Legend looked down with a frown. If this is what Warriors meant with other things, he understated. After everyone changed to their usual gear and cleared their borrowed camp, the group marched out of the forest as planned. They arrived at an open area littered with small, shallow ponds and a bog that Wind almost stepped into, were it not for Hyrule pulling back the younger hero by the collar of his shirt.

"WHOA! That's a high drop."

Legend barely glanced at the Sailor, who was peering over his side. No shit, Sherlink. He stood back, bodily blockading the Hero of Winds from the edge of a crumbling wall section he was perched on. Dust stirred at the slightest movement of his feet, and rocks tipped over the edge, falling to a height of inevitable death. At the back of his head, he wondered if he had already given someone below a concussion with all the rocks he kicked so far. Or unknowingly murdered somebody.

His eyes drifted left and right, noting how the wall slithered at both sides, probably encompassing the perimeter of the place into a fortress. A stronghold? A prison? Whatever the purpose of this place is, it did not do a good job at it. He looked up and stared ahead. The mighty visage of the Hyrule Castle stood imposing even from afar, yet somehow it felt empty and desolate. The Hyrule Field below looked barren, even with the lush green that spread as far as the eye could see. He could see structures dotting the expanse, but they looked more like ruins than proper towns or villages.

Something does not feel right about this Hyrule.

Legend perked up at the sound of Hyrule's voice, and he and Wind hiked up a small slope leading back to the other side of the wall. Hyrule, Four, and Warriors were gathered around a strange pyramid-like structure that stood beside a collapsed water-filled section of the ground. Surrounding the surface of the structure were snaking designs that curled tightly around circular blue lights and the symbol of the Sheikah tribe. Epona idled near them, grazing on grass and shrubbery she could find.

Just beside the platform of the structure, Time, Twilight, and Sky were huddled in a line, looking up at a tower similar to the one that Legend spotted poking out of Hyrule Field. Sky and Twilight were exchanging ludicrous theories on what the tower is and its purpose, while Time seemed to be slowly drifting away from their linear group. The biologically oldest Link was staring at a cathedral-like building at a distance. His expression was impassive, but the way his jaw clenched and his shoulders tensed at the sight of it told the Veteran a different story.

"Do you think this is a dungeon?" Legend heard Hyrule asked. The Traveler has switched from tracing the odd designs to poking at the pedestal by the mouth of the misshapen pyramid. "Looks a tad fancy to be a dungeon."

Four pressed a hand on the smooth surface of the pedestal and waited. Nothing happened. "Even if it is, I don't think we can get in easily." He looked up and squinted at the Sheikah eye symbol at the top of the structure. "There seemed to be some kind of key needed…but I don't think it's the same kind that we use."

"Why not hit the eye?" Legend gestured at the Sheikah symbol. A glint of mirth in his eyes. "When in doubt, hit the eye. It works every time."

Four rolled his eyes at him while Hyrule groaned. The latter giving Legend a look that said, Seriously, man? Warriors popped out of the entrance of the structure. "There's a lift here, but it doesn't seem to be working right now. But if you ask me," He nodded at the tower glowing in the same hue of blue as the lights of the structure. "I think this and that tower are connected."

"That," Four pointed out. "Is far too obvious, Wars."

Legend crossed his arms with a scoff. "A new Hyrule with weird stuff that none of us recognize? Just what we need. What's next? Flying Hylians?"

Beside him, Wind gasped. "Well, you're not wrong!" He jumped excitedly and pointed to the sky. "Look!"

Everyone turned to where the youngest Link was pointing. A brown, bird-like figure was gliding toward their direction. As it drew closer, Legend realized that it is not the usual poultry game. It is significantly larger in size, Hylian-size or probably bigger. White feathers marked its eyes, chest, tail, and the underside of its wings. Both wings could easily wrap four of them if two of those were Four and Wind.

The others immediately crowded around Legend and Wind, some hands already inching toward their weapons. Time stood five steps ahead of Wind, hand resting on the hilt of his sword, as the creature landed a considerable distance between them, kicking up a small cloud of dust. They watched as it dropped the feathered spear it was carrying with its talons and picked it up again with the edges of one wing.

"Ho, travelers!" It, or rather he, based on the voice, greeted. He surveyed the group with a small nod. "It is unusual to find Hylians in this place. What could your business be here?"

Time narrowed his good eye at the new arrival. "Who are you?"

"Ah, I forgot my manners." The bird creature strapped his spear behind his back and raised his wings to placate any hostility. "My name is Gesane of the Rito."

"Rito?" Wind peered behind Time and blinked at the man, or bird, in confusion. "You're a Rito?"

"That is correct." The Rito, Gesane, nodded. Now that Legend could properly see him, this 'Rito' looks nowhere near Wind's version of the Rito. The one in front of them is less Hylian or Zora and more like the actual birds that soared across the skies. What is more frightening is that this Rito easily towered over Time in terms of height. "I hail from my home village, found at the northwest of Hyrule. I have come for a mission given by our elder and wishes no harm to anyone, Rito or not."

The group glanced at each other, and a quick, almost telepathic conversation passing over them. They are dumped in a new Hyrule that is no home to the eight of them. If Hylia is going to make them stay here for a while, they will need all the information and help they could get. Going around blind will do no good to any of them. Plus, Gesane seemed to be genuine with his words; even if he were not, one against eight does not bode well for the Rito.

Taking in an air of jovial calm, Time eased his hold of his sword and stepped forward with a hand held out. "My name is Time." Gesane grasped his hand with his wing, and Time noted the strength of his grip despite the Rito having wings instead of hands. "This is my family," He gestured at the other Links. The lie they have agreed to and used too many times flowing easily on his tongue. "These are Legend and Wind. The ones at the back are Twilight, Hyrule, Four, Sky, and Warriors. We're travelers from a distant land."

"A distant land?" Gesane tilted his head. "Are you not from Hyrule?"

"Something like that." Time nodded. "We've been traveling for some time now, letting the road take us wherever, though it seemed we are at a loss right now. Can you tell us where we are?"

Gesane blinked at them as if seeing them for the first time. "How…?" He frowned. "No wonder." He shook his head and then gestured. "You're standing on the Great Plateau, just south of Hyrule Field. Normally, Hylians such as yourselves shouldn't be able to climb up here. Thus, this place has been uninhabited for a little more than a century."

"Ah…" Was Time's intelligent response. His eyes flickered briefly to Twilight, who has crept next to him. Before the Rito could question how they ended up here, he asked. "Do you happen to know how we can go down?"

The Rito cocked his head. "I could bring the smaller ones down, but the three of you," His eyes flicked at Time, Twilight, and Warriors. "I'm afraid you have to find another way. I am not as strong as our Champion Teba."

It was Twilight's turn to ask. "Who is Teba?"

"The Rito Warrior Teba is the new Champion of the Rito and current pilot of the Divine Beast Vah Medoh." He pointed to the northwest. They had to squint to make out a T-shaped blot in the sky. "You may not see it properly from here, but that's Vah Medoh. It was once piloted by Champion Revali, another Rito warrior who perished at the hands of Calamity Ganon one hundred years ago."

At the sound of Ganon's name, everyone swiveled their heads to Gesane. "Did you just say…Ganon?" Hyrule asked in a low voice. Some of them shared uneasy glances, already knowing where the question is heading to. If Ganon appeared here, then that means…

"Oh! You're familiar with the tale?" Gesane seemed pleased with the discovery. "For one hundred years, Calamity Ganon has beset this land with malice and destruction. Millions of lives were lost, and many civilizations had crumbled to dust, that even the central power, the royal family of Hyrule, had fallen. The only royal daughter sealed the evil entity for a century until a living tale revived came forth, the hero of Hyrule, and took down Calamity Ganon to save Hyrule and the princess."

"It's been almost a year since Hyrule has found peace." The Rito added. The corners of his beak turned up to a smile. "Much has yet to be rebuilt, but the leaders of every race have been working closely together under the leadership of Princess Zelda."

Ganon. A hero of Hyrule. Princess Zelda. The key pieces are already there, taunting them to complete the same jigsaw puzzle that kept repeating on history far too many times than any of them would like. Twilight forced down the thick bile that was threatening to climb up his throat. "The hero…" He started, and he could almost feel the other reincarnations of the Hero's Spirit held their breath. "What is the hero's name?"

"His name is Link."

Well, shit.

Gesane did not seem to notice the shift in their expressions. "He is the princess' personal knight and the one who singlehandedly stormed Hyrule Castle and defeated the abomination that was Calamity Ganon. Believe me or not, he is also the same Hylian Champion from a century ago."

"Wait. What?" Four frowned at the Rito as if he were joking. "A century ago? Wouldn't he be more than a hundred?" And dead. Probably a skeleton. Four did not say it, but he might as well, shouted it out loud.

"That's what we thought too." The Rito explained. "But you should have seen our surprise when he turned up in our village, all young and healthy. Of course, we first thought he was a descendant of the hero one hundred years ago, but when he came by again with the Hylian princess, well…" He shrugged. "That cleared a lot of things for us."

They let that sink in. Another hero of Hyrule who shared the same name as them, who was over one hundred years ago, saved this Hyrule from Ganondorf – one that the natives here call Calamity Ganon. The story is outlandish at best but truthful at worst. The same formula they are too aware of and dumped into (except for Sky) has turned up on this Hyrule.

Time cleared his throat. "This hero, Link," He said carefully. "Do you happen to know where we can meet him?"

"Ah…I'm afraid I do not know." The Rito shook his head apologetically. "The truth is…the hero has been missing for months."

It was their turn to look at him incredulously. "What?" Twilight echoed their thoughts. "What do you mean 'missing'?"

"You see, the Hylian Champion Link had disappeared from his home three months ago. The princess has sought everyone's help to find him. Us Rito has taken the skies to look for any trace of the hero from above ground. The other races are searching too, in their own ways. But alas, he is elusive as a Blupee from the legends. Even if we did find any trace of him, he is twenty steps ahead of any of us."

"Do you know why?"

"There are rumors, but none proved to be factual." Gesane answered. "If there's anyone who knows the hero's reason, that would be the princess and perhaps, those who fought with him. This isn't the first time that he disappeared, but this is the first that he did so for months."

Great. Legend thought in annoyance. Now, they got a runaway Link. He flashed back to the first time they landed on his successor's Hyrule. The Traveler led them to a mad manhunt before their friendly wolf friend finally managed to pinpoint his hiding place. Time tried the peaceful route of explaining the outrageous quest that Hylia has thrown them into, but it ended up with Warriors grappling Hyrule to the ground just to make him listen. That, and Sky almost had his sailcloth burnt with a Fire Rod. If this new Link has other races or even the whole of his Hyrule searching for him, then all eight of them are up to a terrible good time.

"…any defining features?" Time was asking.

"He's Hylian, as you may already know. Around seventeen or eighteen of Hylian age. Blond hair and blue eyes like some of you. There are scars on the left side of his face. He is almost the same stature as…him," Gesane motioned to Sky, who kindly supplied his name. "As Sky here. If you find anything, please inform us. We need every information we can get to find him."

Time nodded. "We'll keep an eye out."

Legend snorted at that. A few snickered when Time gave them a stern look over his shoulder. A voice called Gesane's name, and they looked up to see another Rito hovering above. "It seemed I am being called back." He told them. "I will ask some of my friends to bring you down. While you wait, stay clear of the monster camps. Recently, there have been reports of them attacking travelers outside their lairs. It seemed they had gotten aggressive months after Calamity Ganon's defeat."

"Will do."

With a wave, Gesane leapt off the edge of the dilapidated wall and launched himself to join the other Rito. They watched as they soared to the horizon until they were nothing but black pinpricks on the sky. They stood there – eight Links in a mission – looking at the untamed expanse of this new Hyrule. The sky was painted in cerulean, and the land thick and thriving with flora and fauna, as if they were thrown to a time before their ancestors tilled these lands and built a civilization that lasted beyond their time. The very same civilization that was brought to its knees by the reawakening of a persistent evil. It is poetic and melancholic, yet at the same time, there is the longing feeling for hope and a promise of a new beginning.

Is this what the Link of this world feels about his Hyrule?

Probably. Probably not. Having the Hero's Spirit does weird things to them sometimes.

It was Wind who broke the silence. "Now what?"

Time glanced at the building standing at a distance. The serenity they felt before now crumbling to a clawing trepidation. "We wait."

A headcanon I shared with the LU Discord server: The Hero's Spirit can make them sense the thoughts and feelings of one Link or more (dead or alive). Sometimes, it affects only one of them. At times, all of them at the same time. It doesn't always activate unless certain conditions are met (a pretty bad nightmare, a particularly strong emotion, etc.). While it is certainly useful and 'cool' as Wind would put it, they do feel weirded out whenever it happens during less serious situations.