics…unlike some people he knows.

Hyrule has many questions to ask this new Link, but he knew he has to wait for some more. He is not inquisitive as Four, but he is curious about their new member just like everyone else. It has been three days since they landed on his Hyrule and half a day when his fever finally broke out. The new Link still looked pallid, but his complexion has gotten better over the course of two days. Twilight's ankle was already healed too, which is good. While he explicitly told the Rancher not to overexert himself, another set of watchful eyes would be helpful. His world is not as forgiving nor peaceful as the others that they almost always have to sleep with one eye or ear open for the earliest signs of danger. Going alone is strictly forbidden - they have to stick together as a group. Dividing themselves is only meant as a last resort should the need arise.

The Traveler gently pressed his hands on the new Link's chest, feeling his heart thumped rhythmically beneath his palms. There is no need for him to continue using healing magic on him, but he would rather be sure than sorry. Internal injuries and illnesses are the most difficult to heal with magic, after all. He felt the new Link stirred beside him – his chest stuttering to a sigh and eyes fluttering open to reveal a more alert shade of blue than before. He watched him blinked once or twice, squinting against the harsh light of the campfire that washed their makeshift camp in a mixed splash of red, orange, and yellow. The beginnings of panic flickering in those eyes as he finally made out Hyrule's form.

"Stay still." Hyrule said, not quite an order nor even a request. "I'm almost done."

It was a pathetic attempt to stamp out any dread that accompanied his presence to this new Link, though it seemed to work at a slight margin. His patient remained still but stiff as he peered at Hyrule while the latter worked. He let the last of his healing magic trickled from his fingertips before pulling away. That prompted the new Link to push himself to sit up. Tried is the right word. The Traveler managed to catch the back of his head before it hit a tree root and support him to a sitting position.

"Who…?" The new Link's voice was raspy, presumably from a long time of disuse. He swallowed thickly, wincing slightly at the pain. Hyrule wanted to tell him not to speak further, but he was beaten to it. "Who…are you?"

"My name's Hyrule. That's what my family calls me." Hyrule answered, grabbing a small canteen of water at his right. He offered it to him, who stared at it suspiciously. "It's just water. You need to stay hydrated. You just came down from a fever, after all."

The new Link gingerly accepted the canteen and took a small sip. Certain it is just water, he drank in big gulps, almost consuming all of it. He handed it back to Hyrule and muttered his thanks. The Traveler simply waved it off and adjusted the pillows so that Link could sit up by himself. Once satisfied, he reached out for the strap of his bag and tugged it beside him. He flipped the leather flap open and rummaged through the contents. "Does it hurt anywhere? Anywhere painful or sore?"

Hyrule could feel Link's eyes boring down on him. "You're…the guy…in the temple." He breathed. "With the…the man with a…a pelt."

"That's right." The Traveler nodded without looking back. "That's me. The guy with a pelt is named Twilight, by the way." He pulled out empty bottles and set them aside. He kept fishing inside his bag until he found a red potion. At the corner of his eyes, he could see Link fidgeting with the edge of the blanket, watching him with eyes that reminded Hyrule of a scared young animal. "Relax. I'm not going to hurt you. Just answer my question. Does it hurt anywhere?"

The new Link's hands clenched around the fabric on his lap. "Ummm…no." He answered with a small, timid voice. "D-Does not…hurt…anywhere."

Hyrule turned to look at him with scrutinizing eyes like a hawk. "I hope you're not saying that just to please me." There is that tone of warning that all Links are familiar with. Before he joined the others, he adopted no such thing until Time got himself badly injured the second time they ended in his Hyrule and waved it off like it is nothing. That was when Hyrule finally decided it is time to set his foot down.

"Never EVER hide your injuries from me and act like nothing is wrong, or I swear to Hylia, I am NEVER going to heal anyone again," was what he said (or threatened, in Legend's words). He felt sorry going strong to this new Link right off the bat, but he had rather lay down the rules now than bid his time. Otherwise, there will be hell to pay. Link pulled his knees to his chest and looked down to avoid his searing gaze. That alone made Hyrule softened.

"Hey, I'm not mad." He said gently. "I'm the unofficial healer of the group, so it's kinda my job to look after everyone's wellbeing. Here," He offered the red potion to him. "If it hurts somewhere, drink this. It can numb the pain for some time. It might taste bad, but it works like a charm."

Link slowly lifted his head and looked at him and then at the red potion. He gingerly reached out and wrapped his calloused fingers around the bottle's neck before taking it. "…Thank you." He mumbled.

Hyrule opted for a comforting smile. "No worries. You're almost recovered. You just need a bit more rest and avoid doing anything taxing. Then, you'll be good as new."

The new Link nodded wordlessly. The Traveler packed his bag and nudged it back to its original position. He crossed his legs together and glanced at the entrance of the overhang. "The others are out to find food. Twilight should be just outside standing guard. If something happens, he'll let us know. This place isn't exactly peaceful…or safe."

It is already common knowledge among them that hunting and foraging for food are very difficult in his Hyrule. Raw sources of food are scarce, and these barren lands are not gracious to any living things. Every day is a fight for survival – whether running away from monsters or looking for a meal to fill an empty stomach. If he is being honest, he is envious of this new Link's Hyrule - their homes were both torn, but the latter's a survivor and is thriving into a beauty that his Hyrule does not possess. He hoped that his home would be able to flourish the same way, but that dream of his seemed so far away…impossible even.

A soft CLINK! drove Hyrule's depressing thoughts away as Link carefully placed down the red potion next to his things. "Where…" He licked his chapped lips before continuing. "Where is…here?"

Oh. Hyrule blinked at him before glancing at the rows of dead trees around the overhang. Where is Time or Sky when you need them? "I…I don't think I should be the one doing the explaining but," He took a deep breath. "We're in my Hyrule."

Link tilted his head questioningly. "Your Hyrule?"

The Traveler stared down at his open palms, wondering how he should approach the subject to him. "Uh…you see, we're not really from your era. We're from different timelines, different eras…different Hyrules. The timeline, you see, was originally one before it was split into three. My Hyrule," He gestured to their surroundings. "Is from one of those timelines."

A frown creased the new Link's face. "So…you're like a…time traveler?"

"Yes," Hyrule nodded. "But not by will. None of us are. Hylia gathered us together to fight against a dark force that is endangering all Hyrules."

At the mention of the Goddess' name, Link stiffened. His knuckles becoming bone-white from clutching the blanket too tightly. Hyrule wondered if he said something wrong. "Are you…" His voice was barely a whisper that the Traveler has to strain his ear to hear what he was saying. "Are you…her heroes?"

Her heroes? Is this Link already aware of who they are? Hyrule forced down the question from the tip of his tongue. "Yes…" He answered, keeping his voice even. "We're her heroes. We're all named Link at birth, but we go by our hero titles to avoid confusion. Actually, we bear the same soul, the Hero's Spirit, but took different forms. We're reincarnations of that one soul…just like you."

It did not go unnoticed to Hyrule how badly the new Link flinched at his last statement. He is sure now – it is something that he said that made Link react poorly. He wondered if he was perturbed by the idea of being reincarnated too many times and subjected to the same life cycle of fighting against evil every single time.

Or perhaps…he was afraid of failing and disappointing them. The Traveler is familiar with the feeling – something that he is certain that every Link felt the first time they joined their rowdy group. Heck, he was terrified when he learned that Legend is actually his predecessor. The Hero of Legend is dramatic, loud, and snarky, but never once did he made Hyrule feel inadequate. None of the other Links did. They are family - chaotic at their best days and dysfunctional at their worst - but family all the same…and they will go hell and back to make sure that this new Link feels the same way.

Hyrule scooted close to him, as close as Link will allow him, and smiled. "Hey, I know you're confused and scared right now, but it will be alright. We will watch your back no matter what. You can trust us, okay?"

"I…" Link pursed his lips. "I…pointed a…b-bomb arrow at you…."

Oh…OH! A lighthearted chuckle escaped Hyrule. "I already forgave you for that. I'm sure the others too." He really did. He just needs to know the reason why he resorted to that. Maybe not now, but someday. He scratched his ear sheepishly. "Besides…it's our fault for scaring you like that. We shouldn't have chased you around like that. We just wanna ask for help to talk to the Goddess because it seems you could converse with her freely."

"Oh…" A red blush colored the tips of Link's ears. "I…sorry…"

The Traveler waved his palms frantically. "No! Don't be." He insisted. "We should have told you that right off the bat. Really! It's our fault."

Link wrung his fingers on his knees. Hyrule tried not to stare at the burn scars on his palms. They seemed recent, compared to the rest of his body. "She…Hylia…told me about you…when…when you came." He confessed. "Told me that eight heroes…that I have to join…join them."

Have to. That felt like a slap on the face. Gesane told them that this Link just finished his previous quest barely a year ago before being tossed to another with nothing but a late notice. All of them have at least a couple of years to find a temporary peace of mind, but this Link? Nine months? Hyrule could partially see why Time held such contempt to the Goddess and to the Master Sword. This new Link should have at least a year of repose – it is no wonder why he wanted to hide from the people of his Hyrule, simply because a hero's duty is never finished.

"Look. Ignore what she said." Hyrule shrugged off the surprised look on Link's face. "You're with us now, whether the Goddess forced you or not. We're family, and we're going to see through this at the end together, okay? Everyone will be going home safe and sound, and that includes you. No exceptions."

"Home…"

"Don't worry," Hyrule assured him. "We will get to see your Hyrule again. The portals we go through often drop us to one of ours. You will get to see other Hyrules from different eras and timelines. Of course, home is still the best, right?"

That left a bitter taste on his tongue. Hypocrite. A voice sneered at the back of his head. The other Hyrules are better than yours. Much, much better. He masked the grimace threatening to rip on his face and instead focused on his patient. The new Link was looking at him with those big, sparkling eyes that reminded him of Wind's whenever he was listening to another Link's tale of valor. He looked like a child.

"Really?"

The Traveler could not help but nod and smile. This Link's childlike eagerness is infectious. "Yeah." If Hylia is in a good mood to let them have a break. He did not say that. The past month involved fighting camps after camps of infected monsters. They barely had any time for themselves - the only possibility would have been during their previous visit in Twilight's Hyrule. That is, if the Goddess decided not to be a jerk and toss them to a new Hyrule. They did not even spend at least two days in that Hyrule before Hylia thought it would be fun to play catch-the-new-traumatized-hero with this Link.

"That's…" Hyrule could only watch as the smile on Link's face dropped. The shine in those blue eyes dimmed as he slumped against the pillows. "That would be…nice…."

"W-What's wrong?"

Hyrule is really, really worried now. Did he do something wrong? Did he say something that offended him? Did he already miss his home that much? He wanted to smack himself. Of course, he would! Who would not be after being wrenched forcefully away from their world like that? His Hyrule is a beautiful one, albeit littered with ruins from the reign of Ganon (or Calamity Ganon, as they called him). He might have a family waiting for him; he even has friends who have not given up on looking for him. Hyrule would be devastated if he were in this Link's shoes.

Link averted his gaze once again. "Hylia…she's wrong. You're wrong." He pulled his knees closer and tighter against him that Hyrule was afraid he might break a bone or two. "I'm…I'm not like you…."

What…?

"I'm not…a hero like you." Link admitted, burrowing his head on his knees. His words becoming more muffled with each word. "I don't…I don't have the…Hero's Spirit."

Hyrule stared at him dumbfounded. What? Okay, he could have understood turning down being called a hero because of traumas and personal issues, but this? He did not expect this. "What…are you saying?"

That is just impossible! There is no way this guy would be named Link, defeated Ganon, save a princess with the name of Zelda, and be allowed to go through a portal if they are not a hero. That is just…Hyrule did not know what to call it, but it is just impossible, so much so that he did not know what is proper to say in that kind of situation.

Instead, a nervous chuckle rumbled in the Traveler's throat. "That's…that's a good one. I didn't know you're a funny guy."

Hyrule half-expected for this new Link to laugh and shrug it off as a joke, but he did not budge an inch from his position. His head remained buried on his knees, and his shoulders remained still, with no indication of laughter. He thought that he might have fallen asleep, but his breathing pattern is too awake for his taste. The Traveler wanted to scream at how unnerving it is. He hoped that the others would barge in and fill in the eerie silence that has begun to slither by their feet. Fortunately, his savior came in the form of the Hero of Twilight.

"Hyrule! I heard voices. Are you o–" Twilight's eyes flickered toward the hunched figure of the new Link. "Oh! You're awake."

Link lifted his head slightly and peered between his knees. Beside him, Hyrule's shoulders sagged, and he let out a sigh of relief. "Twilight! You're here. Yes, yes, he's awake!" If the Rancher noticed anything strange with how the Traveler is acting, he did not say. "He's already healed up and just needs to rest. Could you keep him company while I look for the others?"

Hyrule stood up too fast that he almost looked like he teleported and grabbed Twilight's arm. He turned him around and pushed him in the direction of the new Link. "Make sure he doesn't do anything hard on his body. I'll be back in a jiffy!"

Before Twilight could protest, the Traveler has already disappeared beyond the trees. He frowned, wondering what that was about, before turning to the new Link. He caught him staring at him with those blue eyes, and he was brought back to that night he cried against him under the night sky of that frigid and desolate mountain. Back then, he looked more like a child than a hero. They stared at each other, unable to say anything, before the kid pulled the blanket over his head. Twilight just stood there like a helpless idiot, at a loss on what to say or do. He could only pray in his head what needed to be.

Hylia...help him.